Forums » Fantasy Roleplay » ~Paying The Price~

Lilim would stay clinging to Raven, knowing that she needed the support. At first she had been told that these childhood friends of Ravens were fellow magic users, only now to have learned their only tie to magic was that they lived among it.

As Will and Robin both offered options for carrying Her Ladyship, Lilim too had a method or two in mind, "Raven... I'd have the easiest time of carrying her during flight. Please allow me to fly the stretcher to the site. Or... If need be, I can take all of us. Manipulating a little bit of ground magic to make a platform sizable enough to carry everyone present should be an easy enough task for anyone in our group that is able to do so. And of course the ground that is lifted will similarly be put back as it was removed. Your friends wont have to worry about a new hole in the middle of the village. If that's alright with everyone, then anyone who wishes to be at the burial site to see the body placed and hear Merry's song as tribute to Her Ladyship may be present to do so." she says with a soft sway of her tail.

Lilim was beginning to believe she would be the only one with the proper mindset and power to do the task of taxiing everyone to the burial site without much effort on anyone else's part. Raven of course was strong enough to do so, but Lilim believed her unable to properly focus seeing as she was in mourning for someone precious to her, thus Lilim would donate herself body and magic to the cause. The only other thing was that if Pentre didn't wish to be present for the funeral, then he would be permitted to stick around the village while everyone else attended the events. Lilim would have no ill will toward Pentre for staying behind. In fact she'd almost encourage it so he wouldn't be tempted to interrupt Merry's song with an outburst. However if he wished to be present for whatever reason, Lilim wouldn't stop him either.

Audemar had no intention of being a slave to someone he could kill in an instant but if it could make him get closer to killing this disgusting man, he agreed. Audemar nodded and waited to sign the contract.

Raven would flinch as she felt two sets of arms wrap around her, peeking between her hands to see Matthew and Thomas. She would wipe her eyes and cry even more as they spoke to her, her body shaking from the sadness and the grief. To much had happened tonight, and she just wanted to give her mother a proper burial. Though she couldn't help but be just as equally disgusted at the fact that they would easily defend the knight over someone they claimed to be their sister. She would just sit there, to upset and tired to fight against the two of them, before nodding.

"All this time, I've been a slave....I was forced to fight to the death in the arena's at the castle every day, and if I didn't do well enough the king would burn our brothers and sisters...so I'm sorry that I wasn't here...but believe me, had I been able to I would have taken care of her during her final days myself...And of course I'll lead the coven...I'm the new queen of witches after all, that's part of my duty now...but I will also be attending the ceremony..."

She says wiping her eyes and standing up, heading inside and going to the room with the body. She would gently coax her arms underneath the body and lift her up bridal style, before carrying her outside and gently laying her on the stretcher, making sure that she was lied down in a respectful manner before turning to Lilim and Will, hugging the both of them.

"Thank you both...but if it's all the same to you, Lilim I'd like to accept your offer to use ground magic to be able to transport all of us there, if the two of them wish to come..."

She says the tears momentarily stopping, but this cold and blank, almost emotionless expression had spread across her face as she was momentarily detached from her emotions in an attempt to calm herself down and prevent Crow's defense mechanism from being unleashed.

Audemar looked to his young friend, "We pretend but worry not, I will protect you." He looked around at all the innocent people in this ugly place, not a place for younger people who could have so much more in their lives than this.

Audemar shook his head, "I'm hurting inside but physically, nothing is wrong with me." Audemar looked to Lwyncelyne and signaled her not to say a word, "are you hurt, girl?"

Lilim's eyes darted to Pentre as he started to walk away, "Holding a funeral for someone of Noble Blood is unlawful?! Good to know, that means you wont mind if I storm Camelot Castle and kill your king!!" Lilim shouts off to him just to rile him up and draw him back to her. She honestly didn't care what scorn the villagers had for her. She was there for Raven, and that was it. If she had to take Raven and the body of Lady Poppy and leave by force, then that's what she'd do, but not before giving Pentre a reason to stick closeby. No sense in risking him wandering off to the castle to tell Conrad of these events and potentially have him employ the dragon's magic to have the collar removed.

If Pentre bought her words and at least looked back to Lilim, he'd find that she'd grab the collar and got a firm grip, "How gullible can you honestly be?... Now let me give you some orders of my own. If you walk or ride any further than 100 paces of this village's boarder, I command your voice once again be mute until I take hold of this collar again. Or alternatively until Will Stone says your full name three times in a row and grants you permission to speak again. And you are more than welcome to take a rest wherever you choose to so long as it is within the boarders of Wellspring. I'll also set a time limit on these commands. You have to follow them until dawn. Then you will be free of them if you abide by them until that time." she says in a satisfied tone.

Releasing the collar, she'd return to Raven and coax her to take a seat, or at least a knee, near Lady Poppy. Lilim knew that she was hurting inside, and wouldn't have very good balance at the moment, "Here Hun... Sit down, or at least take a knee... Smooth as I'll be keeping this ride I don't want to risk you losing your balance and falling over." she whispers coaxingly before placing a hand on the ground and summoning a wide circle around them, "Everyone that wishes to attend the burial ceremony of Her Ladyship, please step inside the circle and brace for the ground to move." she forewarns ahead of time, giving everyone a fair chance to step inside the circle so no one has to jump aboard at the last second and risk something happening to them.

Raven would watch the exchange between Lilim and Pentre and just watch. She would watch as she commanded Pentre to stay within the villages borders and would order him to be silent if he went more than one hundred paces past the village. And quite frankly she would have to agree with it. The last thing anybody needed was to have Pentre going off and telling the king of everything that happened. Though when Matthew and Thomas went to collect the money he would surely be aware that something was wrong. So it was only a matter of time. She would coax Matthew and Thomas closer to her to get them out of the way of Lilim and Pentre, hugging both men as they needed consoling as well. Her ladyship had been their mentor all these years, so surely they were grieving just as much as she was.

Moments after that, she would feel Lilim coaxing her to sit down or take a knee, and Raven would happily do so. With everything that has happened and everything she has learned in recent days, she was feeling weak in the knees, and she doubted she could hold up a strong front for much longer, despite how hard she was trying not to just collapse. Even Crow would be concerned and upset. The black smoke would surround her and Crow would be sitting in Raven's place. She would look up at Matthew and Thomas, tears in her own eyes as well. Thomas and Matthew had met Crow before, but because Raven always had main control of their body, they hadn't had many experiences with Crow, or at least not as much as they did with Raven. She would look up at the two of them before coaxing them down to sit as well, for she was sure they wouldn't want to be standing when Lilim lifted the ground up and brought them to the waterfall.

"I hope you don't mind if i take over until the ceremony, but Raven has been through a lot, just as you have. I think I need to be in control for a little bit, if only to keep her sane....I know you guys are wary of magic users, and I know you're used to Raven's presence more than you are mine, but I hope you would bear no ill will towards me....with that said, you guys need to be seated for this....and were going to have to hold onto the legs of the stretcher so Her Ladyship doesn't move around or fall off..."

She says, instructing the other two to hold onto the legs of the stretcher. She looks up at Lilim and nods at her to go whenever she felt she was ready.

"I can go back and get those who don't make it on and wish to attend if they don't make it here in time, so your OK to
go whenever you see fit.."

Will had helped build the stretcher to carry Raven's mother's body to the waterfall. He watched as Raven turned to Crow and talked to Thomas and Mattthew before stepping into the circle with them. After popping his neck, Will looked at everyone stepping into the circle, waiting to see if Robin and Haldor would step inside.

Lilim made ready to lift the circle, using her Siphon magic to gather some Ground energy and lift the platform somewhat, looking to the others, "Yo, Robin? Haldor? Are you guys coming or not? Wakie wakie, I need an answer!" she says kinda rushingly. She'd have no problem hovering the platform low until they snapped to their senses and gave Lilim an answer, but once they did and either stepped up or declared their willingness to await their return in the village, Lilim would then move to take the platform slowly into the air a bit and head for the stream where Raven had found.

True to her word, the trip would be very smooth and the view very relaxing as Lilims magic held the platform together and floated calmly passed the obstacles that would have otherwise obscured all of their progress. They'd arrive at the site Raven selected in steady time, and Lilim would put the platform down slowly and gently, trying to make sure the landing was just as smooth as the take-off and the flight, "Ladies and gentlemen, we've arrived. Hey guys!" Lilim says as she stands and sees Merry and her party beside the water.

Elesa would be sitting on Moonlight's back and enjoying the surroundings until everyone arrived, "Hey Big Sis! Hey everyone!" the child calls out in a friendly greeting. She'd move to climb off of Moonlight's back and jogs up to everyone, glad to see that everyone was getting along now.

"Thank you..."

Crow says to Matthew as Lilim lifts the circle off the ground and slowly and steadily brings the circle to the water's edge. She would then look at Matthew and Thomas, seeing that they were wearing black robes and dark hooded cloaks, staff in their hands, as well as having their charms, pendants and amulets like proper witches and wizards were supposed to do. She nods and the black mist would surround her once more, Raven coming back into control of their body. She would look at the attire of the two men and nod, trying not to tear up any more than she already was.

"I had almost forgotten about that....."

She says before she closes her eyes, a thick purple smoke surrounding her. When it disappeared, she would too be wearing a black robe and hood, with charms and amulets surrounding the belt along her waist. Though being the coven leader, her robe would be slightly different as it seemed fancier and more traditional. She would hold her hand out in front of her. She opened her eyes and looked up, to see Merry and her party, as well as Elesa. She would go to stand at a spot that she thought would be appropriate, next to the waterfall but not to close so the grave wouldn't be ruined. Her eyes glowed green as she stared at it, and the ground would split in half and separate, digging a 6 ft grave by itself. After the grave was dug, her eyes would return to normal and she would look at everybody, seeing that everyone who wished to attend was there, or should be there.

"If anybody is able to make a tombstone, I would appreciate it....If not I understand....Otherwise I think were ready to start...."

She says looking to everybody, looking to them to see if she had perhaps forgotten anything. She looks to Robin and sees him holding her staff, and approaches him, holding her hand out expectantly for him to give her the staff.

"That staff belongs to me...My mother crafted that staff for me, and I would like it returned to me....if you don't believe me, ask Matthew and Thomas. They were there the day I received it...do not make me take it by force..."

She says her eyes glowing red. He had this one chance to give her back what was rightfully hers, or he would receive one hell of a beating. She was not messing around, and she wanted what was hers. She kept her hand outstretched to him, waiting for him to hand it over.

"I can, Hun. Just give me a few seconds and I'll make one as good as ready. And I'll leave the most vital inscriptions to your specification. It's only proper that you have the final say on what is written on Her Ladyship's tombstone. After all... You are her daughter and her heir. I'll carve it for you if need be, but you get to decide what it says." Lilim says as she moves to the side of the cliff near the waterfall.

"Elesa? Could you help with the blankets and their contents please? They need to be carefully placed in the hole Raven is situating." Lilim calls back. Elesa would nod quickly, "Sure Big Sis." she calls back, looking to the others, "If I may?" she asks respectfully to Matthew and Thomas, waiting on everyone's permission to get started.

If she was allowed to, Elesa would draw her charm and hold it out in front of her, "Seal of the Mind... Telekinesis." she says briefly, the charm glowing a soft purple before Her Ladyship would be carefully levitated off of the stretcher, supported by Elesa's magic and as instructed, would slowly and carefully move the blankets and contents to the hole and very delicately lowering them into the hole. If she was allowed to finish, Elesa would see the blankets and their contents were placed into the hole as delicately as possible as she was instructed by Lilim.

Once her task was done, she'd replace her charm on her belt and let out a soft sigh, moving over to Will and holding her arms up like she wanted him to pick her up, offering him a soft smile as she did so. She really was growing fond of Will.

Lilim would finish summoning a solid block of stone and carefully shaping it into a proper blank tombstone, beginning the inscriptions, "Here lies... Her Ladyship... Poppy Blackwing... Beloved Queen and mother... And Dear friend... To all of Magic kind." she speaks as she carefully writes with her finger, looking to Raven for approval and to be told of anything that needed changed or added. She'd be careful when it came to manipulating the stone, wanting to be able to erase any mistakes she made before setting it as permanent.

Will watched as they flew over the land and to the waterfall. He looked around once they landed, think how beautiful of a spot this was. He watched as Raven used her magic to make a grave for her mother before asking if someone would make a tombstone. Before he could answer, Lilim already went to work on a tombstone and told Elesa to lower the body into the grave. Feeling bad because he wasn't helping out, He noticed a few plants he recognized. They had a smell to them that deterred any scavengers from digging up bodies, something he's seen way too much after a battle. He noticed a few more and decided to pick them, careful to keep the roots entact.

He managed to get a few before Elesa came to him, wanting him to pick to pick her up. He smiled and wrapped his arms around her and lifted her up. "Hey Sweet pea, wanna help me plant these herbs around the hole?" Will asked her, showing her the herbs.

Audemar looked to Taff and asked in a hesitant voice, "How is this girl supposed to entertain me if she is cuffed as such?" He felt so cruel and disgusting but all in time, their plan will move forward.

Raven would stare wide eyed at Robin as he spoke, remaining utterly silent as he continued to speak. It would dawn on her that this is what her mother meant when she said that Robin knew all, and would cling onto his every word as he mentioned everything her mother wanted Raven to know, and her eyes would go back to normal. Though she would remain shocked at the mention of her possibly marrying Prince Merthyr. For as long as she knew her mother, and given what Her Ladyship had done in her past, she was surprised that she would want Raven to marry the prince of humans to keep the peace. Not to mention that the king already had it out for her, and it sickened her to the core to even think about calling him her father in law. Though if this was her mother's final will and testament, than she would consider it. For everything Robin had said was right, and she needed to learn how to look beneath the surface of people, especially those she has come to despise. She would nod gratefully to Robin, taking her staff back as she looked at him.

"Thank you...She spoke highly of you and held you in high regard, even on her deathbed....as far as I'm concerned, you are under my protection should you ever need me...Her last words were that you knew all...I suppose that is what she meant? Everything she wished to say to me, she relayed to you so that you would be able to tell me when the time came....Thank you...You have given me much to think about..."

She says before turning to Lilim, to see that the tombstone was done and she was carving into it, as well as noticing that Elesa was using her magic to lift Her Ladyship in the air and carefully placing her and the contents into the hole. She would move to hug Elesa when she was finished, essentially thanking her before moving to stand by Lilim and holding her free hand, looking at the engraving. She would think for a minute, before taking Lilim's hand, the one that was writing, and would slowly write her own message, not erasing anything but adding on to it, so that the tombstone would also read Gone, but never forgotten. After that she would look at it and nod, waiting for Lilim to make it permanent before hugging her.

"Thank you...for everything..."

She says, tearing up again before breaking the hug and wiping her eyes. She would turn to Will and Elesa, noticing that they were picking flowers and using them to surround the grave so that animals wouldn't come and disturb it. She smiles sadly at the two of them, before walking over to them and bending over the flower patch to pick flowers of her own. She would get enough flowers to form a bouquet before standing up and walking over to the grave, placing the flowers down in front of the tombstone. She would arrange them so that it looked nice, before standing up and walking back to Matthew, Thomas, and Lilim. She would wait for Will and Elesa to fix their plants around the grave before nodding at them and looking to everyone, making sure that there was nothing else that needed done. She looks at everyone before pulling her hood over her face and speaking up.

"So I guess...the three of us will make a speech on her behalf and say our goodbyes, then after that if anybody else wants to say or do something, they can have the floor? I don't expect you guys to say anything, since you didn't know her....but if you would like to say anything I won't stop you...I appreciate you all being here with me and supporting me, and I'm truly grateful to have you all here as my friends, my brothers and my sisters...I love all of you..."

She says to everyone present before looking to Matthew and Thomas, tears in her eyes.

"Do one of you want to start, or do you want me to?"

Raven tilted her head at the tombstone, reading it once more and sighs. Her ladyship was their mentor after all, so they had every right to request what be on her tombstone. Not to mention that given what Robin just said, she felt that Matthew had a point. She throws Lilim an apologetic look before lifting her hand up, and chanting something under her breath.

"Moku..."

She says, before the words between magic kind and gone would separate but not erase themselves, so that there was room for more. Words would appear on the tombstone, and settle in, making it permanent. The tombstone would now read Here lies... Her Ladyship... Poppy Blackwing... Beloved Queen and mother... And Dear friend... To all of Magic and Human kind. She would look back at Matthew and Thomas, looking at them to see they were satisfied before speaking up.

"Do one of you wish to start us off, or would you rather me go? Or is there any other preparations that I need to see to?"

"Agreed..."

Raven would turn to Matthew and nod, gripping her staff tightly and approaching the grave as she took a deep, shaky breath in a strained effort to maintain her composure. She would look down in silence for a moment, thinking about what to say. There were so many things she could talk about, and she didn't even know where to begin. Though eventually her heart would just take over and she would start speaking.

"Well...I guess...to start...She was a generous woman who would give you the shirt off her back if you needed it. She was a role model to all who looked up to her. She was my rock...And she meant the world to me...Over 10 years ago, I didn't even know who or what I was, and I lived as a thief to survive after....after....*sigh*....she found me in the middle of a harsh December winter, huddled in a bush and close to death, took me in and helped me to recover. She adopted me, and raised me like her own...She taught me about what I was...she taught me how to use magic...and when she found out about Crow, when she found out about what we had done, she didn't turn me away...instead she helped me and Crow learn how to co-exist with one another...She was my life for the longest time, and I can only hope that I do her memory justice...She was raised by my predecessor, raised in the mountains and grew up under the royal teachings...she became the most powerful witch amongst us, but ran away after being forced into an arranged marriage...She always taught us to do what we thought was right, and to stand up for what we believe in...She believed in equality, and it was a cause she would have gladly given her life for....Before the raids, she was sickly...but despite that, I'm grateful. I'm grateful that she didn't have to live out the remainder of her live as a slave...Rather she got to live them out in peace, and she died in a warm bed rather than a cold, dirty cell. Or worse, burning at the stake...We may not have been related by blood, but you will always be my mother, and I will do my best to do you proud and honor you memory....I promise..."

She was in tears by the end, sobbing as she stepped away from the grave and returned next to the others. She would wipe her eyes with the sleeve of her cloak, before taking a minute to catch her breath. She would look among the group red eyed and in tears before speaking up.

"D-does anybody else wish to say anything..."

Lilim would slowly approach the grave once everyone else among the coven had said what they wished. She respected that they took priority when it came to last words. Lilim would look down into the grave and speak calmly, "Lady Poppy... I know you would recognize me if you saw me... But I'm not like my mother. I left my noble life behind to come here, and I have met some of the kindest and most amazing people while I've been here... One of which... Was your daughter. When I first met Raven... I was supposed to fight her in the humans arena... But instead she gave me the power I needed to free us both. I may have only known Raven for a short time now, but... Your Ladyship, you have raised one very amazing daughter. And I know that while you watch her from the afterlife, she will make you proud. And I'm honored to say that I have the opportunity to help her as she continues to grow and learn from your teachings... And I'll continue to help her in every way I'm able for as long as I can." Lilim says before kneeling and borrowing some plant energy from the flowers around the grave and added a few more to the mix, surrounding the tombstone in a very appropriate flower that anyone would recognize from the name.



After setting the flowers in place, Lilim would hover upright again, "Rest in peace, Lady Poppy. Your memory and legacy live on." she says with a few tears of her own being shed. Lilim's tears would stain a few spots with red, as her tears were not those of water, but of blood. She'd bow her head respectfully as she backed away, returning to the others quietly. Lilim would look around for a moment and see if anyone else had anything else to say or add, wondering if anyone did.

Elesa would move to help Will pick the herbs and replant them around the hole, making quick and easy work of them as she follows Will's lead. She'd make good and sure that everything was situated in a careful and special way before returning to Will's arms and letting him carry her back with the group, cupping her hands together and respectfully offering a quiet prayer as each person spoke. She'd look to Merry too, wondering when she'd begin the song she had been practicing nearly the whole past hour.

Will smiled at the help from Elesa planting the herbs around the grave as Raven and Lilim began making flowers grow around it as well. After all was set and done, Will picked up Elesa and stepped back to let everyone say their speeches. Will closed his eyes and lowered his head, saying a quiet prayer for Raven's mother and let them say their speeches.

Merry stood out in the middle of the river, listening carefully to everyone as they spoke, still going over the song in her head until she had it good and strait. She'd bow her head respectfully and hold her hands in front of her heart as she prayed and waited patiently for her turn.

Finally everyone would fall silent and the equines would step aside so the others could see her, "I have something I'd like to say too!..." Merry calls out, still standing in the middle of the river. The waters felt soothing to her and she absolutely adored being out in the water. "I never had the chance to sing for my village the day that all of my childhood friends and family got torn from this world... So now... I wish to redeem the memories of the Elf village of the Far Western Magical Forest. Raven?... This one is for you and your mother. I hope you enjoy." she says as she takes a polite and ladylike curtsey. Clearing her throat quietly one final time, her song would begin, the breeze, the water, even the birds seemed to harmonize as Merry's aura seems to share the information with them as to what she needed for the song.

Will remained silent during Merrys song, keeping a hold of Elesa. He shed a tear during the song, just letting it roll down his face and off his chin onto the ground.