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Merthyr smiled at Melina with a reassuring voice "Do not worry unduly, I am sure all is well..." appeased the prince feeling pity for the overly anxious young woman. "One deep breath and we can proceed into the hall together" invited Merthyr leading Melina and Taff into the appointed dinning hall.

Prince Merthyr made his presence at the feast, in a timely fashion, followed by his manservant Taff, just as was expected off him.

Taff on this occasion was wearing the official royal manservant outfit and could not possibly feel all the more ridiculous about it.



He came to his friend, just another maid, to show the feathery hat, the feature that bothered him the most.

"I look like a proper scarecrow like this... a court jester!" huffed Taff in a low voice



It was clear to him that the king was far too showy and pompous to expect even lowly manservants to stand out in such manner but looked all the more surprised to see the prince actually mingling rather well with the ladies, despite his earlier protests.

Merthyr came over to the main head table to salute the knights and lords and especially his tutor lord knight Tron Pentre. Afterwards he turned to meet and greet the ladies and all seemed to be going perfectly well.

He came to lady Selene, from the House Toud, bowing over hand and salute her with the utmost respect, giving her time and attention out of deference for Dean Toud, one of his favoured servants around the castle, and the mighty force of arms that her household represented



"My lady, welcome to our city, I trust your journey was a pleasant one and that you and your family are all keeping well?" asked Merthyr polite

"Sire, all is well in the House of Toud" reassured Selene "I trust my brother is of useful and dutiful service to crown and kingdom?" asked Selene scouting the room unable to recognize her brother among those present

"Most certainly, the young lord Dean Toud is an extremely talented one" assured Merthyr "Please, enjoy the feast... anything is amiss be sure to let us know" greeted Merthyr politely.

"Your highness, I am most honored that you acknowledged our household indeed, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance" assured Selene as he held her warms hands gently



Merthyr nor Taff could deny this damsel was very beautiful and delicate, in manners and looks and it was a house powerful enough and wealthy enough to command respect. He had to tread carefully with this lady to not give her the least false hope.

Once they had exchanged a few words of courtesy and honest friendship the prince turned to greet other noble damsels present, many of them from higher and lower ranks, some more beautiful than others.

"Lady Vivien, princess of Yu'nin, I trust you are doing well? We are so sorry for your father's passing, it is a terrible loss to the lands and the kingdoms" greeted Merthyr further getting the young woman's attention

"Your highness, my mother will certainly appreciate your condolences... it is a priviledge to be invited" nodded princess Vivien

Merthyr accompanied her to get a drink and seat her down "Pleasure to make your acquaintance, if anything is amiss let the servants know and it will be remedied" smiled Merthyr bowing briefly

"I shall drink to your health and this kingdom's prosperity" smiled Vivien raising her goblet



Once Merthyr was satisfied that she was well settled and happy, he turned his attention to the rest of those present, it was then that his attentions and eyes got caught with an unusual presence, it was the lady Morgana, their sworn enemy's daughter. King Cenrid's daughter.



"Isn't that king Cenrid's daughter?" asked Sir Lancelot, getting the same weary looks from Sir Gawain and Sir Percival

"If she is here... keep watch on any servants of hers, they could have daggers concealed" muttered Gawain alarmed.

Her attendance indeed came as a surprise to all those present and Merthyr could not help but wonder why his father would have invited her there, surely, he could not expect Merthyr to be married purely for political reasons.

Such marriage would give them the largest kingdom in the land of Broposan where their Kingdom of Celinao was but another kingdom among others whilst Mercia stood as the richest, largest and most powerful by far, unlucky for them, their sworn enemy too. Perhaps a marriage between the two heirs would defuse the impending war but Merthyr could not help but cringe at the thought of being considered only a political pawn in a large game of chess. Still he played the part well and came to greet the lady.



"Princess Morgana, welcome to our kingdom... I trust your visit and stay is indeed the most pleasant it can be" saluted Merthyr

"Why thank you... prince Merthyr..." accepted Morgana nodding her head gracefully "My father would have loved to attend personally, unfortunately, our kingdom's relations are too strained as we speak so he will abstain for the time being as he is ralling the men at arms and readying for war, do excuse his absence, I am sure you understand that such military feats require the greatest of attentions and efforts from his part." commented Morgana lowering her gaze briefly at the bad news. It was her task to make it formally known and officially acknowledged that the war was indeed going to happen sooner rather than later unless an amiccable solution could be found, marriage being one of the many cards on the table.

"Yes, of course, princess..." accepted Merthyr bringing her to the head table and sitting princess Morgana right next to the king



"Prince Merthyr, let us hope our friendship is not soured by politics, tonight" smiled Morgana nodding her head gracefully as the prince bowed before her.

Despite her polite manners well aligned to established protocol and friendly words, her lavish clothes, jewels, commanding tone and prideful mannerisms clearly proved the power and force behind her birth rank and royal household name.

Merthyr smiled politely at her comment "Certainly, your highness" nodded Merthyr, leaving the royal princess seated by his father's side and came to greet other ladies as well.

Once he had make sure the damsels were all greeted and seated he looked around the room unable to find Voletta, a sigh of relief at seeing Sir Crow by the door on his way out.

"Ahhhh Sir Crow... just the knight I need. Where is the maid from the pantry?" asked Merthyr "I command that you go find her and bring her here, to share our company with her presence; it is befitting she enjoys of the outcome of her hard work after all... be sure she is wearing appropriate attire,... if she doesn't have any she may borrow my mother's dresses, I keep a selection of those in my rooms for sentimental reasons" explained Merthyr looking at Crow meaningfully.

Once the knight understood the orders to find the girl, dress her well and bring her over, he would go to greet Lilim and little Elesa too of course, they had to be there, prince Merthyr had personally invited them after all. Though he failed to see them outright

The ballroom was a whirl of activity that seemed to overwhelm Voletta, who clung to his cape, which was embroidered with elaborate vine motifs in the colors of the King's house. He reached out to awkwardly pat her shoulder with his armored hand.

Soon they were joined by Lilim and Elesa, who had each from somewhere procured a dress. He bowed curtly. "A pleasure to m-meet you, Mistress Lil-Li-Li--" He cleared his throat. "Li-Lilim. Ah, apologies."

His green eyes wandered around for any other servants who might be carrying refreshment--he certainly wouldn't burden Voletta with asking, bit he hadn't touched his flask all day, and he needed to take the edge off. Lilim's request made his eyebrows shoot up (one lower than the other, due to the small scar across it) but he said nothing. Hopefully no one else had heard, and anyone who saw would merely think the blood to be wine.

The guard that came for Voletta did so when Crow's head was turned. He bristled and stormed after them, wading through the crowd. Even worse, Lilim followed, clearly irate. Crow feared she would take drastic action. "N-now see here!--"

Suddenly a woman was in front of him, a pink bodice straining around her cetacean bulk. Unable to stop in time, he bumped into her, eliciting a furious tirade. "Crow, you blaggard! You backwoods hooligan! Stu-stu-stuttering stranger!" It wouldn't do to just walk away, for this was the Marquess of Mauribalde, a woman of some import. He also didn't want to attract even more attention, for he knew she would pursue him if he fled. So he muttered apologies and bowed over and over until she was placated. As he finally left her, she spat, "No wonder you haven't found a wife! Nasty pillow biter!"

But Voletta was nowhere in sight, surely dragged down to her dungeon cell. As Crow headed for the back corridor, he was intercepted by the prince. Immediately he stopped, snapped his heels, and bowed deeply, his blond hair flopping forward around his shoulders. "Aye, my liege--thy will be done, my liege."

The Hanged Man shot off after the girls, hoping to catch up with them before ... oh no. He spotted the slumped forms of the guards and ran to them, making sure they still breathed before stepping into Voletta's cell. The girl was asleep, cradled by Lilim. "Goddess," he sighed. The strange woman had created quite a sticky situation. "You and your sister are magical," he finally declared, eyeing Voletta's now-unmarred wrists. "Can you keep th-those men from remembering this?"

He stepped closer. "Voletta? You must awaken, you are needed at the ball ..." His hand shook her gently to rouse her. "You must get d-dressed again."

Lilim reached and grasped Crow's hand as he tried to shake Voletta awake, "Wanted by whom, Sir Knight?... Because if it is anyone other than the prince that the ball was originally commissioned for, I'm afraid Voletta will have to be pardoned from that call." Lilim whispers with a burning red glare to her eyes as she looks to him, clenching hard on his hand. "Wait Big Sis... Don't hurt him... He's Miss Voletta's personal escort. The one I told you helped us when we first arrived." Elesa intervenes, realizing she was still sending her healing magic to Lilim.

Lilim's gaze would calm with a blink and Crow would see her eyes change from a glowing red, to a soft green, "Oh?... You're Sir Crow?... My apologies. But my curiosity remains, whom among the partygoers asked for Voletta's presence?" she says before realizing she still had ahold of his hand, "Oops... I'm sorry..." she says as she releases his hand, only to reveal that Lilim had left a mark in the shape of her hand on his, but instead of it being the scared flesh he was used to, he'd see that Lilim had left a patch of completely healed flesh, free of scars or wounds that had previously been present on his hand. Lilim looked to the patch of healed flesh she had left and wondered just how Crow would react to having been more thoroughly healed in that instant.

The Hanged Man remained cool in the face of Lilim's anger, his stature statuesque and shoulders square. His hand was thoroughly clad in a darksteel gauntlet attached to a thick leather glove, so her skin couldn't come into contact with his. Nonetheless, it responded to her clenching grasp by spasming slightly.

"Prince Merthyr w-wants her in attendance, Mistress," the knight said, gently pulling his hand away. His face was stony. He was used to people walking all over him, but he still didn't have to like it, especially when it was just some stranger.

((I am 100% against Crow's primary scars being healed, btw. They are an important part of his character. If Lilim does ever actually touch him, and you need an IC reason for why she can't heal him, you can PM me ))

Once most of the guests were seated, Merthyr motioned for the servants to bring food and drinks whilst he was waiting for his father's presence.

He was also keen to see Voletta be returned to the feast as well as little Elesa, who would undoubtedly enjoy the music and the food.

Voletta would slowly stir, reaching for her pillow and putting it over her head at the noises going on around her. She was heavy sleeper, and she was a grumpy riser at that. Out of instinct she would groan and sit up, rubbing her sleepy eyes as she did so, the sleep written all over her voice as her vision worked to make out the shapes in the room around her, all the while still hugging the pillow.

"I'm up I'm up...I'm-"

She says but stops in her tracks as she finally sees what was going on. She looked between Elesa, Lilim, and The Hanged Man, watching as the three of them were presumably exchanging words. When she looked past them, she noticed the group of guards lying on the floor unconscious, and her eyes widened as she stared at the three of them, her brow furrowed as she tried piecing together what happened while she slept, though her train of thought would go back to where it was but take a different direction.

"Up..??? Wh..What happened??"

She says rubbing her neck nervously, only to notice something different. She didn't feel her scars! She looks down at her hands and ankles, noticing that all of her scars were gone, and it was then that she noticed that she had never felt better! She felt like her body was as good as new, causing her to leap out of bed and run to the bathroom, staring at her reflection in the mirror and running her hands along her neck. She couldn't help but smile greatly before running back out and tackling Elesa in the warmest of hugs.

"You did this, didn't you?? Thank you! Thank you!!"

She says, remembering Elesa's promise to help her escape. She looked at The Hanged Man, barely remembering what he had said about the ball, and she frowns as she looks to Elesa, pushing her hair back once again before letting out a sigh.

"Unfortunately, I can't leave yet...I'll be noticed if I don't go...but now that my scars are gone, maybe I can slip out with you afterwards..."

She says before turning to The Hanged Man.

"As far as dresses go, I only have 3. My night gown, which isn't suitable for the ball. The other two are covered in dirt and blood, so I have nothing to wear..."

Melina returned to the hall with the prince, carrying on appropriate small talk as she went. After another check-up on the guests, Melina noticed the Hanged Man making his way through the same door Voletta had been dragged through.
Everyone in the ballroom was either dancing, eating, or talking about the prince. He'd taken center spotlight in no time flat, and girls all over the room were swooning over him.
"Ohh, isn't he handsome?" one lady crooned.
"Ugh, you think so? Does he not look a little... Strange, to you?" another said, her nose wrinkling slightly.
Melina shook her head in amusement, and slipped through the crowd and out the door.
Once in the hallway, Melina double and triple-checked that no one was going to run into her. When she was positive she was alone, she morphed into a housefly. They were too small to see, but the eyes of the fly matched Melina's natural color of forest green.
She flew down the corridor, searching, searching... Until she noticed the Hanged Man going through another door that was flanked by two unconscious guards.
Melina landed on his shoulder, unbeknownst to him. When he reached his destination, she noticed a woman and young girl next to a chained-up Voletta, and her heart broke a fraction.
I knew there was something about that girl, but... she thought.
She watched the mysterious woman use some sort of magic, and relaxed slightly, knowing she wasn't the only one with some sort of ability.
Maybe they won't care if I turn back into my human self...
The image of the unconscious guards popped into Melina's head, as well as the notice of the young girl's words.
"Wait, Big Sis... Don't hurt him..."
If the woman decided to attack a suddenly-appearing Melina, things would not end well, especially since she needed these people to trust her.

Lilim smirked at Voletta's words of not having anything to wear, "I beg to differ, Hun. Bring out the dress you had on earlier and leave the rest to me.Trans Magic." she says as she stands back a couple of steps and her casual clothing starts to glow, changing before their very eyes back into her ball gown. Lilim would smirk and place a hand on her hip, "As for the guards, it really wasn't a good idea to take the hostess away from one of the Crown Princesses of the Kingdom of Biblia. They're just lucky their actions didn't get taken as a declaration of war." She says with a calm smirk.

Elesa would put her charm away and look to Lilim with a sparkling smile, giggling and bounding up to Lilim enthusiastically, "Me next, me next please, Big Sis." she says excitedly.

Lilim would rest her hand on Elesa's shoulder and use the same process to change Elesa's normal outfit back into her ball gown, "As is only to be expected of my little sister and Young Duchess." Lilim says with a soft smile. Looking back to Voletta, "Your turn, Hun. Bring out your dress and leave cleaning it and getting you changed into it all to me. I'll have you cleaned up and looking like the Princess you deserve to be." she says with a warm smile to Voletta.

The Hanged Man smiled crookedly as Voletta marveled at her lack of scars. His own ached, as they always did, and he self consciously brushed at the one on his cheek, which always looked a little raw. It was like an old friend, a reminder of his past.

Lilim's reveal about being royalty made his face go stony again, and he tilted his head, as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing. "You claim you are a princess ... supposedly an honored guest." He looked hurt. Poor Voletta, with so much to do, had gone out of her way to help these two strangers, when they could have been helped with no secrecy. In addition to Lilim not actually being injured when she arrived, he felt quite frosty towards the pair now. "You sneaking in will be taken as an act of espionage, so I wouldn't count on the King's good graces if these men tell him about this ... if you won't clean up your mess, then I-I will." He looked down, then paused. "And Voletta ... the prince said you c-could wear y--his mother's dresses." He looked at the dress that Lilim was transmogrifying. "If that is more desirable to you. Th-they are in his chambers."

He turned away from all three of them, not noticing the fly on his shoulder. There were plenty of vermin down in the dungeons. Across the hall was a room with a blue door, which he clumsily unlocked. These were his personal chambers, with his personal supply of liquor. He dragged each guard inside, then, with a heavy heart, began to arrange the emptiest bottles around them, even going so far as to spill brandy on them. It would look like they had gotten into Crow's stash and drunk themselves to stupor.

It took a while for the group of four to leave their own private chamber, having spent a longer time than intended talking on their experiences in their official roles. Exchanging stories, rumours and chatting on times gone by. Here was the only place they could relax and relax they did. So much so that they were loath to actually go to the ball, making them far later than the intended start time.

In full knowledge of such a fact, they decided to give a brief appearance before retreating away to ready themselves for the night. Max and Simon were the first two to leave, tiptoeing out to leave Sariel and Elesa a few moments alone in each others company.

A matter of seconds later the other two exited, a small flush spreading across their worn cheeks. Greeting them was a warm smile from their childhood friends. "That good eh Sai?"

"It was pretty good, but his ability to steal my breath seems to have diminished with time, good to see he hasn't been practising without me tho."

The blush on Sariels face ripened a bit more before looking away. "Shall we get to the banquet now?"

Simon nodded, sparing his friend any further embarrassment, giving the signal for the group to equip themselves in their full armour. The whole thing took an extra twenty minutes, adding to their already growing delay, yet it was a sacrifice they were prepared to make. Knowing everything fitted into the aura they wished to project.

Moving as quickly as they could the four made their way towards the great hall in which the celebrations were being held. Guards scattering as they saw their approach to make way, no one wanting to be the one standing in the way of the king.

With a simple flick of the wrist, Max signalled to the nearest of the soldiers to move ahead, opening the doors for them and announcing their presence. It wouldn't do for them to arrive unannounced like some form of a shabby latecomer. Thus with as much grandeur as possible the three generals stepped into the hall, every step of theirs carrying with it a sense of cold, martial pride.

All the while Simon held back, waiting until his three closest and only friends had made their entrance before going through with his.

Princess Morgana of Mercia stood up to greet the king upon his arrival, alongside the rest of all the attendants who were mostly seated already except for the prince himself who liked to oversee the event and ensure all went as well as it could.

Merthyr nodded the head gracefully at the generals entrance motioning the three of them to the head table so they could be seated and turned his attention to the door, smiling broadly at seeing his father finally arrive at the feast.

"Greetings, your grace, it is always a pleasure to be in your presence and company and spend time with you, father" saluted Merthyr smiling honestly and warmly, pleased to see the king there.

Merthyr bowed respectfully before the king, to show his respect and acknowledge his higher authority and straightened up afterwards, personally accompanying him to the head table. Merthyr was keen to spend time with the man, even if the occasion was a rather awkward one for Merthyr.

As Melina watched the girls change their dresses with magic, she knew that returning to the ball and pretending things were normal was the best course of action.
Flying under the crack of the door and back to the restrooms, Melina morphed back into her human form and rushed back to rejoin the festivities as well.
Right as the king arrived.
At least he'd be a witness to her good work as a liaison.
Melina got right back to work, filing the conversation she'd heard under "things to tell Evan."
She needed to sneak out of the castle.
Tonight.

(I'm gonna put on the queens dress! I think it would be interesting to see how her reacts when he sees Voletta wearing the dress of his late wife!)

Voletta's eyes widen as Lilim had mentioned that she was one of the princess of Biblia, and she almost instantly reverted back into a bow, due to years of instinct. She would remain lowered for a moment, before she rose looked at The Hanged Man, who was setting the scene that the men had simply fallen into a drunken stupor. Though she would grab her dress as instructed, handing it to Lilim, before looking between the two of them, then back at Lilim.

"With all due respect, Madam, I think I'll go put on one of the queen's dresses...I would hate to inconvenience you any further..."

She says bowing to her one more time. She takes The Hanged Man's hand and walks out, knowing she would see the two of them eventually. She walks through the halls and all around the castle, before she goes into the Prince's room. She lets go of his hand and almost instantly becomes nervous as she approaches the closet full of dresses. She goes to one and grabs it, before going into the bathroom. She lets her nightgown pool at her feet and slips into the dress and does her hair and makeup, before walking out, doing a quick twirl for The Hanged Man.



She does one more twirl and smiles up at him with her hair curled and her makeup actually done. She couldn't help but beam brightly as she grabbed the sides of the dress and curtsied, before standing up straight and looking at him.

"So??"