High Priestess of Summer

iliana had been trying to keep her head simmered and as calm as possible, knowing that whatever happened to them all, another person panicked, especially with abilities like her own, wasn't going to do much help, but after the events of what led them to the new court, the witch's hands were now unsteady, shaking in a small tell as she tried to keep her features neutral, especially after having lost one of their own in hybern. how was anyone expected to remain level headed in moments like these? so instead of letting it consume them, lia took the opportunity to reach out to others with all the ingredients they had packed with them left of their apothecary, after prioritizing their own court first, of course. "oh. no, drinking right now would only make it harder for me to work...I have things for stress, by the way... and nervous system regulation...it's only if you'd like it, though. i'm not here to force anything...only here to help in the only ways I know how. I've been offering to everyone I see."

Arianrhod gratefully accepted the offer from the fellow witch. "I am sure you do, as do I." Her finger gently massaged her right knuckles. "I would love whatever you have. I fear I may not be able to create something like that at the moment"

"Good thing I'm not here to drink, then." Rivian slid into the seat across from his High Priestess with none of his usual grace. "I'm here because four people are dead, and you're one of the witnesses who saw something the rest of us didn't." He look what he was: a man who hadn't slept properly in weeks, who'd spent every waking moment chasing shadows that kept slipping through his fingers. The inn was too quiet, and Rivian's hands were steady around his mug only because he'd spent nine centuries learning how to hide when he was shaking. He set the mug down without drinking. "Someone's cleaning house. Killing anyone who got too close to whatever secret is buried in that library. And now we're trapped in Starlight, with no way home, while that voice plays games with us."

Arianrhod glanced up to Rivian full of weariness. The spymaster of summer must have shared some of it, but only because it was his duty. Arianrhod's was to oversee priestesses and perform rites, not do whatever this is.

she is trying to be pleasant. as much as she feels snippy with the situation, it is nice to be home and be able to see her crows. and as much as she dislikes the idea of strangers here when they have been hidden for so long, she is trying to be welcoming even when she does not want all these strangers in her home. she stops at the starcove to make sure the fae staying are settling in alright, spotting the summer court’s high priestess sitting at a table alone. she sees the way she grips the wood, and stops to get a couple mugs and make tea — a calming tea that helps with other minor ailments when fae aren’t feeling well that she’d asked their apothecaries for.  the seraphim has already given it away to some of the fae she’s met, and she declines the innkeeper’s offer to help her, requesting they just focus on anything else they need to do. once it’s done, she approaches arianrhod’s table, setting a cup in front of her. “this is from our apothecaries. it will help with the anxiety, and if you are not feeling very well.” she replies instead of offering an apology or anything.

Arianrhod lifted her head to see the Seraphim ready with tea. "The days I feel well are rare" The Priestess muttered. She smiled to Astoria and accepted the tea.

Arianrhod stared at Sera, gawking. "I already have a love" The priestess blurted out. Perhaps for a second time.

Nodding, Sera just stands, staring. Right. She had a love already. So this strong, intense, urgent desire to wrap arms around this woman and keep her safe from everything was not her job. She could resist, right? "I..I know I mean..." What was she saying. She didn't know. She didn't know anything at this point.

Arianrhod shook her head vigorously. Of course she felt the pull, felt the white hot attraction to the woman in front of her, but nothing of the love she felt for her valkyrie.

"Yes, run." Jamie said, deflated. That's not what they meant when they were talking about faes not doing anything but powerful beings just sitting there and waiting for the culprit to come forward or someone else finding out what was afoot. "I suppose we are but not enough to rise up, everyone is being too careful, too calculated not wanting to step on anyfae's toes. We have armies, councils for a reason, do we not." These were the times when Jamie knew they would have made a good ruler. Fair but firm.

Arianrhod nodded to Jamie's observation. They certainly had their priorities straight with escaping Winter. The priestess scoured long and hard for any resources at their disposal, and it did seem like the winter court wanted to keep everyone here.

☆ﾟ*·ﾟELLIE'S EYES WIDENED at the newfound information. They couldn't even leave and go back home! Winter was it, for now. Her hands immediately went over her mouth as she gasped, probably looking a little bit ridiculous. "Oh my gosh, seriously? Does it hurt? Do you know? Why do I want to try?" She was naturally very curious, and if often got her in trouble or lost. One of the two, and both could be rather dangerous.

Arianrhod was not one to push herself past the barrier to try to escape. What if it only caused her more pain? "I don't know, Lady Ellie. Why do you want to try to make it past the barrier after all those fae hurt themselves?" Arianrhod feared putting herself in pain.

Penélope sighed in defeat at encountering, once again, someone that didn't know anything and couldn't do anything.

Arianrhod quietly shifted and stared at her folded, sore hands. She had been working on reading everything she could find, and combing over old rituals to see if there was a way out of this.

Sera felt rooted in place. She couldn't take her eyes off the other woman, but the draw made her feel uncomfortable. Sera wasn't looking for love, and a made. Cauldron save her, she had a fucking mate. Shaking her head, she took a step back. "Why?" But of course, that was a silly response. No one could ever explain why a mating bond happened, it just did. She took a breath, then tried again. "I mean, yeah, I guess so. But I...we don't even know each other." Sera truly couldn't find the words to make sense of things, or even the right response. The lady's words took her off guard. She hadn't needed it to be put into the open like that. Why couldn't they have just walked away and pretended it never happened.

Arianrhod stared at Sera, gawking. "I already have a love" The priestess blurted out. Perhaps for a second time.

Patience had long left the building for Jamie who went through a million different stages since they were locked up in the palace. From wanting to find out what happened to just being fed up about everything. "The courts could assist from their own palace, Winter can seek counsel for sure but why are we all here? All the magic in all of Prythian and no one is doing anything to leave." Jamie was asking all the right and uncomfortable questions, always defiant in the face of authoroty. But surely, the poor Priestess had no answers for them. "Forgive me, my Lady. I'm just fed up from all of this."

"People have tried to run but it seems useless" Arianrhod gently massaged her swollen fingers. "I'd offer my water magic to help but it seems useless in this situation" Once again people are desperate for her witchery. What a change from what she knew before.

SHE DIDN'T CONSIDER THE THINGS FROM THAT ANGLE. She wasn't really considering things about the whole masquerade from any angle, to be fair. With the flood of memories coming right back, her priorities lay elsewhere. This whole thing was not her direct problem.

Arianrhod was at a loss for answers. Who indeed would perform such a heinous act?

☆ﾟ*·ﾟHUFFING SOFTLY, ELLIE wasn't sure she liked the answer, but she knew that she was right. They didn't know anything, and even if they did, who was going to tell Ellie. She was the littlest lady, and quite frankly, had her head in the clouds most of the time. "Has anyone tried to leave? Or heard anything else?" Ellie hated not really being able to leave. Even if she could just go somewhere else, she knew that it would be important to at least tell someone. "Do you think the library in this court might have some answers? Should we go look?"

Arianrhod shifted nervously. There had been attempts of people trying to leave, but being mysteriously pulled back as if on a leash. "They have tried, but its impossible" Someone powerful was behind this. It had to be connected to the murderer.

"No but— we can't leave." Penélope shook her head, trying to explain herself better. "The High Liege of Winter isn't forbidding us to go back to our courts. We cannot leave." She paced a little before she took a few steps closer to The Priestess and she lowered her voice, "I've heard that a courtlier from Autumn tried to leave the premises but they made it as far as the gardens before they were— pulled back. As if it was a loop." The Valkyrie wasn't sure how many faes were aware of this fact, if anyone else had tried to leave but she suspected the High Lieges didn't want everyone to know so faes wouldn't panic.

Arianrhod knew Penéope's words were true. The magic was strong and whatever was holding it could not be broken.

Jamie was watching with disdain as a lot of the faes were wasting time decorating the Winter palace for the festivities instead of investigating the murder and finding a way to return to their own courts. It did not help that having most of Prythian under the same roof made old and buried matters between faes, come up to the surface. The Day court had found them there and seen the new Jamie, much to their detriment.

Arianrhod wished she was as direct as Jamie. Unfortunately, Arianrhod often took the way of timidness and peace like a High Priestess was supposed to.

☆ﾟ*·ﾟPART OF THE problem was that no one told Ellie anything. She spent most of her time trying to figure out what secrets she could gain from sneaking around. But even then, who would tell the littlest Fairchild anything? Ellie always tried to hold as much composure as she could, showing others that she could handle it. But would you really believe the girl who believed in fairytales, love, and fate? Not likely. Fiddling with her sleeves, and looking up at the High Priestess, she wondered how much she'd be told if she asked all of the right questions. "Is that really the best idea though? To not think about it. Don't we want to be prepared for anything? Are there any clues?"

Arianrhod wished she could say something that could comfort Ellie. Anything really She had her ideas of what may happen next, but the High Priestess was only a water witch, not a seer.