the darkest part of the woods; advanced roleplay discussion

The home of the Goodfellow family, a cozy little fortress made of stone and practically covered in ivy. The current owner rarely returns from his travels but when he does the normally deserted castle seems to spring to life around him.

The gravel crunches under their feet as they walk between the hedges up to the outer castle wall. Huge and withered, but still bright-coloured stone quaders peek through between the ever-mellow-green leaves of ivy. bees and smaller insects fly around the twines. Faíl breathes deeply and sighs in relief as he feels at home in these gardens. He still notices Pandora's discomfort, but is confident that they will find a solution here. "Welcome home!", he says and smiles bright at her. He hopes that his inner peace will somehow devolve onto her.

Birds are crossing the blue sky under reys of light making the scenery even more vivid and beautiful. Faíl's veins become visible under his skin as his heart beat fastens adapting to the pulse of nature surrounding him. "Ah. Do you at least remember all the components of the beauty around you? you knew the silver flowers, so there's a good chance you might at least know one species of rose."

Pandora eyes widen at the beauty of the garden. She started to feel some of her fear slipping away. She gave him a soft smile when he greeted her. "Home..." She whispered softly as she continued to take in the garden. "It's beautiful here..." She said about the garden smiling even more. She then blinked when he spoke of roses as if there was something familiar about that word and shrugged. "I might...."

(sorry it took so long)

(not to worry)
"Names pack the essence of a being, a Fae knows that best. These are Rosa corymbifera and in between, the smaller ones underneath, are Abbaye de Fontfroide. There are also many other wall- and meadow-flowers growing in between and even some useful herbs. But we don't want to overload you with names. Do you have a favourite flower or plant in general?"

((Pandora and Fail are going to see the Spring Prince right? If that is the case Castle Goodfellow isn't the home of the Prince it's the home of Puck, the Spring Trickster. Connall, the spring prince, resides in the Keep of Roses here))

(ok, let us meet at dogwood throne then?)

Pandora thought a moment. "I like...." She closed her eyes for a moment. She thought of the waterfall and remembered a purple flower that grew there. "Heather...... a flower called heather...." She said opening her eyes. It was then that she noticed the roses. "Do Myst roses grow here also." She asked softly.

"Heather it is. A rare herb you won't find in gardens." He nods, then bows his head to the side askingly. "I... do not think that Myst roses grow here. They look somewhat like the silver flowers, don't they?"

"No..." She said shaking her head. "They are a rare rose of midnight blue sparkled with silver blossoms... If it blooms with in the Myst the blossoms never sleep...." She said looking at him. "If they bloom anywhere else, it would be when the night comes or a light mist is in the in the air." Her eyes took on a dreamlike look as the memory of them flowed to her. "Many times they are mistook as bushes that don't bloom." She continued gently. "It would be sad if there were no longer any." She then sighed.

FJO wrote: "(ok, let us meet at dogwood throne then?)"

((sure if that was what you two were planning))

"I have a small collection of rare flowers and plants in a corner of the rose gardens. There may be one I never recognized. Do you want to see it? Or should we head to the dogwood throne to speak to the prince?"
It did not matter to him if she wanted to know him any better or not; the fate of the mysterious lady layed in the hands of the prince from the beginning on and his gardner was definitly not the one to disobey his word. He on the other hand was interested in her origin. the lands seemed to have a totally different climate. what the myst would feel like in his magic?

"Or should we wait till the upcoming festivities are over? It is more likely to be able to talk to the Prince then again since there are many activities around and many people will visit them. You might get lost in the crowd though... I really do not know what is best now. What do you feel like doing next?"
He had to help her, his upbringing forced him to; but he could not not attend the spring festivities. There was so much to do, so many people to see. And it was unlikely that Pandora would be happy with so much happening around her. Although... she was so innocent and child-like, she could learn so much new and quite likely adore everything she would see.
He thought forth and back, but did not come to a pleasant solution. What to do now?

(I’m sorry for the delay in replying, I hope to be able to post later)

(take the time you need, I will too)

"I would love to see the garden..." Pandora replied completely interested. She was sure that it would be alright for her to at least see the garden before the prince. "Surely the Prince wouldn't object to me seeing the garden..." She began to say but then paused when Faíl spoke of the festival. "Festival?" She asked gently. "I...I... don't know....." She spoke softly. "I.... only just woke up...." It wasn't that she didn't want to go but she suddenly felt afraid. She took a step back as a very gentle myst began to rise around her. She gently took another step and her hand touched a bush causing a soft frost formed on the on the leaves. She then took a breath to calm herself. "For give me..." She said looking down. "It might be best for me to talk to the Prince before I meet others..." If he agreed in her staying she would consider the festival idea, despite her anxieties.

Noticing the change in her manners he held up his hands showing her his empty palms and took a defensive step back. "Alright, you sure are right about that." She was kind of frightening he thought to himself. "Well then, let us... head to the garden and wait for the Prince. You should maybe look for a calm place to stay during the festival", he said worrying. The winter court is quite empty in these times, but isolation could not be the solution...
Concentrate on the now!, he exhorted himself and smiled again slowly relaxing again.
"Follow me", he said gently.
Unhasty he strolled down the gravel path along the castle walls to the back of it where one could see the mausoleum peeking over the wall of roses. Near the hedges seperating the garden from the rest of the land, there were several small beds of dark earth with a hundred different flowers growing in them. None was there twice and although they were planted in neat rows, it seemed like a colourful chaos. Faíl knew every plant here by name and also how one could make use of them. He had never heard of a myst flower though, maybe it was another name for a plant growing here.
"Here we are", he explained making a vague gesture with his hand. He then kneeled down to gently caress the leafes and blossoms. "Do you see the flower you were looking for?"

"Yes, the garden..." Pandora replied as her sudden fear left her eyes. She slowly followed Faíl not speaking. After a few moments she sighed not able to understand why she had been suddenly afraid. Her thoughts were interrupted once they arrived at the garden. It's beauty caused her to pause. "It's wonderful...." She said in awe as she began to smile. "I've never seen anything so beautiful..." She said as she gazed at all of the flowers. She moved to the different beds to look at the flowers. "I have not, but that doesn't mean that it isn't here." She thought a moment. "Even if it's not here..... I still love your garden....." She moved close to him but not too close. "If I can stay, may I visit...." She paused before sitting on the ground. "Faíl... can you forgive me..... I didn't..... I don't know why... I was afraid..." She spoke in a soft voice. "I feel so lost..." She sighed.

Fail looked up from his flowers and looked her straight in the eyes. "You don't need to be sorry, not for fear, not for who you are." He places his left hand on her shoulder with a gentle strength. "If you need someone, I am here. sure, you may visit me; you don't need to feel lost. This can become your home too." He smiles and hoped for her to feel the warmth of the sun as strong as he did. Moving his hand from her shoulder to the ground he said: "I would be very afraid in your situation. I don't know if I had the strength to even talk to someone if all that was left in my head was mist. I understand your misery, and I hope the best for you." with his last words he got up, wiped some earth from his hands and extended his right to her. He smiled spreading self awareness and confidence. "And with these good hopes, let us see the Prince."

Faíl's words comfort her and she felt the warmth of his hand, even when he removed it. "I'm grateful that it was you that I met... Who knows what would have happened if it had been anyone else." She gave a genuine smile. "We will always be friends no matter what..." She took his hand, letting him help her up. "Yes, the Prince." She said dusting herself off. "It should be an interesting encounter.

"It always is", he laughs. He heads for the dogwood throne.
(we heave to hit up crow before moving on)

(K, do you want me to go ahead and reply?)

Pandora allows Faíl to lead her threw the garden. Then to where the Dogwood Throne sat. She had no idea what was to come as she was of her own past.

(Moving to The Dogwood Throne)

(and we're back)