Log:Once Upon a Time, Scene 4

Once Upon a Time 2010/04/15 	 Lorelei Palanir 4

The palace guard escorts Lorelei to Palanir's section of the castle. The door opens to find him pacing about, dictating a document to a pen the dips itself into ink and writes out on parchment by it self. With a wave of his hand the quill puts itself back into it's holder. "Stephie... come in," he says.

Lorelei says, "Thank you." She hadn't expected him to be so welcoming. She enters and curtseys, wondering how to address him.

Lorelei says, "I wasn't sure you would see me - things being as they are."

"She never told me about you," Palanir says. He walks past Stephie to shut the door, taking the opportunity to looks her over, critically. "I suspect that she meant to isolate you from this world..." He nods at Lorelei's statement. "Yes, it's awkward. Things are difficult between myself and your mother. But I don't see any reason to hold it against you."

Palanir adds, "I would think that this world would be a more suitable place to raise a child. I've been to Earth. It can be a dangerous, dirty place."

Lorelei says, "Can you tell me about her, about, well, what happened? They told me you found her on Earth at some point...."

"Yes, she had gotten lost on Earth," Palanir says. "There was a block in one of the fairy paths. Some human had built a boathouse right in the way. She was in London when I managed to catch up with her."

"I hope you can understand..." Palanir says.

Lorelei says, "And you weren't married until after this?"

"No," Palanir says. "Not until after we'd returned. But it was understood that we were to be wed. Our parents arranged for it."

Lorelei exclaims, perhaps unwisely, "Then she did marry dad first!"

Palanir quirks an eyebrow at Lorelei briefly, before saying: "There are many things that I do not understand about your mother," Palanir says. "One of which: why she she would keep you from Faery -- you are of royal blood. This should be your home. And on the other side, she kept you from us... You, Stephie, are remarkable in a number of ways. Not the least of which being your experience with Earth."

"It's a rare skill," he adds.

Lorelei says, "I don't know why she did it. I don't know why she left - why I was told she was dead..."

Lorelei says, "But I'm thinking now she had to leave because you found her."

"We had our responsibilities to see to," Palanir says. "We were supposed to lead the people of Undermoon. We were supposed to rule. It's not something that can be simply forgotten."

Lorelei says, "And yet she went to live in the swamp! Tell me - when you found her - how was she? Was she happy to return here?"

Lorelei tries to avoid the open question "did you make her?"

Palanir asks, "What are you digging at?"

Lorelei replies, "I want to know what changed her so!" Which is true, as far as it goes.

"She'd had her little vacation on Earth, and it was fun," Palanir says. "And I'll admit, that I had my share of diversions there too. But eventually it comes time to grow up and face the responsibilities that one was born with. I simply reminded her that she was missed back home, and that people were counting her. Reminded her of her obligations."

Lorelei shakes her head. "But I still don't understand - how she could have left dad like that, left me! I was only 7! It's not like like her - or like what I remember of her...."

Palanir says, "You're planning on going to see her aren't you? I can't express how bad an idea that is. It's too dangerous."

Lorelei says, "Why is it dangerous? What are the dangers?"

Palanir says, "Meril and Delanu have already lost their son Canador to the damned swamp. I told him the same -- not to go. But he would not listen to advice."

Lorelei says, "And yet they say mum made the swamp. What could have driven her to that? To harming her own relatives?"

Palanir explains, and his voice rises slightly. "The swamp corrupts everyone that enters it, twists them until they become just another one of the creatures that roams the swamps."

Lorelei thinks. o O (Or is it more complicated than that? Palanir stands most to gain from Canador being lost - he *might* possibly be selected to rule, mum or no mum, if the alternative seems less bright...)

"Canador left with all the enchantments we could think of to protect him and his party. No one knows really how long it takes.

Lorelei nods.

Lorelei thinks. o O (Enchantments, mind. That wouldn't be what we'd be using.)

Palanir says, "I wish that you would reconsider. Your place is here, in the royal court."

Lorelei says, "But she's my mother!"

Lorelei thinks. o O (And I notice you don't seem that concerned about her. Or Canador, or the king.)

Palanir says, "All the more reason to leave her as a soft and warm memory in your heart, that to ruin it with the reality of what she's become."

Lorelei says, "What do you know about what she's become?"

Palanir says, "Cold." After a beat, he continues. "I hope that your friends know what you have in store for them."

Lorelei says, failing to hide bitterness, "Colder than a man who leave the woman he married in a monstrous swamp?"

"Get out." Palanir says. "You've had a long journey," he said, with strained politeness. "Maybe after a night's rest you'll come back to your senses."