The Witch's Castle (Be Afraid! Be Very Afraid): Free RP

[Inkling]

Towering high above the ground, hidden in the valley between two mountains, this castle is an imposing sight. Could it be entirely constructed of ice? So the gleaming walls would suggest, at least. Sharp angles define the structure, which has been recently constructed. It is quite literally a palace fit for a queen, though it is by no stretch of the imagination beautiful. It has the requisite number of embrasures so arrows can rain down on unsuspecting intruders, suggesting that this is a castle which could withstand a siege.

Across the drawbridge, which creaks in an ominous fashion, a sled has been parked. Along the walkway, there are several cleverly constructed statues. They almost look real. The cold here is nearly unbearable for anyone without fur; it seeps into the very marrow. Sounds like a perfect vacation spot, doesn't it?

[Josh]

Drainor walked down the cold icy corridor in the tall castle. He was growling in anger for he was about to go hunting when he had received a summon from The White Witch herself. As he approached her throne he bowed his head. "What is it your majesty. Why have you summoned me?"

[Josh]

Another wolf looked at Drainor. "What do you mean "Why?" You were suppossed to travel down to the Lantern Waste......to help bring down the traitors..."

Drainor growled loudly at the wolf, causing the other wolf to take a step back. Drainor did not like being told what to do....and the only reason he obeyed the Queen was so that he didnt get turned into an statue like several other of his kind.

"Very well!" he snarled. "I'll go. Anything else?"

Again there was no reply from the Witch but a cold stare.

Drainor nodded. "I'll be back." He then turned and walked out of the room frusterated.


ooc: okay someone needs to play the White Witch!

[Frodosgurl]

Not far away an in-denial and slightly flurtasous young female wolf remained almost silent as a mouse. Unhappy it was to be in the sevice of the evil witch but it dare not say.

"Pathetic" she mumbled.

and then unhappily roams away.

[Knight of Narnia]

A loud howl suddenly came from the entrance to the castle.

"Would the two of you MOVE IT!" said the tall, white wolf. "Her majesty does not like to be kept waiting. Unless you want to become her next garden ornament, I suggest you follow me. We're going down to the Great Woods now so that we can hunt down those cowardly traitors. I swear ... some lousy human gives them a morsel of meat and they roll over like the dogs they are. I'm leaving now and if the two of you want to keep from being turned to stone you'd best follow."

Icefang turned around and dashed out of the castle towards the Great Woods. He knew it would be a long trip there and back and he wanted to do his best to please his queen, so he knew that the faster he returned to the White Witch, the better things would be.


**OOC: My Narnia geography fails me at the moment... which direction is the Great Woods from the White Witch's castle and how long should it take me to get there?**

[Mozart the Meerkitten]

**OOC: My Narnia geography fails me at the moment... which direction is the Great Woods from the White Witch's castle and how long should it take me to get there?**

OCC: If you travel quickly perhaps less than a day or a day.:D

[Ephinie]

**OOC: My Narnia geography fails me at the moment... which direction is the Great Woods from the White Witch's castle and how long should it take me to get there?**
If you are a wolf, running full-out, I'm sure you could get there in a day. Anything slower would take a few days at least.

[Little Otter]

The Queen's features remained set in the aloof non-expression she customarily wore as the wolves and werewolf disappeared through the castle gates. Like arrows well-crafted and aimed, they would find their targets and dispose of them efficiently, and the breath of their passing would deepen the thickening ice that held all Narnia under her rule.

But if a single arrow were faulty...

One eye narrowed infinitesimally. The werewolf had not shown the required respect, not by far. Jadis had seen the fury bristling under his curt bow, and the snarl with which he responded to her order – no matter that it came from another's mouth – was the very last thing she planned to accept.

And he had not waited to be dismissed.

Underestimation could be a keen tool when correctly wielded, but it had no place in the Queen's servants. Were it not for the asset the Werewolf's strength could prove to be, he would even now be cringing in her courtyard, solid stone.

“You will follow the Werewolf into the Waste,” she said softly to the insignificant-looking gray Wolf crouched at the side of her throne. His ears, one scarred and ripped by old battles, swiveled toward her, taking her words as the order they were. She did not smile, but her lips pursed into something like the expression. A true servant. “You will not allow yourself to be seen or heard, but you will watch him closely,” she continued under her breath, “and bring word to me. Is that understood?”

The Wolf, the same that had pretended to flinch at Drainor's snarl, sank into a deep bow. “I hear and obey, my queen.”

She caught a glimpse of a yellow, crafty eye, then he was gone through the gates, padding silently after the werewolf.

OOC: Ok, I'm assuming that Icefang and Drainor are going different directions (Icefang to the Great Woods, Drainor to the Waste - aka our front yard). Let me know if that isn't what you meant, and I will fix my post accordingly.

[Inkling]

A black dwarf steps from the shadows; his form is not attractive, by any possible definition of the term. He is oily in his obsequiousness and he dips into a low, servile bow.

"Your Majesty," he begins, voice dripping with his fawning, "Your goblin sentries along the pass to Archenland have not yet reported in, as you commanded them to do, and those /dogs/," he nearly spits out the pejorative term referring to the wolves who have just departed, "need to be reminded of the cost to those who do not follow your bidding."

The dwarf sneers. "Not all of your servants are worthy of you, my lady. Do you wish me to ready your chariot so that we might teach them what it means to serve a /true/ queen?" He rubs his gnarled hands together in anticipation of seeing her wrath.

[Josh]

Drainor entered the Witch’s castle with the dead fox in his mouth. As he approached the Queen he threw the little animal to the floor. “Your majesty, forgive me for the delay in my task. You told me to seek out traitors in the Lantern Waste, but there is a traitor among us. Kayla the wolf is apparently a rebel. I heard her say so to a leopard. I know what you told me to do and I'll return to the Lantern Waste. But I just wanted to warn you that some of your so called servants arent as loyal as you think.”

With that he picked up the dead fox and started chewing on it as he exited the castle.

[Little Otter]

Jadis spares the Dwarf a glance, her expression faintly scornful. Her pride, however, is soothed by the groveling, and she purses her lips briefly before answering. “Not now,” she replies, “though perhaps this evening, if –”

Drainor's entrance interrupts her. She turns to him, one eyebrow raising slightly as he approaches her throne. “You –” she begins, then stops as he talks over her. Cold fury begins to build as the werewolf delivers his report, escalating as he leaves the hall, again without being dismissed. The Queen taps her wand against the arm of her throne, the sound echoing ominously in the silent room.

Dismissing the Dwarf with a wave of one hand, she gestures to the gray Wolf, who had entered unobtrusively while Drainor was speaking. He slinks to the foot of the dais and bows his head.

“Well?”

“It is as he says, my lady. Though,” the spy adds, teeth baring in the wolf-expression that looks like a smile but is absolutely not, “he did not hear it in the Waste.”

Jadis raises her eyebrows. “Meaning...?”

“The werewolf did not go to the Waste, my lady. He was in the Plains, picking fights like a common mongrel.”

The Witch nods slowly, taking this in stride. “Then the rebels in the Waste have been left in peace. The fox...?”

The wolf snorts softly, his disgust with Drainor's waste of time evident. “...happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. I doubt very much that it or its littermates had anything to do with any resistance.”

“Hm.” Jadis spins her wand absently in her hands. “Well, Sennulf, as my trusted advisor,” her eyes glint with dark amusement, “what do you suggest?”

The reply is immediate. “He deserves to die, my lady.”

A pleased smirk makes a very brief appearance. “Extreme,” Jadis comments. “A werewolf could be a useful ally, don't you think?”

“Only if he is fully with us. A soldier who does not do as he is bid is nothing but a danger to his own side.”

Jadis inclines her head slightly, conceding this. “Well spoken.” She is silent for a moment, then orders, “Bring him to me. Take as many wolves as you need, but do not harm him any more than is necessary. As for this... Kayla... set one of your underlings to follow her. Find out if she is a true rebel or merely discontent.”

The wolf bows again and departs to carry out her orders.

[Inkling]

The black dwarf, Grizzle, bows low, bending from the waist, long beard nearly sweeping the ground. "As you wish, my queen. I am, as always, yours to command."

He retreats to his accustomed place in the shadows by Jadis's throne, rubbing his hands together with malicious glee as the sound of her wand resonates throughout the chamber.

Grizzle nods his agreement. "Such a fool should not be permitted to live, much less enter your presence again."

[Little Otter]

The Witch does not deign to look at the Dwarf, but after a moment replies, “Perhaps.” She falls silent, watching the massive doors at the far end of the hall, then adds, “And perhaps a week in the dungeons will be sufficient.”

Compassion is not a concept with which Jadis is well acquainted. Whatever tenderheartedness she possessed in the beginning has long since been frozen away, bit by bit: by years of cruelty; by long, desperate war; by the speaking of an unspeakable word. But she is nothing if not economical. Her servants, willing or no, are her tools: she will systematically extract every last minim of usefulness from them, until they are empty. Calculating efficiency must never be mistaken for mercy.

Jadis stirs and glances at Grizzle. “Has there been word from the goblins guarding the pass?”

OOC: That is, the goblins that Ninecatcher and Retaw recently ate. *COUGH!* I mean... um... dispatched! Did away with! Disposed of! Yeah...

[Copperfox]

OOC: Don't forget the Minotaurs who were watching the narrower secondary pass which Ninecatcher and her husband tried first. Those Minotaurs have been crow-food for days longer than the Goblins have been.

[Frodosgurl]

OOC: whoever is spying on my character needs to know I posted something for them to read in the Latern Waste!!:p

[Mozart the Meerkitten]

OOC: whoever is spying on my character needs to know I posted something for them to read in the Latern Waste!!:p

OCC: Yeah so'd I.

[Little Otter]

OOC: Since the Minotaur patrol got wiped out several days before I started playing Jadis, she's already dealt with it. The secondary pass is now guarded by a group of goblins, which are about to be attacked by Bryan the Fearsome Archenlander. XD

[Inkling]

Grizzle averts his eyes, feeling himself unworthy to even look upon his queen.

"No, Your Majesty," he replies, bowing low again. "They are hours late in delivering their report from the Southern passes. As the Minotaurs were before them when..."

His mouth snaps shut. Far be it from him to advise Jadis. The black dwarf's expression reveals not even a hint of mercy, and his small eyes reflect something malicious in his nature.

[Narnia_Nut]

A thin black cloud of mist streams into the castle, moving quickly. It greets the occupants of stone by swirling tendrils and wisps throughout and around the statues as it moves towards the stairs, up them, and passes through the lock in the door.
Oh that I could muster enough substance to my being to knock you out of my way. It greets Grissel, before curling around it's mistress.
Your majesty. Your servant sends word of the need of reinforcements for Lantern Waste. He fights two unicorns (one of whom is unconscious and the other nearing) and two wolves, a fox and a kitten. He cannot hold his own. It snickers. Typical. He's failed you too many times, Your Majesty. End it now before he causes too much damage. Oh, and he says please come quickly because you will need to take at least two prisoners. Can we do that before you take care of him? I haven't had fun with prisoners in such time. You wouldn't let me play with them last time.

[Little Otter]

The Witch purses her lips in irritation at the interruption, but the spectre's message catches her interest. “Prisoners?” she repeats aloud . In another, her tone might have seemed bemused, but Jadis's eyes are already glittering with half-laid plans.

She briefly considers the creatures in her employ, inspecting each mentally and casting it aside as insufficient. The wolves have the requisite strength, but they have proven lately to be inconveniently fickle, and she certainly does not trust the corrupt creatures she led down from the moors. Terrifying and hideous they might be, but the few that are not so stupid as to hit themselves with their own clubs are restive and sly, chafing under her reign and watching her closely for any sign of weakness.

A sign that she would not give.

“Harness the reindeer,” she orders Grizzle, standing and striding purposefully toward the Hall's doors.

[Inkling]

Grizzle runs as swiftly as his stubby legs will carry him, in such haste lest his mistress have to wait that he nearly trips over his beard as he rushes to do her bidding.

With little care for the animals themselves, he yanks on harnesses and tightens cinches. He walks a circuit around the sled, ensuring that all is set to Jadis's exacting specifications. His look, devoid of any emotion but cruelty, is genuinely chilling.

His whip lashes out and it cracks against the backs of the reindeer, setting them in motion. Grizzle drives them hard up to the front of the castle, just in time to intercept Jadis.

"All is in readiness, my Queen." He bows low, positively simpering.

[Little Otter]

The Queen steps into the sledge gracefully and nods to the Dwarf. With that signal, they are off, the reindeer straining to meet the pace set for them by Grizzle's whip.

[Narnia_Nut]

The mist chuckles quietly, and spreads out to follow closely.

This is going to be most fun.

[Josh]

Drainor started walking towards the Witch's castle to inform her a bit more on the traitors.

[Little Otter]

Jadis stands as the sledge hisses to a halt and steps to the ground, ordering Grizzle as she goes to bring the unicorn into the Hall. The orknie guards stationed by the outside doors leap to attention and hasten to swing open the gates. She does not acknowledge their presence except to indicate that one is to carry in the wolf, and passes into the outer courtyard.

She ignores the few statues scattered on each side. They are defeated – dead, for all intents and purposes – and gloating over something that is unaware of your presence is a waste of time. The Witch continues on past them and throws open the doors to the Hall herself, pausing in the doorway.

The conversations (if they could be called such) of the assembled captains die down as she enters, and a unnatural hush falls. Towering Ettins squint down at her with their small eyes; Hags, bent double with age, huddle near the dais; the slender, poisonous People of the Toadstools are all but hidden by their wide-brimmed hats, and Efreets hover in the shadows, membranous wings crackling with flame. Sennulf stands near her throne, inscrutable as always, and the spaces normally frequented by Grizzle and Spyros are still empty.

Jadis waits for a moment, forcing the attention of her army's leaders to fix fully on her, then sweeps into the Hall. The various creatures draw back silently as she passes, she notes with some satisfaction, unwilling to obstruct the Queen's path. She reaches her throne and takes her seat, turning her attention to the door.

OOC: Sorry about the wait, everybody. I know this isn't much to show for how long I've gone without posting. Needed a break from her thought processes. Back now. =/

[Copperfox]

OOC: It's understandable. Mister Lewis, in writing The Screwtape Letters, was bothered by having to "roleplay" as a devil.

[Inkling]

Grizzle has lashed the team hard, and the corners of his mouth twitch upward slightly in a satisfied smirk as the Witch's conveyance glides smoothly over the snow. He has them unhitched in a trice, keeping the unicorn stallion with him, connected by a short tether of rope.

He pulls Onyx sharply, keeping a bloodshot eye on him and holding his free hand on the end of his whip. "Oh, you will see..." He leaves the stallion scant time to note the curious statues which line the courtyard, and he spares him no possible indignity as he passes them both by the sets of eyes, glowing with something decidedly unholy, of Jadis's assembled hordes.

He stands below the dais where Jadis holds court, his manner that of one who has just spied his beloved after years of absence; in other words, he is nearly quivering with anticipation.

"She will speak, and you /will/ know," he hisses into Onyx's ear.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Agate follows the tracks left by the reindeer. The filly is forced to rest at several points along the way, her stomach churning with nausea and her head continuing to throb in pace with her steps.

Onward she trudges, through the snow and the ice, her mane and tail near-frozen. In the distance, she begins to make out the towers of Jadis's castle, dark forms against the twilit sky.

[Petraverd]

Onyx gives a short gasp as he's yanked around yet again, and his voice is raspy and barely audible. "Please... mercy..."

He is hurried through the courtyard, complete with much stumbling and tangled hooves on Onyx's part, and is instead left to view the horrors of Jadis's hordes.The stallion shivers, for once actually /wanting/ to hurry through, but he is not allowed to. The leers, the evil grimaces, the sheer terror they exude is nearly more than Onyx can bear.

The stallion recoils several times as he is dragged past the hordes, and each one is accompanied by several moments scrabbling as he attempts to regain his weary footing. Finally, Grizzle reaches his place and Onyx remains near, trembling - not solely because of his weary legs that he's forcing to keep him upright, but because of the pure fear he feels.

Please... no more... just let it end...

[Little Otter]

Jadis watches expressionlessly as Grizzle parades the obviously-helpless unicorn around in front of the leering captains. The crowd, turned by its sheer mass into a single entity, churns with terrible, gloating mirth. Snarls and shrieking laughter fill the Hall, every creature fairly slavering to be the one to rend the stallion from limb to limb.

The attention fixed on the unicorn is such that the orknie guard dragging the wolf into the Hall goes relatively unnoticed. It stumps up to the Witch's throne, one meaty hand fisted in the scruff of the wolf's neck, and stands there rather stupidly, waiting for instruction. Jadis glances briefly at the wolf's face, a rictus mask of stifled agony, and nods to the orknie. It drops the wolf without ceremony, grunts something respectful and barely coherent, and stumps back out to its post.

As the wolf struggles to get his feet beneath him, Jadis stands. The motion, which should have resulted in immediate silence, seems to make no difference to the crowd. The Witch's fingers tighten on her wand.

“Silence!”

One advantage of rarely raising your voice is that people pay heed on the occasion that you do. Jadis is not disappointed – the collective attention of the crowd swivels to her, many of the creatures halting mid-cry. She smiles slightly, and when she speaks again, her voice is deceptively soft as always. “You have seen the prisoner.” Her eyes flick to the unicorn stallion, and an approving roar rises from the horde. “This,” Jadis gestures to the finally-standing wolf, “is the one responsible for its capture.”

The wolf's tail swushes from side to side, and even through his obvious pain, he manages to inflate noticeably with pride. Fool.

“He did so against superior numbers and sustained great injury.” The Witch steps down from the dais to pace in front of her army's leaders. “I would expect no less. But,” she rounds on the wolf, eyes glittering. “He did so contrary to my orders.”

The unfortunate wolf's eyes widen, and his tail stops mid-wag. Unconsciously, he sinks to the ground, groveling before her. “My Queen, I tried to carry out your orders – the situation got out of hand; I did as I deemed best--”

“Silence,” she commands softly. “Your orders were to spy on the traitor wolf Kayla, or, failing that, to bring her to me. You instead instigated a brawl--”

“Your majesty, I hardly--”

“You will be silent,” she orders again, tone even gentler, but emphasized by the tip of her wand at his chin. He freezes in place and swallows, glancing from the wand to her eyes and back again. “He has failed to carry out my orders and allowed the traitor to escape,” she informs the assembly, her eyes not leaving the wolf's face, “and has instead brought this prisoner in the hopes that I will overlook his shortcomings.” She laughs once, the sound ominous and entirely without mirth, and pauses, prolonging the moment. There is utter silence in the Hall.

The Witch's wrist flicks slightly, thrusting the wand forward toward the wolf. Blue light, her cold power made visible, washes over him, freezing every strand of fur into place. His terrified yelp resounds through the room even after the spell is complete, leaving the perfect statue of a wolf half-rolled onto its back, front paws flung up in supplication.

Jadis straightens, her glance sweeping the assembly. They shift nervously, and the silence remains unbroken as they absorb the scene before them. She smiles.

“You are dismissed.”

[Petraverd]

Onyx, for his part, tries to act as small and inconspicuous as possible - and the attempt falls flat on its face, the stallion being rather the center of attention for several moments. The single focus of such a frightening crowd, Onyx's fears get the better of him, and he continues to tremble. He wants nothing more than to act like the small young colt he feels like - to run, to flee, to hide, but he is too weak fight the tether holding him to the dwarf and the spot.

He bears all of this in silence - that is, until he is witness to Jadis turning her henchwolf into stone. The cry of the wolf is mingled with Onyx's own short, horrified whinny. His dark eyes dart everywhere but the wolf, and his thoughts race, for Jadis has not only frozen the wolf.

She has frozen Onyx's hope as well.

Is /that/ what I have to look forward to... is that what my /parents/ felt... is this all that's left for me?

The stallion pales - quite a trick for someone who's already pure white. He comes to the realization that so long as he remains useful, he might avoid such a fate for a time... and his next thought is chiding himself for even /considering/ being 'useful' in any sense to Jadis and her cause.

Onyx's thoughts dissolve into a horrible muddle, quite at a loss as to what to do with himself.

[Inkling]

LO, I was shivering when I read that...wow. Just wow.

Grizzle's eyes gleam with deep satisfaction. "Thus may it be to anyone who would oppose our glorious queen," he murmurs.

The dwarf takes in every nuance of the stallion's expression, his cold smile only spreading. "And what are your orders concerning the fate of the stallion, Majesty?"

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Agate, unlike her older brother, has time to wander through the courtyard. She has managed to reach that far without being noticed, since Jadis's minions are distracted. She freezes in front of a particular pair of statues. "Mum...Father?" She whispers.

Agate curls her cold body around the equally cold stone, gaping up at them and not moving for several minutes. For a time, it is as if she is with them again, and the little filly almost looks entranced herself by the likeness.

Agate pays little mind to the commotion, and fortunately for her, the departing hoards do not pass through the courtyard. Finally, she forces herself to rise and tentatively presses further.

From a distance, she sees Onyx, still in the grasp of the dwarf. The filly summons up her courage, and subtlety or the potential consequences are not even remotely in her mind. Something with in Agate snaps at the view. She clatters across the stones, her small voice ringing out clearly in the sudden silence after Jadis's forces have returned to their duties, "Let 'im go! That's my brother!"

[faithfulpurelight]

Argent smirks, watching the proceedings from off to the side. How silly of these creatures, to think they can stand against his Queen. He flinches as the wolf is turned to stone, remembering his own parents’ horrid deaths in the same way. He will not let that happen to his brothers, he will keep them safe, and healthy, and alive, no matter what it took. If that meant serving the very woman who had killed his parents, so be it.

He looks over to where Sterling sits at his side and nods, a silent conversation passing between them in the span of seconds. Partners as well as brothers, best friends, and brothers of blood, soul, and heart, he doesn’t know what he would do without Sterling. He watches his brother disappear around the corner, heading to their assigned quarters to check on Silber and Klein. They’ve kept their little brothers out of the way, for several reasons. The top two were that they were spies, so to see them around often would be foolish, and the second reason was it kept them out of trouble, and kept them away from death. He smiles softly at the thought of all three of his brothers before turning back to the court.

With his arrogant and cold smirk back in place, he scampers over to the throne, offering a bow to Queen Jadis before jumping onto the arm of her throne and settling himself next to her. He watches with detached interest as the dwarf, he believes his name is Grizzle, calls Jadis’s attention back to the unicorn. When the younger unicorn clatters into view, making commands of all things, he rolls his eyes, letting a slight hiss escape him. Who does this female think she was? Is she stupid or something?

“My Queen?” he murmurs, awaiting orders. Not that he can do much against a unicorn, but he might be able to do something.

[Little Otter]

Jadis resumes her seat as the subdued captains file out of the Hall and back to their duties. She gestures imperiously at a giant, ordering him to take the new statue to the courtyard with the others.

“What to do with you,” she muses, turning her attention to the trembling unicorn. She barely glances at Argent as he takes his place on the arm of her throne, but one long-fingered hand snakes out to absently stroke the kitten's ears. The juxtaposition of indifferent cruelty and apparent innocence is distinctly unsettling. “What do you have to say for yourself?” she asks the stallion, though whether the question is based on prospective gain or merely cat-and-mouse amusement is unclear.

Her attention snaps to the filly as she canters into the hall, and one eyebrow raises. The shadowy forms of two massive snow leopards follow the unicorn foal silently, and she is apparently unaware of them. Jadis narrows her eyes slightly at the guards' actions in allowing her through, but her lips twitch into a delighted smirk as the filly declares herself.

[Petraverd]

Onyx relaxes a slight bit as the hordes leave, glad that he doesn't have to deal with their leers any longer, at least for the moment.

He is not allowed much, however, before someone else sets their sights on him. At the direction question, Onyx finds his voice nothing more than a scratch in his throat.

"I... I..."

Something about the Witch's tone, her entire countenance, is unsettling to him. He finds himself unable to form a coherent sentence, which worries him.

He wavers on his hooves, physically and emotionally exhausted and having had no chance to rest. All in all, he looks to be a rather pathetic unicorn at the moment.

It is at that moment that his sister walks in, and suddenly the stallion finds himself with a surge of courage.

However brief it might be, he takes it, finding his voice again as well.

"AGGIE! You shouldn't have come! Get out of here while you still can!"

[Inkling]

Agate tries to look as fierce as it is possible for a not-yet-grown unicorn to look, but a closer examination would reveal that she is trembling with fear. She appears not to notice anyone else except her brother, and she keeps her eyes fixed on his face.

She draws in a shaky breath. "'M not gonna leave you here. Told you I'd do anything to keep you safe. You're the only one I've got left, and I can't leave."

Finally, she lifts her eyes to look at Jadis, swiftly lowering them again. "Please...let me take his place." She gulps, terrified. "Let him go and I'll stay. I promise." Her tone carries all the pleading of her love for her brother.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Grizzle laughs maliciously, not releasing his hold on Onyx's tether. His lips curl into a sneer. "Your Majesty, let me dispose of both of them."

[faithfulpurelight]

Argent purrs happily as Jadis pets him, feeling very secure in his position for the moment. He eyes the dwarf, who is probably one of her closest servants. He’ll need to watch him carefully, to make sure that he doesn’t try anything. No one can be trusted, except his brothers.

His gaze narrows as he watches the stallion, and he’s on the verge of telling him to spit it out, and keep making the Queen wait, when he speaks in what must be a rare surge of courage. He smirks, amused by the display, trying to pinpoint the relationship these two share. It might be romantic, he has often heard tales of a love such as that, where the two are willing to sacrifice anything to keep the other safe, but he thinks of those stories as fairytales. After all, his mother and father gave their lives for a fairytale, leaving their children behind. Well he doesn’t plan on leaving his siblings behind, not for anything.

But no, she’s too young to be in love with him, and he knows that fire in her eyes. Siblings. He smirks, his mind whirling with the possibilities this situation provides. He moves up the throne, perching precariously on the ice, leaning closer to whisper.

“My Queen, I believe that it would be to your benefit to humor her. My brothers and I can use the love she has for her brother against her, make her willing to do anything asked of her. We can, twist her will, as it is obvious she would do anything for her brother. She will never know what happened.”

[Little Otter]

The Witch ignores both Grizzle and Argent's suggestions, instead standing again to descend the dais. She approaches the filly, taking note of the desperation in Onyx's expression and the determination in Agate's. “Take his place?” she repeats, circling her nonchalantly. “That's quite the offer... Aggie, he called you? Is that your name?”

[Petraverd]

The damage already done to the stallion is completely forgotten as Agate enters and gives her offer. Onyx shakes his head slightly. "Don't... please don't... don't do this..."

His own voice mirrors his sister's, betraying all the care and love he holds for her.

In a desperate move, Onyx makes his own plea. "Please, she doesn't know what she's doing... and what use could a young filly such as her be to you? Just let her go... I'll do anything..."

"Anything" at the moment seems to be collapsing, as the stallion's legs finally give out and he hits the ground with an unceremonious 'umph' noise.

I promised to protect you and now I've drawn you straight to her hands... what have I done...

[Josh]

Drainor walked in to see the commotion. He grinned as he saw Oynx pleading for Agate's life. He loved seeing people tormented this way. He decided to wait for this incident to be settled before he spoke to the Witch.

[Inkling]

Aggie's eyes go as wide as trenchers when Jadis approaches, but the fear in them has dissipated. They only reflect resignation, submission even. It is as if, the resolution made, something inside of her has been lost.

"Onyx, 'M sorry, but I haveta do this..." She takes a deep breath and stands completely still as Jadis draws nearer, forcing herself not to bolt. "Yes, ma'am...I mean, Your Majesty. But it's short for Agate, really." Her voice trembles just slightly, but she is firm. "Meant it too. I'd do anything to make sure my brother's all right." Even Onyx's words have failed to dissuade her, and she keeps her gaze from resting on him.

The unicorn stallion falls, and she races to his side, nudging him with concern. "It'll be all right...somehow..." If anything, this strengthens her decision to protect him, whatever the cost, since it's obvious to her that he cannot bear much more in his present state.

[Little Otter]

The Witch has to restrain a scoff as the stallion promises anything in exchange for his sister's safety and promptly collapses. She watches Agate dash toward him and stands back to observe. Far from being touched by the spectacle, she is already considering the merits and inconveniences of taking any of the choices presented to her.

Disposing of them both, as Grizzle advised, is a tempting offer. She toys with the idea briefly, then discards it. At another time, turning the captives over to a group of her more brutal soldiers to be put to death might have sent an effective message to the Narnians, but for now she must tread carefully as far as such messages are concerned. Her spies' reports have lately carried warnings of unrest in the Waste, and while she is more than capable of crushing any resistance they have put together, she would prefer it to be on her own terms.

They would both trade their lives for the other's, she muses silently. That held possibilities. She could easily keep both prisoner, but in this case... if one were held captive, the other would be as good as tied. With that thought, a plan begins to form.

“Your offer seems fair to me, Agate,” she says aloud, deliberately softening her features. “Though you needn't stay long, not unless something -” her eyes flick significantly to meet Onyx's “- unexpected happens.” She looks back at the filly, contriving to put something reassuring into her smile. “Perhaps a couple of days, how does that sound? Just a short visit.”

She backs up a step and turns to return to her throne, ostensibly to give them a moment for goodbyes. “Send one of your brothers to the Waste,” she orders Argent under her breath upon reaching the dais. “Tell him to find the traitors and join with them. He will not be suspected.” She turns to Sennulf, standing at attention in his usual place. “And you – set someone to follow the stallion. He is not to be harmed, but I want no surprises from him.”

The wolf bows and slinks away, and Jadis turns her attention to the unicorns.

[Petraverd]

True to his countenance, Onyx cannot bear much more, but still, he tries to be strong in order to keep his sister out of Jadis's hands. He nudges Agate a little, and speaks softly. "You /don't/ have to do this... I know you would do anything for me. But is what follows worth it..."

He wishes he had more time to speak alone with his sister, to make her understand, that he had attempted to do so sooner. But there is no time for that now.

His eyes widen slightly, Jadis's implication not going unnoticed in the older sibling's mind.

The stallion's exhaustion is making his mind give out as well as his body. The only thing he can think to say is a final plea to his sister: "Please don't... please... no..."

[Inkling]

Agate's eyes, guileless and innocent, meet her brother's as she straightens her shoulders. She manages to look far older than her years while, at the same time, impossibly small. The filly clearly does not read whatever meaning underlies the Witch's words.

"I promised. I'll stay with you as long as you want." With these words, Agate faces Jadis, offering herself in his stead. "And...thank you."

Agate bends in and speaks quietly into her brother's ear. "You /are/ worth it...I love you, Onyx." She tilts her face up as she takes a step back from him, spending several moments memorizing his face. There is a finality in the glance, as if she isn't certain they will meet again.

She turns and, without shifting her gaze to the left or the right, she picks her way across the hall and stands before Jadis's throne.

[faithfulpurelight]

Watching with a professionally detached interest, Argent surveys the spectacle before him. The stallion is clearly worthless, he can’t even stand as it is, and this is his sister’s life and well-being he is arguing for. He rolls his eyes, holding back a hiss of extreme dislike. This unicorn. . .Onyx, is completely and utterly, useless. What good is he if he can not even protect the one he cares for most. No, he is worthless, that much is obvious. It is in the filly that something still lies, no matter how defeated and subservient she looks. If she is willing to do his for her brother, perhaps there is. . . .hope, for her yet.

His Queen returns, and he nods slightly. Sterling, he will probably be best to send. Silber and Klein would be in to much trouble outside of his sight, and they are more impressionable still then Sterling. Besides . . . his gaze flickers back to the filly. They have work already, twisting someone else’s mind and views. This will be fun, he can already tell. And as much as he hates Sterling, his rock and balance and best friend, leaving him, it is necessary. Besides, it won’t be for long, nor forever. He knows this.

He shakes his head again, looking to Onyx. How can someone be so weak, so pathetic? He should have done everything to keep Aggie safe, and keep them together. He did not, and in doing so, he had lost the right to call her family by anything more than ties of blood. He looks to Aggie as she steps forward and studies her carefully. Yes, can still be swayed, by using her brother. He pushes back a grin in his sudden excitement, making himself look innocent, perhaps even hopeful. She has to be willing to trust them.

“It’s not as a bad as he makes it sounds,” he whispers, as innocent as any kitten his age should be. “Don’t worry, you’ll love it here.”

[Petraverd]

Onyx looks crestfallen as Agate agrees to the Witch's offer. He is speechless as Agate comes to give him what they both consider to be her goodbye, though his dark eyes, tired and weary they may be, still manage to convey the love he has for his sister.

All too soon, though, Agate turns and walks away from him, and the stallion folds. He lowers his head to a foreleg, his thoughts unknowingly matching the kitten's.

I tried, and I failed... I tried so hard, and still it wasn't enough... Agate... I'm so sorry. I failed you, I failed our parents... forgive me...

[Josh]

Drainor rolled his eyes. He was hoping the Witch would give a more painful and tormenting punishment than a couple of days in prison. He turned to Oynx and whispered. "Just be lucky I'm not the one in charge."

[Narnia_Nut]

The malicious black mist decides it's time to have some fun. Orbs shifting to It's mistress, It decides that discretion is the better part of... not valor, no. It has no valor. But doing something stupid still isn't very...wise. No, not when she has the power to send it back to where it came from, forever. That cold, dark place. All alone. No, best to be discreet.

For now.

The mist spreads out, dissipating enough to go virtually unnoticed by everyone, including It's intended victim. Slowly, discreetly, It moves towards the Unicorn. Not the little one, mind you. Plenty of time to play with her later. The male on the other hand... yes. Perfect.

The nearly invisible and spread out cloud encircles the one the little one called Onyx, It's poisonous speech invading the Unicorn's mind with venomous tentacles reaching into the far corners. It is so subtle that only someone who's experienced the nasty feeling before would know It was behind the thoughts.

What's this? Guilt? Ah, yes. You /should/ feel guilt. You've failed your sister! Look what you've done to her. Delivered her into Jadis's hands. Failure! you know what she does to prisoners. What she'll do to your poor, young, innocent sister. She doesn't just turn to stone, you know. She plays with them first. She's just a baby. A baby! Jadis discerns not age. She'll take care of her just like the rest. Look at what you've done! You're supposed to protect her, instead you've delivered her unto death.

It continues to poor malicious and terrible thoughts and images into Onyx's mind, torturing him further.

It pauses momentarily, looking to the infuriating werewolf. I'm handling this, go away. And watch your step or you'll be next. She's already reached her limit with you.It warns, in a way that Drainer would think it was his own thought entering his mind, before returning to the deliciously evil task at hand.

Torturing Onyx.

[Little Otter]

If the Witch notices the Spectre's torment of the stallion, she gives no sign, instead stepping regally to meet Agate. She raises a hand, gesturing to the snow leopards still standing in the far shadows of the hall. “Help our friend to his feet and to the door,” she commands, indicating the still-collapsed unicorn. The cats dip their heads slightly and approach Onyx. One braces its head against the unicorn's shoulder and shoves, allowing him to regain his hooves with significantly less effort, if he so chooses.

Jadis does not watch further, having reached the filly. She regards Agate silently for a moment, carefully manipulating her expression – her smile is almost motherly, and a spark of intrigued admiration lights her eyes. “Agate,” she says, making sure Onyx can hear her. “That's a very pretty name. The name of a stone, isn't it?”

Drainor goes unnoticed – or un-acknowledged – yet again.

[Inkling]

Agate can't bring herself to look at her brother, afraid she'll lose her nerve. She nods in response to Argent, managing a small, strained smile. Her words, for the moment, desert her and this is all she can do in response.

It dawns upon the filly that she will be, for the first time in her life, completely cut off from her family, and since she hasn't learned to be careful to hide what she feels, this must clearly register on her face. She stands as straight as she can; if Onyx is looking, she doesn't want him to see how frightened she is. A single tear traces its way down her muzzle, and she dips her head so that her mane falls in front of her face, hiding it.

A couple of days. I can do that...it won't be bad. Will it?

She looks up at Jadis and makes no sign that she sees anything calculating behind the Queen's smile. "Yes, Your Majesty. We're all named after stones..." Her look is pure gratitude when Jadis 'helps' Onyx to exit the castle. With little filter, Agate's next thought makes its way out. "You're really pretty."

And someone who's so pretty /must/ be good inside too... This thought gives the filly hope.

She continues, "And you don't need to worry 'bout me. I won't be any trouble at all. 'Specially not after you've been so nice." She forces herself to stop prattling, a sure sign she's nervous.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Grizzle also holds back his urge to snort at the saccharine sweetness of the parting between the siblings. He does, however, scowl at Aggie's back...after all, the last thing /he/ wants is to have to deal with such an innocent. Unless his mistress allows him the privilege of breaking her.

Pity. That doesn't seem to be her plan.

He releases Onyx into the 'care' of the snow leopards, his hand itching to take hold of his whip once more, and he clenches the rope so tightly in his hand as he re-coils it that his thick knuckles are white. He pointedly looks to Drainor.

"Cur. It's no wonder she doesn't allow /you/ to deal with the prisoners, isn't it? What she has planned is far worse than what he'd face at your paws." This is said in a low enough tone so that Agate cannot possibly hear.

[Josh]

ooc: we are so evil. lol.

ic: Drainor was actually not too upset that the Witch wasnt giving him attention, cause when she did...it was usually when she was angry at a person. He waited for his moment to speak, while he watched Oynx get tormented by the spectere. He looked at Agate and licked his lips. "Its going to be hard to restrain myself from eating such a tasty creature." He then fantasized about riping apart the unicorn with his teeth, and drinking its blood.

[faithfulpurelight]

Argent feels a pang of sympathy for Aggie, the first thing he’s really felt for someone else other than family in a while. The tear she tries to hide makes his heart ache slightly. If she’s staying, perhaps he can help make her time here better. Or...his little brothers can.

He thinks he sees something move towards Onyx but dismisses it a moment later as his eyes playing tricks on him. He smiles as the filly’s own mind starts to make sense of things. Keep going, it’s safer that way.

He glares at Drainor, and hisses to quietly for Aggie to hear, “Hold your tongue. Can you not see that there are plans already in progress? You would do well to learn your place, mongrel, and not mess with the Queen’s plans.”

[Petraverd]

At the werewolf's comment, Onyx gives a bit of an angry frown and bats a weary hoof towards him. /Lucky?/ /Any/thing would be better than being forced to watch /this./

As if to add insult to injury, the spectre floats over and presses the guilt he feels even more prominently into his mind. Completely oblivious of the spectre's... whatever-sort-of-appendage-it-has in things, he presses himself closer to the floor, willing himself to sink through it.

It's all my fault... my parents depended on me, /Aggie/ depended on me... and now I've delivered my sweet little sister into the hands of the Witch herself...

He is not allowed much time to brood as the leopard shoves him, and he wobbles to his hooves. Too tired to fight much of anything anymore, he allows himself to be led out, casting one final glance towards his sister in the process.

Aggie... I failed you, but I hope you at least know I love you...

[Little Otter]

Jadis's smile widens at Agate's unguarded words. So young... so guileless. The filly will be a true asset to the Witch's cause. “Why, thank you,” she replies out loud, letting her eyes laugh. “You are very pretty too. And you,” she says, wiping away the not-quite-concealed tear with one gentle (if extremely cold) fingertip, “are my honored guest.”

Turning to the kitten, returned to his place by her throne, she says, “Argent, you and your brothers won't mind sharing your quarters with Agate for the next few days, will you?” Though phrased as a polite request, the question is very clearly an order, not to be refused.

[Inkling]

Something tight and cold settles into a knot in the pit of Agate's stomach at the sight of her brother, bowed low and defeated, being escorted from the throne room. It is an image which is immediately graven on her mind, and Onyx is, at present, the only counterbalance to the reception Jadis has given her, though her thoughts are soon directed elsewhere.

She briefly nudges Jadis's hand in thanks as the queen wipes away the tear, not even seeming to sense how icy the touch is. The corners of her mouth turn upward into a weak, but visible, smile.

She can't be the Witch they were talking about. But Onyx...he looked so...No. She didn't even yell at you for crying. Or for showing up like that. Aggie's nature is to be loyal to a fault, and she is so inherently good that she has not yet learned that others are not.

Of course, it doesn't help that Jadis's actions remind her, in that moment, of what her own mother would do under similar circumstances.

Mum...Father... Suddenly, her eyes widen. "If you don't mind, can I ask you something? I know I don't really have a right to, but...when I was coming in, I saw statues in the courtyard. And they looked just like my parents." The filly's tone and demeanor indicate no suspicion. Merely curiosity.

When Jadis gives the veiled order to the kitten, Agate says humbly, "Only if that's all right with you. I don't wanna cause you any trouble..."

[faithfulpurelight]

Argent nods, bowing his head to his Queen. “It would be our pleasure, we have more than enough room, your Majesty.” He looks curiously at the small filly, knowing this could be their chance, and that his Queen must have plans beyond what he’s thought. But of course, she is the Queen, and he knows he is not as great as she is, and could not think of all the ideas she can. He smiles welcomingly at Aggie. “Welcome, Aggie, we’re happy to have you.”

She speaks of statues of her parents and he freezes, a numbing horror overtaking him. Images flash through his mind, a flash of light, his Papa’s scream, his Mama’s cries, and then...they were no more. He represses a great shudder, knowing that the filly might see. There’s nothing he can do about that anymore. Nothing. He forces a confused look on his face instead.

[Petraverd]

Onyx is led out of the castle and through the courtyard by the leopards, and they leave him a short distance away. They return to the castle, leaving Onyx to start to wobble again on his hooves.

Left alone with his thoughts, he ponders.

I can't just leave her there... I promised I'd do everything I could to take care of her... but it obviously wasn't enough... and I'm so tired... and I can't bear to be anywhere near this place anymore...

Duty and agony wrestle with each other in the stallion's mind, confused as to what to do next.

Finally, it is the fear that wins out.

The ordeals he himself has gone through is too much, and he can bear the sight of the castle no longer - even if his sister does still remain within.

He bolts from the castle as quickly as he can, which is to say, he sort of falls all over himself and makes a scuffle in the snow in a general 'away' direction - all the while fighting back the tears his own guilt is trying to yank out of him.

[Josh]

He glares at Drainor, and hisses to quietly for Aggie to hear, “Hold your tongue. Can you not see that there are plans already in progress? You would do well to learn your place, mongrel, and not mess with the Queen’s plans.”

Drainor growled. "And you should learn your place. I havent interfered with the Queen's plans. I'm just letting Onyx know how serious the situation really his." he turned his head and grinned cruely at Onyx then turned back to Argent and whispered. "And if I were you, I wouldnt get on my bad side. I am one of the Witch's best warriors, if not the best, so she wont get rid of me anytime soon. But I'm sure she can sacrifice a little kitten, so I'd keep my mouth SHUT. I don't feel comfortable working with people that feel all of this sympathy for the prisoners. It makes me wonder where your allegiance really lies."

[Inkling]

Agate visibly starts to tremble, since Drainor makes no effort to conceal the first part of what he says about her brother. She lets out a small, frightened whinny and edges away from the werewolf, moving closer to Jadis. It isn't surprising that she turns to the Witch as her protector.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Grizzle glowers at the werewolf, letting out an oath under his breath. The only recognizable word is, of course, 'fool'.

[Josh]

Drainor smirked at the unicorn. He found it amusing that she was so desprate, that she would turn to the Witch herself for protection.

[Little Otter]

The Witch is not entirely surprised by Agate's question concerning the statues, having expected it in some form or another since the filly entered. She lets a flash of apparent grief cross her face, her eyes dropping briefly to the floor.

Drainor's harsh voice threatening Argent distracts her, and she turns toward the two in irritation. The werewolf's ill-timed words concerning Agate's brother – not to mention his arrogance with regards to his role in her forces – anger her more. “Argent,” she says, her voice even, “show our guest her room, please.” She rests one reassuring hand briefly on the filly's neck and steps toward the werewolf, her other hand tightening around her wand.

[Josh]

Drainor looked at the Witch. He knew she was trying to intimidate him, but he wouldnt let himself get out of controll.

ooc: Drainor's conversation with onyx was a quite one not to be heard, but oh well.

[faithfulpurelight]

Argent holds back a hiss, his eyes sparking with anger. He isn’t going to let his feelings rule actions, he knows that could end badly. He does not like being threatened though, and the werewolf is only making things worse for himself as it is. So be it then, it’s his choice. He knows where his alliance is, and as long as his Queen does as well, there is nothing for him to be nervous about.

“Of course, your Majesty,” he ignores Drainor, feeling a smug satisfaction that the werewolf is about to be taught a lesson. He hops down onto the cold icy floor, offering a low bow to Jadis before turning to Aggie. “Come on, I’ll show you our room.” He started out of the room, knowing the little filly would follow.

[~Lava~]

OOC: Josh if you read MN, you will note that Jadis "can read the thoughts of men" I am betting that that power extends to pompous werewolves too.

[Inkling]

Agate glances between Jadis and the werewolf. She nods, the very model of obedient compliance, and trots after the kitten, making certain to keep a wide space between herself and Drainor.

Glad Onyx isn't here...and what did that wolf mean?

She pauses briefly in front of the statues of her parents: less art and more life than she realizes. However, instead of lingering she swiftly continues following placidly behind Argent.

It hurts too much to think right now.



*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

As the filly disappears down the corridor, Grizzle turns to his mistress, his eyes kindled with expectation.

OOC: Aggie and Argent to the plot thread!

[Little Otter]

Jadis approaches Drainor and halts a short ways in front of him. Her significant height allows her to look down on the werewolf from a considerable distance, and she makes full use of this fact. The Witch cants her head to one side and considers him silently, always meeting his eyes.

He has expressed nothing but impatience, arrogance, and yes, sheer rebellion this day. Jadis does not tolerate such qualities in her servants and never will: to do so would be to spell her own downfall. The years have taught her that, if nothing else. She is ancient and cold and without remorse; she brought about the end of her own race and crushed her world with a single word, and she is close – so tantalizingly close – to crushing this one as well. This creature before her, by his pride and rash temper, endangers all that, and her tolerance is spent.

She levels her wand toward him and smiles.

For a moment, nothing happens. Then the werewolf's right forepaw begins to change, graying and solidifying. Jadis knows that were he to try to move it – as he will in a moment; the spell slowly making its way up toward his shoulder will steadily begin to prickle and sting, until every nerve ending is set on fire by shards of ice – the paw would be frozen to the floor, utterly immobile. Drainor is, for the moment, at her tenuous mercy.

[Josh]

Drainor looked up at the Witch. “You don’t want to do this my Queen. If you kill me now, you will not receive valuable information I have. Information you need. In the past few days I’ve been, forcefully, gathering information from the Narnians…and I have discovered where the resistance is hiding, and where they are uniting to overthrow you.”

[Frodosgurl]

OOC: I've been watching this conversation...I find it...very interesting..lol

[Josh]

ooc: What did Drainor do that was impatient and rebellious? He did go to the Lantern Waste, though the spies only caught him at the plains, and he didnt rebel. He was tormenting Onyx and he got in an argument with Argent, but he has done no harm to the Queen.

[Little Otter]

The Queen chuckles dryly and pushes the spell a bit farther, watching the base of the werewolf's throat turn gray and solid. Another half-inch, and he will not be able to breath. "No?" she asks, tone thick with irony. "Then speak quickly."

[Knight of Narnia]

Blackclaw watched Drainor's torture from the shadows. He smirked with delight as the werewolf was slowly suffering at the hands of his mistress.

"Serves the half-breed right." he thought to himself "He acts too much on his own and is certainly /not/ subservient to the Queen like he should be. Blasted creatures, I wish her majesty would turn every one of them to stone. They don't deserve to share the same country as us true wolves."

He knew not to say anything while his queen was in the middle of torturing someone. She never liked to be interrupted during her favorite activities.




OOC: Just to avoid any confusion between Blackclaw and Icefang, Blackclaw will always be in gray text, Icefang henceforth in blue. Also, Blackclaw is outright /evil/. Basically I created him to show the conflict that would have gone on with the wolves of Narnia between those that would have chosen to stay loyal to Jadis and those who chose not to follow her.

[Narnia_Nut]

It rolls and swirls towards It's mistress and the annoyance. It's orbs are fixated on the wand and paw, watching intently and perhaps hopefully willing the spell onward.

[Josh]

The Queen chuckles dryly and pushes the spell a bit farther, watching the base of the werewolf's throat turn gray and solid. Another half-inch, and he will not be able to breath. "No?" she asks, tone thick with irony. "Then speak quickly."

Dranior decided it would not be wise to try to make a deal so he just spit it out. "Here is the deal. I've snuck around the Lantern Waste and the Plains long enough to learn that the narnian people are bulding a fortress in ettinsmoor, somewhere beyond the Giant city. I'll tell you more if you get that wand away from my throat."

[~Lava~]

OOC: Is Drainor trying to get himself killed?

[Little Otter]

The Queen's eyebrows raise, and she laughs silverly. “Perhaps I ought to keep you as my jester,” she mocks. “Do not try my patience.”

[Josh]

The Queen's eyebrows raise, and she laughs silverly. “Perhaps I ought to keep you as my jester,” she mocks. “Do not try my patience.”

"Do not try mine." Drainor said. "Everything that happend today was all in your best interest my Queen. The reason I attacked the fox children and the leapord was to further install fear into your people, so that they would realize that you are not to be messed with...and of course because I was hungry...and you know as well as I that in order for me to be useful, I need my full strength." Drainor took a little gasp for breath, then resumed talking.

"Now about the fortress in Ettinsmoor, the Narnians should start arriving there in about a week, maybe two. I suggest that we get there first, then once the traitors come, we will attack them. After we take them all as prisoners, you can either enslave them, torture them for information, or kill them… whatever you think is best your majesty. I can obtain more information if I try.”

[Little Otter]

OOC: K... before this goes any farther, I should probably make sure, lol. Josh, you know that the Narnians building a fortress in Ettinsmoor past the giant city isn't possible, right? If so, I'm sorry for asking, but I don't want things to get any more messed up IC because of OOC confusion. :)

[Knight of Narnia]

Blackclaw slowly slinked his way up the Queen's side

"Your majesty. If I may beg your pardon" (he was always extremely polite to the queen since he feared her so much) "but can you really trust what this half-breed mongrel is telling you? He is probably trying to save his own hide by telling you lies in hopes of escaping. If he really saw the traitors building a fortress, then please your majesty, send me along with a few other wolves to investigate this for her majesty. If we find the traitors, we will bring them back to you or dispatch them if it comes to that. Please, if her majesty wills it, let me lead a team to investigate this and see whether or not the mongrel is telling the truth."

[Josh]

"Oh I didnt say I saw the creatures at the fortress, I just said I've heard plans for them to go there. It makes me wonder....if they are the ones setting up the trap." He paused and considered the possiblity of that. "Either way, I am on your side my Queen...and for your sake you better hope it stays that way. I have done nothing wrong to you. I have my disagreements with others." he glanced at Blackclaw "but everything I have done was to help you achive victory. You cant hold that against me."

[Narnia_Nut]

It rolls it's orbs (if that's even remotely possible).

Oh for pity's sake. I don't think I can take much more of this. Your Majesty he is making a mockery of you. Can't you see he's grasping at straws and this is just a story? Please. Respect yourself and what you represent and finish him off. It is no less than he deserves. And you'll always find another to take his place.
It thoughtspeaks to Mistress.

[Josh]

ooc: What is up with the Drainor hate? He was being cruel to the good guys (our enemies), and did nothin to you all. I could get Drainor out of this jam easily, but I'm waiting for some cooperation.

[Knight of Narnia]

Blackclaw turned to the queen again

"Your majesty.... perhaps this mongrel can be of some use to us yet... "

He glanced back over at Drainor

"He does already know which ones from our pack have turned traitor and where they last were... if it would please her majesty, I would have him lead us back there so that we could track them and capture or dispatch them for you, your majesty."

[Mozart the Meerkitten]

OOC: I've been following this conversation and have begun to wonder... Is it even posible for anyone other than Aslan to un-turn people from stone? I mean can the witch do that? 'Cause if she can't Dranior is kinda stuck.

[Little Otter]

OOC: I've wondered that myself, actually... from one viewpoint, it makes sense to assume that she'd be able to, considering that it *is* her spell. On the other hand, death-working-backwards is strictly Aslan's territory.

For the purposes of this RP, I'm saying that she can turn people back from stone, but if she tries, the un-stonified statue will be dead. Brain damage from not-breathing for a month or two and all that. I'm not seeing her trying it, though, so it's not really an issue. In Drainor's case, she only turned his paw and some of his neck and face to stone, so he's still very much alive. I think the aftereffects would be something like when you touch dry ice. Whatever got turned to stone will be numb for a few hours and stiff for a few days. Back IC now...

The Witch glances briefly at Blackclaw and away, pointedly ignoring him and his advice.

“For my sake...” she repeats thoughtfully. “For my sake. Really?” She laughs again under her breath. “Do you truly consider yourself such a threat?”

She scoffs lightly. “And really. A fortress in Ettinsmoor? Beyond the Giant City? There have been few with the temerity to tell me such a falsehood to my face!” Jadis pauses, pursing her lips, and adds, “Still, the eyes may be deceived.”

The spell winds its way farther up the side of Drainor's neck and makes its slow, tortuous way onto his face. “We must ensure,” says the Witch softly, watching impassively as the werewolf's eyes turn solid and opaque, “that they never do so again.” She raises her wand and steps away. The stone-spell retreats, fading from Drainor's fur, but twin murky blurs remain in place of his pupils: blue-gray cataracts. He will not see again.

Jadis nods to the snow leopards, returned from escorting Onyx from the castle, and they come to stand a few feet from the werewolf, one on either side.

[Josh]

Drainor blinked as his vision began to blur. He gave an angry glance toward Spyros and walked away. But part of him was happy that the witch knew he was lying. "At least now I don't have to try to trick a couple hundred animals into going up north. That would have been impossible."

Drainor tried walking to his little den but accidentally bumped into the wall. He could hardly see anything. What was clear was now blurry, and everthing had a gray color. Drainor growled. "This better not be permanent."

ooc: about Jadis unturning people into stone. She is slowing the spell so only part of Drainor is freezing. Untill Drainor is 100% stone, she can probably move the wand away and undo the entire thing. And since its her spell, yeah she probably can take it back.

[Josh]

Drainor continued to stumble blindly through the Witch's courtyard. He was able to sort of navigate himself, do to farmiliar scents and trails. Still, he knew he couldnt stay like this, and something had to be done.

[Narnia_Nut]

OOC why the glare? he should have no idea what Spyros is saying to Jadis ;) Thoughtspeak is like telepathy in a way, since a cloud really can't form words out loud that well.

IC
It slowly moves back, rather disappointed to watch him walk away. It sighs and slowly swirls out of sight to go sulk until Mistress calls.

[Simetra]

Sennulf watches the proceedings with the respectful silence his Queen deserves. He, too, looks disappointed to find that the arrogant Werewolf has not been fully disposed of, but he makes no remark upon the Queen's choice to keep him alive, aware that her judgment is consistently economical. His gaze shifts briefly to the Spectre, but the creature's moping is hardly anything remarkable. Sennulf is not particularly fond of overemotional creatures. He waits for Drainor to retreat out of earshot and the speaks in a low, rumbling sort of voice.
"Shall I send one of mine after him, your majesty?" It is clear that he perceives the Werewolf's still maverick streak. This will not do. His Queen has followers, and she has enemies. It is his job to remove the latter.
"We can dispose of him if he does not appear to enjoy his... beauty treatment."
The Wolf's lips curl into a pleased sneer.

[Inkling]

Grizzle nods his agreement with the wolf. "He will not get far without his sight, Your Majesty..." His lips also curve into an approximation of a smile, but it signals the opposite of mirth or cheer.

"It will remind the cur to treat you, my lady, with the respect that you so deserve." The black dwarf rubs his hands together.

"Yes...send Sennulf after him. And may I see to the unicorn filly in the meantime? She must know of what the traitors plan, and I can get the information from her..."

[Simetra]

Sennulf frowns mildly. "I hardly think such a weakling as he is, that he requires my attention." He dismisses the idea with puff through his nostrils. "I believe can afford to send a lesser Wolf after him, if your majesty wills it. He will not be difficult to deal with in this condition. As for the filly..." He eyes the Dwarf, his skepticism about its abilities clear, but appears to think better of remarking upon it.
"I will do as you command, Your Majesty."

[Josh]

Drainor walked into his icy den where he sleeps. He lied down on the ice and shut his eyes. He heard what Simetra was saying about him from the Witch's room, for he had an exceptionally well sense of hearing. He did not mind them sending a wolf to keep an eye on him. In fact, he thought it would be a good opprotunity for a spy to see what he really did, and that he didnt just waste his time killing senslessly. "Still," he thought, "I can get rid of him if I feel the need to."

[Knight of Narnia]

Blackclaw turned to the queen and bowed deeply in front of her

"Your majesty, since you have Sennulf watching the half-breed, might I ask what task you will have for me? If you would allow, I would take a team of wolves to hunt down these traitors and bring them to justice for you. Whether you wish them returned to you or you wish them to be disposed of without having to bother with the task yourself is completely your decision."

[Little Otter]

Jadis watches the werewolf make his stumbling, uncertain way out of the throne room. Her lips twitch sardonically as he nearly walks into the wall, but she makes no move to stop him retreating. Better to let the creature think himself safe.

“He has outlived his usefulness,” she answers under her breath, so as to not be heard. The Witch turns to Blackclaw. “You understand what to do.” She glances meaningfully to the brooding Spectre behind her throne, indicating that it is to follow and help.

Glancing at Grizzle, she smirks indulgently at his morbid enthusiasm regarding the captured filly. “No,” she replies. “For now, she is merely our guest. She is to be treated with the utmost gentleness and respect. No one is to go near her unless given personal permission by myself. For now,” she adds significantly.

"Go," she orders Blackclaw.

OOC: K, going out on a limb here and assuming that since Blackclaw is apparently in a fairly high position in Jadis's army, they've worked together LOTS before. Therefore, he will understand her (very vague) orders to mean “go kill the werewuffie”. I know Josh doesn't want Drainor dead yet, though, soo... here's a plan. Blackclaw takes whatever he has in his command and goes to kill Drainor, but only Mostly-Kills him. So Jadis gets the report that Drainor is dead, while Drainor drags himself off to recover from being Mostly-Dead, and everybody's happy.

If somebody has a better idea, by all means speak up. =P

[Inkling]

Grizzle looks distinctly disappointed at being denied the pleasure of breaking the unicorn filly.

"Yes, Your Majesty...I will make certain that your orders are carried out exactly." He glares at Sennulf, who wanted the honor for himself. However, Grizzle has too high an instinct for self preservation to set himself against the leader of Jadis's army directly.

A small, cold smile forms as his mistress adds, "for now...". The dwarf understands her meaning perfectly.

I can be patient...

[Simetra]

Sennulf returns the Dwarf's glare with a casual glance, obviously not considering him important enough to earn anything so passionate in return, and remains silently at his mistress's side as he watches the proceedings, clearly confident despite the appearance of not having gotten what he wanted.

[Narnia_Nut]

It swirls from behind the throne and surrounds Blackclaw. It appears nearly gleeful.
Finally, something constructive to do!
Let's get on with it. It urges the Wolf.

[Knight of Narnia]

Blackclaw turned to the specter

"Look here you cloud of whatever you are, since you obviously cannot hurt that half-breed the best I can use you for is a distraction. Once he's outside the castle walls, I need you to go over and start 'talking' to him so that he is distracted. Once you start that, I'll take the opportunity to dispatch that beast as her majesty wishes."

[Josh]

Drainor left his den early in the morning, and walked out of the castle. Even though he was blind, he was able to use his other senses to walk around. He decided to go back to the Lantern Waste to try to get some useful information. "Hmm, maybe I can use this blindness to my, I mean the Queen's, advantage."

[Simetra]

Sennulf

Sennulf turns to look at his Queen, the throne room having emptied. "And now, your majesty?"

[Narnia_Nut]

It would roll it's eyes if it could. It settles for an annoyed sound in Blackclaw's head.
I have my uses, moreso than any of you. Do not demean me, peasant.
Now, out of my way and let me at him.

With that, It spreads out into thin air and sweeps through the palace to find the Werewolf.

[Inkling]

Grizzle smirks as Sennulf awaits his instructions.

Unlike you, Her Majesty has already trusted /me/ with her council, and I /know/ my duty clearly.

This thought seems to please him, though his look of contentment could easily be mistaken for nausea, since he is grimacing.

"Forgive me, Your Highness, but I will be about your business."

He saunters from the throne room after bowing once more before Jadis, low and entirely respectful. His mission is as secret as it is critical, and his face is rigid and set. He will not fail her

[Simetra]

Sennulf does not appear to be aware of the Dwarf's existence, nor jealous of his rather menial task. It is almost as if he doesn't consider Grizzle competition... but it's so hard to tell with these sorts.

[Little Otter]

The Witch watches Blackclaw leave the throne room after Spyros. Amused by the wolf's underestimation of the Spectre, she lets out a quiet 'heh'. No doubt he will regret his words next time the oddly-exuberant Spectre is bored.

“Now... patience,” she says simply. “If he succeeds in disposing with the traitor, then so much the better. If not, he is replaceable.”

She returns to her throne and seats herself, resting her wand across her lap. “There has still been no report from the goblins guarding the secondary pass to Archenland,” she says to the wolf. “Go and look into it – take however many of your unit you deem necessary. Find out why there has been no report, and reclaim the pass if needed.”

[Simetra]

Sennulf inclines his head. "Yes, your majesty." He stands, offers a bow, and strides out of the hall to collect his Wolves and make for the pass.

(ooc: This is my pose out. Heading to the Pass.)

[Josh]

The Witch watches Blackclaw leave the throne room after Spyros. Amused by the wolf's underestimation of the Spectre, she lets out a quiet 'heh'. No doubt he will regret his words next time the oddly-exuberant Spectre is bored.

“Now... patience,” she says simply. “If he succeeds in disposing with the traitor, then so much the better. If not, he is replaceable.”

She returns to her throne and seats herself, resting her wand across her lap. “There has still been no report from the goblins guarding the secondary pass to Archenland,” she says to the wolf. “Go and look into it – take however many of your unit you deem necessary. Find out why there has been no report, and reclaim the pass if needed.”

SSSSTTTTOOOOPPpPP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DRAINOR IS NOT A TRAITOR!!! HE IS SUPER ANNNOYING BUT HE COMITED NO TREACHERY at all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IN FACT HE TURNED IN a TRAITOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THE WHITE WITCH'S LOGIC is RIDICULOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Little Otter]

SSSSTTTTOOOOPPpPP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DRAINOR IS NOT A TRAITOR!!! HE IS SUPER ANNNOYING BUT HE COMITED NO TREACHERY at all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IN FACT HE TURNED IN a TRAITOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THE WHITE WITCH'S LOGIC is RIDICULOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OOC: Well, other than, y'know, lying to her... ;)

[Josh]

Ooc: Actually I wasnt intending for him to be lying. But since you said there is no way that could happen and you made me look like a lier, I had to go along.

And that still doesnt really make him a traitor. Before you came up with the whole blind idea, I was going to have Drainor "convince" some creatures to go there for the sake of getting trapped.

[Little Otter]

Ooc: Actually I wasnt intending for him to be lying. But since you said there is no way that could happen and you made me look like a lier, I had to go along.

OOC: Noooo... I pointed that out so you had a chance to change Drainor's story before things went too far. You didn't say anything after my OOC post, so I assumed you wanted to have him stick with an implausible story and had Jadis react to that.

[Little Otter]

As Sennulf leaves the hall, Jadis remains seated, silently considering her next move. With the wolves, Spyros, and Grizzle dispatched to their various tasks, the hall is all but empty. The remaining guards, sensible of their places, are positioned inconspicuously and make no sound.

The filly can be molded into an invaluable tool, but it will take careful planning and tact. The Witch knows well that a single false step could be disastrous, and consequently does not hurry herself in her preparations.

She stands, finally, and sweeps down the corridor toward the room set aside for Sterling and his brothers.

[Posing out]

[Simetra]

A wiry, younger Wolf scuttles into the Throne room. He is obviously a new recruit-- if you couldn't tell by his not-yet-quite-strong build, his frightened eyes would give it away in an instant. Then again, the news he bears might merit the fright.
He looks around the throne room frantically, but finds only the Witch's guards. Upon inquiring where to find her, he receives the sage advice to stay and wait, not interrupting her play. He sets his haunches down and sits right there, trembling, but clearly hoping to follow orders to the letter.

[Narnia_Nut]

It floats boredly back into the Throne room. Seeing no one or nothing of interest, It starts to brood in the corner.

[Simetra]

The scrawny Wolf watches it with wide, inexperienced eyes. He straightens a little, managing to look even skinnier.

[Narnia_Nut]

It watches the young recruit with the glee of temptation.
Slowly, nonchalantly, it floats towards him, unable to resist.

[Simetra]

The Wolf cowers and barks almost involuntarily.

[Narnia_Nut]

It spreads out and envelopes the Wolf, snickering.

Try and bite. It thoughtspeaks.

[Simetra]

The Wolf stay perfectly still, strikingly reminiscent of the statues not far off.

[Narnia_Nut]

It seems almost disappointed, untwisting from around the Wolf and floating in front of him.

So. You're the new one.

[Simetra]

He continues to stay still, but after a moment he barks out boldly, "The Queen! I need the Queen! It's from Sennulf!"

[Narnia_Nut]

It swirls.

What is the message?

[Simetra]

The Wolf gasps, "Humans, west of the pass. With a pack of rebel Narnians. He's gone after them with the Secret Police. There's a... a..." He thinks frantically. "A Centaur. And... a Faun, and some others."

[Narnia_Nut]

It seems to perk up at this news.

Oh /really/ now? How interesting. Yes, we must inform Mistress immediately. She'll want to hear this.

[Simetra]

The Wolf shudders a little. "Where... where is she?"

[Simetra]

OOC> Sorry for the double post.

Sennulf pads into the Witch's Great Hall. Upon sight of his scout and the Spectre, he snarls menacingly.
"Worthless pup! We had to call for back-up from the trees because you couldn't do your job! You'll be lucky if the Queen leaves you your tail for this." He turns on the Spectre. "You go to the Queen and tell her I've returned and have a report for her. She will not want to be kept in the dark."

[Narnia_Nut]

It swirls, contemplating ways to taunt the young wolf more. It's plans are foiled when Sennulf comes in.

Drat.

It swooshes - to break up the swirling, which is getting monotonous - down and engulfs Sennulf partway.

Tell me your report and I shall deliver it myself. Then Mistress can decide if she wants to bother with you or not, worthless fleabag that you are.

[Simetra]

Sennulf growls. "Get off me you over-glorified cloud." His lips curl back to show large yellowed teeth. "There are at least two human children loose in Narnia. That should be enough to convince her to speak with me."

[Narnia_Nut]

It orb-blinks once or twice and despite the news can't resist a few more whirls around Sennulf, taunting the bared teeth that cannot damage It.

And how did that happen? What did you do now, you bumbling furball? Mistress will /not/ be happy with you. Are you /sure/ you want me to deliver news of your incompetence to her?

[Simetra]

The Wolf snarls. "Just go report it, you bumbling ball of mist."

[Inkling]

The black dwarf slinks into the castle proper, muddy satchel clutched under one burly arm. He draws up short, a grimace which is almost a smile of pure malice forming when he overhears the conversation between wolf and spectre.

He lets out a derisive snort at the taunting; this should be enough to alert the others to his presence. He sneers,

"Well, and won't she have a glorious time with such epic failure, Sennulf. Two children, is it? Your hide won't be worth preserving once she lets me have a go. This is a rare treat, and it not even close to my birthday. Not that she allows us even the smallest celebration, but this will do nicely."

His small eyes gleam with anticipation and the knowledge that he, at least, has met with success in his little errand.

[Simetra]

The Wolf leaps out of the incorporeal mist, tackling the Dwarf to the ground. He puts a large paw to his throat. "You better learn how to respect your betters, Shortie."

[Copperfox]

OOC: Jadis cannot be unaware that there are still _many_ human beings in Narnia. So did the reference to _two_ humans in particular mean humans from _outside_ Narnia, namely Bryan and Libertas? Yet if that was meant, I don't know how even Sennulf would know about Bryan.

[Simetra]

ooc The children

[Narnia_Nut]

It looks annoyed when the dwarf distracts it's play thing, whirling indignantly above the dwarf.

You'll not get the pleasure of delivering this news to Mistress. It's /my/ turn!

With that, It swirls away at top speed to beat the dwarf to Mistress, wanting the guilty pleasure of delivering Sennulf's failure to the beloved Mistress all to Itself.

[Inkling]

The dwarf, employing every bit of his stocky strength, shoves at the wolf pinning him down. "OY! Get off, you overgrown, mangy, puppy. She ain't going to be pleased at any delay. When I /see/ my betters, I might think 'bout respecting 'em. You ain't the one I answer to, Sennulf."

He scrambles away and snatches up what he's brought back with him.

[Copperfox]

Inconspicuous in the vast cold sky, the songbird Weavewisp had not met any other intelligent flying creatures. Now she had come far enough that the Witch's castle was within her sight, but not so close that anyone at the castle was likely to see her. Climbing to a height unusual for small birds, she scouted as much as she could see around the castle, which wasn't much. There were Wolves and Ogres present there, but this was hardly news. She saw no sign of Unicorns, but at her cautious distance this proved nothing.

Weavewisp was not about to stay for long even this close to the accursed place. Retreating some distance, she began seeking her shelter for the night. Tomorrow she would begin checking on the trails and roads which radiated outward from the castle; there might be traffic of interest, which she could remember and report later without inviting unfriendly attention by overflying the castle itself.


POSE OUT TO LANTERN WASTE.

[Simetra]

The Wolf snarls, but lets the Dwarf up when it struggles, indulging in a parting comment as he scrambles away. "You'll learn who your betters are soon enough, Stubby."

[Inkling]

Grizzle seizes the opportune moment to get far away from the wolf, brushing himself off and straightening his beard. Satisfied that he looks somewhat more dignified, he glowers at Sennulf.

"Fleas must've gotten to your brain, you misbegotten dog. That's what you are, Sennulf, and it's time for Her Majesty to put a tighter leash on you. She will too, once she knows how you see to her business."

Scowling deeply, and before Sennulf has a chance to retaliate, Grizzle stalks off down the corridor towards the Queen as quickly as his, yes, stubby, legs will carry him. He slings his satchel over one shoulder, his smugness having entirely returned.

[Simetra]

Sennulf sniffs, lips curled back with dislike, and allows the Dwarf to fulfil his duty, not one to trifle in the affairs of his Queen even when those carrying out her orders are imbeciles.

[Frodosgurl]

Flame wandered around hoping to get something to do. Many of the wolves had already left to take care of some resistance. He wishes he could of gone with them since he is quite strong.

[Josh]

Drainor burst into the Queen's castle. With his eyesight restored by the hag, his escape, and the information he obtained, he felt like he was on top of the world. For once he was in control, and the Queen would have to respect him to get vital information.

The werewolf approached the throne. "Well Jadis, I've come back. So you thought you could kill me eh? Well guess what, no one in this world or any other could possibly think of ev-"

Before he could finish his sentance, an icicle from the ceiling above fell down, and drove into his head.

The werewolf fell dead on the floor.

[Simetra]

Jadis moves quickly, blocking the grotesque sight from the unicorn's view, just too late to keep the filly from seeing the dead werewolf. Her brows draw together in pity and she pulls out a handkerchief from within her skirts. Taking Agate's face in her hand, she gently pats the kerchief under her wet eye. As she puts the kerchief away, a faint glimmer seems catch the light-- but that may just be the effect of all this ice.
"Sennulf!" She calls.

[Copperfox]

~ ~ Never thought I would say hurray for Jadis; but it's good to see some action!

[Inkling]

Agate is so distraught that she does not notice when Jadis carefully collects the tear. She closes her eyes, as if doing so will block out the sight she has just witnessed.

Almost too low to be heard, the filly says, "Onyx...I wish you were here. What'm I supposed to do?"

[Lil Princess]

OOC: I hope this is all right since Inky made it a new day in all the threads. Please tell me if this isn't alright Inky.

They reach the grim, cold stone gates and they are relieved of their burden. Marius is seized by more unfriendly hands and locked away to await the Queen's pleasure. Thanks :D[/B]

"Aslan!" prays the centaur as he tries to make it to his feet. His injured hoof gives way beneath him, and he falls. The draining spell having zapped most of his energy."That I should live to see these days. Help me,"

[Simetra]

Next day. We will assume, if Inky agrees to it, that Agate has been taken to a room where she will not see/hear the goings-on of the castle. (Inky, let me know if you think something would change/affect that event).
Jadis sits in her throne, consulting with the head of her prison guard, a burly, scarred Wolf of massive size. He nods to her instructions and runs off, presumably back to the dungeons where the centaur is being kept.
When he has disappeared, the white queen motions with a thin, graceful hand to one of the servants of the hall.
"Bring me Grizzle."

[Mozart the Meerkitten]

Midnight creeps softly towards the ice-castle. He is as silent as any cat ever was and keeps to the shadows where his dark coat is less likely to be seen in the white snow. He avoides everyone and everything living he sees. When he begins to see statues he feels pity for whatever creatures they are. He stays away from the room where he can hear noises from, the room the witch is in and instead heads off for where he hopes the prison is.

'So far so good.' he darts away as a dwarf hurries along toward a room he has just passed.

[Simetra]

OOC> LO has left Sennulf back to me, finding RL too demanding (and since she never RP'd him, no harm done). Sorry-- normally I hate switching around characters, but Jadis was kind of a special case and, like I said, Sennulf never really got switched, he just fell out of the picture for awhile. So anyway, in light of that, here's Sennulf.

Sennulf lurks the darkness, his natural silence amplified by the large, stifling acoustics of his Mistress' castle. Ever on the alert, despite his recent injuries, it takes him no time to take note of the unfamiliar kitten on the premises.
He emerges from the darkness, almost seeming to have materialized out of it, right before the kitten. "I see they have resorted to sending their toughest warriors."

[Mozart the Meerkitten]

None of Midnight's fear registers on his small brave face.
"Well you'd be suprised." he said softly. Then he decides to try something else.
"Actually I'm not here for the rebels, I came for a job. I can be quite good at spying, as you can tell by my entrance here. But lock me up if you wish I will only escape." the little cat doesn't know if this will at all work on the wolf but he knows that either way he's risking his life.

[Lil Princess]

Marius shifts uneasily. It is quiet, much too quiet. The ice crackles and snaps but stays firm,the sound of the fighting against against the witch's spell. Then then there are voices, of whom he can't tell and this makes him all the more uneasy. He only hopes one the resistance hasn't tried to sneak in and free him. It is hopeless. He is doomed.

OOC: I don't know if anybody picked up on it,(Or if I'm just insane) but when Edmund is in the dungeon in the LWW movie, you can hear the ice making strange sounds. Hence my " the ice crackles and snaps" description.

[Simetra]

Sennulf grins down at the kitten, baring his yellowed, canine teeth.
"What makes you think we have need of a spy? Does not the White Queen see all? The trees follow Her. The wolves follow Her. The hags and the werewolves and the incubi all-- follow-- Her. The Dwarves are coming to her side, and others will follow them. It is no surprise to me that you would want to join the great Queen, but what do you have to offer that she does not already have? Do you think the trees are not better spies? The Wolves not better warriors?" He laughs coldly. "Perhaps you are a great mage and think you can outdo her magic." He snaps his maw shut and becomes suddenly serious, his drawling words turning clipped and business-like. "Tell me. What do you offer? Prove your loyalty to the White Lady."

[Mozart the Meerkitten]

Midnight shrugs, "Trees aren't everywhere and even if they were they aren't all on this side. Cats can go places they can't. And I have the exact location of a resistance camp... If one so high and mighty as yourself has any need to know of such a thing." of course Midnight has no thoughts of betraying his friends but he must intrigue this wolf in some way, if he does not wish to be eaten.

[Simetra]

The Wolf smirks. "Is that so. Tell me, then. Where is this rebel band?"

[Mozart the Meerkitten]

"That is rather hard to tell." says Midnight, "I could show it to you but whether or not you could find it on your own I do not know. The rebels have it cleverly disguised. But if you would like the description then this is what I recall of the place; go through the woodlands (Lantern Waste that is), head south for awhile then skip over the river. After that it gets harder." the cat takes the time to lick a paw and swipe it over his little black face.

[Simetra]

The Wolf's expression reveals nothing, except the contempt that is always there. "Pretend for a moment you think I am as smart as you, and tell me the rest."

[~Lava~]

OOC: As I said in the other thread, I figure Orse must have been brought with Marius. He would have been mistaken as someone who belonged to the resistance based on his misguided attempt to "save" his sister. Where do y'all want this cowardly NPC?

[Simetra]

OOC> If he's an NPC and he's been captured, it would make sense that he fade out of the picture now.

[Mozart the Meerkitten]

The Wolf's expression reveals nothing, except the contempt that is always there. "Pretend for a moment you think I am as smart as you, and tell me the rest."

Midnight, pretending to be the kind of cat he was always warned to not be, looks upwards then down his nose at the wolf, "Well if you don't get lost and keep heading strait you'll come to a good-sized clearing. Fifteen evenly spaced trees surround it slightly out from the rest of the woods. In the center there is a large-ish rock from which one could stand on to survey the area around it. It is deep in the forest, but if you keep on course you can find it with little difficulty. The woodlands are tricky though."
This is all true Midnight knows but he also knows it is not the location of the resistance camp. Though a great place for one the real location is still kept hidden from Sennulf and whether he is found out or not Midnight would not tell where the real camp is.

[Simetra]

Sennulf asks, "They are at camp atop this rock, then?"

[Mozart the Meerkitten]

"And around it. You can't fit a whole army on a rock." says Midnight.

[Simetra]

Sennulf nods. "An army... I see. Perhaps you had best tell the Queen of this. I will take you to her."

[Mozart the Meerkitten]

Midnight's blood freezes colder than the ice around him. The small cat though shows none of his panic. His outward posture and expression remain cool and collected like any cat in their normal profession. Even his eyes show no hint of emotion or terror. He pads softly behind the wolf as he is taken directly to /her/.

[Simetra]

Sennulf
Sennulf is silent for the rest of the trip to the Queen's Reception Hall, keeping his eye trained on the kitten in case it tries to skitter away. Not likely a good idea in this unfamiliar maze of ice, but a good precaution nonetheless, especially with the Wolf's scenting facilities still recovering. He stops at the far end of the hall and waits to be acknowledged.
__________________________________________________ _________________________________________________
Jadis
Jadis does not even shift upon seeing her Chief of Police padding into the hall with a kitten, of all things. She seems almost statue-like, herself, sitting in her throne with her chin leant upon an elegant hand. After one of those short eternities caused by having several people in the same room, all of them ignoring each other, she stirs, beckoning them foreward."
"What is it you've brought me here, Sennulf? One of your new playthings?"

[Mozart the Meerkitten]

During the silence Midnight's eyes dart around the room, often returning to the Witch.
'She's more terrible than I've ever heard about! But she is beautiful.' he thinks.
When the witch speaks he is inclinded to shudder but resists the urge and stands firmly planted where he is, waiting to see if the wolf will introduce him.

[Simetra]

Sennulf
Sennulf pads further into the room. "It says it has an army waiting to battle you in the woods."

__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________
Jadis

Jadis fixes her gaze on the cat. "Speak. Be succinct."

[Mozart the Meerkitten]

"In the Lantern Waste there's an army of rebels waiting for the opertune moment to attack. They number about two hundred strong. They're stationed deep in the woods near a large rock which has fifteen trees around it, your majesty." he respectfully inclines his head slightly at the last remark.

[Simetra]

Jadis nods. "Thank you." She looks to her police captain. "Take him to the dungeons."

[Mozart the Meerkitten]

Midnight seems neither frightened nor suprised when he is ordered to be taken to the dungeons.
'You'd think a queen would be smarter than that.... but of course I forget, she's not a queen.' he thinks.

[Simetra]

Sennulf inclines his head deeply in a bow and picks up the kitten in his mouth by the scruff of his neck. He takes Midnight down into the dungeons, padding purposely past Marius' cell so that the kitten can see the captured centaur. He nods his thanks to the jailer who opens the door for him, and dumps the kitten in the icy cell. The jailer, a hefty ape, locks it back up and moves back to his mat. The cell is windowless, and the door heavy and iron-enforced. It does not block out sound, however, so it may be that Midnight and Marius can converse quietly, when the jailer sleeps.
"If we find the resistance camp, she may free you. If not-- well, I'm sure you've heard the sorts of things she does to traitors.

[Mozart the Meerkitten]

Midnight shrugs, 'Least it would delay anything /she/ has planned for awhile. Wonder if anyone will look for me? Ha! No, I don't think anybody cares about a little black kitten who's locked up in a cold cell far from home. Hmm, no I don't think anyone cares. Save maybe Aslan but even /He/ probably has other things on his mind, more important things than me. Now Flower, Flower'd lead a rescue mission soon's she found out I was missin. But Flowers' safe in Archenland and I'm glad.' or so Midnight thinks.

[Lil Princess]

The centaur while pretending is not asleep is not... and when the ape has fallen asleep, he calls out "Midnight, is that you kitten?"

[Mozart the Meerkitten]

Having been dozing himself Midnight, without opening his eyes or moving, pricks up his ears at the sound of his name and says, "Yes. For what I'm worth (which isn't much mind you, which is why I'm here) I'm here. Fine mess this is. Worsen' when Flower locked me in our home once. Least then there were windows."

[Lil Princess]

"Why are you hear?" comes the question back. But it isn't cruel or mean. "You didn't try and follow me, did you kit?"

[Mozart the Meerkitten]

"Well, yes. I decided that a kitten like myself isn't worth much to the resistance anyway so I came here got found out," he whispers the next part so quietly its amazing if the centar can hear him at all, "I lied to the witch about where the resistance is, pretending to be evil to spare my own life and others lives, got the kind of trick I expected and was thrown in here. Maybe I'm throwing away my life needlessly and maybe I'm not. If my sister ever comes back though (I pray to Aslan that she won't) she'll convince somebody to find me and consiquently you. But Flower is far away now so no problem that will be." says Midnight, "I've already figured out how you got here from what I found in the woods." he adds.

[Lil Princess]

"Everyone has worth, kit," replied the centaur gravely.

[Mozart the Meerkitten]

"Everyone has worth, kit," replied the centaur gravely.

"Well some are worth more than others. And my name's Midnight by the way, so you can stop calling me "kit" if you want."

[Lil Princess]

The centaur chuckles gravely. "I know, Midnight kitten. My apologies." Then he is quiet again. Weather he is brooding or praying is uncertain....He may be doing both.

OOC: He was calling midnight kit, in the way an adult might speak to a child calling them child as an endearment or something...

[Mozart the Meerkitten]

OOC: I figured that.

IC: Midnight is also quiet. He stares around his cell, looking for any weakness in it. The ice is thick though, as thick as stone. He looks up and down the walls but the only thing that catches his eye is a hole in the back corner of the ice; its too tiny for him to fit through but in time he may be able to use such a thing.

'Well I guess since we're all not dead then Aslan has protected us. But I wonder....' he leaves his thought unfinished as questions flood through his mind, all of them of his sister.
'She probably hasn't stayed where she was supposed to and she's probably getting into trouble somewhere... But is she safe? I hope she stayed in Archenland. Flower... Oh Aslan if you don't care about me then take care of my sister at least, or take the care and time you take to watch me and watch her, she needs someone to.'

[Narnia_Nut]

A thin, black mist slowly filters through the cracks into the dungeon. It silently hovers above the prisoners, unnoticeable in the light.

[Mozart the Meerkitten]

Midnight stiffens. He cannot see anyone else in the cell or prison but he can tell that some evil has entered.

'Oh great, now what?' he wonders.

[Lil Princess]

The centaur, deep in prayer to Aslan, does not see or sense the cloud. He merely shivers.

[Narnia_Nut]

The mist remains silent above the prisoners, hovering in slow swirls at the ceiling. The air is noticeably even colder than normal.

[Mozart the Meerkitten]

Midnight is aware of the misty substance now swirling around his head. He cannot see it but can feel it and smell a foul scent acompanying it, or so it seems to him.
'Now there are creatures around us whom we cannot see? Oh Aslan help us!' he starts to hum an old song that his mother taught him about Aslan and summer to calm himself.

[Lil Princess]

Marius begins to shiver strongly. So much so that he barely able to continue. He gets up to walk hoping to work up a little warmth, but slips.

[Mozart the Meerkitten]

Midnight jumps when he hears a noise from Marius's cell. He calms down a little after a moment but he is no less alert.

"I-I think we're being watched." he says to the centar, "By what I'm not sure though..." he bristles at his own words and shivers a bit.