Exton

Following the page, the way is familiar to Inari, having been seen by the Queen privately many times before. Twillon follows silently, having been to court but not in the private chambers. Inari can feel Weebit's wonder at all she sees. Poor thing... she deserves so much more for what she has suffered. May that bitch Morgan rot....

Turning a corner the page stops abruptly at an ornately carved wooden door. Another page opens the door and bowing to Inari ushers them inside.

Titania is standing near an open window, watching something outside and dressed in long robes of light blue and lavender this morning. Her hair is pulled away from her face but the golden tresses cascade down her back, nearly reaching the floor.

Weebit gasps, “She is so beautiful...” and Twillon murmurs something to the little fae.

Inari leads them further into the room and when the Queen turns to look at them Inari goes to her knees and Twillon bows and goes to one knee. Weebit curtsies and stays bowed on Twillons shoulder.

“Your Majesty. May I present my companions?”

Queen Titania smiles and takes Inaris hand pulling her up. “We seem to have this discussion entirely too often for my taste. We are alone here, there is no need for such formality. And still in boy's clothes...” Titania shakes her head and grins as if contemplating what to do with a naughty but humorous child. “Yes, please introduce me to your friends...”

“Your majesty, may I present Twillon, Rider of Herne and his friend Mistress Weebit. As I said in my message they bear witness to some of the heinous acts of Morgan and I felt that you should hear from others, not just myself...."

Twillons bow goes even deeper as does Weebit's. Titania asks them to rise, “Please, we can hardly have a proper discussion with your head on the floor. Come, lets sit at the table for this. I have been standing all morning listening to such inconsequential drivel...” Titania sighs.

Twillons eyes go wide, he never expected to sit in the Queens presence even though he realized Inari must be on fairly familiar terms with her.

A page pulls out a chair for the Queen, then for Inari, then Twillon. Another page brings a pitcher of ice water, glasses, a bowl of fruit and a tiny glass and plate of honey for Weebit. He adds a paper and pen for Titania, in case she wishes to write anything down, which she very rarely does, preferring to keep her thoughts to herself. When Titania nods, pleased with the preparations, the page bows and exits the room.

Inari asks Twillon to start and he explains all he knows. When he gets to Weebit's part of the story his voice is hoarse with emotion and anger tightly held in check. Inari glances at Titania and can see an eye twitching, her fingers tapping softly on her leg under the table. Inari knew that while Titania's exterior appeared calm and collected she was showing signs of reining in her emotions as well.

Finally she nods her head. 'I would like to hear from Mistress Weebit herself, if she isnt too shy to speak with me.”

Twillon explains, “She is shy about the way her wings look, your Majesty. I think she will speak to you though. She wanted to come, to ensure something is done about Morgan..”

Twillon lifts a hand to his shoulder and whispers softly to Weebit. Her eyes wide, she lifts her skirts and steps into the offered palm. As her wings leave the cover of Twillons hair she bows her head, ashamed of what the once beautiful wings now look like and stepping carefully, not wanting to lose her balance.

She curtsies again when she reaches the table. Inari can see how upset the Queen is. Her serene face is darker and her eyes narrowed slightly. Inari was worried for whoever got in her way after this meeting. Titania rarely raged but when she did it was a wonder the entire kingdom didnt fall down around their ears. As Weebit gave her side of the story, Titania's eyes filled with tears, something very few had ever witnessed, Titania being of the opinion that one could not let ones emotions rule their actions, especially not in her position.

By the time Weebit was finished with her tale, Inari was close to tears herself and the Queen was fighting hard to keep hers from falling. After a few minutes of silence she says, “Inari, please, handkerchiefs...” and she points to a drawer in a large cupboard.

Inari brings one for everyone and sets one on the table for Weebit who uses a corner to dry her eyes. She had started to cry when explaining that she was the only one left of her troop.

“Please Mistress Weebit, the honey is for you. Help yourself. Rest assured that your testimony has not been given in vain.” Titania is in control again and calls for a page and her scribe.

“I am issuing an official edict.” The scribe scribbles furiously making sure he gets all of the Queen's words. “Morgan Bloodmane is to be arrested and brought to justice immediately. Her crimes are this... Murder, Attempted Murder, Possession of Bloodbane, Use of Bloodbane, Transporting Bloodbane, Torture, Kidnapping, Selling Children, Holding my personal emissary prisoner... Is there anything else? Not that it matters, any one of these crimes would condemn her to death. Scribe, add that any accomplices to any of her crimes or any caught with her will be put to death also. Not her servants, as I am aware that she tortures and threatens them. They will be treated individually, to see how their loyalties lie. And have Oberon sign that as well. We spoke of it this morning and he said he would sign on the Bloodbane charge if nothing else.”

Titania turns to Twillon and Inari, “You realize she must have connections on the Unformed Plane and may very well flee there, thinking to hide when she hears of this. I already have forces there....” her voice trails off and Inari knew she was thinking, her long fingers tapping on the table. Inari glances at Weebit, giving her a smile and a wink.

Queen Titania stands, and the group follows suit. “We need to improve our communication with the demifae. This cannot be allowed to happen again. I will speak to my advisers on this. Inari, return to the mortal realm, since that is where Morgan was last known to be. If she runs to the Unformed Plane, send word. There is a troop of Nighhawks here. I will have them stay. If needed they can provide escort to the borders. Mistress Weebit, while you are here, the finest fae physicians and healers in the realm are here. I know not if anything can be done for your wings, please feel free to see them before you go. Inari can take you, she knows them all... I would like you to join me for the noon meal. Oberon and his men are off doing something so there is plenty of room at the head table.” She turns to Inari, “I imagine you want to go eat with the soldiers or the grooms or even the horses to avoid the court.” Inari tries to hide her smile. “Go. We can visit before you leave.”

Inari clears her throat, “Your Majesty, if I may ask a small favor?”

“You never ask for favors. What is it?”

“May we visit the seamstress' cottage and take what scraps there are to gift the demifae with? They helped Mistress Weebit get ready for her first time at court and it seems fitting to repay them somehow.”

Titania smiles as her attention turns to the little fae. “And an admirable job they did, Mistress, your robes are beautiful. Yes, visit the royal seamstress too and take whatever and how much you like. There should be trims and beads as well. And make sure she gets some of this blue and lavender, my gift to Mistress Weebit. The colors would look lovely on her.”

Weebit is overwhelmed by the Queens generosity, new fabrics and offering the royal healers to see her? “Your Majesty is too kind...”

“Nonesense. Now, would you do me the honor of riding on my shoulder to the meal? And Twillon, would you escort us?” Titania looks at Inari, “Didnt I tell you to go? Better hurry before I change my mind and demand you change into court dress...”