Private for Razorstar + Syrrus

[razorstar]

A desert? Danny considered it for a moment. He remembered reading about them, but that had been a while ago, and he had never actually seen one. But, what could go wrong? Magpie seemed like he knew a thing or two about the desert, right? "The desert is the hot, dry place, right?" He asked, staring straight ahead. He was pretty sure he was right, but he had to be positive. Because the desert in his mind was either a plane of sand or a mountain with lava spewing out of it. He supposed the desert was as good a choice as any other.

 

[Syrrus]

"Well obviously. Geez, do they not educate royalty anymore?" Magpie asked in all honesty. That the boy didn't know what a desert was made the man feel disgusted. How could someone become a ruler of a entire country if he doesn't even know what the place he is about to rule contains? Perhaps it was a good thing Magpie had come along, after all, a King like that was hardly worth having and this young man clearly needed to get out of the castle.


"Don't you worry Highness, after I am done with you, you'll know everything worth knowing about the world.|

 

[razorstar]

Danny shrugged. "Deserts aren't as important as foreign trade and customs. Not knowing about deserts isn't going to offend a dignitary and start a war, is it?" Was that so odd that his father wanted the prince to know more about politics that the world around him? Perhaps. But he most likely didn't want to fuel his only son's thirst for travelling. Sheltering him, though, just caused the boy to become stir-crazy. In fact, Danny thought, he probably would have been less tempted to go anywhere but the castle if his father would have allowed him on trips to other kingdoms. He was almost certain of it. It was a tad too late to change that now, though.


Danny couldn't help but to feel a hint strange at Magpie's last comment. Was the older man planning on keeping him around? If so, that was far better than being sold or killed or whatever the man was planning to do with him. Exploring and learning sounded perfect, and for once, he would get to do both without getting in trouble.

 

[Syrrus]

"That is a foolish man's thinking." Magpie said and scowled at nothing as he kicked the horse harder with both his feet, causing it to move faster through the forest they just entered. "Tell me, Highness, what exactly would you do it you were to be visited by a witch from the desert? Tell her the place she is from isn't real? Wouldn't think so."


It seems like Mathew had a lot to teach the young man, nothing he minded of course. To pretend to have a pupil sounded rather exiting. Unfortunately this meant having him around at all times, no matter the cost. And that meant he had to meet the Queen of the woods, a lady no one truly wanted to meet and specially not Magpie himself.


"I bet you haven't been told by the Queen of Earth either?" He smirked and peered down at the young man as he pulled his hood and scarf up to hide his face. They had to get the prince a new outfit, something more fitting a traveler, especially if he was going to follow Magpie around.

 

[razorstar]

Witches? The Queen of the Earth? Danny found himself cocking his head again in confusion. He had never heard of them before. But, his father had also told him that magic wasn't real and that anyone who believed in it was a fool and a joke, so he suspected that had something to do with it. He shook his head slightly, watching the scenery change to forest and able to feel himself relax slightly. He was always more comfortable around trees for some reason.


"I thought magic was something that only exists in storybooks before you lit that arrow on fire, Magpie. I had no way of knowing of witches or Earth Queens." He pondered what else his father could have possibly been hiding from him. He suspected there was more that was hidden from him then told to him. It wasn't too far of a stretch to think that.

 

[Syrrus]

"Then I am sorry to tell you that you will meet her and she will do anything in her power to ensnare you, and unfortunately, there's nothing I can do to stop her." Magpie said and removed one of his four daggers from his person, he handed it over to the prince, looking down at him with a serious expression on his face. "Keep this near you at all times. Would someone you don't trust - not me, obviously - get near you, cut them open like a fish."


The Queen lived in the forests, in every forest in every land. This was why Magpie tried his hardest to stay as far away from the woods as he possibly could, unfortunately that was rather hard, seeing how much of it there was. He didn't fear her personally, but he knew very well what she was able to do, and it was something Magpie enjoyed very little.

 

[razorstar]

Danny blinked in surprise, staring at the dagger for a moment before looking back at Magpie. "Why? How does she ensnare people?" Him, stab someone? He couldn't imagine it happening. Even if he enjoyed using daggers, he couldn't think of any reason why he would need to cut someone open 'like a fish'. And him be ensnared by a queen? What did that mean? What could the Queen of the Earth do with him? And why couldn't Magpie help?


Once again, Danny found himself with far more questions than answers and in a position that was less than favorable. Perhaps he should have just gone home after all. He slouched slightly, stiffening up as his mind swirled and worked to stress him out. He tucked the dagger into one of his boots before setting his hands on the horse's neck, trying his best to calm down.

 

[Syrrus]

"Through kindness." He said, as if it was something bad. The Queen wasn't evil in the traditional sense. She was evil because Magpie didn't like her. She was like him, but instead of being a demon of Trickery she was a Demon of nature and a horrible one at that.


It was then he noticed her. She was standing there, a few feet away from them in the beam of the sun going through the leafs of a old oak tree. She stood tall with her antlers ground around her head like a sharp crown. Dressed in her usual attire, a dress made out of moss and leafs. Her skin was dusky and exotic, causing Magpies insides to turn, he wanted to throw up. She was beautiful and her eyes stared at him so intensely it almost caused him to blush.


All she had to do was to reach out with her hand and hold it in front of them to cause the horse to stop in its track. Another reason why Magpie hated animals.

 

[razorstar]

The prince's eyes widened when he saw the woman and he slowly cringed backwards into Magpie. A part of him wanted to get off the horse and run. She made him bristle. He could only assume she was the Queen of Earth. He pet the horse gently, the same terrified part of him wanting it to suddenly take off and run away. But, he always felt this way around new people, didn't he?


It wasn't usually to this extent, but hearing Magpie talk about her may have made it a hint worse. It was all his anxiety talking. There wasn't any real reason to be afraid, was there?


If there wasn't, would Magpie have given him a dagger? Was that just some kind of mind game?


Danny forced himself out of his thoughts and he put on his best princely-yet admittedly nervous-smile. "Hello." He purred, hoping that he didn't seem as nervous as he felt.

 

[Syrrus]

The queens eyes, which had been laying upon Magpie for what seemed like an eternity for him, finally moved away and landed upon the prince instead. "A pet of yours, Mathew?" She asked, her voice smooth as silk and sweet as honey. It made Magpie want to throw up, it made him feel extremely uncomfortable and he took a tighter grip around the prince. "It matter little to you, Traedea." He said, sounding less proud than he usually did. This woman made him feel uneasy.


The queens eyes still lay upon the prince, even if Magpie did speak to her. She was far more interested in him, as it seemed. "You brought the Prince of man to my home?" She asked again, taking a few steps closer and stroking her hand up over the animals neck, still not taking her eyes off of the future King.

 

[razorstar]

Danny dared to meet Traedea's gaze, his blue eyes suddenly void of emotion and his face as blank as a stone wall as he sifted through his mind. She definitely seemed interested in him more than Magpie, although the man seemed to be as unnerved by her as the prince was. There had to be a reason other than him just suddenly losing confidence. Everything was never how it seemed. She seemed as sweet as sugar and as happy as the rays of the sun. But what was the likelyhood she was actually this nice? He wasn't sure, but she still made his skin crawl. "I am Prince Daniel LaCroix, son of King Damion LaCroix. It is an honor to meet you, your highness." He bowed slightly, never taking his eyes off her.

 

[Syrrus]

Amused that the prince took his time to bow for her she decided to take them both with her. To Magpie's great annoyance. "I am Traedea of Earth, I welcome you to--" "Actually." Interrupted Magpie, glaring daggers into her and trying his very hardest to keep Daniel away from her disgustingly smooth hands and beautiful eyes. His own mind didn't want to keep himself away, really, but he knew very well why. "We are heading towards the Dragon Nest."


The Queen had started to walk and the horse happily followed them though the trees, both of them seemed to ignore Magpie's whining and groaning, he clearly didn't like where they were going.


And where they ended up was a strange sight. Tall trees with lights coming through the trees, a giant bridge crossing water so black it looked like ink. The bridge itself was but a root and the giant trees on the other side looks like taken out of a fairytale, for they all looked as it they were morphing into each other, becoming one and that big mass of connected trees looked all too much like a castle of its own.

 

[razorstar]

Danny turned and looked at Magpie, trusting that the horse wasn't going to suddenly ram into a tree or anything without direct guidance from anyone. "Where are we going?" He whispered, his voice soft and feathery. He didn't like the idea of going into the woman's castle, mostly due to Magpie's obvious distress over the idea. But, Magpie was older and more experienced than him. There was probably a very valid reason why he didn't like her.


His blue eyes wandered when they reached the bridge and he heard himself gasp quietly. He had been in the woods before, but he had never seen anything like this. Or read about it, even. It was absolutely breathtaking.

 

[Syrrus]

The queen seemed to care little for Magpie's stubbornness and led them though the gaping hole of the tree, which could be nothing else but the castle gates, but without the heavy doors. The inside was just as beautifully sculpted by nature as the outside walls. branches curling together in the ceiling to create lanterns covered with fireflies. A carpet made my moss and vines of ivy falling like curtains down the walls and between the trees which acted as pillars to keep the roof above their heads. Others just like the queen seemed to be living in the castle, as some where sitting on the floor, having what seemed to be a strange picnic with berries and juice, while others stood and walked around, exchanging topics of conversation. A bear was laying a sleep by what could only be a throne, suited for its queen.


"This is my kingdom, tell me.. what do you think?" She asked, causing Magpie to mumble angrily as he jumped off the horse. Bloody demon woman and her tricks. She was going to try and steal Daniel from him. Blasted cretin.

 

[razorstar]

Danny looked around, his wife with awe and his mouth open. "It's...its magnificent." He managed to breathe out. If he was able to make his own castle, it would definitely be like this. Warm plant life was better than cold stone any day of the week. The detail, how natural it was, it was incredible. He had never seen anything like it.


Danny slipped off the horse, too busy looking around and taking in the sights to pay attention to his past thoughts. There was. No way someone who lived in such a beautiful, pure place could be bad. "How did you make this? It's stunning..." His voice faded to silence as he noted the people having picnics. Were they the ones he was supposed to protect himself from?


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[Syrrus]

"I am the being of earth. I have the ability to create life and shape nature to my own heart's desire." She said, slowly turning towards Magpie who was poking one of the pillars. "You haven't told the boy?" She asked, only referring to the prince as a boy due to her own age, she was older than the kindgom he was suppose to rule, therefore he was but a boy.


Magpie shrugged, slightly frustrated with her and her way of intervening in his private business. "It didn't seem to be the right time."

 

[razorstar]

The prince nodded slightly, barely even hearing her words and definitely not thinking over them. He was far too busy trying to memorize even the smallest detail of the castle of nature. He was starting to begin to be able to think, however, and he ran over Magpie's sudden unhappiness. Perhaps she wasn't quiet as sweet as she seemed.


But, then again, Magpie wasn't the most moral person In the world, so maybe he disliked her due to her sweetness. Did he think that he was going to try to stay with her instead of travel with him?


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[Syrrus]

"Very well, I will not continue speaking with you, my dear Mathew." The queen turned and walked up to the prince, standing double his own height. She looked down upon him and gave him a gentle smile. "Would you like to stay for dinner? I will make a big feast for you, I haven't had a guest from the lands of man in hundreds of years... Then you and Mathew can turn and continue your journey."


Magpie hissed. He didn't wish to stay there any longer. "I told you entering the woods was a terribly idea." He said to himself. "Into the woods to never return. The woods are not just trees it's something else, something man can't see. And I will burn it down before letting her have me one more time." The man turned around and pointed a long finger towards the queen. "Witch!"

 

[razorstar]

Danny had been about to speak when he heard Magpie's voice. He turned to the man, cocking his head slightly and frowning a tad. Didn't Magpie use magic? Didn't that make him a wizard of some kind? What was so wrong with being a witch? He got the feeling he was about to learn what was wrong with it, and he instinctually took a step away from the Queen. If she was going to freak out, he would prefer to be out of the shooting range. He didn't want to get hit in the cross fire.


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[Syrrus]

The queen did indeed not freak out, she simply continued to do what he was doing before, which was making sure dinner would be served in the big welcome-hall. Especially since she figured both of them were rather hungry. She knew Magpie always ate.


Mathew frowned with annoyance seeing as the only one reacting to his outburst had been the prince himself. Which was one of the reasons to why he hated this place which such passion. "She's a devil woman, Higness." He said pulling his hands down his pockets as he walked up to the prince.

 

[razorstar]

Big, blue eyes blinked at Magpie as Danny studied his words. "A devil woman?" He wondered out loud. That seemed like a tad of an exaggeration to him. Even if she was secretly evil, which she very well could have not been. Questions blazed past him at a dizzying pace. What, exactly, was putting the man so on edge? Most of Danny's anxiety had faded by now, so he didn't feel like there was anything wrong with the woman. Was Magpie just messing with him?


He turned back to the queen, a sad smile on his lips. "Unfortunately, I believe we don't have the time to stop for dinner if we wish to make it to our destination in time. Besides, I would hate for us to be a bother, seeing as I have nothing to repay you with."


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[Syrrus]

Mathew frowned with annoyance seeing as the only one reacting to his outburst had been the prince himself. Which was one of the reasons to why he hated this place which such passion. "She's a devil woman, Highness." He said pulling his hands down his pockets as he walked up to the prince.


"There is no bother. I simply wish to treat my husband's friend to a nice meal. But if the both of you rather be on your way, then you may go." She said as she turned towards them again, waiting patiently.


Magpie scowled at her. Her comment was really not necessary and he grabbed the prince's shoulder rather tightly. "Yes, Highness is right, we'll be on our way now." He hated this place and all it stood for. Both of them were demons, created by different purpose. She was a nature creature, someone who created life. Magpie himself was a trickster, someone who did whatever he felt like doing as long as it was messing with someone else, or something else.

 

[razorstar]

Danny looked back to Magpie, suddenly surprised. "Husband?" He quoted, studying him carefully. That was probably the one thing he hadn't been expecting. How could they be married, yet Magpie be so unhappy being around her? He didn't wonder why hadn't been told, however. He had only know Magpie for a small amount of time, and a large portion of that the man had been trying to sell him. He didn't expect to get his life story anytime soon. Something was wrong. Magpie knew magic, she was some form of demon, the two were married...was he human? A wizard? A demon? If only Danny knew.


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[Syrrus]

"I will no longer stay here. Come on Highness, we'll do this adventure on foot." Magpie said as he started to walk away from the scene. He rather travel on his own two legs than the ones of a horse, especially seeing they were far to loyal to their queen for his tastes.


It was rather frustrating that she had been giving the power to control nature life, while the only thing Magpie to do was destructive magic, something that could easily cause great pain to both himself and others would he have to. Mainly it was because he enjoyed it far too much.

 

[razorstar]

Danny looked between the two before quickly following Magpie. He got close to him, whispering. "Can I get some kind of explanation for what just happened, or are you going to change the topic if I bring in up?" He crossed his arms over his chest. This had just gotten harder now that they didn't have a horse. Walking to the desert and across it wasn't the prince's idea of a good time. But, he wasn't in charge here, was he? No. Magpie was.


Danny remembered something and pulled out the dagger, handing it back to the man. He hadn't seen anything that looked too dangerous, but he felt that it's need was over for the moment, even if there had been something dangerous.


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