As angry as he had been at those words, as much as Oberron would have boiled over she meant too much to him for him to say anything more than the truth. Oh, he could have been caught up with the childish notion of hurting her back, in saying that he would do just that even though he would know that it was untrue.

It was far easier not to add fuel to the fire rather than having added it and trying to retract a statement or convince another that something had not been done. It was so much easier to fix things later on rather than having to deal with doubt too.

For awhile the Queen had been left there with her own thoughts to pass the time. This illusion was better than what Oberron could do while imprisoned at Sable's hands. He had more resources now so when the actual glade changed this one did too in similar fashion.

If a tree was cut down then that tree would vanish from the illusion. If a hut was built there then it would exist in the illusion as well. Of course there was no chance of that happening as that particular glade was deemed to be off limits.

But after a long night Oswald had fond her. His gaze flicked up to the sky, Oberron went over board as usual at what he said though he should have known. He felt guilty about this though he said nothing about it as he flicked his gaze to her.

He had wondered if she were still capable of magic … there were no physical signs of anything impeding her magic so he assumed the blanket and pillow had been a simple conjuration on her part. She could do whatever as long as she remained in the tower at least …

“On the contrary I believe it is closer to fourteen months. You have five weeks here, the marriage to Ian then you're off to your Shadow for three months then back here at the conclusion of that.

“Unlike most Fey Fourteen months can be either quick or painfully slow based on the circumstances. I do not want to imagine going fourteen months without cobbling a pair of shoes.”

He sat next to her though he picked at the illusionary grass as he had considered. Physically he assumed that he was going to find her in fairly decent straights. Mentally was another matter though. He expected that she might be a bit emotional.

“Fourteen months without brownies too. Oh, well. There are more important matters at hand. No doubt Oberron will suspect that I was here once he cools down he might consider it. He might even ignore the fact that I am visiting you on occasion too.

“I know he said no contact or news of the outside world but he's bond by his decision in a way. He might be able to overlook minor things like my occasional visits as long as they're not too frequent and there is reason to doubt that I am doing them at all.

“But sometimes he forgets that you are not Fey, this was mild in his eyes but he past his sentence and must carry it out. But do not be surprised if he finds some loop hole to exploit. I doubt that he will manage to stay away for an entire month, suffice a year. He loves you too much, your Majesty. He glossed over a few things. Already there is a man hunt to locate Ian before the month is up, despite all this he strives to clear your name of something, I do not know what. He simply says it is for you that we are to find Ian.”

She sighed, her expression seemed disheartened as she buried her face in both of her palms. "Does everybody know about Ian?" Alynia groaned honestly not wanting to think about it. The more she thought about how the whole disaster had unfolded, the more painful it was. There was already a heavy guilt weighing over her conscious, though she tried her best not to let it show.

She glanced at Oswald, rolling her eyes slightly as she watched him sit down. "Must you remind me of the technicalities? Twelve months to fourteen. It hardly makes a difference anymore." Her voice seemed to lack her typical cheerful quality.

Perhaps on a normal day, she would have found it amusing Oswald thinking about brownies at a time like this. But today she barely noticed. Alynia nodded, seeming kind of distracted. "Yes, it would be kind if you could provide company once in a while. As long as it doesn't cause you any trouble." She mused quietly thinking that without him the next few weeks were going to be awfully lonley.

Alynia stood and brushed herself off, conjuring up a simple folding screen she could change behind. The screen itself seemed to be made of nature; comprising of wood, twigs and leaves. She stepped behind it, and out of Oswald's view.

"Oh, he knows that I'm human alright. With my human customs. And human sensibilities." There was a hint of bitterness in her words as she spoke to he brownie from behind the sheet. "He made that very clear last night."

The ruffle of fabric made it obvious she was undressing, unknowing to her the light morning sun casted a direct shadow upon the thin leaves of the screen. A rather suggestive silhouette of her naked body could be seen however briefly.

She was trying on dresses it seemed, and came out in a casual red sundress. Just because there was no one to see her, didnt mean she didnt want to look nice. She sat back down ontop of the blanket besides Oswald, now running a comb through her dark hair.

"I would be suprised if the king came by." Alynia commented. "And I'm not too sure if I'd want him to." She didnt elaborate. It was simply too complicated. "I love him..." Alynia assured after a pause. "I could never imagine myself with another... But after what happened before and last night... It's just rather difficult to face him."

She shook her head in disapproval at Oswald's next words. "I never wanted to bring the king into it. What happened between me and Ian was never supposed to be his battle."

"I really don't want to speak of it." Alynia admitted, trying not to sound rude.

Oswald shook his head. “No, my Queen. All that is know at this stage is that he fulfills a promise you made with him and that he is to be capture as soon as possible to make this possible. I am much to busy to follow what rumors an gossip go around though at this stage I imagine it's about what that promise had been. How Ian relates to this promise would be chief amongst them I would imagine. At least the Hunters know, not the Kingdom in general. Oberron has probably kept gossip down to just them. I am in an unique position so I learn things ...”

He looked at one of the illusionary trees. “My apologies your Majesty.” Technically it was a little more than that but he didn't feel it necessary to note it to the exact second of day.

But really, this was no trouble at all. As long as he wasn't suspected of doing it too often Oberron would probably turn a blind eye to things. He could give her an item though that she would appreciate it more … perhaps something that would summon him or at least generate some type of illusion that she could generate.

Of course it had been up to how strict Oberron was going to be. The fact that he was here now after only a few hours told him that this was going to be lax.


The screen conjured and a tempting silhouette behind it told him what she was doing though he had not moved or tried to peak. Of all the Fey she had met Oswald seemed the less sexual in nature for some reason that she never quite understood.

“Oberron upset and Oberron in a pleasant state of mind are two separate people. I'm sure he remembers but not truly. Not to the point where he would be familiar with all the in's and out's. The fact that I am here speaking to you tells me just how much he loves you. He does not want you to be alone, even if he might have made mention of it. I think that was why he mentioned your imprisonment and that no one was to see you. It was as if he were stating that you were imprisoned and needed some company. He did not have any one make a pledge or promise, usually not required for his orders give the pledge to serve that pledge.

“But there are times where we have have to realize there are orders within the orders. He cannot go back on his word, but by stating his wishes he told me that he regrets what he decided.”

She returned and Oswald tried on a smile. “You look nice your Majesty. I know that you love him and vice versa though I know he won't stay away either.

“Oh, he will try no doubt but he will fail. You might not perceive him as the King but he will have to see you in some fashion once he works out loop hole that arranges something.”

He patted the back of her hand though. “There is no need to speak of Ian but you should know that Oberron will always be interested in anything related to you. At times he may seem distant, at others he will take a hands on approach but always he will do whatever he feels is best, that you'd learn from the most.”

"Thank you." Alynia muttered absent mindedly in response. Perhaps she had thought wearing a brighter color would make her happier, after all she loved dressing up. But she had been wrong, still feeling rather dejected, empty. The wooden comb in her hand vanished, leaving a wisp of smoke behind.

"Say what you will." Alynia rolled slowly off her tounge, mulling over what Oswald said of her not percieivig Oberron as a king... Was he implying she didnt respect him? It was unlikely that the brownie was so harsh. Of course she saw her husband as a king. How else would be have the power to spoil her like he did?

She stood up again with a sigh, as if restless. Incapable of sitting still for too long. Walking over to the other side of the tower, Alynia began examining the trees and foliage. Searching for the hidden panel that opened the seperate room simply for something to do.

"Obberron treats me fantasically well, you know." Alynia spoke, working hard to find the right words, her eyes scanning the trees. Her fingers brushed over a piece of bark, but that turned out to be nothing more than an illusionary tree. "He's never cruel to me. Last night was actually the first time he yelled at me since we've been married."

"He gives me everything I could ever possibly want." It was unclear whether she speaking to Oswald or herself. "Even when I didnt't deserve it." She paused leaning foward, examining another groove in the back. "When I saw him after... The entire predicament with Ian... He forgave me so quickly. It didnt feel justified. I felt overwhelmed and guilty..."

She stood up straight peering helplessly at Oswald. "Was it wrong for me to feel that way?"

"Oberron didn't understand why... And one thing lead to another before he just put me in here." Alynia'a hand finally wandered over an abnormally protruding section of a tree. She pressed down gently, and was relieved to hear the sliding of stone as the secret bedroom revealed itself. A bed and a bath, she felt in need of both.

"There were faster ways, he could have put me in community service. He could have whipped me and spanked me. He couldn't bring himself to."

Alynia wandered back to her blanket and pillow, making both disappear. She had no need for them now, since she discovered the bed chamber. "Though I wish he could have chosen something a bit less extensive... I suppose atleast it's punishment at all. Still, I am unsure of the lesson I am to recieve while I'm here."

She was an exquisite beauty though beauty was far to common in the realm of the fey. There was something further, something deeper than this that Oberron saw in her, she was special even if she did not think so though Oberron was best appraised of evaluating people.

When it came to shoes though he was the better judge. Though as a judge of character Oberron far surpassed him. Still the Brownie had know the King for an incredibly long time, a good eight thousand years or so.

He thus knew Oberron fairly well though it was through the deceased Titiyana that he had learned a good portion of this knowledge for he was around to keep her in the latest fashions as he was often commissioned to make this or that.

It was an honor. His shoes worn by the Queen of Llynoria. As they were now. It was one of those reasons that he had done this now, it brought a great measure of pride to be cast in such an incredible role again.

He listens to her as she crosses the tower. At first he had not moved, just listened to what she had to say then got up crossing the illusionary room to rest at her side. She was searching for the hidden latch that opened the way into the bedroom and wash room and while he could see it for seeing patterns was a fey thing he had not ruined the matter by pointing out where to look after all.

Of course, he would tell her before going if she had not found it yet but it was important that she recognized these things for her own.

“I know … in all the years I have not seen him mistreat you in any way. You are dear to him but that goes without saying. I ...” Oswald fell silent for a moment as he thought for a second.

“I do not think he can survive without you. Oh, he will exist ...” he waved a hand in front of her face to silence her. “But I do not see him existing as he is now. Maybe, maybe if it were a natural death he would grieve and grieve and grieve until he was just a shell of a person.

“If unnatural though … revenge would consume him. He'd become darker. He'd become Unseelie ...” how this transition was to occur did not get addressed though.

Oswald glance at her. “Of course he will forgive you. You did nothing wrong though it is no fault of your own. Nor his. You both think in different ways. The fey don't place a great deal of emphasis on sex … rape is still rape of course, we just have a different view on it then humans. While humans rank it amongst their most heinous of crimes we group it with misdemeanors for the most part.

“So such thoughts were not wrong for you to feel as you did. Just that while it would take you a bit longer to get over the guilt, he's already moved passed that. Fey and humans are different though Oberron has an unusual way about the way he thinks. Beyond all the very fey-like thoughts of sex his are more rational than impulsive, which in his case come about him being a King.

“I believe that whipping and such may have been too quick of a punishment. I get the feeling that he's going for something lasting here, something that you'll remember but I don't know his mind and cannot be certain of his aim. I do know he can stay away from you about as long as I can keep myself out of my workshop though. Shall I get to picking his brain on the matter?”

"You're exaggerating." Alynia accused simply rolling her eyes. "He was surely doing fine before Sable came along, far before he met me. Saying he can't live without me is a bit extreme." She wandered into the back bedroom, out of Oswald's line of sight... Seemingly checking out what there was back there.

Nothing extravegant, a large worn out bed, a dresser and a mirror. There was a adjoining room with a simple bath, shower and sink... Surely with time she could make this place more comfortable... But she had walked back here not to scout around, but because Alynia didn't want Oswald to see her eyebrows furrow, and her teeth grawing on her bottom lip with worry.

Hearing that he husband could become unseelie once more (for she assumed... Completely unseelie) was scary enough... The idea that it could be because of her made it worse. She leaned over the sink, turned a faucet and splashed some cool water over her face. Then she conjured a small cloth to dry her skin.

Alynia listened to Oswald, his voice carried rather easily in the disguised tower, with a distraught expression. Did he think she didnt know that she and her husband had different mind sets and cultures? Of course she was aware... And if Ian had simply forced himself upon her she would have probably agreed.

But in her head she knew, it had felt good. She had begged to be screwed like a wanton and fucked into oblivion... She had screamed his name and even pledged her love to him. To the point she agreed to marry the cursed bastard! By gods, she hated her fiance.

Alynia strode back into the glade, where Oswald was sitting. A pout of defiance on her lips. "Well if my husband would have more clearly explained what I'm supposed to be learning in here, perhaps I would be more accepting of my sentence!"

She sat down besides the brownie once more with a frustrated sigh. Tucking her knees up, Alynia rested her head against them. "Do what you will." She replied heartlessly. "It's of no concern to me."

She was clearly being stubborn... Unwilling to offer full compliance with her imprisonment yet. Still a small shread of her wanted to tell Oswald yes... To ask him to help her really figure out what was going through the workings of her husband's mind

He followed her to the panel itself though did not enter the bedroom. It would have been akin to walking into the King and Queen's bedchamber unannounced after all and he did not know if she had need of using the wash room or not.

But his hearing was good so all that was required really was raising his voice a little. “Oh, there is no doubt that he survived a long while before you, endured his imprisonment and would live on without you in a sense but you fail to see it. It is perhaps easier for me to see it because I am fey, I know these things … sine he has met you Oberron has come to life so to speak. He has been given something new and wondrous, something if he were to suddenly loose would color his mood. He would exist but not as he does now …

“Simply put I'll have you examine all the married fey that you have encountered at court and throughout the years. Now it might be every decade or so between their joining of those unions. They'd have hundreds of what you would deem to be affairs in between but that hardly matters. Not to fey. I'm guessing here but from what I have seen Oberron has cut carnal ties with the other fey, he is focused on you. Nor do I gather you have to wait so long in between couplings I am guessing. It is quiet obvious that the fey know what you do not.

“It is the very reason you have been targeted early on at least in an effort to draw Oberron out into traps and why he would spring them knowing that they were traps until he was convinced by Corte I'm assuming that it would be quicker and safer just to arrange the use of that ring he's given you. Only a select few of us know of it I assume. Corte and myself, and I'm guessing based on what I know of him, slipping off to another Shadow each time you were in trouble got me thinking that he gave you a ring or necklace or some such to assist you. Out of curiosity I divined a detection spell on you and saw that the ring that you wear is invisible, not just that but it was damn hard to detect so those of lesser skill would discern it. Not to toot my own horn but I've been more than a cobbler all these years and am good at the few things I do, illusions and divinations, some abjurations and of course making shoes.”

He had assumed that she was interested as she came back even though she pretended not to be. She was never a good liar he heard and fey were so good at deception that he had to learn to discern the truth from sources far worse than this.

It was clear though that she was trying to show her indifference in the matter though he patted a knee. The fey, it seemed did not adhere to the notion not to touch royalty or perhaps they did with Oswald thinking that he would not get in trouble especially if she had no one to tell for a year she would probably forget such a little thing.

Turning towards her Oswald told her something that was obvious to her yet something she had not completely comprehended. “He loves you. I cannot say what his lesson is or isn't, you know that he likes it when you figure something out for yourself with maybe just a little nudge so I suspect that this will be no different.

“But you know he loves you. True love is rare among the fey. Love comes and goes, we accept that with our immortal existance. That is one of the reasons our marriages have to be renewed season after season after such a short time even for fey rather than year to year or decade to decade. It is to ensure that no one is stuck in a contract that they don't want, a promise that they had to endure longer than a few weeks for.”

Oswald paused for a moment and calculated. “It is no business of mine, I have guessed as to how Oberron got enough strength to brake Sable's hold and that would mean that you or one of the other girl's had been a virgin. With the way he's fixated on you I can assume that you were, I'll ask if that is true but you do not have to answer my Queen, I'm just walking through a few theories based off of what I know of him.”

Alynia's mind wandered back to the few fey couples she had met during her time here and on Avalon... Various dukes and duchesses, of course the Marquis and Diamond... All of whom were far too open about their sexual conquests. So perhaps it was true, many, if not all, husbands and wives were not as exclusive as the royal couple... But she knew this already too!

How peculiar it was for the King of Fey to take upon a human bride... Alynia sighed giving Oswald an expression of disbelief. "What do I not know? That he loves me? That I'm special? The thing is that I am not. Besides... I haven't lain with him in over a month." She'd be lying if Alynia said she didn't long for it.

Alynia appeared discouraged. "I am targeted because I am a weakness." She stated flatly, though her hand went down twisting the emerald encrusted ring upon her finger. The same ring her husband gave her upon escaping Sables's reign. The ring that she valued so dearly. "And that's not something I really wish to be."

Alynia looked away as Oswald placed his hand on her knee, obviously trying to comfort her. "I know that he loves me, unconditionally in fact. He spoils me to no end, and the way I return the favor is constantly getting kidnapped?"

"I love him. There is no question of it... What I'm feeling isn't his fault. It's mine. And I feel bad for taking it out on him. But I've gotten so dependent on my husband knowing all the answers... Maybe that's why I did not want to be left on my own for such a long time." Alynia admitted gently, trying to make sense of her own confusion.

"I wanted him to be the one to find a way to dissipate my guilt... Perhaps it's possible that he wants me to find a way for myself..." She mused sadly, still not entirely positive that this was even the lesson to be taught.

Alynia looked up at Oswald as he spoke his mind. Her cheeks went scarlet at him bring up such a topic. She blinked, rather flustered... But there was no point in lying about it. Y-yours speculation is correct..." She muttered abashedly. "I gave my first time to the king... I was still a virgin before we were married."

Alynia went silent for a second... honestly her first time entailed nothing but plesant memories. The two of them had been so entranced with eachother when the first were married. She thought to herself, was it possible that the spark had dimmed over the years? Alynia didn't want it to be true... God she loved Oberron more than anything...

Alynia was afraid to admit her fear to Oswald, but still she brought herself to atleast speak. "Even though Oberron syphoned energy from me once to end Sable, it was years ago. It could have been anyone back then... Besides. The witch isn't even dead." She sighed unhappily.

She had the information though Oberron was a far better guide at waking her up to things without it being so forced. Perhaps it was because she had grown use to searching for hidden meanings in the actions of her husband whether in deed or in words.

Oswald had been more straight forward with her and while he knew that she was far from stupid she might not reach the same conclusions only because she had not been to use in analyzing what he had to say about things.

He watched her play with the ring that she wore, the very one that he could now perceive as if it weren't invisible though as long as she did not rub it … then again Oberron was on the same Shadow as far as he was aware the King had not departed yet.

“Weak? Nay. You're probably as strong as I am in most areas outside of illusions, stronger even. The enemies of the fey are quite powerful as you have seen. When you first got here a goblin or two had been a great challenge, now such a challenge would be beneath your concern in all but the most unusual of cases.”

Oswald pauses, letting the fact that her progress was amazing sit in. She still had a long way to go but had gone a long way too from when she first arrived here a few years back.

He did find it some what surprising that she had not lain with the King in so long though. The King was fey and cut off by choice in taking another so he probably was yearning for it … factor in her imprisonment for over a year … there was no way that she would be kept from him for so long he thought.

Oswald considered her words. “Perhaps that is the lesson. Perhaps it is that he does not have all the answers all the time though that makes less sense then thinking that he wants you to be independent, to come up with answers all your own or even as simple that regardless he's going to love you without condition. I cannot say with any certainty until I speak with him and get a better idea of his mind.

“Sable may not be dead but she is no longer able to remain in control either. Their position under went a juxtaposition in a way, Oberron was weak and Sable strong, now it is reversed though I doubt the witch is as weak as he was she is no match for Oberron head to head and thus remains in the shadows.”

So he had been right though he knew a little about tantric magic and how energy could be siphoned from it, how certain aspects of it had to remain cloaked or they were null and void.

“He could not initiate matters then, not if he was going to use that energy. You had to choose him. I do not have to envision that that he had established a rapport with you before hand and after of course.

“He had his Kingdom back, he had siphoned some of your energy to recharge his own and could have discarded you then or made you part of a harem or something if he wished to just use you but he did none of these things. At the point that you had nothing but love and admiration to give to him he did not shy away from that. He accepted the offer gladly and returned it as best as he could I have gathered.

“True love like this rarely comes into a fey's life more than two or three times if that … but you already know the power behind that devotion, you feel it yourself when dealing with him.”

Alynia didn't look like she believed him, in such a state it would be difficult to convince the Queen otherwise. Void of any sort of confidence, she found Oswald's words difficult to accept. How was she to understand the extent of her progress after such a mission seemed like such an utter failure? Still, not wanting to be entirely impolite, she muttered a bleak "Thank you." without meeting her companion's pensive gaze.

A slow breeze rolled throughout the chamber as Alynia eyes watched a longer blade of grass bend along with the zephyr. She noted in the back of her mind that Oswald seemed at least mildly surprised as she mentioned how long it had been since she and her husband joined, but she didnt think much of it.

Perhaps she was felt a bit to numb to really contemplate it... Or it was even possible she knew in her own heart that if she thought about his touch too hard she would only long for it more.

"I'm just guessing." She sighed. It seemed Oswald was as much in the dark as she was. Her head tilted skyward, staring up at the endless blue. Piecing together a few of Oswald's hints, she doubted the day outside the castle was as beautiful as it was in here. The grass here, abnormally emerald green... And the sky the clearest azure canvas; usually so breath-taking but today looked almost artificial and too perfect to be completely true.

"Ask him what ever you want to about my predicament. But there's no need in reporting back to me." Alynia stated stubbornly, repeating the gist of what she claimed earlier. There was no way she'd admit how it hasn't been a full day in her cell, and yet she was dying to know what Oberron was up to. "If my husband wanted me to know, it wouldn't have been difficult for him to tell me himself."

Alynia bit her bottom lip, not entirely comfortable as Oswald pressed into more details of how she met the king. "Yes, I chose him... Because there was really so many options being imprisoned by the witch and all." She remarked sarcastically. "And I must have been difficult for him to court a clueless virgin like myself."

She scoffed softly, "It's remarkable that I've been enough to satisfy him for so long. The thought of finally being enlisted into his harem would actually just make so much more sense..."

She was getting defensive, and her thoughts were still plagued with questions Oswald could not answer for her. Her hand rubbed at her temple, as if fending off an oncoming headache. Oberron's last words before he locked her within rang in her conscious- 'There will be no other...' Even when she was the one being punished, he was capable of making her seem like such villain. For some reason, this made her even more upset.

"Look, I'm sorry. Maybe you should go..." She spoke softly, trying to not let her frustration show. "I really appreciate you visiting... And perhaps I could be better company after I have sometime to really give what has happened some thought. I feel a bit lost at the moment.."

She had still been bothered as he had expected of course. It was the first real challenge that she had as far as accepting a portion of the fey mind. It wasn't as if the situation was being made light of though it might seem it.

Oberron was going to hate Ian with a a passion, that went without saying though he might have remained calm about it in front of her as if he were making a point that what he had relaid was the truth, that she did not have cause to fear, that he was understanding about this despite what had happened. That she was drugged but still every bit as fit to be the wife to the King of the Fey.

Oswald did not push her here though knowing that there were things that she would just have to come to accept on her own or not. This was still pretty close to the event so her mind obviously was nowhere near considering that thought.

“It is the truth, you do not have to thank me for that.”

Oswald nods at her words. “You know that he never tells you, he might steer you in the right direction from what I've witnessed but he never tells you, or anyone for that matter. With him you get good at guessing his intent. Lessons mean nothing if you don't learn on your own though from time to time we all need a clue to steer us in the right direction.

“What I've learned has been through observation. There may be a few things I'm missing but after all this time I would like to think that I know him pretty well.”

He knew when to leave things alone when she was growing snippy about matters as he didn't even comment on them. Oswald reflected on this and rose to his feet as he allowed the cool breeze to sweep over him.

Oswald nodded at her. It was obvious he was doing more harm then good here any way and that had not been his intention. “Until next time then.” He departed from her side then leaving her to solicitude. There were no guards to deliver her meals, not that she couldn't generate food from the kitchens when ever she was hungry though as the days marched on she would learn that meal times had seemed to correspond to a blue jay landing on a particular branch and taking off though there was always food at the usual place in the kitchens there was more around these times. She could only bringing to her the things she knew where in places and in this case it was a general request to summon food or drink to her rather than a pie or something else specific that may not have been at her destination at all.

It was an the third day that in the near distance there was a building of white marble that had columns holding up a rough and had been made up of marble. There was no construction of it. One day it was just there.

The illusion reflected what was actually going on in the forest so any major changes were reflected here unless Oberron had tried to change them for whatever reason but why this building? The architecture looked so out of place here.

Then in the distance she saw a figure walking into the building adorned in a toga and sandals, obviously he was not up with the fashions of Llynoria. She could probably watch, the walls were the trees from what she understood though at the least she could see out into the real world if that held true.

Alynia only nodded in return. She had mixed feelings about Oswald leaving... But there was a mutual agreement between the two that it was time for him to go. Her brown eyes watched him leave with a sense of sadness. How long would it be before she had the chance to speak to another living soul again? But inevitably the door clicked and sealed shut behind the brownie, leaving Alynia alone once again with her silence.

She was unsure of what to do at first, and had spent a good amount of time simply sprawled out on the grass beneath the warm sun. There was no way she could deny that it didnt feel nice, but her conscious was too overwhelmed with thoughts of Oberron, Ian, and what ever Oswald had tried to explain to her to truly relax.

The first thing that came to mind to distract herself was to conjure up books. It had taken a great deal of concentration to remember the exact location of books in the library down on the ground floor, and it was even more difficult to conjure up books she hadn't actually read before. Alynia sat cross legged in the glade, eyes closed as if she were meditating occasionally blinking her eyes open to peer at the novel that appeared infront of her.

After several tries, Alynia had finally succeeded in conjuring up a book she hadnt partaken before and seemed atleast interesting enough to read. The Basics of Alchemy and Potion Making. The book was written in Fey, but Alynia knew she had plenty enough time to struggle through it.

After getting used to conjuring food from the kitchens, which in the end was much easier than books, Alynia got situated near the base of a tree near the entrance of the bedroom chamber. With a basket of muffins to the side, she flipped open to the first page and slowly began to read.

The next few days, Alynia kept to the same schedule. She slept in, perhaps later than usual and conjured up a platter breakfast. Alynia decided that perhaps eventually she would attempt to craft a table and chairs with magic, so she could have somewhere to eat besides on the ground. The afternoon was mostly filled with reading, as she was still struggling through her alchemy book which turned out to be much more complex than she had originally believed.

Alynia was lonely for sure, usually surrounded by members of the castle... It was strange to be all alone in such a confined space. But she tried not to think about it and did her best to occupy her time.

It was the third day she noticed something so glaringly peculiar. A white marble building... Or pavillion had appeared overnight in the distance. She was close enough to see the white columns and at one point even a person entering the building.

She rubbed her eyes wondering if she was imagining it, but the structure still stood. Alynia was more than confused at what this was doing here. She reached out tentatively, wondering if her hand would be able to go through the barrier of trees... Wondering if by some way she could reach this new building.

Books indeed were hard to conjure. It was no good to specify something as general as the library. Perhaps with time, perhaps Oberron could and the thing that he envisioned most in that area appeared but her magic, while she had learned a great deal had been far more limited. She had to be a bit more precise.

It had been tougher too when books hadn't been put away properly or had been checked out though there were a few occasions were books suddenly disappeared, once as a fey got his hands on a particular volume to have it snatched away for a little while.

The book on alchemy was interesting. While she could follow the forumalae from her education on wizardry and the Arcane arts it was a bit difficult to translate it in her mind not as use to reading through fey texts but having a good deal of experience at this stage.

Alchemy had been a form of Arcane magic. 'There are many kinds of magic which she does not know of' she could remember her husband saying about Sable and the ancient tantric magics that they had used to eventually thwart her though Alynia was aware that this sort of magic was probably known by the witch.

Still, it was interesting. An Alchemist could concoct magical potions, brewing them and while this took anywhere from a few minutes to hours the effects of such tonics where just as potent as her magic,in some cases probably more so.

The huge advantage was that they could be given to others that had no magical abilities whatsoever and could be used by them. The draw backs? Well, the potions went inert after a period of time, usually having a self life no longer than a week and the offensive nature of her Arcane magic couldn't be relaid. Her defensive magic, her abjurations, divinations, transmutations, enchantments and necromantic effects could be imparted though.

There were means that weren't magical too, means of creating poisons or explosive devices, glues, acids, freeze bombs, rods that produced light or smoke and other mundane magical and non-magical effects.

Combined with her baking she could even lace her desserts with effects too.

But as she worked through this book it being knew and somewhat interesting she gathered the all too familiar reference to the soul of the Philosopher that she had recognized was the equivalent of the Philosopher's Stone in her Shadow though here it was a very real thing, an artifact that had been lost long ago but was once in the possession of the Fey thought to be in the hands of the Unseelie now.

It had been while she had been reading some of the remarkable things that it could do that she looked up seeing the structure that wasn't there a few hours ago.

Approaching what was the boarders of her room she reached out feeling a strange tingle that rushed over her arm as it passed through what she thought was the barrier to her prison, her arm now beyond it in the forest.

With her knowledge of magic their was some sort of conjuration effect that she could feel. Conjurations went from summoning items to herself, calling up creatures or even transportation magic and even portals and gates. This must have been a portal of some kind and just through sensing it the portal was quite strong assuming it was not generated by Oberron it had to puncture whatever defensive magic he had in place. Of course nothing came through to menace her either, the portal was simply there.

The philosophers stone... If boiled correctly with the proper (and equally rare) ingrediants one could literally brew the elixir of life. Not only, it turned any type of base metal into solid gold. Never ending riches, and a never ending timeline to spend it.

Alynia had been read with fervor, but she looked away from the certain page she was on to think. Why would Fey or Unseelie need such a stone? Weren't both species technically immortal... Could the drive for gold be worth so much strife?

Either way, it was that moment Alynia had noticed the strange looking building sitting contently out of place honestly not too far away. It sat happily in the shade of the trees... As if it had really been there all along. At the same time the bright white stone that seemed to make up the structure stuck out like a sore thumb, obviously too man-made to belong in any sort of enchanted forest.

Unable to fight her curiosity, Alynia stood up and carefully set the book down in the grass. She smoothed her skirt, a lovely shade of dark violet, over her knees before wandering toward the edge of the trees. Alynia was even more confused as she reached foward... And instead of reaching some sort of invisible barrier... Her hand passed through.

She shuddered as it felt very briefly she was dipping her hand into a var of ice water, but the sensation passed. Her innocent brown eyes blinked in confusion... Unsure whether or not it was wise to continue. Flexing her fingers, noting very clearly she did not seemed to be hurt in any fashion, she decided there was no harm in continuing foward. She would surely return to her quaint jail cell before dark... Besides. She technically never left her room at all.

Unless of course it was some sort of portal... Alynia kicked aside the thought... Believing to cast such a spell one had to physically present... Not to mention extremely powerful to be capable of tampering with her husband's illusion.

So carefully, Alynia squeezed her entire body between the trees, gasping outloud as the freezing sensation courses through her core. Momentarily, she felt as if she had been soaking wet, but the feeling passed quickly.

Alynia peered back at the gap between the trees at the circular glade she had been barricaded in... Or so she thought. She felt strangely like little Lucy, traveling out of the wardrobe into the unknown land of Narnia... Except there was no snow.. And for all Alynia could have known she might have been here before.

Alynia made her way, gently trodding on grass and very cautious not to step on any pebbles of twigs, through the emerald woods . Her feet were bare, but her dress had a train on the back that trailed lightly on the floor. If she had been wearing heels, the back of her dress would have been no problem... But there was no way that Alynia could have known she would be leaving her cell today.

She hiked up the back of her dress, and she headed toward the marble building... Wondering if anyone was there to greet her. "H-hello?" The girl called out timidly still treading foward as she awaited a response.

The Philosopher Stone, there had to be something else she was missing. Was gold that important to the fey? The Unseelie? The only ones that she could remember having any ties to wealth were leprechauns. Corwin …

God meeting him seemed like a life time ago. As far as she could remember he was more into talking about liquors than wealth so many gold wasn't as big to them then she had thought. Immortal creatures did not have to worry about eternal life so much so maybe the object could transcend life and death?

Maybe the dead could be restored though the stone. Maybe it enhanced the user's power in some way. But she never found the answer as her attention was drawn to that building … it looked more like a temple of some sort she reasoned though it stood alone it stood proud. A home maybe? It was another guess of course but she was uncertain there.

The barrier was easy to press against though she got a chill when doing so. It was harmless and soon passed as she pressed her way through. Whether she was now elsewhere or there was a portal connection the illusionary glade with the real one she could not say only that the gateway between the two points existed.

Was she still in the same Shadow of Llyndoria? What was up with this portal? The structure even that was suddenly there? There had been no real way of knowing unless she happened to be a specialist in the department of conjurations or made an in-depth study of the magic involved but she pressed forward there was no danger here after all or at least none that she could perceive.

Pressing on she made her way to the building that stood out, the white marble was smooth and polished well enough where she could see her own reflection on the tile. She felt the coolness of the stone beneath her feet as she called out, braziers lighting the chamber beyond which had been lit by two enormous braziers. An orange-red light illuminated the chamber as she called out the hall was empty though great columns resided here holding up the ceiling, the columns engraved with various figures that alternated. One set being satyrs, the next nymphs identical on both sides though as she traveled between the pair it was obvious that the images depicted the satyr chasing the nymph in various stages.

From the back of the temple came a man slight taller than herself. His bronze skin stoke out, his black hair short and curly. He was incredible handsome and wore a white toga and winged sandals. He seemed surprised as he came out and saw her. His brown eyes lighting up as he witnessed her in all her beauty.

“It worked … amazing ...” he seemed to be speaking to himself as he neared. “Of course it worked. But after tonight it shall be time of course. You probably don't remember me your Majesty. This is not the first time we have met after all but I doubt you recall the last time.”

“There is much to do of course but tomorrow, not today. I'm probably making little sense to you. Let me start with simple introductions. I am Hermes. Olympian and deity of the Shadow of Olympus. I am in need of your assistance.”