Anything but Ordinary [Annette]

[Haley]

This was the first time Haley would venture into the Seelie Palace. Before this she had merely stuck to the outskirts of the Seelie court, the majority of her time spent in Sabrina’s tavern or her own living quarters. In Haley’s mind there had never been a need to approach the Queen directly – she seemed to know of Haley’s whereabouts and current-doings without much verbal assistance. The fact that Annette was essentially Big Brother all over again unnerved Haley, but she knew there was little she could do about it. After all, she couldn’t blame the woman. She would do that same had she control of the land’s magic.

The beauty of the throne room escaped Haley. The little Nimbus had never had an eye for beautiful things. Flowers annoyed her, pretty people made her want to hit something, and beautiful works of art merely brought about her arson tendencies. Instead she appraised the throne room as she normally would any new space she entered: she noted possible exits, hiding places, vantage points, and memorized the faces of any faerie present, just in case she needed them for later. This was done within a few moments of entering through the main entrance before Haley adverted all of her attention to the task at hand.

She had come dressed for the occasion in a sharply pressed black suit, a black lace camisole barely visible beneath the jacket. Her hair was slicked back into a perfect bun and topped with a slightly-tilted fedora, while her feet were clad in close-toed black two-inch heels. Though she donned no uniform, there was something distinctly militaristic in the way Haley moved; her back straight, eyes cast ahead, her strides long but perfectly paced. There was a sense of purpose in her steps, a purpose quite readily reflected in her flashing hazel eyes.

Over the past few days Haley had taken to mulling over her encounter with the Queen and had come to the conclusion that the best way to rectify this mess was to approach it in the way she would have approached it back when she was in the military. This included looking the part – no biggie for a woman whom had been forced to look and act professional for four straight years of her life.

Her approach to the throne was swift, though she stopped perhaps a hundred feet from it and aptly clicked her heels together. Her head briefly dipped - a replacement for her customary salute - before her chin rose slightly and Haley settled her eyes on Queen Annette. There was no haughtiness on her face, no sign of the volatile personality that had been present in their first real encounter. Haley’s visage was a stone mask of solemnity. For the moment she said nothing. She would wait to be spoken to.

Akuji, ever present on Haley’s left side, had also been prepared for the meeting with the Queen. His freshly laundered pelt shone softly and his paws offered no sound as he padded alongside her, his nails cut short enough to avoid brushing the ground. He came to a sitting position beside Haley and offered the Queen nothing but a blank stare. This was his bonded’s business, not his. He was merely here to offer Haley his support.

[Queen Annette]

The Queen had not expected Haley to seek audience with her. She had seen enough of the nimbus to deduce that the girl was headstrong. Annette had figured Haley would just return to the court as a one of the many who faded amongst the dozens that held some infinitesimal grudge against her. It wouldn’t have bothered her if that had been the case; she had hurt the pride of more powerful and more important individuals before to care about the way she treated a very human-looking nimbus. Some might have said the Queen was foolish in the way that she disregarded the lowly, but the sidhe would disagree heartily. If she lent her attention to every fool to meandered through her court she would have no time to run the place. It was up to each fae to capture her attention, and though Haley didn’t seem to be a master of modesty, she had a knack for getting Annette’s attention.

The little red fox nestled in between the queen’s lap and the throne’s arm lifted its head at the sound of the throne room doors. The creature’s ears tilted forward with curiosity as the queen’s finger lightly stroked the fox’s red mane.

The Queen’s face held no slight smirk or the look of satisfaction it did at the festival. At the Seelie Court the queen was a different animal. In front of the Unseelie faerie she had put upa façade of being the governess many misconstrued her to be: one obsessed with appearance and beauty, a woman so deeply satisfied with her own exploits and power that she perpetually smiled as if nothing could ever be wrong. While she was complacent with letting the Darklings believe that was who she was, she would not afford the Shining fae the same ignorance. She sat upon her throne, ferocity in her stare. Her lips were pursued and her body was completely still saved for the single digit that stroked the fox.

Though Haley’s visit to the throne room did earn her some respect in the queen’s eyes, it would not erase the memory of her brashness at the Imbolc Festival. She spoke loudly and with the edge of a disciplinarian.”Approach the throne and speak.” The words were a command, one she would not allow to be ignored.

[Haley]

It wouldn’t be long before the Queen would come to realize that Haley was not the type of person to fade into the background. She was an in-your-face bitch with ambitions far beyond the average faerie. While some may lay in wait to catch the Queen’s favor, Haley wasn’t about to sit still. She would demand recognition in one way or another. She would work to earn the respect of her fellow faerie – respect Haley knew would not come easy.

At the same time, Haley would not deny who she was. She was more than capable of playing the various roles requested of her: the respectful dog willing to fill orders, the ferocious bitch on the battlefield, the quick minded sleuth in the dregs of the court...she had faces for all of these positions. Haley could fake politeness and lie through her teeth with practiced ease. Her time spent amongst humans, especially the military, had all been conducted underneath a gigantic persona, a displayed visage of hospitality and warmth. She wasn’t about to sacrifice the freedom she had found in Alanor to go back to such tedious personality lies, but she also wasn’t above playing behind a mask if it could ultimately get her what she wanted. It was an ‘ends justify the means’ sort of thing.

The front Haley now presented the Queen was nothing new – it was a naturally ingrained part of Haley that had been slowly cultivated over the years and perfected during her time in the Air Force. She was the picture of subservient perfection, from her attire to her mannerisms. At the Queen’s command, Haley sharply stepped into a forward march, Akuji moving in step with her on her left side, until she came to a stop a mere ten to fifteen feet from the Queen and once again resumed her previous standing position.

Queen Annette had demanded speech from Haley, but it did not come immediately. There was a several second delay in which Haley assessed the situation, her body loosening but maintaining an upright posture, her eyes trailing over the Queen and the little fox in her lap. With a deep inhalation, Haley began, ”I have several topics I would like to address while in your presence, Queen Annette.” She made sure to address the woman correctly this time as to avoid further misgivings.

”First, I wish to apologize for my behavior at the Festival of Imbolc. Your advice was meant as words of caution, and though I did not disregard them I did respond in a rather ungrateful manner. I am sorry.” Every single word she spoke was true, and this honesty was reflected in her unwavering but sharp speech. Haley was not so volatile a faerie to not notice when she was wrong. The inability to admit a folly was a personality trait Haley considered to be the mark of an uneducated and arrogant person. Though it did not pain her to apologize to Annette, despite her distinct dislike for the woman, inwardly Haley felt that the Queen had also been wrong in the way she had not only issued her warning, but also in the way she had dealt with Haley’s ‘insubordination.’ Though Haley did not expect an apology, nor was she inclined to mention this bit in her speech, the thought weighed heavily in the back of her mind. Haley pushed it aside.

She did not continue after that. She would wait to see what the Queen would say before she began to discuss the other items on her agenda. There was much to say, but Haley would take her time saying it. For once she was not about to rush this. After all, she had the Queen’s attention and Haley intended to maintain it for as long as she could.

[Queen Annette]

Annette had not acted without reason. Her warning to the nimbus at the Festival of the Imbolc had been meant to reign in what she felt like was an overly prideful warriors diving carelessly into battle. Annette was the Fae of Reticent Fury, a Goblin Blade, she had not earned her title by carelessly charging into war and killing any many around her she could. She had earned her blade by being the fiercest in battle but also the most intelligent. She had survived when others had been mortally wounded or even worse, had been slain. She knew a thing or two about surviving a battle, and Haley’s actions not only threatened the nimbus’s life but the life of other Shining Fae as well.

Challenging the other warrior’s to a competition of bodies had been Haley’s first mistake. The ambush on the festival had not been a competition; it was a peaceful time for the faerie. Not since before the creation of Alanor had any creature disrespected a day the Fates held as hallowed, and for the Shades to have done so meant they intended to catch the faerie off. The Shades’ intent had been clear: harm as many faerie as possible. In times where the faerie, most specifically the Seelie Court, were in danger Annette became like a lioness protecting her cubs. She was fierce and any able bodied warrior who did not directly contribute to the safety of her court was her enemy. Haley’s need to outdo the other warriors alongside of her gave them all a glimpse of her selfishness and the need to criticize Nymeth’s abilities further contributed to some deep seeded insecurities that Haley harbored. Annette could tolerate insecurities but not selfishness.

The Queen heard Haley’s plea for forgiveness but met it with a stoic glare. Haley’s second mistake had been challenging the queen directly. Yes, Haley wished to prove herself amongst the other warriors who fought at the festival but there was no proving herself against the Queen of the Seelie Court. Annette would win every battle every time. She was sidhe, Haley was a nimbus, and there was no comparison. If Haley wished to pit herself against the Queen then she should do so in a direct challenge but to do so in the heat of ambush showed disrespect, insolence and an excessive amount of pride surpassing that of Achilles. Annette nearly growled as she spoke, the fox in her lap turning its head to face its bonded at the throaty sound.

”You mistake me, Haley, for as prideful as you are.” She cast a narrowed gaze upon the woman as she spoke. ”But I am a queen and I have been a queen for two reasons: none are able to best me and none care for this kingdom more than I do. Though it appeared my anger was directed at you for disrespecting me, my anger stemmed from your blatant disregard for those who fought beside you. Realize that while your skills may be above the rest, you are not invincible. The Shades could have brought any of us to trance had they separated us from the group.” She inhaled a deep breath. Haley showed promise but her ignorance when it came to the customs of the Shining Throng and her blatant disrespect for those around her would halt any dreams he had of achieving rank. Haley could become a sidhe several times over but if her attitude did not change she would always be a Denwyr, another faceless warrior amongst the court.

[Haley]

Pride?

Though her expression seemed etched in stone, Haley inwardly laughed at just how incredulous this situation had become. Was the Queen truly this blind when it came to analyzing the character of another? How ever did she secure the throne when her world was so blatantly black and white? Yes, Haley possessed pride, but it did not rule her. There was a fine line between pride and arrogance, a line that Haley teased but did not cross. Pride had nothing to do with her actions, and if Haley were so blinded by her pride she would not be here now, before the Queen, offering an apology for her actions.

There was no pleading tone to her voice. Haley would not beg for the Queen’s forgiveness. It was a firm belief of the Nimbus that there was never a reason to beg for forgiveness. The mark of humility was recognizing when one was wrong and apologizing for their actions; Haley had done this. The acceptance of the apology was on Queen Annette’s shoulders; a test from Haley that the Queen immediately failed. Haley considered the ability of one to accept an apology a mark of great character. Back on Earth, Haley had constantly been confronted by instances in which she had seriously wronged someone. Realizing this, the woman had offered her sincere apologies only to be shot down with a “sorry isn’t good enough” to her face.

Sorry isn’t good enough? The phrase was laughable. An apology was the first step to admitting a wrong and attempting to right it. Of course, there were grievances that called for extended action beyond a simple apology, which Haley did indeed recognize and accepted as necessary. However, it all started with one simple word: sorry. And Annette had practically spit on it.

Haley felt no anger – only pity. Though the temptation to argue her position blossomed in her chest, Haley suppressed it. Annette was the type of woman to stick to her convictions, no matter how foolish or blindly lead they might be. She had her mind set about Haley, that much was certain, and Haley knew her words could do little to change this simple-minded Queen’s opinion. Still, that was the least of Haley’s concerns at the moment. She had succeeded in issuing her apology and now, upon hearing Annette’s response, Haley had once again reaffirmed her own opinion of the woman. It was time to move on.

Her expression calm, blank, her eyes steady and sharp but revealing nothing, Haley listened to Annette’s verbal assault without blinking an eye. When the Queen finished, Haley dropped her chin slightly in an accepting bow of her head, ”I will do better to heed my fellow warriors in the future.” Haley’s tone was level; she spoke the truth. While the Queen seemed to know nothing of Haley’s true intentions behind her verbal proclamation back at the festival (it was not made in jest of the situation, it was a cry meant to motivate herself, nothing more) nor her criticism of Nymeth’s battle style (she had honestly been concerned – in her opinion, Nymeth’s impending exhaustion was far more dangerous to the group than Haley’s play on words), Haley would not combat Annette’s assessment. Haley would play to the Queen’s arrogance and show Annette just how serious she could be.

There was little more to say regarding her outburst at Imbolc. Haley allowed a brief moment of silence to reign, perchance the Queen had a few choice words to share, before she moved on to the next subject she wished to discuss, ”I do have some rather troubling news I would like to share with you, Queen Annette. Not long ago I took a trip to the library harbored in the Mists. There I met a man, a Drow, by the name of Erogsal.” She left off there, her gaze and body frozen in a stance she had once commonly used to report in to her commanding officers. Annette’s reaction would be enough information to let Haley know just how to proceed.

(ooc: pure crap, but meh.)

[Queen Annette]

Though her nostrils continued to flair with annoyance the queen had said what was on her mind. Any anger she still harbored towards Haley would have to be set aside until it dissipated. Thus the queen straightened in her posture, wiggling side to side upon the seat of the throne until she was comfortable in a position that appeared similar to a statue of a dignitary. Her lips were pursed, her chin up turned and her gaze cast down over the tip of a long, slender nose.

Annette had not expected Haley’s second bit of information to be of any significance, but upon hearing her words there was a noticeable change on the queen’s face. The name Ergosal had not found Annette’s ears for ages, in fact, the word brought memories the queen would have preferred to forget flooding back into her mind. Her lips parted as if to speak but no words found her lips. The man Haley spoke of was as deceitful as they come and seeing as Haley had not been clawed apart, Annette could only imagine what lies the creature had spun into the nimbus’s mind.

Finally, after what seemed like minutes of deliberation, the queen spoke. ”So the rumors are true. The Drow remain.” The words were spoken more to herself than to Haley but it was not clear who she addressed for she looked directly at the Denwyr. ”Expound upon this meeting, Haley. ]

[Haley]

The Queen’s reaction, slight as it may have been, was enough to indicate that the name Ergosal had not brought about feelings of warmth. Though Haley’s expression remained apathetic, her brain was quickly formulating the best method to approach the Queen’s command. She wasn’t about to spill every detail of her meeting with the Drow – part of it she intended to retain in order to fuel her own investigative efforts. On the other hand, Haley had developed a distinct distaste for the Drow man; he had pricked a nerve in a way not many were capable of achieving. Haley was a volatile creature, prone to hating others without much prompt. At the same time, she could very easily dismiss those feelings; never did the woman hold a grudge unless it was born from some grievous act committed upon her. Still, even now, Haley was finding it hard to dismiss the sour taste Ergosal had left in her mouth.

”I came to find Erogsal and Ciodar quite enjoying each other’s company, Ma’am.” She reported in a factual manner. Now that she thought back on it, she found it quite disturbing that the man in charge of Alanor’s secrets was so quick to divulge them to a non-faerie. The human garlanger that had originally found Haley’s favor was quickly falling from her graces. The desire to return to the Library to confront him was strong but it would have to wait.

Her next bit of words were chosen very carefully, though there was no delay in her speech process as not to betray the fact that she was sidestepping details. Haley’s voice was calm and unwavering, amazingly articulate for a faerie that frequently boasted of her foul-mouthed prowess, ”The Drow, Ergosal, questioned me of my knowledge of you, Ma’am. He asked me what I knew of you, your blades and your magic.” Every word she spoke was the truth – thought Haley was not above lying, she tended to avoid it if possible. The little Nimbus had been deceived so many times throughout her life that she had developed a distinct hatred for liars and their tongues. ”I admitted my ignorance of you, Ma’am, and he took it upon himself to elaborate upon the origin of your Goblin Blade title.” Haley did not elaborate further than that. No doubt the Queen knew of her own battle – she had lived it after all.

Haley paused to take a breath before she spoke again, ”He made sure, of course, to mention the controversy surrounding your win.” Though Haley knew very little of the woman who sat before her, she had a vague idea as to how Queen Annette might react to this news. The little Nimbus decided to leave her report stalled for the moment in order to observe the Queen and to give the woman a chance to respond. Her body remained almost impossibly stoic, her hazel gaze unwavering.

(ooc: Is it Ergosal or Erogsal? I tried to use your narrations in the Mists w/ her encounter to verify...but you use both )