paradisa | ♔ trois || fool unmade

[Elizabeth Tudor]

Elizabeth, you are no child, and so I will not treat you as such. You have married a King of England, and if this is true, I will meet him at once.

[/Elizabeth Tudor]

[ She's already had her shrieking fit off camera, so by now she's become more composed and willing to socialize again. Sort of. She dictates the following with tight-lipped composure; ]

I find it difficult to grasp the notion that none noticed by absence. Truly, I am horrified still at what transgressed, having had to depend on a strange but noble woman for escort, only to return and find none the wiser.

This must cease. This... This mockery of a castle is nothing more than a small child dressing itself up in empty purpose. Any fey who might try such nonsense on me again will rue it. Think you that I am the weaker for not having my lord husband at my side? That is a dangerous mistake to make.

If none other will hold court here, then I will take up that role as Regent, and breathe purpose into the very walls. Any who have or would swear fealty to England, I would have a renewal of your vows. If you do not already know the name Anne Boleyn, you will know it soon, and know it well.

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[ Asked to do magic. That doesn't happen often. He gives the door a cautious look as if he expects someone else to walk through it (not that he doesn't trust her, or anything) before glancing around the room for something to use.

Her journal's as good as anything. He doesn't bother speaking, just focuses on it for a moment, and with a flash of gold eyes it's drawn from where it rests into his hands. Well, more like it's thrown across the room and he catches it. He's still not great at very precise movements. ]

Your turn. [ And then, quickly, because this is starting to annoy him- ] And why is everyone so upset about me being young?

[ Despite requesting the trick, Anne can't hold back a short yelp (near scream) of surprise and fear as her own journal is flung away. Him catching it scarcely helps her nerves, and she seems reluctant to try and get it back.

Watching with a new tone or wariness, Anne tries to keep from clutching at her skirt like a little girl, instead folding her hands there in her lap where the journal was. Heart beating like crazy, yep. ]

I care not what others feel about you. It does not upset me, it is just unexpected.

You...are the first I have seen use magic, other than this wretched castle.

[ He doesn't feel bad for startling her, really - though the idea of her being afraid of magic isn't a comfortable one. He waits a moment before offering her the journal, and he's careful not to move too forcefully. ]

Why is it unexpected? And I'm sorry, I assumed- [ Defensiveness isn't quite the right word, but he does seem slightly anxious at her admission of having never seen anyone use magic. ] It seems like this place is full of magic. I've spoken to others with it.

[ She sets the journal aside as soon as he hands it, back, like it's going to set her on fire or something. When she looks back to him, she seems just as puzzled by his claims as he is by her admission. ]

I have not been here long, compared to many others. Mine own daughter has suffered the castle's cruelty for some time without my comfort... Knowing she's had the warm love and kind guidance of His Majesty King Arthur is my only solace.

Perhaps magic died with Camelot, for it is only a thing of legend in my time. But to be a legend is no small thing, Merlin.

[ The closest she can come to complimenting him right now, really. ]

[ It's not the first time people have said as much about magic, but it's definitely the first time anybody's said it so bluntly. Needless to say, after watching Arthur die for Albion - for magic - not even months ago, it's not something he's interested in hearing.

But that's not her fault. He's lashed out at others for it and gained nothing. So there's a moment of silence as he takes the time to get through the initial shock of the statement, and when he speaks he sounds tired, maybe slightly annoyed, but not angry. ]

Yes, that's something else people keep saying.

[ He could say a great deal more, but that's not the point of this conversation. None of this was, actually, but they'll come back to why she's acting so bizarrely soon enough. ]

How much have you spoken to Arthur about this? [ He found out from the other Merlin that Arthur doesn't know, theoretically, but that won't last for long if all of his fancy new friends are aware of it. ]

I haven't had the chance to speak with King Arthur at all. Why do you keep insisting on asking?

[ Well, he'd been trying to play nice, but that attitude puts him off quickly. He was stupid to think that she'd keep any of his secrets willingly if she knew she had them to give. ]

No reason. Why are you so awful today? [ Not... exactly how he'd meant to phrase it, but it's the same point, really. There's a short pause, and the next questions are mostly free of any hostility. ] Is it the castle? Did it do something to you?

[ The 'awful' jab gets a scowl out of her, and she's seriously considering demanding he leave. How dare he call her awful, she's trying so hard to be polite despite his complete and utter disregard for courtesy. But how do you demand things of a wizard that can make things fly around? Anne is scared enough to not want to anger him, but somehow that still does little to temper her own remarks. ]

Oh, did you only just now figure that out? I suppose I should not fault you, if you are incapable of paying attention and listening to your betters, instead favoring to insult and mock when you have the slightest chance.

I was whisked away by some force, though it seemed as if I merely woke in another dream, with none to defend me but a lone woman and her strange weaponry. I was there for more than a day, though it was impossible to really tell time, and I can state with a fact that I could have died if not for her bravery.

So you see why I find it difficult to believe you when you claim we have met before... In a time I was not even here.

[ He is, in her defense, a bit grumpy these days. He's not really in the mood to notice or apologize for it, though. Sorry, Anne. ]

You weren't here?

[ There's a pause for thought, but it's not actually a difficult concept for him to follow, even if he doesn't have the details quite right. ] It looked just like you, except for the - well, the clothes. And maybe the smile.

Have you ever heard of a changeling? [ It's the closest thing he can come up with from experience, though in that experience it's usually the nice ones replaced by the mean ones - not the other way around. Still, it's a working hypothesis. ]

[ 'And maybe the smile.' She wants to slap his face right off for that. Anne is a delight, all her friends think so! She just doesn't respond well to rudeness, because any queen that does would be considered weak, and she's not weak! Nope nope nope.

But what if she slaps him and he sets her hand on fire. So she keeps her hand...in her lap. And tries not to scowl. ]

A changeling? I know of stories, of course. Nothing but superstition and legend...

[ But Paradisa is different, obviously. Anne actually seems to consider this idea. ]

I have been told that this is nothing more than a court abandoned by the fey... In which case, they would be responsible for what happened to me. It would not be your fault for misunderstanding.

But that still does not give you leave to treat me with disrespect now that you know the truth. Would you treat royalty visiting from another realm with such distaste? I cannot imagine your King Arthur would permit such discord in his own court. Wars have been started for less.

♔ trois || fool unmade

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