Chapter VII ~ The Eyes of the Seine

 It was all far from done, as far as she was concerned, making these two long years of waiting held more merit than they all initially thought. While it was peace of mind at first, searching for their loyal protectors was a crucial idea to follow. It was set in stone that this curse was deeply rooted, so much so that something deep and powerful was needed in order to shatter it. Only time and patience now as they had to bank themselves in order to wait for them.

Casey began to walk along the bank to stretch her legs, and spread open her wings for a fine minute. This feathered body was growing on her, as things were becoming more familiar. The prickling from the feather stems were quite the nuisance yet the feeling was much less prominent than a year before. It all felt too unbecoming for their human selves, all too well. Along with their webbed black feet that pattered along the grass like flapping fish was of no help at all. Graceful creatures swans were but the feeling of being one was the polar opposite. Aching long necks, and needing to eat with a bill was not a grand sight. Overall, the deep feeling of humiliation was mutual among the entire flock. They were not birds by nature, which proved of how much sadism was put within this spell alone. Nevertheless, at least they were becoming used to their own wings which were wide and overbearing by themselves, which was proved by the aching of their muscles from atrophy. Her fellow maidens followed suit out of the waters to refresh themselves and clean. Meanwhile, Casey gave herself the opportunity to look over these new surroundings.

Hand in hand, it was all beautiful still, giving off the impression that was still tremendously safe, save for those strange quartz sticking out of the grass containing this ghoulish rose sort of hue as it was not yet night beneath the moon. The quartz at Mondfall were white and they would only glow under moonlight… so upon seeing these, they were strange. If they did not hold a newness than neither of them would be worried, but they had to be… They were on the foot of safety of this entire enchanted forest. They had to be patient with the Seven however their anxieties were rising with each passing minute.

This precarious situation they had been dealing with for two long years was only beginning to wear down on their tolerance. Cassandra's own hope began to grow more infuriating for one black winged fowl, Eleonor. The other maidens were more empathetic however, they could sense a growing negativity soon after they listened to more promises given. The day was no longer young and soon the sun would set and once the moon graced the lake again, they would be able to walk on two feet soon enough.

Manuevering her necklace slightly to nibble and itch beneath the broach, Casey sat herself beneath some lifted tree root, feeling slightly tired after the height of the emotion not long ago. Often before the evening would settle, the flock would rest for a while ~ taking little naps through out the day helped a grand deal. The rest of them did a little scavenge for a small meal, finding a minnow here and there, along with some fresh algae - none of which were ever appealing yet they did the job of tiding them over until a more reasonable meal came during their time under the moon.

Mary was fairly kind after seeing Casey's own low spirits and patted along with something held in her bill.

"I know it is not much, but you must eat at least a little, 'Ette." Mary told her as she held some minnow before Casey. "I know you are not partial to fish, but it will do you some good."

Casey rose her head up with both eyes aglow with thankfulness at Mary. "You should be eating first, Mary~ but thank you so much… You're so kind, Mary." she thanked before Mary held her neck out to her and slipped her the minnow into her bill, and she was able to swallow it whole in an instant. Casey was thankful for that, and her hunger settled down.

"You need to care for yourself, dear." Mary reminded. "Do not worry over Eleonor's snobbishness. She did not have a fine beginning…"

"Neither did I," Casey mentioned. "Well, to me… in every family, there's a cynic. Somehow, someway, it turns out for the better… I am only tired. And you, none of you, have had it easy either. Like she said, we need to work together."

Mary ruffled up, wagged and cleaned her bill over her back and wings before she too nestled herself nice-like in the grass with her. "Did you eat?" Casey asked.

"Quite, while on the way here. So much green on this end of the lake." she peacefully sighed. Casey's neck began to ache again so she rested her head down, snug, over her wings. Yet, she was still listening. Her mind travelled over what they were all told, about being in swan form being more profound than they all thought initially. A captivity all because of one villainous queen's insatiable desire for eternal youth. Such a specific curse as well, as to why they could only be normal again for only several hours at night. It was a form of prison to be as a simple animal, easily manipulated by magic, as a means to torture to the point of willingly choosing death eventually. As a swan, it felt more like a mockery at this point~ so graceful and poised, as all beauty was believed to be. A symbol of it, and a constant reminder to them of that expectation… Because, at moments like this, she did not feel beautiful by any means. Then again, there were little things around her that reminded her like company like this and how lush and lovely the forest and lake was - the brilliant stars at night and the moon.

Stories upon stories from home depicted swans or birds in general in fantastic ventures where good would trump over evil. This predicament was no different than those ancient tales, just as much as the princesses that grew so well known in her world. She was suddenly one of them… If she knew the Princess stories, each were based of actual fiction in the modern world… If it all fit well, how as she to be a part of this? In this magical world there seemed to be roles for each… the role she found herself in was all too familiar.

Besides the fact that she was brought into this through a mirror, her own perception of herself were never good. Perhaps it was a clue for her about ever returning to her family somehow. They were all so far away now, and it was still unsure to her whether or not it was possible. Not only that, but she loved her flock and she loved the Dwarfs… It was a difficult thing to ponder on. As loveless as her own society was, her family was the only joy she had there.

Then there came Jiminy.

Blessings in the moment, she did not expect to find him in Mondfall. A place where he did not belong, so out of place like she was. The ridiculousness of it all, being among the characters she laughed with and mused over, had come to this cause with such devotion that it was all too real for this to even be a dream. They were as real as anyone from her world to her. None of this couldn't be a lie, could it? Or was she slipped of some kind of drug in some sick stimulation?

She did not wish to dwell on that, because her own soul was telling her something different. When it came to the dear Fairy's word, Casey held a feeling that, during this restful moment, she was close by within this stone at her breast. Night was approaching, and she prayed for the men to return to them safely.

The forest about her had faltered away before Casey found herself floating along the lake again — with nothing out of the ordinary at first. As soon as the moonlight touched her, she was human again.

However, at this change her fellows were not about with her and she stood alone at a bank where the falls could be easily seen.

From somewhere secret, someone witnessed this from the limb of a tree, as though transfixed. A man was shrouded in shadow… A deformity overtook his face however there was not a shred of malice within those eyes that watched her with care and focus. They looked as flowing as rivers, with their own beauty.

His back was overtaken by a hill between his shoulders~ his legs were strong and stone still upon the limb of his watch. He resembling everything strong, and even monstrous. Yet she was not afraid of him.

As a matter of fact, she felt drawn to him. As soon as they both extended their arms toward each other, the vision changed ~ to awful sights of a battleground beneath a dull red sky with one swan upon the river ~ one with deep black feathers ~ yet there was something wrong. Its eyes were a deep green rather than a blood red as it formed into a swirling mass revealing its truth. An entrancing orb took its place and it grew so immensely bright that it sharpened at her so much that she awoke from the nightmare in an instant —

Casey shivered and awoke, shaking her head as she found herself still surrounded by her fellow maidens~ but it was now night and the stars were immaculate and eternal. She found that she was still a swan, and the world about her was so dark.

There was no moon tonight.

"… nevertheless, would it be wise to goad them? With all respects due, leaving them unnattended is the same as the latter." she happened to overhear the cricket's wise voice from somewhere off.

"… that goes without sayin'~" Sneezy remarked.

The men have returned, thank goodness. Yet what were they conversing about? Casey ruffled and rose herself up quietly, as the rest of maidens rested on.

"heh~heHA-Imff- HAP—!"

"Sneezy! Sevens-Heaven's sakes!" Doc hushed when said sneeze was held at bay.

"C'm on, I'm sorry! When ya gotta, ya gotta, right?"

"Not if yer gotta's gonna wake the whole wood, y'fool~" Grumpy sassed at him. "Women sleepin'~!"

"I might, uhh join 'em~" Sleepy's dozy tone drawled as he stretched.

"Y'ain't quittin' now, we're on vigil."

"… no foolin', boys." Jiminy commented while scratching his head, perturbed, before a shade of white had caught his eye. "What - why, milady." he called to her, the one swan that shyly walked up to them in the middle of the night. The Seven all drew their attention to her as she made herself known, with her rising and lowering her head as a sign of acknowledgement. "As I live and breathe~"

In all truth written in their eyes, even Grumpy looked worried for a moment when she came still in her cursed form.

"… fine kettle of fish," he uttered, heading on to stoke their fire.

"Oh, Casey…" Happy greeted her, with her allowing him to stroke along her head and neck.

Jiminy set his hat and parasol aside in a safe spot and went to Casey as she seemed confident as ever coming near, despite how awkward she felt on her flat feet. Her diamond was lighting up the forest besides the fire. "Good evening, hon~ Apologies for bein' late. Suppose we both had it long today." he told her as she let him to perch on her bill.

Casey gently nodded in understanding. "We knew you may have found something. We-we did too, Jiminy. But it seems we all got tired." she explained. "I am glad to find all of you safe…"

"Very sweet of you, hon, but you should be resting yourself." the cricket advised. At that, Casey sat herself more comfortably in the grass again.

"No moon tonight," she thought she'd mention with not as much low spirit, since it had happened normally. "On nights like this, we just catch up on sleep or food."

Jiminy provided a kind nod. "She isn't worried, gentlemen. They make room for resting on nights like this. She is quite glad that we've returned…"

"We worried too, dear~" Doc expressed, lovingly.

"Somethin' awful!" Bashful chimed right in.

"She also says that she and the other girls — they have discovered something too. Whatever could it be, hon?" Jiminy soon asked, as she was obviously still a listening ear for him. She nodded.

"The Blue Fairy~ she had returned to us." Casey chose her words wisely, capturing Jiminy's full attention as though instantly. "She never - her presence was never gone from us. It makes sense since she brought you here herself. My diamond has more purpose than we thought."

Jiminy's eyes personally lit up with hope. "Had she spoken to you again?"

The Dwarfs, upon hearing that, all came close helping her own heart ignite ever more.

"She had, Jiminy~ trust me, I am as amazed as you are… She helped to see that there is a way, to break the spell. That there is a great danger beyond the mountains, and we have to be wary. Or in any case, ready… I am scared… and so are the girls-"

"Granted, so are we." Jiminy tearfully agreed. He shared her joy in the moment. "~ as long as we got each other, there might be nothing too big that we can't handle. It moves me so that she came back to you, hon. It only would mean that your faith stayed strong after all that time…"

"It was rather fickle through it all, but that is kind of you to say…" Casey felt more laxed the more they conversed. It had been a long day.

"Now, now, don't you be taking too much of the credit." Jiminy lightened up. Her feathers ruffled up a bit.

Grumpy soon joined the ranks as this quiet conversation went on, his own concern growing along with Doc's, even Happy's. "What'd she say?" Doc brought forward the question and Jiminy put an ease to their worry.

"She and her company had audience with the Blue Fairy while we are inspecting that wall…"

"She did come back!" Sneezy cheered on. Grumpy began to look dumbfounded, and soft at hearing this news.

Thoughts flooded her again as she began to speak to them, taking all this in stride at first with that being among her primary coping mechanism. It was not just about how things led to this, but it provided reason for the curse in full. An innocent maiden cursed by some mysterious being with ulterior motives, trapped among other victims, bound to their spell against their will. The visions of someone else, the deepening sorrow she felt day to day, and then seeking solace in her loneliness was becoming more in line with the melancholic demeanor the White Swan had.

This felt incredibly stupid to decipher it all as some other fairytale, however she was able to speak with these people, resonate with them, feel close to them as one would try typically in the real world. How could the rapport she had built with them not be real? She may not have been a princess however with the role she was thrown in, with every evil eye on her and these others, she mind as well be. All this had changed her ~ not only into a swan maiden, but her own name was beginning to lose its meaning here. Her mind went back to Eleonor to the name she often used for her ~ that being 'Ette, which only made it more official.

For now, it was just her being among them without anymore back talk from Eleonor with her cynical attitude. As if she really needed it right now; she felt that vulnerable. As her thoughts ran on as the men began to talk among themselves, after being given her word for it by Jiminy's, truly.

"Jiminy?" she then hummed at him, which still amazed him that he was able to hear clear as day due to this spell.

"Wh-why yes, hon?"

"We learned to fly, we were kept safe from the horrors yonder there. And she told me to be in search of someone. I know it's foolish to hope for it, but can it be helped?"

"The Lady had mentioned someone? No, Cassandra… I simply do not believe it is foolish. Hope is what got you this far, hasn't it?"

Happy exchanged a look at Doc and then towards Grumpy as it came to be that even the ladies had been visited, and there may have been more clues for them to follow. Casey looked at them, with hopeful eyes, knowing what she had to say next~

"There is someone that she hinted would in turn help us, and perhaps find a way out," she pointed out. "… and what would we must do to become ourselves again~"

"Say, there's a lad I taught, in the Villagio~ his name is little Pinocchio. He began as a little puppet made of pine, all carved by hand by an old woodcarver named Geppetto. One wish was all it took… and that little marionette began walking and talking, never again a still piece of wood. We were brought through our ventures under her eyes. Indeed, she only guided us both as she has done for you, but allowed us to solve our problems by making the wisest choices. Now that sweet little boy had earned his being as a real living boy… He expressed to me that he would never choose to be a puppet again. And so, with that said, m'lady~ this could very well be a similar journey…"

Casey felt the feathers upon her head and knape raise up in response to those words, and she certainly listened to them deeply.

"… hold it firmly, hon. Because, out of everything, she held out her end, always."

"You say all that so confidently, sir," she replied after the soulful tale from a land across. "… could it be true that there is one way to end this curse, and we will be women again?"

"I believe it. As I live and breathe, I believe that…" Jiminy stated with conviction.

"She said to us that the one way to break a spell as strong as this one was Undying Love. What that might entail I am afraid I can only imagine… Love, back home… was still a mystery to me. People there treat it so loosely, and it was always confusing to me."

The Seven were able to read the Cricket's eyes to tell that she was in mourning, something spoken that appeared to bring Jiminy to tears.

"… and I saw him. The one she mentioned, I saw him in my dreams. At first, I thought he meant harm but for some strange reason, I felt drawn to him…"

"Wha-what did he look like, miss?"

"He — he was deformed. His back was arched and humped between his shoulders, but he looked deadly strong. He was there among the canopy~ it looked as though he had just seen me. We then reached out to each other… I was able to see what the Fairy spoke of. His eyes~ they were…"

Jiminy spiritedly bounded closer to her, astounded by what he had just heard. "Et tu, Cassandra? She herself had seen the Hunchback, as well~ through a dream…" he then told the Dwarfs, with urgency.

The Seven looked goosed and scrambled close to the two as if all ready to hear more, so child-like and hopeful. Being surrounded by those who supported her made her trauma feel much less heavy, despite how long its been. The others were growing more and more accepting of the fact that they were to remain as swans for as long as they should live… Casey did not wish to succumb to that belief.

"Girl," she heard Grumpy come and have his say, with some pain in his eyes as he did so. "… y'sure saw this mate in a dream? Because so did we, in the gaze of this crystal in them woods."

"It showed us a great battle!" Happy came in. "Among the dead and the living alike, just out yonder~"

"It is far too dangerous for you, de-dear… for any of you." Doc feared dearly. "But if you've seen this man yourself, then~"

"~ it means that he is one of the ways to break this curse and then some…" Jiminy finished the sentence. "Or at least, we must hope, that he opens a door…"

"The least we got to do~ we gotta try." Bashful agreed, hopefully looking at Grumpy.

He winked. Not a grand sign. Grumpy was uneasy, yet… the sorrow of the swan before them tugged at his compassion.

The Lakeside

As one of the darkest nights drew on, Casey returned to her flock after such a deep conversation with the protectors. She had hoped to join her flock, not expecting to be snapped at when dawn was so close… Eleonor once more had chosen her darkest side this morn, that rivaled the black shade of her wing tips, and prodded at Casey's tail as she passed by her. The action startled her before she found herself almost being guided along towards somewhere. She tried to remain patient, however, at once when Eleonor snapped at her leg this time, Casey flinched and turned herself round.

"That hurts, you know!" she defended herself against this bullying. "Just because I am covered in feathers does not mean I can't feel anything~ Why are you biting me?" she questioned, bold enough to at least try to solve this issue.

"As you so deserve, little miss oh woe is me I suffer!" Eleonor told them all outright. "You supposedly feel so special at once when you have this dream of seeing this man —"

"Were you following me?" Casey asked. "I am in this just as much as you are~ I was only telling them everything the Fairy had told us ~ and we have gotten closer to the chance of a lifetime to find normalcy again!"

Ida, along with the other four, gathered close~ all dearly confused as to where all this came from. However it was understood to a degree that this curse was becoming more… complex. Dorothea took her place next to Casey with arched wings in upset with hers. Eleonor merely thought Casey was working an act, but that wasn't the case here. Casey noted that Eleonor had listened to the conversation she had with Jiminy whilst sharing their findings.

"Eleonor, this is not a good time for you to be doing this ~" Dorothea countered.

"What is the meaning of this!?" Mary fretted.

It seemed that everyone was vexed tonight, not only the men, besides the fact that there was no moon. "The meaning of this!? Ask her," Eleonor prodded on, making Casey feel overcome even more. "… assuming that she thought of speaking to them first instead of us~"

"I meant nothing of it, Eleonor~ I was going to speak with all of you about it." Casey ruffled up in anxiousness just as Jiminy Cricket had began his way back to them, along where a willow hung close and over the water. Alas, he had come during this emotional moment. Deep down, it was all certainly of a shock to him. "I was going to, I just needed a moment to collect my thoughts."

"You have had plenty of time for that~ how many moments does one need? Imprisoned like this for two years thus far, you would believe you'd be told first of what is to come first…instead of wandering about, a little word is all we ask~"

"I understand." Casey humbled herself. "I do that more than I think I do, and I am sorry for it. I am constantly thinking about all of you too."

"This man, 'Ette. Why did you see him?" Caroll Anne prodded with curiosity. "… in your dreams?"

"While they had seen him too, inside the crystal?" Ida commented, baffled.

"It looked like a message was sent there for them, and she talked to us. Yes, this is the same man I saw. If anything, we have to find them."

"What did he look like? Are they a Prince?" Antoinette asked, which made Casey want to chuckle.

"I- mmm ~ I do not think he is. He looked different as he perched himself on the limb of a tree. He was watching. For something — He was deformed but he looked more - there was nothing wrong, no malice in his eyes. Our Dwarfs have kept us safe thus far and they were able to agree that we find this person. Grumpy was the last to agree to it…"

Nevertheless, with Eleonor's apparent strict treatment being justified, Casey felt hurt by what went down earlier, but kept this upset to herself for the mental well-being of the others. Not that it was that wise, indeed, but she wished for Jiminy's side to it, whom was sorrowfully overhearing all this.

"Like I had spoken before, 'Ette… We are a flock. Eleonor is only becoming desperate, as we all are…" Ida tried to comfort Casey as they floated along together in hopes of calming down a little. It had been an awfully dark night, which made frustrations high as a start. "Do not hold it against her,"

"I won't, Ida." Casey reassured her however she feigned that she was fine. "It will turn out, for the better… It will." she went on as a means to encourage herself.

Jiminy tried to sigh quietly as soon as all this came to a halt, yet he found his breath shaking. It was so much to take in one sitting. "I believe you, you know. Eleonor and her - well - We all dream of the day of coming across someone who would value us, love us. What she said does not make this dream any less than ours."

"It's not only about Eleonor. In a way, she just reflected how I really feel… I could not say much around her — I know that she's hurting just as much. Forgive me, Ida… Do come with me. I need to stretch these wings… Mind as well get some practice in?"

"I am pleased to join you, 'Ette" Ida was gleeful to agree.

Casey warmly gleamed. "Might have a name change, at this rate, while we're at it."

"M'ladies?" came Jiminy's voice, just in time for them to turn. His voice was so small that it could easily get carried away in the wind.

"Sir Jiminy." Casey sweetly paddled to him, feeling somewhat better from before. His role among theirs was a precious one as she was reminded. "What has brought you to brave the night, so far from the others?"

"I was compelled, more or less, in hopes to see both of you are in a safe place, Cassandra ~ Ida, dear. Do you believe this is wise?" he asked her, with concern, after all.

"… it is much wiser now that you are here, Jiminy. We won't go far, we just want to ~" at that, Casey gazed at Ida. "… get our minds in order."

"Each one of you are daughters. Far too precious to lose… Yet, if it is your wish, I will accompany you too, ma'am ~ if you would allow me?"

"You are so true to your word, sir - thus far. We would love to have you with us." Ida sweetly bowed her head.

Kindly, Casey opened her wing for him to be able to hop onto her back, in cover and protection beneath her feathers. It took a good amount of strength and care to get themselves flying, but Casey paddled off away across the water first with Ida quickly at her side. There were the beginnings of disconnect going on between her and her own world~ and she was starting to become heavily aware of it. This world was unlike hers, where the amount of beauty was immaculate, and yet things were not what they seemed~ That was a bitter pill to swallow that she was slowly transforming, the longer she stayed in this realm.

Pierced

Quasimodo's scouting had come to a tremendously long way to the point that he was able to send Faer off on this errand for his father's sake. He all out cared greatly for the bird~ for he was not what he seemed at first glance. Getting him into his father's hands was a trek in of itself, but this little gnome knew his way around on this front. With calloused hands, Quasimodo got himself off the desire path and into another tree in order to gaze out for any sign or flutter. It was usual for a couple days in wait for any opportune arrival, as the land was so spread on with mountain ranges to encounter before entering this safe haven. However it may be, this place was never seen on any map. It was as though he stepped into a new world… close enough to rival next to Never Neverland after their own encounters with the Neverfae… so he had to remain heavily aware, even out here amidst all this beauty.

Quasimodo himself had never thought that he would even see the day when he would ever be able to set foot so far away from home~ from his humble abode within the belfry of the Notre Dame Cathedral. As if stepping inside somebody else's dream, Quasimodo felt all the more compelled to explore whatever there was about him ~ given the trees, the glens and then the rivers. He explored until he finally came upon … a lake.

It shimmered in the sleepy sunlight like the quartz along the desire pathways that consistently led him to these places of safety at night. He swore his adoptive father that he would steer clear of the apparent dangers despite being potentially a lethal fighter himself. He possessed the strength of ten men, in the midst of his gentle heart.

With a single song in his heart, he journeyed close to that lakeside in order to settle for the night in hopes of meeting with Faer come the evening. However something spelled change in the air as he ventured forth, coming upon a nearside waterfall as two forms seemed to be flying in the distance in the sunlight. As on odd gate remained as the only indicator of this forest's specific nature. A ray of hope it may have been but it was not a worry in his mind as he once again found a decent place to lay himself down for the evening. As the stars began to sparkle in the dimming skies, Quasimodo suffered through a worry as he merely leaned his awkward back against a tree. His only choice on this matter was to await for his friend's return, and so dwelled on a few sobering thoughts as he began to scrape his flint for the fire. He held the habit of overthinking to a fault, and rest hardly came easy to him as a result. Tonight was among one of the hardest nights for his mind in particular as a great war was going on in the world he once fancied. His dreams were merely thoughts at this point. As simple as they were, they did not shy from the fact that life was calling to him ever since his unlikely birth. The relationship with the man he called father remain as rocky as ever, despite being rekindled after these rough years. Peace was difficult to come by, and often it was magical interference that created so much toxicity among the Parisians over time. It was refreshing to be away from all of it for once, if it were not for current events. He feared for his reformed father's life every second spent in this place~ A place where it felt as if such toil never existed.

"Along this frightful road, I never would have expected to see so much in such short time." Quasimodo spoke closely to himself. Rushing a hand through his hair, he soon spotted smoke rising from the tinders. At that, he flicked the flint and stone one more time and the patch lit up almost instantly. "I am trying - trying to speak to you, Ave Maria~ I simply do not - I cannot see as I used to. As twisted as I am outwardly, I am just so within. Whatever the future, may it be in your will~ Gather us all together… please~ Ora pro nobis, Sancta Dei Genitrix… Amen… I could not dare to dwell further in these woes, even if my life depended on it~"

Another day laying in wait had gone carelessly by, without a whisper, and the time had soon come to hunt on for some game. On his person, he possessed a fire arrow, made out of prestine ironwood - a piece he had carved out himself when life seemed normal. Shooting from a crossbow was sorrowfully a struggle for him, since a straight back was needed in order to make a straight shot, regardless, yet he was hardly one to complain. Quasimodo limped along the lakeside for a couple of hours, not having fine hunting luck thus far~ only that fishing held more promise these days. As some time passed during his venture, more so to destroy his boredom more than anything else, the night drew over the lovely land.

Stars shimmered and the moon returned, as a sleek, thin waning crescent.

Quasimodo was merely close to deciding to just sleep his hunger off until his eye caught on to pure white out on the lake. As he was about to take aim, he noticed a lonesome white swan paddle its way closer, unawares.

His eyes were drawn in as he beheld a miracle beginning to happen around this bird. It was a sight that caused him to lower his weapon… The waters appeared to churn about this swan and twist whilst with a light as bright as the moon, overturned by a greenish haze… The same came over another that paddled close to this other and it left the man completely speechless. One that wore a strange brooch about its throat...

Of what was only two swans, there stood two women in their place.

One woman held her arms about herself in a sort of graceful gesture in an attempt keep herself hidden for only a moment. Her gown was white and with a pink embroidery, and her curled brown hair hung freely about her shoulders, and was as brown as her eyes… they were completely overcome with surprise at seeing him. The other was a short haired gold, eyes of blue… with a gown of white.

Brown eyes met the teal. A swan's gaze meeting the Seine, in the most natural way…

Next Chapter ~ The Dwarven Pact ~ >