It's not about strength that one can fall. The darkness in the mind is indefinite, deep or shallow as the case may be, more so when there seems no reason for it to be there.

It eats at the resolve, eats at energy, eats at life. 

That it happens to you is no fault of your own. It is something to learn about, and gradually find your footing to work around. 

Your foe is a difficult one. Don't understate yourself for persevering, for doing what you can. Even when what you can is not what you want it to be, at present. 

Please take care, okay? 

We need to be kind to each other - the game's certainly not going to be!

(though some of the others might mention I'm fairy good at twisting the knife in emotional content... So not all of the feels come from one side ) 

A casting of Dispel Magic might help, for starters

I imagine even if Aranwen stops slipping with that usage of 'we', she will actually request it from Mosic the next morning, prior to the group's departure.

Even so, that's not who you were expecting to be sharing Aranwen's mind-space, I take it?

Now, some behind the scenes: Morgana is essentially using Saeriel as bait to bring Aranwen to her and Spiderlily, and that enchantment was intended a way to prove that the offer to reuinite them was genuine.

Kithran striking Morgana interrupted her concentration, which left Aranwen very disorientated, but in a far better state than if Morgana had finished what she also intended to do with that enchantment.

Being the conduit of that particular spell, the destruction of the Sae-doll would have put an end to it. Morgana counted on no one having any desire to do so and, as it turned out, she was right.

"If we ever think that something is amiss, perhaps relying on each other's senses might serve to identify real from not," Aranwen mused, before turning to examine Kithran, "Are you okay now, Kithran?" she asked. 

She looked vulnerable, like she could have used a hug, A thought came to Aranwen's mind. That familiar voice, gentle and concerned.

Not from me, Aranwen thought in return.

Us, The reply came, a thought that protested at the way Aranwen kept them apart.

You're not here. It's an illusion in my head. Just like whatever it was that only Kithran was seeing and hearing, Aranwen focused, keeping track of her senses, the feeling of the hilt of the blade in her hand, and the stone beneath her feet.

I'm-!

Kith pushed Ch’dau’s arm off her shoulder, “As okay as you, I suppose, for how much this witch enjoys playing with our minds.” She smiled sardonically, “I agree that we will need to rely on each other’s senses, but so far half of us have had our senses muddled by her magics. It will be interesting to see how helpful relying on each other truly is.”

Don't ignore me! Please! Please don't let me be alone!

Aranwen frowned, but she nodded, "You are right…"

Aranwen shared a thought, quietly, I need to focus on what is in front of me. The situation could turn on us in a heartbeat. We must be ready.

"Still, it is better to have some plan at all, rather than having none,"

Why? Why won't you believe me?

Aranwen turned away from the group, looking forward once more. As she did so, she felt her left hand reach around her, as if to hug herself.

What are you doing? Aranwen thought, in equal parts apprehensive and hopeful. She returned the gesture unconsciously, even as she frowned, struggling to keep the thoughts distinct from each other.

All that I can. The only thing it seems like I can do.

Aranwen shook her head, This isn't real, she thought, feeling a tear at her cheek, just some trick. No matter how much I wish it otherwise.

What would you have me do?

Aranwen's heart skipped a beat, and her eyes unfocused as she thought, almost desperately, When next we fight... Please... sing with me.

Huh? But-

I'm the one wielding this blade, not you, Aranwen thought in return, Will you join my bladesong?

Aranwen's left hand lifted to her cheek, wiping the tear away that had formed there, I'd love to, Ara.

Aranwen nodded to herself, before scanning the hallway one more. Where were we going...?

"A hall that intercepts from the left…"  Her voice repeated the directions from earlier, as she reminded herself.

For all the uncertainty that she found herself, she felt more than a bit reassured as she walked down the hall, keeping watch for any other patrols as they continued on.

* * *

A smile played at the edges of Spiderlily's lips, her eyes focused intently as she watched over the sleeping red-haired Syl. Though she seemed asleep, the woman twisted and turned, desperation plain on her otherwise unconscious face.

"How remarkable," She mused, reaching over to smooth the blankets, "When the connection was broken so abruptly, the web should not have held, and the enchantment should have been lost. Yet, the thread holds, empowered by their own will, no less."

"I suppose that's one good thing to come from this terrible evening," Morgana sighed, patting the bandaged wound at her shoulder delicately with one hand, "But it won't do to rely on that thread alone."

"And we won't," Spiderlily nodded in agreement, looking to Morgana with a warm smile, "But you've already done amazingly, my beloved a'rnia. That we are this close... it is more than I had hoped for when I dreamed of you."

Morgana returned the smile, holding a hand to her chest, "You are my world, my A'nia, and I will gift to you this one."

I can make a post with things currently going on in her head, if that was of interest  

It's perfectly normal to refer to multiple people with 'we', right?

Right? 

Why are you looking at us like that?

At Breeble's reaction to Adedre's nails. Can't help but think about the sharp, claw like nails I had during halloween last year

How the- I don't even think they can blame autocorrect on that one

The risks you take when naming characters

Funny enough, both of my names are a pain for anyone to spell by sound alone; thankfully my name is on my electronic profile at work for work chat so everyone knows the spelling as a result of seeing it there

She looks lovely

Now I can't help but wonder how she'll look under the scrutiny of Aranwen's piercing golden eyes.

*whisperings*

"... Is she always that intense?" 

"No, but she's had several bad experiences with magic users in recent years. Just don't make any sudden movements."

Shiv and Cedric nearly got themselves into an apology loop

As far as puppy eyes go, Aranwen's willpower has been fortified by a sticky-fingered peach attempting to employ the same tactic in the past

Now where'd she last leave that spray bottle...

"Sara" didn't exist prior to their journey, so, yes, it is true that she was 'met' along the way.

Best kind of truths to share without lying, especially over alcohol

So given it was one or two days from then... That puts the scheduling for that at... About 16 days...

A nice even number... Fits on an octagon... 

Start of the first day... 15 days remain...? 

Maybe. We will have to see 

PS speaking of Left Eye, in random writings, I keep finding myself wanting to refer to the Left Eye also as the 'Dreaming Eye', even if that is inaccurate 

Like I keep seeing my hypothetical khr'dun call one eye Wakeful and the other Dreaming. But I just couldn't put a finger on why...

What's the timing like on the phases of the moon in present timeline, you think?  

Knowing that some portion of the evening will be retelling of the past in the Bent Copper, and that she is like as not to get lost in the past, Aranwen will very likely be visiting a few different locales in the evening, including the Long Gamble.

At least in the beginning; she does plan to join Ch'dau, Garion and Evin a bit later.

Addendum - whoo, that's one heck of a rough journey for Einar. Looking forward to seeing more of him. I'm very curious now...

I missed the ride, Eol!

Sorry about that, I should have made clear what was happening before I got to writing with Sara

Addendum - Whoo, that is one heck of a dream sequence... hoping Cedric shakes off the nightmares

Sara stared at the metal knife on Mhera's counter. Once again, she reached for it. The closer her hand came to it, the worse the shaking got. Her lips twisted, teeth grinding as she clenched her hand in frustration. She could tell it had gotten worse. Why?

That other night replayed in her mind's eye. What would have happened if it was a true attack, and Aranwen had needed to support Ch'dau with a blade - any blade? If she had struck from the bladeless stance, and wrest the sword from an attacker, what then? What could she do with a blade when she wavered with uncertainty and regret? Sara sighed, but before she could think on it further, movement caught her eye. As her golden eyes glanced through the window, they met with the curious, yet scared, eyes of another. They quickly slipped out of sight from the window, and Sara sighed once more.

"Too bad it's not simply someone here to admire your features," Mhera observed, "Sam could just cuff 'em over the head and be done with it," she paused a moment as she regarded Sara, "If you didn't yerself, first."

Sara shook her head, "It seems as if I'm scaring away some of our customers lately," She sighed.

Mhera shrugged her shoulders, "'appens. It's a quiet town, usually, so talk of a fight spreads like wildfire from house to house. And your Samuel certainly looks the part-"

"He only defended himself," Sara protested.

"I know; it ain't me you need to tell that," Mhera chuckled, "You two are far from the first to venture all the way here, to Meadowbrook, in search of peace and quiet. But rumours tend to have some hint of truth underneath the undesired tale put together over it, and the thought that you, of all people, are far more capable of battle than you look... that draws curiosity."

"I am not capable of battle," Sara replied, averted her gaze from Mhera.

Mhera nodded slowly, "But you were, weren't you?"

Sara's gaze fell towards the knife once more. There, she could see both blades she had lost. The first lost because she had to catch something even more precious than it, before it slipped from her fingers. The second lost because there was no path to victory, only the path walled in by her inability to read duplicity. Her eyes flared with hatred as her heart beat faster. Would that she could have just cut him down, before he made his move. Make safe the path.

She felt a small hand at her shoulder, and Sara blinked, turning to see Mhera with concern in her eyes, "Forget I asked," Mhera said, gently, "If you need, go ahead and head home early," She offered, "Pushing yourself to learn while your mind is elsewhere is a good way to put together a wrong mixture in the future."

Sara nodded, "Thank you," She replied.

Later on, when Ch'dau offered her to accompany him to Calestra, she eagerly accepted, to his surprise.

She was magically aged when Spiderlily reimagined her. Spiderlily needed her with her mind sharpened and her power strengthened. It might sound good, but it is not without its problems. You'll get to see said problems later.

That's the nature of many fae stories. Appearances are deceiving. What seems like a beneficial thing is not always. 

I am the fae

Just kidding  

Spiderlily and young Morgana have been on my mind recently, but I might get a glimmer of a 'present' piece for them...

Or maybe another Sae+Ara one. Hard to say. My dreams are chaotic at times, sometimes difficult to focus

You know where to look to see the how (at least after I get more of it written), but yes, by Spiderlily's care, Morgana never lost her sense of self. If Spiderlily wanted that to happen though, it absolutely could have...

There are some similarities with the Borg Queen in further thought. 

And not just because one of A'nia's translations is queen  

Thankfully, assimilation is not an obsession of the A'nia in general

For an individual fae, their name holds particular meaning to them. In a realm of chaos and dreams, names provide stability to form and mind. The A'nia, in particular, hold very literal names. Songstorm looks like a storm elemental with music surrounding her; Starflower looks like she is made of starlight.

Mirror Sprites are sprites that assume the name of a mortal, and use that to steal and embody their reflection.

If, on a mortal's name day, they give up their name and accept one offered by an A'nia, they become irrevocably connected to that fae. What happens to them then is up to the A'nia who named them. Some might not do anything, simply taking idle watch over the mortal's antics in their and other domains. Others might reimagine the mortal, turning them into a fae themselves to join in the revelry of the other a'rna in their domain.

For a mortal to survive a'niorna unchanged, they must not lose their sense of self...

Ocyari steals all the cookies. And she uncovers all the secrets while listening to things she shouldn't be listening to. While munching cookies. 

Kithran nabs shinies, Ocyari nabs pastries. 

"If you can steal a cookie, you can steal jewels."

"Not from Aranwen" 

"Just watch me."

"Don't say I didn't warn you"

*few moments later* grumblegrumble"golden eyes"grumble

"Told you"