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Etty is awoken not by her transformation, but by her summons, a few minutes after dark. In her sleep, she drifted to shore; she's lying in human form - arm intact - half in and half out of the water when she feels it.
It's very insistent.
She cannot bring herself to move. She tries - she does; intellectually she knows it's the smart thing to do - but - she can't. Cannot get up and go to him.
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mute_pen
The Baron ignores her.
There is no one there.
mute_pen
Right now, that is the way Etty needs it to be.
She uncovers the scroll and the writing supplies, and finds a moonbeam to sit in, and puts the flat rock on her lap, and she writes.
She deliberately affects terrible handwriting - it's not hard; her hand trembles now and it's dark - in lieu of any sophisticated cipher. She doesn't want her thoughts read.
She uncovers the scroll and the writing supplies, and finds a moonbeam to sit in, and puts the flat rock on her lap, and she writes.
She deliberately affects terrible handwriting - it's not hard; her hand trembles now and it's dark - in lieu of any sophisticated cipher. She doesn't want her thoughts read.
She is left alone until morning.
mute_pen
Well before sunrise, she's tucked her implements away and put the rock back, and filled up on fruit. In the likely event that the just-dinner invitation will not be consistently repeated, she'd like to not approach a summons too hungry to think straight.
She changes.
She changes.
She's left alone all day, too.
mute_pen
Etty will just fly on past, then.
Maybe Nona will come out and see her tonight after the Baron's done with - whatever is on the menu for tonight.
Maybe Nona will come out and see her tonight after the Baron's done with - whatever is on the menu for tonight.
growcrooked
Well - Nona won't be engaging in the same pastime all day.
A few hours after dawn, she's screaming instead.
A few hours after dawn, she's screaming instead.
mute_pen
Etty can't help her.
She wishes she could, but even if she weren't a swan right now -
She flies over the forest, on the lookout for any signs of humans.
She wishes she could, but even if she weren't a swan right now -
She flies over the forest, on the lookout for any signs of humans.
Nothing.
The summons comes just after sunset.
mute_pen
Etty weighs her options. Such as they are.
She walks step by trembling step towards the Baron.
She walks step by trembling step towards the Baron.
He awaits her by the castle gate, and brings her in for dinner.
After dinner, he offers her his arm.
"Come to bed, my swan."
mute_pen
She swallows.
She hasn't run out of things to try yet.
Tonight she will try the truth.
"I can't move. I am too afraid."
She hasn't run out of things to try yet.
Tonight she will try the truth.
"I can't move. I am too afraid."
"It is not so bad, my swan," he says, putting that arm around her shoulders.