Yearning for liberation (Afina)

[Anastasia]

A tear glistens in Ilsenine's eye as she says, "I'll make sure it's told in my court as long as I live."

[Ebiris]

Oh no, is Ilsenine crying now? This is way far out of Afina's comfort zone she has no idea how to deal with it. Seeking the safe refuge of formality she says, "And may your reign be everlasting, your Majesty."

Now, how to gracefully extricate herself without waiting for a dismissal? "I should tell Crystal about this as well, but I wanted you to be the first to hear it."

[Anastasia]

Just a little bit, it looks like. A single tear even as she smiles, "Thank you for that, Afina. You've served me well again. Go and tell her."

[Ebiris]

So dignified even when crying! Afina would be all ruddy-cheeked and runny-nosed...

That is if she ever cried, of course!

"By your leave, your Majesty," she bows elegantly and sees herself out, remembering to grab up the scroll before she leaves.

[Anastasia]

You get Crystal in her room. She's lying in her bed in pajamas, yawning as you come in. "My apologies, but preparing for the battle has been taxing, plus I slept poorly the past evening. Please, make yourself at home."

[Ebiris]

"Don't push yourself too hard," Afina says, going to claim one of Crystal's armchairs, indeed feeling at home amidst appropriately sized furniture. "I had Bubbles visit the Seelie Realms on my behalf, about my place in fey society," she begins. "She ended up meeting Queen Titania herself."

[Anastasia]

"Oh!" Crystal sits up at that, "Do go on."

[Ebiris]

She holds up the scroll. "It's a writ of ennoblement, instructing me to form the Lifasan court of Rainbows upon Lifasa's liberation," she explains. "I'd thought I might have a chance at taking over the grand court of Rainbows given my status, but I think this is Titania's way of telling me to stay focused on what's important."

[Anastasia]

"Oh!"

Crystal drops it after reading halfway, scrambling to snatch it and begin again. "Oh. Oh!" Gasps as she reads, "Oh Afina, congratulations! Yes yes, of course. It's a mission and a directive from her. Yes, if she wanted you in the Seelie Court she would act, or if she wanted you in the Court of Stars."

[Ebiris]

"Yes," Afina nods to that last part, glad Crystal's someone she can talk to about the whole fey/eladrin thing. "I'd considered going to the Court of Stars and presenting myself to Morwel, get her thoughts on the outsider thing. But this is as conclusive as anything, and gives me something to work on after the hard work of liberating Lifasa is complete."

[Anastasia]

"It says everything you need to know without saying a word," Crystal agrees, "It's a deft move, is it not?"

[Ebiris]

"That's why she's the Queen," Afina agrees. "Anyway, it's for the future, and I'd need to gather followers before I could be a Queen worthy of the title, but there it is."

[Anastasia]

"If not for Ilsenine, I would join you in an instant," Crystal says, then turns and looks out the window. "Though I fear my place will not be with either of you. Now that I know, the Court of Stars calls far more keenly. My soul remembered, even if my mind did not."

[Ebiris]

"You've always felt fealty there anyway, this just clarifies it for you doesn't it?" Afina observes. "You'll be in good company." Everyone she's ever met from the Court of Stars has been really nice after all.

[Anastasia]

"That it does," Crystal agrees. She looks down at the courtyard and the soldiers out there training and then sighs. "I wish to go, because I desire to see the day when the division ends."