A Night Under the Starry Sky

[Rowan Llyri-laer]

"Calla feels the briskness... But it feels good." She chirped, skipping through the snow to catch up to him.
"Oh!"  The girl stopped dead in her tracks, a few feet behind Ulricus as she noticed the buildings. "Oh... Those are bigger than the tallest trees in the forest!" She sprinted ahead of the boy, eager to see the ornate architecture.
"Come on, Ulricus Ulricus!" She called back to him as he had to her just a few minutes before.

[UlricusBurgstahler]

Ulricus would bound forward to catch her, giving her some time to admire the buildings before leading her through an archway that opened upon a grassy hill, atop of which stood a palace far grander than any of the buildings in the square. "Behold your majesty." He'd begin with a grin, dropping down to one knee. "Your first palace." He'd crack up laughing, gazing up at the beautiful palace.

[Rowan Llyri-laer]

The nymph went slack-jawed as she gazed up at the grandeur of the palace. "It is so...so big! It must be bigger all the other houses in the world put together!" She hopped forward a few paces, sort of like a snow bunny, and then twirled back toward the kneeling landsknecht, "Do Calla and Ulricus get to meet the monarchs now? Maybe they will listen to what we have to say and offer us dinner!"

[UlricusBurgstahler]

Ulricus began to crack up laughing at the girls innocence. "Dearest Calla... The odds of us getting any closer to this palace than we are now are slim to none, and I regret to inform you that slim skipped town by horseback." He'd hop up, kicking the snow from his boots, his heavy woolen cloak now speckled with pure flakes of snow. "I'm afraid if you want to meet monarchs, this isn't the place."

[Rowan Llyri-laer]

The girl furrowed her brow in utter confusion, "Why wouldn't Calla and Ulricus be able to go in? The monarchs are humans just like Ulricus! In the forest, no tree is better than another tree...and no nymph is any better than another nymph." She canted her head and clasped her hands together, perplexed as the snow deepened around their ankles, "Calla does not understand... Why would it be any different with humans?"

[UlricusBurgstahler]

Ulricus would crack up laughing at the nymphs innocence once again. "Now I don't know much about trees... But here in the human world, no two people are equal, and in the eyes of our leaders, we're scum. Nothing more." He'd shrug, kicking the snow off of his boots once again. "Maybe you'll get the chance to meet nobility one day, but until then, you're stuck with people like me, reduced to gazing at the royalties riches."

[Rowan Llyri-laer]

Calla blinked her large doe-like eyes, this concept of a class system  and hierarchy completely new to her. She knew there was kings and beggars, of course. Even a nymph would understand that...but she had always assumed they were all equals with different jobs and destinies. She had never thought of a king's life as being worth anymore than a beggar's.

The girl shook her head, refusing to believe Ulricus's words. With that, she dashed off toward the palace with an incredible speed, especially considering the depth of the snow.

[UlricusBurgstahler]

"Calla!" Ulricus would cry out. "The guards!"
He'd begin to chase after her hoping dearly he'd be able to keep up with the girl in the deep snow. "You idiot turn around!"

[Rowan Llyri-laer]

The nymph would make it nearly halfway up the snowy hill before halting when she heard the boy call out to her. She'd slowly turn around as though they weren't in any eminent danger, "...What is an idiot?" 
If Ulricus was to glance over the girl's shoulder he'd notice a couple of men standing guard toward the side of the palace eying the pair threateningly. As usual, Calla was completely oblivious.

[UlricusBurgstahler]

The guards would run forward, each grabbing one of the girls shoulders. "An idiot is someone who runs toward a guarded palace." One of the guards would answer her before Ulricus got the chance. They'd begin to carry her back to the palace however once they saw Ulricus in chase they stopped.

Ulricus would finally approach the two, hoping to the gods that they wouldn't hurt her. He'd grab the girls antler with his hand, causing her to bed her neck. He'd look up the address the guards. "I'm sorry sirs, she isn't very..." He'd pause as if looking for the right word. "Bright." He'd finally conclude. "I'll take her right out, she just wanted to see the palace."

The two guards would look at each other before reluctantly releasing the girl. Ulricus would immediately grab her wrist. "You're so bull headed you know that? We're leaving. Now." He'd say sternly.

[Rowan Llyri-laer]

"B-But... Calla has antlers, not horns..." She'd stammer as he grabbed her wrist. The girl would turn to face the guards, still bright and cheery despite the sticky situation they were in, "It is okay... Calla is a nymph! She and her friend Ulricus..." Her eyes flicked over to the boy gripping her arm, "Would like to speak to the monarchs so they can listen to what we have to say. Calla knows a lot about trees and equality, and Ulricus knows a lot about politics! What was that Ulricus was saying?" She turned her head now, toward the boy, "Ulricus was telling me how dynasties end...and we can make it happen!"

[UlricusBurgstahler]

Ulricus would grin broadly, patting the girl on the shoulder before kicking her in the shin... Hard. And running before the guards could react. He didn't even stop at the inn, he kept running until he hit the town line. He found his trusted steed tied to the tree right where he left her. "That dumb nymph!" He'd scream as he ran off, thoroughly convinced now that one of her tree friends would attack her as he ran."

As for the girl? The guards grabbed her to take her in to immediate questioning.

[Rowan Llyri-laer]

Calla crumpled to the ground as the boy had kicked her in the shin. She gazed up at the guards just to see their gloved hands seize either of her arms. Her eyes were wide...shocked...but most of all, hurt.
What was that feeling? It was not familiar to Calla...  It was more than just feeling "hurt". She felt betrayed. As the two men forced her to her feet, thorned vines snaked out of the earth and twisted up toward the sky, clearing the snow by at least half a foot.
"Humans are not all nice... They are not all nice at all..." She whispered softly as the guards practically dragged her toward the castle.

"What should we do about the boy?" The guard to her right murmured to the other.
"Eh... Let him flee. We'll send word out in the morning to look for a calico gutter-rat. He shouldn't be hard to find wearing such a ridiculous outfit."

[UlricusBurgstahler]

The boy would keep riding, ignoring the growing feeling of regret. "She had it coming." He's rationalize with himself. "She couldn't keep her mouth shut." He'd finally allow himself to look back for a moment, but ultimately he kept on riding.

The guards would bring Calla to a rather unnatural room in the castle, lit by magic and built of highly processed stones and metals, causing the light to emanate from everywhere. It would be hard to tell what was up and what was down in the white room. The guards would throw Calla against the wall, quickly fastening chains around her hands and feet. Without a word they'd disappear and the opening to the room would close, or rather vanish would be the more appropriate term, as not even seams where the door would have been remained. It would seem she was completely alone.

[Rowan Llyri-laer]

Calla began to panic as they chained her to the wall... Her sadness quickly dissipated into fear as she realized she was in true danger.
"W-Where is the earth? Where is the soil?" She asked, to no one but herself as the guards had already left. Her feet searched and searched for the warm, beating heart of the earth but she couldn't find it. She couldn't even turn into her natural form, a bed of calla lilies... There was no earth for them to root.
"Please let Calla out... She did not do anything wrong!" She shouted at the top of her lungs, the snow finally melting from her antlers and clothes and skin, as though she was symbolically crying in her own nympish way. The girl felt extremely weakened and lonely. There was no whispering of blossoms, no song from the trees...not even the comforting beating of the roots and soil... There was nothing but utter silence.

[UlricusBurgstahler]

Ulricus would curse. "I can't leave her can I..." He'd turn around and begin riding back toward the town, formulating a rescue plan as he road. "Fucks sake." He'd murmur. "We're both going to die." As he reached town lines. He tied his horse up to another tree, and began walking around the town, sneaking up from behind the castle. He'd sit in wait, hoping for a change of guards.

Meanwhile the cell would remain inert. A true nymphs nightmare.

[Rowan Llyri-laer]

"Calla does not want to be here anymore... She wants to go back to the forest," The girl pleaded to the maddening silence. Her ears wilted as she shrunk down as much as her shackles would allow.
"Where are all the kind princesses with pretty dresses? And lovely music and jolly old kings?"

She pulled at her chains but it was utterly fruitless. She felt so weak...almost ill. The night had went from enchanting to horrific in a matter of minutes.

[UlricusBurgstahler]

A few moments after the girls comment, the hole in the wall would reappear, only this time a young man in rather extravagent regalia would be standing in the doorway. Ulricus had returned. It would seem there was more slashing done on his outfit only it wouldn't seem deliberate. There was also blood splashed across his face and drying on his cloak.
"Calla don't be mad just yet." He'd begin. "I have little time to explain, you can get mad when we return to the woods." He'd say.
He'd enter the room, prying open the cuffs and throwing the girl over his shoulder. He'd begin running through the now blood splattered halls of the palace, not stopping until he reached his horse. It would seem no guards were following them. In fact it would seem that there were no guards left to chase them.

[Rowan Llyri-laer]

Calla shakily grabbed the mane of the young hero's steed. Snowbells and edielweiss  burst from the snow around the horse as though the earth was trying to greet the nymph, relieved that she was safe and sound.

"W-Was that red liquid...blood? Human blood?" She stammered weakly, though her strength was quickly being restored to her. The girl pressed her face against the horse's fur, weeping softly to herself.

[UlricusBurgstahler]

Ulricus would cut his horse free, throwing a leg over it's back and jumping on. He'd begin to Gallup into the woods, far from the town. He'd remain silent, just nodding to answer her question. After a short while though he's finally speak. "I'm sorry Calla." He'd say softly. "I shouldn't have left you." He'd murmur, however his tone would increase to deliver he next statement. "But are you kidding?! You could've gotten us both killed! Or worse!" He'd seem angry.