Spare a Room? {DragonSong}

[Celegwen]

Sleep was a forgotten friend to the ambassador, so the night passed uneventfully. Declan wasn't sure whether Lily was awake or not, but he found himself absently running his fingers through her curls as he read by the swaying lantern light.

The sun rose, and he saw in the distance a line of carriages and coaches against the early light of morning. A smile crossed his face at the artsy sight. Declan closed the book and shifted slightly, running his fingertips over Lily's arm to wake her.

At that moment, a knock came on the coach window from Jackson, who slid open the glass. "Up, up, m'lords and m'ladies," the older man said. "We's just a mile out from the festival."

[DragonSong]

Sleeping in the coach was actually more comfortable than Lily would have thought-- though that may have been because Declan allowed her to use his shoulder as a pillow. His amulet was a comforting warmth and weight against her chest, lulling her easily through the night.

Once, drifting close to consciousness, she though she felt his fingers carding gently through her hair. She smiled, almost unconsciously murmuring, "That...feels nice..."

Then she was asleep again.



It was Declan's touch to her arm as much as Jackson's voice that woke her. Lily yawned and straightened herself up , blinking, "Oh. We're here?"

[Celegwen]

"We're here," the ambassador repeated with more certainty than the sleepy girl had. He shifted slightly beneath her and suffocated the small flame in the lantern.

Though it was still early, the hustle and bustle of the festival was lively with music playing and crowds already gathering. The ambassador felt the coach begin to slow and glanced out the window. Thera nodded to him, then sped the horse up slightly, riding beside Jackson until the coach found its place among the others.

The driver turned to his passengers with a tired smile. "If y'all'd like, Miss Thera and myself can tend to the horses, m'lord?"

Declan nodded kindly. "Thank you, Jackson," he said. "I'm sure that would be perfect. We'll be off as soon as my guests are ready."

[DragonSong]

"Oh, we're ready now!" Jess beamed and almost bounced in her seat, making her twin chuckle and hold her hand to keep her in place. "Come on, come on! It's been ages since we've gotten to do anything fun, let's go see!"

Lily winced guiltily, though she tried to hide it. She offered a quick smile to their guide. "After you, Master Ambassador? I believe you have a slight advantage in the area of familiarity with the terrain."

[Celegwen]

Declan chuckled, opening the door and stepping out of the coach. He took a long breath, looking around at the area with a content smile. "Familiarity?" Thera taunted from atop the white horse. "They know you get lost in the embassy, right?"

"I do not," the ambassador scoffed at her, shaking his head dismissively. "And if you could suspend the snide remarks while we're here, that would be greatly appreciated."

The red-haired woman dismounted from the horse, holding its reins in her hand and nodded to him. "Yes, sir," she mocked, approaching Jackson to give the older man unneeded help down from his seat. "You lot don't go very far, okay? I'll find you in a little bit."

Declan leaned against the side of the coach, glancing at his guests with a slightly devious grin. "What do you guys say we go as deep into the festival as possible before she catches us?" He added a small laugh for good measure, but was actually partially serious.

[DragonSong]

Jessamine positively squealed with delight and bounced in place. "Oh, yes, yes yes!"

Lily chuckled and rolled her eyes. "I believe my sister is in favor of the idea," she noted dryly. Glancing around at her siblings, she suddenly felt, really felt, the absence of her parents' hovering presence.

Stepping closer to Declan, she lightly slipped her hand into the crook of his arm and smiled. "Would you do me the honor of escorting me on this caper, Master Ambassador?"