A stab of envy slipped trough Uriel upon hearing the news. What he wouldn't give to be one of the fae! "I am a changeling, a human child switched at birth with a fae construct that withered and seemed to die as the spells faded. Queen Phryne saw potential within me, and so stole me away to her court to teach me." He did not speak of his first memory. The pain running trough his child's body as spells were woven with his blood to tie him to the fae royalty. Uriel lived for them, and was completely dedicated to their every whim. It was perhaps one of the reasons why he'd fought so hard for so long against the feelings which had haunted him. Now they were gone, or should have been. Twinges of it still remained, but he was doing his best to ignore it.

In fact, he was fighting something else without even realizing it. Fighting not to pull Estella closer then necessary or to speak soft spoken words that had nothing to do with trying to comfort her. The thoughts began flying too fast within his mind whirling around only serving to make Uriel even more confused about everything. Pushing the feelings down, he smothered the seeds of something else with the need to complete his duty. Duty to his queen, that was the most important in his life, especially since displeasing her could very well mean his life.

Pandora silently sighed with relief after Jacky started to lead her off of the dance floor. Once she sat down, she made sure her mask was still intact. Once she was sure that it was, she turned her full attention to the young looking crow that sat in front of her. She listened to her, carefully taking in every word that she spoke. After she was finished speaking, she thought for an answer. "So that's what you do?" she said, "Kinda sounds like... A mafia or something..."

Estella nodded to show she understood but glanced away a moment. Her thoughts turned to the confusion and pain he must have felt as well as to his parents who thought they saw their child die. The more she found about the fae court the more she began to find it cruel and be glad she wasn't truly apart of it. Unless they had a spell to repair the shattered ring on the balcony floor they probably couldn't even really prove her lineage so she truly had no connection to it now. She found her feelings for Ignatius being smothered by her dislike of the fae court.

"That seems a little sad..." She said quietly, though she hadn't meant to speak it aloud. For a moment, however, her gentle features simply composed themselves in a look of sorrow as if she wished she could somehow make it better. She pushed it away, however, as she realized she had said it aloud. She raised her head instantly and gave him an apologetic look as she gazed at him with uncertainty. She wasn't sure how he'd react.

"I...er...sorry....I shouldn't have said that.." She muttered softly.

Taking in her words, the young man sighed and shook his head. He'd seen what might have happened to him if he'd stayed with his parents. Madness, or believed madness, being locked away for his whole life in one of those strange places where humans placed the unwanted people. It was too horrific to contemplate. "No, I'm much better off here with the fae. My magic would have driven me mad if they had not taken me in, nurtured me into all my potential. " Glancing into her eyes, he pulled her a little closer then necessary.

Offering up a smile, Uriel shrugged. "I was taken when I was five, even so I've no memory of my life with humans. The fae have always been my family. Ignatius is like a brother to me, and ... The queen used to be like my mother before the courts began to decay. Something made her bitter and cruel even before that, but no one speaks of it." The people spoe of something happening centuries before, but nothing ever specific. They feared their queen as much as they loved her. All she wanted to do was help her people survive. Though she was cruel about it, she still had Uriel's unwavering loyalty. Partially because of his geas, but mostly because he trusted her and believed that her heart was in the right place though her actions might not have been.

"She used to smile and play with me when I was a child. Games of magic ... But I'm sure this all must be boring you." Their dancing had slowed as he spoke, and his thoughts drifted far away into the past. Now he'd returned to the present and offered up a sheepish smile to the redhead he danced with so easily. At least it was with ease now that Uriel had gotten over his nervousness .

"Hmmm, you could say that. I didn't, but you could. Actually you can say anything and I'd be happy as a peach to sit and watch you talk. There's just something about you that is downright intoxicating, highly attractive, and covetous." She shimmied closer to the other woman, reaching out a hand to touch the silver-white strands of hair that were framing her face. Jacky didn't know that much about this person, other than her tragic story about her family. Nothing else about her and she was just drawn to her. She couldn't tell if it was just that she was the first person she had met tonight or that there was the beginnings of a true crush .

Estella felt relief flood her as she realized he wasn't mad at her. She nodded at his explanation, even though she wasn't as sure. Whatever reply she might have said, however, caught in her throat and disappeared as he pulled her closer. Her heart seemed to pound in her chest and she blushed faintly. Even Ignatius hadn't pulled her quite this close and she couldn't stop the blush from deepening as he looked straight into her eyes. It just seemed so...intimate. Fear and attraction mixed, her so recently broken heart so shakily repaired she couldn't help but fear it being broken again.

"No...I don't find it boring at all. I..It's fascinating" She said quietly as she found her voice again and forced herself to answer. She still blushed faintly and returned the smile but looked away a little. She really was interested but her own heartbeat in her ears made it harder to hear. She had always wanted to learn more about fae culture, even if her dislike of the courts had become strong.

Wait? so he'd been raised with Ignatius? Perhaps that was why the same kind of woman would interest them... She cautiously raised her eyes to Uriel's then and inwardly wondered would she once again not be quite interesting enough? She was uncertain, afraid...and she hated being afraid. It made her angry when she was afraid. Looking into those eyes that seemed silver when the light hit them just right she couldn't feel angry... only something that made her heart beat faster and her fear stronger. Her mouth seemed to go a little dry.

Pandora blinked a couple times. "I don't really have much to talk about," she said, "I'm sure you have more to say than I do, after all..." She felt goosebumps rush down her spine when Jacky scooted closer and touched her hair. She kept her silver eyes locked on the woman, wondering why she kept coming so close.

Lapsing into silence Uriel couldn't help the fact that his eyes rose again and again to lock with Estella's. How could Ignatius have hurt her like he had? He wanted to protect her, realized the white haired man as he tightened his hold reflexively on his dance partner. Such a kind person needed someone who could treasure her.

Uriel couldn't be that for her. He was too tightly bound to the queen and the courts. Leaving the only family he'd known seemed impossible to him. The fact that he even considered it for a moment was proof of how much Estella meant to him, though all they could ever be was friends. How could he tell her? So many obligations warred within Uriel, making emotions fly across his features.

"I wish ... There are many things I've never seen, bound as I am to stay with the queen and her son. Would you tell me of them?" Few words, and yet they told of a lifetime of wishing for things without being able to gain them. Ignatius had done his best to make sure that Uriel lived as freely as he could, and led a happy life. The changeling was grateful to him for that, and loved him like the brother he'd never had. It still did nothing to help the situation he found himself in as he glanced longingly at the woman in his arms. She was so close, and yet he couldn't go against the orders the queen had given. It made him feel like a hypocrite for his earlier outburst, though in truth it had been more an excuse then anything else to speak with Heiro alone.

Estella watched the display of emotions and realized he was as confused as she was. She bit her lip a moment, did he really feel something for her? Yet he seemed torn, as torn as Ignatius had. Instantly her fear the earlier situation would repeat seemed to rise within her and she pushed away. There was something, or someone, that would likely be more important then her. To cover the brief sorrow she leaned her head against his shoulder to hide her expression behind it and beneath her hair. Yet it would seem perfectly normal as the dance switched to a slow dance, nothing out of the normal to anyone here... not that they could really be seen all that well considering this balcony was used as a garden.

"I will gladly tell you of what I know as best i can. I can tell you of one of the places I've traveled, or the human village i grew up in, or anything really. I wish i brought my notebook, there's sketches and things there... Where would you like to start?" She responded, her voice as light and casual as before but slightly less passionate then it would normally been. She had almost brought it with her, hoping to add this night to it's collections of memories. The fae who she had convinced to wrangle her an invitation, however, had asked she leave it only at home and take only what would fit in the purse that came with the dress. It was probably simply for aesthetics but she had agreed in exchange for the dress.

She waited for his answer, intending to do as she agreed even as her mind inwardly sighed. She was already feeling so much for him...perhaps because she'd already shared so much of what she felt with him. Yet she gathered from his distraction and earlier looks that she wasn't suppose to care for him for some reason... She was starting to think she needed to ask every man or women she danced with if they had someone or something waiting for them. Still she did not blame him, she blamed herself. She became attached to easily perhaps... not use to gentle, kind, or graceful men. The only ones she really saw were gruff adventure types who lived only for today, wanting only a brief night and leave. She wanted more for her first time and so had refused them, so perhaps that was part of the reasons they were so gruff and harsh around her...

As the woman leaned her head against his shoulder, the young man froze. Taking in a deep breath Uriel lifted a trembling hand to press it gently against her head as they began dancing once more. Glancing once to the ballroom, he sighed in relief when he noticed that trees and plants shrouded the sight of them dancing alone upon the balcony. "Estella please forgive me," He could not endanger her. The queen's wrath was formidable, notoriously so.

"There are so many things I wish I could tell you... But the queen holds her people under a tight rein in these troubled times." The words slipped from his mouth softly before Uriel had even realized it. The soft music and their closeness seemed to have prompted the unsuspected words. Guilt washed over Uriel over the whole situation. Jumping from subject to subject, Uriel wished he'd never broached such a dangerous one.

Perhaps he could show her, or perhaps it was too soon. Sighing, Uriel let his head fall so it rested against Estella's. Quietly he breathed in the scents of the night, of the woman in his arms, finding himself calmed. This had been so unexpected, certainly after the earlier incident. Uriel was afraid of rejection, but more afraid of the harm his feelings could bring to Estella if they were ever found out. He did not deny it to himself, that he did feel for her. How deeply, he did not know only that it was more then for a friend.

((Short post. Short post. Short post. D=))

“None that I can really think of; he’s just always been afraid,” Aden was the first to deliver an answer. It was nice to be back in the superior position. The role of protective older brother was one he knew to play very well and could find himself easily slipping into as a secondary mask for comfort. Although he still intended to later scold the younger for such a silly action and making that scene, there was a bit of a smile that crept on his face as he granted temporary forgiveness.

Calder only madly shook his head, still clearly trembling as he straightened himself. With the reply that’d been forced upon him, came another promise of a battle to later be fought. “Please don’t insult me. I have an ounce of self-control… but that wine… or drink, whatever it was, it tasted…” pauses littered his jittery speech as the implications of the fact came quickly, “of blood.”

Estella shivered as she felt him place him touch her head and embrace her a little as she moved through the steps. She couldn't help but blush and momentarily her depressive thoughts fled. She took a deep breath and for a moment was aware of only him. As he said he was sorry though she started to feel the worry return. Was he going to reject her before she expressed any feeling? even as she thought this, however, his following words and the placement of his head contradicted her thoughts. She bit her lip slightly and hesitated. She took in a deep breath and pulled at her courage, inwardly wondering why it was so much easier to face down something that could kill her then the man before her.

"tell me?" She half demanded, half asked. She lifted her head and looked up at him, her violet eyes uncertain. Open, Honest eyes searched his yet there was something else in them... It was almost defiant, as if part of her was daring him to hurt her. It often happened this way... once she was frightened enough something snapped in her and defiance replaced it. If she was going to be hurt...it would be in her own time and her own way, she would not let anyone see her hurt.

Breath catching in his throat he stared down at the woman in his arms. Taking some time to consider his words carefully, Uriel sighed as they twirled across the stone beneath their feet. It was so difficult, going against everything he had been raised to obey and hold dear. In truth that was what he would be doing, and it was the most difficult thing in the world, in this or in any other in fact.

"I care for you deeply, far more then I have any right to because of circumstances I beg you not to ask of." Pleadingly he looked down at Estella with a clenching in his heart. Would she reject him as Heiro had? The thought sent a shiver of fear trough his soul. If that happened those under his care in events to come would gain a far harsher testing then usual. A fact that would please the queen, and make sure that their love was as true as could be but would bring a wash of guilt to the young man. Harming others because of his own pain was the very last thing he wished to do.

Estella instantly froze as he spoke, unable to move a moment. It was clear she hadn't expected that... because of the apology she expected him to issue a polite but clear rejection of her feelings that were not yet even fully formed. She blushed again, simply gazing at him wordlessly. She said nothing for a moment before she put her head against his chest so he couldn't see the tears that threatened to well over. Part of her could not be happier, the part that cared equally deep for him as he did for her...but part of her was afraid after all Ignatius pretty words turned out to be that this was just another tease.

"don't say such things unless you are sure... Please... I can't take that twice in one night. I .. I do care for you so very much... but i'd rather you do anything to me then play with me only to abandon me later when you find someone better." She whispered as she pulled from his embrace after a moment, now that she had stopped the tears from coming. Yet as she looked up at him her eyes were just so....vulnerable. Though she did not think Ignatius meant to play with her heart and knew he would have done anything to avoid hurting her there was still a small scar there. It showed in her words but even more so in those pleading, fearful eyes.

She stood there, her arms at her sides and her eyes not leaving his. She wanted to believe him desperately and did not think he would say he cared for her if he didn't but she still had to be sure... He had to understand what damage would be done if he had not...how much it hurt. It was too early to say they truly loved each other but she felt something for him that she hadn't felt before...even more then she had Ignatius. Perhaps it was simply because Urie was more like her, not a graceful fantasy prince but someone a little more gritty, a little closer to the life she lead despite not being nearly as free. Somehow it just made it less of a fairy tale and more real and accordingly far more dangerous.

Wanting to pull her closer as she hid her face against him, Uriel still left his arms limp enough that she could escape as she wished. The words Estella spoke both made his heart rise with happiness, and fall with the hurt she'd already suffered that echoed his own. Reaching out instinctively to offer her what comfort he could, Uriel stopped himself after glancing fearfully into the ballroom. He knew it wouldn't matter if most of the guest saw this, or if Heiro did, but if the third judge witnessed such things it would mean trouble for all of them.

shaking such worrying thoughts from his mind, he concentrated instead on Estella. "I do mean it." Words ringing into the air, he finally moved forward to pass a gentle hand trough her flowing hair. Using the other to hug her close, Uriel felt a bittersweet happiness rising in his heart. "Hurting you is the last thing in my mind." Hesitantly he moved his lips closer to hers, but stopped a breath away.

He didn't want to take, not this time. He was afraid still of rejection, and didn't want to make the same mistakes as before. Trembling lightly he looked into her amethyst eyes in search of some answer, and instead lost himself with questions about her. There was so much he still didn't know, and this feeling was so new and yet so strong. This wasn't love yet, but it could grow to be if given the chance, Uriel was certain of that.

Estella watched him with those desperate searching eyes a moment until he spoke and felt her heart beat faster. Still, she didn't speak or move until he'd pulled her to him back in the hidden shadows of the garden. She shivered a little as he ran his hand through her hair and briefly let her eyes close, her body leaning into his unconsciously. Warm... why was his embrace so warm? She flushed lightly at the thought and forced her eyes open to look at his.

As it seemed he was going to kiss her she couldn't help but gasp slightly. She nearly whimpered from the nearness of his lips but then he just...stopped. Her uncertainty returned as she gazed at him, remembering Ignatius hesitation. Yet something seemed different... he seemed almost afraid. She could feel him trembling beneath her finger tips that lay against his chest where they'd caught when she was pulled to him.

"U..urie?" She whispered softly, the simple sound holding so many complex pleas. A plea for gentleness, for mercy, for respect, for desire, for touch, for everything fear and love could want seemed to weight down the word. She had never kissed or been kissed... this would be her first. She hesitated and brushed her lips with the lightness of a butterfly's touch so quick that if he'd blinked he would have missed it. She looked away then as to not look at him. She was uncertain, afraid.... and judging by her blush the kiss had felt more right and more like a tease against herself then she had expected. Her first kiss... so timid, so light. It seemed silly but she couldn't stop herself. Once they touched and she'd felt that strange thrill of emotion in her heart she became to scared to continue or press any closer.

The sound of the shortened form of his name sent a shiver trough the young man. So close, and yet too afraid to bridge the distance left between them, he stood frozen there with an arm around her as suddenly an electric shock seemed to run trough him. Their lips had brushed for the briefest of time, and yet the moment hung in his mind like a shining beacon. So much hesitance had been in the action, but it meant so much more then that. Trust, caring, and so many things that Uriel had no name for had seemed to be contained in the small contact.

Brushing his lips against Estella's with more confidence then she had, he still did not let the action linger for long. Wrapping his arms around the half fae to offer up one more instance of closeness, Uriel released her. Even so he reached out to brush a hand across her cheek with a smile. "A few stolen moments, that is all we can afford tonight. Later though, I will do all I can to win my freedom from the courts and then perhaps you would show me the world." This was a dangerous thing they did, but for once Uriel didn't care that he went so blatantly against his queen. He knew that at least one friend powerful friend would support him if the need arose, just as he would. Those feelings still lingered, but they had been overshadowed by others that were returned.

Such a magical gift had never been given to the young man before. It had nearly become true at another masquerade, but circumstances had drawn the two apart. Such a thing wouldn't happen this time, even if Uriel had to run from the courts in order to escape the queen.

Cyris chuckled. "Speechless? Not my fae, is he?" With a gentle smile, Cyris enveloped Ignatius in his arms. "They really are something Ignatius'." Cyris couldn't resist running a finger along the edge.

(...brain dead)

Estella shivered at the slightly more confident touch of his lips. She felt her eyes close if only for an instance and gave in to the emotion this time. What it was... she still wasn't sure, Desire? Lust? Love? Longing? All at once? She couldn't say, all she could be sure of was she didn't want him to pull away. As he did so there was a soft sound, a sad almost whimpering sound but she didn't stop him. She simply blushed and leaned her cheek against his hand when he stroked it.

She hesitated as he spoke, a little afraid of the fae court for him now. She wanted to ask him but after the story of her father and all she had heard she wouldn't put anything past them. So she simply nodded, feeling something grow inside her as he spoke of adventuring at her side. She felt herself reach out to take his hand even as she looked away from him to the stars, and smiled faintly even as she felt a trickle of fear and excitement mixed. It was time for a new adventure, one she could only take with the one at her side... the adventure of one's first love.

"Then ... I will stay here until you win it..." she said quietly, even if she was still blushing a little. She wasn't sure what was happening to her...not really. She had never been with anyone in anyway or close to love before this night.. She hadn't even been sure it was possible sometimes. Audri spoke up for the first time, saying she was foolish but then he went silent. He was pouting... she could sense it. Was he still trying to act like a father whose little girl was growing up? She nearly laughed at the thought but suppressed it by covering her mouth with her hand. Knowing Audri it was probably more complicated now as he seemed to know far more about the courts since he should but the thought still tickled her....... even though it was probably a part of the reason Audri was pouting.

"Audri...I mean Audrial, my sword, says we're foolish. He...He kinda has a will of his own" She said quietly. She glanced towards him again, unsure how he would react. Not everyone liked that it spoke to her... sometimes they even thought she was nuts. Even those who could understand and deal with it being sentient with a soul trapped inside often had issues with it telepathically speaking to her. If he did decide he was alright with it doing so would he explain why? she understood the queen would grow angry but he had never said why. Why were they limited when it came to showing affection when the balls reputed purpose was nothing more but people finding love?

((Oo pretty avi change Codi!))

Before the fae could bite his lips a soft helpless sound left the prince. The simple touch made emotions roil together and had Ignatius pressing himself embarrassingly close to the other man. "Cyris I swear if you do that again!" Letting the threat hang in the air, the fae prince lifted amber eyes to glare playfully at the centaur. It really wouldn't do though, his wings were delicate things and just unfurled as they were they were more fragile now then usual.

Squeezing her hand confidently, Uriel looked up to the stars just as she did with a swelling feeling in his heart. Loving another was all well and good, but having the feeling returned was altogether a different matter. Of course he knew this wasn't quite love yet, but it would be of that he was certain.

"You've no need to wait, I'll find you. Especially if I give you this, but please hide it during the masquerade." So saying the changeling removed one of the many earrings upon his person and somehow managed to twine it into Estella's long red hair. The small crystal seemed to have grown in the red locks visible one moment and completely hidden as it was the next. It looked like it might have fallen form her golden mask, and would explain why such a thing hung in her hair.

Hearing of the sword's personality had Uriel bending his head to shoot the weapon a rather fascinated look. "And why are we foolish Audriel?" Somehow the name sounded slightly familiar, but it could simply be something the sword had assumed for itself from legends. Or maybe it was a sword form legends. Either way, a rather strange smile crossed the changeling's features because he'd no idea how to treat the weapon now. As a person, as an object? Or something not quite either one? It was a puzzling dilemma.

(thank you! ^.^ I got 5k gold for the avi contest I entered during the FOWN (I was in the Disney Princess group) sO i decided to buy diana's grace)

Cyris gave a satisfied laugh. He enjoyed raising such emotions in the fae prince. "If I do that again, you'll -what?" He raised an eyebrow. "You realize, unless you give me a pretty good reason, not to, I'll just do it again." and he did, one arm looped around Ignatius' waist to hold him close.

Estella smiled slightly at the squeeze, momentarily able to simply take comfort in the gesture. She reached up to look at the crystal before hiding it in her hair once more. It didn't seem the best place to hide it... but the only one who would likely touch her hair tonight would be him so perhaps it would be alright. She suppressed a sigh at the thought before she shook her head. Determination flickered in her gaze as she looked to Uriel in silence a moment.

"I won't leave you... I may have to hide locally if you think my presence would affect the court badly and wait but I won't truly leave..." She responded quietly. Her tone made it clear that she would not change her mind. Still as he responded to the sword she briefly seemed uncertain. Instant faith and curiosity... was not a common reaction. Perhaps it was merely because he was of the fae court? She shrugged lightly and drew the blade, laying it across the balcony railing so he could look at it. The blue gem on its hilt flared momentarily so Audrial could look at him closer and remark that Uriel didn't 'seem like much' ...something that Estella disagreed with. She had never seen anyone who looked so wonderful to her...

Still, Audrial did something it had never done before. It pulled out of her hand and stood straight up with its point against the railing, as if someone were standing on the balcony and holding it straight down before speaking. Estella didn't even know it could be heard by any but it's wielder! It could have stopped her from looking crazy if it had before .... Still she could sense it was telepathically doing so and only she and Uriel would hear it.

"Because you throw your lives away for a petty mortal affair." Audrial announced to them both, not sounding like it truly believed in love. A fae with a mortal did not please Audri's sensibilities it seemed....then again it may have been more his worry about Estella then actually caring about this... To love a mortal meant to face their aging and death helplessly. Estella instantly looked angry at the sword, her hands curling into fists. He had no right to speak like that! She understood that she would have to face that...

Jo heard the curiosity in the explanation, but let the topic drop. "Of course, though I'm not sure my explanation will be as nice as yours," she replied, starting her mental 'catalog' on her own kind up. "For starters, we're a born were instead of infected. I don't think I've heard a single true story of an infected were gryphon." Come to think of it, weren't weres technically always infected? She put the thought aside, maybe someone at Eerie would know. "And our colors match our hair, like some clans of were-tiger," she continued, pulling a lock of her own gold tipped, red highlighted, black hair forward. "See, I'm a falcon-type, back with red highlight and gold tips."

Azrealla smiled as the shy woman explained them and seemed so uncertain. She tilted her head to the side and watched her a moment. She really was too sweet. She reached forward as the woman pointed out her hair, playfully running her fingers through it as if to look at the strands. It didn't quite appear so...innocent because of how slowly she did it, however, or the teasing smile on her lips. She leaned back into her chair when seh was done, her back straight in perfect posture once more.

"I don't think i've seen a falcon quite that beautiful...though, that's odd. I've heard of a were infection passing from parent to child but not that frequently..." She answered quietly as she took a sip of her juice. She watched the other woman closely a moment. She wondered if it truely could be the typical therianthropy. It didn't seem like it was a curse... but perhaps years of a shrinking gene pool had made the infection become dominant enough in one society to fully transform it?

Jo's blush returned at Ella's comment, trying to focus instead on the second part of her comment. "If both parents are gryphon, the child always is. If the mother is gryphon, and the father human, the child usually is. If it's the other way, it seems to be fifty-fifty," she said. "Though, a gryphon mother shifting in early pregnancy might account for the child usually being gryphon." She fought her blush as she spoke, trying to think of more that Ella might find interesting. "We also have different types, like how I mentioned that I'm a falcon. My mother is as well, but my father's a hawk, and there are eagle types on top of that."