The two had finished their meal then Stryxn looked around for a twig, when he found one, he began to draw out what he surmized to be the entrance to the palace. He had an idea where the elite guards on duty would be; though they would not be visible they surely would be present. He spoke.. Random I can't begin to imagine what their orders would be if they spot you nearing the palace, but I don't think they would be the same for me. "Father, you can't base anything on the past now, she's so different, not the same Kessi you remember. She may not even remember you. you've got to imagine yourself in as much danger as I would be. He looked at her, his eyes seemed deep in thought. Daughter, then we just go. No plans, no precautions we just go and get as close as possible. Random agreed with her father, knowing that was possibly all they could do and just be aware to expect anything. I have this father, she showed him the dagger. He looked at it.. Where did you get this? I... she hesitated. I had to take it from someone who was planning on using it on me. It was all she could say to him, but the look on his face was complete surprise. You took it from someone? Never mind he said, as he shook his head. Things are changing. What would you expect to do with it? She looked.. I don't know.. never mind. She tossed it away into the woods. Good girl Random. Too much violence you know I won't tolerate it. She knew her father could not be argued with and she detested violence as well. She remembered her own chilling voice as she threatened to do harm to the dark elves holding her captive. She shuddered. Stryxn looked at his daughter, and spoke again solumnly. " my girl, if we allow ourselves to become what we find un-desireable, we mainstream ourselves and lose what is vital to our existence. We lose our magic. In our own histories well, our pre-histories we were among men and mortal ,they were as immortal and magical as we, there was a draw back that changed our destinies and that was a new doctrine that proclaimed we who were different from them as abomination. They lost nearly all of their magic, and they lost us as fellow kind. Man became mortal and we became stuff of lore. They walked together slower now and spoke in soft voices. Father, if we find something un-desireable and are afraid to mainstream ourselves, are we not as they? Are we not as much like our persecutors? "There is a difference my child, we may not wish to become them, but we would exist with them, respect them and tolerate them. We would not try to kill them off, sending them into hiding. We would co-exist with them as it was intended. I co-exist with your mother, I love her, she does not see me as an abomination. I do not see her as a persecutor. She is my heart. This is as it should be. Random reached for her father's hand, Yes, father it is as it should be. "Randi dear it's as it was back then, before an evil force came with an accusing finger in the form of written words, and back then anything written could not be seen as a lie. Those words, were evil and they were lies. You are here my daughter, not fully because of Brent, but because of all the good you've done, they have forgotten you already. You see, we exist both here and there, but it is only the ones who love us who truly see us. Who believe we live and breath. Did you know, that most don't even notice our features? They don't see our canted ears our elven eyes. They see me as some old hippie. They see you as some sort of coporeal Jessica Rabbit. Humans can be so deep in denial of what is right in front of them. Father, I'm half human. Random said this almost as if she needed to remind him that is wife was full human. "Oh My love, you know I do not say this of all humankind I say this of most. There are they who are still full of the magic they were intended to have. That is why Oaken soul children are so revered. Their magic is strong. Your mother is very open minded and believes in all possibilities. There are many like her. Kessi's real father, (Stryxn spoke this in a lower tone), He was like those ancient persecutors. Only his lie came in liquid form at the bottom of a bottle. Their lies came in words and the words confused them, cajoled them, and crazed them into the evil they had become. It was a taint that left it's mark. No one really knows of it's origin, though some have tried to trace it. It's hard to prove histories that have been buried in lore... Stryxn stopped again.. Ok I see the entrance daughter, steady yourself, and please don't speak. I mean you may speak but allow me to lead here. She smiled. Father you know me better than I thought. I will stay quiet until you cue me to do other wise. "You will know my signal Randi." Yes, I will know. Wait.. first.. he said. Take the bundle with the lavander ribbon please and do as instructed on your mother's note. He handed the bundle to her and she was puzzled but didn't question his orders. Yes father.. she went behind a tree as when she opened the package to find a gown and her mother's instructions to put it on before entering her sister's palace. There was a small box with hair stays and a ribbon along with a comb. The note instructed her to fashion her hair off her shoulders. Random did all the note said she should, and came from behind the tree looking like a princess. Father? He had proceeded without her.. Father?? she dared not shout it..she didn't want to alert the dark elves. She took a step forward but a hand reached out to grab her arm. NO.. Not you again! "Hush M'lady!" Let your father go first." He looked at the remains of the package in her hands ..slippers and a tiny vial. I expect you're to put those on and that as well? She looked at him.. trying to peer into his hooded cloak to see his face. I'll do it..but only that my mother instructs me..NOT YOU!" "shhhh!! Keep it down m'lady!" She tried to pull away from his grasp.. I need both hands to put these on! Please!" He allowed her this courtesy, but kept close. She stood and tried to run but he again caught her. You will bring trouble if you insist on behaving like a spoiled child! He'd scolded. Random glared at the dark elf, but felt a sense of familiarity with him. M'lady if you wish I will tell you a secret about your sister and her guest. Random looked at him.. guest?? "Yes, and I fear this is not good news. He claims to be her father, yet he is mine, and he is a wretched, evil man. He is a drunk and will go into violent rage if provoked..sometimes without provocation. Wow.. he could well be her father, well, her father was like that. But he was not a father to her.. my father is her father and always was. "M'lady, if my father is her father, he would claim her to be the only child that is not abomination. The bastard spilled his seed into my mother who is elven, and to him an abomination as well. Where does he get that superiority crap! He's the abomination if you ask me.. anyone who hurts women. Anyone who hurts anyone.. he trailed off. Random I don't want you to be harmed by him. She looked at him again. My father would see to it I do not find harm. He looked at her.. your father will have his concerns with Kessi. Just hang back with me until we both feel it's clear for your approach. You are needed, but not right now. "You seem to know so much about all this, Random pointed out. Well, yes, m'lady I would know.. being that I'm of your sister's guard. True that.. I agree, you'd know much. Did you know your father all your life? No I never met him until days ago. He trailed off and cleared his throat. Let's concentrate on you.. Your hair is not right.. shall I help you? She looked at him.. what do you know of hair?? Oh you'd be surprised m'lady. He held his hand out for the comb and she reluctantly passed it to him. He removed the pins she'd tried to place in, but they were a mess. He placed them one at a time between his lips as he began to comb her hair out. She closed her eyes as little pleasurable shivers ran down her spine. She allowed him to continue without fuss. There we go.. now for the ribbon.. He tied it where it truly was meant to be.. around her long soft, milky neck. You are a beauty.. he spoke softly.. We've no looking glass, if you allow me I know where you may see your reflection. She assured him it wasn't necessary, but he gently turned her to a small puddle.. just look down.. dear.. She looked slowly down to the water and saw her own reflection as as stranger.. a beautiful stranger, a princess no less. She looked up to him and mouthed.. thank you. He nodded and mouthed back.. a pleasure. It wasn't long before they'd been alarmed by a blast of heralding horns from the palace. What is that?? No worries.. it means she's allowed your father an audience with her. It means you will soon be escorted to join him. I'll be your escort m'lady. We may approach, but we must go slowly and with caution. You never know her moods of late. She agreed. Yes, you never do know her moods. He smiled and offered his arm .. it is time, shall we? We shall she agreed hooking her arm into his. Oh.. we forgot! Hold up we forgot to put this on you.. He gently opend the vial. It's ummm perfume. It's lilacs! He placed a little on his index finger and touched her gently in the tiny hollow dip of her neck. Then at each temple. You're an angel. She looked at him.. please stop saying those things to me.. you sound too much like somebody I'd recently lost and it hurts too much. Yes, m'lady I will stop. He'd swallowed back a lump discretely.. I'll stop.