Trying to Get Home

[Posh-Tim]

Keane reacts with a startle.
His aura washes with a skein of fear, the visual equivalent of a cold sweat. He says nothing at first. Almost ignoring Jean-Jacques aura, he looks instead to Valentina and her greeting. He peaks with a little curiosity then thinks to Reel in his aura and expression calming himself by force of will once again. 'Well, at least there wouldn't likely be any other terrifying surprises tonight' he thought to himself 'Short of Mithras turning up' he considered with a kind of morbid humour.
"Well, Mi- Ancilla Audley. As Ancilla Blint suggests, we are a more private audience at this time." He spreads his hands in a small but open gesture.
"Should any of you have want to ask of an Elder, now would be an opportune moment. Otherwise, I coukd think of a story for those assembled." He shrugs, and tries to think of something fitting for this audience.

[Valentina Audley]

Valentina smiles at Andross. "I rarely speak on private matters Ancilla regardless of company." Her eyes sparkle mischievously, inviting him to share her merriment.

She meets Jean-Jacques' gaze for a moment, impassively, then turns her attention to Keane, her face softening and aura both relaxed and calm, seemingly far less on edge than when Uriah was present.

"Please Elder, I should love to hear a story! Did you have a specific tale in mind?" Her eyes are bright with hopeful curiosity and she's unconsciously shifted closer to him on the sofa they share.

[Posh-Tim]

Keane adjusts himself in his seat. Enjoying Valentinas proximity and relaxing into the familiar posture he uses when story telling. He looks around at those assembled and considers what he will say.
"Perhaps then, a tale of Lludd Llaw Eraint and the two great dragons." He looks around to see if there is any recognition at the names but proceeds to explain regardless.
"It is a somewhat romantic tale but one built as always upon some grains of truth. Lludd, you see, was a great king of wales. Some believed he was a god that had travelled across the sea to the land and decided to claim it as his own. There is a great deal of story there but that is not the one I am telling today.
So it came to pass that two dragons were known to terrify the land. The first Y Draig Goch, the red dragon had descended from the North to wreak its plunder. An ancient and noble beast it was beautiful to behold, its was artistry and war. Its great shining scales a thing of beauty yet laying low all before it in a sweep of tyrannical destruction. Word was spread throughout the land and the people were much afraid. What was to be done by the great king to defend his people? He gathered his council round him to debate the crisis. The next the people knew, a White Dragon, from across the Eastern channel raged across the land burning everything in its path until its path met that of the red dragon and they battled furiously. The white dragon was vicious and filled with avarice. Its was greed and envy and it sought to make this land its home though it held none of the nobility and honour of its counterpart.
The people wailed and cried that their misfortune had doubled. For neither was able to match the other, instead they tore at each other and the land around them. The countryside began to burn and the people began to talk of Lludd in his private council. Even suggesting that he had somehow enticed the white dragon to fight the red but it had turned against him. Lludd ignored these tales and as a show of faith sent his son, Gwyn ap Nudd, to slay the beasts.
He donned him in glowing armour that all the people would know and love him. In his right hand he bore an ancient sword, gifted by a water spirit to Lludd that all would know him as the right hand of the king. What happened upon that battlefield as the mighty Knight raised his mystic sword to smite the beasts was lost in smoke and fire and fury of battle. Some said that Gwyn had seen the Red Dragon and fallen in love with it, turning against his father. Others that the white dragon had devoured him whole. As Lludd approached the battlefield, however, and the smoke cleared the son he knew was no-where to be seen. The dragons seeing him, both turned as one to bring low the last defender of the land."
Keane pauses a moment, perhaps enjoying the rapt attention of such a cliff hanger telling.
"Now, as this is an ancient tale, there are many tellings and the truth a rare stone passed between many things of chaff. Some would say he rode at the head of a mighty army, the horde of all England. These are the most wrong. Some would say it was his council with him, that lent him their power so he might weave mighty magics. But I have my own ending and it is that which you will hear.
Lludd stepped forward and took up his son's blade where it lay discarded on the ground. With his left hand he weaved a mighty spell and threw it at the White dragon, even as it reared back to destroy him. The twisted white creature was struck and all that it was was thrown from it and it fell into a mighty slumber. To the Red he turned and as it came crashing down upon him thrust the sword into its breast. In those last moments he saw the creatures eyes and within them his son stared back at him.
The battle was done, but Lludd Llaw Eraint was undone. With a terrible grief he commanded his men that the dragons be taken from him. The white to Londinium, not the capital at this time but the place whereby it had entered his lands, and left buried deeply that in its slumber it might bother his land no more. The red dragon,
Y Draig Goch, was to be wrapped in cloth that it might appear as to be stone. Whereupon it was taken to Dinas Emrys in North Wales that it might be kept safe, his son laid to rest inside the beast, the sword still piercing its chest. Finally, Lludd travelled to the place that would become Aquae Sulis and laid his head to rest. There he slept, allowing the waters to cleanse the grief from his soul and it was like unto that he was dead. Thus he passed from history and into legend and song, the saviour of our lands but at the cost of all he held dear."
Keane stops and closes his eyes. He is finished and relaxes himself into the sense of a tale well told.

[Andross Blint]

Wonder and memories flit themselves about, connecting the story to facts to see where connections lay, a smile can be seen across Andross's face as the story is told.

"Though that is the first i have heard that tale, it rings close to others i have known and enjoyed. Thank you sir."

[Valentina Audley]

Valentina has listened, at first breathlessly and with no care for anything other than the pleasure of a tale, but the words Keane speaks invoke memories in her. Memories of her vision of Andross, and a vision from further back, of a conversation between Uriah and... another, of tribal lands and of her twin swirl into her head and she shifts restlessly, her aura uneasy, though her face remains composed.

She smiles at Keane. "Lludd Llaw Eraint, he's the one whose name changed isn't it? Nuada?" She stumbles a little over the pronunciation, but it's not too bad.

She thinks for a moment. "Please, why did he go to Aquae Sulis?" She wants very much to know if it's because of Danu but isn't sure if she should bring Danu up. Though, she really pught to try and find more out about that goddess at some point.

[Jean-Jacques]

Jean-Jacques listens quietly to Keane, his focus on the words the ancient Elder weaves across his mind.

Towards the end his head is nodding, subconsciously his body responding to memories returning.

"On behalf of my Sire I offer my thanks Elder Keane for a fine regaling, we are most amused"

[Posh-Tim]

Keane keeps his eyes shut for a moment a little self indulgently. He opens them and smiles at Valentina.
"Remember not to fall in the trap of lost identities. Perhaps it was Nuada who was also Dagda. Perhaps it was Arawn or Gwdion his siblings. As to why he chose Aquae Sulis? Well, in this tale it was the healing waters to sooth his broken heart. Some would say he was driven there by an unhappy populace. Some that he lay to become one with the land. Other even that it was not there at all and that he was in Wales and the others in Oxford. Of course, I have my own ideas, but they are not necessary for the telling of the tale."
His eyes sparkle with mischief and he smiles again. He turns to Jean-Jacques though, not replying but regarding him with faint suspicion.

[Lady Grace]

The door opens gently and Grace returns. Her face is calm despite the slight tension held a round her eyes.
She is composed now, decisions made, fates sealed.
Now she just needs to endure Prince Uriah's curiosity and let's hope his enjoyment at goading had run its course.
On this night at least they probably could not survive another upset.

Grace fixes a smile for Valentina, Andross and Keene as she heads to sit with them.

Only the slightest of concerned glance can be seen by those who watch as she catches Jean-Jacques eyes and adds her own nod confirming with him that he is well.

"Now, apologies, this is a testing time. Don't let me interrupt. What were you talking of?

[Andross Blint]

Grace returning in first was a good sign, and might allow for explanations before Laurence returned in.

"We had been listening to a delightful tale by Elder Keane Primogen Granville, though before any other distractions occur, it is my duties as Whip to inform you that Prince Uriah intends to have discussions with you in regards to Ancillae Stoker at some point when his leisure allows. Ancillae Stoker's voice unfortunately carried loudly into this room at inopportune moments, i have paid Prince Uriah a major boon to forgive the insult from the clan and asked that he discuss a suitable punishment for Laurence to work in with any you may have for his attitude and recent instances of *very* poor judgement. I hope these choices of mine are considered appropriate by you and will not impact badly on any plans you currently had?"

He holds his head down in a bow like pose, hand over heart, waiting to for Grace's response before raising.

[Lady Grace]

Grace face turns into a beaming smile as Andross explains,
"You remain the finest of Whip's Ancillia Blint. Please have a equivalent boon from me or transfer the owed boon into my name. I expect I shall owe Prince Uriah much before this night is through but your clever wit has saved us again."

Grace smiles to Andross.
"Please rise,"
"You really are a treasure,"