Three Twisted Knots

So it may come as a surprise to you that I slept part of the winter away in the Guest House. This is a beautiful floating island house created by the architects at The Looking Glass, and it’s so cosy. I love the castle, but it’s so big! Now, of course, it isn’t drafty, because when Riven re-engineered it, she insulated it properly, right down to the cellar level, but sometimes I just like to be in a place where I can get up from bed and walk right over to the kitchen to do my toast, you know? Probably it’s a throwback to my former life in student digs.

Anyway, the winter just zoomed past, didn’t it? And then we were all at the Great Faire, where this year I did a lot of shopping and let other people tell their stories as much as I could. It was hard to let that happen sometimes, so I suppose you will hear a little of me in those stories if you look at them hard enough.

But the truth is, I have not been much in Faerie over these past few months.

So when I was awakened by a thump (hint: it was me being rolled out of my cosy little bed!) yesterday, I was not best pleased.

I walked out onto the porch, squinting into the sunlight. “I am not best pleased,” I said.

You are not best pleased? How nice for you.

Uh, oh. I know that voice. “My Lady!” There are few people who would cause me to stop in my tracks and just wonder what I had done wrong, especially since my relationships with my parents (both sets) are somewhat distant at the moment. But of course, this was no person. “How may I attend you?”

Get your blasted Realm in order, for starters. 

I took a breath. But She was not finished.

Oh, don’t come at me with your apologies, and your I’m so tireds. I have just spent most of the night and half the morning retconning your little … wait a minute: do you even know what month it is?

“Um, June?” I said. There. I answered it right.

So it is. And do you know what I have removed from this little realm just this morning?

I swallowed. Then, there was that dizzying sense that you get when a Goddess is picking you up and dragging you several hundred feet to make a point.

“What did you do?” I exclaimed, as I thumped down into the garden island, and none too gently.

Well, first, I got rid of the goddamned ice skating pond. Then, I got rid of the snow and made the grass regrow. Did you know you have animals on that farm across the water who are still hibernating? 

Oh, right. “Well, I have been really busy, and I guess I thought the Land would just….”

You thought. Really? When has a season ever happened here without your influence? This is a created Realm, Missy, but that’s no excuse to make winter eight months long! 

Eek. She called me “Missy.” She’s going to go full-on Welsh Granny if I’m not careful.

“I’m sorry.”

Sorry does not set the table, Gwyneth. Really. This is your realm; you must be more responsible with it. So. Last night and this morning, after I received complaints finally from some of the demifae in your Realm, I have been greening the place up: you get to do the farm, though. And that godawful city park. And I’m not touching the creepy carousel in the centre of town—what were you thinking with that one?

Again, there was that sense of dizziness.

I looked over my shoulder and saw the still-frozen farm island next to all the middle-of-summer things. “I really am sorry, Lady,” I replied. “It won’t happen again.”

See that it doesn’t. And don’t even think of trying to change yourself this summer. You’re stuck with standard sun kissed Seelie. No fancy hair colours, no special alabaster skin: none of that for you. This year, you get to feel what it’s like to have something imposed on you, like a season, that you cannot control. Perhaps then you’ll be more inclined to treat the smaller creatures in your Realm with something akin to compassion.

I hadn’t even noticed. “I have freckles!” Oh, please, no.

Oh, you poor thing. I guess you’re stuck with those until you decide to make a timely change to Autumn this year. 

“It does look really nice,” I said, only somewhat sullen. “I’m so glad you put in the Shrine of Elistrae. I loved the one in Twilight Spring so much.”

Complimenting me isn’t going to get you out of this, Missy.

“No, My Lady; I didn’t think it would,” I said. “Trees look a little sparse on the garden island; shall I add more?”

It’s your Realm. I only micromanage you when I have to and when the well-being of other beings hangs in the balance.

“I really am….”

Stop apologising! I’ll not accept it, not until I see full-blown Summer here within the day and Autumn make a timely debut no later than twenty-first September; do you hear me? And on that day, there’ll be no silver elf hair for you either, Missy. You can wait ’til Winter again, and I haven’t decided if I’m going to turn you red or brown in September. That can be my little surprise.

“And the freckles?”

Don’t you like them?

I was afraid to answer.

Then, there was only laughter, at first harsh and then fading to wind as She eased Her Presence out of the Realm. Well, great. So much for summer sleep-ins. Guess I’d better go work on that farm.

Style Card:
Dress: Senzafine, Melody Dress (featured at the Vintage Fair, but coming home to the Senzafine Main Store this week!)
Body: Maitreya
Head: LAQ, Noelle Bento Mesh Head
Skin: Lumae, Elvi (in Tone 6). (All current skin lines are just L$100 at the Lumae Main Store!)
Ears: Lumae, Leevi Long Ears
Hair: Exile, Swept Away
Necklace: Rozoregalia, Alugim Necklace (Miss You)
Shoes: Cult, Moon Ribbon Tip Toes

Environment:
Location: Awenia Faerie
Guest House: The Looking Glass, Victorian Dream II
Shrine: Roawenwood, Shrine of Elistraee (special auction item from the 2019 Fantasy Faire)
Gazebo: The Looking Glass, Shrine Tree Conservatory (special auction item from the 2019 Fantasy Faire)
Coffee Wagon: Atomic, Witches’ Brew Gacha
Clock and Benches, RH Design House, Cafe in the Park dacha