Will+You+Follow

"Hurry up! We're late! I tell you we're late!" The panicked voice caused Lumani's eyes to snap open with the sound of a tick-tock like a old clock.

The young elven girl looked around, unsure of where she was...in a unfamiliar alley of some...city... but with a strange sense of deja-vu. She'd...been here before, but she couldn't remember when. Before she could even begin to make sense of it, her attention was immediately drawn to a strange, but handsome young man in front of her, who was pulling her along by her hand. With her eyes a bit blurry it looked like her brother.

"Alta Toror'?" She said, rubbing at her eyes with her free hand.

"No...no...no!" The man said, still tugging her along "My name's Nivens McTwisp! And I tell you we're late!"

Her eyes cleared and she saw that he was...indeed not Luthais....although he looked almost like a younger twin. Except that Nivens's hair was stark white....and his eyes were bright pink. And he had a pair...of long...bunny ears. He was wearing a crisp white uniform of some type, and he certainly was as... handsome as her brother. She felt a slight blush, realizing they were...holding hands.

"How...very...odd" Lumani said, allowing herself to be drug along through the colorful streets. The streets were full of laughter...and children, some dressed in red...and some in white.

"Almost there...almost there!" Nivens crowed, as he pulled her down an alley, and at the end of the alley was a brick wall made of ancient stone. There were no door...but there was...a large perfectly round opening in the wall. Above it...written in crude chalk...was the word "Hole".

The strange man let go of her hand, leaping through the opening and disappearing. After a moment, his head popped back out and he gave her a charming smile. "Will you follow me Miss?"   She was looking around, caught up in all of the color. It felt like some sort of dream... or fairy tale book. She jumped back slightly as his head popped back through the hole catching her by surprise! Where were they going... and what could she possibly be so late for that she couldn't even remember what it was? What fun could possibly be found in a place called Hole...?

She almost felt a tug as she glanced back over her shoulder looking for Luthais. Did he know where she was? She couldn't seem to remember. He would be upset if she wandered too far... She turned back toward the handsome young man and couldn't seem to resist reaching out to touch the soft fur of his bunny ears. She smiled with delight and nodded, "Okay... but where are we going?" She stepped through the hole.

There was just a second of utter blackness, then....a feeling of rising, or was it falling before she stepped out into a bustling tavern room. It was a large, multi-floored affair made of rich old wood with carpeted stairs winding upwards to a second and third floor. But the center of the room, where the bar was...went all the way up to the ceiling making the place seem open and airy. And the people.....Lumani wasn't even sure all of them WERE people that sat around tables. There was a man that looked like a lion...with a bushy tawny mane of hair all around his face. Another man sat next to him...dressed in gleaming full plate. But she saw nothing but blackness through his slitted visor, and oddly enough, rather than drinking, he seemed to be applying oil from a small can to his joints. And...some of the plates...and mugs seemed to have eyes and mouths and were...talking? This was really a very strange place!

"We're going to have some tea of course!" The handsome, bunny eared man said, once again taking her hand and pulling her to one side of the room. "But we're dreadfully late...and we don't want to make HER mad you know!" His ears twitched frantically, and Lumani's hands itched to touch them again. "Her? Who's her?" Lumani said as they came to a long table. "I'm HER and she is ME!" She heard a giggling that seemed familiar. A lovely young woman in a tuxedo was sitting at the head of the table, patting herself down as if to reassure herself that she was there "YES! I am most definately me!" She giggled again and Lumani could see the daggers strapped to her belt, and she was wearing a tall...top hat of three colors. Emblazoned on the hat were two numbers seperated by a line. The numbers were six and ten. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Lumani thought she recognized her...hadn't she seen her before...what was her name....it came to her in a flash. "S..S...[|Sylinae]..." she stammered out hesitantly. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"No..no...no..." Sylinae shook her head vigorously, causing the top-hat to slip down over her eyes "Aghh...I'm blind!!" Her hand gesticulated wildly. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"Here...here....let me help you!" A tall...red haired woman leaned across the table to adjust Sylinae's hat. She had long...curving elven ears and was beautiful. She looked...just like Miss Ahnahi....except that she had long...brown bunny ears and whiskers just like Nivens. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"Ahah! I can see! I'm cured thank you Miss Hare!" Sylinae drew herself up, standing up from her seat, giggling once more "I was saying...my name is Hatter!" She leaned conspiritorily over the table towards Lumani and whispered. "And there are those that think....I'm quite...mad!" She plopped back down into her seat, pulling out a large pocket watch from which Lumani could hear quite audibly the tick...and tock. "Won't you join us for tea...we have to hurry though...or I'll be late for my date with Destiny!" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"Oh! Well that does sound like an exciting date, and I wouldn't want you to miss it!" Lumani agreed, nodding her head, "I would love tea! It's so good to see you again... or to meet you...Hatter... whichever the case." She took the first open seat at the long table. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">As soon as she sat, a plate rolled over to lay flat in front of her and one of the mugs jogged over to plop down beside it. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"Why how nice of you!" Lumani exclaimed petting the edge of each with a single slender finger. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">A large oval serving platter walked across the table with long, wide strides, supported by two short black iron legs on each narrow end. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">An array of breads, biscuits, and cookies were laid out in perfect groupings around the platter. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">The young silver haired girl selected a heart shaped cookie with red icing, a chocolate chunk cookie that sort of looked like a pawprint with a stem, and a tilted square biscuit with butter spread that seemed to spell out Eat Me. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">The handsome Mr Nivens was nodding to the slightly mad woman at the head of the table, "You see, I told you I would find her. Here she is just like I promised." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"Yes, yes... so you did," Hatter/Sylinae was nodding, "Now sit down, you're late." She swung her arm a little wildly to point at a chair, nearly slapping Miss Hare who was decorating cookies beside her. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Seeming to be used to the wild gestures, the beautiful red-haired woman leaned back casually, continuing to paint frosting over the cookies without missing a drop. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Nivens sat down on Miss Hare's other side, their bunny ears twitching. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"Tea! Tea! Where is the tea?!" Hatter was looking back and forth over the long table, "We can't have a tea party without tea!" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"Of course you can't," a sultry voice came from behind the bar as a black haired woman came sauntering out with a teapot in each hand. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Her face seemed so familiar, but she had a small black lace witches hat sitting off center between two black and white fox ears. A long black and white fox tail swayed with her walk. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Hatter giggled with delight at her entrance, gesturing toward Lumani as she sipped something rich and steaming from her own mug. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"Don't I know you?" Lumani tilted her head, "Wren... isn't that your name?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">The fox woman smiled, her voice purring, "Everyone knows me. I'm the wicked witch of the woods, dear." She winked one of her golden colored eyes at her, "Now which would you like?" She held up the two teapots while a pink and purple striped cat wound around her legs. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Lumani looked back and forth quickly. Both teapots were exquisite. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">The first was short and round, shaped like a porcelain pumpkin. Rich detailed roots formed the carrying handle and spout. A rounded wooden spike appeared to be impaling an adorable porcelain mouse as the handle to the pumpkin lid. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">The second was tall and ivory with a twisted silver handle and three silver spouts. Drink me had been beautifully written in elven on the side. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">It was a terrible choice, both of the pots looked simply adorable but finally Lumani chose the ivory pot that said "Drink me" since clearly...it wanted to be drunk. It only seemed the polite thing to do, after all. 3 delicate looking teacups raced over underneath the pot as the elven girl tried to poor, giggling as they bumped into each other with a clink trying to adjust themselves until all were filled with a warm fragant liquid. Lumani took a sip and immediately felt warm. Strange...but warm. It was delicious and yet she had trouble identifying exactly what the herbs used were, and she usually very good at that. Bitter and sweet at the same time. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"Here!" The Wicked Witch said, producing a large silver platter which she slid on to the table. On the platter were the cutest bright green cookies cut into the shape of a dragon, some flying, and some curled up. The Witch took one and bit into it, her ruby red lips smacking together and she relished the taste. "These go great with the tea...they are simply...dee...lish...ous!" The wicked smile on her face made Lumani blush...she had seen that kind of smile before on her brother and Miss Ahnahi's face long ago when she had caught her brother coming back from the temple after visiting her. His hair had been so messy, it had taken forever for her to put it right with a brush. Adults were very strange! <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> When she thought of her brother, she couldn't help but glance over at Mr. Nivens and Miss Hare. Miss Hare was trying to feed Mr. Nivens one of the cookies, but Mr Nivens shook his head turning away in refusal. It seemed that he...was angry with her for some reason that Lumani didn't know about. Miss Hare's brought the cookie to her chest, clutching it tightly and looked so sad...her cute brown bunny ears drooping down to almost touch the table. Lumani felt sorry for the poor bunny woman, it was clear she cared for Mr. Nivens, how could he be so indifferent. She thought about the handsome man who had kidnapped her. He'd said he cared for her as well! Is this how all men behaved about the women they liked? It didn't seem very nice. And yet she'd felt so strange when the prince had looked at her...his eyes so... <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"Thank YOU Miss Witch!" The Hatter's voice brought Lumani out of her thoughts "Your special tea is just what I needed to wet my whistle!" She giggled...and for some reason it sounded almost menacing. "I invited you here today Your-Soon-To-Be-Majesty to extend an offer from the White King! He wished to marry you so that you might become the new White Queen! What an honor, yes, YES!" Sylinae nodded up and down...and Lumani noticed she depressed the button on her pocket-watch when she spoke....then again when she stopped. She could still hear...the faint tick-tock the little brass watch was making even over the hum of the crowd. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"M...Marry...me?" Lumani dropped her cookie from her suddenly numb fingers. Fortunately the tea cup scampered out of the way before it fell into it. That would have simply been a disaster! She saw the face in the cup breath a sigh of relief. "But why...ever should he want to marry me?" She looked down at herself....she was just a girl...only barely beginning to blossom into womanhood. Her....chest didn't even begin to compare to the Hatter's or Miss Hare's...to say nothing of the Wicked Witch, whose ample assets were clearly on display under that skimpy black robe. That's all boys mostly cared about right? What would he want with her. She couldn't help thinking about the handsome prince again. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"Yes, yes!" The Hatter agreed "He's invited you up to the castle. You'll be his guest...." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"His GUEST!" All of the tableware, the bowls, and the dishes and cups echoed musically before a harsh glare from the Hatter silenced them, punctuated by a vicious press of the button on her stop-watch. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted! Yes, he's chosen you and the most beautiful girl in his kingdom! The most beautiful jewel to sit atop his vast horde! I've heard he's very handsome! A good catch for any girl! And you'll be Queen! The Hatter giggled again. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Hearing that made the young elven maid angry. She was...not...just a pretty plaything...how dare he! Stupid boys! "Why...why...I should go...and tell him exactly what I think of his offer!" She turned red in her cheeks...she would give him a piece of her mind! She was a princess herself! "So how would I find his castle then?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">If the Hatter even realized Lumani was angry, she didn't even show it "That's easily Your-Soon-To-Be-Majesty! His castle is on a hill just outside of the city. You merely need to follow the yellow brick road and you'll run smack into it. Not to hard I hope. The walls are stone you know!" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Lumani was about to retort when she heard a loud commotion at the front of the tavern and several people calling out "It's a raid...it's a RAID!" She could see red uniformed soldiers rushing into the room and sheer chaos broke out around her as various people lept up from their tables to defend themselves from the onslaught. The various china on her table shrieked in fear and ran for cover, scurrying quickly off and under the table. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"OFF WITH THEIR HEADS! OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!" The red uniformed soldiers shouted loudly as they began to grab at the various people in the bar. The lion maned man lept unto the table and bow appeared in his hands. His hands ablur arrows flew about the room impaling several of the red uniformed soldier. The Hatter darted in and out..drawing her daggers and giggling gleefully as she sliced into the shouting men, clicking her stop-watch every time one of the soldiers fell to the floor. But they soldiers seemed...endless pouring into the tavern room. She saw....Miss Hare grabbed by four of the soldiers and drug off screaming and reaching towards Mr. Nivens. On each of their red uniforms they bore a symbol. Different for each, one was a flame, one was a mountain, one was a wave...and one was a tornado. Mr.Nivens was a whirls...trying desparately to reach her but the press of red soldiers holding him back. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"MISS HARE!!!!" He screamed out...reaching for her... <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">- <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Lumani's eyes snapped open and she took a deep breath. She thought...she could smell the faintest bit of smoke. It wasn't even dawn yet...but she could tell from the lightening of the sky out the window that it was close. She could hear a commotion as her brother opened the door frantically. "Lumani...Lumani...are you alright..." He seemed relieved to see her. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"I'm fine, big brother. I just had...the strangest dream..." She slipped out of bed...wondering why her brother was so upset. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"Good...stay...put. I have to go....there's been a fire at a nearby Inn. They are trying to put it out now. It's the Inn that.. Ahnahi was staying...in. I have to go!!" And with that...he vanished through the doorway...