Here she was, had it really only been a year ago that she had last stood on this stage? So much had changed since then. She had changed. No more was she the meek and mild miss. The sheltered child that had set off on something akin to a tantrum so long ago. More than that, the world had changed, at least in her perception. She had set out to save that world. To destroy what she thought to be an evil that would consume all if not stopped. How wrong she had been, she hadn't known what true evil was back then. It all seemed so petty now. When it was time to share their tale.<br/>Rain looked out over the crowd of people gathered before her, some faces she recognized, many more that she did not. Some stood out more than others, and she smiled at those who had taken part in the tale that she was about to weave. Her friends, the ones who had taught her much more about the world, about life than they could ever begin to imagine. It was time, and she moved forward to the very edge of the stage,and held up her hands for silence. It came quickly, and as the eyes turned towards her, she smoothed her so distinctive red hair back behind delicate ears, less comfortable under their scrutiny than she had once been.<br/><br/>“It was but a year ago that I last stood here,” She announced to the crowd, as she gained their attention. “It seems much longer ago than that. Many of you may remember that day. I asked for volunteers then, those who were brave, or foolhardy enough to join me in a trek into the Shadow. There were those amongst you that answered that call. I made a promise that day, to tell their tale, to immortalize their deeds in history. Against all odds I'm here before you now to do so. It has been a hard year. Friends have been made, and lost.” Her voice cracked slightly, as she remembered it all, and she blinked away a tear. This would be harder than she had thought, telling this story, recalling it all in the detail that she must relay.<br/><br/>"During our trek, we have seen things that few have seen, both wondrous and horrifying. I have gazed into the face of my own personal hell. Learned things about myself, and people as a whole that I had never known possible. Now, I am here to share it with you.” She cast her eyes out over the crowd, pausing until she had every eye upon herself. “I tell you now, that this may be hard to believe, may seem the errant aggrandizing imagery of a bardic tongue. But every word I speak, will be true. Our tale begins on this very stage, one year ago. It begins, with a different tale...”<br/><br/><br/><div align="center">***</div><br/><br/>It was foolish, what she meant to do today. If he knew, The Duke would have her locked in his deepest dungeon until the fancy left her. That was why she had made sure never to let him know. Never to let him see what her curiosity and imagination had brought forth as a plan. All because of a tale in a book that had been hidden away deep in the stacks of the Royal Library. All because she could not stand to see what the world around her was becoming. The injustice stung her all too keenly. The way things were was not the way that they were supposed to be, and she wanted to fix it. That book had given her hop as to how she might.<br/><br/>She had come across the tale by chance on a stormy night last winter, and Rain was not going to be turned away. She had lived too long in the shadow of The Duke, and was only just now coming to realize how very much worse Daemion was. How he'd fooled her, her ill chosen lover. She had been so very, very naive, but that was gone now. Now all she could do was find a way to carry on. To save what she could of the only world that she knew. To make it better.<br/><br/>She'd come to realize that she could never save The Duke. The man had become too corrupted, too far gone to the world of petty politics and appeasement. Had lost the heart of what it was to be human. She could never make him a good person, it was only a wonder it had taken her so long to realize it. How she had hopped, but those hopes were for naught. So she was going get Morrin back, the only good man she had ever known, and the only one that could fix it all. She would steal back that which He, and his circumstances, had destroyed if it killed her trying. Alone, she did not have the power, but if the tales were true, she would have her way. She simply need someone to accompany her.<br/><br/>The small bard stepped raised dais that was the stage, her flame red hair dancing in the breeze where it was not confined beneath the braided net she had made of its top most layer. With its overabundance, she scare needed the burgundy and black velvet clothing that adorned her body in its fitted splendor, marking her as Court Bard to those who knew anything of such things, and simply wealthy and well formed to those who did not. There were familiar faces in the crowd, some welcome, and others not so, ever the performer, she smiled brightly, and dropped into a most elegant curtsy. She was after all, one of the main events, she would not disappoint those that had come to see her. She would entertain them, and in doing so, hopefully, she would draw them in.<br/><br/>"Today," She called out, and waited for the sounds in the crowd to die down. "I bring you a tale, a tale I wish to prove, but I need your help to do so." She paused for dramatic effect, only heightened by sudden, dead silence. She grinned.  "I will tell you my tale, and then, I shall I speak to whomever wishes to help me prove it. Many of you know me, by reputation, if not by name, and I promise you, that if you help me, I will write you a tale the like of which the world has never known, and you will go down in history as a hero."<br/><br/>She felt a flash of triumph as Daemion's face went red. Had he really thought that she would listen to him? That she would meekly do as the lying bastard said when she could be doing something that she believed needed to be done? By the time that he could speak with The Duke and get anything at all done, she would be well outside of either of their power. More immediately, it did not matter, for all his temper, he would do nothing while she was on this stage. The Duke, for all she hated him, protected her in that way. Daemion did not dare harm her in a fashion that could be reported upon. Later, when they were alone, she could well be in trouble, but she didn't intend to be alone with him ever again. A cool, regale smile curved her lips as she met his gaze square on. This round, was hers. "Now that I've caught your attention, I give to you, an ancient tale from the time of epic adventures. Settle in, and I shall share with you: The Dreamer, and the Shadows..."<br/><br/>At the end of her tale, Rain stood on the stage looking out over her crowd, smiling at the rapt faces that were before her. It was a story meant to be to spoken, that had become clear soon after her voice had fallen into the ringing cadence of story telling. That had only helped the immersion. If ever there was a tale to stir the imagination and the adventurous spirit, it was that one. Now, she needed to get off this stage before the affect was lost. Throwing her long tresses over her shoulders, and collecting her skirts, she made her way to the stairs, and skipped down them to the bright green grass while they were still caught up in the daze following a well told tale. Daemion was waiting for her as she reached the ground, and she sighed, grimacing at him, and arching her brow.<br/><br/>“That was some tale that you had to tell,” He remarked, face impassive, and voice much too pleasant. Oh yes, he was highly upset. “You're a little fool you know. Thinking that I will allow you to wander off in such a manner. Thinking that The Duke will allow you to put yourself in danger in such a way. He is your patron little one, never forget the claim that he has on you. Never forget that our chiefest goal is to protect you.”<br/><br/>“Protect me?” She scoffed, “Is that what you call it? As for The Duke, I won't be telling him. Nor will you, if you know what is good for you. All I would need do is tell him what you have been about, show him the bruises, and you would quickly find yourself to be in his dungeons. How would you like that?”<br/><br/>“Neither you, nor His Grace scare me little girl,” Daemion growled softly. “You should know that by now. The fright goes the other way. Do not forget who taught you how to use that blade of yours, who gave you your horse. Do you really think that The Duke has any say in anything that I do not allow him to? For all his force of arm I say 'jump' and he asks how high,” His voice was vicious, cruel, but low enough that few should be able to hear.<br/><br/>“You really should think of who's realm in which you stand before you speak, and you call me the fool,” Rain scoffed, starting to push past the man that had caused her so much pain, so much strife. “I am one of the only ones present who sees his evil. Who knows what he has done. All these people around you, they love him. It would do you well to remember that Daemion the drifter, to remember who took you in and gave you a home. To remember that if no heir is forthcoming, He will be your King soon enough. His uncle is old, Lady bless his soul and bring him health, and he is failing more and more. It will not be over long before His Grace, will be His Majesty. Would you still seek to control him? Still think yourself above one who could call the entirely of Alexandria's magical and military force down upon your head?”<br/><br/>Daemion grabbed her then, in a punishing grip that made the small woman whimper and attempt to tug her arm away. “I will not fear him even then.” Daemion whispered into her ear. His breath was warm, and an involuntary shiver traced down her spine. She could not help the effect he had on her, the effect that he had always had. She would not let it be her undoing this time. “All you have to do, is forget about Morrin, forget about what could have been, and I could show you dreams you never thought possible.” He nuzzled at her neck. “I love you little one, never think otherwise.”<br/><br/>“Let me go,” She demanded. Struggling, but he'd caught her up well and truly now. His arms wrapped around her, catching her arms to her sides, pinning her quite effectively with his far superior strength. “I said release me!”