Long silver eyelashes flutter open like feathers, soft amethyst eyes regaining focus as she slowly becomes aware of her surroundings. She's no longer in the dreamscape, the spacious interior of the carriage comes into view, with David's troubled gaze still watching from afar. She doesn't understand his sudden concern, did her physical body also exhibit signs of distress in the real world as well? Correcting her posture, she tries to return her appearance back to normal to dissuade his worries.
"Are we there yet?" she pulls back the gauze curtain to take in the view outside. To her surprise they are parked at the foot of the mountain, the sun has already dipped past the horizon.
"We are almost there dear, but these mountain roads are very treacherous at night, even for those of us with Selene's blessing. We'll camp here tonight and begin our journey at sunrise. The maids and knights are currently setting up camp, but…are you alright dear?" David seems hesitant to ask the last bit. It can be said that though the duke is a doting father, he is also an absent father constantly being pulled away by the duties of a lord. His absence has caused certain strains on their relationship as parent and child. When it comes down to deep matters, he appears apprehensive of how much concern he's allowed to voice.
'The duke can be quite timid too at times.' Eren finds the thought refreshing. He may internally badmouth the duke for being overly indulgent to Ariellia's whims, but that doesn't make him a bad father. As a single parent with a huge estate to look after, the fact that he's still sensitive to Ariellia's emotional cues and not just being overbearing with his concern proves this.
"I'm fine father, I just had a bit of a bad dream. It's nothing to worry about." A genuine smile on her lovely face is enough to ease the old duke's worries.
"Let me know if you'd like me to sing you to sleep like old times. I remember you always slept off quickly whenever I sang of the little sparrow." His eyes gloss over with nostalgia, clearly picturing the tender moment in his mind while the imposter sitting across from him freezes up in fright.
Eren suddenly felt the maids were far too slow at their job. Why does it take so long to build camp, there can't be that much to do. Feeling her heart jump to her throat, and her hands clam up while resting on her knees, she almost jumps for joy when a young maid pops her head in through the carriage door.
"Preparations are complete my lord, please come with me."
'Thank you, Sena!' Eren wildly cheers on the inside, escaping the emotional powder keg.
She desperately needs to go back to sleep and digest the three new acquired memories. It's been such a long trip, she doesn't even have to pretend as she stretches her limbs, feeling a satisfying pop from time to time. David exits the carriage with more grace, heading away to speak with the knights on night watch. She uses this opportunity to find her tent with the young maid Sena's help.
It's nothing like the tight camp tents she's used to from the twentieth century. This tent is spacious enough to be sectioned off into several smaller quarters, separated by long curtains. There is a tactful mosquito net just a few inches after the front flaps, followed by a wash, kitchen, and storage area, not to mention the full queen-sized bed at the center. Her amethyst eyes widened at the sight, even the best planner couldn't pack all of this in the initial four chests she'd seen them mount on the back of the carriage before leaving. There must be some spatial distortion magic involved.
Eager to hop into bed, she impatiently waits for the maids on duty to redress her in a light nightgown. Perhaps because she knows Rei will not be present, Miranda speared her lady's dignity and packed normal modest nightgowns. She'll later have to think of a way to sneak these into her closet when she gets back. Fully dressed, she dismisses the two young maids serving her to their own section of the tent. Taking a deep breath, she makes her way towards the bed like a knight off to war and lies down. Concentrating on the three acquired memories, she summons a virtual menu window.
[1. Story time with Uncle Jasper]
[2. The first dance lesson with father]
[3. David's bitter decision]
She feels conflicted about which memory to digest first. At the sight of the first option, she already knowns she's likely under suspicion. This memory implies Ariellia had known Jasper since she was a child, yet at the cabin she'd treated him like a stranger. It's fortunate that David hasn't already strung her up to a post and whipped a confession right out of her. It goes to show just how much he loves his daughter, not even willing to hurt her body to interrogate the imposter within.
In the end she chooses option three, it seems to be the most imposing one with a hint of a darker and unspoken storyline. Lightly tapping the third option, she finds a comfortable position and pulls the blanket up to her neck. She succumbs to sleep soon after, feeling her consciousness slip into a deep slumber.
Once she regains her faculties, the environment changes, she is now back in the duke's castle. She wants to look around but finds it hard to move her short neck. She becomes anxious when she realizes it's not just her neck, everything about her person has shrunk. She's back to being a one-year-old toddler. In this state she can't control her emotions, her growing anxiety makes her begin to wail uncontrollably in her crib.
Her sharp elf ears pick up the sound of a familiar set of heavy footsteps. Her view is soon crowded by a large looming shadow. With a soft flick of his wrist the shadow casts a simple [ignite] spell, turning on the magic stone lamp by her crib side. In the light she finally sees the face of her father David Garrod, but he appears different. His current appearance fits the typical image of elvian lore with a smooth androgynous ageless face without any facial hair, and the lean build of a dancer. Yet what strikes her the most is the haggard circles beneath his indifferent, haunted amethyst eyes.
He stares down into the crib as though he's gazing into a monstrous abyss, worlds apart from the affectionate treatment she's grown used to.
'But why would he look at Ariellia this way?'
She can only continue to howl in despair, confused and scared.