They had decided to take the audience on time, the High Shaman, whose name was Simon which Kurt finally learned was there, Mary, Sara and Kurt. As well as a gathering of goblins and gnomes, but their placement was to the sides. Kurt stood to Layla right and Sara to left her left, a step down even after Sara's objection. Mary was flying around above Layla, seemingly carelessly, but it gave an impression towards Layla, who was seated on her couch, which served as her throne. They were ready to bring in Arthur. The shaman stood near Layla, he had an intense holder attached to his staff, that was bellowing.
Arthur was walked in with his hand roped together on a lead from a goblin warrior, he was unarmed of course. He saw Kurt and Sara and said "Kurt, Sara, thank the gods you are alright, what's happening?" . The leading goblin gave a shove of the rope, pulling Arthur, and stopped in front of Layla ignoring Arthur's words. The goblin stepped aside.
"Hello, I hear your name is Arthur, I am Princess Layla, you may call me your majesty." said Layla.
"Umm your majesty, I'm a bit confused."
"What do you mean? Is this not what you were looking for?"
"Looking for?"
"Then why are you here? We are unfortunately not accepting uninvited guests. So, forgive us for the cold welcome."
"Kurt," Arthur said looking at him, "is this your company?"
Mary darted right into Arthur's face as he said, "her majesty has asked you a question." She said in a threatening tone. Arthur turned back.
"I was here to investigate a smuggling operation," said Arthur.
"Smuggling?" said Layla
"Yes, stolen clan property."
"You think someone here has stolen from your clan? What do you think I would need to steal from you?"
"Umm, I."
"I can assure you no one here has stolen anything from your clan."
"I think I can see that. If I have offended you, you must believe it was not my intention."
"Offended me?"
"Yes."
"I'm sorry but you have."
"I have?"
"That uniform offends me."
"My uniform?"
"Yes your clan, it has invaded my world, captured and enslaved my people, you do know what species I am, correct?"
"Yes, your majesty, you are fae."
"And do you deny the accusation I made."
"The accusation?"
"That your clan invaded my world and enslaved my people. Which I find offensive," Layla was on there throne couch m, laying down looking at Arthur like it was just any conversation.
Kurt was giving Sara a massive stare. What was Layla saying?
"Umm I have done no such thing."
"But the clan you serve is that, not what they do?"
"Umm…"
"Let me ask you another question, have you ever forced a fae to make their well where they did not wish?"
"No."
"Have you ever forced a fae to make you their champion?"
"No.."
"But you are a champion of a fae, correct?"
"Yes."
"And this fae offered this honor to you themselves, freely of their own will?" Arthur stayed silent for a few moments "Do you see my problem here, Sir Arthur?"
"I believe I may be starting to. Kurt, Sara, is she doing something to you? Is Jacob mixed up with this?"
"No," Sara said back, "he doesn't know anything."
"I don't know what you want, your majesty, but I am protected."
"Protected? Ohh I know you are, by one of my kind, in fact let's get them as a witness," Layla snapped her fingers and another person, another fae appeared.
The new fae seemed startled, and looked around and saw Layla, squinted her eyes, "Layla is that you?" Layla smiled back, "Look at you, all grown up now you were such a little thing. You got out I see, thank goodness, I would have hated it if they captured you.. And your well it's beautiful, so beautiful" she started looking around and finally saw Arthur behind her, "Arthur what are you doing…" she turned her back directly back at Layla wide eyed, "he wasn't attacking you was he? What's going on Layla?"
"Yes, Cindy, your champion is encroaching on my well."
"We will leave immediately. Do you really think I would? I, I hid you, I protected you, Layla, I am not your enemy, you have to believe that."
"Ohh my dear sister, no. I'm not going to hurt you. But you champion here."
"What about him?"
"You are here as witness, did he force his championship upon you?"
"I wouldn't say that."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, you know Layla…what happened to me."
"I do, you were forced to plant your well in a dangerous location."
"Yes, I was, still am but it's not like that can change."
"And you've been serving under the clan, against your will?"
"You know that's true Layla, why are you bringing this up?", she seemed to be holding back tears.
"So he forced the championship upon you?"
"Is that what this is about? What happened to me? Layla no."
"No, what?"
"I won't say the clan isn't forcing me, but my champion," looking at Arthur, "is a good man."
"So you would accept him."
"I would, Layla. Over any of the others there."
"And the rest of them?"
"I would watch them burn," she said in a cold voice,"for what they did."
"So you would save this man, and have him remain your champion, even after all that they have done to you? And all the things he is expected to do for them?"
"I would. Layla, it's not like we are really helping any of them, much at least. You know that too."
Layla turned toward Arthur, "you are apparently a very lucky man, here I was digging for a crime to condemn you for, yet you stand innocent." She sighed.
"Does that mean I'm free to go?" said Arthur.
"Not quite yet, Cindy, what do you think would happen if I were to release him?"
"He would immediately inform the rest of the clan of what happened."
"And what will the clan do?"
"They will search you out and attack you."
Layla turned towards Kurt, "would you agree with this assessment?"
"I would," said Kurt.
"And you Sara?"
"I would." Said Sara, giving Kurt a stare.
"And you Arthur, is that what you will do, and will not your clan act that way?"
"I would and they would."
"It's because of the orders you are under."
"Umm…"
"You have encountered a fae, myself, are there no orders for that?"
"Yes, there are."
"And would you tell everyone what they are, for me?" Arthur remained quiet for a few moments. "I do know the answer to my question, you realize that right?"
"It would be to capture the fae."
"And if necessary?" Layla casually said back.
"…kill their guardian."
"These would be high priority orders correct, one could say those would be your orders right now, to capture me and kill my champion, Kurt."
"ummm…." looking at Kurt, "Kurt is your…"
"So you should be seeing my problem, I would want to release an innocent man, that is a fair and just thing to do. but to do so would be sending an invitation for an attack on my people, which I have a responsibility to protect against."
"…and I seem to be in a bad place in the middle of that decision," said Arthur.
"Yes you are, but by your own admission as soon as you saw me your orders are currently to capture myself and kill my champion, this would seem close to an act of war to most of the people here you understand?" The goblins shouted like they were daring him to. "If you were to act under these order of of course."
"But there isn't anything you can do? Release me, kill me, capture me, the clan will respond regardless, they might not know the exact location of the gate but they will find it if I go missing. So why kill me, if nothing changes? Wouldn't it be better to make the right decision?"
Kurt thought about that, didn't he know they could move the gate. That was the entire plan. The gate would be miles away before they came back.
"I'm not going to kill you, why would you think that? I said you stand here innocent, I'm not as cruel as you humans. But I can't exactly let you go back the way you came. Now can I?" she sighed, "you know this is really annoying, why couldn't you just stay home?"
"I would have liked to."
"Then I leave you with a demand to deliver to your clan."
"A demand?"
"Yes a demand: Stop hunting my kind," said Layla firmly, "there is no negotiation on this term, how could there be?" Before Arthur could say anything back, "Cindy, you may leave with your champion."
"Thank you, your majesty, it was good to see you all things considered, umm they don't exactly know we can do this…," said Cindy as she walked to Arthur, pulled his shoulder and was gone, must have stepped back to Cindy's well. Kurt could see it, now that he had done it himself.
"Sara, we need to go as soon as possible," said Layla.
"Yes, umm your majesty I agree. We are basically ready."
"I will start the process immediately, and we will move as fast as we can. He's only back at his headquarters; they will come back to nothing."
A few moments later Cindy came back, on one knee. "I don't know what you're planning your majesty," Looking up, smiling at Layla, "but I want in, let's burn them all, I couldn't say anything in front of Arthur and if he's caught in it, I won't stop it, I just couldn't, be the reason for it, but what do you need me to do? I don't have much time, I need to go back."
"ohh go back, you did absolutely perfectly, and when you have the time, come talk to me." Layla said back, she seemed to always be smiling, "we are in no rush, well you aren't. You do feel it right?"
"Yes, your majesty I do," and Cindy disappeared.