Personality Traits

• I'm a very confident individual, and carry myself with poise and grace.
• I can be a little bit impulsive at times, and can sometimes lose sight of the full picture.
• I'm occasionally selfish, but maybe a bit less so given a new lease on life.

Ideals

• Love: I believe that everyone deserves to meet their soulmate and live happily ever after.

Bonds

• I would go to great lengths to ensure the safety of the ones I love.

Flaws

• I find it very difficult to trust others. If you want anything done right, you have to do it yourself.

---

Sortie

The wind whispers through the trees late on this autumn night. The light from the lamps in the courtyard glow dimly, as is customary during resting hours. Each suspended orb gives off a soft light, enough for a bit of atmosphere, but not much to see by. Surely even the fey are sleeping by this point.

A dim light can also be seen flickering in a window, high in the castle. Clarisse's window.

The young maiden paces back and forth, deliberating over her work. Faerie fire faintly dances over the room as she surveys her belongings, thinking more about what's missing than what's there.

A rapier, of course. I'll borrow one on the way out. Nothing special, nothing ornate. Nothing that will be missed too quickly.

She furrows her brow a bit. The young princess still finds it difficult to admit that her mother is, occasionally, right. Maybe those fencing lessons will come in handy after all.

Packing light was never her specialty. Well, packing anything at all was never her specialty. Clarisse had intended to pack lightly and pick up any necessities on the way, but it never turned out that way, did it?

A couple of outfits, that would be sufficient. One set of fine travelling clothing, fleece-lined sleeves and everything, that would be both comfortable and easy to move in. One set of more formal clothing, a dress and a few pieces of jewellery, that might be important given the right circumstances.

Clarisse's eyes kept wandering back to the black fan, unfolded on her desk. The sleeping kitten embroidered upon it looked so comfortable. Her beloved, Errol, had brought it back for her from one of his travels.

Oh, whatever, I might as well. It'll be nice to have a reminder.

It's cloth-like texture was cool to the touch. Clarisse fought back a bit of emotion welling in her throat as she folded the fan up and stowed it safely.

Clarisse shouldered her pack without wasting any more time. With a wave, the light in the room extinguished itself again.

---

Clarisse walked confidently across the courtyard, the slight spring in her step only somewhat betraying her composure. What an exciting adventure, she had never done something like this before.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a door creaking behind her.

Shit.

Clarisse whirled, drawing the rapier she had borrowed just moments prior. She smirked a bit inside, impressed at her reaction time.

Her mother, none other than Queen Eleanor Liadon, stood on the doorstep. Despite being clothed in her bedclothes and shrouded by dim lighting, she still looked as regal as ever.

Clarisse froze.

"It's okay, I'm not going to stop you. One of your friends told me." Eleanor started, motioning towards a small glowing ember, flitting guiltily through the air. "You know I couldn't let you leave without this, right?"

Eleanor leans back through the doorway to retrieve a small instrument bag. Clarisse recognizes it at once as her viol, bow, and all.

"You've got a gift, and you should use it."

"Mother…" Clarisse squeaked.

"Well, don't keep me waiting."

At a loss for words, Clarisse places her weapon on the ground and closes the distance between her and her mother. Eleanor receives Clarisse, embracing her in a tight hug, tears welling in her eyes.

"Take this, too" Eleanor adds, as she places a small purse in Clarisse's hands before embracing her again. "You might need it."

The full gravity of the situation finally sinks in, and it's all that Clarisse can do to choke back her tears. What would father say if he found out?

"Mother!" she wails, "I, I—"

"Shh, it's okay."

Eleanor's reassuring voice does nothing to help against the tears. Clarisse quivers in her arms, betraying her composure further.

Not missing a beat, Eleanor continues, "I'll ensure the enchantments are disabled, you'll make it out just fine. We'll have a small malfunction to deal with in the morning, but they'll have it fixed in no time…

"Stay safe, my dear. Find what you're looking for, and come home. Promise me this."

"I'll try… Thank you…"

Other words eluded Clarisse at this moment, but it was okay. A mother's intuition goes further than you think. Somewhere deep inside, Clarisse knew she'd be in for a much rougher time if her mother didn't do this for her.

"I love you." Eleanor concluded.

Now visibly sobbing, Clarisse collects her belongings and stows her rapier once more. Turning once everything is in order, she sees her mother still standing at the doorway, her eyes wet with tears. Emotion wells within Clarisse, definitely not what she needs right now, but maybe it doesn't matter any more.

"I love you too, mother…" Was all she could say before she turned around and bolted.

I'll come back. I promise.

---

Fin

Moonlight streams through the trees on a warm autumn evening, dappling the castle courtyard in mottled patches of chiaroscuro. A perfect night to relax and view the stars. Well, a perfect night to do anything, really. This corner of the Feywild was always a favourite of Clarisse's.

Clarisse lazily stretches her arms above her head, yawning. What a perfect night. In the distance, she could hear the soft sounds of the breeze, while little bits of faerie fire flit occasionally around the tree canopy. What a peaceful existence.

She looks over, towards the edge of the courtyard. Errol sits on the edge of the garden, one leg supporting himself while the other dangles casually from his perch. He wistfully looks into the distance. Oh, how she wondered what was going on in that head of his.

"Errol, dear? What's on your mind?" She asks him, breaking the placidness of the evening.

"Oh, nothing…" he responds, briefly looking over, quickly returning to gazing off into the distance. "It's a beautiful night; calm and peaceful. I'm in the best company, and it is rather nice to take a breather from the day-to-day. Why?"

"I don't know…it's just a little…too quiet, maybe?" Clarisse ventures. "It's nice lazing around here, but don't you wonder what's going on out there? What's outside our peaceful little bubble?"

Errol chuckles a bit and turns to face her. "What?" He laughs. "Getting disintegrated twice isn't enough for a lifetime?"

"Errol!" Clarisse exclaims. "Things are just…a bit too quiet here, don't you think? I wonder what all of our old friends are up to, you know? Out there." She gestures outwards, as if the Feywild were some sort of prison, disjoint from the outside world. "I…kinda miss our travels."

"Your mom's not going to like that…" Errol murmurs, as he furrows his brow a bit. "But that can't be helped, I guess. Well, where would my highness have me take her?"

Clarisse blushes a bit and retorts, "you know I don't like it when you call me that. I don't know, anywhere…let's have our own adventure!"

A small smirk crosses Errol's face as he hops off the wall, slowly crossing the distance between them. "You just want away from the queen again, isn't it? Well, I guess I can oblige."

Errol comes to a stop in front of Clarisse, flourishing his arms a little and taking a deep bow. He extends his hand to his lady.

"Do you trust me?" He asks.

"Of course!" Clarisse stands, taking Errol's hand and looks him lovingly. "Where to, my prince?"

"Why don't we start by visiting some of our friends?" Errol starts, leaning in to give Clarisse a soft peck on the cheek.

With a soft pop and the rushing of wind, neither were where they were just moments ago.