"Alright, what's going on?" Marianne growls.
It took a while to sufficiently distract Dawn and Sunny away but Marianne finally managed to corner her father without any Light Field denizen being able to overhear. She wasn't going to accept any completely obvious attempts at avoiding her questions this time.
"It's nothing to...," Dagda tries.
"Don't try it, Dagda, I know my mother," Bog interrupts. "Remus and Apatite came with Marianne this morning while Dax and Adder came with me, so there's no reason for Romulus, Kyanite, Fang, and Cynder to stay as well, unless Mom is expecting trouble."
"It's just a precaution," Dagda sighs. "How about you two go enjoy the festivities and I'll...we'll explain it later?"
"Why not explain it now?" Marianne questions, drawing herself up like the displeased reigning royal she is.
She manages to not smirk triumphantly as the royal guards start squirming uneasily but it's almost a difficult task to keep her stern expression, especially once the goblins start whimpering their submission. Bog's growing satisfied smirk doesn't help and neither does Puck's attempt at stifling his chuckling by covering his long snout with both hands.
"Can't it wait until Stuff or Thang returns?" Cynder whimpers.
"We already know that Griselda isn't as unconcerned about the Placid Swamp envoy as she tried to pretend to be. That was pretty obvious. As was her intent at keeping us from returning to the Dark Forest. Explain now," Marianne orders.
Kyanite glares at the other guards and growls his displeasure when they unanimously take a step back away from the royals without him realizing it, leaving him alone at the front. A glance toward the king and queen makes him gulp and he heaves a deep sigh. This is why he preferred sentry duty.
"Griselda already explained most of it," Kyanite starts. "The part she didn't explain was that everyone decided that it would be for the best to keep you here until enough time passed to know for sure what the envoy was sent for. That's why Griselda went back with only Stuff and Thang. They will scout out the situation and one of them will return to notify the king if it's safe to go back."
"Notify the king?" Marianne repeats suspiciously.
Wincing at the growl that laced the female fairy's voice, Kyanite turns pleading eyes to both kings. He really didn't want to be the one to answer the unspoken question. He's newly mated, for spirit's sake, and he'd prefer to enjoy it for a lot longer.
"Griselda ordered the guards to keep you, Bog, and Puck here until news is brought back and then afterward make sure you and Puck stay here," Dagda states.
"I am not staying behind while Bog heads into possible danger alone!" Marianne argues.
"He won't be alone, Your Majesty," Fang denies. "All eight of us are accompanying him back."
"And he will be accompanied by a band of Light Field guards as well," Dagda adds. "I already gave the order to have weapons prepared in case there is trouble but even if it is clear, Bog will not be without guards. You and Puck are to stay here for at least a few days."
"But...," Marianne starts before sighing as Bog lays a hand on her shoulder.
"It's better this way, Marianne," Bog murmurs, laying his other hand on top of Puck's head. "You know it, too."
"Doesn't mean I have to like it," Marianne mutters. "I just found out about how bad those Placid Swamp goblins are and I'm sure it's probably worse than what you and Griselda told me."
"They caught us off-guard last time but it won't happen again," Apatite reassures. "It's safer for you to stay here until we know exactly what those scoundrels are up to. Trust us to protect the king while you protect Prince Puck and your infant."
Marianne sighs again at the words and weakens her unyielding posture as Apatite decides to use a 'motherly gaze' on her. If anyone could understand the dilemma she's feeling, it would be the older female. Apatite would have been in the army during the war and she was no doubt feeling pain at the knowledge that her old enemy is close to her children while she is too far away to protect them.
She may be a little reckless from time to time but she isn't stupid. She knows she has to think of the infant she's carrying, they depend on her to survive and she can't put herself in unnecessary danger. She also couldn't risk her sweet son.
"Alright, we'll stay," Marianne concedes softly, hugging Puck tightly against her. "And if there is any chance of trouble then I want all the Dark Forest children and non-fighters evacuated to the Light Field. It'll be safer here for them as well."
"That's a splendid idea, Marianne!" Dagda praises, echoing the guards. "I'm sure we can..."
Marianne furrows her brows as her father stops mid-speech and she turns to look in the direction he's scowling at. She can't stop the rush of fear as she notices the fog rolling closer.
It's just like her dream!