Plum grins sharply at the fear radiating from the other mountain fae as each expresses their discomfort at her presence and she opens her mouth to taste the sweet scent. Delicious! Seems they weren't all that ignorant to the consequences to their plan like they appeared to be.
The added taste of the powerful magic thrumming in the air nearly causes her to lose herself to the pleasurable sensations running through her but she manages to keep her wits about her...barely. It is much more intoxicating than it was during that faint hint of it she caught this morning.
Business before pleasure.
"We didn't break the geas, so please don't punish us," Kaiden pleads.
"You attack the Light Field and you have the audacity to say THAT YOU DIDN'T BREAK THE GEAS!" Plum screams. "I knew I should have thrashed you this morning instead of doing things the peaceful way! Ooh, you lot are going to wish you were never born!"
Kaiden whimpers at the rage directed toward him and covers his eyes with his rabbit paws. Why did he choose a rabbit? Any form would have been better to be stuck in instead of a small rabbit that has no chance of being able to run away fast enough. Not like he knew that amber light would keep him from being able to use his magic but still.
He squeaks his gratitude as the forest ruler takes mercy on him and releases his sore rabbit ears, tucking him against his armored chest and allowing him to burrow into the crook of his arm.
"You're too lenient," Plum grumbles as Bog covers the shivering ball of fur with a large hand.
"I'm not cruel," Bog counters. "If they truly meant no harm and were only doing what they thought was a good deed then they should be punished accordingly and not excessively. They've already paid for their trespass with their blood."
"And you called yourself a beast, you softie," Marianne teases with a smirk, ignoring the laughter from those perched on her shoulder. "What's this about a geas, Plum?"
"So sorry, it's confidential," Plum mumbles.
"Meaning she can't say what it is," Dagda comments before turning to Hermia. "Can you say what this geas is about?"
"I can," Hermia confirms hesitantly as Plum turns her attention to her. "Unlike the others, my clan and I are not entirely bound to King Dirk, so the geas that she put on him does not apply to us. I'm not sure about all it entitles but it clearly states that no subject of the King of the Great Mountain is permitted to harm any subject of the King of the Light Field, under penalty of death."
"Death seems a bit too severe for some idiots with good intentions. Even if they did ruin Dawn's wedding day, destroyed the Dark Forest castle...," Marianne starts.
"They did what?!" Plum screeches. "You dunderheads attacked the Dark Forest as well?!"
"Wha' does it matter if they damage some lesser fae's decrepi' excuse for a hovel? Ya still cannae say that the geas is broken."
Marianne narrows her eyes as the tall newcomer walks past the nearby oak tree and onto the harvested barley field. She isn't entirely sure what kind of fae he is, though he does bear some resemblance to Bog's new form, but there's something about the blonde male that's rekindling the rage that had dwindled at the revelation of everyone's survival.
"Is it just me or does he look an awful lot like cousin Roland?" Marco questions out loud.
Yep, that would explain it. Though Roland didn't talk like that and he never carried a clay pipe between his lips.
"I can too say that the geas has been broken, Dirk, and since you not only knew about this little excursion but also gave your approval, it's all your fault!" Plum argues.
"Ah, darlin', donnae be sayin' such," King Dirk coos. "Just look. There's been nae Light Field subjec' harmed and nae true damage. If'n they attack the forest then wha's it to me?"
Before Marianne can reprimand the intruding figure, Cu-Sith walks in front of her and sits down, using its larger form to obstruct her view. She smirks as she wonders if the great dog is protecting her or its king. Both are a high possibility but she has the feeling that it is more to protect its king.
"My castle was destroyed in the attack on my kingdom and my people were put in danger but you think that there should be no repercussions for your subjects' actions?" Bog growls.
"Me business with the Light Field is nae of yer concern, forest ruler," King Dirk dismisses. "Any trouble given to ya was cause' by yer own doin'. Had ya been satisfyin' yer female and nae be lettin' her take an infant nae her own then nae of this would've been. If'n ya donnae know how to give her some sweet sweet passionate lovin' then I'll gladly show ya how."
Kaiden squeaks at the growl vibrating against his small form. He's starting to get the uneasy feeling that having King Dirk here just made everything worse for them. Hearing Cu-Sith's low groan is all the confirmation he needs to know that they are all about to die.
"Watch your mouth, Dirk, he's not just the forest ruler but he's also the next King of the Light Field," Plum warns, smirking deviously at the slight panic lacing the handsome face before her. "Attacking the Dark Forest is the same as attacking the Light Field. I tried to tell you but you wouldn't listen!"
"Ah, but, darlin', i's nae me fault," King Dirk tries. "Ya cannae blame me for somethin' Ah didnae know. Ya nae told me before today."
"You're blaming me?" Plum growls.
"Ah wouldnae say that. Ah'm only sayin' that Ah shouldnae be punished for wha's nae me fault," King Dirk placates. "Ah wouldnae have been forced to leave the sweet lovin' occupyin' me own bed to sort this mess out if'n some needy female got the lovin' she requires. Ah'm sure we can come to some kind of...'arrangement'."
"If you say one more thing about my mate...," Bog starts.
"Ye'll do wha'? Afraid that she'll enjoy me lovin' more than yers?" King Dirk interrupts smugly.
"Uh-oh," Dawn murmurs before quickly grabbing both small imps beside her and flying off her sister's shoulder.
"He did it now," Sunny groans as Dawn lands beside him.
Dawn can only nod as her father joins them with Hermia. She's absolutely sure that annoying male just ruined his last chance for a painless end to this misunderstanding. It's clear that she isn't the only one thinking it as the varied fighters from both the Light Field and the Dark Forest start making bets of how long the Great Mountain king will survive.
Bets that get shorter times when Bog switches weapons with Marianne.
"Such a brute, ya are," King Dirk scoffs as Bog points the sword at him while bowing to Marianne. "If'n ya think that beatin' me with that violent thin' would impress such a beautiful female then i's a wonder how ya manage' to bed her. Ya be needin' me expertise to seduce..."
"Knock his block off!" Plum cheers enthusiastically.
"Surely that's unwise, King Dirk is a gancanagh!" Hermia squeaks as said king lands painfully at the base of an oak tree.
"Like that will stop Marianne!" Griselda cackles.
"Wha' was that?" King Dirk moans, blinking up to the sky in shock.
"The better question is how many times do I get to hit you with this before you pass out?" Marianne growls as she stalks closer. "My sister's wedding day has been ruined, the lives of my people have been threatened, my home has been destroyed, and I'm holding you PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE!"
"Now, darlin', there's nae need to...Donnae hurt the jewels!" King Dirk screams.
Cu-Sith cringes as King Dirk barely manages to avoid the downward strike aimed for his lap before having to scramble away from another attack. It had told them that the forest ruler was a fierce feisty thing but they hadn't believed its' words, reasoning that all they had to do was keep the iron water from being used. The plan of sending Hermia in to retrieve the baby imp would have been a much less painful one.
Heaving a sigh, it walks over to its companions to help the other dogs lick their wounds and lets the grateful Am Fear Liath Mor hide his hurting eyes away from the binding light in its thick shaggy fur. They pay no attention to their king's pleas for help as he frantically tries to escape the enraged female.
"Ouch, that's gotta hurt," Kaiden mutters with a wince before turning golden eyes upward to the grinning face above him. "Aren't you going to stop her?"
"She'll stop when she's ready to. It's been a stressful day, after all, and your king should have kept his mouth shut," Bog chuckles.