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[/center][hr][center][b][color=4169E1]Location:[/color][/b] The Palace (Throne Room) 
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	There was a storm brewing just beyond the surface of Lyra's green/blue eyes. All the while, the rest of her features took on an eerie calm. She was composed, yes, but it certainly didn't mean she was any less outraged by what she saw before her. More so, she was upset with herself. If she had been here, even if only a few minutes earlier, perhaps she could have stopped this atrocity. She never should have gone down to the Crypt with Myrus and the other delegates. She had a duty to her mistress, the future queen, above all else, and it should have been her number one priority this morning. She had let herself get distracted, and in the meantime a life had been lost. In the end, she didn't blame it on anyone but herself.

	She promptly pushed her way into the crowded room to make her way over to her mistress Valda. She was already about halfway across the Throne Room when Puck's words hit her ears. She stopped in her tracks, blinking slightly at his contemptuous remark. It was nothing new, really. She had heard it all before. As far as she was concerned, people could say and think what they wanted. She wasn't about to change who she was to better fit people's ill-conceived notions and prejudice. This case was no different. She knew her standing with Valda, and she wasn't about to let some petulant man convince her otherwise. Her unflinching gaze turned to meet his head-on. She boldly arched a brow at him but otherwise paid him no mind. She promptly continued on as before.

	She came up alongside Valda just as Atkin barged in and a verbal argument quickly ensued. Her lips thinned, and she shook her head lightly. She held her tongue though. Now was not the time for this. Right now they needed unity not divison. Her gaze turned to Luna when the younger princess granted them an explanation. [color=4169E1]"Dammit,"[/color] she cursed under her breath after hearing what had gone down. She nodded her head in thanks to Luna, before turning to face Valda.

	[color=4169E1]"Are you alright, your highness?[/color] she asked. [color=4169E1]"Forgive me for not being here when I should've been. From here on out, I will not leave your side. You have my service and protection."[/color]
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[/center][hr][center][b][color=808080]Location:[/color][/b] The Castle (South Gate) ⇢ The Palace Lawn
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	Malekith was pleased when gaining entrance into The Castle proved to be a practically effortless affair. And yet, he still had this niggling suspicion that something was amiss. Maybe he was just being cynical, but the guards' reactions seemed a tad bit too accepting. Something about the surname [I]Heap[/I] struck a chord with them. Although it appeared to be of a positive nature, he was still leery. After all, he was undercover, and as such he didn't need the added attention that a well-to-do name could garner, no matter how much it soothed his ego. [I]Dammit Nera![/I] he inwardly cursed the witch who put him in this position. Granted, he didn't technically [I]have to[/I] take the cover name she gave him, but he quickly pushed that notion aside. It was just easier for him to blame it all on her than to admit that he had actually made a mistake.

	He gave the guards a small smile in return and nodded his head in appreciation as they allowed him entrance. He passed through the South Gate into The Castle and immediately headed for the Palace Lawn at a pace that was fast enough to make up for lost time but slow enough so as not to draw unwanted attention. He made an effort to allow his gaze to linger on his surroundings. Of course, it was only truly for the sake of appearances. At the moment, he quite frankly couldn't care less about the pompous architecture and decor that surrounded him. Considering he was on a mission, he didn't want to waste much time on sightseeing than would be deemed normal for a patron.

	After appropriately seeing to that endeavor, his gaze went in search of his Witch Mother Fleur. It wasn't too difficult for him to pick her out of the crowd. After all, she was more or less a lily among thorns in his eyes. More importantly, she was a gateway to power for him, so he would do well not to so easily let her out of his sight. Just as his gaze landed on her, another man (Rhys) approached her, a man who seemed awfully familiar with her. [I]Damn you. Like hell I'm going to let you blow our cover.[/I] His ever meticulous mind quickly went to work formulating a suitable course of action to deal with this little nuisance. However, it would seem that Fleur was already on top of it, for just as he neared them she seemingly ditched the man. 

	The corner of Malekith's lips pulled up into a smirk at the sight. He threw a glance in Rhys' direction as he passed the man by just before catching up to Fleur. He smoothed a hand over Fleur's back before he took the seat next to her. He then leaned over to whisper to her a hairbreadth from her ear, [color=808080]"The guards were nothing I couldn't handle. They seemed to take well to the cover name. I wonder however Nera found such a name."[/color]