Fairest in the Land [Reginald]

[Tallulah Ondine]

Lula was coming to realize that security in the King's home was sorely lacking. One could just waltz in with a parade on your heels and not meet any resistance until the throne room. Not that the King really cared, she suspected, she didn't know if he would notice if all of the rest of his castle had been ransacked.

She couldn't complain, to be truthful. While Reginald was slightly frustrating, he was amusing to her. She'd dedicated a lot of her time pondering on how and with who she could match him with. He tended to resist, of course, but she was sure that she'd eventually stumble on the correct maiden and be done with it.

She couldn't understand why he would possibly want to be so lonely, cooped up here with barely a friend. She was going to make him see the error of his ways or die trying... well, perhaps not die.

Tallulah shook herself out of that line of thought and skipped up to the doors of the throne room. She adjusted herself, tightening the bow fastened at her back and tilting her top had at just the correct jaunty angle. She'd foregone her tiara out of respect for the man, no need to upset him after all.

Satisfied with her appearance, Lula grasped the handles and swept the doors open with the dramatic air of a stage performer.

"Why, good morning, your Majesty!" She pulled her skirt out into a curtsy and stepped inside, "How are you this fine day?"

[Reginald Kingly]

Reginald had yet to leave the castle. It was all the fault of that army of grey clouds hovering in the sky above. Those blasted cumulonimbi had been looking continuously ominous right from the very early hours of the morning. In their swirling depths Reginald could sense the water droplets heaving, ready to spill out from the vapours and right upon his own head, and upon his poor paper crown as well. But the rain had not come, at least not yet. They were waiting for him, hoping to lure him into a false sense of security before unleashing their torrential downpour full force upon his righteous self. No, Reginald would never let such a travesty occur, not whilst he was king. He would wait it all out, as if he were under siege, and eventually the clouds would have to empty their watery bowels without him under them.

His ingenious plan did, however, have a flaw. Boredom, not rain, had fallen upon Reginald Kingly that day. The Jester was not even present to entertain him, being out in the Marble Forest to collect pretty objects to decorate his throne room. Reginald looked around the vast hall, noting the five grandfather clocks, eleven chandeliers, twenty-two picture frames and various other miscellany he already held in his possession. What a fine collection he had made for himself here.

The throne room doors flung open. Reginald looked up from his reverie, expecting to see the Jester returning from the Forest. But it was not the Jester whom had entered; instead, in a flurry of fabric, the young water nymph from the Sixth Square walked into his midsts.

"Why, good morning, your Majesty! How are you this fine day?"

What a polite lady this was, although Reginald had to disagree with her opinion on 'fine days'. She was a commoner though, he must remember that, the poor thing knew no better. Quickly he rectified his position upon the throne, straightening his back and flicking the dust off of his lapel.

"Ahh, dear citizen," he replied, waving a greeting towards her in a kingly manner, "Fine as a fine king may be. Now what brings you to my grand castle? I apologise that you were not greeted at the entrance. My guards must be... away. I shall hang them as soon as they return!"