The creature did not move. It continued to stare at her with empty eye sockets. The mask was terrible and beautiful, perfect in its craftsmanship and utterly inhuman.
"Do you not think, it is yes?" The thing moved with grace to put its face next to the young girl's. With only a few hands space between them, Tella was now quite sure it was her the thing was speaking to.
"Yes." She said calmly. No sudden movements. Agree to no bargains. Trust nothing.
"Yes it is, it is yes!" The thing danced back, it's head not moving up or down, left or right as the whole body rotated around it and bounced. No expression was worked into the mask. Tella was terrified.
The thing suddenly stopped.
"Why are you in the Feasting King's kingdom I wonder... perhaps it is a runaway? It is yes." The mask tilted quizzically.
Tella nodded.
"Yes it is, it is yes!" The creature positively beamed. It danced around her, and everywhere its feet fell the ground was painfully colourful for a moment. "Why do you run winterlet? Is it seeking of adventure? Is it seeking monies? I think it is not, it is no." It stood behind Tella, craning its body impossibly over her, and twisting to be face-to face with her. She was enveloped in the Fey's body.
Tella thought hard about her answer. Give him nothing to play with. Make him bored.
"I'm leaving my home... because... I have... left my home." She replied, and hoped it was good and bad enough.
"Ooooohoo hoo hoo, you know of me winterlet! Or of my brothers perhaps. You think to bore me, it is yes? You have left home because you have no power, and home is no place for a winterlet with no strength in her arms."
Damnit.
"It is on your face why you left your home, it is yes."
Thrice damnit.
"Worry not, winterling! The Feasting King is a happy king! Have this, and return home! Or find adventure. Do as you will! The Feasting King is busy feasting." And he danced and danced, and the world spun with him around Tella until she was sure she would vomit.
She closed her eyes, hoping it would pass. Everything hurt like a terrible pressure, and she was sure her stomach would explode, but shortly it passed. All save for the feeling in her gut. That remained.
She opened her eyes, and the world was normal again. It was indeed a beautiful day in the forest.
The Feasting King was nowhere to be seen.
Tella sat down on the ground hard, and exhaled deeply. She tried to remember stories of people who had survived encounters with the greater fey.
She could only think of two.
They didn't end well.
Her stomach still hurt, despite the rest of her having recovered from the experience. She put her hand on her stomach, and probed at the pressure inside her.
Oh no. Oh please no.
She pressed a little harder, and felt a belch work its way up and out her throat.
She felt physically much, much better after that. However, the glittering motes of fey magic that hung in the air after her expulsion told her one terrible, horrible thing.
There was fey magic stuck to her soul now. And there was no-way she could think of to get rid of it.
No way at all is it, it is yes.
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