[MAINYO, UNDINE, and AUTUMN sit in a circle in the outfeild of an un-used baseball feild.]
MAINYO: You're really willing to listen?
UNDINE: Not like we really have an option.
AUTUMN: Nor are we likely to have another chance to meet someone opposing the Council.
MAINYO: Do I sense a bit of a rebel in you?
UNDINE: No!
MAINYO: Was I asking-
AUTUMN: Only curiousity.
MAINYO: Too bad. I want to ask you a couple of questions myself first.
UNDINE: (sarcasticly) Oh, joy.
MAINYO: Really now. Do hear me out before you make any hasty judgements.
UNDINE: You did not exactly choose a friendly way of asking us to listen.
MAINYO: I realize that. However, this is not friendly circumstances to the best of my knowledge.
AUTUMN: We realize that as well.
MAINYO: As I was going to ask about before... I've never seen a case of two Guardians working together on a regular basis. Is it just a reaction to being stranded here?
UNDINE: No, we've always worked together--
AUTUMN: --We trained together. I'm not sure that we could manage as Guardians alone.--
UNDINE: --We were never trained to handle a situation without each backing the other up.
MAINYO: Amazing. You didn't even know that most Guardians are trained to work alone, did you?
UNDINE: No. We knew-
AUTUMN: -But we never really thought about it. --
UNDINE: -- It seemed natural for us to be a team.
MAINYO: You're truly elves, correct? The human guises are a glamour? And your families are changelings given a spark of life in order to help you blend in?
UNDINE: Yes.
AUTUMN: On all counts.
MAINYO: How close are your ages?
UNDINE: Autumn is 5 years older.
MAINYO: Only five? And both of you are... For elves, five years is...
AUTUMN: Next to nothing. What of it?
MAINYO: You don't find it odd for you to both be Guardians?
UNDINE: It was a simple coincidence that the Council chose two around the same age to become Guardians.
MAINYO: You have no idea of the implications...
AUTUMN: And you're beginning to worry me...
MAINYO: You should be! You have no idea... [shakes his head]
UNDINE: No idea of what?
MAINYO: I should begin with the real meaning of a Guardian, since it was obvious you were never told. I'm sure that was no accident.
AUTUMN: The real meaning...
MAINYO: A Guardian is not chosen by the High Council. A Guardian is a Guardian from birth, and is distinguished by a characteristic that, in Faerie, only shows up in Guardians. The stormcloud-blue eyes are the mark of someone who has the power that is granted only to a Guardian. And glamours can never hide that eye color. Guardians are the only ones who know that power, and therefore are the only ones who can teach control of that power to another Guardian. Guardians are rarely born within 80 years of each other, enough time for one to mature before the next is born. That is why I was shocked that you two are of such a close age. It must mean something.
UNDINE: Then what does the Council have to do with anything?
MAINYO: The High Council, after watching Guardians come and go for centuries, decided to get on the good side of Guardians. However, when they approached the Guardians to join forces, they learned of the Guardian's Code: that you are incapable of refusing help to those in need, as long as you do not cause harm to innocents. That makes Guardians a perfect neutral force, something that the Council could not control. But Faerie was growing, and locating the new Guardians was becoming more and more difficult, so The council offered to help locate Guardians and provide a place where they could be trained. Most Guardians now treat the Council as though it were a leader that they must hold loyalty to over the code. A True Guardian does not aknowledge the Council as a power over them, they only concern themselves with the Code.
AUTUMN: You talk as if the Council is evil.
MAINYO: Do not misunderstand me. The Council is not evil, but they hold too much power. Power truly does corrupt.
UNDINE: Why are you hiding from the Council?
MAINYO: Because I know the truth of the Guardians that so many have forgotten, and I have tried to tell people this. I do not believe that the Sages of the High Council should rule Faerie like monarchs the way that they do. I believe that the people of Faerie are capable of living without the fear of if they step out of bounds that the Council will punish them. I believe that the council should be disbanded.
UNDINE: Its obvious that something brought this on.
AUTUMN: What happened to you?
MAINYO: My brother fell in love with a mortal and brought her to live with him in Faerie. After she bore him 3 elven sons, the Council sent warriors to kill all of them. My brother's entire family and their home were burned to ashes; all for bringing a mortal into Faerie. My clan was forbidden to so much as give them a proper burial, unless we wanted the entire clan to be wiped out. My family let the Council have their way; so, I separated from my clan and took my brother's name as part of my own.
UNDINE: (quietly) ....................... You're lying....
AUTUMN: The Council would never...
UNDINE: You're insane...
AUTUMN: You must have poisoning from Cold Iron... It can affect the mind...
UNDINE: Right... You need a healer...
MAINYO: I'm not lying, and I'm not iron-touched... You should really think on this...
AUTUMN & UNDINE: So should you!
UNDINE: Defying the Council is a serious offense.
MAINYO: I know... They want me dead.
AUTUMN: Probably not. I'm sure they just want you imprisoned until you regain your senses.
MAINYO: (quietly) You're fools...
UNDINE: Will you release us from your service? We do not want to go against the Council.
MAINYO: Not completely. I want your aid in that you tell no Fae, directly or indirectly that I am here.
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