I MUST BECOME A LION HEARTED GIRL

[Filter: Private]

... but he's so young!

I guess they're there, and I'm not, so if it is actually getting that serious, they'd know, but it just seems so strange to think about. Things between Ian and I aren't even finalized yet. We haven't even talked about it, not really! But here everyone's saying ...

I shouldn't be thinking about this! I need to start packing my things, and see if maybe we can start making plans for the trip to Conare, but ...

But!

[Filter: Floran Court except Finlay and Autumn]

Excuse me!

I was reading everything you all were saying about my brother and Lady Autumn, and, well, I'm curious about ... about everything! Do you really think he's going to propose?

Lady Anita, do you like to ride very much? Your horse is so beautiful, and I thought maybe if you liked, the three of us could go riding and have a picnic in the countryside. I love riding, you know ... But if you don't want to go, that's fine as well! It was just always one of my favorite ways to pass the time, back home ...

You can tell us all about Vernhail, too, if you like. Everything you say about it sounds so interesting, and there's so much about Dentoria that I don't know ... What do you think?

[Filter: Ian]

Dragons, Ian.

Would you please stop treating Philip so poorly when he hasn't even done anything wrong? Don't think I haven't seen those dirty looks you're giving him! I even spoke to him for you, just like I said, and you're still carrying on like this? You're impossible!

Can you just try to give him a chance? Everyone else thinks he and Princess Seraphine are charming, and you're not helping things!

[Filter: Private]

It's so strange to think about ... How long ago it was, that Da Father sent me to Megam to pray to the Dragons for grace. Every time I think of how young I was, I feel a little bit embarrassed ...

I wonder how everyone thought about that, the whole time we were gone. I never used to pay attention to it, but I wonder if they thought it was a silly idea. If they were embarrassed ... if they wondered if something was wrong with the King, to send his daughter off to pray like that. Half the people here would have just as soon had me stay home and hang holly ...

I don't know that anything would have really been any different, though. Maybe I was lucky. Maybe if I'd stayed here, Erana would have just gotten better at leading me around, and telling me what I wanted to hear, until I did whatever she wanted. Until I was her figurehead for her revolution ...

I'm twenty now. Mother was getting ready to get married when she was my age. I guess ... I sort of am, too, aren't I?

[Filter: Public]

I always love seeing the Night of the Dead decorations go up every year. I can't believe the month is already halfway over! Everything's really coming together for the party itself ...

It's always lovely to watch the fall colors, too. There's something about autumn that makes the trees seem even more alive, even though it's almost winter ... just all the bright colors and the crisp air, I think. I love this time of year ...

[Filter: Private]

Everything last year was so different.

It seems like it was an entire different lifetime. I don't even remember what I was thinking, last Festival ... what sort of things I was paying attention to. I knew so much less about everything back then. I was such a ... little girl.

And Finlay ...

... We've both changed so much. And it hasn't even been that much time. Is this how it's supposed to be? That you don't even remember what kind of person you were a year ago, when you get older? Is this how it is for everyone?

[Filter: Public]

I hope everyone's ready for the Festival party. We've put a lot of work into it ... Mother's really done her best to get all the arrangements together. It's going to be special this year, since Prince Ian and Princess Seraphine are here ... I hope the celebrations satisfy both of them. I know it won't be like Dentoria, but I hope it's good enough ...

[Filter: Princess Seraphine]

Um, hello.

I have a bit of a favor I need to ask you ...

[Filter: Ian]

You know, it's not like you're even trying very hard.

[Filter: Finlay]

Finlay, are you doing all right ... ? People are starting to talk, a little, about how you look sad sometimes. They'll probably get bored of talking about it, soon. They always do. But I thought maybe you needed to talk, or ... or something.

You must be tired, from everyone talking to you. I don't know how you can keep up with all of it, when you've been gone so long, and it's already so much to do ...

[Filter: Private]

I still feel like I don't know what to do about all of this.

I know things have to settle on their own time, and people will come when they're ready, but it feels like I ought to be doing something to help bring back people's faith that things are all right. That things are normal, now ...

... I just don't know what I can do. There's still so much cleaning up left. And court is still so empty, and ... and I guess I can't rush things. I know I can't, but it's so hard to feel like I can't do anything.

I ... I guess I could try and see what I can come up with, but I don't know.

[Filter: Finlay]

I saw you were talking to Ian, even if he was just pretending to be Agi. What do you think about him?

[Filter: Finlay]

Finlay, I think I've gotten everything ready for this, but it needs to happen soon. It ... it needs to happen tonight. I can't put it off any longer than that and tonight's the only time when I can get everything the way we need it to be. I know I can get Erana away from the court but I think if we wait any longer she's going to be too skeptical ...

Are you ready? Please say you're ready, this has to happen tonight.