She had sworn not to be late a second time. Not go, Alice stated primly, and Hotaru spared a moment to make an unhappy face at her. Okay, so she hadn't been able to make it at all last time due to her patrols going overtime, but according to the others it wasn't like she'd missed much either. Except...well, last time the Mirror had told Ashamin to look to the East. The new lands, the God battle...it had been right after all, she thought to herself grimly. Vague though it may have been, it was the purpose of the Haruspex to try and discern the meaning of the messages. Hotaru did not envy Ashamin the job, the weight it undoubtedly left upon his shoulders. 

She was nervous to see him again, after her completely embarrassing meltdown in his cavern not long ago. Ashamin was a quiet, gentle soul, and she did not believe him the sort to hold it against her or even reveal such private business to anyone else. But Hotaru was at heart a very secretive being, and she worried nonetheless. Her business was hers and hers alone, and though the weight grew too great sometimes - as seen by her breakdown - she'd never willingly share her internal thoughts or feelings. 

Which is why as she entered the cave at the designated time, her heart caught in her throat a little to see Thranduil aside Ashamin and their Emissary whom Hotaru had yet to formally meet. Of course he'd be there, she scolded herself. He was a fucking Lord. And she was a Lady, and she needed to keep her title safe and unquestioned. Striding elegantly into the cavern, she sent a graceful smile towards Ashamin, eyes twinkling with perhaps a little more warmth than normal. She considered him friend, after all, which was a rare but not often coveted position when regarding Hotaru. 

Eyes drifted over their Emissary - gods she really needed to learn his name - and then over to settle on Thranduil once more. She forced herself to hold her gaze as long as she had the others, but her mind was a tangled web of confusion. He was so regal standing there, but she could still see him destroying his cavern and his coveted artifacts, furious and raging against the earth only to turn his spitting words against her. Confusing her, arousing her, turning her into a knot of emotions she had no real experience with. That he had that kind of power over her was unthinkable, and she had cast it away with disgust. He knew that she did not need him. But what did it mean if she wanted him instead? Alice whined softly beside her, clearly feeling the influence of her conflicted emotions, staring with cocked head at Thranduil as if unsure why he was important enough to have caused such a stir in her mistress' breast. Hotaru ignored her, embarrassed by that train of thought of her companion. 

She hated that she couldn't explain how she was feeling regarding him, and so instead she dipped her head in acknowledgment and let her eyes fall to the Mirror, praying for some sort of guidance to appear this time. 

I'm not a girl, I'm storm with skin