Eventide is softly casting o'er the earth a magic spell,

And a love-song, everlasting, on the night wind seems to swell.

Humming a happy, wordless tune where she stood, the filly had thought the meeting nearly over. There were a few ranks left to hand out, parting words to offer but she had thought for sure that none of them could apply to herself anymore. Erthë had made a choice, received approval of it in form of gifts and appreciative nods, her father had finally come home and everything seemed well, she was at peace with the world.

She was wrong. Like a storm cloud brewing, threatening with thunder and lightning, a tall, dark stallion appeared and pushed his way through the crowd. The filly blinked and straightened up as he spoke, his words a challenge if ever she had heard one. King? Him She hadn't even known there was any other kings besides Mauja. The dove couldn't recall ever even seeing this man, and now he stood there and demanded to keep a rank he couldn't have treasured all that much in the first place, if he'd left for so long.

Frowning she threw a glance at Tembovu, worried about what he might say or do, but before he had even opened his mouth another voice came drifting on the wind, one that was at once very familiar and completely unknown. Through widening eyes the filly watched as the Lady of Moonlight and Shadows stepped into their midst, felt the force of her presence wash over her. Not even aware that she was trembling, the filly gazed in awe at the goddess as she interfered with the workings of the herd. Without batting an eyelid she dethroned the wayward king and threw the crown with careless ease at the feet of another, at Elsa; Erthë smiled at this, approving whole heartedly - though she might have approved anyone, if the decision came from those lavender lips. She confirmed Tembovu's decision of appointing Alune as Seer too, and warmth blossomed within the heart of the child - this meant she could really be the apprentice of the seer after all! - and then... and then...

But even as she followed every movement of the Lady with her eyes, dazed and nearly incapable of thought as the magnitude of her divine presence overwhelmed her, Erthë found that she was experiencing a whole range of new emotions while gazing upon the lavender-hued immortal. Like before, awe and appreciation of Her power was a big part of what she felt, admiration for the flawless beauty and unparalleled mystery curving Her lips... but something else was finding its way into her adolescent heart that hadn't been there before.

It was something like longing, like unshed tears and a sliver of moon reflected on still waters, like a desire to reach out and touch it even though she knew the distant light would scatter and dissolve when she tried. Tasting grief and triumph and joyous despair on her tongue, Erthë acted without thinking. She reached down and plucked the most beautiful flower her eyes could find, and holding it gingerly in the coils of her prehensile tail she picked her way towards the Goddess, knees trembling as she approached the Matron of Night.

"For you" she whispered shyly, and extended the flower towards the goddess. It was the best she could do right now, but beside the peerless beauty of the Moon the little cliff-side weed seemed so woefully inadequate.

Even so the girl smiled; even if she was ignored and overlooked, it was enough to have been allowed to gaze upon the Lady again, more than enough to feel the weight of the black tooth She had gifted Erthë against the chest - and blessing beyond her dreams, should the immortal Queen allow her to keep the exquisite lavender feather that sat braided into her pale curls.