she took and ate another one.

Ares watched her draw

Wonderful, delicious warmth surged into her again. Ash's outline blurred at the edges as he faced Puck. "I agreed to help her find the Iron King, though I won't bore you with the details. While I will uphold my end of the contract, it did not involve you in any way. I only promised to help her."

"Which means we're still free to duel each other anytime we want."

"Exactly."

The room swayed slightly

She then hugs him. "Cuddle." She's trying to help him understand what the word means.

Lise tried steadying herself, rubbing her eyes a bit.

He continues to watch her and listens.

No luck, the room continued to sway.

"Well, why wait?" Puck sounded eager. "We could step outside right now, Your Highness, and get this over with."

Grimalkin sighed loudly, interrupting the conversation. Both faeries turned and glared at him. "This is all quite fascinating," Grimalkin said, his voice slurring in Lise's ears, "but instead of posing and scratching the ground like rutting peacocks, perhaps you should look to the girl."

Both boys glanced at her, and Puck's eyes got huge. "Princess!" he yelped, springing over. "You're not supposed to...How many of those did you eat?"

"How very like you, Puck." Ash's voice came from a great distance, and the room started to spin. "Offer them a taste of faery wine, and act surprised when theyre consumed by it."

She stands and lets go. She then pats his nose, and repeats, "Cuddle."

She drowsily held up 2 fingers as she stumbled a bit.

He flicks his ear a little

Somebody scooped her off her feet and into their arms. She could smell frost and winter, and could hear an exasperated sigh from somewhere above her head.

"What are you doing, Ash?" She heard someone ask. A familiar voice, though she couldnt think of his name, or why he sounded so suspicious.

"I'm taking her back to her room." The person above her sounded wonderfully calm and deep. "She'll have to sleep off the effects of the fruit. We'll likely be here another day because of your idiocy."

The other voice said something garbled and unintelligible.

She repeats "cuddle", over and over again as she hugs and pets him.

She was honestly so confused at what was going on at the moment. She didn't know who was talking, nor who picked her up. Whoever picked her up had a nice calming scent in her opinion, and she laid against their chest.