[Filter: Chloe]

"What everyone's thinking," really? What everyone is thinking is that the new Lord of Emeron is a rat who apparently has nothing better to do with his time than pronounce everyone who displeases him traitors and every one of his sisters a slut. I'm shocked he didn't turn around and promptly fling the same accusations at Francisca, considering how she seems to be carrying on with that knight of hers.

Shall we retire someplace private? I'd rather not wallow in his presence any longer than necessary. It makes me feel as though I require a bath.

Well! I'm excited for the joust later today. Seraphine and I have gotten most of our celebrations for the morning out of the way, and now I think we're both very excited for the afternoon. Dragons, but I love Festival.

We'll be looking forward to seeing you later tonight!

[Filter: Seraphine]

Er. I meant to ask ... but I wasn't sure if you'd seen them.

Did you see Philip and Amelie last night? I imagine you must have. They were practically the center of attention ... I can't say I know the whole story, or even that I'm sure I want to, but ...

You're not too upset about it, are you? I mean, we can skip the joust if you'd like, or go late ... we can come up with an excuse. I can fall suddenly ill! I hear too many Festival treats will do that.

Dragons this sword is amazing. I've never gotten anything like this before. I never even thought I'd get something like this. Not in a million years. I don't even know what to say. This is amazing. I've never even seen it up close before let alone held it.

You really shouldn't have, Grandfather. The family sword is... I can't thank you enough. This is more than I could have ever asked for.

Oh, everything is so beautiful ... I've never had anything as pretty as all of these! Lian, this statue is amazing, where did you even find it??

Oh, I hope everybody likes my gifts ... !!!! It was hard, but I think I found something for everybody. Dame Edeyn is really hard to shop for.

[Filter: Glenn]

Dragons.

I give up. I swear I have scoured the entire northern end of town, all the way down the the alleyways, and I haven't seen so much as a trace of her. She honestly couldn't have gotten very far, but I can't find her, and I'm getting worried.

Tell me that you've had better luck.

[Filter: Private]

I feel so oddly ... it just doesn't seem like there are enough hours in the evening to sleep, lately.

... but I'll need to be on my very best behaviour, today. Keran likes it when I'm good with the children, and the more happy he is with me, the less he'll suspect I know anything about what's going on. I've refused too many of his invitations, lately ... I need to be my best. I need to be my very best.

I just want to take this one little moment for myself, before I go out and be his wife and their mother. I just want to be the Colleen that was happy, again, for just a minute.

The first day I met Lysander, it was Festival ...

When I kill Keran, I'll tell him I hate him twice.

[Filter: Former Mera]

Happy Festival, everyone! I miss you all so much. I wish I could spend the day with you all, back in Mera. I wish that so badly.

I hope you can all find some happiness today. Even if it's just a little.

[Filter: Private]

Dragons, Ian, it's not funny.

I can put up with Mother looking pinched and Father ... Father looking like Father always does, but Ian's damned knowing little smiles --

Why does he have to be at dinner tonight, too? Ugh. Dragons know what he might say to her there. I swear, if he -- I'll just kill him, I will. I swear I will.

[Filter: Daisy]

Are you ... ready to go, yet?

[Kilian]

It's been a wonderful Festival so far, hasn't it? Ah ... and it's merely the beginning. Father returned, this morning, as well ... with Festival gifts in hand.

I don't think I could have been happier if ah ... well, it's all been just absolutely perfect. He ah ... well, the look on his face when he received his gift, and ah ... well, it's just perfect.

Everything is perfect.

A very Happy Festival to everyone. I do hope that your day is wonderful and full of love and laughter.

[Filter: Liam]

It was ... ah ... it was wonderful seeing you, too. Thank you so much for thinking of me and traveling so far just to see me. I can't believe you came all this way just to give me my gift. I love it, by the way ... but I can't imagine that there would be much that I wouldn't love, if it came from you, aha ...

It's just ... well, I'm not exactly able to travel much, am I ...? And you knew that ... it's just, such a thoughtful gift. Thank you, again. My gift seems so small, in comparison.

[Filter: Those in Rayla]

Happy Festival, everyone!

I'm so sorry that I couldn't be there ... I really am. I hope that everyone got their gifts all right. I did try my best to have them all sent out just as soon as I was able. If you did get them early, you better not have opened them early!

Anyway, I hope you'll all have extra fun for me, today!

I miss you all dearly!

[Filter: Eve]

I know it's the Festival and I should let you all enjoy it, but I feel as if I should tell you ... I'm almost positive that Daren is up to no good ... he's too close to the situation ... he's too ... it's hard to explain. It might just be a gut feeling, but --

I'll tell you more about it later. I'm sorry ... I really do want you to enjoy your Festival, it just felt as if you should know.

[Filter: Private]

Ugh, just stop thinking about it.

I wish I hadn't gotten him in with the guard. Now I'm going to have to see him again, Dragons, what a stupid idea that was. Aileen had better appreciate this.

I knew this was just going to end up being awkward, I knew it from the very second I got that stupid assignment.

And then there's Kail. He didn't draw my name, either, it's -- the necklace I found in my things, that was the secret gift. So he just went out of his way, for me? He broke his own rules! And now that I think about it ... he's been acting sort of ... I mean, for awhile now, actually. For a while now, wow. I keep flipping back and rereading everything ... I would wear these tonight, for him, but he isn't even going to be there.

... He's not, but Jon is. He'll just be standing there the whole time, watching, that's what guards do! And his gift was so much more




Stop it. Dragons Light and Dark, I'm such a stupid girl. I'm not dressing up to impress any stupid boys. I'm dressing up to impress Ruseia, because she expects it! That's all.

All right, Lenore, sorry I'm late. Overslept from being out late last night trying to get some money from what card games I could. Got something for you, and all. Happy Festival. You busy right now? I'll come over and see you if you ain't.

[There are strange stains all over this page]

Turkeys are hard!!!! They're stupid and gross and feathers are stupid and I hate them and it took so much longer than I thought to take them all off but I finally got them and now I'm trying to clean it all off and it's gross and full of gross icky things and how do I know if I got it all and it smells really really bad and my hands are all covered in it and I'm never gonna get it off and what if I cook it too long or not enough or I forget something but I'm following the instructions so I think I've done everything right so far but then it says I need a turkey baster to keep it moist when it's cooking but I don't have one and I don't even know what one is and Demi do you have one I can borrow?!?

[Filter: Patience, in Old High Kilian]

Ugh, I'm here, okay?

Everything is just so busy here, for Festival, I've been preoccupied. I don't know what you even expect me to say .... I'm sorry that you can't find anything, but there isn't anything I can do about that. I'm so far away ... I can't fix it. I can't help you, either.

I hope you're having a decent Festival, anyway.

[Filter: Private]

I don't understand it. Everything seems so ...!

[Filter: Lorcan]

Well, I guess we got to the party after all ...! Though I really didn't think Bertie was going to let us leave! I hope his nanny isn't too mean with him trying to put him down for his nap ...! She can be a bit of a sourpuss, and he just misses us ...

Um ... it's nice, isn't it ...~? I really like all of the decorations! Have you tried any of the pumpkin pie, yet? It's sooo good ...!!

Well, that was certainly something to see.

I don't suppose anybody has any idea who this mystery knight of ours is! I've already heard wagers going around for the next bout he'll be in, and I have to say, people are impressed! The numbers are already getting high.

It's really almost a shame that Josiah is going to put an end to all the talk by the end of the night. I've never heard such buzz for a joust before.

I'm also very glad to see Sir Archibald back in good health, he's been in all our thoughts! Do give him my best wishes, Rebecca.

Oh, I'm so very excited for this afternoon, isn't everybody else? The Festival joust is always the very best of the whole year, and the party afterwards, well! It can put the Festival Eve party to shame! I do hope that I'm crowned Queen of Love and Beauty again this year! I think my chances are rather good!

I have my beautiful new dress, my gorgeous new jewels, my charming new gloves, and, of course, I'll have the handsomest and most wonderful young man in all the court upon my arm, won't I~? Oh, Ebony will just melt with envy when she sees me, today! And who could blame her?

Lydie! Oh, hurray up, now, won't you? The carriage is waiting and we can't make our dear brother late! The star of the show has to be on time~

[Kilian]

You know, I think I may have been one of few people who got the triplets toys. At least, I'm fairly certain that this year, they got fewer toys than they usually do. Seems a shame, really. Oh well, I'll just keep giving them toys. Because I'm the best uncle ever.

Anyway, hope everyone has a good Festival. I'm going to take the triplets outside so they can all have a turn at flying Trevor's kite. The mist has even cleared up a little!

[Filter: Rhoswen, in Atsirian]

Before we go, sister, I do want to mention -- and don't take offense, please -- that you truly ought to pay close attention to just how many drinks you've had, tonight. I'm going to be very busy, you know, and I doubt Firuz is planning to be any less charming. Very dangerous, hm? Do be careful.

[Filter: Private]

Dragons.

What was that even all about? I don't -- It must have been But if it

I don't have time to even figure this out, right now. It'll take me too long, Dragons know that much, and I need to get ready for this party. Guard duty, it can hardly be so terrible. I'll manage it just fine. I imagine everyone will even avoid me, Kilians are so odd.

I'll think about the rest later.

So ... how's that turkey coming, over there?

I'm looking out the window, here, and it looks like the house is still standing? I'm going to take that as a good sign.

My things are done, so, yeah! Any time~ Daisy and Nathan just walked in, so I even have help to carry it all, lucky me. Assuming that miss amazing-pearl-necklace over there isn't above a little grunt work, that is~

This must not stand!

I will not sit here and be placated when you tell me that it will be dealt with, that you have it all under control. If you had it under control, this would not even have happened in the first place!


This means war, I hope you are aware of it. You cannot tell me it does not. I am Dentoria's Grand General.

[Filter: Daisy and Demi]

Hey. Since I only got to see Demi earlier, I figured I should write to say thanks. I wasn't expectin nothin for the holiday. You really didn't have to go and make me anything. Wish I could do somethin in return for you both. I'll make it up to you one of these days. Somehow.

So thanks. It means a lot. Really.

[Filter: Devine]

Devine ...

You really need to stop showing that thing off. Don't you see how everybody's looking at you? I've been keeping an ear open, too, and nobody's very happy with you. They keep muttering to each other about how you're not even being respectful of the gift, just walking around like you own the place.

I think it might be better if you leave early tonight, too. I think something nasty might happen, and it might be best to try and stop it before it starts.

[Filter: Private]

Dammit.

I knew it was coming. I knew something would snap. Dragons, I knew it was coming. There's only so long one can hold down the cover of a boiling pot. It will erupt.

But -- but this. It will be a miracle if I can prevent this from becoming a war. Tarmon has proven today how little he cares for his sisters, but oh, how he loves an excuse to declare someone his enemy and rail against them.

I don't know how I will contain this. I don't -- I don't even know --

Father. Father, what would you have done. Would this all be happening, if you were here. If I hadn't ... if I ...

[there is a long pause here]

[Filter: Lord Glenn]

I need you to tell me everything.

[Filter: Private]

Ugh, fine. If he's coming over, I'm going out. It doesn't matter where, just -- out. Gram and Gramps will understand later. I just -- can't be in here with him. I can't believe he's even invited.

I can't do this today. I'll let Annie know I'm going, she'll cover for me. It's going to have to be enough.

[this entry's writing is rushed]

[Filter: Benedette]

Oh, Benedette, I don't know what to do right now! Everything is so wrong, and something very bad just happened! Lord Glenn came in carrying Canti and, she's... she's... Oh, Dragons, Benedette, somebody raped her! On the Festival!

Please, please write back, oh, Dragons...

[Filter: Franelcrew]

Suppose I better go make myself right presentable for this thing, shouldn't I? Might be a knight, but still gonna be a guest this time. Hope I can find something decent in my bags, Dragons know what all I can manage.

Hope the rest of you have fun at your other party.