(Untitled)

[terabithiaqueen]

Ten year old Leslie Burke looks around, wide-eyed as she enters the mansion.  This- this was certainly not what she expected.  The enchanted rope swing that served as the entrance to Terabithia was not supposed to lead to a mansion.  Although mansions were not without their charm

Comments

[queen_oracle]

Mickle looks at her with amusement that could easily be shared--she is laughing at Leslie, but if Leslie wants they could be laughing at something else altogether, or at her, or both at Leslie, even. "I'll tell you when I find out!" she says.

[terabithiaqueen]

The laughter is infectious, and soon Leslie's grinning and fighting not to join in. Imagine, no one knowing where- or what- the strange mansion was. "So you don't know either?" She's losing the attempt to keep the laughter in. "I guess that is pretty silly!"

[queen_oracle]

"It's ridiculous, isn't it?" She grins, and pulls her pipe out of her pocket. "What's your name?"

[terabithiaqueen]

"Leslie Burke," she answers, still grinning. "What's yours?"

[queen_oracle]

"Oh, I have lots," with mock-prentious carelessness. "Which one do you want to know?"

[terabithiaqueen]

"Oh, whatever you like to go by, I guess," Leslie shrugs.

[queen_oracle]

"Mickle, then. Mickle will do."

[terabithiaqueen]

Leslie grins. "Nice to meetcha then, Mickle."

[queen_oracle]

"Oh, yes. Where do you come from?" She matches the grin.

[terabithiaqueen]

"Long Creek. It's a little farm town near Washington." She shrugs. "My best friend's there, but if it wasn't for him, it'd be real boring. Where're you from?"

[queen_oracle]

"I know," she says, with exquisite sympathy: not too much, just enough of an tone in her voice to say she understands what it is to be bored without a best friend. "Westmark."

[terabithiaqueen]

"Where's Westmark?" She asks curiously. "I don't think I've heard of it."

[queen_oracle]

"Well, there; I've never heard of Washington. It's between Regia and Napolita."

[terabithiaqueen]

Leslie shrugs helplessly, grinning. "Sorry, no clue. Geography's not really my strong point."

[queen_oracle]

"Oh, but not mine either!" with a free laugh.

[terabithiaqueen]

"Then I guess we're both in the same boat, at least!" Leslie laughs. "We're good as long as no one wants us as a pair of navigators."