(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

[greying_raven]

Luther looks at her quietly, and then smiles; welcome, the smile says. Welcome. It's good to see you here.

[terabithiaqueen]

Leslie smiles. "Hello, and thank you. I'm Leslie. Is this your home?"

[greying_raven]

"Yes." Because words aren't to be wasted.

[terabithiaqueen]

Wow. He's certainly chatty, isn't he? She's surprised he doesn't offer a name, or any other information.

"Oh. Could you tell me how to get home, then?"

[sweariwontdie]

"Are you lost, mademoiselle?"

[terabithiaqueen]

Leslie turns and nods, noting the unusual dress. Wow. He looks important or something. Like- like part of a royal court. She smiles at the image. She can imagine how Jess'll react when she gets home and tells him she met... a prince or a duke. She already has a story in her head about how the Queen of Terabithia has to negotiate a treaty with the ruler of a neighbouring land to ensure the safety of both kingdoms.

She nods again, deciding it best to use her queenly voice, given the stranger's perceived importance. "Lost? Yes, it seems so."

[sweariwontdie]

He's hardly either, though his sister is married to a baronet. Armand is simply from the 1790's and a bit stubborn in how he dresses. "This is the Mansion. Since we lack anything like an official welcoming committee, let me welcome you on everyone's behalf. I'm Armand St. Just." He bows with a smile.

[terabithiaqueen]

Leslie curtsies in return. "Thank you. My name is Leslie Burke. It's nice to meet you." She was tempted to add her Terabithian title, but then she'd have to explain, and that was HER secret with Jess. No one else was supposed to know. Which makes her a little girl pretending to be a queen pretending to be a little girl.

She smiles at the thought. Just like the Prince and the Pauper.

[baldr_dash]

And watch the shiny, he's very shiny, could be the sunshine that's playing around him, it could be the smell of springtime that seems to follow him.

"A strange place with no name." He offers with a small smile.

[terabithiaqueen]

Leslie smiles. Wow. Must be magic. The springtime scent reminds her of Lark Creek, which in turn makes her miss her folks and her best friend. "Do you know how to get home from here?" She asks.

[baldr_dash]

He looks sorrowful for a moment "I don't, I'm sorry"

[terabithiaqueen]

That makes her frown a bit. "Oh. I have to get home. My parents'll get real worried. Do you know where we are, exactly?"

[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?"

[onlymary]

"Land of the Lost?" Mary offers her a small smile.

[terabithiaqueen]

Leslie smiles. "Well, now that I'm here, I'm totally lost, so I guess that fits pretty well."

[onlymary]

"Everybody here is lost," says Mary. Leslie is free to note that her accent is decidedly British. "It's rather ridiculous."

[terabithiaqueen]

Leslie nods. She does notice the accent, but leaves it alone for the moment. "It sounds ridiculous. I'm Leslie."