summoned

[mute_pen]

Etty is awoken not by her transformation, but by her summons, a few minutes after dark. In her sleep, she drifted to shore; she's lying in human form - arm intact - half in and half out of the water when she feels it.

It's very insistent.

She cannot bring herself to move. She tries - she does; intellectually she knows it's the smart thing to do - but - she can't. Cannot get up and go to him.

Comments

[growcrooked]

Well - Nona won't be engaging in the same pastime all day.



A few hours after dawn, she's screaming instead.

[mute_pen]

Etty can't help her.

She wishes she could, but even if she weren't a swan right now -

She flies over the forest, on the lookout for any signs of humans.

[pythbox]

Nothing.

[mute_pen]

Of course not.

She lands on the lakeshore. She sleeps.

[pythbox]

The summons comes just after sunset.

[mute_pen]

Etty weighs her options. Such as they are.

She walks step by trembling step towards the Baron.

[pythbox]

He awaits her by the castle gate, and brings her in for dinner.

[mute_pen]

Etty participates in dinner.

[pythbox]

After dinner, he offers her his arm.

[mute_pen]

Etty...

Looks at his arm, and freezes.

[pythbox]

"Come to bed, my swan."

[mute_pen]

She swallows.

She hasn't run out of things to try yet.

Tonight she will try the truth.

"I can't move. I am too afraid."

[pythbox]

"It is not so bad, my swan," he says, putting that arm around her shoulders.

[mute_pen]

She shivers and turns her head away.

[pythbox]

The Baron tries gently leading her to his tower.

[mute_pen]

She's not actively resisting him, but her legs aren't cooperating except with the general theme of shuddering.

[pythbox]

"It does you no good to be disobedient, my swan."

[mute_pen]

"I can't move. I am too afraid. I can't." She swallows, and says, "If you pick me up I can't do anything about that."

[pythbox]

"That's true," says the Baron.

He picks her up.

[mute_pen]

Etty shrinks into herself and pretends not to exist and shivers.

[pythbox]

She can do that all she wants; the end result is the same.

[mute_pen]

She leaves as soon as he's done with her.

She doesn't run, this time. She's not keen to break anything.

She goes to the orchard.

[growcrooked]

After a little while, Nona shows up.

[mute_pen]

"Hi," Etty murmurs.

[growcrooked]

"Hi," says Nona.