What is this a bed and breakfast? {Jim, Ariel, and Taran]

He slowly let go of the door nob. He looked at Merryweather slightly sad. "He's going to hurt someone again, and it'll be my fault again."

Merriweather took his hand gently and looked up at his saddened eyes.
"His actions are not your actions, child. If you get yourself killed, Hades wins."
She locked her eyes with his sternly.
"Neither this young woman, nor myself, nor even I think this other child blame you for what has occurred."
She gently closed the door behind her.

Taran looked at Merryweather as she spoke, giving her the sad look. Then looked over at Jim.

Ariel followed the exchange between Jim and Merriweather. "I agree with Merriweather. You can not stop Mij if you are dead, you would then belong to Hades, and we have no idea what he will do to you then." She paused for a moment. "And do you remember what happened when I busted you out of that castle you were in? I wanted to go explore, but you stopped me. I would be dog food by now if you hadn't, now I'm telling you to stay here. Please." The last word was difficult to say. She didn't beg much. She was used to getting her own way, and even after the war if someone didn't agree with her she went on her own and did it. That got her into trouble too.

Jim remained silent as he looked at all the faces. He heard their words and he wanted to ignore them but he couldn't they were right and he couldn't change that. "Alright I'll stay but only until I finish healing. After I'm done I need to go after him and stop him."

"Of course," Merryweather said conversationally. "Now go lie down before I have to hurt you myself."
She smiled innocently up at him as she spoke. She twirled her wand, summoning a second bed from the back bedroom. This one had been Fauna's. She glanced sadly at the green covers before gesturing Jim into them.
"I'm going to put on some more salve. So stay still." she ordered, carefully unwrapping his shoulder.
"And you two," she shot at the others. "Need to figure out a plan of action once you two are healed.

She gave a small laugh. "Oh don't worry, once I'm healed enough we are continuing back to Kelti." She drank the rest of her tea and placed the cup on a table near the bed. "Merryweather, can I ask you something?" She took a pause to wait Merriweather gave her her attention. "Why haven't you joined the rebels?" She had been wondering about that. The woman seemed like she disliked the dark times as much as she did and the collection outside the cabin proved she did. Ariel wondered why the fairy was a rogue, she could have done so much good if she was.

Kelti....the name sounded vaguely familiar.
Merryweather listened carefully as Ariel asked for her attention. She sighed deeply at the question and returned her gaze to Jim's wound. She was silent for several moments, rubbing the salve gently into the wound.
"To be honest, I was not aware that the war extended beyond Meliora. After....after darkness fell, I was forced into hiding. It has been difficult for me to get news out here. Maleficent, the witch who now claims rule over this kingdom, searches for me day and night. The only way I have been able to retaliate is by making this forest inaccessible to her."
She grinned wickedly and locked her eyes with the former queen's. "You have seen my trophies."

She nodded. "The war extended everywhere. I don't know what happened in Lavonia, but everywhere else the darkness has taken over." She listened to Merriweathers story, and then smirked when she mentioned the statues. "Oh yes I did. All you seem to be missing in that collection is a mermaid. And I am not saying I want to join your collection. Just saying." She smiled. "You could do so much more with the rebels to stop Maleficent. Currently they hold all the magic, and we have none on our side." She pleaded the other woman with her eyes.

Taran nodded. "Yeah, I know how you feel." He said as he placed the cup down on the table. "The darkness had also took over my homeland." He stared over at the statues from the window when they mentioned it. Then looked over at Merryweather "Yeah, you might be a big help for the rebels." He smiled a little.

Merriweather sighed deeply. Then raised her eyes at the mermaid comment.
"You're a mermaid?" She asked incredulously.
She was stalling for time and she knew it. She had never even considered leaving her forest.

She nodded. "Yes I am, though I want to be a human again. Though I can't deny in this form I have some advantages compared to humans that come in handy, but that is beside the point. Merriweather, the darkness won't go away on its own. We all have to do our part. And I am sorry, but you hiding in this forest won't do much. In fact I think Maleficent is just glad you aren't out there to ruin her plots."

Ouch...that stung. Her eyes flashed with anger.

"This forest is the only way for many of Meliora's innocents to escape Maleficent's clutches. If Maleficent does not fear the forest, how do you expect them to survive?"

In truth, she had grown to enjoy her solitude. When she didn't have anyone close to her, she didn't have anyone else to lose, or let down.

Ariel shook her head. "You are just a bunch of excuses." She let a silence fall on them before continuing. "While Maleficent is on the throne the innocents of Meliora don't have a place they can call safe. I don't think any fear that Maleficent has towards this forest is going to stop her if she decides to cut it down. Hiding in this forest is not a solution, not a long lasting one anyway. You can keep hiding in this forest forever, but that doesn't change the fact that people out there need your help."

"And what exactly do you plan to do," Merriweather snapped irritably. "Just charge after the god of the dead and order him to reverse this?"
Her face was flushed red.

"People shouldn't want my help...." she muttered, finally voicing her true reservations. "I'm no good to anyone."

She shook her head. "No, we will find a way to defeat the God first before we take him on. Charging in guns blazing would be foolish." She said bluntly.

"People shouldn't want my help....I'm no good to anyone." Ariels face became sadder. "You know that is not true. Look at me and Jim and Taran. You are helping us." She pointed out the window. "And look at them. All of them bad people you have stopped. Don't tell me you can not do good for people, because I will prove you wrong." Merryweather seemed though, but inside that tough exterior was a kind heart. "Why do you think you are no good? If I can ask you that."

Merriweather shook her head. "That it is." She glanced sideways at Jim. before returning her attention to Ariel.

"It is true." she said softly.
She crossed her legs and pulled them into the air. Her little body floated so her head was level with everyone else's. The short height of a fairy could sometimes be annoying. "It's a long story," She sighed. She stared unseeingly at the floor for a while then continued. "It's my fault. The tragedy at the castle was my fault. I was supposed to protect my dear Rose. But now she's missing. And because I....didn't act. My mentors and my two dearest friends are dead."
Tears filled her eyes as their faces surfaced in her memory.
"All because of me."

Ariel got up, walking towards Merriweather. She wrapped her healthy arm around the woman, hugging her. "It wasn't your fault. It was Maleficents fault. Don't blame yourself for something she did. But if you keep hiding here she wins. Maleficent doesn't need to be scared of the forest. She should be scared of you Merriweather." She pulled away from the hug, cupping Merriweathers cheek with her hand and using her thumb to wipe the tears away.


OOC: Q.Q makes me feel weird that Jim and Taran are so quiet XD idk why

Taran listened to their conversation, frowning at Merryweather as he felt sorry for her. A tear slipped from his eyes, falling down onto his cheek. Then he quickly dried away the tear with his sleeve. "S-she right, Merryweather. Don't let Maleficent stop you from doing the right thing. You should try to stand up to Maleficent. Don't do it for us. Do it for Rose. Do it for your friends." He said.

ooc: Sorry, Taran didn't want to interrupt their conversation.

OOC: XD I felt like Ariel and Merriweather should start making out or something

ooc: lol XD

"I couldn't save them," she said through her tears. "What makes you think I can help you?"
She looked Ariel determinedly in the eye. "Maleficent is powerful, Ariel. That god of the dead is powerful. How can we defeat such power?"

Ariel smiled. "We will find a way. There must be a way to defeat even a God, and Maleficent was defeated once before, you can help us do it again." She said sounding sure. She didn't know how to defeat them, but she would find a way for sure.

Merriweather sighed. She thought of Flora and Fauna's frightened faces. And of her dear Rose, who had already been through so much. The memory of Maleficent's triumphant laugh as she fled filled her mind. Her body shook with anger, and the tears froze on her cheek. Her eyes hardened as she looked from Taran, to Jim, to Ariel.

"I fight for my Rose." She said coldly and firmly.

Ariel smiled bright. "Thank you Merriweather." She pulled the blue fairy in a hug again. "I am sure you will not fail us. We will defeat Maleficent."