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[Mallory Ventrue]

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Mallory was sitting on the roof of their house enjoying what seemingly appeared to be an unending summer day. She placed her hand upon her stomach and closed her eyes, enjoying the peace and quiet, knowing that in a few months much would be changing. She smiled to herself as she thought about the night before when she and Gailan had laid in bed talking about names for their child. As she sat there in silent reverie, a sudden movement made her eyes fly open and she looked around quickly. She laughed to herself when she saw it was only a messenger bird delivering a parchment. Taking the scroll carefully from the bird and sending it back to its owner, she looked at the note. It was addressed to Gailan, but she did not recognize the seal or the handwriting. Perhaps it had something to do with the recent elections that he had been nominated for. Sighing softly and shaking her head she made her way slowly down the stairs to deliver the message to her husband in his study.

Mallory knocked softly on the door of Gailan's study, and entered with a smile as he looked up at her from a book he was paging through. It still amazed her that every time he looked at her it sent her stomach into a fit of butterflies and she realized how much she was in love with her husband. She leaned over and kissed his cheek lightly as she laid the message on the desk. Gailan's face broke into a grin as he laid his hand gently on her stomach. "How are you and our little one doing today?" he asked, looking up at Mallory. Mallory smiled and laughed a little as she said "wanting some more pumpkin pie?" Gailan laughed lightly and shook his head with a playful grin… "if I did not know better, I would think that this child of ours will be born a pumpkin." Mallory smirked slightly and quipped in return.."I know, I know.. as long as he or she isn't an mage..." They both laughed and Gailan finally looked at the message and opened it. He read aloud to Mallory... "A package has arrived at The Scholar's Inn, here in Moonglow. It is addressed to you Lord Ventrue. You can find it in the room behind the front desk. -Innkeeper Gwyneth” Gailan looked up at Mallory and grinned... "Do you think Moonglow has any pumpkin pie love?"

When they arrived in Moonglow, Mallory told Gailan that she would meet him at the inn, after she went to the farmer's market and ordered some pumpkins be delivered to their home. Suddenly she wanted to make the pies herself. Gailan agreed and made his way to the inn, while Mallory made her way to the market. She finished her business with the farmer and made her way to the inn where she found Gailan reading a note with a puzzled look on his face. She looked around the room and spied a present box that was partially opened. Curiosity getting the better of her, she peeked inside just as Gailan realized what she was doing and reached for the box. Too late, she saw the severed head inside the box, and covered her mouth with her hand and ran outside before she couldn't hold it in any longer. She shook and trembled as Gailan read to her the note "Death to Traitors... The punishment for treason is death" and it was signed with an "X". It made no sense who would do such a thing. Mallory swallowed hard and forced herself to take long deep breaths to keep herself from becoming sick again. Who would accuse Gailan of treason? Certainly not the current Regent Porthos... it had to have come from another one of the nominees, to try and sway Gailan to not accept the nomination. Perhaps it came from Lord Sid or some of his followers? After a brief silence Gailan looked at Mallory and cleared his throat..."You know I would not ask this under normal circumstances. I know how you feel about the Matriarch of Umbra... I would like to go and see what she thinks of this " Mallory's eyes flew open and she clenched her jaw and shook her head in disbelief. She could not believe what her husband was saying. He wanted to go to Umbra and speak with Ceinwyn, the matriarch... a woman that had been haunting Mallory's dreams... She took a deep breath and reluctantly agreed, and off they made their way to Umbra.

When they arrived in Umbra, a chill ran through Mallory and she shivered, pulling her cloak tighter around herself, she slowly followed Gailan towards the tavern where he felt they would find the matriarch. As she looked up at the building, she wanted to ask Gailan why it was he knew where this tavern was, but something inside her told her do not ask questions you do not want answers to. She followed him up the stairs and inside the dark building. She looked around the room and as her eyes became accustomed to the surroundings, she recognized Ceinwyn seated at a table with another man, whom she did not recognize. Ceinwyn finished her conversation with the man, and then welcomed Gailan and Mallory as though they were old friends whom had come for tea and cookies. They followed her up to a small private room, and Gailan and Ceinwyn began talking about their similar "presents". Mallory kept looking around the room nervously, her palms getting damper and her heart began racing. She paid little attention to what was actually being said, and suddenly she couldn't stand it any longer and in a haste excused herself from the room. She ran from the building outside and stood there taking deep breaths and wishing she could keep running all the way home, but forcing herself to stay.
She sensed someone behind her and turned around quickly to find a man she did not know watching her. He asked if she was ill, and not wanting to say much, she simply said she was not feeling well and needed some fresh air. Apparently she was not fooling anyone, and he told her that she had no need to be afraid, that no one would harm her there. Mallory followed him back in the building and not thinking, asked for and accepted the water he offered her. She returned to the upper level and found Gailan and Ceinwyn finishing their discussion, a few words piqued Mallory's interest, but Gailan looked at her and again the voice told her that now was not the time to ask. She and Gailan said goodnight to the matriarch and made their way home. She looked at Gailan, wanting to ask questions, but seeing the frustration and weariness beginning to show, she decided that they would wait for tomorrow, when they were both well rested. As they got ready for bed, Mallory made a mental note that tomorrow she would contact Dutchess Kaldhel in the morning and see if she also received a present...
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Good friends are like stars. You don't always see them but you always know they are there...

Shabam 07:41PM actually meet me somewhere!
Shabam 07:41PM I looked at t.v....
Shabam 07:41PM and got lost

Ken 05:39PM You want to see the short of it?