Crimson Cove

Laying Down Laws

Neytiri was fully invested in seeing the cove move forward in the grand scheme of things. She wanted to meet with the council first about the mourning period and make sure they knew that she would rather follow all of the protocal in order to ensure cohesion within their world. This was her home, and her sanctuary. She wanted nothing more than to see the cove and the coven succeed and flourish. Where did their relationship fit into all of this was the issue at hand. She had to find a way for the cove to remain intact and yet she wanted him more than she had ever wanted anything.

She began the long walk to the dining room for the meeting, knowing she had to be fair and yet follow what was expected of her. The following month would be a long one, and she had hope for finding a new way for the women here and the people from the other side of the cliffs to be able to blend into a more helpful community with ties to them that may help the cove prosper and return to its former glory. As she approached the door Renae was waiting for her. She had a stack of information in her arms.

What is all of this Renae?

I have brought you the paperwork I would like to go over with you after our luncheon with the elders. I am also prepared to take down any notes for the meeting so that we can have it documented and they cannot change things mid transition. I will not have them disgracing my Queen with stupidity.

Wow, thank you. I have always known you were my best friend, and now I have you as my right hand, you are truly my sister Nae.

Thank you Tiri, I feel the same way. Renae smiled.

Let's get this over with, I have so many things I have to address, and so many more I need to think about how to address.

Alright, they all showed up and are begining to gather their food from the buffet. The cooks have laid out a nice lunch spread on the buffet so there is a variety, you can have whatever you like.

Honestly I am not very hungry, maybe just some fruit and tea, I need my strength but I also cant see eating heavy with all the tension and stress, I would rather have a diner in my room later.

Not an issue, I'll have someone get you a small dish of fruit and your tea. Are you ready to go in?

I believe so, you got my back right?

Of course.

Good, Let's go. Tiri said as she opened the door.

The elders were mostly sitting as they entered the room. Food was flowing, and there were many conversations happening, until they walked in. It got quiet and everyone was looking at them.

Queen Neytiri has arrived. Renae stated calmly.

The elders seemed to wait a moment to take in her appearance and stature.

Thank you Renae. Please everyone continue, I would like this to be a casual meeting. She said as she went to the head of the table where her mothers chair waited for her. She sat in it feeling just slightly strange, knowing her mother had just left her spot days before.

Good day Neytiri. One of the elders smiled as she spoke.

Good day to all of you. I thank you all for coming. I have a few items that will be discussed today, however I would like to hear from you what you are all looking at for the near future of our coven here in the cove as well. Is there anyone who would like to say anything before we begin?

It was quiet, nobody wanted to start the conversation, looking around the room she could sense the tension in the air.

Okay, well if there isn't anything anyone would like to speak on then I will just get in to it then. Renae handed Neytiri a stack of papers. Thank you Nae.

Yes, Queen Neytiri, you are welcome.

Again the silence was begining to take over. Neytiri sat at the head of the table, making no bones about who she was and that this was her place.Today marks day one of the month we shall mourne the loss of Queen Saffron, I have made some decisions already but will make more throughout the next month. I have a path that I am going to be following and I believe it will be in the best interest of all of us here and within the Cove to move forward. My mother left me this Cove and the responsibility for caring for those within is mine as well. I will follow any guidelines she set forth and make the Cove a safe haven for all that would come here. I have the exact wishes of Queen Saffron to guide me through this process, and with Renae and Willow beside me I will maintain the cove and our Coven. This is not up for debate ladies, my mother formed this cove, and I with her have made this place what it is today. You will all have a say in specific things, but when it comes to the future of the cove the final decison is left for me. Is this understood?She looked around the table at the remaining elders sitting before her.

We agree that the cove and our coven is your responsibility, and we have all taken time to gather together questions that we haver each been pondering. We too have been looking at our futures, and it may suprise you what you will find her child. The older lady smiled at Neytiri.

Elder Corine I am willing to hear all of your questions and will take any information with me to make the hard decions that are in front of us. I want all of us to remain happy and healthy here in the Cove, but there are also many things that will be put in effect that may change some things here. For the better of our cove.

Thank you Neytiri. Corine said softly. We are happy to oblige. You are the oldest here now, not only are you our elder, but you are also your mothers heir and the rightful Queen of this Cove, you could completely change everything at this point and we would simply have to watch. We only know that we have ideas and thoughts about our home as well, is there a place for us to help you rebuild the Crimson Cove Coven to its former glory? Corine was speaking for the other elders, Neytiri deduced that they had already made an inquiry as to who would be the spokesperson and help balance the debate for everyone.

So what I have noticed is that you seem to be the spokesperson for the elders, and everyone else is quietly sitting by. Is this the way we would like to do this ladies, because if this is the way you would like to handle these things then I will speak with you Corine and we will make a way for everyone to have their say in this. Looking around once again Neytiri saw the blank expressions on their faces. Is there any reason I should not simply table this meeting right this minute and move forward withouut any of your opinions being addressed?

The elders finally responded to her words, finding that she was not going to be shoved in to any actions they may have hoped to bully her into they all began to stir in their seat.

Fine, if this is how you believe things should be handled I remove all of you from your duties within the cove and you will be now and forevermore known as only other memebers with no status to be able to make any decisions. I have this within my abilities and I will not be sitting here trying to form new standards with people who choose to be silent and have only one person speaking with me when I need all of us to be able to make this a successful transition from my mother to me.

Please, mistress Neytiri we are not trying to be petulant children here, we simply do not know what you are expecting from us, and with your mother, our Queen, leaving us so abruptly without knowing the procedures for the transition, well we are as out of our element as you are. It was the youngest of the elders who was speaking now. A beautiful young elder named Astrid, she was always kind to Neytiri.

Thank you Astrid, it is very refreshing to have someone else simply be honest. Neytiri smiled at her. Now, this is exactly what I was hoping for. Astrid has made the best point stated so far today. None of us have ever had to experience this transition thing before. My mother Queen Saffron was the first of our kind here, she created this Cove and the Cloak that keeps us safe, but because it was her creation there has never been another to do all she had done, that is where things are going to change a little here. I have been looking through my mothers archives and she has put many things in place for the cove, it will take time to implement these things and for us to make things stronger and more secure but we can do this, together. We have got to show a good strong supportive foundation so that we may make the cove a place for all of us to thrive and develop from this point forward. This is all of our homes. These are our people and we have to keep everyone safe and moving towards the future. What I ask from you all is simply this. Can you put aside any concerns and feelings to help me rebuild us and make us better for all of us and those who depend on us?

The elders were showing signs of curiosity and hope.

Astrid spoke up, I believe we all want the same thing Queen Neytiri, we want to help make our home what it should be.

Well then, I will be holding meetings often over the course of the month, we all need to be able to bring something to the table to talk about. I want every meeting for ll of you to be able to bring ideas forth and share them so that we can all have a hand at making the Cove what we want it to be. So, from this day forward we will be meeting three days a week, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings at eleven we will meet here to discuss new ideas, and our new standards for our home. Do we all agree?

The elders glanced at each other as they all nodded their agreement.

Good then day after tomorrow we will meet again. Each one of you must bring an idea with you and I will bring my mothers ideas with me, along with my own. It is very important that we as the oldest and most knowledgeable come together to have moments of clarity that will shape the future for all of us. Renae will be taking notes about what we decide and as a coven we will ensure the growth and stability of our coven to pass down to those who will come to us, and to those who choose to stay with us.

The small group began speaking right away. Does this mean that some of us might be able to rejoin the outter world, go back to that life? Corine almost gasped.

I belileve that there will be an opportunity if some of the women here would like to rejoin the world they could. With that the elders got louder. It will be something we allow for those who want to, it will not be required, and all of you will have any concerns addressed about all of the new changes, but this is not up for debate yet. Neytiri was gaurded. It was my mothers dream to be able to give the people here the choice to come and go as they please, by choice not by force. If you have concerns please feel free to bring them to the next meeting and we will discuss them. There will be changes, and we will become the best version of the coven that we can. For now we will finish our lunch and all of you are charged with bringing your ideas and concerns to me the day after tomorrow, I do not want you coming empty handed or emopty skulled. Your ideas and thoughts wwill be how we form our next version of this Coven, so you all must help, if youu cannot you will be dismissed. Now on to lunch, then you may all leave and ponder your place in this transition. This meeting is closed and we will now eat and discuss amongst ourselves. Neytiri looked to Renae for closing.

If any of you have further questions bring them to our next meeting, if you like you can stay and eat, or you may leave and go do your soul searching, now is time to dine and rest. Please mourne Queen Saffron in your own way daily and hold to our new Queens wishes. This meeting is adjourned. With that the elders began mixing and discussing things while they ate. All in all it was a productive meeting and would usher in a new life and way of doing things. Neytiri was happy with the way things were going. Deep within her she was still feeling him and wanting to run to him, what was she going to do with all she had in front of her. She would ponder it the remainder of her days if she didn't figure it out. He was meant to bring her to life, but would he be able to?