"Get the Oubaliege Soup girl!" the head chef hissed in her head, Kashara started and looked away from Fallon. Before the head chef could resort to any physical remonstration, which was very likely considering the jabbing Kashara's poor hip was suffering, Fallon interrupted lazily.

"Oh it is alright,Chef, I am rather partial to er... beetroot soup as well." Kashara couldn't be thankful about his help, she only feared what favour he might extort for this. Hopefully not more etiquette classes. Kashara shuddered at that thought. She watched as Fallon tried to swallow a mouthful of beetroot soup, his face barely concealing a grimace.

She smirked at that, then suddenly paused, why the heck did Fallon lie about liking beetroot soup? Surely not to stop the head chef from scolding her...If anything Fallon would have bought front row tickets for that. She had no idea why Fallon was willingly eating something that seemed worse than poison to him for her sake.

Then she froze. Poison. There was a maid with poison. She might have acted fast and poisoned anything in this banquet. The she had a thought of absolute horror. What if the beetroot soup was poisoned, and that was why it tasted horrible to Fallon! He might not have lied at all, about liking it! Especially for her sake.

For a second she was seized with an urge to knock the soup bowl off the table. Then she chided herself. This was Fallon Eagus. The guy who kidnapped her to another planet, and took away her magic. Was it so bad if he died?

She watched him take another spoonful of the soup. He was cruel. Sadistic. Was there any good in him? He cares for this planet. " He burnt an entire ballroom of courtiers to the ground just to destroy a few spies." She reminded herself.

Fallon took another spoonful. Fallon is bad. Kashara kept telling herself, however she knew she couldn't let someone die in front of her. Beside her plan to escape hinged on gaining the support of the rebels. If Fallon died now, she didn't want to find out what the rebels had in store for her. She had to stop Fallon dying now, so she bargain with the rebels to help them in their cause. She had to make herself necessary to them, and if Fallon died now, she was obsolete. A little more than a white elephant.

Steeling herself with her reasoning Kashara tried to recall where the maid with the poison had headed to in the kitchen. She wasn't here, and the vial she had held was too tiny to end up in more than one dish. So she could have only poisoned the food in whatever station she had headed to. Kashara tried recalling... the maid had swerved right amidst the crowd and soon disappeared. She didn't know what was in the right of the kitchen though.

Kashara sidled up to the other ladies-in-waiting who were busy arranging the main dishes on the table, seeking out the woman who had spoken to her.

"Hey, do I put this here too? Rather new to the whole Demitytan thing here." She smiled sheepishly

The woman shook her head and continued to set up dishes. Kashara groaned mentally. The woman's linguistic ability had just gone from sky high to the depths of burning Tartarus. If she didn't know any better it was like the woman had been struck dumb.

" Oh thanks. Shall I help you?" Kasahara proceeded to pick up dishes from that woman's trolley and place them on the table. The woman hastily grabbed her hands. However Kashara was undaunted and shook her off. She continued to grab dishes and put them on the table.

"What do you think you are doing?" the woman hissed in her ear. Success. Kashara smirked to herself. " Am I doing anything wrong?" Kashara schooled her expression to one of perfect innocence. Behind her, a familiar voice choked on beetroot soup. She glanced behind and saw that Fallon was fixing her with a gaze of amusement. However the rest of the maids and ladies seemed determined in ignoring her.

The woman became unsure and trailed off. She slowly whispered to her. "See these bowls with green lines on the edge go on this side of the table. Red lines go here." Kashara nodded and began to rearrange the bowls. The woman hesitated and then continued her work.

"This whole Demitytan thing is new to me." Kashara softly spoke. "New people, practices, everything." The woman's features softened as she spoke. " I saw your kitchen just today and it was magnificent. So huge. But it was very confusing." She said, trailing of hesitantly as if inviting an answer.

The woman, glanced left and right, as if to ascertain if anyone was looking. They were all studiously arranging dishes as new trolleys kept coming in. " The kitchen is easy. The main entrance is the one with huge stonework." I had come in that way! Kashara recalled. "The left side of the kitchen is the soups and starters. Back left is vegetables. Right front is the meats. Back right of the kitchen is the drinks and cellar. Center as you probably saw is the main course and washing."

AHa! Kashara thought. The maid had either gone to the meats station or the drinks station. All she had to do was not let Fallon eat any meat or drink anything. She thought triumphantly. Her sense of victory was interrupted by a familiar voice, "You, there, Lady-in -Waiting from Erth, get me a drink."  She turned around, leaving a very befuddled lady in waiting, just to see Fallon biting into a juicy piece meat gesturing for her to bring him a drink, with an impish grin.

Oh great artemis. What was wrong with her luck. After this entire escapade, she had to make a sacrifice to the goddess of luck. Something non lethal like her hair or her clothes. Not like some who chopped of a finger or worse. Ugh.

She thought of how to take away the dish from Fallon. However looking at the relish with which he ate the meat, made her think getting the Protector to dance naked was more likely. She suddenly had a brainwave. She was standing right next to the drinks trolley. Now, which drink goes least well with the meat? She picked up a striking pink girly drink, that smelt of flowers, and was sure to repel Fallon to the next century.

Kashara took a surreptitious glance at the head chef, who was berating some poor maid, probably because she forget how to spell some weird dish name or whatever. Kashara then walked past the maid serving Fallon, and placed the drink next to him. " Here, your grace, it is an Erthling custom to have this accompaniment when eating meat." Before she could do anything Fallon turned to look at her, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh really, and what is the name of this accompaniment?".

"Oh this is, um, pink flowers of doom...er I mean bloom." She said as she set the drink down. "And if you don't listen to me you'll meet your doom" She thought. She shook her hands unsteadily and nudged the glass towards Fallon.

The glass swayed ominously and as if in slow motion tumbled right on top of Fallon's delicious meat. The pink drink doused the meat generously in flowery sauce. Fallon gave her a calculating look as if to figure out what the hell she was doing.

Even Kashara didn't know what she was doing. "You're welcome" She muttered under her breath. The head chef gave a shriek as she saw the glass lying on top of the meat, and came hurrying towards Fallon. " Oh your Highness! I am so sorry for this. Who did this?" She cried at the maids.

"No, No, it is all right. Just a slip of the hand I am sure. I won't happen again " Fallon looked right at her. It seems she would not get out unscathed tonight. The Chef looked as if she might treat her maids to an interior tour of the kitchen oven, however Fallon pressed her.

The head chef acquiesced and pointed at a maid, who promptly placed a another dish of meat from some strange Demitytan animal. It was seared through and emitted a smoky flavour, topped with rice and vegetables.

Kashara groaned mentally. It was no us targeting the dish anymore, she had to target Fallon.

She eyed the drinks trolley right behind her. Just the right amount of persuasion, would give Fallon a very nice bath. Kashara inched behind slowly and tugged on the trolley with her foot. It was in the right place to very obligingly crash into Fallon. All she had to do was to give it a little encouraging push.

Kashara hooked her foot through the leg of the trolley. The pantomime was never a hobby of Kashara's, but desperate times called for desperate measures.

Kashara gave a cry and pretended to trip. Flailing wildly she launched herself forward. With a little luck, the drinks trolley would fly past her, on her left side and crash right into Fallon. he would have to interrupt his feast, because which royal would like to commit such a fashion faux pas as being dunked in a river of wine with an audience really.

Kashara only hope and last thought was that the poison only worked when eaten and not on the skin. She was flying, no not really, but something very hard and bruising stopped her path. Fallon had better appreciate all this sacrifice, if she attained martyrdom through this. Kashara felt like she ought to fade into unconsciousness like all damsels in distress did, however something distressed her further.

She was soaking wet in fact, and her back ached where something large and suspiciously trolley like had slammed into. Oh galloping gargoyles! The trolley had fallen on her! Kashara flopped back down disheartened and sore all over. She was about to conclude that her plan had failed, when an alarming groan rang out from under her.

She leapt up like a drowned cat. Fallon was lying on the floor, his chair toppled over and trolley careened over on another side. He was also drenched in the finest brews in all of Demitytes, and swore loudly.

"What is going on here?" the head chef cried shrilly. Taking in the scene, she pointed at Kashara menancingly and advanced on her. "YOU. Who are you? You are no lady in waiting!" Fallon winced with every syllable the head chef uttered, and quickly got up. The head chef turned to him and bent into a deep bow. She hurried over to her tugged her down. "Apologise now!" She cried again right in her ear, prompting winces from both Kashara and Fallon.

Fallon had meanwhile regained his composure and was cooly surveying her from above. Kashara stood defiantly eyeing him. The other maids were gathered watching interestedly and whispering nastily.

"No." Kashara's single syllable answer struck the chef and the maids dumb. The head chef minced her teeth and chewed out words, "How dare you! You insolent creature! You will be punished for this!" The head chef raised a hand as if to slap her, and Kashara instinctively flinched.

However the blow never came. She opened her eyes to see Fallon restraining the head chef's hand. "Enough. Kashara you have had your fun. I will not have a worthless nobody raising a hand on the Queen of Demitytes ".

The head chef recoiled in horror. The maids began whispering ominously. The woman she had spoken to was mouthing the words 'Queen' in shock.

"Everyone leave." Fallon issued an order in a clipped tone. The company trailed out slowly and Kashara was left to face a very disgruntled Fallon.

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BYE FOLKS!

HAhahahah just kidding :)

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Kashara stared up into the stormy visage of Fallon. She was in boiling water now...or was it hot water?

"What the bloody hell were you doing!?!" Fallon all but shouted at Kashara. Kashara cringed away but still gave Fallon a glare. "I was hungry so I went to the kitchen, and I thought it might be dangerous to tell them I was the Queen." She paused and added, "It's not my fault you didn't tell me there was a feast tonight apparently."

"Why would it be dangerous?" Fallon's voice was low and dangerous. She had to tread carefully, she was sure murdering a entire kitchen staff wasn't above him... or rather below him. "Some maids are just not trained in customer service, besides I'm sure alien species always cause fear and inferiority in people."

Fallon snorted, "Cut the shit Kashara." Kashara tried not tremble at the way he said her name. "Need I remind you I can enter your mind anytime. Do you really want me to force through embarrassing images and thoughts to find what I need?".

" Alright. Calm down. I was hungry okay. But the maids have always been hostile towards me, and there have been some threats..." She trailed off when she saw how Fallon's eyes hardened. " I mean, when I said threats, I meant like ...treats. Yeah treats from the maids. Most of them are nice but some are like maybe a tiny bit mean...well I wouldn't say mean ..." Kashara's rambled on and was silenced by Fallon's glance.

" I get it, you probably told them you were like a lady in waiting from Erth, since they dressed you in green. Yes, I see it. Only you would do that." Fallon pinched the bridge of his nose. Kashara couldn't believe her ears. Was Fallon nursing some affection for her? The way he said only you sounded a lot like unrequited love pining away.

"Only you would be so stupid. So dumb. Oh Vulcan. Will your stupidity know no bounds. Will I ever get a reprieve from this." Fallon continued and Kashara felt like she was whacked on the head.

" Alright enough, I get it, it was stupid." She added crossly. Apparently all Fallon had been pining for was deliverance from her.

" Is that why you tried to murder me while I was eating?" Fallon asked her irately. Kashara spluttered indignantly. "What... Murder...!?! Oh my goodness?!?! Stop being such a drama queen!" Apparently gratitude was a scarce commodity in Demitytes. "I was saving your ungrateful ass!!".

"Saving me from what exactly? The terrorising tender-loin?" Fallon asked dryly. Hahaha how funny, really Fallon you ought to consider a career on stage. Kashara thought as she gave him a particularly vile glare.

"Um yes, particularly terrorising considering it was poisoned!" She quipped back. Fallon's entire countenance changed upon hearing that. "What!" He asked dangerously calm. "How do you know that?".

Kashara recounted of how she chanced upon the maid and the meeting. Fallon listened stonily and when she finished merely said, " I want to see it." Kashara wanted to protest but something told her Fallon would brook no objections now and she slowly relented. She tried to push her memory of the event foremost to prevent Fallon stumbling through anything unsavoury, like her bathing or worse, one of her fantasies involving Fallon that refused to vacate memory space. *shudder*.

Fallon was brief and precise and he retreated out of her mind soon. Yet, the invasion left her dazed and slightly disoriented. Kashara realised Fallon was supporting her and struggled to stand on her own. "I need to leave, you said you were hungry right? Eat. You might like the food from the green bowls more."

Fallon abruptly released Kashara, and strode off. She was left feeling disoriented not just by hunger or the mind invasion, but the fact that Fallon had probably been replaced by an alien from the planet of nice - just located in the outskirts of Francais Galaxy.

She slowly ambled to the large dinner table suffering under the weight of all the food. At least she would help unload some from the poor table into her poorer stomach. She brooded over Fallon's sudden change of character as she set up a plate for herself. For not the first time she noticed the different lined bowls and recalled Fallon's advice.

She also remembered the woman set up red lined bowls on Fallon's side of the table, and green lined bowls opposite. During the feast, Fallon was also served only red lined bowls. What was the difference?

She pulled a few bowls near. The green bowls were all very familiar and Erth looking. The red bowls were obviously Demitytan food as she came to realise and she couldn't get used to their food and the taste made her feel like throwing up.

As she began eating a very familiar chicken soup dish from the green bowl, she was left to ponder on the depths of Fallon's' character and the enigma he was. He maintained the idea that he had no care for her, yet here was this table full of Erthling food in addition to the ones delivered daily, that could have been done on no one's orders but his.

Who are you really Fallon?

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Well if that wasn't an intense chapter! I think this was the longest i have ever written folks. All for yall! I noticed we have a few new readers so welcome! To all the old folks, thanks for sticking with me:). Hope you liked this! Started out as comic but ended up in a very central question that I'm sure runs in all your minds (I hope). I like how this chapter flows really well :) We are venturing on to the darker themes of the story around now, so hold on tight people, grab one another, because Fallon is quite scarry on his own.

Tom: this Fallon seems to be a bit bipolar though...

Loki: bipolar? as in he lives in the Arctic and Antarctic?

Tom: No like his emotions go extreme opposite. like the poles- hence bipolar

Loki: but the poles are not extreme opposites. They are very similar. The poles and the equator are what's opposite. He should be called bipola-quator if you want.

Tom: Oh my goodness, it is a figure of speech.

Loki: Figure of speech? Is it any good, her figure I mean?

.......

Loki: Hey come back. Where is this speech?...

anyone catch the planet nice joke? Its an reference to nice from France. 

Hope you liked it! Please comment:)

love,

inkonparchment