JUNIPER
you think i'm happy because i'm smiling,
but it's the easiest thing to do
Juniper smiled back at Nephele, nodded at her -- and at her suggestion that they lay out the matters at hand. Then she listened closely to Remi's words, waiting until he finished to add her own.but it's the easiest thing to do
"Centuries ago, my grandfather fought to open the Greatwood to more outsiders. The Fae opposed him then, and many still dislike the idea of more strangers moving into our home. But I think there is a balance to strike in this, as in everything. While we should seek to retain the culture and identity of the Greatwood -- and the Fae -- cutting ourselves off makes us vulnerable. The more allies we have to fight at our side when the time comes, the better, whether those allies are individuals or regions." After all, if they had accepted Remi and Ronin as new arrivals -- and promoted Remi, who wasn't Fae, to leader status -- Juniper saw no reason they shouldn't welcome others, within reason. She added, "What I have heard from many Fae is that they wish to keep Sidhe Village rather closed off, but do not mind some outsiders living and working in the Sea of Branches."
Then Juniper moved from the Greatwood to its potential allies: "As for the other regions, I hope that the Grounders will stay away, to avoid sparking any premature conflict. But Torchline concerns me. I went to speak to its Queens not long ago, hoping to build an alliance with them or at least learn where they stood, and they refused me on both counts. Their argument was that they wished to focus on internal affairs for the moment, and they said that they would consider allying with us as the seasons passed, but it still seemed odd to me, to avoid even the slightest commitment to a natural ally. If I didn't know that the Queens were chosen by Safrin herself, I would suspect that they had not yet chosen a side. Remi, you know Queen Maeve -- she mentioned you in our discussion. Do you have any insight into why she may have reacted this way?"
A sigh as Juniper continued: "As for Halo ... I feel obligated to reach out to Morgan, as a fellow leader and a former ally. If there is any chance of keeping Halo from the Voice's side, I think it's a chance I -- we -- must take. Morgan did promise once to defend the Greatwood. I know that seems unlikely now, but I feel I must at least give her a chance to affirm it, rather than assuming it broken."
if you looked a little closer,
you'd find my eyes aren't smiling too.
you'd find my eyes aren't smiling too.
