the river winds move my feet

JUNIPER

you think i'm happy because i'm smiling,
but it's the easiest thing to do

"Yes ..." Though Juniper knows the Ascended won't just let anyone destroy their goddess, getting rid of the Voice and letting her followers live out their natural lives without creating new Ascended seems like the best solution. Except for this little tidbit she remembers from her conversation with Samuel: "The Ascended need the Voice's fluid to survive, don't they? Without her, they would be doomed regardless." Juniper can imagine that the Ascended would rather die fighting than slowly wither away. "It's not just loyalty or gratitude that ties them to her -- she has them over a barrel."

Juniper shrugs at the question of Melita's involvement. She doesn't know why Melita insisted that she warn the Ascended of the Greatwood's new defenses, and she doesn't really care to speculate.

But at Remi's suggestion, Juniper brightens a little. It seems like a relatively easy solution. "If we could keep someone in an enchanted sleep, we could imprison them easily ..." But she knows better than to be too eager for a simple answer. "Are there side effects?"

if you looked a little closer,
you'd find my eyes aren't smiling too.

table by Skylark