Deirdre walked in and greeted her older brother, not as chipper as she usually is in the mornings, but moreso than most everyone else. And about 100% more than Benedict. She was dressed casually,black jeans that seem to have a good amount of give to them, and black moccasins without any socks. A gray turtleneck shirt, with her hair pulled back and no jewelry whatsoever. "Good morning, brother," she smiled towards him. "So, how did you sleep? I had the strangest dream last night, and I even managed to sleep through the alarm." She said these last parts while mixing up a cup of coffee, sugar, no cream. She asked the kitchen staff to make her some eggs, (two, sunny side up), and some bacon. She leaned against the counter sipping her coffee listening to Benedict.

Caine sauntered in with a kind of adolescent male swagger, but Ben sensed that he was actually intimidated by the gathering and his older relatives, him probably most of all. He flashed everyone a boyish smile, white teeth made brighter by his tanned skin and sat somewhat uneasily near the mid-table on Oberon's right side. He wore a golden-hilted sabre at his hip; the rest of his clothing is silk green and black. Benedict decided then, just to leave him alone...much as he could, anyway. Benedict had enough to worry about this morning, rather than coddle someone's feelings if he spoke too harshly.

"Good morning, Caine!" Deirdre smiled as he entered.

Benedict smiled at his sister, nodding and shrugging. "I slept fine." That wasn't quite true--he didn't sleep hardly at all, but a white lie wasn't going to hurt.

"What's this about a dream?" he asked casually.

"Really weird. There I was, okay, walking through a forest at night when I saw Dad and Dworkin. They were each tied to a tree. Really evil-looking trees, y'know? And they were just looking at me. Then they started screaming, but weren't making any sounds, none that I could hear, anyways. Then they started reaching out to me. I was, like, just a few feet away from them, but I couldn't reach them. Then their eyes started glowing red and green." She stopoed to clarify herself. "Not red and green on each of them; that'd be like a strange Christmas Tree. Dworkin's eyes were glowing red, and Dad's were green. Then they shot these beams out of their eyes which, like, blinded me big-time. I started getting all tingly all over, kinda like a full-body version of some of those shampoos out in Shadow. Then I woke up. I looked at the clock, and it was almost a half-hour since my alarm rang. I mean, it hardly gave me enough time to get ready before breakfast." She gestured to her clothing. As he listened, Benedict's stomach did flip flops. He would have passed it off as coincidence normally, a quirk of Shadow, but for two reason: He wasn't in Shadow, and it just happened to have occurred the morning Dad and Grandfather were kidnapped. Nope...no coincidence this time. He forced himself to keep a neutral face, but couldn't help a frown. He also set down his cup, just in case his hand started to shake. He was unnerved.

She took a big sip of her coffe, it having cooled considerably by now. "So, when are they getting here? Don't they usually show up before us?"

"I don't know," he honestly said, trying to calm himself. "Why don't you sit down, Dee? Have breakfast." After a bit of a pause he asked, "Have you seen any of the others this morning?"

She took her breakfast and sat down at the table, same side as Benedict, Dad's left. She took the time to arrange the bacon so it made a smiley face to the egg-eyes, smiled to herself, and began cutting up her breakfast. Benedict watched her do this, and the action soothed him. Life goes on, he thought to himself. "Actually, I haven't." She asked one of the kitchen staff to bring her an orange. "But then again, that's not overly surprising; I am one of the few morning people in the family. Mmm, these are good eggs; made just right. Tell whoever made them that they did good." She said the last to the kitchen aide who brought the orange. Deirdre seemed content to sit and eat breakfast until the rest of the family showed up, asking for a plate of scrambled eggs and toast once her current plate was finished.

He shrugged, leaning back in his chair and drinking his tea. Benedict watched Dee for a while, then asked, "So...what have you been up to lately?"

He was willing to talk about anything this morning--even small talk--to get his mind off of this early morning's activities.

Deirdre's back straightened, and she had a look of surprise on her face. "Oh, not much," she said. "Just the usual. Having fun in Shadow, and all. Maintaining all my little houses out there." She glanced back over her shoulder and smiles.

Benedict nodded, giving Deirdre a glance. "Nothing interesting, then I take it..?"

Corwin padded in, wearing flannel pajamas, of all things. Some people could bother getting ready, Ben grumbled inwardly. I had to. Corey sat down, grabbing some food, then looked up from eating a Cinnamon roll...."Mornin Dee."

"Good morning, Corwin!" Deirdre smiled as he enters.

"You know Dee that dream sounds awful familiar," Corwin dropped casually. That blinked Benedict out of his grumblings.

She stopped eating and looked at her brother. "Whaddya mean, familiar?"

Corwin got Benedict's full attention as well. He dropped the attempt at 'small talk' and peered at Corwin. "You had a similar dream?"

"Who had a dream?" asked Gerard, just coming in. He raked a heap of bacon and muffins onto his plate and began eating even before he sat down. Some things never changed.

"Good morning, Gerard!" Deirdre smiled as he entered.

Julian slid in the room two minutes before seven, just after his full brother Gerard. He looked collected and rested; he paused on the entrance as his gaze swept the room, not stopping on anyone present, but rather as if he was reading something written on the walls.

Julian wore a plain white, thick sweater over a white shirt with a black lace ribbon around the collar; and loose white trousers held by a black cord-like belt. At his feet sturdy mountain boots were seen. There's a dagger hanging at his left side, but it looked more like a prop than a real weapon, to Benedict's trained eye. Julian held a cream-coloured overcoat and a fur hat, that and the color on his cheeks suggesting he's just been outdoors.

Julian walked silently around the table, and ignored the servants as he poured himself a cup of milk, then he strategically placed a neat pile of biscuits in his plate. He placed the coat on the chair, and eventually he sat down exactly at seven o'clock, splitting the second. Always the strange one...that was Julian.

"Good morning, Julian!" Deirdre smiled as he entered.

He paused, then nodded.

Brand was right on time. He walked in right at seven, as Julian was sitting. He took the last seat, next to Dworkin's chair, but said nothing. He seemed a little off. He was wearing black pants and a green shirt. His sword is by his side. He took a muffin and sat quietly waiting for the start of the meeting.

Benedict noticed an animal follow him in...and follow him to his seat where it sat right behind the chair. Looked to be a wolf, though a well-trained one. Ben had used much the same himself, on a few odd campaigns..though he preferred dogs, truth be told. Wolves were silent...predators... Dogs, on the other hand, were loyal and true to their owners.

"Good morning, Brand!" Deirdre smiled as he entered.

After Dee greeted him, Brand gave a half smile and a faintly heard "morning". Brand sat there doing nothing exept picking at his muffin. He grabbed a piece of bacon and took a small bite, then flipped the rest over his chair. There was a loud smacking sound as the wolf snapped up the bacon.

"Morning, family," Benedict said, after a succession of siblings filed in. He drained the last of his tea, then sets the cup aside. "Dee was just telling me about this dream, she had, and Corwin remarked that it was 'familiar'," Benedict remarked casually, fishing for information. Sounded transparant to his own ears...surely they'll notice. "Anyone else dream last night?"

Julian did nothing, sipping his milk.

Caine raised his hand.

Only after Caine has risen his hand, Julian murmured "...Yes." Benedict was quick to note both of them, and frowned, his mind going on wild rides of fancy. Why didn't I have it? Then of course, Deirdre said her alarm didn't wake her up at six thirty...I was already awake by then.. As his mind worked, he commented idly to Caine, distracted by his thoughts, "Caine, you dont' have to raise your hand, just speak your mind." He leaned back in his chair, putting a hand to his temple. He was getting a headache, and never noticed that he misinterpreted Caine's gesture.

At 7:04, Fiona hurried into the room. Immediately, she noticed the absence of Oberon and Dworkin, and changed stride, walking over to grab a breakfast roll, and a cup of wine. Much too early for Ben's tastes. "Hello, everyone," she murmured. She was wearing a floor-length flame-trimmed green silk bathrobe/housecoat. Her hair was tied back into a hasty pony tail. She sat in the nearest open seat to the door, next to Corwin, and brushed a loose hair behind her ear, beginning to tear the roll into small pieces. She looked up from her plate, smiling at everyone. "It's great to see you all again. Sorry I haven't been too available for the last few days I've been back." Benedict frowned inwardly at her attire...fitting that both the improperly attired ones were sitting together.

Brand waited, listening to the others talk about this dream.

"Good morning, Fiona!" Deirdre smiled as she entered.

Brand graced everyone with another half smile and greeted Fiona with a hello. Benedict felt a momentary stab of jealousy, as the two full siblings greeted one another. He shook it off, making his hands stay on the table, and not fidget with his tea cup. He wondered idly how the others saw him...if they saw him being cool and confident, quite the opposite of how he felt.

Random stumbled in , looking a bit of a sight. Benedict wasn't surprised, after having learned that he spent the night detoxing. Random's hair was as ruffled as his clothes and it looked like he's had little sleep.

He grabbed some coffee and sat in an abandoned part of the table, avoiding any looks he can.

"Good morning, Random!" Deirdre smiled as he entered.

He looked as though he has a retort for that, but sipped his coffee instead.

Gerard punched him on the arm, Random inadvertantly choosing the seat next to the big teen. "You know better than to talk to him in the morning, Dee. He'll be awake come sunset."

Random sputtered out a cough, "Ow. Not today Gerard. Please?"

With a grin, Gerard tousled his little brother's hair, then left him alone.

That earned him a look most foul...Random shot daggers at Gerard with his eyes. Benedict couldn't blame him, He's a lot older now, poor kid.

"Hey folks.. it's Bleys, I'm alive, what's for breakfast?", waved Bleys as he entered, sitting at the table. He was dressed in some sort of blue military uniform, with a rather large black cloak slung around his shoulders, and a sword dangling from his left hip. His hair was jet black and streaked with grey. He nodded to Fiona and Brand, then started nibbling at a biscuit.

Random glanced up, then returned to his coffee.

"Good morning... Bleys?" Deirdre's smile wass replaced by a look of confusion, which then returns to its normal life-is-good appearance. "That's a new look for you, isn't it?" She echoed Ben's thought perfectly.

Bleys coughed, "Oh, you mean the hair." He threw his fingers back over his scalp, "I thought I might draw a comment or two about that. " Bleys smiled, returning to his meal.

Brand nodded back to Bleys, and continued to eat. Benedict rolled his eyes slightly. No wonder I never got to know him, he thought acidly to himself, The man never talks.

A couple of minutes after Bleys walked in, Eric stumbled into the dining room. He was dressed, rather uncomfortably, to Benedict's amusement, in one of his old sets of clothing from back when he lived here in Amber -- a dull crimson shirt with black leggings, and very high riding boots. A silver sword hung from his side, attached to a belt with a well-polished buckle in the shape of some strange tentacled thing. He also wore a pair of black leather gloves.

Eric looked around, a bit groggy, eyes scanning each of the family members present, before shaking his head. His eyes lingered the longest on the younger members of the family, noting all of the advances into adulthood. "Gods above and below, but you all got old." He ran a hand through his hair, and stood there, reacquainting himself with the room.

"Some of us make it look pretty good, huh?" said Gerard cheerily.

Deirdre grinned, calling out, "Eric!"

"Huh?"

She stood quickly, and dove over the table, tackling her big brother. Benedict glowered silently to himself, unwilling to admit he was jealous of Eric. Both Eric and Dee went down in a heap with a loud bang, and an exclamation from Eric, "OOOF!" As things settled down, he was heard to mutter, "Ow."

Deirdre picked herself and Eric up from the ground, getting a stern look on her face. She began to ask Eric a question when the others begin talking again. She looked to Eric. "I'll talk to you later," she decided to say instead, rather than the question, and returned to her seat.

"Um... okay, Dee..." With that, he dusted himself off, and went to get his coffee.

Random rose his eyebrow at that comment.

Brand seemed a little annoyed at his older brothers words, not like Ben cared at the moment. He was also quite sure Eric didn't care either.

Corwin gestured exspansively at his sister, "I believe I had the same one as Dee, and now that I am a little more awake that seems a little odd." He spoke suddenly, stirring from an internal reverie. Still, back on track, and Benedict turned his attention to the forthcoming discussion.

Random started paying more attention, sliding his look around the room, focusing on Corwin.

"The one with pop and Dworkin?" Gerard asked innocently, between mouthfuls of muffin.

Random shot Gerard a paranoid look. Two more that had it... Benedict mused. He was positive now, that everyone of his siblings--who were sleeping at that hour--had had the dream. Knowing that eased him somewhat, and he shifted in his chair, getting more comfortable.

Brand snickered at the paranoid look on Random's face, taking delight in his brother's fears. Random didn't seem to notice, and Ben let it slide.

Eric suddenly started looking more awake. He grabbed a cup of coffee and tossed it back in a single gulp before looking at Gerard strangely. "This dream didn't involve Oberon, Dworkin, trees, and some strangely-colored beams of light, did it?" More confirmation.

Benedict nodded, rubbing his temple still, affirming Eric's statement. Hopefully, for the meantime, they would assume he had had the dream as well. Hopefully, they would spare him any questions. Hopefully, they wouldn't get the brilliant idea of looking for Father and forcing his hand. Hopefully.

Eric refilled the cup, sipping it slowly this time. "Lovely..." He watched the door anxiously.

Random's look went from paranoia to relief, presumably that he wasn't the only one to have the dream.

"Now wait a second folks.. we can't ALL have had the same dream," Bleys looked around the table hopefully. The more things change, Benedict mused, still trying to avoid a headache, the more they stay the same.

Random looked pointedly at his coffee cup.

As Bleys looked around the table, Brand nodded to him, signaling that he had arrived at the same conclusion Ben had.

"Well now," Brand calmly asks, "if we all had this wierd dream with Oby and Gramps in it, what the hell does it mean....Oh and by the way....where the hell are they?" Still feigning indifference, Benedict's stomach heaved, and he braced himself for the slew of questions that was bound to come.

"Not to put to fine a point on it," Bleys intoned, "And I have been away from the Castle for a bit.. and admittedly I was never the sharpest tack in the box, put perhaps might I suggest that this is not a good thing?" Bleys takes a final sip of his tea and stood up, "Anybody want to take a look for them?" Ben made a mental note to strangle Brand, then Bleys, and waited for Fiona to jump in, and make his life a living hell. At any rate, he couldn't let them leave, not yet...and he was going to have to tell them. Too damn soon! I haven't had a chance to seriously consider our situation! Benedict loathed making snap decisions, and this particular was that was being forced was serious...more than any of them knew...including himself.

"I will," Gerard stood up with him. Oh, wasn't Fiona, it was Gerard. Same effect, though.

"Not particularly," Random said quietly. Mentally, Benedict thanked Random, glad that someone wasn't eager to jump on the bandwagon.

"Why walk around when we can easily try to trump them," Brand suggested. "Anyone want to try it?" Just as bad, and sure to cause more questions. Damn!

Bleys shrugged at the suggestion, and started towards the door, motioning for Gerard.

"Some of us more than others," remarked Florimel, striding into the room. She was, of course, perfectly coiffed and dressed, if perhaps a bit pale this morning.

Brand's snicker was gone with the entrance of Flora.

"Good morning, Flora!" Deirdre smiled as she entered.

"Good morning, Deirdre."

"You are looking good, Flo."

"Now Gerard...I've asked you not to call me 'Flo'...it's so de classe'...Florimel or even Flora would be preferable," she said, picking a selection of fresh fruit and placing it on her plate.

"Okay. Whatever." Gerard didn't seem inclined to argue with her.

Caine said, "I'm game if no one else is. Perhaps we should send a steward to look for them first. If they are simply sleeping late, I would dislike waking them."

Eric nodded. "Good idea, that." He grabbed a member of the kitchen staff as they passed by. "Has the King or Dworkin sent a message regarding breakfast?" The answer was a hasty no. "Then go fetch them."

With the servant sent, Eric's eyes swept the room, catching Florimel as she walked in. As with the rest of the "children," Eric's gaze lingered.

Bleys nodded curtly, " Let's go have a look," and he motioned towards the door.

"Bleys, Gerard," Benedict said, stirring finally and straightening in his seat. "Have a seat, finish breakfast. When Llewella arrives, I've something to say."

Ben wanted to get this done and over with...and he'd be rather irritated if he had to go through the meager details more than once.

Gerard looked around, looked annoyed, and reseated himself.

Bleys shrugged, "Alrighty, I guess I'll stay in my seat like a good little boy.. subtly never was really big around here." He reparked his rump and resumed eating. Benedict blinked, amazed at Bleys' response. Things have changed here..

Florimel smiled slightly at Bleys' comment, but said nothing.

"Why don't you two sit down and finish your breakfast," Florimel picked up a small bell and rang it, "this sort of thing is what we have servants for."

As if on cue, two young servant girls arrived.

"King Oberon and Lord Dworkin seem to have overslept, please go and ensure that their man-servants have not failed to wake them..."

The girls curtsied quickly and exited the room.

"So why is everyone ready to go flying off half-cocked this morning?" she asked, before biting into a luscious over-ripe strawberry.

The three servants never returned; instead a Castle Guardsman appeared moments before Gerard and Bleys vacate the room. With a rushed tone, and a flushed face, the Guardsman informed the family that, "All three are currently unavailable, and the request has been made for you all to continue with your morning without them."

A relieved sigh rang out from the serving staff, who was hesitant to continue with breakfast without the King. Moments later, huge plates of jelly donuts, Oreo O's cereal, and assorted tropical fruits were brought in--all the favorite breakfast foods of Mirelle. Served of course with hot chocolate and Hawaian Punch. This is served along with other favorites of the various members of the family.

Julian finished his milk and biscuits, then partook of hot chocolate and two loaves of common bread. Then cheese, then fruit. He ate slowly, sedate but with a certain amount of dedication... Breakfast seemed to absorb him completely. At times, he glanced around the table, in directions that have little to do with the conversation going on.

Random stared blankly at the food without touching any of it.

Eric raised his eyebrows at this, but returned to his coffee.

Caine looked at the Gaurdsmen, "'The request has been made?' Made by whom? Did Dad and Granddad leave the instructions earlier?"

"Uhmm....no sir, Prince Caine." The guard began to pale, looking back and forth between the door, Caine, and Benedict. "No sir, they did not make the request."

Bleys gave Caine a dirty look, glanced towards Fi with a raised eyebrow.

Eric stroked his chin. "All right, then, lad, who did? Queen Paulette?"

The guard never faced or acknowledged Eric, but does speak out, seemingly to everyone but Eric. "No, Queen Paulette did not order to move on either." Benedict snickered inwardly. Good. He deserves the snubbing, at the very least. Bastard.

"Of course not," said Gerard. "It was Benedict." Subtlety and Gerard have not met....for which Ben was very grateful. He silently blessed Gerard for the timely intervention, letting the others think what they will.

"I know this all seems a terrible tragedy for you -- Father and Grandfather missing breakfast," Florimel started, "but perhaps if you spent a little more time at home, you'd know that it is quite a common occurance..."

Benedict coughed politely into his hand at Flora's remark, a slight grin pulling at his features. He enjoyed this, feeling it was only proper and right. After all, inadvertantly or not, Eric was a murderer. To the guard he turned, saying, "You're dismissed...and please tell the Captain that I'm waiting to hear from him."

Eric shot a look across the table at his sister, and began in a low voice, just dripping with malice. "Well, sister mine, were I not forbidden to sit at this table for far too many of these past years, I would indeed be more familiar with breakfast... some of us didn't have Amber's lofty towers to hide in."

"Oh, Eric! You're so funny!" Florimel laughed at him, with obvious mocking, "One would think that you'd forgotten *why* you were unwelcome at this table...besides, you silly brute, the comment was not directly solely at you..." Benedict smirked, wiping the expression off his face quickly.

Eric blinked at this, and shook his head quietly, before settling down at the table, next to Deirdre. "Well, with that taken care of..." He sipped his coffee again, picking up a donut. "How have you all been for the past ten or so years?"

Bleys smiled and nodded, "On that note.. I'm going to look for dad. I don't give a rats ass if somebody wants to try to keep me here." He scanned over the table, "Who's comin' with me?" God dammit, Ben thought irritibly. Not again!

Caine said, "Why not? I'll go."

"Ok everybody," said Bleys, "I don't care if this seems stupid or pointless, but let's just go.. It'd make me feel better." Bleys paused a moment. "Boy Llew.. you got big." Bleys grinned, then hopped to his feet, and started for the door.

"Benedict," said Gerard. "It's now or never. Say what you have to say or I'm going with them."

His grin faded quickly, and he shook his head firmly, "Can you three at least wait until Llewella arrives?" He gestured for a servant to refill his cup, that task being done shortly.

"How often, anyway, do we get to see the family all in one place? I can assure you, Dad and Grandfather aren't going anywhere." Benedict took a drink of his tea, watching the three in question.

Just at this moment, Llewella slipped into the room looking refreshed. Her green hair was very damp and was slung over her left shoulder held by a small green leather tie. She was wearing a fresh white linen shirt and pale, wornout seagreen jeans with a pair of lowslung leather boots. She quirked an eyebrow slightly at hearing Eric's words and seeing him there in general. Shrugging almost imperceptibly, she sat down and tagged a servant, ordering a bowl of rice and some green tea.

Casually, she nodded at everyone and says.."Sorry for being late..got caught up. How's everyone?"

"Good morning, Llewella!" Deirdre smiled as she entered.

Benedict murmured, not quite but almost sighing in relief, "And there she is.." He actually addressed her personally, something he hadn't done with the majority present, "Good morning, Llewella."

"Perhaps, strange community dreams of mass dreams of evil trees, mornings where all three fail to appear, and on the all three fail to report or give any message as to their location, or respond to trumps.. well then, perhaps I have been gone a while, as these things have now become commonplace," Bleys shrugged, leaning back in his seat. "I suppose I have been gone too damn long. "

"What?" said Flora, putting down her strawberries, "Who told you about that dream?"

"Yeah, Evil trees.. laser eyes.. fairly typical stuff.. we all had it." Once again, Benedict let them think what they wanted. Bleys thought for a moment, "And also, let's remember what day today is." Bleys indicated the food on the table, "This was obviously really important to dad, and gramps... as I think it is for all of us.. so it doesn't make a lot of sense for him not to be here." My, my, Bleys was starting to get sharp. Benedict wondered idly what he had been up to..and resolved to talk to him later, to catch up.

Brand groaned loudly, and a look of contempt crawled onto his face.

After listening to her siblings talk for a while, Deirdre leaned back in her chair and became uncharacteristically quiet. She glanced over at Benedict, giving him a glance he can easily read: "This bodes ill." She then returned to listening to her siblings.

He gave her a small shrug in return, expressionless.

Corwin looked down the table, "Well it seems we all had a very unusual night."

Corwin looked at Bleys and Eric, "It is good to have both of you in the household again. I hope your stay will be a bit longer than a few minutes this time Eric."

Eric smiled levelly. "Well, Corey... I'm no longer an Exile, for the moment. I may indeed be remaining here for a time... or perhaps not. I do, after all, have a wife and daughter to attend to...responsibilities." He suddenly stopped, instead ripping a piece from a doughnut rather than continuing to speak. No doubt remembering how well he took care of his responsibilities, Benedict thought dourly.

"For the moment only, Eric," Benedict stated, dropping the comment caustically, harshly. "You'd do well to remember that."

Eric inclined his head towards Benedict, blue eyes glittering. "I find it hard to forget, Ben." He placed down the donut, wiping the powdered sugar from his still-gloved hands. "Fear not."

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