LIFE IN THE FAIRY KINGDOM
The Queen is unusual in having a hobby, gardening, as all of her ancestors have focussed on riding (unicorns), bossing the realm (Gwendolyn), doling out the goodwill and bringing errant beings into line. The Queen likes to think her hobby benefits the Council as if she’s more relaxed, that’s bound to help them but they don’t really approve. Hobbies are for peasants… L’Evallier, ironically, is the only one with some sympathy for the Queen here despite being the biggest snob as he is a collector of fine art, portraits in particular. But even he feels the Queen should not indulge in a hobby that gets her hands dirty. Eileen feels the gardening thing is the only way the monarch shows any spirit, some determination not to be totally bowed down by the weight of the Crown, and so is the only one to fully back Roxannadrell on this.
Only a select group of artists are commissioned by the Queen and Council to paint offiicial images of the monarch and her government. These artists are also commissioned to paint the Kingdom in a good light, literally. Various species, including some sprites, paint for fun but this is not taken seriously and if any amateur thought of exhibiting their work, they would find this stopped so quickly by the elite they wouldn’t have time to protest. Eileen does not like this and has refused to have her portrait painted. This decision was made easier to take given the ancestral pictures in the Palace all make her forebears look like they’ve got chronic constipation. Eileen prefers the natural look, natural art...
The idea of exploring other worlds is discouraged here. So often other worlds have found the Kingdom and attacked it coveting its powers but there were times when the realm did go exploring and well it ended badly. The official line is the Kingdom will keep a watching brief on certain worlds, including Earth, as it was divinely commissioned to do but it doesn’t mean they have to go to these places much. Eileen, pre-defection, was very useful for sending out all over the place. Eileen was all for developing ties with the other worlds to try to make up for what happened in the past but neither Queen nor Council wanted to know. FNN sometimes puts out documentaries on these other worlds but always from the “these terrible people attacked us” viewpoint so objectivity is, to put it mildly, lacking.
One of the great wildlife sights everybody tunes into FNN to watch is the migration of the biggest unicorn herds from their winter grazing fields to their spring ones, then later on to their summer and autumn ones. This is filmed at a distance as nobody wants to get in the way. The main herds live in Kingdom Area 1, the same area as the Palace, which is renowned for its grasslands and woodlands. Whilst unicorns do mainly live in the forests, they like good quality grassland grazing too so want their favoured habitats in the same general area. All grasslands and woodlands in Area 1 are protected by law (punishment is a nasty curse which nobody has been known to recover from. Eileen claims it is the death penalty in all but name). Some unicorns have permitted themselves to work for the royals - the royals and unicorns appreciate the dignity and high standing the other can give. These unicorns are well cared for. The Queen is the only one able to ride them. Eileen could but won’t. Prior to her defection she helped care for them appreciating their beauty and dignity. The unicorns would have had no problem with Eileen riding them but she felt she could use her own transport and save them.
Only a select group of artists are commissioned by the Queen and Council to paint offiicial images of the monarch and her government. These artists are also commissioned to paint the Kingdom in a good light, literally. Various species, including some sprites, paint for fun but this is not taken seriously and if any amateur thought of exhibiting their work, they would find this stopped so quickly by the elite they wouldn’t have time to protest. Eileen does not like this and has refused to have her portrait painted. This decision was made easier to take given the ancestral pictures in the Palace all make her forebears look like they’ve got chronic constipation. Eileen prefers the natural look, natural art...
The idea of exploring other worlds is discouraged here. So often other worlds have found the Kingdom and attacked it coveting its powers but there were times when the realm did go exploring and well it ended badly. The official line is the Kingdom will keep a watching brief on certain worlds, including Earth, as it was divinely commissioned to do but it doesn’t mean they have to go to these places much. Eileen, pre-defection, was very useful for sending out all over the place. Eileen was all for developing ties with the other worlds to try to make up for what happened in the past but neither Queen nor Council wanted to know. FNN sometimes puts out documentaries on these other worlds but always from the “these terrible people attacked us” viewpoint so objectivity is, to put it mildly, lacking.
One of the great wildlife sights everybody tunes into FNN to watch is the migration of the biggest unicorn herds from their winter grazing fields to their spring ones, then later on to their summer and autumn ones. This is filmed at a distance as nobody wants to get in the way. The main herds live in Kingdom Area 1, the same area as the Palace, which is renowned for its grasslands and woodlands. Whilst unicorns do mainly live in the forests, they like good quality grassland grazing too so want their favoured habitats in the same general area. All grasslands and woodlands in Area 1 are protected by law (punishment is a nasty curse which nobody has been known to recover from. Eileen claims it is the death penalty in all but name). Some unicorns have permitted themselves to work for the royals - the royals and unicorns appreciate the dignity and high standing the other can give. These unicorns are well cared for. The Queen is the only one able to ride them. Eileen could but won’t. Prior to her defection she helped care for them appreciating their beauty and dignity. The unicorns would have had no problem with Eileen riding them but she felt she could use her own transport and save them.
