Richard glowered silently at the fairy but didn't deny his statements. Of course he had led them there, hadn't he? Why else had the trees themselves forced them to this spot? But it did give him a moment of hesitation, the idea that Laele had been the one to lead them here. Hadn't he been guiding her along the path? Or had she... Richard resolved to ignore the idea. Around them the revelers peeked, laughing quiet laughs and sharing secret whispers. They seemed to enjoy seeing the trespasser put in his place.

He listened to it all and then at last, with gritted teeth, ground out a "thank you." It looked like the statement caused him physical pain, but he made it anyway. Perhaps a glimmer of a smile ghosted over the Fairy's face, but that could have been just a shadow cast by the many glimmering lights all around the party.
"Excellent," crowed the woman who'd been stroking their Slime, who was now seated at one of the outer tables and happily reaching towards various interesting foods. "Then come, sit down! Enjoy the party. Everyone should be happy tonight!" she gestured towards a few empty chairs beside her, then lifted off from the table, borne into the air by slime gossamer wings.

Richard followed her instruction. "Be careful what you do and say," he ground out underneath his breath to his daughter. "Fairies are fickle and if you have to bow and scrape in order to convince them you're being properly respectful and having a good time, do it. Otherwise we might get out of here a hundred years later than we think--or never get out of here at all." Then they neared the table and Richard sat down, reaching for a mug already filled with dark red alcohol and for a piece of buttered bread that smelled strongly of honey.