Mercury is seen skipping down the path from the Castle, heading in the general direction of the town below. Her curly, fiery locks set off her emerald-green eyes, which in turn compliment her green skirt, white blouse, and knee-high white socks.

Although Mercury is still a bit of an enigma to her younger brother, he knows enough to be sure that the hair suggests she is in a mischevious mood. Her hair was auburn when she got Dala lost in the tunnels and caverns below the Castle for more than a day and when she convinced Vestige to stand behind father's horse at a particularly inconvenient time for the young lad.

Dala was on his way into town to pick up a new set of pigments. Although he could have had them delivered to the castle he preferred to go into town, meet with the merchants directly. It got him out of the Palace and away from the intrigues of Court for a time. The young man was in his favorite attire: a loose and breezy shirt, pants, and cape in indigo trimmed with midnight-blue, and black boots. His crystal-green eyes lit up when he saw his big sister.

"Mercury! Pleasant day, isn't it?" His habitual smile warmed his face. "Where are you headed?" He fell in next to her, looking down to see her face. He could tell she was in the mood for some sort of trouble. She never was a redhead except when she was plotting some mischief.

The young girl's face cracked into a smile at the sight of her brother, their green eyes locked for a moment. "Have your boughs grown taller since last I saw you, Tree?" Mercury inquired, using a nickname she had given to her younger brother who stood half-again her height. "If you get any taller, those of us rooted to the earth will be unable to see your fair contenance. As it is, I get a crick in my neck whenever I talk to you," she continues with a jovial smile and musical laugh.

In answer to his question, Titania's eldest replies, "It is a beautiful day, but then, every day is grand when there are important things to accomplish. I was heading into town to scare up some fun . . . and yourself? Out for some much needed exercise?" The last is said with a sly wink, at the lithe and well-toned form of her eldest brother.

Dala laughed heartily, the sound like a booming drum rumbling from deep within. "Well I can give you a piggy-back ride if you'd like, just like when we were younger. No need to sprain your neck. After all, it might get in the way of you breaking the hearts of all the young men in town.

As for me, I was just going to pick up some new paint. I get plenty enough exercise from the Royal Physician's daily regimen." He mock-groused, but then grinned. "And of course, from stretching my boughs ever higher."

The young woman touched her nose self-consciously as she replied with a mock-serious expression, "I fear I would end up with a bloody nose, if not from the altitude, then from running into the bottom of some archway. As for the young men, they will all likely get quite a gander up my skirt were I to give them such an opportunity." She then did a brief pirouette that sent her skirt up to waist level, as if in demonstration.

"Well, we can't have your integrity as a Princess compromised." He nodded soberly.

"Paint you say? Why, did mother tell you to do the trim around the North Tower?" Mercury asked with a laugh.

Suddenly, a mischievous grin formed on Mercury's perfect lips, which widened into a toothy smile. "I think we should get some nice paint for little Vestige's room . . . sort of a present," she proclaimed in a wicked voice.

Dala blinked. "I didn't know Vestige was into paint..." Suddenly he looked at his big sister apprehensively. "This is one of those things that ends badly, doesn't it?"

"Oh yes, yes he is. Don't you recall him talking about having his gloomy room painted in light pastels?" Mercury asked in all seriousness. In fact, she said it with such authority that Dalatriene almost believed for a moment that this might be the case. The petite red-head was obviously very excited about this idea and began to tug her brother's arm with no small amount of determination.

To some extent, her enthusiasm is contagious, even if Dala was well aware of where her little projects often lead. "And I'll need you to help with the tops of the walls, 'cause I can't reach that high." She finished with a rapturous smile as if the decisions had already been made, "he'll be so excited when he gets back to the Castle next week."

"Shouldn't we ask Vestige which colors he would prefer? Light pastel covers so many different colors, you know." It was hard to argue with Mercury when she was in this mood, and he wasn't sure if Vestige had approved of the change or not. He allowed himself to be tugged along by the slender woman. "Perhaps we could find a way to incorporate his signature colors into a theme that is at once brighter than present and that represents him."

"The little firebrand gave a dismissive wave to this suggestion, "No, no. You never trust a guy to decorate, the place will look like a mausoleum. Anyway, aren't surprises much more fun?" Without giving Dala time to respond, she continued encouragingly, "Of course they are."

As the two entered the market, Mercury at once began explaining their needs to one of the merchants. In short order she had enough light green, lilac, and yellow paint to cover Vesitge's walls, and a robin's-egg blue for the ceiling. Admittedly, these were attractive colors, and did go nicely together, although Dala certainly did not immediately recall Vestige ever seeming inclined toward any of them

"Hey! I decorated my rooms and they don't look like a mausoleum!" Dala gave his sister a hurt look when she said that guys couldn't decorate. Of course, soon they were in the marketplace and Mercury was off buying new paints. Figuring that she'd be at it awhile, he went to look for the vendor he always got his own paints from.

Finding Lucio was always a bit of a search. The man wandered the marketplace, looking for the best customers to sell to. The hassle was always worth it since he carried only the best products. Dala suspected that part of his reputation stemmed from the fact that he sold to a Prince, but he was willing to let such things slide. Lucio was a good man and if he brought home a little extra money from touting his royal connection, so be it. This time, however, there was no time to idly talk. Dala explained that his sister needed his services and Lucio was quick to supply the paints and convey his most sincere wishes for health and happiness to Her Highness.

Dala wandered back in time to see Mercury with an armload of paints in different colors. "Mercury? Are you absolutely certain that Vestige would like those particular colors? He's never been one for bright and happy colors, you know. Oh! And my friend Lucio wanted you to know that he says hello and wishes you the best."