"I promise you, I'll be fine, and back with something to eat in just a few minutes." Barbara said over her shoulder, and shut the door to her room. She had dressed herself in what she normally wore about the castle, her brown breeches, tunic and cloak. The only rather ostentatious part of her clothing was the silver ribbon that held back her hair. She took a rather deep breath and started off towards the Great Hall.

In the Great Hall, Niabheara was already having a frantic whispered conversation with the steward, while occasionally glancing from the corner of her eye to see if anyone was getting near enough to overhear. "Look," she said finally, in a tight, fierce whisper, "I didn't know they weren't speaking either but apparently they're not, so you'd better figure out a way to get them separated right now because I don't think we have enough room in the root cellar if the poison doesn't have an antidote next time. Go on."

She waved him away, presumably to find one more spare room in the chaos, before turning and spotting Barbara. At first she didn't even realize anything wrong with seeing Barbara strolling about casually, then her eyes widened. She clutched Marcello's arm in excitement. "Barbara's back! She's not hobbed anymore! I have to speak to her . . . "

"Ah..." Marcello frowned and looked over at the dark-haired woman and turned a little pale. "Er. She. She actually is here?" he asked. "Er, you don't know about the last time I saw her, do you?"

Barbara was scanning the room herself and started toward them, stepping out of the way of other guests the way only someone a head taller than everyone else can manage.

She attempted to crack a smile at Niabheara. "Countess. Could I have a word with you?" She asked. "Marcello should hear it too." She allowed, giving the man a cursory glance.

Niabheara looked up at him, doe-eyed and trusting. "No. Why? Should I?"

She almost spoiled the bluff by snorting at his nervous expression, but salvaged it by quickly turning her attention to Barbara. This time her concern was not feigned. "What happened? Who changed you back?"

Marcello raised an eyebrow at the woman. "You're not going to turn into a bird this time, are you?" he asked her.

Barbara simply looked confused. "Who changed me back?" She repeated, dumbly. "How did you know I was hobbed?" She asked, and then raised her brow at Marcello. "Hopefully not, unless the Puck turns me into one again." Lang told him. "I thought you were hobbed."

"He was hobbed. Is hobbed. Everyone is fucking hobbed," she said angrily, "except for me and I am on the verge of hobbing myself before someone suspects I'm the real culprit." She eyed Barbara without much hope. "You found the Puck?"

She shook her head and touched the silver ribbon at her hair unconsciously. "No. Ganconner. I asked.. it to change everyone back but he.. it said it was forsworn, to you." She shrugged, and looked Marcello over. "You look fine." Lang said. "How were you hobbed?"

Marcello tugged his ear. "I...don't remember anything," he explained. "I mean, I remember you, but I don't remember seeing you for about two years." He looked the dark-haired woman over. "Do you remember this morning?" he asked. "You tried to make me leave the castle." Marcello put a hand on Niabheara's shoulder. "If you are the culprit, I'll be very angry you didn't use it for something more interesting."