Royal balls are such a bore, aren't they?

And In Dreams

SkekSil didn't quite recall how he'd gotten back into his chamber. He remembered passing out in one of the chairs in the Library; not in his bed. It was early in the morning, too early to be exact. No one would be awake at this time of day- so Chamberlain did not need to be awake either. He would find out how he moved from place to place later on.
The thunder that seemed a continuous noise outside of the Castle gave SkekSil just enough sound to move his mind onto calmer thoughts and allowed him to fall back asleep. Rarely did he dream... but it seemed that this would be one of the few times he did.

"SkekSil...
SkekSil!
We need to move, we're losing the tracks"
A forest. Green, near too much for him to see anything. No one was around him... but that voice. SkekMal.
"Where are you? Cannot... see you", whimpered Chamberlain.
"This way", his voice seemed to echo through the trees, the ground, everything. it always had been so unnerving. SkekSil padded carefully on the mossy ground, stepping over logs and attempting to creep under branches. He didn't know where he was going- all he knew is that something was dragging him along. 
How long had passed? Hours? Days? it felt like an eternity before he reached anything that wasn't a shade of blue, green or yellow. Now he found himself standing in front of a wooden hut, much too small for him to fit in.  There was a light inside. Was this someone's home? Perhaps a podlings...
"What are you doing? Get back!".
A force pushed him backward, and he fell onto the ground. when he looked to see what was there- he saw Garthim. A couple. It made him shriek at the sudden sight of those monstrosities.
Without a word, they destroyed the hut, took the podlings and... and... it was horrible. They didn't put them in a net or anything, they murdered them there and then. SkekSil trembled, he didn't want to watch this anymore but he couldn't move. "S-Stop!", he shouted. But the Garthim wouldn't listen.

Black. What was happening? He still couldn't move, but he could see... Hunter. There was no mistaking that mask. Chamberlain never was able to tell if that was another Skeksis's skull or a large bird's. "SkekMal.. what is this?" whined SkekSil. "The now, SkekSil. It's been too long, old friend. I want you to seek me out at the podling hut. I need of you once again...".

Chamberlain woke to a cold sweat. The dream wasn't at all scary, but then why was he frightened to the bone. He was shivering and could barely sit up without latching onto his bedframe to pull him up. His eyelids felt heavy, he did not feel rested at all. All that extra hour of sleep did was give him a headache. Chamberlain raised himself off the bed and rubbed one of his temples, wobbling a bit as he made his way to the desk. "Good for nothing sleep... ooh...". It took effort to unhitch the leather belting from his book, and even more effort to uncork the ink bottle. 
He constantly kept track of strange dreams like that; there was always a constant pattern. SkekMal.
SkekMal always appeared in those strange nights. Chamberlain couldn't tell if they were nightmares or hopeful dreams. Hopeful? just dreams. SkekSil did admit he missed the Hunter though, he was one of the few Skeksis that would listen to what Chamberlain had to say. In smooth and fluent movements he wrote briskly the vague dream to the best of his memory. Not only a few moments after there was a knock on his door. "Come in", he shouted so the person could hear. He watched as the door opened to reveal SkekTek. Chamberlain's brows raised and he gave a smile "Ahh! it is you, what do need?", SkekSil managed to sound as joyous as possible. He had learned that with at least one happy being, sometimes that led to more happiness. The Scientist shut the door behind him, "Oh, you may want to sit down for this. I can't hold it in any longer". SkekSil gave a queer look to the Scientist but did as asked and took a seat. SkekTek seemed giddy and found a chair to pull up a few feet in front of Chamberlain. "It's SkekUng".
"Is he finally dying? please tell me that's it", groaned SkekSil. "Uh... not exactly, Lord Chamberlain. It involves you".

Now, this was interesting. SkekUng, Garthim Master, General, and his life long Rival; had emotions towards him. Warm ones. What? "H-Hang on... when did he say this? are you lying to me?", sneered SkekSil. SkekTek shook his head, "No, Lord SkekSil. He said it just last night, came asking questions about his feelings."
Chamberlain sighed and held his head in his hands. He didn't even know how to feel about this, his head hurt too much. "Need time to think on this... is he the one who brought me here last night?", pressed Chamberlain. "Yes".
And now he was comfortable dragging him from place to place. Wonderful.  SkekSil hissed irritably, "Is that all, Spithead?". SkekTek felt taken aback but... realized this could be a lot to sink in. "Yes, Lord Chamberlain-" "Then get out"

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" You. Did. W H A T!? "SkekUng boomed, throwing a candlestick at the Scientist. "P-Please, General! Calm down! He should know!". "YOU SNITCH".
By now, SkekTek should have known the anger of General SkekUng was not one to be toyed with. Hit the right buttons and you might find yourself armless. SkekUng advanced towards the Scientist, digging his talons in the grey collar of the robes. "You weren't supposed to tell him, BECAUSE IT'S NOT TRUE". SkekTek gulped a bit. This surely wouldn't end out well for him tonight.