Meredith stood beside Bell doing her best to seem attentive but in truth she was taking in nothing of what Erudisia or anyone else was saying as deep in melancholy as she was.

Bell - Passive Perception:  11

(( would she get a vibe of Meredith folding in on herself?  
     if she does, Bell would automatically wrap an arm around Meredith's waist 'in support' ))

( Merediths too preoccupied to be hiding it well I think.)

Erudisia steps back and smiles at Little One, at Meredith, and at Bell. 

She notices their tense faces; the droop in the feather of Little One’s cap. They, as she, are clearly feeling the weight and seriousness of the moment, the suspense in Valna’s soon-to-come response. 

Truly they are a like minded group. 

Stretching and pulling at her new armor, the rub of leather against leather, she exerts herself to reach to one side and put a hand on Meredith’s shoulder in solidarity. 

“I assume you used Detect Magic on the book if you are concerned about its potential inherent arcana? Did you register anything?,” the Keeper asks, one brow arched mercilessly in challenge.

“And this… letter – if its lack of erudition does not disqualify it from being thus called? This parchment with letters strewn over it like chaff come to rest after an errant breeze has blown through the mill? Are you certain of its provenance?”

“I make no assumptions. When one grows up in the house of a mighty enchanter with a penchant for practical jokes and a mastery of Nystul’s Magic Aura one learns that lesson quickly. Assumptions are only ever a trod without marker, a plank without support. I would not expect you to rely on secondary sources, even presented via ourselves.”

”Bell, if you would?” 

(Unless the Keeper would rather cast the spell herself)

Meredith involuntarily flinched as Erudisia touched her, looking up and trying to replay the last few minutes of conversation....something about a letter and the mirror book...she hoped it wasn't too important....

...a letter....

*Damn, keep it together until the bosses are gone.*

Bell looks at Erudisia and then the Keeper.  "Perhaps it will be best if I try Detect Magic and follow up with Identify ?"

Unless someone says otherwise, she will do as stated... detecting and then identifying.

Bell:

With a glance at the Keeper, Bell does her thing and after glancing at the Keeper and company speaks of what she uncovered.

Bell detects Illusion and Conjuration magic in the tome.
Limitless charges.
The illusion magic is triggered by looking into the mirror. 
If the creature holding the book mentions a desire to change something about itself, or that it feels unwell, tired, or unhappy, the conjuration magic is triggered, creating a magical portal.

"I dare not do more without accidentally triggering a response from the book.... unless you are wishing us to trigger it and be sent where ever it sends victims?"

Merediths hands move almost independantly for a few moments towards the book, but she stills herself, keeping rigid beside Erudisia.

The Keeper observes you keenly.

“Illusions and magic portals are not my concern. Many magical tomes line these shelves. This book’s magic, alone, does not make it either invaluable or of particular danger. It is not cursed. It is not possessed.” 

She takes up the book and boldly holds the mirror before her for almost a minute. Her expression is difficult to read. She then quickly leafs through the pages, dwelling for a moment on the last page, before placing it on the table and taking up the letter and envelope again. She casts Guidance on herself and studies the seal. 

“This is the Silvershield crest. The Grand Duke of Baldur’s Gate,” Oxalonthrinn says, thoughtfully, though still with an edge.  She regards Erudisia, her sea-blue eyes seeming to flow like a depthless ocean.

“Princess Alana Silvershield is your friend?,” she asks, her voice flat. Her glance circles the room again with an air of finality.

“Candlekeep does not answer to earthly powers, nor does it owe obeisance or debt of any kind to the Silvershields. Candlekeep’s mission – your mission – is the protection of its Library and most importantly the ancient foretellings of Aulando the Seer.

“What concern is this letter or book to Candlekeep? None. Except as a curio. One volume among ten thousand thousands. If you take a personal interest in the comings and goings of your friend, that is your personal business.”

She stands abruptly. “I must go. Questions of real concern wait upon my sole judgment while I maintain both the defense of the Emerald Door and serve in Janussi’s absence. And you are drawing a salary to undertake specific tasks named by the Keeper of Tomes. Do you not have work to do?”

With a rush of forest green and black fabric, she turns to leave.

“Shadi, walk with me please.”

The Keeper strides away. Shadi walks behind her, backpedalling and facing you as they withdraw, holding up their hands in an ‘oh well we tried…’ gesture. The harengon turns and catches up with the Keeper and both leave you four alone in the chamber.

Erudisia coughs. 

“The wisdom of the Keeper is of necessity as deep as the weight of her office, and employed as often as her nature can withstand.”

”Lolth’s claw.”

(How large is the room?. Either here or in a larger space)

Erudisia looks into the mirror.

”I wish I was more wise, more graceful, more like her.”

Meredith suddenly looks up at Erudisia in shock, " What the hells are you doing?"

“Ladies don’t earn a salary. At most, I receive a retainer for my services.”

”Are you coming with me?” Erudisia asks, a moment after speaking into the mirror and awaiting the commencement of the transportation. 

“My mother says it is fait accompli, my father says it is better to ask for forgiveness than for permission. We will tell the Keeper our results at the end of this, my personal business.”

Bell's mouth is a silent 'O'... and her eyebrows are nearly to her hairline. 

"You did hear what I told the Keeper?   That is the bare minimum of what the spells can uncover!  There is no telling what might be waiting on the other side of the mirror!"

Let's go one step at a time.

As we noted before, The Price of Beauty is bound in soft green leather, eight inches wide and fourteen inches tall, and set with golden clasps. The book gives off the unmistakable scent of lilies. Set into its cover is a polished oval mirror which, Erudisia now notices as she looks into the mirror for the first time, is bordered by a delicate gold frame styled like locks of hair. Those golden locks appear to move, spilling down around her reflected face in a visually animated caress.

After a half minute or so, Erudisia’s reflection melts away and the image of Sune, god of love and beauty, replaces the Moonshae Lady’s reflection and speaks in a soft voice only Erudisia can hear.

“Well met, dearest one. How do you feel today?”

(Does Erudisia continue to say what she had planned to say?)

Religion: 8

Erudisia is briefly shocked into silence to see a younger her, or at least be thrilled into seeing the younger, less care-worn her that she was when she was blonde. 

When Lady Firehair appears, Erudisia does not recognise her, but whom cannot feel inadequate in strange and ill fitting patchwork armor when a woman beyond equal looks back at you. Every inch of perfect skin only serving to remind Erudisia of every blemish, every mortal imperfection that she has gained from her father. 

With her mother so close to her mind, her truly Elven mother, only recently removed from the Feywild, Erudisia’s self confidence is brittle. Sune is not the first perfect complexion she has seen in her life. She is, however, the first to speak to Erudisia so warmly.

”Who are you?” she asks.

The image in the mirror laughs gently, warm and merry like a cool brook in a sunny glen.

“I have no name, though you may call me what you will. I will answer. But be kind! The gentle trill of laughter again. 

“There, there. Do not scowl. It bunches up your lovely features, although even scowling, your inner light shines out.”

Erudisia’s mirror reflection has reverted back to her own features, and concentration is indeed evident in her expression, a line cutting her brow. But as she looks, the reflection shifts and her features seem to soften with an inner light. The line disappears and she looks portrait-ready. Her normal self though ever so slightly… improved?

Meredith simply watches, once Erudisia has made a decision there's not much else for it but to get out of her way.....