Prologue 1.3

Summer Court

-Titania-

The only sounds in Titania’s bed chamber after Dindrane left was the sounds of the Daughters who were still in their humanoid form going through everything that caught their attention. Nox looked at them and just smiled like any mother would at her children playing. Only saying anything if a squabble broke out over something that 2 of her Daughter’s both tried to claim. Or when one brought something, they had found to her to look at. She would say something about it at which point the one with the trinket would turn to leave and get mobbed by the others to see it.

I tied the robe around myself a little more secure, as I did this I looked over to see how my consort Janev was and was dismayed to see that she had rolled out of the bed onto the floor and was curled up in a ball whimpering softly. As the Queen I had to be iron fisted and some would say cruel. That was not really who I truly was, few people knew the other side of me and they kept my secret not out of fear but loyalty and love, Janev was one of those. And without thinking I moved to help her and before I was halfway around the bed I was brought up short by one of the Daughters who had come out of nowhere and had leveled her spear at me and was hissing at me and her wings rustled like a snakes tail in dry leaves. Fear and survival is one thing all living things have, I went straight through fear to survival, I froze and kept my eyes fixed on the Daughter whose black as night eyes drilled into me. I was as close to death as I have ever been in my 5000 year life ( that was my age and I dare anyone to prove otherwise.). I was so glad I had the robe on because I just wet myself a bit. “Nox” I said in a loud whisper as soon as I said it the Daughter spread her wings to their fullest knocking one of the bed posts off and cracking the headboard as she drew her spear back, I truly thought I was going to die, and to add insult to it not know why. Nox made a sound like a cross between a cough and a kaw. And in a instant the Daughter went from wanting killing me back to walking away to look at a book laying on a table.

“That was not a very smart thing to do, are you ill? Nox said.

“No, I Know I was dismayed at her being on the floor and in distress, I wanted to help her.”

I still did not move. “I know. Go, see about your nest mate. My Daughters are a bit over protective.” Nox replied with an amused smile

I flinched a little at Nox’s nest mate comment, why it bothered me I was not sure, because if I understood what Nox meant it was true. I look over my shoulder for some reason to see her smiling at me.

As I knelt down to see to Janev, gently brushing the hair out of her face, she had her hands clinched along with her eyes and what I had thought were whimpers were her calling for her mother, I feared her mind had broken, or was about to. My emotions got the best of me as started to tear up, I had to do something, whatever was wrong and had brought Nox here, Janev had no part in it and did not deserve to be hurt or worse for it.

As soon I thought to use my magic to quite her mind and bring comfort to her, I stopped, that was a very bad idea. If the Daughters reaction to me just moving was almost killing me, I did not want to see what would happen if I tried to use magic, I shuddered at the thought. I had to do something and there was only one thing I could think of. And a part of me was outraged that in my own realm I could not use my own power however I wanted, that reminded me and humbled me that I was not top of the food chain here. And somehow I knew that was a point Nox was driving home.

I had to ask Nox, as I was about too, she spoke first. “Yes, I will see to her. I am not heartless either, and she had no part in this turn of events and does not deserve to be in the state she is in. My Daughters and I are at fault, I am not perfect and do make mistakes, which is also why I am here in part to correct a mistake.”

I was a bit shocked to hear a being as powerful as her admit fault and it gave me a lot to think on, if all leaders were like that no matter what realm things would be a lot more peaceful, at least that is how I felt. But what happened next was even more surprising, Mother walked over to where I knelt on the floor. “I am sorry she is this way, please step aside so I can fix this .”

I stood and moved aside as this being who created worlds with just a thought looked down on Janev like I had seen so many mothers look at their children. She knelt down and picked her up and gently put her back in the bed and covered her. She stood there for a moment more and looked at her. And she turned to face me she said.

“I do not know why you were thrown on my shores, and it really does not matter to me, you are foundlings, no nest to call your own. I will claim you, and care for you as my own creations. If, it is ever found where you come from, I leave it up to you. I will send you back if you wish.”

She stepped aside so I could see Janev and she was calm and sleeping like nothing had happened. “She will be fine do not worry.”

At all this I swore that I would remove from existence any of my people that chose to cross her, not out of fear of her but respect. I do not think that even I could act with such meekness and grace no I knew I could not, nor could Mab. She was truly what a ruler should be someone who through their actions inspire people to follow them. I did not how the humans and other beings in her realm acted toward her but if it was not loyalty and respect, I would be happy to set them straight.

Nox looks at me, “I do not want my creations to follow my will. I gave them free will, and as I have found out there needs to be some guidance with it and some correction at times.

She sighed,” I heard a human saying once, spare the rod, spoil the child. I have let them do as they saw fit, without much of any guidance from me. Thinking it was the right way. And I was wrong. Now I must take measures. I now have to guide my children before it cannot be corrected.”

Then her face turned grim, “As soon as our other guest gets here, we will finally start. Child I truly hope that some cosmic misunderstanding is at fault for me having to come here. If not and it has not broken my plans, I will just cut you off from my realm and myself, if it cannot be fixed, I will not like it, but I will wipe your whole realm from the wheel. I truly hope I do not have to do that.”

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I was stunned and just stood there not knowing what to say. I honestly could not figure out what we had done. Then the Daughter’s started in a round, like a wind blowing leaves in a spring storm.

“Yes, our Mother is wise, she is merciful, she is the One Mother” then the winds changed to those of a bitter cold winter squall, Yes, our Mother is wise, she is merciless, she is the One Mother.” Then silence.

I saw something out of the corner of my eye, I turned to look at the front doors to my chamber, shadows started to coleus, the first thing to appear to my horror was Mab and for a moment all I saw was just her head hanging in the air, and for that moment I thought my heart would break, I wanted to scream, why? What had happened to make Dindrane kill her? Were my first thoughts. Just as I felt I was about to collapse the rest of her body appeared she was hanging about a half meter or so off the floor as Dindrane held her by her throat with her left hand, I could see blood on her neck where Dindrane’s claws had sunk in. And one of the Daughters followed her.

As the shadows faded away, Dindrane let go of Mab who collapsed to her knees, and without thinking I rushed to her, as I embraced her, I realized what I had done and the horror hit me, I expected to die any second. Instead both Dindrane and the Daughter faced Mother dropped their knees, Dindrane taking the bow into total supplication, “Mother I am sorry for making you wait as long as you have”.

The other Daughters started up in playful round I had heard before, “Naughty, Naughty, she should be punished, but how? Oh, we know how about like humans do, she should be spanked” I swear I saw Dindrane twitch. Then the Daughters started to giggle like teenagers.

Mab was leaning on me and was trying to catch her breath when Mother spoke with a mischievous smile and as it so happened Dindrane could not see it. “That sounds like a good idea, but before that I want to know what happened to make you almost kill her”

I looked at Dindrane and she was trembling, “Mother, she lied and I got angry, she told me she had no idea what they had done to bring you here. That was a lie she is not that stupid.”

“ I see, and I understand why that would anger you, though she may be telling the truth. Could she not?”

In a soft childlike voice “yes Mother”.

Mother sighed, “Stand up look at me”

As I watched Dindrane stand I could feel tear roll down my neck where Mab had her face buried, she whispered “I truly thought I would die and never to see you again and not know why”.

I ran my hand through her hair to calm her. I looked at Nox and she had a wooden rod about a meter long in her hand.

“Come here Dindrane” Who walked to her as one would expect a child who was to be punished would. I could not quite comprehend the scene playing out in front of me. Even the Daughters I could see looked taken a back.

As Dindrane got about couple meters or so from her Mother, Nox’s left wing shot out and pulled her gently forward to within into an embrace.

Dindrane was taken by surprised as did all the Daughters, the rod disappeared as Mother reached out and cupped her cheek.

“Did you truly think I was mad and was going to punish you? In a very soft voice, “Yes Mother” .

Nox laughed, as she reached out to stroke her eldest daughter’s wing. “No child, you did not kill her which is all I wanted. I was playing with you.”

At this Dindrane actually pouted, saying softly” not funny”. She did not move as Mother was stroking her wings though. I could hear all the other Daughters stifle giggles.

Nox stopped and stepped away from Dindrane, and walked over to us. I stood up and brought Mab with me. And Mother looked down at us. Mab had composed herself enough to stand on her, she still clung to my arm which I pulled off and then grasped her hand tightly. And we both looked back at the Nox. Whatever happened we would face it together.

“Dindrane, please find the one I seek and bring him here. You silly daughters of mine go and find what the Romans call the Eagle of the 9th, and that only, no stopping to look at others things or to torment the Fae, am I clear?

“ Yes Mother” they all spoke as one and faded into the shadows.

Dindrane just bowed her head and did the same.

“Now for the matter that brought me here.” When she had said Romans, I knew what this was all about, and I am sure Mab did as well.

“From the look on both your faces I think you do too now.” “So, tell me why you have 5000 of my children imprisoned?” It went unspoken the weight of our answer.

“Nox, Mab spoke, “When Dindrane asked me it never occurred to me that they were the issue.”

Mother’s brow furled “And why was that? The rule was you did not entrap any of my children yet you have 5000 of them. I fail to understand why you felt this was something I would let stand as I made it very clear, or so I thought."

The look she gave was right down to our souls. I spoke up, “Nox we did leave our lands and capture them. The invaded us. They attacked the guards on our broader and sacked few of the lesser Fae towns, enslaved those they captured. We did what any rulers should do, we defended our people. Since they came to us, attacked us, we did feel we were breaking your rule, we truly did not.” You know we cannot not lie, and even if we could lying to you would be fruitless and deadly even”

Nox was in deep thought for when seemed an eternity to me. “ I see” She said.” This is what happens when you give children free will and no boundaries.”

She said as if speaking to herself. “ I truly did not think anyone one would find you here, lest of all invade you.“ “When Dindrane returns I will ask the one I seek why they came here”

She looked at us and smiled “Be at ease, I am satisfied that you did not break my edict. Though I am also sure that most of them had no choice in coming here. I will need to sort this out.” So you will have to put up with us for a bit longer.” “Those of yours killed, I am still not sure were their souls go, but if you want I will try to raise them, seeing as this is my over sight. And you are not in my realm by choice.”

Some time passed, the first to return were the Daughters, one appeared out of a cloud of shadows in full flight to be followed by what seems all of them at once, the Daughter in the lead held something clutched to her chest, just as she seemed like she was pulling up to to land in front of Nox. The rest plowed into her and and all out melee ensued over what ever the first was carrying, it was impossible to figure out where one ended or another began.

The Kaws where deafening, Mab held onto me and tighter and as did I to her. I could see Nox close her eyes and rub the bridge of her nose shaken her head.

Nox walked over to the pile of chaos. She reached in the pile and yanked one out by the back of her neck and dislodging a couple who do not miss a beat and piled right back in, the one she had struggled trying to get loose until she saw who had her, Nox shook her several times and it seemed quite hard until the she changed back into her raven form and flew over to a shelve and where she to me appeared to sulk.

This repeated it’s self until one remained. That one jumped up holding something that appeared made of gold and made to turn to rush to Nox and saw her mother who just snatched the object out of her hands

From the other side of the room Dindrane appeared carrying one of my trees and carried it over and set before Mother. “I see I timed it right as the fuss has ended”

Nox just nodded her head and looked at her Daughters, her oldest was still staring at them with a look that would wilt flowers.

Mother looked at me as she walked over to the tree, she walked slowly around it looking intently at it. She stopped and turned toward me with an amused look, her left wing tapped the tree. I got the hint, “It’s a hobby.” I said kind of sheepishly.

“I see, oddly I do not recognize it, so this is not of my realm” I winced.

“This is” with a long pause, " unexpected.” She waves her hand over it and it turns to ash and as the ash falls a tendril of shadow trails out of the ash and forms a dark grey orb in her hand. She looks at for a moment and then hands it to Dindrane.

“Now my rambunctious Daughters” As she looks to the corner where the 7 Daughters where sheepishly preached. “ You will scourer the realm of the Fae and find all the souls that are mine and return them to my Nest, and that is all you will do in this Realm.” I am sure by now the Souls in my Realm that need to be seen by me have piled up as well and need to be seen to.” “Am I understood?”

As one voice all the Daughters ,“ Yes Mother” and flew silently and for once orderly out the door.

She turns back to look at Mab and I. Dindrane walks over to her and hands her the orb, “This is a soul of my Realm, and it seems that your magic not being of my making has corrupted it, and I am pretty sure all the others will be the same.” She looks at the orb again and back at us, I held my breath and could hear both our hearts beating expecting the worse.

“Normally, if any being had done this to a soul of mine I would have Dindrane purge them from my Realm. You are not here by choice and I did not foresee this. So I need to make sure this never happens again”. She hands the orb back to Dindrane,

“ You Ladies have a choice, I can merge your Realm into my mine and make it so everything fits nice and neatly or I can lock this Realm down so no one can cross either way. I cannot have souls being corrupted to the point I have to wash them clean and wiping out all the growth of that soul. I will give you a Lunar cycle to decide I will send someone to receive your answer. And discuss the details”

She smiles at both of us.” I would take this opportunity to become one people, I can see your souls reaching for the other. Think about it”

With that she, and Dindrane vanished into a cloud of shadows.

I looked at Mab, almost breaking into tears as both of us collapsed to the floor.