"What should we expect?" asked Valkyrie.

"Truthfully, I don't know. I hope that none of the stories about faeries tricking humans are true," Arthur replied as he placed his hand on the gatekeeper statue, noticing a small faerie statue on its shoulder.

"Gatekeeper, open the gate to faery labyrinth please."

The gate shimmered but appeared different from the others. The normal silver sheen showed up with many colors similar to a kaleidoscope.

The three crossed the rainbow gate. The other two labyrinths were devoid of structures other than the main dungeon. They were taken by surprise when they saw faeries of various sizes flying about.

A human-sized faerie was waiting by the gate and bowed, "Greetings and well met. We have been told to expect visitors from the human realm. May I have your names?"

Arthur was about to speak but Dani placed her hand on his arm and squeezed. "We come from Camelot. We were told that your queen is expecting us."

The androgynous-looking faerie frowned when the names were not offered, but made the motion to follow them.

The three looked about admiring the different faeries and the clothes they wore while they followed the escort.

They were led to a shimmering castle that appeared to be made of crystal. Unlike the faeries, each of their steps sent echoes. The faeries' expressions varied from curiosity to fascination and contempt.

The guards with spiral spears opened the double doors that showed the vastness of the throne room. The size of the room was way bigger than any of them expected, they suspected that magic was used to create the massive space.

"This whole castle is a giant mana crystal," Arthur telepathically told Valkyrie.

"We need to be careful here. I saw some of the looks of the faeries outside. We might be invited to visit, but there seems to be some hard feelings with humans."

The escort stopped and looked at them again, "I will announce you, but I require your names."

Arthur looked at the faerie, "I will give our names, but may I ask what is yours? You have escorted us to the presence of your queen. I would like to be able to tell her of your good service."

The faerie blinked, uncertain how to act at the possibility of being spoken well to the queen of the fairies. "My name is Hurijal Shimmerwing, at your service."

"This is my lady Valkyrie, and this is my elven consort Scorpion, and I am Arthur."

The androgynous faerie smoothed out his outfit and moved closer to the throne, "Presenting Lord Arthur of Camelot and accompanying him is his Lady Valkyrie and Consort Scorpion."

The queen turned from her conversation to a small faerie that was hovering in mid-air. The majestic presence was strong and her eyes seemed to bore into them to unravel secrets they might be hiding. "Welcome to my court. It has been many years since we had any visitors from the human realm. I would assume you have seen some harsh faces on the way in. You see humans once tried to chase us out of our labyrinth. They even tried to close our gate. We put a stop to that. We took control of our gate, but never in our wildest dreams could we predict that a human could claim our gate."

Arthur smiled and bowed. The two women curtsey to give respect.

"Your Highness, we have come to visit and to get acquainted with you. It was only recently that I learned that I could claim a gate. I am working to understand a lot of things. Your people seem carefree and without worry. Your control of your gate must have prevented unwanted intrusions."

"Yes but now that you control it, we are forced to abide by your decrees."

"The visit is to get to know you and the faeries. I am working on combining the strengths of non-humans and humans to form a group that will be mutually beneficial to all."

"And if we refuse to comply?"

"Why are we even listening to this human? We have never suffered their kind before? We've played tricks on them when they come in, we hurt and killed some of them. What are you waiting for?" yelled the little faerie still hovering in mid-air.

"Hush now little one, be nice. Our visitors aren't the usual human riffraff."

"I still don't like them. The boy is pretentious in his dragon attire. The woman looks like she wants to be a myth. And the elf... well I can't say anything about the elf, she looks nice." Half complained the dark-haired little faerie.

"I noticed that the castle seems to be made out of a giant mana crystal. Or pieces of mana crystal that have been shaped to create this magnificent structure. Am I right in my assumption?"

"Keen eye for a human. Yes, the faerie has always been a worker of mana crystals."

"Take back our gate your highness. Kick these interlopers out. We don't need them." continued to yell and insult the little faerie.

"I know we didn't do anything to you, but why are you so against us?"

"You waltz in here and claim our labyrinth. You walked right in and acted like you owned the place. You are no better than the undead who would steal our very people to use our essence to power their spells or to steal mana crystals that we painstakingly made." pouted the little faerie with her fists on her hips.

"Let me correct you there. We came because we were told the queen was awaiting a visit from us. We were invited to come. Second, when was the last time you ever heard of a human or any race being able to lay claim to a labyrinth without a key? Third, if we were in the same league as the undead, we wouldn't be chatting. So whatever your grievances are, you should remember your place. You are not the queen and she is the one we have come to speak with."

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

The queen's eyes narrowed while her lips curled up in approval of Arthur holding his own against the little faerie.

"Lord Arthur, how could I count on your words when you hold the threat of owning our labyrinth over our heads?" She asked while her eyes kept contact with his own.

"You have a choice. You can allow me to retain ownership or you can ask me to relinquish ownership. Just understand that what I do is to safeguard as many people as I can both human and non-human. So if you choose to ask me to relinquish it, I will close the gate permanently in a way that no one else can open it."

"He can't do that, he's bluffing!" huffed the little faerie.

"My little friend seems to believe you can't do what you say. Can you prove it?"

Arthur thought for a moment then nodded. He yelled and his voice caused the castle to vibrate, "Gatekeeper, I know you can hear me because you haven't exactly been acting like the other gatekeepers. So could you enlighten your queen on what you have observed me do?"

A voice responded through the castle, soft enough to not vibrate the crystalline structure but heard by all faeries in and out of the throne room. "Lord Arthur has been bestowed with the Guardian key. As such, he has the right to claim any labyrinths. He must protect the labyrinth and all those within it. If the queen chooses to break away from him, she would be losing his protection."

"Like he can protect anything, he looks barely two decades old. That still doesn't prove anything," complained the little faerie.

"Then ponder on this, He leads a group called Camelot. He has the Morlocks and Dwarves under his protection and they kneel to his leadership. He has a giant who is friendly with him. And if that is still not enough, he possesses the Doll's Heart." said the voice though there was a told of scolding.

The queen listened but her eyes gave her away when it widened at the last utterance of the gatekeeper.

Arthur looked at the queen back, "We have come to visit and we get insulted. I am forced to listen and prove who I am and what I can do. All this while the common manners have not been presented to us. Our names have been made known and yet I don't know what the queen's name is, nor the little faerie that has been speaking."

The little faerie's face turned purple and her lips tightly pursed. She looked ready to explode.

"Telaga enough. Lord Arthur is right. We invited him but we didn't give him the proper courtesy. The gatekeeper would not have allowed the claiming of the labyrinth just because he is a human with some skill. Lord Arthur, I have many names among the humans so I will use a name that you should recognize. You may call me Queen Titania."

Telaga landed on the armrest of the queen's throne sulking and facing away from the humans.

Arthur nodded, "I noticed different sizes among the faeries. Is there a reason for that?"

"When my subjects do something worthwhile, they are rewarded. The reward sometimes elevates their power and stature."

"So what you are saying is that the bigger the faerie, the more powerful they are?"

"That is correct, though our size is similar to humans our appearance gradually increases as we grow more powerful."

"I would like to suggest that Hurijal Shimmerwing be rewarded for his calm demeanor and for escorting us patiently from the gate to your throne room while we took our time to gather our wits and bearings. They are a credit to your people and should be someone they look up to," said Arthur with a smile towards the faerie escort.

Hurijal knelt when his name was mentioned, "My service has always been loyal to the crown. Everything I do would reflect on my queen."

The queen looked at the escort and then back at Arthur. "Hurijal, what reward would you like to receive?"

"Your Highness, please allow me to be apprenticed to a crystal crafter," they said with their head bowed.

"It is granted, going forward you will be apprenticed to Werune Facetwing. Rise Hurijal Facetwing."

The other faeries murmured in awe at the proclamation.

"If you do not mind me asking, can anyone learn to crystal craft? Or is this just a faerie ability?" asked Arthur.

The queen points to one of the human-sized faeries and beckons them forward. "Normally humans wouldn't be able to learn, but I am curious as you possess the Doll's Heart. Lomar teach him a simple crystal craft and let us all bear witness."

Lomar was a blond faerie with piercing blue eyes. There was a crystal earring that dangled on his left lobe and was in the shape of an acorn. He opened his hands and weaved mana like it was clay and created a simple pyramid that looked like a four-sided die. It took the faery less than a minute to accomplish this.

Arthur was watching with his magical sight and saw that it was a more complex version of his latticework. He furrowed his brow in concentration and released mana from himself. He used his will to create the latticework that he had always done but created a lot of them and merged them as he focused on a shape. It took Arthur nearly five minutes before he completed what he was trying to do. When he opened his palm, he smiled and presented a crystal that was in the shape of a twenty-sided dice.

Valkyrie and Danistrae smiled proudly while staying quiet.

The faeries excitedly chattered amongst themselves. Some were angry, but most were pleasantly surprised.

"It would seem there is more to you than meets the eye, Lord Arthur. Is there anything else you'd like to ask me?"

"I assume you would like me to retain ownership of the labyrinth?"

"It would be foolish of me to decline that honor."

"May the three of us have prior approval to visit at any time? If we do bring anyone else with us, we will give advance notice to the gatekeeper."

"You and your two companions are free to come and go as you please. I do have something to ask of you. Would you do me a favor and take Telaga with you? She requires experience in the human realm and spending some time among humans might do well for her outlook in life."

"I do not have a problem with bringing Telaga with me, but I do have some concerns. Humans normally do not see faeries and given her recent attitude I doubt she will heed any instruction I give."

"Telaga might be small, but she is practiced in invisibility and has been good at camouflage. I give you my word that she will not cause you intentional harm."

Arthur raised a brow and looked at the little faerie, "Telaga, I need you to promise me that you will heed my words and obey my instructions. You will not cause any harm intentional or otherwise to me and all those who are under me or Camelot. Can you promise me that?"

Telaga turned around with a pout, "Fine."

"Say it."

Telaga grumbled, "I promise that I will listen to your words and will not cause any harm to you and yours."

Arthur paused and stared at Telaga, "I don't think so. Say it right or you can stay here with your people and I'll tell the gatekeeper to never let you out of the labyrinth."

Telaga grimaced and gritted her teeth, "Arthur, I promise that I will heed your words and obey your instructions. I will not cause any harm intentional or otherwise to you and all those who are under you or Camelot. Satisfied?"

A few faeries giggled at her and she glared at them into silence.

"Yes I am satisfied, thank you Telaga," he told the little faerie.

Arthur bowed, "Thank you for your audience, Queen Titania. I look forward to visiting in the future, both socially and to learning more with the crystal crafters. Before I go, how is Telaga related to you?"

The queen looked in surprise, "How did you guess?"

"Well two things caught my attention, the two of you interact a little too much familiarity. Which makes me think you are or consider yourselves family. The second was when she landed on your armrest and you didn't object. No other faerie is within fifteen feet of you, so having her within your personal space hints at something more."

"She is my youngest daughter," smiled the queen then looked at her daughter. "Do try to behave Telaga."

The little faerie stood up and bowed to her mother, "I will try Mother." She flew up in the air towards Arthur, then stuck her tongue out at him before detouring to land on Danistrae's shoulder. "Can I sit on your shoulder Scorpion? I have a little allergy to boys."

Everyone laughed at that comment except for Arthur who looked at the little faerie like he wanted to kick her like a soccer ball.