Title: The de Fae Saga - Of the Faeries
Written by: Nyx Goldstone
Disclaimer: It's Pirates. It's all Disney. Well, except for the de Faes. They're mine. My brain children!!
Rating: PG-13 - Strong language, mild violence
Author's Note: Well, after posting Shifted, I got the guts to post my very first fanfiction ever. I'm aware how much this kinda sucks, so no need to point it out. It was a first and an experiment in doing strange things like filling in the blanks from a movie. The chapters were written mostly out of order. Also, they were written over the time between Dead Man's Chest and At World's End's release, which means a lot of the nods and hints are going to be completely AU, since the answers were given after I did the writing. I would also like to apologize for the extra poorness of this chapter. It contained nods to Laurell K. Hamilton's Merry Gentry books which, at the time of writing it, I was unaware that she doesn't allow fanfics of her work. I tried to edit it out and still keep the integrity of the chapter... I'm fairly sure I failed at that, since it reminds me of a child's paper snowflake. Let me know if you catch anything I might have missed and I'll fix it. I don't wanna be sued!

Beginnings

I dared to lift my eyes only enough to see my sister through my eyelashes. She was trembling like a cornered rabbit, and that wolf, the Queen of the Unseelie Court, was circling her. Maren, my sister, was short by Sidhe standards (a mere five feet and seven inches), which made our towering queen seem all the more intimidating to her. I knew all too well the effect Her Majesty had on my poor twin, and I did my best to ease that fear.

My "best" was to be her guard and escort. We were of royal blood, but a linage so far down the line that it did not give us much pull in the Unseelie Court. Our parents died when Maren and I were very young; Faded on our thirtieth birthday. Thank you, Mother. Thank you, Father. My sister grieved, but I saw their Fade as weakness on their parts. Our parents were around long enough to know the Pictish tribe leaders personally before they died out and after all that time our parents decide to just give up? I swore an oath to myself and my sister to never repeat that mistake.

Just like in the human royal courts, any time an elder dies and gives the youth a chance to rise up to the next rung on the ladder, those above and below seem to notice and take it as personal insult. Both sides would speak in sweet words while backstabbing, both figuratively and literally. After a Duel that left my sister broken on so many levels that she had begun to fear even me, I swore to be her Champion, always.

"BEVAN!"

I jumped, startled from my thoughts, followed at an inward flinch of what that reaction could mean for me. "Yes, your Highness?"

The queen placed a finger under my chin and tilted my head up so I met her eyes. "What's running through that pretty dark head of yours, Bevan?"

Another inward shudder threatened to make itself known when I felt the queen stroke my cheek like a lover. "A-about what?"

The sound and pain from the backhanded slap seemed to register too long after she actually slapped me. I let my chin drop to my chest so that I did not have to look her in the eyes again. She stepped away from me and took her place at her throne.

"Your sister has agreed, in the name of an attempt at peace, to become the consort of the King of the Seelie Court. What do you think of that?"

I turned my head to look at my sister. She was huddled on the floor, hugging herself. I turned my full attention back to my Queen. "If it pleases my Queen..."

"It does NOT please me!" she thundered. The walls of the Sithen seemed to enhance and echo her words. "But, rather than risk war and your sister find herself challenged to another Duel, I deem it necessary."

"Your Majesty…" The strained and timid voice of my sister caught both mine and the queen's attention. Neither of us spoke, so I assume that Maren took that as an invitation to continue. "Your Majesty…" Maren paused and swallowed, as if the words were stuck in her throat. "If you would permit me, I would like to take Bevan with me, as my guard."

I caught Maren's gaze at that moment. Her eyes held a mixture of relief and pleading. It was too much emotion showing on her face; too much for the queen to not take notice. I stole a glance at Her Higness, anticipating an angry heat in her face. The queen was turned away, thinking about my sister's request. I couldn't help but feel relieved as well.

Finally, she nodded. "Yes, I agree that you should have a guard with you. Perhaps two of you could help each other keep your heads about you in their illusions of light. And Bevan," Her Highness stared pointedly at me, "I expect a full report every month."

I bowed deeper to my queen, "Of course, your Majesty."

* * * *

Maren and I were given time to pack before we left that same night. I was watching my sister the entire time, as she put articles of clothing in her trunk, then took them out, and then put them back in again. I was already packed with the bare minimum of clothing needed. I decided I could have new clothes made when we got to the Seelie Court, but Maren seemed torn between going and staying.

After watching her put the same dark blue dress back into her trunk for the fifth time, I walked over to Maren and grabbed her by the shoulders from behind to stop her. "It either goes, or it stays. It cannot do both."

She leaned back against my chest and I hugged her tightly. "We're finally getting out of here, and not in exile. I hope I did not overstep any sibling bounds by requesting you come with."

I smiled involuntarily when she tilted her head back and looked up at me for reassurance. Towering over her by my head and shoulders, I sometimes felt more like her older brother than her twin. I leaned down and kissed her forehead. "I would not have had it any other way."

* * * *

I remember the trip going smoothly, as is unusual with travel such as this. Or maybe it was just me not remembering the trivial difficulties we might have had. The Queen had loaned us her black horse-drawn carriage, but the unusually cold first-week-of-December winds and snow had chilled us more while we rode to our fates than if we were walking through it. Even with a personal spell of warmth around her, Maren shivered uncontrollably. It was not long before I wrapped her in my fur-lined cloak. Most of the trip she was well hidden and dozing in the black fabric and white fur.

We were met outside of the Sithen of the Light Court by a pair of the King's personal guard. Both women were golden-skinned, with that "sun kissed" look that most humans desire to emulate, but could never quite match. The leather armor they wore was more ornamental than useful; far too thin to actually protect their bodies. I suppose, in the Light Court, they figured that they were immortal and that functional armor would get in the way of their vanity. One of the guards stepped forward.

"Maren and Bevan de Fae, follow us. His Higness is expecting you in his throne room."

I glanced to my sister as the guard turned away and frowned when I saw her shiver under the thick cloak I had loaned her. Perhaps, as a man, I did not quite understand then what exactly she was putting herself into. Hell, I do not understand it even now. But, it did not matter. We both swore an oath, and a Fae who is an oath breaker does not survive long inside or outside of the Courts.

We followed the nameless guards into the Sithen. As much black as there was decorating the Unseelie Court, there was as much white and gold decorating the Seelie Court. I was a bit awed by it all, and I hoped that my glancing around was properly disguised as being overly cautious of my surroundings. I had almost run into Maren when she stopped short before a huge set of double doors.

The nameless guards took up their positions on either side of the door just before it opened, seemingly on its own. The throne room paled the rest of the Seelie Court's halls. The shades of gold that I had seen were tarnished compared to the shades that accented the throne and walls of the King's throne room. The marble was of the purest white, except where the golden veins ran through the stone.

The king was seated on his throne, waiting for us. With his yellow hair and his skin glowing with the power that radiated from him, he seemed to be carved out of gold himself. He did not even lean forward when Maren stepped up and knelt on the marble before him. I mimicked her movement so well, that I could very well have been her shadow.

"My Lord, King of the Light Court," I heard my sister say, "I am Maren of the Faeries, and this is my twin brother, Bevan. I have been sent by Her Higness, the Queen of the Dark Court, to be your consort, to seal the pact of peace between our two courts."

I watched as he appraised my sister as if she were a prize show dog, and I began to have my doubts about this decision. I felt the flames of protective rage warm my face at the hungry smile the king had on his lips.

"My lady, it is a pleasure and an honor to have you here, and your brother as well."

I felt my face cool and the anger towards the king faded almost as soon as he spoke. My doubt washed away and I felt a calm that, looking back on it now, was unnatural. If I knew then what I know now, I would have taken my sister away from that place fast enough to set flame to the marble floors.

"It is an honor to be here, my Lord," Maren replied.

His Majesty smiled more, and the aura of power around him churned like the ocean.

"I have temporary quarters ready for you and your brother, until the official announcement of mine and Her Majesty's plans of peace. You are, of course, my honored guests and are more than welcome to explore your new home freely."

I spoke up then: "Our rooms are joined, of course, correct?"

The King's hungry gaze became a glare as he turned his attention to me. "Do you dare question my honor?"

He seemed to glow brighter, so I bowed my head. "Of course not, my Lord. But I am my sister's guard, and I cannot do that honored task properly if she is too distant from me."

"I will not allow one from the Dark Court to speak of my people in that way!"

"I meant no disrespect, your Majesty." I bowed my head lower. "I only meant to say that, until the pact is consummated, I worry for my sister's safety and the peace between the two courts."

The Light King scowled at me. "I will have your room moved to the adjoining room of Maren's. It's not as...comfortable as the first one."

"Thank you, sire."

* * * *

I may never understand why Maren was so happy to leave home, but she adjusted well enough to life in the Glittering Court. She seemed to have only made two friends, a lesser nobleman by the name of Tethra and a dark-skinned half-Sidhe by the name of Adsullata. I never left my sister's side when Tethra was around. He would look at her, not with the same hunger as the king did, but with a lust that was laced with love. It unsettled my nerves to no end. Perhaps it was just his eyes. They were not the normal tri-color of a Sidhe, but a clear icy blue not found anywhere else in nature. His skin was an almost sickly green color, and he sported a beard that was thick and long. His mustache was long enough to run into the beard and become part of it.

Adsullata, on the other hand, I trusted. She would call upon my sister many an afternoon after they had met, and I never did protest when she and my sister would ask me to leave the room so they could gossip and do what ever it is noble women do. I did not care, as long as the connecting door remained unlocked and ajar. Adsullata was attractive in her own way, with her chocolate-brown skin and the traditional tri-colored eyes of the Sidhe: an outer ring of the brown-green of a muddy river bank, the main color of her eye was the brown of a muddy river itself, and the inner ring blended perfectly with the black of her iris. She was about my sister's height, which I attributed to her mixed heritage. If I was not at the Light Court on a mission, I may have tried to court Adsullata.

Tethra, on the other hand, was trying to persuade my sister to court him. I remember one afternoon that he sent Adsullata with a gift for Maren. She showed it to me that evening, after Adsullata had left.

"Look at this, Bevan. It's an intriguing design, is it not?"

I picked up the metal locket and ran my fingers over it. The face that seemed to be trying to fight it's way through the smooth, heart-shaped metal surface unnerved me. "Where did you get this?"

"Adsullata brought it. She said it was from Tethra, and his message was that it's a 'welcome to our court' gift."

I frowned at the locket. The smooth metal surface was not cold iron, which made me trust him both more and less at the same time. If it were iron, it could be seen as a threat toward my sister. But, since it was not, I did not know what to make of it. "You cannot wear this, you know. King Taranis would be greatly insulted. Tethra should know this. He is too bold."

"I can't not accept it, Bevan. It would insult a noble of the court I'm supposed to be a peace offering to."

She tried to take the locket, but I held it out of her reach. Instead, I walked over to her bed and reached for a chest that she kept underneath. I took the double pronged key from it's hiding place and unlocked the chest. Bolts, all around where the lid met the rest of the chest popped out and I was able to open the chest. Inside were a few delicate silver necklaces that Maren had not been allowed to wear while living at the Light Court. I placed the locket in the chest with them, a crude and ugly thing against her fine silver, and swung the lid shut. The bolts immediately withdrew into the chest, sealing it until the double pronged key unlocked it again. The key itself I stuffed into my pocket.

* * * *

Maren was to be announced to the court during the Yule celebrations and no one in the Court was to know about it before then, so Tethra had ample opportunity during the three weeks my sister and I were merely "guests" to call upon her. Most of his visits were him asking if he may escort her through the gardens, with her faithful shadow to chaperon, of course. It was only during those times that I felt more like a tool than my sister's twin. In the beginning, Maren would try to include me in their conversations, but Tethra would draw her attention back to him or switch the topic. Eventually, Maren did not even bother trying to include me, and I truly became her unseen and unheard shadow during these visits.

After our third week of staying in the Light Court, the night before Yule, Tethra called upon her again, but this time he did not invite her to walk with him. He pushed his way into the room, until I stepped between him and my sister.

"Tethra, I will not allow court gossip to ruin my sister's honor. What ever you have to say, must be said in front of me."

"This has nothin' ta do with ye, lad," he hissed at me. The angry glare in those clear blue eyes almost frightened me.

"Anything involving my twin has everything to do with me."

I felt Maren's hand on my arm. "Tethra, you either must say it in front of my brother, or not say it at all."

I saw Tethra's eyes soften when he looked to Maren, and my stomach clenched.

"Maren..." He paused as he licked his lips nervously. "Lass, what I have ta say is nae easy for me to say ta you alone and even harder with other ears ta hear it. Me old heart sings for you, lass."

I cringed inwardly, but did not let anything show on my face. Maren was less practiced, and I felt her hand grip my arm.

"Tethra, I... I mean... You can't feel this way! There are others here for you, more available... Please, tell me you are jesting, and I will forgive this cruel joke!"

"Maren, lass, I am not jesting." He tried to step closer to my sister, but I blocked his path.

I felt Maren's hand leave my arm and heard the door that separated our rooms close. My eyes stayed locked on Tethra.

"Forget about her, Tethra. Just forget about her."

Before he had a chance to respond, I had him out the door and the door itself shut. I ignored his pounding as I drove the bolt home and went to the connector door that Maren went through. I knocked lightly and called for her. "Maren? Maren, he's gone. Come here, please."

The door swung open and she clung to me, burying her face in my chest. "Bevan, I'm scared. What if he says something to the king? What will we do? We can't go back! We can't stay here. I don't want to be tortured!"

"Maren, Maren..." I stroked her hair to comfort her. "His Majesty has to be more understanding than that. None of the court was to know why you were here until tomorrow. Tomorrow, things will be fine." I was sure of it.

The next morning Adsullata showed up early to help Maren dress. I had noticed that Adsullata was acting unusually somber for a Yule morning like this, but she avoided my concerned inquiry.

"Dere is no ting wrong. Now, would you delay me helping me friend get prepared for de celebration? It seems today is a big day for 'er."

"How... I mean, what do you mean?"

Adsullata's knowing smile was a sad one as she turned away to help my sister.

The gown Maren picked was one of my favorites that she owned: a deep, deep blue that had a skirt long enough to hide her feet even when she walked. It was as soft as the velvet on the antlers of a young buck, with white fur trim on the neck, sleeves, and hem. I heard her gasp when Adsullata pulled tight on the corset strings, and I laughed to myself. The things women do to impress! I complimented her with a doublet that was only a slight shade lighter than her dress and black breeches. My leather boots blended perfectly in darkness of the breeches and I had my sword strapped to my belt at my hip.

I was to escort my sister to the banquet. After the meal was when the King would announce Maren's purpose and mine. As I walked my sister down the halls of the Sithen, I wondered if she felt as nervous as I did. When we reached the double doors to the great hall, she stopped. Before I could ask her what was wrong, she turned to me and hugged me tightly. I held her for a long moment before she pushed me away and went through the doors to her fate.

Ever the faithful shadow, I followed her through and into the great hall. One could hear a pin drop when we entered. The hate was thick in the hall, but Maren cut through it and went straight to her position next to the King, and I took up my spot next to her. Women stared enviously at her through out dinner, and men shot hateful glares at both of us. I ate very little that night.

As promised, the king stood up after the meal was complete and waited until the great hall fell silent. He paused for a moment longer before clearing his throat. "My lords and ladies! For the past three weeks, I have been hosting a fine guest by the name of Maren de Fae, and her brother, Bevan. Some of you had taken it upon yourselves to meet her, and some of you have not. Tonight, I make the official announcement that the Unseelie Queen and I have made a pact. Maren has come over from the Unseelie Court to be my consort, as the first step towards peace."

I had noted earlier where Tethra was seated, less than half way down the table. During the king's speech, my eyes automatically went to him. His courtly mask had slipped and I could see in his eyes the surprise, disappointment, and hurt. I suppose any man could sympathize with him. After all, he poured his heart out to my sister and she did not even warn him of the announcement. She could not have warned him, I reminded myself and quickly tried to shake off the sympathy I was feeling.

Adsullata, who was part of a lesser ranking family, was seated towards the far back of the hall, on the far end of the tables. I was just barely able to make out her features, and the glitter of tears in her eyes and staining her cheeks. I had hoped that they were tears of joy for her friend, but my gut protested against that hopeful thought.

Finally, my attention went back to His Highness. The king's hungry look to my sister brought back the protective rage from the first night we had arrived. I nursed that rage all through the Yule Ball and it only grew hotter when the King retired with Maren to his quarters.

* * * *

A week after the Yule Ball, I had still not seen nor heard from my sister. I paced her room almost until I wore a hole in the floor. Adsullata would come by every day or so to keep me company, but it did not ease the worry I felt at the complete lack of my sister's presence anywhere in the Sithen. There was a knock on the door and I practically ran to answer it. Any visitor might have news of my missing sister, and I would not let them dare leave without giving it to me. It took me a moment after throwing open the door to realize that it was Adsullata on the other side, carrying a tray with two steaming tankards.

With a scowl, I turned away from the woman who had become the only friend my sister and I had in this foreign court. She stepped inside and left the door open behind her. I could only assume that she had grown accustomed to my foul mood. I sat on Maren's bed and held my head in my hands.

"Where is she, Adsullata? I just need to know if my sister is all right." I looked up just as Adsullata offered me one of the steaming tankards. I did not realize that I accepted it until I felt the weight of it in my hand.

"Maren is..." She cast a nervous glance around the room, then her face set into an odd look of resolve and admitting defeat. "De King has had Maren..."

I was in mid-drink, and I looked over the rim of the tankard at the dark skinned half-Sidhe. My hands were trembling as I slowly lowered the mug from my lips. "What has the king done to my sister?" I could hear the panic start to rise in my voice.

Almost too conveniently, Tethra was standing in the door way. "The King has had Maren thrown into our endless pit."

I stood up and threw my half-full tankard at Tethra, but it sailed wide and hit the wall instead. "Tell me the truth! Where is my sister!?"

"He does not lie, Bevan of the Faeries. I swear me own most solemn oath."

I glared at Adsuallata and saw her back away from me. The fear that my rage brought to her eyes cut deep into my heart. I realized then that I loved her, but my love for my twin was stronger. I shoved my way past Tethra and stormed all the way to the throne room. Without thinking, I threw open the doors and forced my way into the room. The two guards that had greeted my sister and I the day we arrived at the Light Court stopped me about halfway into the room.

"CUR!" I nearly screamed with hysterics, "I demand to know what you have done with my sister, Maren de Fae!"

The king, sitting easily on his throne, glared down his nose at me. "Who do you think you are, Bevan, to come in here like that and make demands of me!"

"I am Bevan de Fae, twin brother to your consort. That is who I am, and this is something I know, not think."

"Abiell, show our guest his sister's new home."

One of the guards grabbed me by the arm and lead me to a door to the right of the king's throne. When she pulled it open, my eyes were greeted by the most plain room I had ever seen in the Seelie Court. Plain white stone made up the walls and the three small steps that lead down to a yawning hole that showed no promise of a bottom. I dropped to my knees and stared at the hole, which looked so much like the one in the Dark Court. My tears felt cold and hot all at the same time, as I wept for my sister.

I still felt Abiell's presence behind me, and I felt violated that the king and his guard would watch me during this private moment. I stood unsteadily, placing my hand on the cold stone wall to keep myself upright. After turning around slowly, I first looked at the expressionless face of Abiell then the smug face of the King. It only took me a moment to make my decision. I learned that night that exile or even death was a far better option than either court, so I spread my arms and leaned back into the hole in hopes that my sister would not have to fall forever alone.