Chapter 1

Annwyl walked through the hallway led by three guards to the throne room of the winter court. In the time of three hours she had been exploring the human world looking for a hideout out only to be captured by the very people I was running from and taken as a prisoner to the dreaded place. It didn't used to be dreaded Annwyl remembered living there for a little bit with her boyfriend Kerrian since he was required to live there during the winter. It was freezing but it had been ok she had Kerrian so she never really felt the cold but now the cold was bearing down on her like a hungry pack of wolves.

Since Ash had turned for the bad and ruled over the winter court instead of Iron with Meghan Kerrian had gone alone to the court to try and turn him around but they hadn't heard back from him in a long time. She hoped he was alright Ash wouldn't do anything to his own son right she thought to herself. They were nearing the throne room when she noticed the beautiful interior there were crimson chairs and pitch velvet couches put in the alcoves. Looming in front of her was two gigantic mahogany doors embedded in the ice. They had carvings of snowflake and artic foxes prancing about in the snow.

The doors open and then she saw Ash she was fuming. Ash had knocked is wife Meghan out killed hundreds of Iron guards trying to subdue him and then disappeared for months only to resurface as the king of winter. But that's not what shocked her it was the fact that Kerrian was standing by the throne with a blank look on his face he didn't even look at her. Annwyl was hurt but quickly store her feelings away the last thing she needed was for Kerrian or Ash to see her hurt.

"I'm surprised you got this far into the court but more surprised that the guards subdued you so quickly and easily. So my question is where is your mom." said Ash.

"Why would you want to know where my mom is? Also if you hadn't noticed they are pretty beat up so obviously it wasn't as quick as you thought." Annwyl snarled. "Plus I'm not used to…" Annwyl let her words die off realizing that what she was going to say wasn't going to help her at all.

"Not used to what fighting alone because I'm pretty sure if my son was there you would probably not be here now." Ash shot at Annwyl.

Annwyl knew he was right if Kerrian had been there she would not be here but she couldn't dwell on that. " Obviously my mom is used to fighting alone if she hasn't ended up here before how many years has she been fighting alone four hundred maybe five hundred years." Annwyl knew it was low but she had to do something.

The guards step back as Ash descended the throne Annwyl saw the first emotions on Kerrian's face since she came in it was a mix of fear and pride. Ash began to walk over to her and she could tell Kerrian was holding his breath. She guessed by both the guards and Kerrian's reactions that no one had ever dared to talk to him like that before.

"Yes your mom is used to fighting alone." Kerrian let out is breath and Annwyl took that as a good sign. "But your dad is not so used to fight alone he has had either me or Ariella there the whole time." Kerrian tensed and started to walk towards us Ash held up his hand and Kerrian stopped. Kerrian hesitated looking at her and when she glared back at him he winced. "Why don't who say hello to your dear father."

A door opened and two guards came out dragging a limp figure in between them. Annwyl looked closer and saw it was here father she let out a breath that she didn't even know she was holding and ran towards her father. The guards stepped away and she hit the floor right next to her father he was still breathing relief crossed over her face. She heard someone approach her but Annwyl didn't care her father the great Robin Goodfellow was laying on the floor his head slowly pulsing blood. The figure kneeled down and pulled her into him. She recognized it was instantly and leaned in to Kerrian burying her face into his shoulder she had missed him so much.

Kerrian knew what his dad was going to do the minute he stepped down the throne and he was half tempted to stop it but he knew it would do neither of them any good. So when he brought her father out Kerrian almost absentmindedly walked over to Annwyl and pulled her close. His dad looked at him with disapproval and Kerrian held in gaze daring him to do anything about it. The silent dares and orders died off after a couple minutes when Ash ordered his guards to take Puck away and put him back in the dungeon. Ash looked at her and then back at him considering his next move.

"Enough, Kerrian come here." Ash spoke when he hesitated he said a little firmer. "Now."

Reluctantly Kerrian gently pulled Annwyl away from him and gave her an encouraging look and walked over to his father. They both stood there for a minute Kerrian silently pleading with his father to not hurt Annwyl and to treat her better the Puck. Every once in a while he would glance over at Annwyl to see her wiping her tears and recovering from what happened.

"Will you two stop giving each other looks that may or may not mean my fate?" Annwyl snorted.

"Who says you have the right to know chimera." Ash replied deadly calm. Kerrian looked at his father with a death glare. "Kerrian, take her to the room three down from yours. You can guard her since you care so much about her wellbeing." Kerrian gave a look of gratitude and began to walk towards Annwyl.

"Really you are going to send lover boy here, with me to my room and then give him permission to watch and check up on me." Annwyl smirked. "You know I can be very persuasive especially when it comes to him."

Kerrian glared at her and began to move her towards the exit if he could get her out of here before she got herself killed that would be great he thought. The minute he got outside the throne room he had to remind her not to get on his father's nerves. Weather she believed it or not he wanted her alive when they escaped so he could at least try and salvage what little of their relationship is left. He half dragged her down the hallway to the rooms when she pulled away from him. He looked back only to be knocked back and to feel pain searing across his right cheek. When he recovered he looked back to see Annwyl fuming from head to toe.

"What in the world was that?" She shouted. "First you disappear for months with no word at all and then when I come you are in the throne room with your dad looking like you're in trouble at all then you don't even acknowledge me until I say something stupid and then after all that you come over and pretend that you still care about me.

"Annwyl I'm sorry I just… well can I explain this later." Kerrian stumbled. The minute he said that he realized it was the wrong thing to say at that given moment.

"Fine we won't talk about this development now due to the fact that one, you don't want and two you need to find a new girlfriend." She walked down the hall into her room and slammed the door. Kerrian stood there in shock cursing his stupidity on the subject.