Chapter 1
I told myself I wouldn't do it, but in the end I had to. In the last scene, I think someone asked what happened, so I'll just leave a brief summary. So… Puck and Meghan were in the Wyldwoods talking and whatnot and a wyvern showed up. Puck got a scratch on his hand by the wyvern and both Puck and Meghan believed he was going to die. So, being Goodfellow, he asked Meghan to stay with him for the night (which he thought would be his last), and that led to another little "thing". Puck panicked and headed back to Arcadia in the morning realizing he did not in fact die.
Hope this clears things up :) and on with chapter 1
Puck's POV
Dinner was always uncomfortable in the royal court of Arcadia, but today was extremely uncomfortable, especially for me. For starters, I'm not officially apart of the royal family, considering I am a court jester, yet Oberon insists I sit there like a family with him and Titania. But today there were other people from the court joining us as usual, including the upper elites in political and economic affairs in Arcadia. Although I hated them, it beats sitting with just the king and queen of Arcadia any day.
I wasn't really hungry, considering the events that happened recently so instead of feasting like the pigs in front of me, I kept picking at my salad. I imagined the one tomato as Meghan and the two carrots as Ash and I. I kept stabbing at one of the carrots, not knowing if it was Ash or me as the pathetic carrot. I got frustrated as the roars of laughter at the table seemed like mockery as if yelling as prodding me like a piece of wood in a fireplace. The smell of booze adding to my discomfort and irritation.
"Goodfellow, I do believe that carrot is long dead. Quit acting like the child you really are and quit playing with your food." Oberon's thundering voice ceased the laughter for a split second bringing all attention on me and my food-stabbing. Great, I thought. Now they are going to think I'm a complete and utter idiot – oh wait – they already think that! As quickly as they realized me sitting there, they had erupted in another fit of laughter and absurd chaos. I glanced at Oberon as if to send a clear warning. Don't piss me off right now; I wanted to say to him. Oberon looked at me behind his glass of wine and smirked, which ticked me off even more.
I ignored him and pushed all murderous thoughts aside, taking a bite out of the carrot I had previously mauled with a definite crunch. He went on talking to Titania and the others. I snuck in a few glances at them while picking at my lettuce.
One of the fatter advisors that we consult frequently on economics looked at me and pointed, saying with a drunken voice, "Oh look, you made him upset!" Ignoring him as well, I took a long sip from my glass of wine, hoping it could just wash away all my troubles in an instant. The bitter and sour taste not even close to the sour mood they were putting me in. It seems like every time they seem to find something to use against me.
"I'll make sure to properly fix his attitude once I send him to the dog house," Oberon smiled and laughed, raising his glass as a toast. I sneered in his direction but he was too distracted to notice.
"You mean birdhouse" Titania sneered, as the crowd exploded into another fit again.
One of the military officials had nodded in my direction as he said, "What's gotten into him this time?"
"Oh he just wishes he could be sleeping with his ex-princess at this very moment. He's still upset that someone swept her off her feet in a second when he's been working up the nerve and courage to confess for sixteen years" Titania said smiling while Oberon chuckled softly next to her.
My blood started to boil, and I ran on pure instinct. I grabbed the knife, stabbed the mauled and half-eaten carrot with a loud thud that silenced the entire table and stood up abruptly, the chair screeching against the wood flooring. With my head down low, I said in a forced excuse, "I think I've had enough of this, if you would excuse me for now"
I heard voices and laughter but I was so furious, that I could care less. I stormed straight to my old room that I hadn't used in a while. The last time I felt normal using it as my room was when I was a kid which was like…what, four hundred years ago? Five? I've lost track. I slammed the door, locked it for good measure (even though I highly doubt anyone would be storming after me after what everyone's said and what I've done) and plopped down on the bed. I was half-surprised that someone had cleaned it; I'd expect it to be moth-eaten and filled with dust and debris from four centuries worth.
I rested on my back, and stared at the ceiling. I looked around trying to get my mind off from the previous turn of events. I stared at the wood walls and then the wooden nightstand next to the bed. I glanced at the window and started to realize how small this room really was. I guess as you grow up the room you once thought was a mansion becomes like a large walk-in closet. The only thing was that I could hardly remember what my life was like when I was little. My memories of my childhood were so vague and hazy I couldn't even picture if I really did live in the court at all when I was a kid. It's probably because I'm getting old as much as I hate to admit it.
But what was my life like before-
Before what? I thought to myself. Before I was the court jester? Before I decided to serve the king? But was I always at Arcadia? Was I born in this court? And more importantly, did my parents serve at the court or in a small village? There were so many scenarios running through my head, I couldn't think straight. My parents were obviously not here and most likely dead, but I have no memories of them whatsoever. What were they like, I wonder. You would think something this important I would remember, but it's like at some point I couldn't remember anything. When had I decided to serve Oberon, or was I forced to?
I mean the only person who would be old enough to even remember this is…Oberon. Well that's obviously not going to happen anytime soon, I thought to myself. Not tonight, and probably not for a very long time. Not after what he did in there. I don't think I could forgive him for a while. And well Titania, I couldn't forgive her as it is. I didn't like her at all anyway, but everyone knew that. Even her.
I sighed in defeat, and lethargically sat up. I rustled my hair with my hand before staring outside the window. The sun was setting and I could see some fey walking back towards their homes. This one lady ushered her child inside while another kid of hers kept running around the trees refusing to go inside. It sort-of reminded me of Keirran when he was little with his adamant and stubborn attitude. The lady of course reminded me of Meghan, running around trying to keep control of her kid. And then it reminded me of that night. The flashback of the wyvern and the events in the tent replayed in my head. As much as I regretted remembering it, I couldn't help it. I kept shaking my head like an idiot, but to no avail. It kept repeating itself over, and over, and over-
A light knock on my door echoed in the small room. I paused, and a slightly harder knock followed. I blinked to make sure I was hearing it correctly, and then the person on the other side started pounding on the door. Me being me, I kept quiet hoping whoever the hell on the other side got the message to leave. I really wasn't in the mood to be cordial to anyone.
Suddenly it stopped, and I wondered if the person had left, but the shadow under the door proved otherwise. The person was a statue and refused to leave, but two can play it that game. I wasn't going to open the door anytime so-
"Goodfellow, I know you're in there. Open up" Shit. Oberon? Really? Speak of the devil, that's just great…The last person I want to see. Unless he wanted to make a fool out of me in front of the guests again, I don't see how they would've finished dinner that quickly. That would mean I'm in big trouble if he interrupted dinner to retrieve me after the outburst. If I wasn't in enough trouble as it is…
"Now, Goodfellow" He said with a dangerous voice I knew very well which meant he was mad. Really mad. I stepped forward and sighed, preparing myself for what was to come when I opened that door. I turned the knob slowly and opened the door barely a foot when he slammed the door open. I was convinced that with the amount of force he had it could've ripped the door off its hinges. He stepped inside and shut the door and walked over to chair next to the table. I awkwardly sat on the edge of the bed wondering how long I'd be stuck in the birdcage for this stunt. He crossed his legs and arms while I gulped under the pressure.
I stole a glance at his expression to measure how much shit I was in when I saw a pretty calm face… I shouldn't let my guard down though. You could never tell with Oberon. Before he could say anything, I stood up and put my hands up in front of my defensively. "Look, I know you're mad at me but, I just want to-"
"I'm not mad" He cut me off, but I was too preoccupied to hear him when I was trying to get myself out of trouble.
I shut my eyes and continued my train of thought, "Just please hear me out, I can explain – wait did you just say… not?"
"I'm not mad" he stated, and I sighed in relief and sat back down on the mattress but still kept my stance, expecting a 'but' in there somewhere. I motioned him to explain. "Except the fact you didn't answer the door. You don't know how many funny looks I got for pounding on the door."
"So, you're not that mad at me?" I asked slowly and cautiously, reassuring I was hearing correctly.
While uncrossing his legs, he leaned forward and turned to me with stern eyes. "Well, it was quite embarrassing; however, the guests will hardly remember anything considering the amount of liquor they consumed. But the refusal to answer the door and your absence from last night is a different story"
I didn't respond. I could feel the tension and found it difficult to meet his gaze. It was hard to tell if he knew about yesterday, but I didn't want to assume anything. Whenever something like this happened, it was like walking a tightrope. There was a fine line where if I pushed the subject or didn't say anything at all, I would fall.
"I would like an explanation for your absence. You not only missed an important dinner, but also a war council meeting. You also failed to show for patrol for the border villages. I can't just let this go unnoticed."
With little things, Oberon would pull some strings to let things slide by, but missing three things was pushing it. I understand, but I just wish he could let it go. After all my life was at stake because of the other issue. Ash and the entire iron court would hate me if - and most likely - when they find out and if my own court found out I betrayed them... I don't even want to think of the consequences.
"Well?" Oberon egged on.
I sighed, seeing no other way around this. He was bound to find out eventually, and I guess it's better me, than either the iron or summer court telling him. "You're not going to be happy about this," I warned.
"The cat told me you saw the iron queen yesterday. Is that true?" I nodded, only hoping the cat didn't tell him everything else. I don't even want to know how he knew about us two yesterday.
"Do tell, what your business with her was about yesterday" he continued. Crap, he wanted the whole story?!
"Well," I started. "We talked…and walked around the Wyldwoods"
He narrowed his gaze at me, and I could tell I struck nerve. "Goodfellow, I do not have time for this. What were two people from different courts discussing that took you the entire day away from your duties?"
"Well, you see…" I drew out but noticed from the corner of my eyes the rage in his eyes. "We were walking around talking about our lives and whatnot when we ran into this wyvern…" The memory of yesterday consumed me as a replayed the events.
"We had no choice but to fight it and well-"
"Was she hurt in the process?" I quickly shook my head and he motioned for me to continue.
"No, but as we were attacking it, the wyvern…" I put my hand out, palm facing the ground for him to see the scar. The memory of it made me remember the pain from the scratch. "Managed to scratch my hand"
Oberon took my hand and examined the scar. "It seems fine"
"Well, now it does, but I remembered the way Ariella died and I thought for sure that if it killed her" I choked on my words. "It would've killed me"
"I know it probably sounds really stupid, since she was much younger than me, and wasn't that powerful, but I truly felt scared that I was going to die. So did Meghan," I continued.
"And? I do not see how this will make me unhappy. You two seem to be fine"
I shut my eyes, seeing Meghan's worried face and the bleeding gash on the back of my hand. I remember the selfish request I made and how it led me to now. "I regret everything I said and did after that…" I muttered.
"Goodfellow?"
I placed my head in my hands and rambled on and on. "I made a big mistake, alright? I get it. I shouldn't have done it. I shouldn't have said anything. I should've just rushed back here and not worry her and trouble her any further. I'm in big trouble, and I can't do anything about it now. I was being stupid, selfish, arrogant…I just wish it never happened. I don't even know wh-"
"Goodfellow" Oberon said with a stern voice. I looked up and saw an emotionless face stare back at me. "What happened after you two thought you were going to die?"
I looked down, not wanting to go any further. Not when the images of Meghan in the tent replayed in my head. It was too much. "I-I was being selfish. Driven on pure fear and I made a stupid request…" I couldn't do it. I just couldn't say it. Not just because he was her father. Not because Ash and most likely Oberon was going to kill me. Not because it was a bad mistake. I just couldn't say it, knowing that it was my fault. My fault. When I had told Oberon about the promise Ash made when Ariella died, I had said it with sheer confidence because I knew it wasn't my fault. But now I knew that it was my fault, and I just didn't want to admit to it. I didn't want to state the crime because it wasn't something I was proud of.
"What request?" Oberon urged.
I gulped, trying to formulate the sentence he was looking for. Just suck it up and say it already, my mind told me. But my heart and brain told me not to. It wasn't a good idea and I know it would just be too much for me to say it when I didn't want to believe I could do that to someone I love. Somehow I managed to say it though, "I-I asked for her to stay with me, for-for the night…"
There was a long silence, and it was driving me insane. I couldn't tell whether he was confused, furious or even planning my death. He just seemed to stare at nothing in particular, not seeming to realize that the silence was killing me. I debated whether or not if I should just start running now.
Before I could do anything, Oberon said softly, "And?"
I looked at him for a moment, and then looked down. I had realized that my clammy hands were fidgeting, and sweat was starting to form on my forehead. "Well, I thought-I thought it was going to be my last, so…so I just wanted to be with someone I lo-loved before I died. And well one thing led to another while we were…sleeping. When I woke up, I panicked."
I was waiting for the punch. The stab, the life-flashing-before-my-eyes experience. The darkness consuming me. I was waiting for the end. I had shut my eyes, expecting anything that would signify my end. But the anticipation he was giving me was driving me over the edge. Why couldn't he just do it already? Was this his way of torturing me for the mistake? I peeked open my eye to see his expression when my mouth hung open. His lip was curled into a smirk. He was making fun of me?!
"I do believe Ash isn't going to be very happy with you when he finds this out" he chuckled at my shock.
"You're not going to kill me? Aren't you mad that I did that? You do realize I am talking about your daughter, right?" I didn't want him mad at me, but I found this very weird, especially for Oberon to laugh this news off.
He immediately stopped laughing and gave me this stern and authoritative glare that would send anyone a run for their money. "Didn't I tell you Goodfellow? I'd rather see you with my daughter than that cold heartless woman's son."
"But-"
"No 'buts'" he spat and then spoke with a sudden calm voice. "Now the predicament you left yourself in is rather troublesome. You do have a pretty logical excuse, but knowing that prince, he wouldn't care either way. Will just have to make sure he doesn't kill you on the spot when he finds out."
"What the hell am I supposed to do? He'll raise hell when he finds out. This is worse than Ariella!" I retorted. If he thinks he can just easily stop him from killing me, he'll hold a grudge ten times worse than the Ariella promise.
"I think it's best to just avoid any further contact with anyone besides Arcadia. You should remain at the court as much as possible unless I say so otherwise," he replied and left the room.
Great, I thought. He found a way to punish me for everything while also pretending to support me. Leave it to him to mess with me. Now, not only was I put on house arrest, but now I had to stay at court. That meant more time to be around Titania and more time to entertain the guests at dinner and meetings.
