Chapter 2 – Oberon's Wishes

Pern stepped from the portal and looked at the great walls of the castle of Avalon. Her soft boot left barely a footprint in the soft earth. She walked with her brother into the courtyard and into the inner keep.

Puck smiled. He was proud of his sister. She was beautiful with her red hair, beautiful sea green eyes, and delicate features. Impulsively he pulled her into a hug. "Mom and dad would have been proud." He told her rubbing her back softly.

"You seem to be deep in thought."

Puck smiled. Ah, his sister's gifts were astounding. He was about to speak when a new voice entered the conversation.

"I hope I am not intruding."

Both turned and then bowed to Oberon, lord of the island known as Avalon.

"No, my lord." Puck answered.

"Pern, my dear, would you walk with me."

She looked to her brother who nodded a little and then she turned to walk beside the king. The king took her hand as they walked down the path. "You know you are becoming a beauty." He said. He paused and smiled at her before lifting a bracelet to her wrist. "We are finding our time alone has been weighing heavy on our mind." He took a breath. "With Titania away, we have become lonesome. We wish to court another." He took her hand in his. "We wish to court you."

"Court me, my lord?" She was stunned. "I am not sure I am suited to me your wife." It was true enough. She never though she would be any man's bride. She was too much of a warrior and most did not have the mettle to temper her.

He looked at her. "Would you do me the honor or becoming my queen."

Pern was speechless, but nodded mutely. It was a high honor.

##

Pern was dressing for the night. Oberon had called for a celebration of his new love. Puck stole into her room. "Pern." He whispered. "Come there is very little time."

"But, my lord said I was to be ready at sunset." She said pulling the dress over her body. It was as revealing as her armor and tailored to her body. Puck had to admit he had never seen his sister look more feminine and enchanting.

"Pern, listen to me." Puck said taking a hold of her arms. "He only wants you because he cannot have Titania and he wants to control you." He took a breath. "You are not one to be dominated. Your power is great and you could be a force to reckon with, but not if you are his bride. Under the laws you would complete submit to him."

"You are not making sense."

"He wants you because you were born to be the one who could stand up to him. As his wife you would never do that." He took her hand. "Come. I will not allow my sister to become the object of Oberon, or any man."

A knock came to the door and Oberon stood there. "Are you ready my dear to be mine for all time?"

"I am afraid." She said.

He smiled and stepped forward. "Leave us, Puck."

"No."

"What? You would defy me?"

"I will not leave my sister with you. The Queen warned me of what you would try."

"She is not here." He hissed and stepped to the girl and pulled her to him. He then shot a blast of energy at Puck. "I said leave. I will have the ceremony after I have had my rights."

"No!" Puck cried as Oberon kissed the girl.

She cried out and clawed as she shoved him backwards. When that failed she touched Oberon's face to push him away. He shot backwards and she gasped.

"That, my little harlot, you will pay for."

She looked at her hands, but her brother reacted and grabbed her arm. He pulled her alone making sure she was there. She was weeping suddenly unsure of everything.

Quickly he led her outside and through the forest. She gasped as an icy rain began to fall. Puck pulled her through a portal he made to the mortal realm. Once there she looked about. "But Puck. You will face exile."

"Better than serving a monster and my sister as his queen he would force himself upon and keep under his finger. You will be free here." He looked about, "but I will have to disguise you as the queen, and myself have done."

"You have lived here. Is that why I have hardly seen you of late."

"Aye." He waved his hand drawing out a small trinket. "Des Lagrate Nor Tempe Intervalia."

Fire was about them and then they were on a street. She blinked. "Where are we?"

"When sister. The question is when." He smiled. "I stole the two halves of the phoenix gate for just this purpose. It will be very hard for Oberon to find you indeed. We are 1000 years in the future."

She gasped. He pulled her aside. "Let me make sure he does not find you."

She nodded. "Very well. Do what you must." She looked at the trees.

Puck nodded. "Child of the fey, do doth Puck say. You are a child newly born without the scorn. Into your deepest mind that is where we will find, the memories of ages past let it happen fast!"

The girl suddenly shrank in her dress and then cried out. She was squalling in her dress. Puck pulled out a perfect red haired human child who was whimpering in confusion. "There, there sister. You will be human now, until we meet again."

He snapped his fingers and walked to a door. He smiled and bent and kissed her cheek. "I love you. You must live for all of us."

He rang the doorbell and ran to the side of the house. The soft rain was beginning to fall and the door opened.

"Oh my God, Charles! Our prayers have been answered." A young woman said as she lifted the baby in her arms. A man joined her.

The baby was nothing like Pern or her human form, Winter. This child, Puck had created was light skinned with strawberry blonde hair.

Puck smiled. She was safe and as a human Oberon would never find her.

He went back to return the two pieces of the gate to their separate owners before they were noticed stolen.

##

Oberon was in a rage and growled. He had watched Puck take his sister with the Phoenix Gate. Pern could be at any time and he likely would have hidden her. Clever. It was just as well the trickster was out of his sight.

He then growled calling the Weird Sisters to him. "You three shall guard this place." He looked at the others nearby. "The rest of you must leave, now!"

"Leave?" Some of them gasped, "But…"

"Do not question our authority. Leave now. No one shall return until Titania or Pern is my lawful queen."