Author's Note: I apologize for the wait in this story but so much has happened. I will be leaving June 12 for basic training so I will try to get a chapter out before I leave. Maybe I can crank one out a week if I try really hard. I know that there are probably a lot of inconsistancies in my typing skills so feel free to point them out.

Special Thanks To My Reviewers

FreakyLongHairedGirl: thanks for reviewing.
Karahly: Im really glad you liked it. I love getting reviews like yours. They make me smile and keep me writing.
Rosie: thanks and no, this is my own fairy tale. Not based on anything else.

Stargal88: here it is sorry it took so long

porkypick: thanks for reviewing I hope you like this chapter as much.

When Light Meets Dark

Banished, or Adventure?

"Banished?!? Father you can't be serious! It was just a simply prank; hardly a criminal act. Surely this is too extreme!" Titania had paled considerably by now at the prospect of losing her wings, magic, and being sent to live among the humans alone.

"You have been warned countless times. It is time t hat you start to take responsibility for your actions." her father chided.

"But you are the King's advisor. Can you not tell him that this punishment does not suit the crime? I am going to be alone out there."

"Titania, stop being so dramatic. I have told you before, you will not be alone. Our human contact will be there. Aiden is a fine boy. He will watch over you."

"But Father-"

"This will be good for you. Now you will understand what the humans must live through. We will speak no more of this subject."

"Yes Father."

"I shall miss you but this will be for the best. Aiden awaits your arrival in the clearing. He will escort you to the village. Titania?" Wise eyes met defiant ones, "Do not think ill of me."

"Never," her eyes were filled with love but tinged with sadness as she turned and left. It was as her father said, Aiden would be watching for her and she really shouldn't keep him waiting. He always been kind to her. More than kind really. So, without a backward glance, though she truly wanted to look, she stepped into the clearing.

"Don't look so downcast Titania, we humans aren't THAT bad." Aiden smiled, hoping to lighten the mood.

"Oh Aiden, it's not that I don't like humans, it's just... I've never been sent away before." She admitted.

"Well, don't think of it like that. Consider this just another great adventure," he held out his hand to her, "shall we?"

Summoning up a smile, she slipped her hand into his, "Lead the way. For once, I must bow to your superior knowledge."

Aiden grinned, "Hmm, I like the sound of that. I think I will enjoy your time spent in my village."

"Why do I suddenly feel disinclined to put my trust in you, do you think?" She raised a skeptical eyebrow.

Bringing his free hand up to his heart he sighed dramatically, "You have wounded me with your lack of faith. I may never recover from it."

"Aww, you poor dear boy. Is there naught I can do to make it better?"

Pulling her to a stop, he tapped his chin with his index finger, striking a thoughtful pose, "Well, I think, if you were to give me a kiss, I just may heal."

Confiscating her hand from his, she laughed, "Oh, you think, do you? Well, I suppose you'll just have to hope that you will heal naturally without my aid."

Pretending to pout, Aiden whined, "Am I so disgusting to you that I don't even warrant one teeny tiny kiss?"

Titania studied him playfully, taking note of his slightly tousled chestnut hair that fell over onto hos forehead rebelliously. She took notice of his hazel eyes that bordered on being grey and shone with reckless abandon. His playful, devil-may-care smile finished off with perfection the look of a shameless flirt and heartbreaker. Aiden disgusting? Not a chance in this lifetime, "You know you aren't." She smiled.

"Then I get a kiss?" he asked hopefully?

"A teeny tiny one," she relented.

"Of course of course."

"On the cheek."

"What?!? But you wounded me deeply remember?" This was said with wide eyed, playful reproach.

"It's either that or nothing Aiden, I guess you would prefer we just continue onto the village?" she bit her bottom lip to keep from laughing.

"I suppose I must accept the crumbs of your affection for now." His eyes sparkled merrily at her as he leaned down and offered his cheek to receive her kiss.

Brushing a chaste kiss across his cheek, Titania took his hand again, "Now, lead me to the village. I would like to get settled in before nightfall."

"For you dear lady of my heart, I would lead you through the Dark Kingdom." he vowed gallantly as they resumed their walk.

"I'd rather not go into that kingdom if its all the same to you." she laughed.

Their friendly banter continued until the stepped into the small town milling with people trying to get their work done before sunset. Titania moved in a little closer to Aiden and tightened her grip on his hand, "Aiden," she whispered, "where am I to stay?"

Aiden squeezed her hand reassuringly, "Fear not fair one, though there was quite a lively argument about it, you are to stay with me and my family. I refused to allow them to make you stay with some stuffy old guardian stuck in the old ways."

She smiled at him gratefully before turning her attention to the people as they went about their business. She noticed many of them kept slanting furtive and curious glances her and Aiden's way. Some frowned at them disapprovingly while others just looked with mild curiosity. None of them seemed hostile though. None that is, except for the younger girls. They were glaring daggers, swords, and any other type of weapon that could impale the human body at her. Their eyes would narrow at Aiden's and Titania's linked hands and send a clear message that they would gladly cut her hand off without batting an eye. It was clear that these girls were VERY territorial. And Aiden was considered their territory. Titania was a very uninvited trespasser. They still didn't know of the living arrangements either.

Aiden, completely oblivious to the stares, lead her toward his home. The girls' eyes widened as realization dawned, and animosity became tangible, "Oh boy," was all Titania could think.


Damien watched the progress of Titania and, what appeared to be, her human guide from the safety of the shadows that seemed to cling to him possessively. He frowned darkly at her while she obliviously studied the people of the town. Why in the world had he spent so much thought on that small slip of a girl? It must have been the magic of the clearing that had momentarily fogged his brain. The girl looked like a lackwit.

"But why am I contemplating her looks while I should be planning her painful downfall?" he murmured in a chill voice that laced it's way into the shadows to be swallowed by the darkness. He turned and entered the house that Queen Avarice had, had set up for him.

He glanced around at his bleak surroundings and allowed another frown to darken his features, "I'm not depressed, I'm just evil," he muttered to himself, "can't evil people have rooms that don't make you think of funerals? I mean, come on, the carpets are black, the curtains are black, the sofa is black... did she WANT me to think of dead people or something?" He shook his head in mild annoyance as he raised a hand into the air and snapped his fingers. The carpet that was layed throughout the house instantly turned into a deep shadowy blue. He nodded his head in satisfaction then turned his attention to the furniture. He slashed his hand through the air and watched the sofa and chairs fade into a dark maroon. He then stretched a hand outward toward the curtains and closed his hand into a fist. They changed into a night forest green. Surveying the room, he winced at his not-so-handywork. The new colors clashed, changing the funeral into a decors nightmare, "Maybe the death room was preferable to this new vomit one..." he mumbled then shrugged, "Perhaps I'll get someone from the village to take care of it."

Emerging from his new "home", Damien squinted as his eyes adjusted to the brightness of the sun's rays. It had been prearranged by Queen Avarice that he should work as a stable boy in the village's stable. As deplorable as he found the job, he found it more dignified than being a kitchen boy.

"Boy! Just because this is your first day on the job doesn't mean that we'll give you any breaks. Now, get in here and muck out the stables."

Damien gritted his teeth in annoyance at the orders of a boy who was clearly only a year older than he, "The stablemaster told me that that was your job." he snapped angrily.

"Yeah, well the stablemaster ain't here so I'm in charge and it looks like you're gonna be the stable mucker for today." This was said smugly as the boy crossed his arms and two other boys snickered from behind him.

Damien narrowed his eyes at the three and they all began to cough uncontrollably. with his anger momentarily appeased, he strolled into the stable to put his magic to work. "This should be a piece of cake," he smirked while snapping his fingers in front of a particularly dirty stall. Nothing happened. His brow furrowed in confusion, "What...?" he scanned the room and his sights came to rest on the piles of iron that layed in the blacksmith's part of the stable. Damien could have pulled his hair in frustration. A dark faerie's magic is greatly hindered by the presence of iron. It made even the smallest of tasks nearly impossible. Damien wanted to stomp and curse every living thing around, "And I should feel honored that Queen Avarice chose me to complete a mission?" he snatched up a pitchfork and went to work on a stall, "Oh I feel something alright, but I'm not so sure about it being honor." he continued to complain all the way up until he completed his task.

After returning the pitchfork to it's place, Damien made a stealthy retreat out of the barn and onto the busy road of the town. His destination? The nearest tavern and as swiftly as possible. Of course he was only going there to gather information on the family that Titania would be staying with, he assured himself. It had nothing to do with the fact that he figured if the three boys couldn't find him, they couldn't make him do anything else. It had nothing to do with that at all.

So intent was he on reaching his destination undisturbed, that he wasn't expecting to knock into anyone at all. So he was obviously a little put out at being delayed, "Oof!" rushed out of his mouth on a gasp that was stopped abruptly when a new feeling overtook his body. A feeling that signified the draining of powers. A diluting of skill needed to call said powers forth. His heart beat erratically within his chest, demanding its freedom from its cage of rib, as he forced his gaze to move upward and meet the eyes of the one that had caused this new and overwhelming feeling. His heart ceased its demand immediately and he knew true fear in that brief moment. A guardian the thought raced through his mind, bringing it to awareness sharply.

"Watch where you're going lad," the mans voice came out deceptively frail. While the man gave the appearance of weakness and vulnerability, Damian was not so stupid as to be fooled. Power seeped out of the man in such torrents that it nearly drowned him before he broke eye contact and mumbled out an apology. "Don't worry boy, you appear to be new to these parts. Don't guess you would be used to the hustle of these streets already. Stay out of trouble you hear?"

Damien wanted to move desperately. To nod in response. To get his feet to propel him away from this man. His body refused to obey. Such was the power of the guardian that it completely overwhelmed his own. He finally managed to give an imperceptible nod and felt relief come to him in a flood when the man finally left. I must tread more carefully, he thought, I am lucky that Queen Avarice's cloaking charm withstood such power. Mayhap he would get more than just a pint of ale just this once. Damien finally stepped into the safety of the dimness and shadows of the tavern and made his way to the lone table sitting in the corner, masked in darkness.