A/N - All SVN characters belong to Mrs. Harris, I am just playing.

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Chapter 4 - Effin Fairies

Scene 1 - EPOV - 'Alliance'

There was a light mist on the ground that swirled away from me while I strolled among the gravestones. It was peaceful here in the three am darkness with nothing but the whisper of leaves. There is a pair of grave markers in front of me now; compared to the rest of the Cemetery they are fairly new. I reach out to trace the name on the first one, Adele Hale Stackhouse; the marker next to hers had Jason Corbett Stackhouse carved on it. Sookie's grandmother and brother had been buried side by side.

*Pop*

I lean against one of the markers and nod at the fairy that has just graced me with his presence. He in turn stands looking down at a smaller marker in front of Adele's.

"Corbett Hale Stackhouse, you know he was my grandson, Sookie is actually my great granddaughter. Thank you for coming Northman"

"I needed answers. Niall I did not know. How did I miss the connection?" I watch the tall elegant fairy; the Prince seemed a bit more comfortable than I expected him to be around me.

Niall stopped tracing the engraving and turned his attention fully to Eric. "Fintan kept her hidden Eric, even from me. I would have taken her home to Faerun if I had known, human blood be damned. I had already lost out on knowing her Father; I would not have tolerated losing Sookie or her brother Jason. Fintan was trying to protect her from her own kind, he didn't think ahead to what would happen if knowledge of her telepathy came to the attention of vampire." Niall rubbed at his face a moment. "Her telepathy is not a fairy trait, our concern is her bloodline. I made the same mistake he did, when I told you about my missing great granddaughter I never mentioned her name."

I smile wryly, "Pam connected the dots before I did, and she is not letting me forget that." We both chuckle. "So tell me the whole story Niall, I think it is about time I know everything."

"Fintan fell in love with that woman," pointing to Adele's grave "he asked what gift he could give her and she asked for children. They would be Corbett and Linda. Neither had the essential spark, but both were graced with the looks of the fae. With the discontent in Faerun, Fintan made the decision to pull away from Adele and the children to keep them safe. He cast a very effective ward to cloak them. He wasn't effective enough; Corbett was killed in a flash flood along with his wife when Sookie and Jason were just children. I suspect water fae involvement myself. Adele raised the children, and Fintan started to hunt for those that killed his child, he left Sookie and Jason with Adele thinking that his wards would be strong enough to protect them."

"When did he know she was taken?" I ask.

"He found out when Jason died, with no one living at either Stackhouse property the wards collapsed. They were tied to their fairy essence; apparently Jason spent enough time moving between the two homes that the farmhouse remained warded after Sookie was taken. For another five years Fintan tried to retrieve her from your bitch Queen through various diplomatic channels. I do not know why he did not come to you Northman; I suspect that the same spell that kept you from noticing what was right in front of your face, also kept you hidden from him. When your Queen dared to use Iron that is when Fintan decided to risk war. He went in with Claudette with my blessing and they failed." Niall is weeping; I fight the urge to reach for his tears.

"They didn't know about the iron room, they couldn't get her out could they." I asked when he seemed ready to continue.

"No, it was a trap; Andre was at his wickedest that night. Sophie-Anne was tired of dealing with Mr. Cataliades and punished Sookie instead. They had vampire and were waiting Fintan died almost instantly, Claudette lasted a bit longer she was a great warrior."

I push off from the gravestone and start to pace. "Niall, what were they thinking going into a palace of vampire? So the rescue failed and you come to me. Why"

I have wanted this answer since the day Niall had popped into my office at Fangtasia. Ability to mask his scent be damned, the man still looked like fairy, and his visit was naive.

He had threatened me that if I did nothing about my Queen that he would lead the war against my kind due to what she had done to one of his kin, his great granddaughter. I had assumed he had meant one of the fairies that had perished in the attack, not that there was still someone there trapped. I did not want to be King, this man's manipulations had pushed me to do so, and with the right intelligence I may have been able to retrieve Sookie without a takeover. What is it that humans say? Hind sight is twenty twenty.

The Prince also began to move, "You mean why I pushed you for a takeover? Push you to be King? Your Queen has to die, Andre had to die and you are one of the most powerful vampires in the state. You are ruthless, devious, strategic and a brilliant warrior," I cannot but help to preen at his words.

Niall lets loose a very inelegant snort, "Let me add egotistical to that, you are also honorable and loyal. I could not think of any other vampire I could trust with the safety and protection of my great granddaughter in your world. You had to be King to be able to do that Eric, not just a Sheriff. It would have come sooner or later anyway. I do not see you rolling over to the likes of Threadgill or de Castro, and they are definitely interested in Louisiana."

I ignore what he says about the other Kings for the moment, it is more important that I qualify his statement about safety and protection.

"You are not taking her with you then, you are content to leave her here with me? You will not interfere?" I ask.

"Eric, I cannot remove her because of that jewelry that she wears, the portal would not allow it, and also it still is not safe for one of human blood to move through Faerun. No she is safer here. There is a reason her magic cannot hurt you Eric, you touched her that night at Fangtasia didn't you."

I nod; I still remember the feel of her small hand in mine as we raced out into the parking lot. So small yet strong, just as she was. I should have held on to her tighter, I should have never let her go to Compton.

Niall reaches into his pocket for a flask, which he rolls between his palms, "That evening was an important one for Sookie, Eric. Based on the decisions she had made earlier it could have gone another way. She wasn't virgin when you touched was she?" I shake my head. "That is what I thought, no matter now. What is important is that you were the only vampire that has touched her with concern for her well being. Part of her remembers that, the rest of her life since then has not been as gentle. Her blood does not wish to kill you; else you would be dead now from her taste."

"Explain Niall, do not be so cryptic" I demand.

Niall is impatient now, "Eric we do not have a lot of time left this evening, but I will try. Sookie is Air fairy, her power is based on the manipulation of all things air. At the moment she cannot control it because she has not been allowed to merge completely with it nor has she trained in its use. She is learning things on her own that normally would be centuries in the training. Eric she manipulated the oxygen in her own blood to burn away her bond with Andre instead of letting it kill her, she did it subconsciously. By doing so, she turned her blood poison to vampire for a short period of time.

I am almost speechless, "Her blood is poison now?"

"No, not any longer, Doctor Ludwig found only a faint taste of it left when she pulled Sookie blood. If you try to force your blood on her though, I will not guarantee that it may not happen again. You will not be able to bond her Eric unless she accepts it willingly, and you need her to be bonded to you." Niall explained.

I am still trying to understand, "So while her blood was not poison to me for whatever reason, I am not able to sense her because the bloodmagic in her blood was destroyed?"

Niall inclines his head, "Yes, the bloodmagic that her blood or your blood normally contains, that would be the catalyst for a bond was no longer active in the blood that you drank."

"You would give me your blessing to Bond with Sookie, you wish us to be bonded, and you want me to turn her?" I am astounded I have never given my blood to a human other than to make a child, and Pam was the only one I had. I was already surprised with myself that I had even considered it originally when I found her, let alone have Niall's blessing.

"Eric I wish her to be bonded yes, it is the only way you can protect her in your world. Do I wish her vampire? No, but I must leave her some choice in her life. If she decides that is her wish, I will not stop her I would hope then that she would choose you as her maker. I warn you though; I do not know what she will become as vampire. Honestly though Eric, there is no rush to force that decision. With her bloodline and her spark, she will age slower than Fintan who had a much weaker spark, and he was seven hundred centuries. She is of the fairy; she is a warrior, keep her healthy and she will live long at your side." Niall begins to smile and beckons Eric closer. "I need a drop of your blood Viking." I refuse.

Niall sighs, and then begins to uncork the flask that he holds, "this is a potion I have worked on with Dr. Ludwig, to keep Sookie safe you have to bond with her, but you will not be able to convince her to bond before the trial. One drop of your blood will serve as a catalyst and turns this potion to a healing oil that when rubbed into Sookie's skin will begin removing her scars as well as grant the illusion that she has taken your blood. Give me a drop of your blood Eric; you know you will enjoy using this."

I cannot believe that Niall is winking at me, but I nip my finger and allow a drop into the flask. Niall stoppers the flask, shakes it and hands it over to me. I examine it before tucking it in my jacket, and then I turn away from Niall.

"I scared her deliberately last night Niall."

"I know Eric, I am sure you have your reasons. Eric it is important that you do not hold court in New Orleans, very important. That compound has been warded by whichever coven Sophie-Anne was working with. I cannot help you within those wards. Is there someplace else you can convert to be your Palace?"

I nod; I had already purchased a large residence near Shreveport and planned to give the palace to Rasul. While now fully operational again and removed of Sophie-Anne's bad taste, nothing could turn that office building into something comfortable without demolishing it. The ceilings were too low for one thing. I had started renovations on my property the second time I had hit my head while being shown the repairs from the take over at the Palace. I planned on moving the Queen and holding the Trial and Coronation at the new residence as an introduction. Besides, I would miss Pam and Fangtasia being cooped up all the time in New Orleans.

Niall rubs his hands together like a B grade mad scientist, "Excellent Eric, excellent. I have helped make you King and I give you one worthy to be your Queen. Do not disappoint me Eric. Mr. Cataliades will be your contacts if you need my assistance give him the particulars for the palace. He also will be giving Sookie some family papers when he gives her your contract. Good eve your Majesty."

*Pop*

Scene 2 - EPOV - 'Fangtasia'

Niall had given me a lot to think over last evening and only the pull of the sun stopped my mind from strategizing. Tonight I was at Fangtasia with the vermin spread at my feet and my Blackberry at my fingertips, it almost felt normal. Then Pam had to spoil it.

"Eric is that a True blood?"

"Yes Pam"

"Why are you drinking True blood?" She was dressed in black lace tonight and had already tried once to tease me away for a double banger. I was not interested.

"Pam, have you found those witches yet?" I paused in my texting of instructions to Bobby, my day man while I looked for her response.

"No Master" She flounced back to the entrance to monitor the vermin.

Finished with the list of items I wanted Bobby to gather for the Coronation, I slip into a day dream.

Eric glides down the cobble path that leads to the gardens. The night blooming flowers dip and sway with the light breeze, evening star, moon flower, and evening primrose. There is a burble of water nearby and the pathway opens up into a knot garden with a fountain focal point. Sitting on a bench nearby Sookie sits humming and tossing coins into the fountain. Eric sits beside her and pulls her over onto his lap. She giggles then curls up into his chest.

"How was your day Lover," Eric asks as he combs he hands through her hair, carefully maneuvering it out from under her where she has sat on it, then burying his face in it. "I can smell that you have been out in the sun."

Sookie is running her fingers over Eric's chest twirling the chest hair exposed by his low cut tank top. "Not much Eric, I went shopping with Wanda, sorted through the applications for the grounds keeper position, and then helped weed the roses."

Eric frowns and gathers one of her hands in his examining it for any damage. It is flawless, not a thorn prick to be found. He lifts it to his lips and traces his tongue over her palm before tucking a finger into his mouth and sucking gently.

Sookie squirms and the scent of her arousal hits his nose. "Eric!"

Eric laughs and with vampire speed has them both lying on the ground in a soft bank of grass with Sookie beneath him. She is wearing a soft pink cotton sundress that grants him easy access to her most delicious parts. He moves her thighs apart and teases them both by running his tongue up their length. Sookie has her hands wrapped in his hair urging him on. She is already so wet; he cannot wait to taste her. One hand under her hips brings her closer, the other slips inside curled to find her sweet spot. Sookie is mewling and her hips buck as Eric tongues her with vampire speed. He can tell she is close.

"Watch me Sookie" he demands, slowing his ministrations. Sookie lifts a heavy head, her eyes clouded by passion to lock gazes, his name a chant on her lips. Satisfied that he has her attention, Eric turns his head to her thigh and preps her for his bite only to be pulled away...

When a fang banger trips and slams into the foot of my throne, jarring me from my fantasy.

A/N Most of the heavy background story should be complete with this chapter, there should be less ruminating and more actuating from now on. Sookie just will not shut up in my head, it is Eric who is being reticent at the moment, stubborn vampire.