I was running quickly to Blue Chaos, Puck as a bird above me, as my figure was wrapped in a blank illusion. (Which was making me invisible.) We found the LOOOOONG line of people wanting to enter the club and I ran past, trying hard not to touch anyone or to come even close. I saw Puck fly over everyone's heads before he entered and we both ran to the back where we knew Shard kept the trod to Winter. As we kept coming closer, we could hear more and more noise coming from the room, and I guessed that something angered the ogre or whatever Shard was keeping prisoner. As we stepped in- well, he flew in and I stepped in- we saw a redcap being squashed. Puck went right into the midst of battle- as usual- before changing back and talking to Meghan for a second, and I ran along the wall to keep away from the fighting so I would be able to get to Meghan. She spotted me and I started to run quicker, ducking and jumping high to dodge any attacks that came towards me. When I arrived at her side, I took out a blade of Summer- a sword with embellishments of Summer and which can use fire like the Winter does (except they're ice). I sliced heads off redcaps who decided to come near or attack with a millisecond of hesitation. "I know I probably shouldn't be saying this, but thanks," Meghan breathed to me, and I nodded.
"I won't put you in my debt," I replied quickly before slicing another redcap's head from its shoulders. I saw a blow incoming from the ogre and I pushed her away from the blow, dodging.
"Grumly!" Meghan desperately shouted to the ogre, and he glanced over. "Look at me! Listen to me!" He stopped doing his little jig and turned his gaze of torment to Meghan. "Help us!" She cried, "Help us, Grumly, and we'll set you free! We'll set you free!"
"Free...me?" He gaped as I saw Shard knock Meghan over from behind as she shouted a no. But at that point, Grumly roared in protest and whacked her away from Meghan, the key around her neck falling down towards me. Meghan scrambled to her feet and I touched her shoulder as I picked up the key.
"I'll do the chains," I told Meghan, "you stay out of trouble." And I quickly ran to the ogre, going to the iron manacle that was around his foot, and carefully put the key in as not to let myself touch the iron and turned it until it clicked, and the manacle fell right beside me. I sighed in relief as the ogre roared in triumph and rage. I quickly dove away, running back to where Meghan was, joined by Puck.
"Let's go," Puck told us, "while everyone's distracted."
"What about Grimalkin?"
"I am here," the cait sith answered beside her before we ran for the trod, but found the way guarded by Shard.
"No," the sidhe growled, her left arm limp, the other hand holding an ice spear which was angled at Meghan's chest. "You will not pass. You will die here, and I will nail you to the wall for everyone to see." You could hear Grumly coming closer because of the shake he made to the floor and how loud his steps were. "Grumly," Shard said without taking her eyes away from Meghan, "kill them. All is forgiven. Rip them apart, slowly. Do it, now." You could hear Grumly growl as a thick leg landed beside Meghan as I hid her behind me in protection.
"Frrriends," he grumbled. "Free Grumly. Grumly's friends." He took another step towards Shard, the pained part of his leg smelling like rot and gangrene. "Kill mistress," he added and Shard started to protest in shock.
"Let's go," Puck whispered and we all ducked under Grumly's legs and sprinted for the trod. I saw Meghan look back, but I didn't dare, horrified at what I would see.
*Afterwards...*
A corridor stretched in front of us and Meghan sat against a wall, her adrenaline wearing off. "You alright, princess?" he asked Meghan and I almost answered, but I saw him in front of Meghan and I scoffed, looking away. He didn't notice, I guess, as they hugged each other. When they pulled away, Meghan pulled him down against the wall as I leaned against the opposite, my head down and my eyes closed, my arms crossed. I shut out their conversation, not wanting to hear anything. But at one point, my ears came back, and I heard what Meghan said: "But... you won't, right?" She stammered. She looked at only Puck, and my nerves almost snapped. "Puck, you can't. I have to find Ethan. I have to go to the Unseelie Court and bring him home." Puck raked his hand through his hair and I let out a very low rumble of annoy.
"If he doesn't, I will," I snapped, and all eyes came to me. "Oberon and Mother are already pissed off with the chimera let loose at Elysium, and I bet they want me to be there as soon as possible so that stupid wedding can come to be. But, I can't come back without you or I may be destroyed."
"You sound like you want to be with Sage," Puck accused me again.
"I just want to get the whole thing over with. Things like these are better to do sooner than later."
"Well, you realize you'll have to drag me back kicking and screaming, and I'll never talk to you ever again," Meghan warned me.
"I can just turn you into a bird and stick you into a cage like I did Puck, and I don't freaking care if I talk to you or not. Mother told me to hate you, even," I sighed. "Also, if you do go and Mab finds you... you'll be a nice statue in her courtyard," I added in warning.
"But my brother is still out there!" Meghan shouted, "I don't care if I get your help or not, but I'm getting him back." I let out a strange string of curses (like the bad words, not curses) under my breath in slight defeat.
"You won't be doing anything, Princess Ethel," Grimalkin warned. "Besides, I have something that might be able to help."
"Help in what way?" I snapped, my eyes closed again and my head hanging.
"A favor from the king," the feline said, ignoring my question.
"That won't stop him from banishing us," Puck pointed out.
"Oh great," I groaned under my breath.
"No," the cat agreed, "it won't. But I can request for you and the girl to be banished for a limited time. A few decades or so. Better than nothing."
"Uh-huh. And this would just cost us a small favor in return?" Puck sounded unconvinced, which I was looking forward to.
"You pulled me into this the moment you dropped the girl into my tree," Grimalkin pointed out, "I cannot believe that was an act of coincidence, at least from the infamous Robin Goodfellow. You should've known it would come out like this."
"I know better than to make deals with a cait sith." Finally, Puck sighed, scrubbing his eyes. "Fine. Freedom is highly overrated, anyway. If I'm gonna do something, I might as well do it big." I froze and looked up at Puck with a glare.
"So, you'll help us?" Meghan asked suspiciously but happily.
"Sure, why not? Unless Ethel disagrees..." Puck added, looking over at me slowly. I glared at him for a few minutes before looking down in anger.
"Why do decisions like these happen to be so hard?" I whined, pushing myself off the wall. "Fine, I'll help you guys. But-" Puck sent me a warning glare, and I sighed. "Whatever. At least storming the Unseelie Court seems fun."
"Then let us go," Grim said, "the longer we stay here, the faster word will spread about our intentions." I nodded, turning and helping Meghan and Puck up.
We followed the hallway from a while, the air turning a bit frosty as we approached the Winter grounds.
"We are getting close," Grim's disembodied voice told us from the mists of Winter decor.
The hallway ended with a simple wooden door. It was surrounded by snow and it creaked from the wind that howled outside. "Ladies and felines," Puck stated grandly, grabbing the doorknob and opening the door, "welcome to Tir Na Nog. Land of endless winter and shitloads of snow." I chuckled as I walked past, walking into a frozen garden with snow all over my face from the wind. Everyone looked around and Puck commented in distaste, "Charming. I love the barren, dead feel they're going for, don't you? I wonder who the gardener is- I'd love to get some tips." I smiled in amusement but quickly hid it, wanting to get some practice with no emotion just in case we come along some winter guards.
You could hear Meghan shivering as she asked, "H-how far are we from Queen Mab's court?"
"Maybe two days' walk," Grim answered, leaning against a tree stump and sitting with care. "We should find shelter. I am uncomfortable and the girl is most likely to freeze to death."
I was looking around and I spotted someone from the trees, and he spat out a dark chuckle. "I wouldn't worry about that now." He came out, his sword loose in one of his hands. I quickly drew mine as I saw my brother-to-be: Ash. Grimalkin hissed and disappeared and Puck shoved Meghan behind him as Ash came closer. "I've been waiting for you."