Chapter Ten

She wasn't sure what she expected to feel; angry perhaps, that her life seemed to always be in the hands of others to make decisions. Danu didn't expect the excitement, nervousness and relief that smothered any anger she might have felt. She reasoned that everything had been laid out for her. Several decades too late, perhaps, but everything from using the loophole to sever her connection to King Arthur, to her arranged betrothal to the Goblin King, made sense. Ever since Jereth returned to her life, Danu felt he was the key to becoming free. While she didn't know how she felt about their betrothal, Danu owed it to herself to give Jereth a chance. She gave her grandmother a level stare. "When can that be done?"

Donella blinked. Then an elegant smile spread over her face; transforming the Queen into a full-blooded woman for an instant. "You surprise me, granddaughter. Though, I suppose there are worse things." Her eyes flickered to the Goblin King for a second. "Not that I fault you."

Danu smirked. "I've lived with this curse a long time. If there's a way to control it somehow, who am I to quibble over the details?"

"I see. And what about the betrothal?" the Queen of Passage pressed. She would not tie Danu to a King that she did not want.

Feeling Jereth's eyes on her, Danu took in a deep breath before letting it out. "I don't know about marriage, but I like Jereth well enough. He was my only friend as a child." She turned to Jereth with a small smile. "I'd like to wait until we are reacquainted before that is addressed."

He was still leaning his wiry figure on the side of the entrance. His legs were crossed with careless nonchalance; one of his hands was tucked neatly at his chin while the other was half closed, with one finger at his temple and thumb at the side of his jaw. While his hand covered most of it, there was a sly smile on his lips. "I'm certainly in no hurry." He commented.

The Queen nodded. "Then I see no reason to delay. There will be no need for fan fair. An oath done in the presence of the Circle is binding." Donella turned to Jereth. "King Jereth, come stand with the Circle and receive Danuela's fealty." She indicated the spot in the center of the assembled tables, in view of the other Queens and Ladies. When he sauntered into place, Queen Donella glanced at Danu. "Take a knee, granddaughter." She gestured to the spot in front of the Goblin King.

As Danu started forward, her mind raced back to a time when another oath of fealty was given by her.

~. ~. ~.

Avalon

There was a thunderous applause as their new King was fully coroneted, standing on the raised structure with the more ornamental crown atop his head; the bejeweled scepter in his hand and the sphere of office in his other hand. Even with the splendor, the King of Avalon was still a young man; giving his adolescent, yet charming, smile to those in attendance. With a little more flourish then perhaps needed, King Arthur seated himself on his throne. "We shall now begin the Oaths of Fealty." he said as he was taught.

With choreographed efficiency, his subjects arranged themselves to give their fealty by importance and class. First the Steward knelt to him, then his Councilors and Knights of the Round Table. Depending on their place, their oaths varied slightly.

Merlin had rehearsed with Danu on what she would be obligated to say. It was enough for them to recite a general oath of fealty and the old wizard disregarded her attempts to personalize it in any way. But before them were many Councilors, Dukes and Duchies. When Danu looked behind her and the lesser Lords and Ladies, she had hoped to catch a glimpse of her father, but she couldn't spot him in the throng.

Soon enough it was Merlin's turn; as her mentor, he pledged first and then his apprentice would go next. As she knelt on the cushioned velvet step, Danu grinned up at Arthur and spared him a wink before reciting what Merlin taught her word for word.

"Here do I swear...
" By mouth and hand...
" Fealty of service to the Law and the people of Camelot...
"To speak and to be silent, to come and to go...
"To strike and to spare, to do and to let be...
" In matters as concern Camelot...
" And the lawful commands of King Arthur…
" In need or in plenty, in peace and in war...
" In living or dying, from this hour henceforth...
"Until the walls shall crumble or Death takes me or the world ends…

"So say I, Danuela Morrigan LaFey, on my Honor." Danu finished, moving to kiss the Kings ring before standing, curtsying and moving aside so that the next Lord and Lady pledge their service. Before she stepped aside, Danu cold have sworn she saw Arthur smile.

Little did she know in her youthful respite, that some day; years from now, she would break fealty to the man she thought she'd come to love.

~. ~. ~.

Labyrinth

This was much different from Camelot. When Danu knelt in front of Jereth, he immediately took one of her hands in both of his. He gave it a squeeze before speaking. "Repeat after me, Danu." He told her. "I here swear fealty and service…"

Trying to contain a sudden fit of giddiness, Danu took a breath. "I here swear fealty and service…

"To you, Jereth, King of this Faery Realm,

"And to the Circles of Faery Queens and Kings…

"By the earth, the moon and stars,

"By my breath, my passion, my depths,

"Do I swear by…

"My life is yours

"My magic is yours

"My service is yours…

"May I be cast into the labyrinth forever,

"If ever I shall fail…

"Thus swear I, Danuela LaFey." For a moment, it felt like they were the only two present. Everything else seemed to fade away.

Jereth grinned down at her. "As King of this land, I accept your fealty and service. I vow to protect you and aid you in any way that is in my power." Another squeeze to her hand. "This I, King Jereth, swear." Using her captured hand, he helped her to her feet. He kissed the back of her hand before grabbing the other and kissing the back of that one as well. Then, in a flash of movement, planted a kiss on both her cheeks.

Startled, Danu couldn't do much more than accept the gesture. Then she noticed that the Circle members had encircled both her and King Jereth.

Without a word, they each reached over to lay a hand on Danu's shoulder or arm; or if they could not reach, then they placed a hand on Jereth's shoulders. As representative and blood relative, it was Donella who spoke. "We, the Circle of Queens, accept your fealty and service. We vow to nurture you and guide you on your path. If you should ever find yourself lost, we shall find you. This, the Circle of Queens and Ladies swear; and swear for our consorts." She, too, took a moment to kiss her granddaughter on the cheek before moving aside. But it was just to allow the others a chance to welcome her in a similar fashion.

Overwhelmed, Danu accepted their welcome one by one before King Jereth lead her out of the earthen chamber and through several corridors leading to his castle. "You're very quiet." He observed as they walked.

"Still tired, I guess. I haven't slept much since getting here." She admitted. Danu bit her lip tentatively as her thoughts went to the moment Jereth brought her here. She stopped walking; taking Jereth's arm to stop him as well. "I've been meaning to ask… what happened to Storybrooke and its citizens? Are they safe?"

Jereth took a moment, his lips pursed, in thought. "Yes, in fact. They're fine. The town is intact. But I'm afraid that the main five-some characters have journeyed to a place to retrieve a lone boy."

Danu paused. "Henry?" That would mean the "five some" was Emma, Snow, Charming, Regina and Rumpelstiltskin. And possibly Hook for a sixth man as his ship could travel between realms. "Where did they go?" she asked; while wondering how Rumple was going to reconcile dying for the boy or saving his own skin; that prophesy was on his mind, even in the Enchanted Realm.

"Never land." Was Jereth's answer.

At that, Danu's face paled slightly. After she and Rumple had parted ways, Danu had searched out ways of finding his history; she wanted to know more about him, and of course he wasn't very forthcoming about his past. There weren't many traces left of his old life, except as an anecdote in the history of some spinster family. The trail eventually led her to Never land. She was able to find the oldest stories about the place; finding out that it used to be a place the young go in their sleep. Then something changed. Danu was never able to find out what, though. She felt certain Neverland held something important to Rumple; she just didn't know what. Perhaps she could ask when… or if, they both got back to Storybrooke. "I see." She stammered out once she realized she'd been silent. Danu started forward again, sensing rather than seeing Jereth walk in step with her.

They were in the castle proper now, going up through stone and window lined corridors leading to one of the residential wings. The castle was empty at this time of night, though would soon be bustling in a couple hours when dawn broke over the horizon. The castle was much more vast and elegant on the inside than it appeared on the outside. The floors were lined with runners; the windows had seating benches and the walls were covered with magnificent tapestries that depicted the best of imagination and adventure; both light and dark. The stonework itself was smooth and the doors were solid and esthetically pleasing. Though it seemed Danu saw none of it.

"There's nothing you can do, Danu. They have to save Henry on their own." Jereth continued with his positive air. "They've got their own dark one and the savior. What kind of adventure would it be if the hero's didn't succeed?" he asked with a smile that was both reassuring and a bit condescending.

Sighing, Danu gave her current thoughts a mental shake. "Your right. Of course. No use worrying about them when I'm on my own adventure." She said, giving him a genuine smile.

Which he returned with more verve.

Then they were at an intricately carved set of double doors. Jereth faced her as he placed his hand on the handle. "Your chambers, my lady." He said with a flourish and opened one of the doors.

The candles in the room lit up with their presence, displaying a well-designed room. The walls were covered in decorated paper and tapestries, adding warmth and uniqueness to the room. They entered the receiving room proper; it was filled with bookshelves, a large desk, a fire place and two comfortable looking couches. One wall had a bay window with a set of doors beside it leading to a balcony. Across the room, adjacent to the wall with the window and balcony, was another set of doors. Danu walked over and opened it to see a well made king sized bed, a respectable sized wardrobe and another set of doors leading to the same balcony. There were two other sets of doors as well; one double, the other single. Behind the single door was her own private, if a bit small, toilet and bath room. When Danu went to open the double doors, she found them locked. She turned to Jereth with a querying expression.

Jereth had been watching her the entire time. What he saw pleased him; as it seemed she was well impressed with her accommodations. He strode up to her at the locked double doors. "These lead to my chambers." He told her. His hand disappeared into an unseen pocket and from it he drew a gold key. "This unlocks them." With one hand, Jereth took one of hers; and with the other, gently placed the key in her palm. "Though I think it would be common curtsey if you asked first before coming to my room." He said, speaking with a high air that was clearly teasing.

Danu chuckled despite herself. "Back at you. Though, I guess I shouldn't be surprised you put me here. You haven't been able to take your hands off me since I arrived… even when you were angry with me." She taunted, giving him a sassy smile. This place invoked fond childhood memories, making her feel safe; even to be herself. And as she wasn't in any danger and truly like bantering with the Goblin King, Danu felt free to do so.

Taking a step closer, Jereth smirked. He hadn't let go of her hand yet, and one of his fingers gently stroked the skin of her wrist. "You have a point there." Jereth brought up his other hand to stroke the side of her face. "Danu, when I brought you here, all I wanted were answers… and perhaps to see you flail in my Labyrinth." He chuckled at both the speed of which his opinion had changed and at her chagrined expression. "But you always had a way about you, Danu. Even as a little girl. Even my father had been taken by you."

"I had no idea." Danu admitted. His nearness was starting to affect her. Had he been this magnetic as a boy; just as he was telling her she had been?

Jereth smirked. "I suppose with an enchantress of a mother, it shouldn't have been surprising." His piercing blue eyes looked into Danu's purple ones. He suddenly became serious. "Your Storybrooke… were you hoping to go back?" he asked, suddenly unsure.

Seeing that uncertainty and hearing the unexpected question startled Danu; she had to take a moment to sort through her jumbled thoughts on the subject. It was true that Danu had started making her own place in the close-knit town, but there was always a nagging feeling that she would never truly belong with the others. Danu felt that her own story had been put on hold until she could leave the curse-made town. Perhaps it was beginning again, here in the Faery Lands. Obviously this is where it began.

Though she would miss Red and Belle. And she would definitely miss Rumplestiltskin.

Looking up at Jereth with her choice made, Danu took a small step forward, closing the distance to mere centimeters. "I would like to stay here, if that's okay."

His answer was to push her against the double doors separating their respective chambers and capturing her lips with his with a passion Jereth hadn't felt in many years. Her request to stay seemed to lighten an unseen load he just realized he carried. Jereth could already breathe easier at having her back. His spirit swelled as he realized Danu was kissing him back with as much fervor as he. She had wound her free arm around his back while the one still in his own clutched as much as he clutched her. When he finally released her, Jereth looked down at her to see her looking pleased yet… sad.

"Does this mean you're going to be wooing me, my King?" Danu asked, trying to sass away that empty feeling in lieu of finally finding a place for herself. A place where she didn't have to hide or keep a part of herself secret.

Tilting his head to the side, Jereth smiled back. "Now there's an idea." He took a step back and raised her hand to his lips. After kissing the back of her hand, he let go of her. His eyes swept over her before he took another step backwards. "Rest, Danu. You'll only have tomorrow to settle in before the Faery Queens put you to training." He told her. "Sleep well." With that, Jereth started back through the parlor, to the door.

Danu watched him go; both yearning for him to stay and relieved she would have time to herself; to think. "Good night." She said belatedly, just as Jereth walked out the door.