Author's note-this is the last chapter of my story so its longer than the rest…thank you to all the reviewers who have left such kind words and who have put this on their favorites list. I wanted to explore Faery and faeries a little more than was done on the TV show and wanted a break from Bon Temps, the usual locales. Please check out some of my other stories which though they are not connected to this new series I am starting with this story, I hope you enjoy just as much!

Chapter 10-A New Beginning

The door opened, instead revealing a scared Sundra father than Finn. "He sent me ahead to…oh, you're both….you're both…"

"Better, yeah. And Niall's dead and I don't have the time to tell you everything, save for the fact he transferred his power to me and gave me the throne."

"It's not going to be over until Finn's dead." Sundra said sadly. "I don't like what his drive for power has done to him. Since Niall had our mother killed, he has nee insistent on making her proud…"

"Who was your mother?" Sookie asked slowly, her gut clenching as she felt she already knew the answer.

"Mab…..I know you encountered her and she tried to keep you here….there may be a lot to the story you never knew. But your grandfather put up a fight against her and her followers and it became a violent attempt at a coup. But your grandfather and his men cornered her and several others loyal to her and blasted them all into oblivion. He felt prison wasn't a permanent enough fix. He always was angry about what she had done to her and if not for her and her followers, he would have stopped her when she had had you in her grasp so briefly. And I, admittedly, followed my siblings into Finn's scheming but after seeing what he did to-" Sundra was stopped by a hand wrapping around her throat, lifting her a couple feet above the ground, as her terrified eyes met Eric's, a anxious Sookie tried talking him out of his rage.

"She was a victim in this too, she isn't like the rest of them. I can read her mind, I never thought to read any of their minds before, since they were all supposedly loyal to Niall-"

"Finn had magic to help block you from our thoughts anyway." Sundra said, her voice box constricted by the big hand around her. Her impatience to stop her brother manifested in her beginning to call forth her own light, and she had it at the ready.

"Stop! Please, let her go. She's telling the truth. Just…Sundra, put your light away and let's try to figure out what the hell we are gonna do, especially if he can put people under his control. Even it its only temporary, it could do a lot of damage."

Still not looking terribly pleased at Sundra, Eric turned to Sookie. "If I even think this one is going to try something, I will not hesitate to end her."

"That's fair enough…..I should have been stronger and warned you about what he had planned instead of letting him…look, I want to prove myself to the both of you and together, I think the three of us can put a end to him. He is no Niall…magic wise."

"No. He isn't." Sookie said angrily "He did say he made sacrificed to use the magic that he has to cause all this mess…..what do you know about that?"

Sundra hung her head. "He killed other faeries and took their remains to charge his potions and spells he used to work his magic, knowing that he could never be fully in charge until he could take Niall's power. Though that can't happen now, he can keep killing faeries and keep working enough dark magic that….well, if it works to his plan, can see even you two brought down. For good."

"Ain't gonna happen. If not for him, I'd still have my grandfather and he pissed off the wrong people. I am ready for a good fight." Sookie said with clenched fists, light crackling around her fists. To emphasize her fearlessness, she popped out her fangs and looked next to her as she felt his hand slide into her own. "Hope you have your appetite still."

"I want to tear that freak to pieces. Or blast him, I have kind of enjoyed getting to use this." Eric summoned his own ball of light before he gave the women a sinister, fanged smirk. "Let's not wait for him to get into here, let's get out of his hole."

They stealthily left the cell and eventually the dungeon. "Considering he was supposed to come in after giving me time with you and Niall….." Sookie said with a frown. "I don't like this."

"The only thing that could have pulled him away was if he needed a power boost." Sundra said grimly. "He was using the temple as the place where he committed the murders. I would be willing to bet that he is there. He must have been in a panic or something to have left me behind." Sundra said thoughtfully. "He may be more worried about the two of you than he's ever let on to me or my sisters."

They followed her down past the throne room, the banquet hall and several other doors, arriving at a door flanked by two guards, armed with blades at the hip and looking partially zombie like. As soon as they had seen the trio approach, the two men had brandished their weapons and were ready for a fight. It had come to Sookie, no doubt through her inherited powers, that she could detect those who were being bewitched by Finn. These two, were not those people but were actual traitors to her grandfather. Cold fury tore through her and she vowed to not let anyone not being bewitched survive. As good of a fight the two guards put up, it was not much of a challenge for the hybrids to take on, though Eric was kind enough to allow Sookie to make the kills both times, each being blasted to oblivion by her light-not before she had allowed him to enjoy a brief meal.

"You two…..are scary together." Sundra commented as she looked at the remains with wide eyed horror. "But I guess Faery could use a little scary about now."

"I am certainly wiling to oblige." Eric said as he shoved the door open, knocking it clear off its hinges. The two followed and sure enough there was the smell of blood on the air as several dead faeries were bleeding into a eerily glowing pool of water that was typically a serene crystal blue color. But now, the water was tainted with blood, eerily glowing at the surface. Within its shallow depths, Finn was chanting and treading the water. Looking to the source of the interruption , he looked genuinely shocked. "How….the way I left you…..him….it can't be…"

Striding up to him with the air of a royal, regardless of how damaged her fine dress was, Sookie looked at Finn hard in the eyes. "You clearly didn't know enough about what my grandfather could do and as such, its too late for you to get his power. I have them now."

Finn blinked for a moment before shrugging. Stepping away from her, he made a few motions with his hands before casting his magic, the remains of the dead faeries channeling into the dark magic he needed to use. "No matter, I need to simply rally my troops and take you down and then I can take the power from you."

Dozens of entranced faeries bolted into the room, ready to serve Finn, who looked gleeful as the three became over matched. Having clearly managed to cast his magic even with the interruption, Finn smirked as he watched Sookie, Sundra and Eric trying to blast away the throngs deadening upon them, managing to deflect some of the attacks, but not others. It was clear to the trio that they were not to kill, but injure, or stun or weaken enough to capture them yet again. The angry eyes of Sundra met her brother and as he turned his attention to the melee, to see the swarm having nearly taken down Sookie and Eric, who remained defiant, putting up a respectable fight, a fight that Sundra knew they couldn't keep up with, even with them being who they were.

Sneaking around him from behind, Sundra made eye contact with her two allies, Sookie's eyes wide as she realized the dangerous thing Sundra was trying to attempt. Plucking a iron blade that had fallen to the floor, she was not going to go down as a villain as the rest of her kin had mostly done. She tiptoed around so she would be directly in back of him and taking a look at the mob that had managed to finally bring Sookie and Eric to heel, at least for the time being. Even they, with their powers were no match to the dozens of faeries what had assaulted them but that Sundra was in prime position now, it was nearly over. One last gaze into the eyes of her new friends and Sundra nodded at them as if telling them she was at peace with her decision. Tapping her brother on she shoulder, he spun around in time to see the blade slice into his neck, Sundra putting her muscle into the blow and coming close to severing the head of her older brother .

"Sundra…" he sputtered as his blood flowed like a river from the wound. "We could have had everything we wanted…."

"I never wanted any of this…this fighting…..the deaths…its evil and I wash my hands of you and will regret what you became." Sundra said, tears in her eyes because he still was, after all, her last remaining flash and blood. But the deaths, the blood in his hands was too much for her to forgive and so she was able to breathe a sigh of relief as she watched his body turn to dust. For good measure, she used her light to destroy even the dust. And with his demise, the faerie under his thrall stopped their assault, their taunting and capture of Sookie and Eric. All traces of the dark magic Finn had been using vanished, leaving only the temple and its pool of water as pristine and as peaceful as it once was and the scent of blood was no more. As for the faeries awakened from their entrancement, they looked shocked and appalled for what they had been doing.

"Sundra…are you alright?" Sookie rushed over to the side of their faerie ally. Sundra knelt at Sookie's feet.

"I should have stopped him sooner and as the future ruler of Faery, you should have be executed. I was no better than he was at letting things go on as they did. Many faeries were killed because of my complicity. And I did nothing to stop him. So do as you will to me."

Sookie heard Eric approach as the faeries in the room talked amongst themselves, taking in the events that had taken place. "I have been to blame for people dying to help save me. I have certainly not been a saint nor the good girl I thought I was. Sometimes I still kick myself for some of the things I let people in my life do for me." her thoughts briefly went to Alcide. "But I don't blame you for what happened. The one responsible was Finn and I will not punish you for his crimes."

"Spoken like a true leader." Eric said as he took her by the hand and Sundra tried to ignore the bloody, bare chest of the Viking. She couldn't help but game at the delectable sight of the Viking vampire. "Maybe we could clean up though?"

"I am going to need some help….perhaps gathering the people of Faery to I can maybe explain what has happened? I would like it very much if you could me by number two." Sookie looked meaningfully at Sundra who nodded eagerly, unable to believe her luck at getting not only a second chance, but a position of prestige as well.

"I will send word for the people of Faery to gather at the palace…..right away. And I will go get the guards out of the dungeon….oh, and we have a coronation to plan and-" Sundra droned on and on while running off to serve the future queen.

Sitting on the long white leather couch in her suite, Sookie was enjoying the afterglow of a much needed trip to the ginormous marble bathtub in the bathroom. She actually felt somewhat normal again and was pleased to see her wounds were healed. Thoughts of her increased powers were replaced by thoughts of Niall. She wanted badly to see the Glades he had spoken of and had yet to visit the vault he had told her to find. Perhaps once Sundra had returned, she would see to the vault. As it was, Sundra had posted a half dozen guards outside the suite, determined to keep Sookie as safe as possible. But she was not alone in the suite, the bathroom door opened and with only a towel wrapped around his middle, Eric ran a hand through his hair that was still camp from the tub.

"Normally I prefer showers…..and company in said shower, but that was nearly as good."

Sookie offered a half smile. "I told you when we got back here that I plan on taking things slow. I am not wrecking this second chance we have here. I couldn't bear screwing things up. Again." she replied as she allowed herself to fall into his arms. The familiar experience of him stroking her hair was comforting.

"How are you holding up? Not that there's not enough playing on your mind but…..I did like your grandfather. And not because he liked me for you. He was quite witty. Intelligent. Gave us a chance to spend time together here and I feel like that gift is something that will certainly come in handy. One can not assume a throne and just go on with their former life."

"No. no they can't. but I am also not giving up my other life. And I suppose I will have some explaining to do to my friends. To Arlene." Sookie laughed to herself as she pictured herself explaining to Arlene that she was a royal and had a throne. And she wouldn't be able to cover much, if any of her shifts for the foreseeable future. Then again, she was royal and certainly would not ever want for anything again. Not that she still didn't want to work at the bar, she wanted her life to be hers still, at least somewhat and wanted to somehow keep her job. Deciding not to fret about it at the moment, her thoughts turned to getting herself dressed to address the people. And that thought made her stomach do cartwheels.

"Better get something else on, as much as I would prefer you to wear nothing. That, I may say, would certainly get the people's attention." Eric said as he kept her in his embrace, knowing how she was nervous. And hurting from the passing of yet another figure in her life, a family member no less.

Unable to keep a straight face or her giggles in, she playfully slapped him in the chest. "You are incorrigible you know."

He said nothing but leaned down to kiss her and though part of her was hesitant, she simply couldn't help herself. They stood there for what felt like forever, neither wanting the moment to end but it had to and she reluctantly pulled away. "I had always hoped there would be another moment like that for us. Even after everything,." he admitted.

"Me too…..but….are we really ok? Have you really forgiven me for everything, because I feel like everything is…..actually going to be okay and somehow I feel like I should be scared. I am used to being scared. Too used to it, actually."

"I think its time for you to finally get to enjoy your life, especially what you are about to attain. You will thrive in this position. And do your grandfather proud."

Touched by the kind words, she nodded and went off to change, she gave him a sideways glance as she went in the direction of the closet. "You had best get to getting something else on too. Not that I am not enjoying the view, but….." she gave him a sly look and he took a parcel that Sundra had dropped off at the suite a half hour earlier. Opening the package, he breathed a sigh of relief and had to chuckle at the thought put into his wardrobe.

"Your voice will be magnified as you speak into the microphone." explained Sundra. "I tell ya, we like your technology but are glad we use our magic to power them rather than all those cords I have seen used for them back in your world. What a mess." Sundra said as she smoothed a strand of Sookie's hair. Sookie had chosen a pale pink gown and matching earrings and a pair of delicate yet sturdy ballet like slippers. Sundra had said she didn't think Sookie could look any more like a princess and a set of curtains opened up behind them on the balcony they stood upon and an amused Sookie saw her leather clad Viking arrive.

"As much as I enjoy a good suit, at least I'm not blood covered…..Sundra said she figured you wouldn't mind me wearing this. I still look good, regardless." Eric raked a hand through his blonde hair and his blue eyes glimmered with mischief as he took in the look on Sookie's face, which was almost lustful. She steeled herself. This was not the time to have such thoughts and she always did think he looked good in his racer backs and leather…

"Wish me luck." she muttered as she went to take to the microphone. Clearing her throat, she let her eyes dart back to what she had gotten from the vault when Sundra had come to bring here out here and had a feeling she knew what was inside. Sundra wouldn't let her see telling her it was not yet the time. "People of Faery…I have come here to claim the throne as were my grandfather's wishes. Though there has clearly been trouble as of late, I vow to keep vigilance, to purge those such as Finn from ever again deceiving any of us, resulting in any further bloodshed." Sookie felt oddly at ease as she let the words come to her-she had never really been one for any great speeches and was surprising herself. She spoke of her upbringing on Earth, how she hadn't learned of her true heritage until during the past decade. "Everything I have learned I learned from Niall, as he has spent many weeks and months preparing me for taking his place. None of us expected this day to come as soon as it has but I vow to give you my word that I plan to practice justice. Kindness. Compassion. Rule as fairly as he did. I am his legacy and though some of you may still fear my companion," Sookie gestured to Eric. "this man is as brave, as good and as fearless as any of the guards who you trust. Niall believed in him and Niall was nothing if not perceptive. He was fooled by Finn. I admit that. But today is a new day and I give my word that now that I have used the power I gained from Niall to one more cloak the scent of all faeries save for me, none of you need worry about another attack. Besides, he has his own business to attend to back on Earth."

The crowd looked up at her, some with pride on their faces but others seemed skeptical. Sookie knew she couldn't expect people to suddenly follow her to take everything she said as true, but today was the start of the healing. Finally, applause began to erupt, blossoming into hoots, hollers and excited shouting over their soon to be new monarch.

Dressed in a formal red gown of her own, Sundra brought out the box that had been waiting to be opened. "Your grandfather had this designed specifically for this moment and you are not obliged to wear it, save for formal obligations. He never really cared for wearing his." handing the box to a guard to hold, Sundra opened it and revealed a rose gold tiara studded with small amethysts and sapphires lining it. It was beautiful in the fact that it was neither gaudy or ostentatious and yet when on her head would clearly denote her status.

"As your named second in charge, I have been given the task to hereby give you the title of queen of Faery, is you do so accept."

"I do."

"And so I declare you the unchallenged ruler of Faery. I hereby bless you with the light and the title, the crown and the strength of those who came before you. Congratulations." Sundra said as she placed the tiara gently upon Sookies head, her long blonde hair down on a rare occasion, strung with threads of baby's breath. Upon the tiara touching her head, the crowd once more broke into thunderous applause. Not concerned with what anyone else below may think, she let Eric take her by the hands and before the people of the land, shared a tender embrace. She was too choked up to speak but knew that began the new chapter of her life and that the end was always the beginning of something new. What it meant for Faery, Bon Temps, her friends and family, she knew not, which was always scary. What she now knew, without a doubt, was that she had finally found the love she had thought she lad lost forever and neither paid much attention while the crowd below cheered them on.

THE END

Author's note-So that is where I am leaving the things for now. But I plan to work from this story and continuing this new series and promise to do a follow up to this one as there is much more I want to delve into. For now, please enjoy some of my other stories and I will be back soon with the second new story of 2016! Thanks for reading!