1583-

Roman was shocked.

No.

Appalled.

Tara was in the 1500's? THIS is where she wanted to stay?

They arrived in a foul smelling cabin on a ship! And Roman was no longer a vampire. He quickly took the ring off of Tara's finger and put it on his own.

"Goodbye, Ms. Thornton. God speed to you."

And it was just before he left, that he saw the fleeting image of Eric Northman, with long hair enter the cabin, and refer to Tara as his WIFE!

2013-

Roman returned in moments. Bill and Eric were still on the Stackhouse property. Bill stepped forward.

"Where is she, if I may ask?" Bill inquired.

But Roman stared at Eric so hard, that Eric became unnerved, which rarely happened. If ever.

"Mr. Northman, I will drop all charges against you and your sister. I will have your tracking device deactivated. Let's go." he said to Bill. But Bill and Eric stood rooted in place.

"I don't understand, Chancellor," Bill began, "what made you change your mind about bringing charges against Eric here?"

Roman took a deep breath, then spoke.

"I saw evidence that made me realize that there could've been some truth to what Mr. Northman here was alleging. Not that it matters anymore. Let's go." he said and turned away.

"Chancellor, begging your pardon, but that explanation is not good enough." Eric told him.

Roman slowly turned back to face Eric and Bill decided to intercede.

"Eric, does it really matter? Chancellor Zimojic has shown you mercy. Tara is gone, the ring is in the proper owner's hands and you are free. For now. So let's just forget this." Bill said.

"I would except that Chancellor Zimojic and yourself, made it VERY clear that the only way I would win a trial, is if I could prove that Tara had not been threatened by me sexually. Clearly, Chancellor, you saw something that made you think I was telling the truth. Tara said she was 'married'. Is she indeed married to Sam Merlotte?" Eric asked pointedly.

Roman just stared at him without speaking. He then turned to leave. Bill spoke.

"I think you have all the answers you are about to get. Just leave this alone. You only turned Tara to get to Sookie anyway. We will free the Pelts. And you're free from your responsibility as Tara's maker." Bill said and began to follow after Roman.

Eric just stared after the two of them. No, he was not going to leave it alone.

His phone rang. It was Pam.

"Pam?"

"Russell Edgington just walked into Merlotte's and frankly, I'd prefer he eat someplace else!"

"He's just the man I've been looking for." Eric said, hanging up. He then sped over to Merlotte's.


No one seemed to recognize Russell, and Eric didn't think anyone had been glamoured! Most patrons were either half drunk or too absorbed in their own dinner lives, to pay Russell any notice.

But Sookie noticed him! And she noticed how he kept licking his fucking chops, everytime he looked at her!

"Why would Eric meet him here?" Sookie complained. Sam put a hand on her shoulder and LaFayette peeked out of the kitchen.

Pam spoke.

"I'm sure he won't be a regular. But Eric is in some trouble, AGAIN, because of Tara and he needs this creep's help."

LaFayette, who did not know Tara was not dead, gave Pam a funny look. Sam, who did know now, moved Pam and Sookie out of his hearing.

"Hey!" he hissed. "LaFayette heard you! So let's not say anything until we can actually prove this shit is true!"

"Oh it's true," Pam said, "I saw Eric use the ring his self. And I told you that I thought Eric and Tara were fucking. I also told her that she could forget trying to snare him for herself, because he only loves the 'Fairy Princess' here."

"Shut-up, Pam!" Sookie hissed.

"It's true! And Tara probably finally realized it, got pissed off and left. But Eric is saying that the Council is going to put him on trial because Tara pilfered that ring! And if he's found guilty, Eric, myself and that damned Tara, will die for it!"

"Jesus!" Sam whispered. "Why you? I mean Tara stole the ring and Eric lied about it...you don't have anything to do with this shit!"

"We're all related. The blood line suffers." Pam sighed. Sookie closed her eyes. Oh God, Tara, what have you done, she thought.

Over at a booth, Russell smiled at Eric.

"I heard you were looking for me."

"I am. I know you knew more about that ring than you originally let on. You knew what it did, didn't you?"

"Maybe." Russell said, then wriggled his hand. Eric's eyes widened! Russell was wearing the exact same ring that Roman now wore!

"There are two?" Eric asked carefully.

"Yes." Russell said, pretending to study a menu.

"And you've used it?"

"Yes." Russell said again.

"Then you know where my progeny is EXACTLY?"

"Well, I suspect I might know. I don't quite see why that should concern you or why I should tell you anything." Russell said, as he set down the menu and looked Eric in the eye.

Eric did not even look over at Sookie.

"A vial of fairy blood for information?"

"A vial of fairy blood for a hint." Russell said.

Eric clenched his jaw, then looked behind him over at Pam. He motioned for her to come to the table. Pam did it without hesitation.

"What's up?" Pam asked, glancing at Russell with distaste.

"I will take care of that little task I gave you. Right now. I need for you to lock the door to this restaurant and after, I will glamour everyone into forgetting what they have seen."

"Right now? I could just trick Sookie into the back room and get the blood myself." Pam suggested reluctantly.

"She does display some power, though. Alright, tell her I want to meet her outside. Tell her I know where Tara is and that WE are both going to find her. Once outside, I will bite her quickly and you get enough blood in this vial." Eric said.

Eric then produced a small vial and palmed it to Pam.

"Then I will give it Russell AFTER he has given me what he has promised." Eric said.

Russell wondered why he didn't just drag Sookie Stackhouse off now! But...he had a feeling that there were more fairies to be had, and what he really wanted to know is how many more were there of her? He would bide his time until he could find this out. He nodded his assent and Pam walked over to Sookie.

"Sookie, Eric and I need to speak to you outside. He told me something about Tara that he wants you to know." Pam lied.

"What is it?" Sam asked. Pam touched his cheek briefly. God, Sam was going to be fucking furious with her after this!

"Eric just wants Sookie to know. But we're both going to have to go someplace to get her." Pam lied again.

"You both are using that ring?" Sookie asked. "Then I want to go too."

"Well, let's talk about it outside." Pam said and cajoled Sookie out into the parking lot. Eric stood up and walked out after them. Sam had a strange feeling about the whole thing. He glanced over at the kitchen window. LaFayette was watching him again. How much longer could they keep from him, what was really going on with Tara?


1583-

"Who was that that left here?" Eric demanded to know. Tara let go of Sam's arm and walked over to him.

"He was the original owner of the ring. I took it from him. And now I gave it back."

Eric frowned.

"You gave it back?" he repeated. "Meaning you can't return?"

Tara shook her head happily! Eric reached out and touched her cheek.

"That means I don't have to worry about losing you?"

Tara was now beaming!

"No. You never have to worry about losing me. But, I want you to let Sam stay aboard."

"Tarayan..." Eric began but Tara placed a finger on his lips.

"You are who I want. You are who I will always want to be with. Sam is loyal to me. He is not a spy for King Franklin. He can be trusted."

Eric looked from Tara to Sam. He then looked at Tara.

"He was with you when you returned to the other world?"

"Yes. I was going to hide him there until I could talk to you about letting him stay." Tara admitted.

"Never mind." Eric said absently. "He can stay aboard."

"Really?" Tara cried, jumping up and down. Eric reluctantly smiled at his wife's exuberance. She could show more of it to him, when they made love again in a few moments...

"Yes, really, my darling. But I want you to change out of that God awful whatever you are wearing. In ten days we will be on the island of St. Muniz. And once we land, we will prepare the troops to learn the use of those weapons."

Tara nodded, then threw her arms around Eric's neck! He closed his arms around her but looked pointedly at Sam. Tara then let go of her husband and turned back to Sam.

"Sam, being loyal to me, means being loyal to Prince Eric. He's my husband now."

Sam nodded and made a deep bow. Tara beamed again, then gave Eric a quick kiss, before leaving the room to change. Once she was gone, Eric spoke.

"Pull up a chair, 'Mr. Merlotte'. I want you to tell me everything you saw, when you accompanied my wife back to that other reality."

Sam pulled up a chair and sat down. He then spoke.

"There was a man that resembled yourself. Only his hair was short."

"Hmmm. As I figured. And what was my wife's demeanor towards this person that looked like myself?"

"Cold. To be honest, your grace, my Lady seemed as if she could've cared less about him." Sam admitted.

"What else?" Eric asked.

"This version of you showed a total lack of deference for her. I understand why she would not want to return to him." Sam told him.

Eric nodded approvingly, but deep inside he was worried. He hadn't said anything, but he had had the same nightmare for two nights in a row. And each time Tarayan had been so deeply asleep, that she had had no knowledge he had awakened with a fright. But in this dream, another version of him stood over him, as he lay dying and forced Tarayan AND their child, to leave with him...