"The course of true love never did run smooth."

-W. Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream.

"Some Cupid kills with arrows, some with traps."

--W. Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing.

Prologue: The Sweetest Wager

The Fairy girl was singing to the sun and the birds, her head thrown back her long black hair sleek in the sun. She was laughing as she sang, her voice ringing out happily as if the world was nothing but the song itself.

She was pale like the moon, with eyes as dark as her hair. Long thin nimble fingers, tiny feet. She appeared to be a human girl, of maybe 18 years old. But if one looked long enough the fine features gave her away. The slant of her eyes, the point to her ears. She was pretty, but too strange looking to be lovely.

Her garments covered her from ankles to arms...a gown that flowed close to her body , strapped sleeves. Spiders silk dyed blue with berries. It fluttered in the breeze, hinting at her slim strong frame.

She swung on the branch she was perched on like a child, making the whole tree whisper and tremble. The birds twittered above and watched her with eyes as bright and black as her own.

"I dreamt I dwelt in marble halls with vassals and serfs at my side, and of all who assembled within those walls that I was the hope and the pride. I had riches all too great to count and a high ancestral name. But I also dreamt which pleased me most that you loved me still the same,"

"Revyn!" Her companion called up from the base of the tree. "Revyn...if you swing any more it'll come crashing right down!" Revyn merely flipped over, locking her knees around the branch and hanging upside down Her hair tumbled down to tickle the nose of the Fae sitting below her. Her best friend and partner in all crimes. Mabala was as pale as Revyn, and about the same age, but that was where their similarities ended. She had long hair of spun gold, and eyes as blue as sapphires. She was tall too, and willowy, a good four inches taller than Revyn. A giant really at 5'3". She was the daughter of the queen of the summer court, and she looked like her mother Titania, and was named for her grandmother Mab. Revyn was the niece of Puck, and every inch his kin.

"I dreamt that suitors sought my hand,

that knights upon bended knee."

Mabala grinned and sang along with her friend, their voices blending in a harmony that was unearthly in its sweetness. It was like stars singing

"and with vows no maidens heart could withstand,

they pledged their faith to me.

And I dreamt that one of that noble host

came forth my hand to claim.

But I also dreamt which charmed me most

that you loved me still the same

that you loved me

you loved me

still the same,

that you loved me

you loved me still the same." (Enya, "Marble Halls")

They grinned and laughed at each other.

"Love is the song that holds the world in its dance" Said Revyn dreamily "and oh my dear friend....I dance to its song today!"

Mabala smiled "Oh? Which young lord's caught your eye, blackbird?"

"Lugh the golden is in my eyes." Said Revyn giggling "He's a handsome bloke, don't you think? And he says my singing is the sweetest in the wood." She winked.

Mabala laughed "It is it is...." She sat back "Jannis is lovely as the day, don't you think? He's gentle too, so I see. And when he plays his pipes.....I love your singing but that is the sweetest sound in the wood to me."

Revyn laughed and nodded "He'll be yours, how can he not? You're the most lovely maid in the forest.....he'd be mad not to!" She grinned and looked up at the heavens "Such a spell you will weave, My dear friend, and not a single incantation will you need. Love will do all the magic for you....."

Laughter rang out to their left. They looked, and the leaves of the brush pulled back to reveal a young man, a few years older than they, standing in the shadows. His looks were like Revyns, and his features almost identical. He shook his head and his long black horse-tail swayed. "Listen to you two." He chuckled "Like a couple of silly human girls, doe-eyes and dreaming."

Revyn dropped into the air, and turned over...her bare feet touched the earth and she sprang at him, catching him in a hug as he swung her around "Kage!" She laughed, and her brother smiled at her "Kage! Where did you go these last days?"

The boy grinned. "Out of the woods...into their place." He nodded at the far away horizon "I went among them, and played a few lasses like harp- strings. Love my dear sister is a fools game, and a great fun to play. Especially amongst the children of man."

Revyn scowled and smacked him "rouge! Don't mock it! You should know better than to play with hearts! Those poor girls!"

Mabala joined them and they walked into the shade of the trees. "Really, it was easy. They wanted the dream and I gave it to them." Said Kage "But that's all love is....a dream. A game. So many broken hearts, so many fickle eyes....how can you believe true love s anything but a lovely song?"

"Love makes all things right" Said Revyn. "And ends all war"

"Would you wager that?" Said Kage.

"I will!" Said Revyn "I say true love can heal all wounds and make all dark things bright as day."

Mabala laughed "Oh now you've done it Kage."

Kage smiled. He guided the girls to a small clear pool in the center of the trees and pointed. The water ripples and showed a girl in her late teens sitting at a window in a grand room. She was looking out with sad blue eyes, her dark hair around her.

"Princess Amelia of Saillune" Said Kage "In love and pining...."

Revyn leaned forward "Oh the poor girl...." She said softly "Who has her heart?"

The poor rippled and she saw a man sitting by a campfire. A man.....but not a man. He was blue skinned with pointed ears. His skin was dotted with stones that grew from his flesh, and his hair reflected the firelight back....wire.......

He watched the flames with far-away eyes. Mabala leaned forward and sighed "His eyes are so sad."

"Zelgadis Graywords." Said Kage. "He has the little princesses heart....and in truth she has his...but he cannot bring himself to love her back......for obvious reasons."

"Why!" Revyn said "Doesn't he know? Doesn't the fool boy know?"

Kage grinned "He's a monster. A more star crossed pair you'll never meet. I challenge you to bring them together!"

Revyn looked at Mabala "What do you think?"

She smiled back "I think we are about to challenge the stars"

Revyn grinned, looked at her brother and said "You have it. We'll have them together before the nightingale sings to the full moon!"

Kage smiled "I'll even give you a gift....." he nodded "Zelgadis has been asked to return to Saillune for King Stag's Day. He has decided not to go...but is heading in that direction anyway....and he doesn't really know why. The boy argues with himself all day long....."

The two fae girls grinned at each other "King Stag already? Is it winter there?"

"It is...you really ought to leave the wood once in awhile girls..."

Mabala laughed "King Stag already! Oh this will be fun!"

Revyn clapped her hands "Our first year for His ball! Oh I have so many ideas! Lets go!"

Revyn and Mabala clasped hands and Revyn began to sing. Mabala joined a moment later.

"Hail the sun king

In the darkest night

Hail the stag king

All shall be made right

His time has come

His protection here

Until lady summer comes

For her time of the year.

Hail the shadow children

The coming of the fae

The masks off at midnight

And truth will rule the day!"

As they sang, the two faded from sigh. Kage chuckled and shook his head "Good luck. Good luck. Fortune be your patron, and kindness your familiar."

With that he rose, and went looking for his uncle Puck....he always had a good tub of ale about.