Of Thunder and Lightning, Part VIII
Act three scene 2.
In which Puck is confronted for his blunder
(Starting in Oberon's POV)
I do not own these characters.
By this time, I was quite far from my Titania's glade, awaiting news of what could have possibly happened to her, and more importantly, if she had fallen in love yet. Though I anticipated the worst, I did feel a slight pang of jealousy-after all, she was MINE.
Though lately there had been many others who were "mine"
She was truly the only one that mattered.
But alas, I was broken out of my thoughts by my acute hearing; My head shot towards the noise, in my anticipating that it was possibly Titania and her new love.
Alas, only Puck.
"Well now good Robin, what mischief have you created in this wood?" I asked, somewhat irritated, but interested nonetheless. In truth, the sprite was jumping around in excitement, and seemed to barely be able to contain himself.
Finally, the truth came bursting out of him, along with a few high pitched giggles.
"My mistress is in love with a monster!" He howled with peals of laughter, explaining of how he 'fixed a donkey's head' on an uncouth Athenian man. "And at that moment My Lord, Queen Titania awoke, and immediately fell madly in love with him!"
Though my thoughts were muddied, things did seem to go as planned "Excellent work Robin, I couldn't have planned it better, but have you anointed the Athenian's eyes as I told you to?" I asked, wanting to confirm that he had obeyed my every command, and not gone off creating unnecessary mischief. "Oh! Yes, that's done as well, I found him asleep with the Athenian woman by his side."
It was at that moment, that I heard more clumsy footsteps entering the grove, obviously those of mortal feet. Upon seeing the two, I smiled, for this Athenian was the one I had meant for him to anoint. "Hide yourself; this is the Athenian I meant." I whispered, becoming invisible.
Puck visibly paled "This is the woman…but it isn't the man." He said, a bit worriedly as he became invisible as well.
Something told me that Puck had created more mischief than he could handle.
We both watched as the man (Later known to us as Demetrius) tried to woo the woman (Hermia) into becoming enamored with him, but she only cursed him because she thought that he had murdered her true love, known as Lysander, under the cover of night.
This caused me to glare at Puck from under our invisible shrouding.
"Your anger's misplaced, I am not guilty of spilling Lysanders blood-nor is he dead, for aught I tell." Demetrius protested.
"I pray thee; please tell me he is well." The woman begged, dropping to her knees in worry and strife.
Demetrius smirked "If I do…" He began inquiring; taking a lock of her hair and twirling it betwixt his fingers "What will I get in return?" He asked softly, smirking like a conniving bastard.
Hermia looked up at him, and drew very, very near "The privilege…" She began, taking his hand and kissing it, before pushing him off "Of never seeing me again! And on that, I'll quit your hated presence; Don't see me again, whether he's dead or not!"
The man sighed "There's no use following her in this angry mood…I'll stay here for a while. The weight of sorrow increases, made worse by lack of sleep. I'll put that partly right by taking a nap right here." He stated with a large yawn, before curling up beside a fallen log, and slumbering.
When I was sure that Demetrius was good and snoring, I ripped off Mine and Puck's invisible clothing, boxing his ears swiftly. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE! You've got it all wrong! You've out the love juice on the eyes of some genuine lover! Your bungling must upset true love, NOT PUT FALCE LOVE RIGHT!" I boomed, looming over the cherub.
"Err….fate has decided that…for one man who keeps his promise, a million break theirs, one oath canceling out another…?" He pathetically mused.
But I would have none of it, and with a god-like wrath, I chased him about the glade, before grabbing him by the scruff of his neck, and tossing him aside "Go around the woods, swifter than the wind, and look for Helena of Athens-Her face shows love sickness, for her cheeks have no good color in them. Bring her here; I'll charm his eyes before she comes." I said with a sick, kicking him aside "NOW GO!"
"I go; I go, look how I go! Swifter than arrow from the Tartar's bow!" He chimed, clutching his bruised appendages.
When I was certain that the somewhat bruised knave was well on his way, I knelt beside Demetrius, retrieving the flower I'd used earlier on Titania.
"Flower of this purple dye, hit with Cupid's archery, Sink in apple of his eye. And when his love he doth espy, Let her shine as gloriously as Venus in the sky. When you wake if she be here, beg that she would be your dear." I charmed, passing the flower o'er him.
I hear the slightly limping footsteps of Puck, and turned to face him. This time, he greeted me with proper salute "Captain of our fairy band, Helena is here at hand, and the youth mistook by me, Pleading for a lover fee. Shall we there fond pageant see? Lord! What fools these mortals be." He said shaking his head in disapproval. I pushed him aside "Stand aside, the noise they make will cause Demetrius to wake." I murmured, hiding in invisibility once more.
"Then will two men love one girl…that should put things in a whirl! The things that best please me happen quite…ridiculously!" He giggled before shrouding himself as well.
Though I would not admit it, the drama that unfolded did intrigue me. There was a great amount of swearing as Lysander pushed away his love Hermia for his falsehood of Helena; and Helena was absolutely delighted with Demetrius, but repulsed at the thought of Lysander. It was all rather entertaining, but the entire time I wondered why Robin hadn't taken the time to possibly take the potion off Lysander to make things right. Whence I turned my attention to the drama again, Lysander challenged Demetrius to a duel.
"You madam, all this fuss is over you!" Hermia screeched, preparing to lunge at Helena.
"Though your tongue is quicker to fight, my legs are longer to run away!" Helena cried, fleeing into the forest.
When they were all safely away, I turned to Robin, de-cloaking us once more. "Mistakes again? Or are you simply up to your roguish tricks on purpose?" I asked with raised brow.
Robin smiled "Believe me king of spirits, I made an error. Didn't you tell me I would know of the man by the garments he wore? And in truth, I did obey your command in that I did anoint an Athenian's eyes…" For a moment, I considered letting him be, but then he had the stupidity to continue his statement "And I'm glad it so did sort out, for all their quarrels are great fun." He added with a high pitched giggle.
I rolled my eyes "You can see Robin these lovers are looking for a place to fight; Go then, and cloud the night. Lead them astray, and then crush this herb into Lysander's eyes." I said, handing him a vial with a poultice in it "This shall take off the spell which hast cruelly clouded his vision, and whilst you do that, I shall go beg the Indian babe from Titania. In her state of love, she will more than likely be kind enough to hand him over to me." I mumbled, as I quickly set out to find my queen, wherever she might be.