Disclaimer: I don't own Percy Jackson or Harry Potter.
Consul of the Underworld: Grinding Phase
Chapter Twelve: Quest for the Fae Wild
Beta: ShadowofAxios
After making sure Jane was safely ensconced at their home where Mina was more than ready to, in her own words, "stabitty stab" anyone who might come looking for her with ill intentions, Alkaid and Pyrrha finally felt it was safe to go check on things back at Camp.
They arrived to a scene of jubilation as the whole camp was giving a rousing cheer for Clarisse as she stood under Thalia's tree which had a brilliantly glowing new addition to its branches.
"Is that really the Golden Fleece?" Alkaid asked in awe. She'd known it had been the object of the quest and had heard via a message on her phone from her Father that it had been retrieved for Camp. But looking at it in person still filled her with amazement. She had heard so much about it about the mythical item from the various Argonauts in Elysium, but none of their descriptions did it justice. The sheer life giving power that it emitted was just beyond words.
"It's gotta be." Pyrrha said in equal awe.
Already, Alkaid could see the pine that at last account had been on the verge of death was, while still sickly, already showing signs of renewed health. Hidden among its dead needles were lush new growth and its paling bark was peeling away in places to reveal healthy new wood.
Pyrrha broke away from Alkaid and ran up to her siblings. Joining the celebration by lifting Clarisse in a hug and ruffling her hair in pride.
This unfortunately caught everyone's attention and a large number of them turned towards them. Many of them with hostile looks on their faces.
"Why if isn't Miss Potter?" A son of Aphrodite sneered. "Back at last from her summer holiday? Ready to help us now?"
"Summer holiday? What are-" Pyrrha sputtered in confusion, even as Clarisse shoved her hard and shot her a glare. "Clarisse? What's wrong?"
"You and little Miss Magic abandoning us when we needed you two, is what's wrong, Sister!" The younger daughter of Ares said with an dangerous cast to her face. One that Alkaid noticed with some worry that was shared by most, if not all, the campers around them.
"My mom got kidnapped by the titan army! We just finished taking down a group of them while rescuing her."
"A likely story." A son of Demeter said looking at them skeptically.
"Be silent." Alkaid told the boy with a withering glare that made him take a step back in fear.
"That's certainly convenient." A daughter of Apollo said with a sneer.
"Oh fuck you." Pyrrha snapped. "You fight freaking Eris and see how well it goes."
"Well, it does make sense from the titan's perspective to take Lady Mina away from Camp for a while." Malcolm from Cabin Six noted. "Though I do find the claim of Lady Eris of all people arranging a kidnapping just to do that ludicrous."
"At least someone has a brain here." Alkaid said with relief. "And since when has Eris ever been sensible?"
"Ha! She's as mad as I am." Dionysus said as he strolled on over, idly sipping from a Diet Coke can. "And the two are correct. We have confirmed that some gods have decided to join Hermes' whelp in his pointless crusade."
"Eris defected?" Pyrrha's brother, Sherman breathed out in shock.
"Not that I know of," The perpetually drunk god replied. "It seems she just decided to play along with them for a bit for some fun. To create some chaos, you know? She's fickle like that."
"Also, Penelope." Dionysus said as he turned to Pyrrha. "Hecate contacted me. She wished to send her apologies for what her son, Alvin, did to you."
Alkaid breathed a sigh of relief at that. Ever since Alabaster and the other Hecate children had sided with the Titans, she'd been worried that their mother had done the same.
"At least Lady Hecate hasn't changed sides." The daughter of Hades said.
"That remains to be seen." The god of wine said. "She is a Titan by birth after all. There's no telling whether she'll choose to side with her kin this time over Olympus."
She knew exactly what he meant, but the brunette prayed that wouldn't be the case.
"Err, sorry to intrude Mr. D." Miranda Gardiner from Cabin Four said, her hand raised hesitantly. "But are you sure that Alkaid and Pyrrha really didn't abandon us?"
Mr. D shot the poor girl a terrible look, complete with flaming eyes, that had her quailing as he replied in a deadly cold whisper. "I. Am. Sure, half-blood. As sure as I'll turn you into a strawberry plant if you don't stop questioning me."
Poor girl, or so Alkaid would think if she didn't deserve it for doubting the two. As if they would let their fellow half-bloods be in danger if they could have helped it.
Her sister Katie Gardner pulled the startled girl into a hug and shot a defiant look at the wine god.
"That's not what our mother told us."
"And Demeter is as melodramatic as my Father." Dionysus rolled his eyes, even as a few thunderclaps went off overhead. "You can ask Ares himself if that'd make your little brain feel better. I'm sure he'd share his opinion with you. At the end of a very pointy spear."
Deciding to have some sympathy for the obviously misled children of agriculture, Alkaid asked them a very important question.
"Did your mother actually tell you we abandoned Camp outright?"
"No, but-" Katie said, before cutting herself off as a look of horrified realization spread across her face. "She-"
"Implied it and let you come to your own, incorrect, conclusions?" Alkaid finished dryly.
Katie and a number of her siblings nodded, looks of betrayal on their faces.
"There you have it."
As the realization of their mother's deception set in, the Demeter Cabin quickly exchanged nervous looks and quickly reached a consensus that discretion was the better part of valor this day. Without a word, they slipped out of the crowd of Campers and headed back to their cabin.
"Asses." Pyrrha grunted and turned to look at Alkaid. "Does Demeter hate you that much?"
"No. She hates my Father, so if she can cause him a headache, she would do so." The daughter of the Rich One sighed. She would have to avoid making mention of this to her stepmother since she'd go complaining to her mother over the matter, thus annoying Demeter further and continuing the cycle.
"Well, I'm going to take a nap. Chiron should be back soon, so when he returns go bug him you little cretins." Dionysus said as he turned back to the Big House. "In the meantime, Alkaid's in charge."
"What?" The vast majority of Campers asked incredulously.
"You've been on leave for weeks. It's time to make up for all the time you were gone." The god told her seriously, before patting her on the shoulder. "Don't worry about it. Just don't let the rascals burn the whole place down and you'll be fine."
"Yes, Lord Dionysus." Alkaid said with a small bow.
"And bring your brat over later. It's too quiet here."
"Of course."
"Is Jane still refusing to move in with us?" Alkaid asked as she sat at a table on the Big House porch and enjoyed the magically ensured good weather of Camp Half-Blood as she worked on some assignments for school.
"Yeah," Pyrrha replied with irritation. "She keeps saying she doesn't want to mess with our family vibe or something stupid like that."
Alkaid just hummed noncommittally.
She could see where Jane was coming from. Now that she was an adult and had her own family, she found it awkward even considering living with her Father on a long term basis. It felt like she would be intruding on his life and be a regression in her own. Well, at least when it was the winter months and her stepmother was home. Any other time of the year, her sympathy for her Father's legendary loneliness overruled any such concerns.
That said, she also felt Jane was being silly. A little awkwardness was something they could live with surely. It was definitely far better than living in constant fear that Jane might be attacked in her own home again.
"Damn it." Pyrrha cursed angrily as she dispelled the rainbow she'd conjured with her wand.
"Still can't get through?" Alkaid asked her lover as gently as she could.
"No," the redhead confirmed. "Dad's totally blocking my I.M.s."
"Well, he did send you that note telling you to go find a way to fix this on your own."
"Don't remind me." Pyrrha said, still fuming, as she collapsed into the chair on the opposite side of the table Alkaid was using. "It's like he totally doesn't care that mom's still in danger."
"Maybe," The daughter of Hades agreed. "Or he just has faith that you can come up with a way to keep her safe on your own."
Pyrrha just huffed in irritation and looked off into the distance with a glare.
"Dad's not like yours in that regard." The braided redhead sighed. "He doesn't care about something like faith. All he cares is that we get things done."
Alkaid nodded. That their fathers had very different ways in how they treated their children was obvious. As point of fact…
"Speaking of Father, he's got back to me with a lead."
That perked Pyrrha up as she turned to her with hope in her eyes.
"It turns out the Fates had recently contacted the Underworld with a message for us." Alkaid told her in a low whisper, gaining a look of shock from her lover.
"Since when?"
"Yesterday." Alkaid said with a shrug and fished out a scroll from her bag. "He passed it to me this morning."
The daughter of Ares took the scroll and unfurled it. Her eyes scanned its contents before going wide.
"They want us to go to Mom's place in two days? And bring Mina with her… cookies? Seriously?"
"They are delicious." Alkaid smiled, trying to lighten the mood. Though she was still shocked they were willing to help just for cookies.
"Yeah but, why do they want to meet?" Pyrrha said with clear uneasiness.
It was true, if the Fates got involved with a matter, whatever that was in store for them couldn't be easy.
"Father was stunned as well, but apparently the Fates have quite the sweet tooth."
Pyrrha nodded. "I'll go tell Mina, she'll probably be excited."
"I'll go with you." Alkaid smiled and grabbed her hand.
Jane's house had been thoroughly thrashed after the attack by the titan army but thanks to the house elves from Alkaid's home, the place had been cleaned up. Thanks to their hard work, the whole place now looked as if nothing had ever happened.
It was in the impeccably clean living room of the perfectly neat house, that Alkaid and her family met with the Fates.
The three ancient grannies sat on one couch, huddled together as they stared at the family with their beady eyes that held untold knowledge and wisdom. It was certainly intimidating.
"Let us just get to the point." Clotho said with a gummy smile.
"We're here to tell you that-" Lachesis continued for her sister, offering her equally toothless grin.
Both ancient women turned to their sister, Atropos, but she was too busy chewing on her cookie to finish whatever they wanted to say.
"Hm?" The Thread Cutter tilted her head and swallowed. "Delicious. Oh, no one from Olympus can keep your mother safe."
Pyrrha looked aghast by this and grit her teeth.
"Is it because of the war?" Alkaid asked even as she took hold of Pyrrha's right hand and gave it a comforting squeeze.
"Yes." The Spinner nodded.
"There is however, other means." The Measurer smiled.
Atrophos offered her own nod as she finished. "Other powers that might yet help you."
"Who exactly? Other gods like Mina here?" Jane asked as she pulled her granddaughter to her side in a hug. Mina giggled and hugged her tightly in return.
"Not quite."
"But something similar."
"There are more to this land then gods, are there not?"
Alkaid groaned. "You don't mean MI5 I hope."
"Not at all."
"We're suggesting something older."
"And fairer." Atropos finished dreamily, and with a hint of drool at the edge of her mouth.
Jane gained a knowing look. "You mean the Fae. They are after all rooted into the very history of this land.
"Impressive."
"We didn't expect you to be the first to get it, mortal."
Atropos shot Alkaid a cross look. "You just lost me ten drachma, daughter of Hades."
"Oh, don't complain, Tropy." Lachesis said with a smirk directed at her sister. "Just pay up!"
Clotho just cackled in delight as the Thread Cutter fished in the pockets of her dress for the money to pay off her sisters.
"Ahem," Alkaid coughed, regaining the Fates' attention. "But I don't see how the Fae would be willing to help us. All the Fae I know despise me."
The Fates responded by turning into mist that began to slowly fly out the door.
As they departed, they replied in a voice that was now a odd mix of all three women jumbled together, "Go find your friend, the old evil witch of the East. She'll get you a proper introduction to the Fae courts."
The child of Hades sighed, "It seems I'll be paying Baba Yaga a visit."
"Joy." Pyrrha grunted in annoyance.
Sitting in Baba Yaga's Durmstrang office, Alkaid and Pyrrha sat nervously as they sipped the tea the folk hero had provided.
"So Baba about our request for an introduction to the Fa-" Alkaid began only to be cut off by the infamous Slavic witch who was once more wearing her youthful guise.
"Now, now, there's no need to just jump straight into things. Let's make some small talk first." The old witch chided. "I actually needed your opinion on something. From one educator to another."
That actually caught Alkaid's interest.
"What exactly do you have in mind?"
The old witch's smile turned wicked.
"You see, after the poor showing we had in the last Triwizard, that scraggly bearded schmuck that's our Headmaster has put such training into the curriculum. Sadly, he's getting poor results."
"We don't even know if the Triwizard will come up again for another hundred years." Alkaid reminded the folk hero.
"Bah! Igor doesn't care, he just wants to prepare the school for when it does happen." Baba Yaga said, sipping her tea. "So, I'm thinking of some not so lethal death traps for the kiddies to play with. You torture children for a living, how would you do it?"
The daughter of Hades took a deep breath at that.
"I do not torture children." She corrected first and foremost.
The old witch rolled her eyes at that.
"And for your deathtraps, that's a rather tough call." Alkaid confessed as she could feel her inner torturer bubbling to the surface.
Both Baba and even Pyrrha gave her small looks of disbelief.
Her cheeks grew pink under the scrutiny and she simply took a sip of her tea in response to their gazes. Annoyance settled upon her as she caved in.
"I would focus on long runs for some stamina and then advance into the deathtraps. Maybe going through a field of stunning landmines? Then test their mental fortitude with illusions. Maybe have them be of dragons attacking them. Other then that, regular physical training along with some dueling lessons."
Finishing her small list of suggestions, she continued to sip from her tea cup.
"I'll take all that into consideration." Baba Yaga said with a nod. "I wonder how far that silly Igor will be willing to go."
"I'm sure the Headmaster will make the right choice between student safety and a challenging curriculum."
"He better." The deadly witch of the Slavic forests said warningly. "Or we might need a new Headmaster."
Alkaid and Pyrrha exchanged a look, before they both shrugged. Neither had much love for the cantankerous Igor Karkaroff and based on his Death Eater past alone would not bat an eye if he got himself killed for upsetting Baba Yaga.
Said ancient was quiet for some time as she processed the daughter of Hades' suggestion. Not wanting to intrude, the two demigods waited patiently for her to start up the conversation once more.
"So I've heard something interesting about you lately." The deceptively young looking Professor said with a teasing smile. "Something about you adopting a little girl? A goddess no less?"
"The supernatural grapevine is correct." Alkaid confirmed as she pulled out her wallet and flipped to the picture of her little family that held pride of place within. "Here's a photo of our little Mina."
"Mina? Good name," The immortal said distractedly as she looked at the photo. "A little inappropriate for the goddess of serial killers though."
"We're trying to disassociate her from that. At least at home." Pyrrha added.
Baba Yaga shot the redhead a look that said she thought the other woman was an idiot. "Good luck with that. Honestly, separating a goddess from her domain? How stupid can you get?"
"Hey!"
Alkaid shrugged even as she put a hand on Pyrrha's knee and gave it a squeeze as a reminder to restrain herself.
"We didn't forget her domain. We just want to give Mina a space to enjoy what she wants most, a chance to be a normal, happy little girl."
The folk hero hummed thoughtfully at that. "So you're feeding her madness domain by fostering an environment that will encourage a dissociative disorder?"
Pyrrha bristled at the insinuation, and was shocked when Alkaid nodded.
"To an extent. It was what Lord Dionysus recommended as the best course of action to allow Mina to enjoy the family life she wanted."
"Well, if a god of madness suggested that then it's probably a good idea." The witch conceded with a frown. "Sounds fishy to me though. Then again, a batty god will be a batty god."
"Since when do witches in the woods know so much about psychology anyways?" Pyrrha asked curiously.
"I'm a folk hero, lass." The immortal said with a glare at the daughter of war. "We aren't locked into domains like gods. We can learn new stuff if we want and I've been around a long, long time. Plenty enough to pick up a thing or three."
"And psychology is a great help in teaching." Alkaid noted with a small smile. It was in fact a required part of the training to be a teacher nowadays.
"That too." Baba said agreeably.
"I can see why." Pyrrha said after a moment of thoughtful silence. "By the way, why are you asking after Mina anyways?"
"Oh nothing special." The youthful looking ancient said. "Just wondering if you two need any help babysitting during the summer is all. It gets dreadfully boring up here when the kiddies go home. One can only stalk the woods for lost children to eat so often before it gets old."
"That bit about eating children is a joke, right?" Pyrrha asked with a nervous chuckle.
"Not in the old days~!" Baba Yaga snickered.
"Don't you have lessons to plan or work to mark?" Alkaid asked skeptically. "Surely that'll keep you too busy over the holidays to babysit."
"Bah! I finish all that before the term even ends." The infamous ancient said with a dismissive wave of her hands. "So will you let me watch the girl or not?"
The two parents exchanged a long look, before Pyrrha gave a tentative nod.
"Is this your price for helping us get an introduction to the Fae?"
"I guess it is." The Slavic woman said with a smirk. "You game?"
"As long as she's in bed by ten and she doesn't have too much sugar, I don't see why not." Alkaid agreed.
"And trust us about the sugar bit. Even if it does nothing for normal kids, if Mina gets too much. Well… Let's just say it's a good idea to have things around for her to stab."
"I thought science disproved that." The ancient witch blinked.
Pyrrha responded with a deadpan look. "Then someone should tell Mina that."
"We think the myth of a sugar rush somehow got into her head." Alkaid sighed.
"Well she is a child goddess. You never know whether she's internalized it or not. If she did, you two have my sympathies."
"Save some for yourself if you still want to babysit."
"True there, Alkaid." Baba Yaga said with a rueful shake of her head. "And yes I still want to. I've never babysat a goddess before. I'd like to try."
"Excellent, then you can give us a lead on how to contact the Fae realm as you watch her."
"Mm, those Fae. Of course I know a few people. In fact, there's this brat I heard about that could be a big help to you. If he agrees of course."
"A brat?"
"Yup, Artemis Fowl the Second. His help is never free though, so be prepared for that."
"So where can we find him?"
"Here, let me write you his address. I hope you two like Ireland."
Artemis Fowl the Second turned out to be a young man who was abnormally pale, even vampiric in appearance, even more so than Alkaid. He had heterochromia iridum, with one blue right eye and one hazel left eye. Dressed in a formal suit, he looked the very picture of a successful businessman or modern day lord who just so happened to be only twenty one years old.
Standing to his right and behind his chair, stood his intimidating bodyguard, Butler. He was a Asian-looking man with a massive shaven head, narrow nose, full lips, and eyes such a dark shade of blue that they were almost black. He stood at almost seven feet tall; had muscles like a Michelangelo statue; a barrel chest that was hard with muscle and tension; arms that looked strong enough to break a bear's back; mammoth hands that were the size and the approximate shape of spades.
Most strange among their hosts though was this warrior's second principal, Fowl's fiancée and elf, Holly Short. She had dark nut-brown skin, cropped auburn hair, and strangely like her boyfriend had heterochromia iridum, with one blue left eye and one hazel right eye. As befitting her race, she had pointed ears, a slim frame, long tapered fingers and a below average height more akin to that of a teenager rather than the grown woman she clearly was as evidenced by the figure showcased in the green formal dress she was wearing.
It was a striking yet unusual group for a meeting.
"Mr Fowl, I'm surprised that Miss Short is here." Alkaid said as politely as she could. She had known that Fowl had ties to the Fae but to be engaged to one? That had been quite a surprise.
"I trust Holly with everything, Miss Potter." Fowl said with a hard edge to his voice. "But that's not your question, correct?"
"Was wondering how you convinced a Fae to marry you actually." Pyrrha admitted. "How did you two even meet?"
"I could write a book about it." Holly confessed.
"Indeed." Artemis agreed. "For your information, Miss Potter, Miss Branwen, we met while I tried to steal some fairy treasure."
"And then went on to save the Fae quite a few times." Holly added with amusement.
The young man shrugged. "Just an added side effect when I was stealing something or another."
The elf just let out an annoyed sigh, but said no further.
The demigod couple couldn't help but feel confused, but decided not to say anything. There was no need to derail the conversation any further.
"So is Miss Short the means by which you'll be helping us make an introduction to the Fae?"
The aforementioned elf blushed at this and shook her head. I'm nowhere near well connected enough in the Fae courts to be of any help on that front. That's entirely thanks to Arty and his feats."
"That and the court's fascination with Changelings capable of magic." Artemis noted with a wave of his hand, as if he was dismissing the significance of whatever his feats might be. Despite Alkaid's best efforts, she had only managed to discover fragmentary accounts of such. Though what she had learned was quite impressive. "Before you ask, I became such thanks to a magical accident."
"With the means presented, let us move on to price, yes?" Alkaid said in a strictly business fashion. "What do we need to pay to visit the Fae courts?"
The young man eyed her carefully, as if trying to solve a puzzle as it were. The room was silent for roughly a minute before Fowl spoke.
"I have heard you are quite the sorceress, yes?"
Alkaid nodded. "I dabble here and there."
"You give yourself too little credit, Miss Potter." Short said honestly. "Even in the Fae courts, your talents are widely known."
"Really? Is this because 'Kaidy has Fae blood?" Pyrrha asked with surprise.
"She does?" The elf blinked in confusion. "Not that it matters I guess, not unless your mother was a Fae. She wasn't was she?"
"No. Just a mortal witch I'm afraid."
"Then, no Fae will bother recognizing you as a relation. It's callous but when we mate with non-Fae, we generally only recognize our children as family."
Alkaid shrugged, she was already technically a bastard, so such a thing didn't bother her.
"So how come 'Kaidy is so famous then?"
"You have the Goblin Queen to thank for that." Fowl cut in, sounding bored with the tangent the conversation had taken.
The Goblin Queen? Who- Please don't tell me he means Morgan!? Surely she's not an actual Fae Queen! Alkaid thought to herself with some alarm.
"She just complains about you whenever she can." Short snorted and crossed her arms. "It's a bit of a sore spot for her."
"On to the matter of payment," Fowl cut in, sending his fiancée an annoyed stare. She merely smiled at him cheekily.
"What do you have in mind?" Alkaid asked, following the young man's lead and getting back to business.
"I'm sure someone of your ability has a number of magical tomes, yes? I would like some for my own use."
"I do." The brunette nodded. "How many do you require?"
"Fifty-seven."
Alkaid just sent him a cocked eyebrow.
"I'm sorry, but perhaps you are mistaken onto the value of a single magical tome. Especially when the rarity is taken into consideration."
"Or perhaps I am just aware of how much you want to reach out to the Fae courts." Fowl said with a coy smile.
A smile made its way to Alkaid's face, one just as coy as his own.
"...Oh man, Butler, get some popcorn." Short said as her eyes bounced between the two.
The deadly looking bodyguard just reached into his coat and drew a bag that he threw at the elf who immediately caught it out of the air.
"Man, you are always on point." The Fae praised the man as she used her magic to cook her snack.
Butler just gave his mistress a nod.
"You are not quite our only option to the courts, Mister Fowl. Only our first option." Alkaid reminded him.
"Correction, Miss Potter, I am your best option."
"Perhaps, but that does not warrant more than a dozen tomes." The daughter of Hades finally gave her counteroffer.
"Do you take me for a dupe, Miss Potter? I'll need two dozen at least to even consider helping you."
"My collection is quite exotic. Some books contain knowledge that would have most mortal minds reeling. Considering that, a dozen is as many as I'm willing to part with." She told him with finality.
"Eighteen, or no deal." The Changeling countered.
"Fourteen."
"Sixteen."
"Fifteen or I walk."
"Fifteen it is." Fowl said with an agreeing nod.
Short let out a whistle, the bag in her hands nearly empty. "Can we invite her to the wedding? Just for the sheer entertainment?"
"No."
The elf pouted. "Killjoy."
"I'll provide you a catalogue for you to make your selection." Alkaid informed Fowl with a nod.
Fowl nodded back.
"Now about getting you in touch with the Fae courts. Here's what we need to do."
Like all the other lands of myth, the fae city that Fowl had brought Alkaid and Pyrrha to was a sight to behold.
It contained lush greenery that spread out as far as the eye could see in the form of gardens, parkland and the occasional untamed forest, all of which seemed to blend seamlessly with buildings in a variety of styles that ranged from towers of unknown metals that pierced the heavens and buildings of stone that would not have looked out of place in an authentic medieval city.
In the very heart of the city and atop a small hill was a castle that had been sculpted from the living forest that dominated the region. The trees and other plants had been encouraged to grow by Fae magic into towers, halls, rooms and any other amenity that the castle would require.
The sight didn't particularly appeal to Alkaid's aesthetic sense, though she would admit it was impressive, but she was sure that any satyr or dryad would feel right at home here.
It was within this fabled living palace of the Queen of Elphame that Alkaid and Pyrrha had been granted an audience with the Fae sovereigns, High Queen Titania and High King Oberon and their court.
Which was why the two demigods and their fixers were currently seated in a waiting room adjoining the throne room awaiting their turn to be summoned before the Fae High Monarchs. They had been waiting a good ten minutes already and Alkaid had noticed with amusement the odd way the Fae guards escorting them were reacting to Fowl's presence.
"It seems your reputation as a master thief precedes you, Mister Fowl." Alkaid stated as she eyed the guards who seemed to stiffen whenever Artemis looked in their direction. "They seem suitably cautious with you around."
"As they rightly should." Fowl said with admittedly deserved pride. "Though it is not the only aspect of my reputation that precedes me. I did manage to secure you an audience with the leaders of the Fae courts, did I not?"
"That you did." Alkaid agreed. "I wonder what service in particular you must have done the Fae to have earned such high regard from them."
Short smirk and nudged her fiancé. "He saved High Queen Titania and High King Oberon's lives once, you tend to be in the royal favor after something like that."
Any further conversation was put on hold as the High Monarchs' Herald arrived.
"Mister Fowl, the High Monarchs will see your guests now." The unnaturally handsome elf said, with a shallow nod to the Changeling. "If all of you would please follow me?"
Without waiting for a response, the fae turned and led them out of the waiting room and into the throne room proper. Despite being inside a castle, the throne room felt like it was in the center of a forest clearing. Trees with leaves of multiple hues were scattered around them. Sunlight gently shined down upon the hall from windows of glass set between the intricate crisscrossing canopy of branches that served as its equivalent to a vaulted ceiling.
It was full to the brim with the Fae nobility, the Sidhe, who lined the long hall on either side of a red carpet that ran down its centre to the two high backed thrones grown out of two immense oak trees at the very end of the hall.
Oberon sitting on the slightly lower of the two thrones, was a breathtakingly handsome young man dressed in the finest courtly dress as befitting a king. On this back were a set of iridescent butterfly wings whose patterns seemed to be in constant flux. He was however, much like elves like Short, only as tall as a child.
His wife Titania sat next to him on the higher throne and while still shorter than the average human woman, was tall enough to, if she so chose, pass for a adult albeit short woman. Her long flowing hair was like spun gold and her lightly tanned skin that shined like bronze, made her an example of beauty personified. Dressed in a resplendent green dress and with the dragonfly wings that sprouted from her back, she looked every bit the archetypical fairy queen.
The Sidhe were no less perfect in appearance. While the Fae nobles certainly ran the full gamut in terms of attractiveness from the monstrous to the plain. Each was a model of inhuman perfection. The monstrous Fae exuded menace like the worst Greek monsters and their plain counterparts looked exceptionally, and almost certainly deliberately so, mundane, to the point that they were instantly forgettable.
That said, the vast majority were stunningly beautiful, even the men, and Alkaid couldn't help but feel her long atropified appreciation of the male form coming back to life. The features of these attractive Fae ranged from the full spectrum of human, and the occasional inhuman, features but always seemed to blend them in some way that made the heart skip a beat in sheer appreciation of their gorgeous perfection.
I can see why they're called the Fair Folk. The average Fae might be pretty normal, but their nobility are out of this world. Alkaid noted to herself as she ruthlessly suppressed the feelings the unnaturally perfect Fae stirred in her. Instead, she chose to focus on the looks of distaste so many of them shot Fowl as they passed.
"The Sidhe seem to disagree with their monarchs' opinions on your fiancé." She commented to Short in reply to her earlier statement.
A dark gleam shined in Artemis' eyes at that, making his elven companion roll her eyes.
"That's because Mister Sticky Fingers here has stolen something from most of them. Fae, especially the Sidhe, have long, grudge holding, memories."
Alkaid nodded, she understood what it meant to hold a grudge. She still held one for Chiron after all. She tempered it well with snide comments and double talk, but she tried her best to maintain it. It was also why most of her enemies were already dead so she wouldn't think of them. Nipping a weed in the bud was the one gardening tip her stepmother had taught her that she'd taken to heart.
"Is it really okay to talk while we're being led up the red carpet?" Pyrrha asked nervously, "I don't want to jinx this by giving a bad impression. My mum's life is at stake here."
"Relax, Miss Branwen." Fowl reassured the daughter of war with a smirk that would not have looked out of place on a vampire. "It's a long walk, Titania and Oberon doesn't expect us to maintain courtly dignity the whole way. The Sidhe might, but that's because they're too proud to 'lower their dignity'."
Pyrrha nodded hesitantly in return, even as the expressions of the Sidhe they passed looked even more murderous, if possible, at Fowl's barb.
Let's hope Fowl can keep his comments to himself for the rest of this walk. We still have a distance to go and I would like to make it there without being jumped by some Sidhe who he offends past the point of restraint.
Thankfully, Fowl managed to contain himself till they reached before the dias where the Herald announced them.
"Mister Artemis Fowl, Changeling, Master Thief and Friend of the Fae."
Fowl bowed in extravagant way, a playful smile tugging at his lips as he stood.
"Captain Holly Short, Elf of the Short line and patrol leader of LEPrecon."
Short bowed to the High Monarchs, standing straight with her hands behind her back and in contrast to the wisecracking attitude she had demonstrated so far, actually looked professional.
"Lady Alkaid Potter, Demigod of Hades, Lady of the Potter line and Emissary of Olympus."
With a curtsy, Alkaid smiled and stood close to Fowl and Short.
"Lady Pyrrha Branwen, Demigod of Ares, Heir to the Branwen line and Emissary of Olympus."
Pyrrha bowed as well, taking a similar stance as Short so as to act like the disciplined warrior she was trained to be.
Titania, her features literally glowing as she smiled, peered down at them from her throne.
"Artemis, why have you asked to see us in formal court today? Surely you know we'd be more than willing to speak to you in private."
Fowl once more offered a bow as he spoke to the High Queen.
"Of course, my Queen, I just felt that if we were among the rabble it would be more entertaining."
Oberon chuckled under his breath at that and leaned over to whisper something into his wife's ear. Whatever he told her had her giggling along with him in amusement as she turned her attention back to Fowl.
"You're being a fox again aren't you, Artemis?" The High Queen asked with a smirk. "Well, we'll play along. What is it you want, old friend?"
Alkaid was no fool. She could see the purpose behind the High Queen's deliberate emphasis on how she addressed Fowl. She was very overtly reminding her court, that the daughter of Hades was very aware was full of people who hated him, that the Changeling held her favor.
"My two friends here have asked me to forward a request to the Fae Courts on their behalf, namely a a plea for protection of the mortal witch, Jane Branwen."
"The daughter of Ares' mother?" Oberon guessed. "Why is she unable to protect her herself?"
"The Olympians are at war, your Majesties," Short informed the High Monarchs. "As a result their resources are stretched thin,"
"With Zeus' abysmal attitude, when aren't the Olympians at war?" Titania joked, and eliciting a chorus of laughter from the assembled Sidhe.
"While true, this time it's especially serious." Short continued. "It's a second Titanomachy."
Oberon shot the elf a serious look at that and got one in return.
"Is LEPrecon monitoring Fomorian movements?"
"Of course, your Majesty. We have eyes and ears out for any and all movements. Thankfully, it seems the Fomorians have not chosen to make a resurgence like their Titan counterparts."
That was certainly a frightful notion. From what Alkaid knew, the Fomorians were a group of hostile and monstrous beings who come from the sea or underground that did battle with both the Fae and the gods of the Tuatha Dé Danann in the ancient past. Or more simply put, their equivalent of the Titans or Gigantes. If they had risen as well… Then the world was truly in peril.
"Why were we not aware that the Titans had returned before now?" Titania questioned seemingly lightheartedly, but there was a undercurrent of steel hidden beneath her tone.
"We've only had suspicions until recently, your Majesty." Short explained. "However, thanks to the information provided by Miss Branwen and Miss Potter, we can confirm that the Titans are once more making a bid for power."
"And thus signalling that another Time of Troubles is about to befall all mythological worlds as the myriad forces of chaos and destruction all awake from their long slumber in response to each other." Oberon said with a sigh. "Though I suppose forewarned is forearmed and the demigods deserve to be rewarded for bringing us this warning. My dear, do you agree?"
"Indeed we do, dear Husband." Titania agreed with a magnanimous nod to the two demigods.
"Then it's settled." Oberon replied with a firm nod, before standing from his throne and floating a little into the air. "Who here among our court is willing to reward these demigods by extending their protection to the daughter of war's mother?"
Immediately, the throne room was filled with the sound of a thousand whispers as the Sidhe began to discuss the matter among themselves.
Pyrrha just looked confused and shot looks between the whispering masses and the two High Monarchs.
Leaning over to her, Alkaid explained, "One of the highest laws amongst the Fae is that the High Queen and High King cannot interact with the mortal realm. So they have the lesser Fae act in their stead."
"Like retainers, right?" Pyrrha said.
"Exactly."
The debate among the Sidhe went on for a few minutes before a teenaged Caucasian boy with classically aristocratic features dressed in a long overcoat over a set of fancy court dress, all in black, stepped out of the ranks of the Fae nobles and onto the red carpet with a bow to the High Monarchs.
"My King and Queen, I would be honoured to-"
Before he finished his statement however, a stunningly beautiful woman with pale gold skin, hair as black as midnight, eyes like liquid emerald and wearing a feral, silver circlet on her head likewise stepped onto the red carpet with a bow and interrupted him.
I recognize that aura. It can't be! That's Morgan! Alkaid inwardly seethed. Of course she would interfere, the bloody bint.
"Apologies, your Majesties, and to you as well Lus Nam Ban, but with all due respect I must say that the reward does not match the deed. Offering protection to Miss Branwen's mother would be a long term commitment, it seems excessive considering the one off benefit offered by the knowledge the demigods have provided us. Information that I might add we could have easily obtained elsewhere."
"What exactly are you insinuating Sarah Williams?" The Caucasian teenager shot back.
"Merely that it is not the Fae way to strike unfair bargains. In either direction. If the demigods want this boon then they must pay for it with something that truly matches its worth."
The Sidhe exploded into discussion once more at Morgan's, or was it Williams', statement and much to Alkaid's dismay they seemed to largely agree with her. It was silenced however, when Oberon added his own thoughts on the matter.
"The Goblin Queen makes a good point."
Even Titania seemed swayed. "As the Queen of the Fifth Season, she would have experience with striking fair bargains."
Alkaid was ready to argue this, but a hand rested on her arm. She turned to see who it was.
An elegant Caucasian woman with classically aristocratic features, long light blue hair and dressed in a white Victorian dress stepped out of the ranks of the Sidhe with a bow to the High Monarchs and with a quelling look to the demigods turned to shoot a withering glare at Morgan.
"And pray tell, Sarah, what would you think is a worthy price for them to pay?"
A short, handsome man with flamboyant blonde hair in an extravagant updo style and wearing an overly elaborate and unnecessarily tight fitting set of armor stepped up with a lazy bow to Titania and Oberon that revealed the feral, silver crown otherwise hidden in his hair and came to stand behind Morgan.
"Perhaps the Branwen girl could run my Labyrinth? Since it's her mother they are asking protection for, it is only fitting that she be challenged."
Lus Nam Ban frowned as he said, "While the idea of a challenge holds merit, having you two, the Goblin King and Queen, organise it would be unwise considering the past conflict your Queen has with the daughter of Hades."
"Then what would Wyldwood propose?" Morgan shot back. "Though considering how you and your Queen seem so willing to assist them, perhaps we should disqualify any suggestions you make on the suspicion of bias as well."
"We have not spent the better part of a decade decrying Miss Potter's existence at every opportunity, Sarah." The bluenette retorted.
Alkaid was somewhat surprised that their mutual dislike was known within the Fae Courts. It seems Morgan's pettiness was more widely acknowledged than she'd ever imagined.
"No, Lá Glan, you've only spent the last hundred years or so taking in strays and being excessively charitable." Morgan's apparent husband replied, flippantly. "It's almost as if you're making up for something. Or perhaps Wyldwood is just hiding something and is using the age old trick of misdirection."
Lus Nam Ban and Lá Glan both looked furious at the accusation, but besides heated glares at the Goblin monarchs held their cool.
"As entertaining as seeing you all verbally spar with each other is," Oberon said cutting into the argument and gesturing at the enraptured crowd of spectating Sidhe. "We do have other matters we need to discuss today. How about this? In the interest of fairness, I'll oversee the challenge. Is a gladiatorial tournament on the morrow acceptable?"
The Wyldwood and Goblin monarchs exchanged one last set of glares but ultimately nodded in acceptance.
"Very well, then that's what we'll do." Oberon said with a pleased smile. "Now then, Artemis, please escort our guests out so that we can carry on with the next order of business."
"If I may be so bold," Lus Nam Ban said stepping forward and offering the High Monarchs a deep bow. "I would like to offer to house the two demigods for the night."
Smirking now, Oberon nodded. "Of course, of course, I had totally forgotten about making arrangements for accommodations didn't I? Good on you Lus to step up and rectify my oversight. Permission granted."
"Then my Queen and I will take my leave," The King of Wyldwood said with another deep bow while his wife curtised. "Ladies, if you'll follow me."
Offering the High Monarchs their own bow and curtsy, the demigods followed their new allies out of the throne room. Fowl and his entourage following behind them as well.
As they walked past the ranks of the Sidhe, it did not escape Alkaid's notice that Pyrrha seemed stoked by the High King's decision to settle the matter through a battle tournament.
The brunette placed a hand on her shoulder. "It's not that simple, Pyrrha."
"Huh?"
"The High King chose a tournament because while in appearance, fairness is clear to see as it suits a daughter of Ares like yourself well, he'll undoubtedly have the deck stacked against us."
The daughter of the Rich One nimbled her lower lip. For all she knew, her lover would have to face the most powerful of the Fae.
"Are you saying he's setting me up to fail?" Pyrrha hissed in outrage.
"No," Lá Glan informed the furious daughter of war in a soothing voice. "He's just doing the very Fae thing of setting up a fair but near impossible task for you to accomplish."
Fowl had a smile on his face, "Doesn't that make it all the more fun?"
"Arte, how many times must I tell you this, your idea of fun isn't shared by most people." Short told her fiancé with a long suffering sigh.
"Perhaps not," Lus Nam Ban agreed. "But it might just be what we need to allow Miss Branwen to survive and win the High King's tournament tomorrow."
"I certainly hope so." Alkaid said as she shot her lover a worried look, worry gnawing at her heart.
Omake: The Best Babysitter
"So you're my babysitter today?" Mina asked curiously as she looked at the ancient looking old woman that her Mothers had arranged to take care of her while they were away.
The woman was like super old! Her hair was all white and she was even balding. A lady balding! That only happened when they got super old, right? Her back was bent, her skin was all wrinkled, her teeth was crooked and she was dressed in outdated clothes that only a old person would think looked good.
The old witch offered a grin, "That's right."
"You're really old."
"And you're what? Two hundred something?" The ancient babysitter shot back.
"I'm still a little girl though." Mina said sweetly, spinning on the spot to show off how young she was.
"Well, I can be too." The babysitter said in a suddenly child-like voice.
Turning to the voice, Mina boggled at the sight of the ancient witch who had transformed into a little girl with golden blonde hair that was about her age and dressed in a cute little sundress.
"Can you stay like that?"
"No." The child said dryly as she turned back into her usual old woman form.
"Boring." Mina opined with a pout.
The white haired hag rolled her eyes. "Children these days. Back in my day we'd paddle brats like you, but no! Nowadays they say that'll damage their development, and we should medicate them or use reflection instead, blah, blah, blah. Standards these days. It's just teaching the kids that they can get away without consequences. No wonder kids are all spoiled brats these days."
"I'm not spoiled!" Mina shot back.
The babysitter just raised her eyebrow. "Really, and your mothers don't try to give you everything you want, hmm?"
Mina tilted her head for a moment in consideration, "Okay, maybe I'm a little spoiled."
"At least you're honest," The ancient witch said with a grin. "So the name's Baba Yaga. What do you want to do?"
Twiddling her thumbs, Mina thought about the question.
"You wanna go kill some low-lives?" The child goddess asked. When it doubt, do what you're good at. At least that was what Mama told her.
"Huh, haven't gone on a killing spree in a good while." Baba Yaga muttered in consideration. "Heck, why not? I'm sure Alkaid won't mind, considering that she has a sadistic, murderous streak a mile wide of her own."
Mina nodded eagerly in agreement. She loved hearing how her Mother could go on rampages. It was a little too bad that Mother always seemed to try to avoid letting her see when she went all out.
"Alright, pack all your little knives, kiddo! We're painting the town red, literally!"
"Yay!" Mina cheered, her arms in the air with excitement.
Baba Yaga pulled out her pestle, "Now, how fond are you of cookies?"
"I love it! Making them especially."
"Oho? Well, then I'll be sure to share some interesting new recipes." The formerly man eating witch said with a bloodthirsty smirk. "Let me teach you how a real witch makes cookies for bad people."
Done and done!
Thanks to the team of Nameless and Axios as always.
Ah, Artemis Fowl. Never really read it so I'm leaving it up to Nameless to pick up my slack on this front, but I've got some interesting thoughts for it. Still, what this guy can do is nuts to me. Leave it to the super smart people to be the weirdest.
Nameless: Well, well, so Morgan has made a reappearance. We did say she would still be relevant, no? Plus, we have hinted at who she's an expy of in the past, but I'm guessing that it's only here that most people have drawn the conclusion that she's actually Sarah Williams from the classic 80s film Labyrinth.
Even I didn't know that until he told me. The clever sneak! And I honestly love the plug in with that.
Nameless: To be fair, I did tell you. You just didn't get the reference or didn't think it was particularly relevant.
Nope. No I did not.
Still, you know what to do! Smash that review button and tell us what you love! No flames and peace off my peeps!