Episode 11: Part 2

Stephen Gentum-Smith sat by himself in the corner of the café that he liked to frequent. Amid the warm inviting smell of coffee wafting through the air and the sounds of laughter and socializing students, Stephen tried in vain to read the newspaper... trying to retain some semblance of normality and routine after everything that had happened.

Despite his attempts to try and rationalize the utterly surreal situation, he wasn't succeeding at all. As he sighed and put down the newspaper, he looked up when he heard a familiar feminine voice. "The Knight of Stars holding court in a Starbucks café… subtle."

Stephen watched as Laura Gremory walked over and unbundled her winter coat before sitting down at the table across from him. He gave a mild snort of amusement before she leaned back calmly, "You're not an easy man to track down Stephen."

"Maybe I prefer it that way," he muttered, "I'm guessing you're here to lecture me some more about insulting your friends yesterday?"

"Well… you did act like a bit of a tosser the other day, but I'm actually here to try and talk you into joining us again. I'm sure you can't deny that we'd all be stronger and have a much better chance of victory if we acted together."

"Sorry, I'm more comfortable with only relying on myself. It's the way I've always done things and now that I know the truth… that I'm half you-know-what… it's all beginning to make more sense… about why I was bullied so much for being poor and why I never really fit in, or wanted friends in my old stuck-up prep school. It's really easy for you to say all this considering you… well, have friends."

Laura fell silent and gave a sigh as her expression darkened slightly, "No… I do understand and that's why it's important I talk about this with you. Before I fell in with the other knights, I was just like you. I didn't really have any friends here and I didn't think I needed any."

Stephen frowned slightly, "Your British accent is still pretty strong… you're still fairly new here? Is that why you were lonely?"

Laura gave a grim smile, "Among other reasons… and family reasons… yes. I was frustrated, confused, and a little angry at the world... not knowing where I was… or who I was."

"But that all changed when you became a knight?" Stephen inferred.

Laura nodded, "Connor and his other friends Quinton and Noelle were the first ones to really reach out and try to accept me. Sure, I don't always agree or get along with them… but I can see that they're still good people and I'd be lying if I said I didn't care about them too. They make me feel wanted… and needed. Perhaps we could make you feel the same way?"

Stephen grimaced and glanced away for a moment as he felt his own resolve slightly waver. The Winter Knight had made a compelling argument and coming from such a pretty girl… well, that just made it even more persuasive.

Laura sensed the momentary pause and saw the gears turning in his head so she decided to try from another angle. "Stephen, you had sworn your loyalty to the Court of Stars, yes?"

The Silver Knight nodded slowly, "Like I said... you four aren't completely bound to the Courts and I can see your loyalties lie with each other first."

"Very true," Laura said, "But we also have another loyalty... whether or not we officially pledged an oath, the four of us are committed to protecting this town and all the people who live within it."

Stephen snorted again, "Why? It's not like they know who we are, or that they even really care anyway."

Laura narrowed her eyes, "We fight because it's the right thing to do. I come from the bloodline of a noble family in England and we were taught from a young age that those in our station should conduct ourselves accordingly. A noble has duties and responsibilities to society and because we have that wealth or power, the people will look to us for strength and leadership. The same goes with our weapons and armor here. As knights, we are responsible for the people here and they will look to us for protection."

"Maybe that's true across the pond in Britain, but I think this is a little different."

"I think not," Laura countered, while speaking very sharply and full of conviction. "The Court of Stars is no different than the others in that they expect some level of chivalry and decorum of us. For you to shirk that duty brings shame on them, and moreso upon yourself."

Stephen stopped and fell silent, both having been enlightened and rebuked by the Winter Knight's frank but honest words. She was right, but he hated the fact that he might have to openly admit that.

Laura waited for a long moment before speaking in a more calm and gentle voice, "I understand you have a lot to think about right now. Certainly learning about your unusual heritage would be a bit upsetting to anyone, but right now is not the time to sit and feel sorry for yourself. I admit that I don't know anything about being half-fey, but I do know what it's like to be an outsider and I know what it takes to own that and become stronger from it. Will you let us try to help you?"

Stephen looked to her and met the determined gaze of her blue eyes. After a pause, a hint of a smile pulled at the corner of his lips, "It sounds like being a knight has made you pretty wise. I guess I'll have a lot to learn now that I'm the young dumb freshman among you."

Laura blinked in surprise before giving an amused grin of her own, "Make that two freshmen. I won't be the only youngest person on the team anymore."

Before they could exchange any more words, Laura picked up her phone as it began to ring and vibrate, "It's Connor."

Stephen waited in grim silence while the Winter Knight answered her phone, then turned back to him, "The others say that Leanansidhe has returned. She's struck a local morgue across town and her zombie army is growing."

"We've got to go stop her then," Stephen nodded as he threw on his gray coat and scarf, "Have your friends come up with a strategy to stop her yet?"

Laura bit her lip and led the way while charging out the door into the cold winter air, "Sort of... I guess we'll just have to figure the rest out when we get to the battlefield."

Across town, a mixed company of spriggan warriors and zombified Cauldron-Born spread out and secured a large open air plaza where their mistress Leanansidhe worked over her evil cauldron. The large vile pot continued to glow and bubble while the fey witch called upon more restless spirits she had ensnared from some local morgues and graveyards to serve as her newest soldiers. No sooner had the last of the terrified civilians fled the scene was when three faerie steeds charged onto the grounds.

A few spriggans were trampled underfoot and the Fomorian ranks fell back in momentary surprise while Connor, Quinton, and Noelle reared up on their mounts then dismissed their horses. Leanansidhe looked up from her cauldron and regarded them calmly, "It seems you've returned for another chance to lock swords with me. I thought you already learned your lesson the first time."

"We're not here to play around Leanansidhe," Connor called back in a stern challenge, "Whatever you're up to, we're going to stop it and destroy your black cauldron!"

Quinton glanced over and saw that the ranks of the undead Cauldron-Born had swelled and grown larger than the last fight. He muttered quietly to his two friends, "Uh, guys... that's a whole lot of zombies."

Leanansidhe laughed in scornful amusement, "What a reckless boast Summer Knight. You think only three of you will be able to withstand my undead horde?"

"No... but I think five might," came a familiar voice as another faerie horse burst into the plaza and joined the three knights.

Everyone turned in surprise to see Laura on her horse with Stephen hitching a ride behind her. As she cantered around and unsummoned her steed, the Winter and Silver Knights joined their companions to face down the Fomorian general. "Apologies for the delay. We got here as soon as we could."

Noelle smiled and gave an impressed nod, "Wow... nice going Laura! You actually got Stephen to join us?"

"We'll worry about the details later Noelle," Laura answered as she stepped forward and took her place in their formation beside the Summer Knight, "Right now, we've got a witch to hunt."

While Stephen readied his archer's bracer, the other four brandished their glowing rings as they spoke in a unified chorus, "Athru!"

Leanansidhe and her troops recoiled for a moment and shielded their eyes as the five students disappeared in a bright colorful wall of light, only to emerge bearing the armor and weapons of their Faerie patrons. The Summer Knight drew his red glowing blade and held it out allowing for his three comrades to join their swords with his. They continued to wait as the new Silver Knight reached to his side and drew a short silver sword, placing his secondary weapon alongside those of this newfound comrades.

"Five Swords, One Heart! Hibernian Knights, To Arms!" the five called rallying together with a new revised battlecry.

Before the knights could move to attack, Leanansidhe began to smirk and raise her hand in a halting motion, "Not so fast knights... are you certain that's a wise decision? If you come after me, you risk the rest of your precious town getting put to the torch."

"Stop talking in circles Leanansidhe! What are you getting at?" Quinton shouted impatiently.

The fey witch chuckled and pulled a large ice crystal, summoning another monstrous Fomorian in a puff of her smoke. As the smoke dissipated, the knights looked on in shock to see the large hulking figure of an ice troll.

"In your haste to face me, the five of you failed to realize that I'd bring along another Fomorian ally from the Underworld to dispatch your little city. Maybe I'll have him tear down some buildings and eat some children while you tangle with the undead... or we can do it the other way around if you prefer?"

"You underhanded snake! You wouldn't dare!" Noelle shouted in outrage.

The fey witch cackled, "Oh, but I can my dear Autumn Knight. You can't defeat either of us divided and you can't be in two places at the same time... can you?"

The five heroes froze in momentary fear and confusion before Connor gripped his sword tightly, "Damn! We just got outmaneuvered!"

He stopped as he felt Laura reach out and grab his shoulder, "Connor... wait. Let's make a break for the cauldron and steal it. You said on the phone that we could destroy the cauldron if a living thing goes inside of it. As long as one of us keeps it away from Leanansidhe, her undead forces will be limited while the other four take down the troll. Either way, we'll force them to go where we want."

The Summer Knight weighed their options and quickly surveyed the battlefield before nodding. "Okay Laura, lead the charge. We'll cover you."

The Winter Knight stepped forward and waved the others on, "Let's go everyone! Stephen, you're with me!"

The combatants on both sides rushed forward and collided in a chaotic melee in the center of the plaza. Connor, Quinton, and Noelle formed a frontal wedge and led the push against the Fomorians. While the three knights hacked and battered their way through the throng of spriggans and Cauldron-Born, the Winter and Silver Knights pushed past and made a break for the cauldron in the rear rank. Stephen battered aside a few spriggans with his bow before turning it sideways and firing a charged shot forward to clear their way.

As the silvery arrow tore through several spriggans and zombies, Laura charged through and approached the cauldron until she was halted by Leanansidhe. The witch sprung on her with a drawn sword and shrieked, "You're not going anywhere little girl!"

Stephen watched the two female combatants tumble sideways before clashing again, so he turned and began to charge the cauldron. He wasn't quite sure what to do no next, but he decided he'd improvise and let the adrenaline rush carry him right now. Just as he reached the black cauldron, he was stopped as the big icy club of the winter troll smashed down in front of him. The Silver Knight juked sideways and brought his bow around to smash the side of the troll's head.

The large creature simply shrugged it off and calmly took another strike from Stephen before rearing back and swatting him with his hand. Stephen gasped as the troll backhanded him and sent him tumbling backwards in a heap. As the stunned knight tried to recover his senses, he saw the troll lumber up to try and finish him off. In a moment of desperation, Stephen turned his bow and fired a point blank arrow shot, sending the troll reeling back toward the cauldron.

Nearby, Laura tumbled sideways as she was blasted from one of Leanansidhe's spells. As she staggered to her feet, she glanced over and saw the troll fall over near the base of the cauldron. That was when she got a brilliant idea. "Stephen! Up and over, into the pot!"

The Silver Knight drew back another shot and nodded as Laura turned her rapier and threw it like a lawn dart into the ground by the troll. The moment the rapier struck the ground, a small column of ice solidified and rose, picking up the Fomorian off the ground. As the stunned troll rose up level with the rim of the cauldron, Stephen loosed his arrow and blasted the monster sideways to send it tumbling into the pot.

"He shoots! He scores!" Stephen cheered pumping a fist while Leanansidhe froze and gasped in horror.

The troll gave a terrible cry as it thrashed inside the evil cauldron and tried to claw its way out but its icy limbs slipped back inside as its life force was sucked in and consumed by the pot.

"No! What are you doing?" Leanansidhe cried as she watched the cauldron begin to shake violently while glowing cracks formed along the outer body of the artifact.

"I'm going to hit the dirt!" Laura shouted as she signaled her comrades and dove to the ground. Leanansidhe shrieked again and took on her gaseous form as the Tenebrous Cauldron exploded in a brilliant burst of light. As the light spread out from the blast, all the Cauldron-Born in the plaza froze and disintegrated to dust as the source of the power which animated them ceased to be.

"No! You can't do this to me!" the witch howled as the spirits of the Sluagh dissipated and the last of the cauldron fragments burned away.

"Oh yes we can," Laura laughed triumphantly, "The cauldrons of myth could be destroyed when a living thing gets inside of them. There was never any rule preventing a living monster from filling the same role... willing or not."

As much as Leanansidhe hated to admit it, the Winter Knight's cold pragmatism was solid. They had destroyed her monster and her cauldron one fell swoop. Giving one more audible growl, the witch swept across the battlefield and scooped up the few remaining spriggan troops before making her escape into the wintry air.

"Yeah, you'd better run you coward!" Noelle called waving her sword after the sorceress while the five knights regrouped in the ruined plaza.

As Connor took a moment to gaze out after the trailing plume of smoke from Leanansidhe, Quinton gave a relieved sigh, "Is everyone okay here?"

"Never better," Laura nodded before turning to the Silver Knight, "That was a brilliant shot Stephen."

"Oh... well... it was nothing," he replied feeling is face grow a little warm, thankful that his helmet's visor concealed his face. "Uh... we made a pretty good team back there, didn't we Laura?"

The Winter Knight looked to him in mild confusion, unable to read his expression from behind his visor before she gave a non-committal shrug, "Sure... I guess so."

Connor walked over and surveyed the remains of the cauldron and the smoking crater where it once stood, "Well, we really struck a major blow against Balor this time. I'm sure he won't be happy and the Four Courts will definitely take notice of this. We couldn't have done it without your help Stephen... thank you."

The Silver Knight remained silent and looked in surprise as the Summer Knight extended a hand, "We're going back to Kristen's to rest and regroup. We'll have a lot to tell her so are you going to be joining us?"

Stephen looked at the outstretched hand before glancing at Laura. The Winter Knight slowly nodded before Stephen turned back to Connor and tentatively shook his hand with a smile. "Well... someone's got to keep you four out of trouble. It might as well be me."

Quinton and Noelle exchanged a laugh and walked over toward the Silver Knight, "Welcome aboard Stephen."

Amid the praise and handshakes of the other knights, Stephen had to admit that it was a strange feeling to say the least. He wasn't used to the feeling of being around others, or having their attention... much less affection. As unusual and slightly uncomfortable as it was, it wasn't a bad feeling either. Perhaps Laura had been right. Perhaps he could learn to trust these people, especially considering the way they fought together and protected one another in battle. Perhaps he eventually would find more answers about his fey heritage and who he was... but for now, he could settle for trying to find a place where he might belong.

A/N:
And so a new ally joins the team. Hopefully some you caught the little Macbeth reference in the previous chapter's title. Here, Laura touches on the meaning of this chapter's title. Noblesse Oblige was a concept in which a noble, or person of wealth and power should realize that they also have social duties and responsibilities.

Ideally, it meant that a noble person (such as a knight) should be morally responsible and act with honor toward others, even to those beneath them. As it's also a French term, I'm sure Noelle would be well aware of this too. ;)

Coming up, Valentine's Day is just around the corner so you can count on meddling faeries, magical mishaps, and some obligatory rom-com zaniness for our heroes. I figure we could use a more light hearted plot now to mix it up. Thanks for reading!