Episode 22: Part 2

The thick enchanted fog continued to hang over the entirety of Somerset Valley as the four remaining knights made their way back into town to regroup with their two Druid allies. After having changed back into some regular summer clothes, the four young people pushed though the fog as they approached Mr. O'Doyle's pub at the edge of the college campus. While they walked, they couldn't help but be a little unnerved at the eerie quiet and stillness that had blanketed the normally busy town. Here and there they came upon some townspeople laying on the sidewalk or lawns trapped in their enchanted slumber while the light of the summer sun above was largely obscured by the mists.

As they made their way inside, they found Kristen and Mr. O'Doyle at the empty pub counter sharing in a drink to calm their nerves. Quinton shook his head and took one more foreboding look outside, "I don't know you guys... this is really creepy. The sooner we come up with a plan, the better."

The six sat down at the bar counter and began to share their accounts of what happened until Laura and Connor revealed the truth about Noelle's actions and the resulting bargain with Morgana. Kristen nearly choked on the beer she was drinking and slapped the glass down on the table, "You what? Did you really just make a bargain with Morgana? Are you insane?"

"There was no other choice," Connor answered firmly, Noelle needs our help and if this is what it's going to take, then so be it. Just trust me though... I think I was still able to leave myself a little out in the contract if need be."

Mr. O'Doyle grimaced and looked visibly perturbed as well, "I hope you're right kiddo. Making deals with evil fey often gets you into deeper debt with them instead."

Laura frowned in thought before glancing up at the knights' mentor, "Kristen, we're going to need your help. Morgana told us about that place called the Mistmeadows in Spring. She said we had to seek out some temple ground and that we might encounter some group of people called the Order of the Briar Circle."

The two Druids looked to each other before Kristen frowned, "I don't like this one bit. The Briar Circle are a group of loose cannons, a bit dangerous and extremist in their views compared to the rest of our Druid orders. To them, civilization and technology should be subsumed by nature. They don't believe in balance so much as to let things grow wild and unchecked."

Mr. O'Doyle drummed his fingers on the bar counter for a minute before turning his head thoughtfully, "Now hold on a moment Kristen. It is possible the knights may use this to their advantage. Because of the Briar Circle's beliefs, I know they aren't all that well liked by the Spring Court. Perhaps if the knights posed as free agents who were sympathetic to their cause, they might be willing to let the knights in or give them a degree of trust."

"Even so... I don't like the thought of possibly lying to them either," Stephen interjected with an uncomfortable grimace.

"It won't be a complete lie... more like a half truth," Quinton chimed in, "We're mortals who are not exactly bound or allied to the Faerie Courts."

"A small price to pay," Laura added with a quiet nod, "Kristen? Can you show us the way to the Mistmeadows?"

The younger Druid gave another unhappy look into her beer glass before glancing up and nodding, "I can take you there and open the way, but I won't be able to help you in the Faerie Realm this time. If those Briar Circle people find out I'm a Druid... who knows what they may do? My presence would likely jeopardize your mission."

"We'll take whatever help you can give us," Connor said as he took another glance out toward the dreary streets, "As for this sleeping fog, is there anything you guys can do about it on your end? Would that mushroom concoction Kristen made before work to help the people?"

O'Doyle shook his head, "I'm afraid not. This is a different kind of spell altogether and even if we could brew a potion, there are too many victims and not enough ingredients."

Kristen rose from the table, "Right now, I think you four should prepare some emergency supplies for your trip. We'll regroup at my shop and I'll fill you in on what to expect on the other side."

Some time later that day, the four knights took a short drive with Kristen to the southern edge of the valley. After parking in a local forest preserve, the knights followed their mentor down a hiking trail until they reached a large stream of water coursing by. They followed the water a short distance until they came to a ring of large rocks. The stones were weathered and had an odd quality about them. From a distance, they might have appeared as very natural looking in their arrangement, but upon closer inspection, there seemed to be odd hints that the large stones might have been purposefully moved there.

"Here we are, the gateway to the Mistmeadows," Kristen said while surveying the quiet grove, "You have the temple rocks, the misty waters, and green grass around you."

Stephen hefted his backpack and gave an expectant look to the others. With the Druids' help, they had prepared some backpacks with emergency camping gear, food, water, and a first aid kit. "You said those temple ruins shouldn't be far from where we portal over, right?"

Kristen nodded, "The temple was once part of an Elven outpost during the wars with the Fomorians. As long as you stick to the main path, you should find it easily, but those nature zealots will probably be lurking among the rest of the outpost's remains."

"We'll be careful," Laura assured her as she touched her silver ring for reassurance, "And we'll be ready when you open the portal home again."

They set their watches together and Stephen gave a thumbs up, "Right. We'll be back before you know it."

Kristen gave a nod and paced around the stones tapping each one in a specific order with her staff while speaking a few words of ancient Gaelic. She finally came to the center of the standing stones and spoke the last word which opened a glowing pathway into the Faerie Realm. The Druid stepped back and gestured to the open portal, "I'll be waiting here everyone… good luck."

Connor touched her arm gratefully and tried to give a brave face as he stepped through first followed by the others. Once the knights had crossed over, the portal closed behind them dropping the four friends in the land of Faerie. Laura quickly planted a painted wooden stake into the ground to mark their location before the others turned and made their way down a wooded pathway stretching out before them. Like Kristen had told them before, the knights reminded themselves that in many ways the Faerie Realm mirrored the real world. Unlike the real world inhabited by mortal humans, the Faerie Realm was a much more primal and fantastical place, where the natural laws and perceptions of reality weren't always what they seemed.

"It's kinda strange, huh?" Quinton mused quietly while they walked, "I think this is the first time we've been in the Faerie Realm without being guided by Kristen. It's a little frightening, but also sorta exciting too."

Stephen marched at the lead of the formation using his keen archer's eyes to scan for danger up ahead. As the Silver Knight scouted ahead, he idly replied, "Well, we are in the land of Spring. It can't be all that bad, can it?"

"Lucky for us we've got a Knight of Spring with us just in case," Connor muttered in agreement while covering one of the party's flanks.

Aside from being wild and overgrown, the green verdant woodlands around them were wide and sprawling. Tall trees blanketed the terrain and a small river ran along that section of the woods mirroring the one in the real world. As they followed the path, the knights noticed the woods becoming more misty and mysterious. While sunlight continued to stream through the trees above, the light was dimmer and the magical mists obscured their vision a little more. Laura cast a wary look around and reached for a small pocket flashlight just in case. "Well… so far so good. If this doesn't look like a place called the Mistmeadows, I'm not sure what does."

Eventually, the path before them became much more wild and natural as it wove through some more trees and led the knights deeper into the beautifully haunting woods. Eventually, Stephen stopped as he caught sight of stone earthworks up ahead, looking like the ruins of old walls and buildings. He signaled a stop and summoned his bow before slowly advancing with a silver arrow nocked at the ready. "This must be it. Let's tread carefully. Kristen said those crazies could be lurking around here."

The four pressed on and looked about in wonder at the melancholy ruins of the fey outpost. Laura took a moment to study some of the ornate stonework and bits of faded Elven script that had been carved in some spots.

"Did you find anything interesting?" Connor asked as he stopped and approached her.

She shook her head and gave a sigh, "No… it's just the History student in me coming out. I just wish I could read Elven or understand more about this land. I can't help but wonder what happened here long ago, or what this outpost might have looked like. Did it see many battles with the Fomorians? Why did the Elves abandon it?"

The Summer Knight gave his friend a sympathetic nod and gently patted her shoulder, "I'm sorry we have to kinda pass this up, but our duty to our town comes first."

Laura nodded reluctantly and the two continued on, taking up the rear while Stephen and Quinton led the way. As they made their way through some more scattered ruins and navigated some treacherous undergrowth, Laura quietly asked her comrade, "Are you okay?"

Connor glanced over and raised an eyebrow, "What do you mean?"

"You've been acting a little different since you made that deal with Morgana."

The Summer Knight frowned, "Different how?"

"Well… like less of an idiot than usual," Laura retorted with a half smirk, "I mean… you seem to be taking this whole thing rather seriously."

"Why wouldn't I?" Connor replied, "Noelle is in danger and I'm risking my freedom to Morgana. That sounds pretty damn serious to me."

Laura remained silent fixing him with an expectant look, "You know what I mean Connor."

He gave a long sigh before wrinkling his features, "If Morgana's words were true… that Noelle had risked herself to save my own life when I didn't even know it, then I can't let her down. Morgana has already taken one of my friends from me. I'm not going to let her take another one."

In an unusual display, Laura put a comforting hand on his shoulder, "She won't. I promise the rest of us will make sure that doesn't happen either."

Connor smiled faintly and put his hand over hers before giving a quick squeeze, "Thanks Laura."

The knights stopped abruptly as Stephen halted and raised his bow. The four instantly summoned their weapons and stood frozen in the misty gloom of the foreboding woods, eying the ruins around them before a swarm of shadowy creatures dropped from the treetops using vine ropes and encircled the heroes. In the dim light, the four friends could discern the creatures were humanoids that seemed to be made of old wood. They had long spindly limbs which were fastened to their bodies with vines and roots which appeared to act like muscles and tendons for the monsters. The ghastly warriors moved about in unsettling awkward motions and fixed the knights with horrible grinning faces that had been painted onto the wooden heads.

The freakish automatons clattered forward and the knights immediately closed ranks and engaged them in hand to hand combat. Stephen kicked one aside and fired two arrows into another before batting aside the third attacker with his own weapon. The wooden marionette creature staggered sideways right into Quinton's sword before the Spring Knight pulled his weapon free and deflected a blow from another marionette. As he did, Quinton pulled his second sickle weapon and sliced at the vine tendons of the creature to hamstring it before punching it aside.

Nearby, Laura slashed a marionette aside and gracefully dodged a passing blow from another before turning her weapon and skewering it with her blade. She pushed forward with her momentum and impaled a second creature as well before letting loose a burst of icy energy from her blade which shattered the creatures' bodies. At the other corner of the knights' defense line, Connor punched away a marionette before hacking off the arm of another attacker. Not to be deterred, the marionette and two others regrouped and rushed forward but were met by a powerful slash empowered with a cloud of Summer Fire that completely incinerated their wooden bodies.

As the charred corpses fell to the ground, the knights regrouped and looked around only to find that while they had been momentarily distracted, they were outflanked by the real danger. Encircling the four were a pack of barbaric looking druids in brown robes that sprung from the ruins pointing spears and crossbows at the knights. To the knights' horror, they saw that the savage Druids had adorned themselves in animal pelt helmets, along with jewelry made of feathers, bones, teeth, and rock. They gave feral cries before a Druid in a bearskin pelt stepped forward and spoke out loudly, speaking several words in Elven.

The knights remained where they were and cast glances to one another before the leader of the Druids spoke again, this time using English. "Tuathans! Humans! Stand down! Lay down your arms!"

"Guys… that might be a good idea," Stephen admitted as he eyed all the crossbowmen around them, "We're a little outgunned at the moment."

Quinton looked to his own friends before slowly setting down his weapons on the ground, "Okay… hold on now. There's no need for anyone to get hurt. We didn't come as your enemies."

The other knights looked to each other before slowly setting their weapons down too. Connor whispered to Laura, "What is Quinton doing?"

"I don't know yet… but maybe we should just follow his lead for now. He's a knight of Spring and they just may listen to him."

The other barbarians lowered their weapons slightly as the leader of the savage Druids drew back his spear and approached. Upon nearing, he pulled back his bear mantle revealing the face of a scruffy looking middle aged human man with shaggy dark hair. Despite his fierce looking beard, the man had a strong build and sharp eyes, giving a feral predatory air about him. He eyed the newcomers suspiciously and gave a grunt, "The four of you are not from this realm. Lost travelers from the other side?"

"We are," Quinton replied, "Is it safe to guess you belong to the Order of the Briar Circle?"

The other savage druids tensed as their leader continued to eye the newcomers with cool amusement before smiling, "For a bunch of lost travelers, you four seem to know an awful lot. Who are you and what do you want here?"

Quinton stepped forward and showed his magic ring, "We are a group of human knights with the power of the Faerie Courts in our rings. We've fought and defeated the Fomorians of Lord Balor several times and we know about the war that the Four Courts are waging against him."

"What does that have to do with us then?" the man asked while crossing his arms, "Do you serve the will of the Fey Courts?"

Quinton shook his head, "No. We aren't aligned with the Courts… but we came here to make an alliance with you."

The Druids stopped and exchanged hesitant looks before Laura caught on to Quinton's line of thinking and interjected, "If I may…"

She stepped forward carefully, "We've heard that you don't care much for the Courts or the destruction that their war with Balor causes. We feel the same way because we've been caught in between the two powers. We decided why not travel here and join forces with a like-minded group of Druids who would help us do away with the whole corrupt order?"

The leader of the savages regarded her carefully, "And tell me this young lady, how did you know about us? About your organization and where we are?"

Laura remained calm and kept up her bluff, "In our own home town, there are a few Druids who watch over the area... Druids of the Juniper Order. They told us about you."

The Briar Circle followers began to scoff and give derisive snorts, "The Juniper Order? They may have a large following, but they're a bunch of frail scholars and sages. They've grown too soft and comfortable with their attempts to find a balance with the civilized world."

"We agree," Quinton bluffed, "The Juniper Order is doing nothing to help curb the violence in our home so we want to find stronger allies who are more willing to take action. We've been told that your order guards these woods and if others stay away, that must mean you're doing something right.

The leader of the Briar Circle kept gauging the knights before one of his followers chimed in, "If these Tuathan knights are telling the truth, then they would make powerful allies. Did you see how they handled our puppets in battle? With them on our side, we might even be able to start making the Spring Court take us seriously."

The lead Druid finally nodded and stepped forward while extending a hand, "I am Cnute, leader of the Briar Circle and protector of these ruins. We'll talk more about this alliance. Until then, I will show you to our campsite. Come."

The other Druids stood down and put away their weapons causing the four knights to give a sigh of relief. As they followed the savage men and women in brown robes, they kept their mouths shut and their senses open. They still had a ways to go to in order to discover the location of Morgana's hidden treasure. They were also wandering in a strange unfamiliar land and sharing the company of unpredictable people. Despite that, the four friends had still come another step closer to their goal and had bought themselves a little more time as well. Unfortunately, however much time they had left to bargain with now was going to be anyone's guess.