Narrator POV
The time came and it was the next night. The sun dipped down and the gargoyles roared to life. Brooklyn wasted no time in taking flight into the sky. He knew where Puck was. Back at Xanatos's castle and he was determined to find out what it was the Puck knew and if that knowledge could somehow bring back Ilaria to him. The clan, plus Hibby in hawk form followed close behind him, except for Hudson who came to his side.
"Lad you must not be so rash at this time. We are going to listen to what Puck has to tell us. Just be wary that it may not be what you wish to hear. It may not even be the answer to getting her back home with us."
"You don't think that I have not thought of that!"
"Lad. Your temper is not going to help you or her. As evident as it is that you have feelings for the human Ilaria. Keep in mind that you may have further heart break to come." The words stung on to Brooklyn but he made no comment about it. "But for now we shall not have thoughts of that. We are already upon Xanatos's castle." Hudson pointed to the stone building below and found a party was waiting for them. The closer they drew to the courtyard's grounds the easier it was for them to distinguish who it was. Xanatos and his wife Fox with Owen in tow were of course there. But there was also Elisa, Juniper and Matt in attendance. Xanatos and Fox were the ones to speak first to extend their apologies to Juniper over Ilaria's abduction. Before all of them were shuffled inside to hear it was that Owen the soon to be Puck was to tell.
Owen in his natural form with little Alexander in his arms. The loophole was to teach Alexander the art of magic by showing him how to form visual aids through magic. The form of a woman slender like willows with hair that fell to the floor like sea foam colored river streams. Her skin the shade of blue like Oberon's and eyes like her mother Titania.
At the same time in Avalon the Lady of the Lake and Grandmother were beginning their tale.
"The truth begins long ago before all of us were sent to live in the realm of mortals. With the birth of our lord Oberon and Lady Titania's last child. Yes, I do speak of her. Our sister, Adora." This sent shock amongst the children of Oberon and confusion among the gargoyles and humans that heard it from Puck.
"What does this Adora have to do with Ilaria?" Lexington asked the imp.
"Please refrain from questions till the end. If you don't mind otherwise this story will take longer than needed to finish." Puck responded. "As I said Adora was the last child of Oberon to be born from Titania and him. As her name suggests she was indeed considered a gift, well beloved and adored by nearly all of us. With exception of my charming sisters. Phoebe, Selene and Luna. I tell you green became their color for quite a millennium. Because as I had mentioned she was beloved and that did not exclude honest Puck here." He said with a bow. On Avalon the voices were lowered in order to hear the rest of what it was that these two women had to say.
"Adora as all of us do remember well was as kind and loving as she was beautiful. For she did often walk amongst the mortals in good faith and cheer." Grandmother said with the tone of a happy memory.
"It also stands to reason that because of her ways all of us had to be banished from our homes." Phoebe said not bothering to hide her distaste of her sister.
"She may have been kind, but she was a simpleton in many regards." Selene added.
"True indeed." Luna finished.
"You are just jealous of Adora, because everyone else still prefers her company to yours." Bluntly said by Coyote. Several other of the children too added similar remarks. Banshee would have but without her voice to speak she could do little more than nod.
"This is not the time to be arguing my children. Allow your sisters to finish their tale." Oberon commanded and the voices grew silent.
"Thank you my lord. Adora spent much of her time amongst the humans. Ate with them, joined in their celebrations and helped to aid them in their sorrows. Our Queen Titania at that time was most displeased with her sympathies with her attitude towards the humans and sought to separate her and have her grow hard hearted." Puck comes in to add.
"But Mother was not winning that battle. No, Adora and her sympathy caused her to feel rebellious towards our mother. She would seek out Big Daddy Oberon often for support in her dealings with humans. However quite often they went on deaf ears. Though he supported her friendly attitude towards humans, he felt that she was growing too attached. Boy did he turn out right some years later." Puck chuckled. The Lady's turn to speak.
"At a spring festival where she danced among the peasants and few lords. Her eyes befell the sight of her true love. A young man strong, kind and rather handsome as I remember." Small chuckles were spread. "Yes. Indeed she was in love and he was in love with her. A courtship soon followed."
"But it was ended my daughters by I and your mother's hand. What more could there be to tell us that we do not know?" Oberon asked not expecting much of an answer in return.
"Oh but there is far more to this tale then what Big Daddy knew." Puck went on. "When Oberon found out he had her contained on the island hoping that time would show her it was not meant to be. But with my help his plans fell in disarray. I with aid from my sisters Grandmother and Lady of the Lake would smuggle Adora off the island to meet her lover. Their relationship grew to the point of marriage. It was a simple ceremony held in a forest clearing with but a few in attendance. My sisters, I and his sister were all that were needed to seal the simple ceremony. They had a month long honeymoon before Oberon found out about it and threatened the mortal with death should he seek Adora out again before cursing her to an island not far from the shores of Avalon. Twas a dark time in many lives. For Adora it was banishment and being looked upon with shame by our other brothers and sisters. Save me, Grandmother and the Lady. We were always the ones who stuck close." Grandmother speaks now.
"For many years in the time of her husband had passed. Yet he and his sister who she felt kinship with, never aged as they had the gift of immortality. In case our father would allow her to return to her love and not have the pain of finding him dead. However in our time it was but a few short months and a new life was growing within her." Surprise littered the faces of many. "Yes, Adora had become with child by the man she chose as her husband. No one but a select few knew about her condition, since only the select few stayed in her companionship. Lady and I helped her through her pregnancy and with the delivery of her baby on her island prison." Puck takes the reins.
"My sister's joy was brighter than the sun when she held her new born child in her arms. A smiling giggling baby her child was. Clear to all of us who the father and mother were. But my sister's bright joy became worry and sorrow over what she had to do. To keep her child safe." The Lady's turn.
"Together we casted a charm to hide the baby's powers and carefully we lifted the veil that kept the two lovers from each other. They embraced in love and when he was shown his child he in great excitement believed that she was returning with him to the mortal world as talk had reached him about the millennium we were to spend there. But Oberon had stated she was to stay on her island. To ensure safety for her baby she gave the babe in arms to her husband to raise in the human world. The child she named Ilaria." Jaws dropped and confusion rang out. Oberon and Titania looked as if they were shell shocked from war.
"How can that be my Dad said my mother died in childbirth and he died when I was fourteen? If this husband of Adora's had the gift of immortality then how could he have died?" Grandmother answered.
"Your father asked for the gift to be removed as you were born mortal. He said it would have been the most painful thing to have to see you grow and die while he lived forever. Reluctantly Adora removed the gift and said farewell to you both. The next night all of us left Avalon while she stayed behind in lonely sorrow. Fourteen of those human years passed and as you said your father passed away. On that day so did our Adora. How an immortal may pass away is foreign to all of us. But I believe her soul and your father Mikolas's were very much connected when one left the body so did the other. But unlike Mikolas her body turned to stone and remains on the island of her banishment."
"When she passed on none of the children of Avalon needed to go to her island to check. We had all felt her passing within the core of our being. Many of stuck to false belief and simply led ourselves to believe she had put herself in sleep. But the return to Avalon casted those illusions aside." Puck said his heart growing heavy with the memory of grief. "Part of the reason I did not wish to return home."
"How do you know that she was turned to stone if you haven't gone back to the island?" Fox asked.
"When Oberon came to search for the one of his blood who ignored the call to Avalon he informed me of the truth to Adora's demise. Regret was clear on his face about having her alone for so many years."
"It should be noted that Ilaria here has a sign that her mother is Adora. Did you three say that when you had done battle with her inside the cave of the sleeping king that she had used water to knock the three of you down?"
"Don't remind us Lady of the Lake." The three said simultaneously. Whilst others tried to hide a laugh from the three's glare.
"Remember how Adora was as much in tune with the element of water as I. She was what gave mermaids' birth and the sea its guardians. And the evidence of her father Mikolas is evident upon her gifts and structure. Ilaria welcome to the true place of your birth." Now to Puck and the gargoyles in New York.
"There is but one thing more to be said. However it is more for you dear Fox. And what you should know about your half-sister Adora."
"And what would that be? I never met the woman." Fox said finding all of this as inconvenient.
"Oh but you did Fox. You did, granted you were a little child at the time. Do you remember a nanny you had that stayed for short a while."
"Nanny Amy? I remember her. What does she have to do with any of this? She was just a nanny I had as a child. She was my favorite but she was just a normal person." To that the Puck playfully shook his head while waving a finger.
"Nanny Amy was but Adora in disguise. She wished to believe that our mother had wedded with a human and produced a child from said union. When she met you she felt the bond of kinship through her blood. She stayed and took care of you as an elder would do for a younger sibling. Till it was becoming too much to keep her secret from our mother. I did my best but Big Daddy Oberon's magic is not the easiest to withstand. Nanny Amy or Adora had to leave but not before giving you a gift dear little sister Fox."
"What gift?"
"Look to your husband and tell me if you consider him the perfect gift or not? It is thanks to Adora that you were given the chance to find your perfect love. She wished to give you the happiness that she was cruelly denied to her. But that was Adora for you, a bleeding heart case in many ways. I do miss her so. She was the only one who held sympathy for me when a delightful prank went amiss." Puck said looking at the image of his dear departed sister. While back on Avalon the whole of those present were driven to silence. Oberon dismissed everyone to seek council with his queen. They had many things to sort out amongst them. It is said that it was the first time in thousands of years that the king and queen of Avalon had ever been so shell shocked. The Lady of the Lake, Grandmother and Ilaria took a boat to see the island that had been the home and prison of Adora. They came to the shores and Ilaria looks at her mother's grave site. The island would have been beautiful had not the fog of sorrow covered it like a blanket. They forged a path of overgrown flora and sneaking stones to a waterfall emptying into a lake. At this lake there was the statue form of Adora. Her head was tilted up facing the sky and with the mist of the waterfall forming what looked like tears down her cheeks. Behind her a small cottage that they entered. Covered in a fine layer of dust everything was. Even the pictures that were painted long ago by her hand had started to show their age. Such an oddity for the island.
"I thought nothing was supposed to show age here?" Ilaria asked dusting off one of the pictures she found of her father.
"Age can show on this island as in dust and artwork, but not to the degree of life for those like us." The Lady said.
"So this is really where I was born."
"I remember well the day you were born. It was the morning when Adora went into labor and by midday when you were finally born. Magic well endowed. You were not a very good sleeper. Eyes were wide open to everything around you, but calm and quiet as a lamb." Grandmother said.
"Is it okay if I have a minute or two alone here? All this has been…"
"There is no need to explain child. We will give you as much time as you need. If you wish we can have you stay the night here in solitude." The Lady informed.
"That would be great. What should I do about food?" A natural question if you are staying in cottage on an island not inhabited for so many years.
"Check the cupboards they are enchanted after all. Never should they run dry of food or freshness of food." Added the Lady with a wink as if in a commercial endorsement.
"And of course there are fruit bearing trees and edible roots around the island that you are welcome to search for if there isn't much to your liking." Grandmother added before the two left. Leaving Ilaria to explore and understand all that she had found in such a short period of time. But the first thing to be done was to find the stone that was once the body of her mother.
Back in Manhattan things were on a standstill of what to do and what they could do. Which was close to nothing. Puck was banished from Avalon and could not go back unless he was willing to stay their permanently and could somehow sway Oberon to allow him return which he would not do. Thus they had lost their connection to the island. At least for now. Like most things denied, Xanatos was busy trying to find a way to get them. Already his mind was going through scenarios of backdoors into Avalon without anyway for Oberon to sense their presence. Ways of being able to get Ilaria without having anyone come after her again. So many scenarios were going through his head, but what of his wife? The one who's sister had been there for her without her knowing. Fond memories of the time spent between the two was what had entered her mind. Memories of the one she had seen as her nanny and friend, but now when looked upon as a sister. She was surprised that she had never figured out the truth till now. Even Nanny Amy or Adora's hasty departure had sparked an interest in the woman as a child. Why is it only now that she remembers? Why of all times do those memories stay when she should be thinking of a plan with her husband to get back her stolen niece?
She thought how fitting as she remembered old stories about children that fell into the fae's interest and being spirited away only to be replaced by a changeling child. Only this time this wasn't a story. Even if it was it was more of a Greek tragedy. They saved Alex but had to pay for it by giving up their niece, the only child of her long dead sister. A sister who died of heartbreak and sadness.
"Let's go check on Alexander." Fox's husband said. She nodded and together the two went off to see their sleeping son. The only way the two could be given a small piece of mind in so cloudy a world.
Ilaria POV
The island upon first glance looks like a smaller version of the other one. The difference in the two is what one feels when they land upon the island. There is nothing here that makes one feel content and ready to the spirit of adventure. This island. This island is something else. I can feel the sadness of lost days, the pain of separation and the sense of abandonment by those that had been close to one another. All the things my mother must have felt with her time here. But upon the first glance of the resting place for my mother I felt something that would have brought me to my knees to cry. I tried as hard as I could to keep from doing so till I was alone to do so. My mother was more than heartbroken at her death. She was suffering. Even dead now she was suffering.
Crying for long periods of time can wear one out and fall into a deep sleep. A sleep like falling into the dark area of a lake. You don't see much at first glance but inky darkness. Then the light comes in and you see colors. Colors that morph and form into the shapes without distinction until they reach perfection forming things of beauty or things of wonder in the case I was dealing with it was both. The form of my mother had come before me as she had been as a statue. Then the next thing that happened was that the statue cracked and crumbled away showing a woman of celestial likeness. Eyes of deep amethyst and hair long and flowing with the color of the rising dawn. A dress that flowed about her smoother than a river and bluer than any envied sea. I never knew what a true beauty my mother was and now that I know it was more than what I would ever have thought. She tilted her head slightly to the side as a soft smile came to her lips.
"Too much has passed for me to see the babe I had once held in my arms. Now I see someone as both a stranger and closer to my heart than all others. Ilaria, my daughter." The feeling of being held by my mother was one that I had not had before. It was warm and comforting to me. She parted from me her face now serious. "Ilaria please listen to me. This isn't just a dream but a way for you to escape from this realm."
"Wow that is conveniently fast." I said suspicious of this. What is Oberon was performing some kind of test to keep me locked up on the island? What if this was actually a world created by Xanatos through virtual means and he was just being a sick bastard? Some of this was a bit much to believe and take. Though the feelings of dread felt real enough to break me from these thoughts into thinking this could all be real after all. But too much experience with these magic types has given me reason to be on the defensive side. "I know you doubt much of what has just been said about your lineage. In your position. Your father, my loving Mickolas was not one to keep me in the light. He and his kind heart would have tried to spare you all the details of who I was so you could not miss what you never had. Dear Mickolas his love is like a rose, at least that is how he described it to me." Her looks were soft but soon became harsher. "I will not stand by and allow my father and mother to do the same thing to you that they had done to me. I will give you aid to escape Ilaria."
"Exactly how do you plan for me to make an escape and how would you know all this after I have been here for only a day and a half? Especially when you claim to be my mother when you don't even know the first thing about my father. How would that make sense when my mother died of heartbreak over being separated from her husband?" My response caught the imposter off guard they were trying to appear clam but underneath they were squirming. Time to prove how I know they are a fake and drag out their identity. "My father may have hidden a few things about my mother's lineage and the fact that she was still alive but he never kept who she was from me. I grew up knowing I had a mother who loved me and wished she could be here with me. A woman who loved it when her husband compared their love to the… Stephanotis flower. Nice try. Did you think going mainstream would help your case? Well? Did it Raven?" A cross look fell on the imposter's face complete with eye rolling as they morphed back into their original look.
"Alright so you aren't as dim as you seem. How did you know it was me and not one of my triple threat sisters?"
"You mean the Blue Moon Trio? I knew it wasn't one of them because of one tiny thing. They showed less interest in me than a health nut would have for soda. They were quick to ignore who was before my mother was named and even less so when it was said. Plus out of all those who were present at the meeting you were the only one I remember leering at me closely. What's the point of a trick if you give yourself away too early?"
"What can I say? I missed you." He said ready to laugh at the next available sign.
"Well too bad for you I didn't." I said feeling angry that he picked the form of my mother to trick me. Did he think that was going to be funny?!
"Well all jokes aside I have something a proposal of sorts that may interest you." He opened his arms wide and then pointed at me.
"What kind of proposal?" I ask him.
"A marriage kind." He said with leering smirk.
"EWW! You're like my uncle! That is sick!" He rolled his eyes in annoyance.
"Had I mentioned this a thousand or so years ago this would not have been a problem of any sort."
"It's still a problem if it's you that is proposing to me."
"Geez are you still miffed about the incident in Canada?"
"That is a chunk of it, yes. Hurting friends doesn't help. But the fact remains that I am not interested in having any sort of marital relationship with you. I barely know you and I barely wish to know more of you."
"I've gotta say that was perhaps the harshest pass on a proposal ever given. Especially when I didn't even ask you officially yet"
"Even you had the answer would more or less be the same. I do not wish to marry you, Raven. But I am curious about why you would ask me."
"I'll tell you for a price. Become my wife and you will get to know."
"But then again I am not that curious." He was about to say something else when a cold spell fell upon us. Flecks of cold white snow came falling around us. A cold wind sounded off as a figure came over the water and to the island. A figure dressed in fur and horned helmet. It was Odin coming upon his steed.
"Raven."
"Odin, what brings you to this dismial isle?"
"Is there really that much space between your head to warrant such an idiotic question, Raven?" Raven chose to ignore the question. "It's time for you to come back to the castle. Allow the child a quiet night of peace."
"I would love to but since when have I ever given anyone a night of peace?" Odin didn't answer but picked him up and placed him on the horse. He then whistled causing the horse to bolt off in the direction Odin had previously come from.
"Thank you for taking care of him."
"It was no trouble to do so. Raven maybe a bit full of himself at times, but he's not that bad once you get to know him. What was he doing to bother you?"
"A marriage proposal."
"A what now? A marriage proposal? Now why would he go and do a foolhardy thing as that I wonder?" he asked.
"He didn't explain it to me. He just said that if I wanted to know I would have to marry him. So I don't want to know anymore."
"A wise move I would say. The truth of the matter is that he is just trying to rattle your cage. I'm sure he didn't mean for you to take it as serious."
"Why does it feel like you are trying to assure yourself more than assure me?"
"It is nothing to cause you worry. I only wish for you to have a good night. That being said good night young one." Odin said just in time for his horse to arrive without Raven on his back. He leapt upon the dark night steed that speed into the distance of the main island of Avalon. A quote came into my head about this place. My people come and go so quickly here. The line certainly fits the best in this case. As the line came from the Wizard of Oz movie and this place reminds me Oz. Except Oz had a more welcoming atmosphere even with the wicked witch posing as a threat.
I still thought about that as I was walking back into the cottage. I didn't feel like eating. Fatigue had set in without me realizing it. Getting stolen away can do that to you. I went into a room where a bed could be found and curled up into sleep.
Hibby POV
One, two, one, two. Drip, drop, drip, drop. So much has changed in so little a time. A friend is lost and history gained. Does one always get glimpses of the past when one looks for the past? And when one doesn't search for the past do they gain all of it? Ilaria never tried to look for her past and now she has been captured by it. Does that mean I too will be captured by my past because I have not wished to look into and find my past? If that is so then when I search for it, it shall be evaded. When Ilaria escapes her past I will search for mine. Never shall it come to me and the world will be better for it.
"What are you thinking there my little ferret?" Puck asked. I twitch my tiny nose shivering the thin white whiskers. "I bet it's something good."
"A plan I had for the future after Ilaria's return." I said laying my head to the side.
"Very confident are we? You don't need a plan to get back your friend, no you know so much more and you just need to plan for something afterwards."
"You could say that it is a thought process that I am going through. A plan I know will be formed soon enough and Ilaria will be back with us."
"I would hope so. I don't think she will like living on Avalon for much longer."
"Why Puck just one look at you and I can already tell one thing about you. You have a plan of your own for how to get her back." A charming laugh he gave me as he plucked me off my nice warm spot. His fingertips tickled behind my ears causing them to twitch mightily at the gesture.
"You give me far too much credit my little stole. An idea has yet to form on how to get your friend back here to our family. Like you I have only an idea of what is to be done after she is to arrive here."
"What a wonderful team we make to take care of aftermath that has yet to come to us. Tell me fair Puck shall we see if others have a plan but transform it into our own? A few bumps in the road make the journey worth it at the end."
"My dear little kitten you are indeed one I do find similar in good fun." I purr as he rubs behind my ears in the now transformed cat that I was. "Let us see what the others have conspired whilst we have been in thought for joy to come after the task at hand." Together we float to room down the hall where together Xanatos and the others were gathered in the dining room. That had transformed into a makeshift war room. A board was set up with papers stuck to it on ideas and information about the island of Avalon. The spell to the land was also laid out, but Goliath was smart enough to keep a few words out of it. In case Xanatos should get some ideas later. Though as unlikely as that would be at this time considering his precarious relationship with his step-father in law. Hard to believe that it was worse for wear compared to his other father in law.
We listen closely to the pros and cons that each speaker spills forth from each voice. Current contenders were Xanatos and Goliath who were running into the problem of getting onto the island without having Oberon notice and getting a magical asset to go with it.
"It doesn't matter if we enter gung ho or stealthy Oberon is going to know that we entered his home right at the moment that we enter. Unless we can figure out a way to enter without being detected he will force us out before we can even get to Ilaria."
"What do you suggest then Goliath?"
"There is only one being in this world that I can even think to ask in our aid. A being of great magical abilities and has no tie to Oberon's laws. Sadly I do not know if she would be willing to help us due to your relation to her."
"Realtion? You don't mean?"
"Pele. She does not have ties of blood or reason with Oberon and she maybe the only hope we have at this time. Since no other beings are coming to mind to help."
"She hates me for trying to use her like a puppet. Ilaria helped to free her, but I doubt that is enough for her to help us especially if it concerns me. From what I have read about her she is the wrathful sort."
"It still doesn't mean that we shouldn't try." Goliath retorted making a valuable point.
"If I may suggest that you try communicating through the lava rock that you have on your desk. All volcano rocks taken from her island incur her wrath, but yours is for you solely as a curse if you should touch it. It could be a sign that you are possibly being watched by her. The minute she sees you touch that rock the minute she is ready to spring her curse. Following this assorted logic you could save some time and try to contact her through the rock here. Unless some of you really want to take a trip to Hawaii now." I asked the others. "To be honest I would love to go home too, but only after we get Ilaria back." They contemplate and agree. A mass migration heads to the room where the cursed rock lay.
"Well put little rabbit." I put one of my now long ears up at his words.
"Why must you change the species every sentence you direct at me?"
"Because in honesty it tickles me to see you transform when I name an animal." He said so matter of fact that I had almost thought that he was jesting me. But his serious nature was returning to that of Owen and one thing I know of Owen. Is that he is always serious in his words, actions and pretty much everything else around it.
You know who else is serious. Pele when you ask one of her volcano rocks to bring her forth to communicate with her on a matter most important. Flames shoot out of the volcanic rock showing the form of the fire goddess.
"Who dares to summon me?! Is it you Xanatos?" She spoke with clear venom laced within her voice as she spoke. "Well answer me!"
"It was not Xanatos who had summoned you, but us." Her eyes grow lighter in recognition of the one who had spoken and answered her. "Please forgive us if we have distributed greatly from something important. But we are in desperate need of your assistance. However we understand if you cannot help us."
"You helped me when I was in great need the least that I can do is to listen to you and your plea for my aid. Please continue with your request of aid." She said smiling warmly to Goliath and the others, but gave a quick glare to Xanatos.
"Ilaria, the young girl who helped you that time we had spent in Hawaii. She has been taken to the Isle of Avalon."
"Her grandfather found her." Pele sighed while the shock came upon the rest of us.
"You knew that she was his grandchild." Pele shook her long dark locks.
"I could tell the minute I saw her. Not just gorgon blood coursed through those veins of hers, but strong ties to Oberon and his queen Titania. That is why I warned her against using her powers. The gathering was coming and she should have heeded my warning far better than she has now."
"Please hear our plea and if you can answer it. Will you help us bring her home?" Goliath pleaded.
"Answer a question for me. What part does Xanatos play in her life?"