Spellbound

Chapter 10: Mab

Author's Note: Yes, the much-talked-about Queen Mab is finally going to make an appearance. She's not exactly a "Gargoyles" character, per se; she was never seen or referenced on the show, but according to what series creator Greg Weisman has said on his website, she was indeed Oberon's mother, and she ruled in Avalon before he did. So I can't take credit for those concepts. However, the physical description of her in this chapter, as well as her words and actions – that's all me, my own interpretation of what the character might be like, based on Weisman's statements about her personality. Just FYI.

"Oh, I'm in trouble," Puck whispered, using the human sorceress to shield himself from view.

Sadira had no doubt about that.

Mab was regal, beautiful and terrible. Her hair was as black as night, and her skin was as white as bone. Her eyes were like two voids, dark and deep, and she got the feeling that if she looked too long, she'd be lost forever in their depths. Her gown glittered like the night sky on Avalon, and her movements were sinewy, graceful, and sharp.

Mab wore no crown. Mab needed no crown. Everything about her radiated a dangerous, unknowable power.

Silently, Sadira and Mozenrath drew together, held each other. She couldn't look away from Mab, but she had no doubt Aladdin and Jasmine were doing the same thing. Heck, even Iago and Abu were probably clinging to one other at this point. Mab was … terrifying.

Finally, after what seemed an eternity, the Queen of Avalon spoke, in her voice of stone.

"Where is the Puck?"

The little trickster shivered, crouching down lower behind Sadira, seeming to make himself smaller and less tangible by the minute.

"Please," Jasmine said softly. "This is my kingdom, please …"

Mab turned her black gaze on the princess. She seemed to look through her rather than at her.

"Please, my name is Jasmine, Princess Jasmine, and my father rules this land. I … I would only ask you to respect…" Jasmine's voice trailed off as the full weight of Mab's stare settled on her, as her nerve failed her.

Then the Queen of Avalon laughed, a cruel and dangerous sound.

"You," she said, "are beneath. My notice." Her laughter faded, to be replaced by fury.

"Where is the Puck?!"

The palace shook again. "Genie, do something!" Aladdin whispered, turning to him. But Genie was just standing their, his eyes wide, mouth open in a silent gasp.

It wasn't as though Aladdin had never seen his friend frightened before. Sometimes, his fear had been almost comical, especially since he usually overcame it in the end. But this time was different. There was none of his usual funny flourishes; there was just raw, unadulterated terror in his eyes. It was as if he was prone, enchanted, unable to move …

And that's when Aladdin got really scared himself, more than he had been before. He held Jasmine closer, wondering what they could possibly do.

"Puck's not here," Sadira said suddenly. She felt Mozenrath tighten his grip on her.

"What are you doing?" He hissed in her ear, but she paid him no mind.

Mab's attention was now focused on Sadira, and she thought she might have passed out from the black gaze, if only he hadn't been holding her up.

The Queen of Avalon scowled at her. "The scent of his magic is all in the air," she said.

"He … he was here, but he's gone now. We don't know where he went … your highness." Sadira was usually a better liar, but Mab was unnerving, to say the least.

The Queen smiled at her dangerously. "Oh, I very much doubt that, sorceress. Puck has a fondness for those mortals who amuse him. And you have done that, haven't you? It's no wonder he would linger here overlong, and even seek your help."

"And you have recently been in Avalon," she continued. "Both of you," she added, with a careless glance at Mozenrath, who, like the rest, shuddered under her gaze. And then there was another sudden shift in her mood, as Mab once again went from amusement to rage.

"What made you think you could profane my sacred isle, mortals?" She spat out the last word like a curse.

"The … Weird Sisters … they … they said we could …" Sadira stammered.

"Enough!" Mab raised her hand. The energy of her magic shot out at Sadira, and pain seared through her as it struck; she fell to the ground, but Puck was no longer behind her.

"No!" Mozenrath shouted. He lit his gauntlet, and –

Found it being pulled off his hand, as Mab crooked a single finger, looking amused once more. Her shifts in temperament struck faster than lightning.

"Hmm," she said, as she held it in her hands, examining it. "Interesting … toy …"

Then she closed her fists, and it turned into dust.

Mozenrath staggered, fell to the ground in shock. Sadira felt Jasmine and Aladdin clutching at her, pulling her away against her will, dragging her behind the throne with them, as Mab approached the disarmed sorcerer. In that moment, she seemed like nothing so much as a cat that was playing with a mouse.

"Not such a powerful weapon as all that," Mab said, circling him. "And yet," she added, as her gaze fell on his fleshless arm, "I see you paid dearly for it, even so. Mortals are such fragile things." Mercifully, her black eyes left him for a moment, and she looked up.

"Puck," she called out, her stone voice booming across the room. "If you care for this little mortal life a whit, you had better make yourself known, before I destroy him!" A bolt of Mab's magic shot out at Mozenrath, and he moaned in pain.

They were all crouched behind the throne, Sadira struggling against her friends' grasp, when Puck suddenly reappeared.

"As a matter a fact, my queen, I don't care for that little mortal life a whit, so by your leave …" he muttered, and made to retreat … until he looked at Sadira's tear-streaked face.

"Puck," she whispered. "Please …" Another bolt of magic from Mab, another cry of pain from him.

"Oh. Uh … you're not that attached to brooding boyfriend, are you?"

Mab struck him again, and Sadira gasped. "Puck!"

"Oh come on! I'll get you a new one!"

"Puck, please, please –"

"Okay, fine, fine!" He huffed. "Just … turn off the waterworks, alright? Yeesh." Puck paused, and took a deep breath, looking as though he were nerving himself.

"I am here, my queen," he said softly, emerging from behind the throne.

Mab immediately turned away from the fallen sorcerer to the little trickster. Sadira finally wrested out of her friends' grasp, and she ran over to Mozenrath. Xerxes was now floating worriedly around his master, who looked even paler than usual.

"It's okay, it's okay," Sadira said, her voice shaky. "It's okay, I won't leave you, not ever …Xerxes, where is the Elixir of life? He's been mixing up the droughts, hasn't he, taking them?"

"Yes," the eel whispered, and fished a large bottle out of one of his master's pockets. Sadira took it and helped Mozenrath up into a sitting position. She put the bottle to his lips and tilted it, allowing him to drink the healing potion.

"It'll be okay …" she muttered, though of course, she had no idea if it actually would be.

Aladdin and Jasmine might have been scared for her in that moment, but they needn't have worried. The two human sorcerers no longer seemed to exist as far as Mab was concerned.

All the power and malevolence of her black gaze was focused on Puck.

The little trickster just stood there for a moment. His blue eyes were very wide, and he looked as though he were working very hard to keep from shaking. After a beat, he sank down on one knee, bowing his head.

"My queen," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Mab moved towards him, slowly. "You have deceived me, trickster," she said, in a low voice which sent shivers down everyone's spines. "You lied about my son's whereabouts."

Puck looked up for an instant. "Well, actually, my queen, I said he was in the farthest step of India, which was –"

"You neglected to mention to mention he was with her!"

Puck's head went down again, and his slight form trembled.

"Why?!"

"Because … because Oberon … because Lord Oberon asked me not to tell you, my queen."

Mab scowled. "You forget your place, Puck. Oberon may be my son, blood of my blood, but it is I who rule in Avalon. And it is me to whom you owe fealty. You forget that you are mine to command."

Puck had no answer to that. Sadira almost couldn't believe this was the same playful, headstrong trickster who had challenged the great gray spider on Avalon. He looked so small, so scared…

"We will return to Avalon," Mab continued, in a quietly ominous voice. "And there, you will be made … an example of."

Puck flinched, and then stood. "Yes, my queen," he managed to say.

Sadira was still very worried about Mozenrath, but in that moment, she found her heart going out to Puck as well. In the short time she'd known him, the little trickster had been a good friend to her. Maybe … maybe there was some way she could …?

As if reading her thoughts, Puck suddenly turned and looked at her. Almost imperceptibly, he shook his head. He attempted a reassuring smile, and mouthed the word I'll be fine.

She didn't believe him. He needed help, desperately.

But Mab's power had destroyed the gauntlet as though it were nothing but an ordinary glove. She knew own magic stood no chance against the Queen of Avalon. And she had no iron. There was nothing she could do.

Puck turned back to Mab, his head bowed. Mab raised her arms, and then, the two of them vanished, in a flash of light.

"Is it she … gone?" Sadira heard Genie ask from somewhere, in a trembling voice.

"She's gone," she said. "And she took Puck with her."

Genie and the rest emerged from behind the throne. "She took him with her?" He shuddered. "Poor little guy." He seemed to have gotten over his earlier animosity towards Puck.

"That was really stupid," Mozenrath said weakly. Sadira was relieved to hear him speak. She brushed the hair back from his face.

"What?"

"Trying to lie to Mab."

She smiled at him. "Maybe so, but it was ever stupider to try and attack her."

"Don't remind me. I don't know what I was thinking –"

Suddenly, she gasped. "Mozenrath – your arm!"

He scowled. "Yes, I know, I've lost my gauntlet, which is what you wanted in the first place, stubborn witch, so you don't need to gloat –"

"No, no, but looked at what you've gained!" He looked down at his right arm, expecting to see nothing but bone, and instead he saw it was …. normal. His arm was flesh and blood again.

He lifted up his hand and held it to his face, eyes wide with disbelief. "How …"

"The Elixir of Life," Sadira realized. "When you drank it without the gauntlet on, that must have allowed it to fully work its healing magic." She moved so they were facing each other, and cupped his face in her hands. There were tears in her eyes again, but this time, they were not from sorrow.

"You're going to live," she whispered, and kissed him.