Disclaimer: Another long awaited chapter. Although really, you guys aren't reading it anyway, so maybe I should just go back to the novel and my other works – or procrastinate. I've been really good at that lately. Read and review, or I'll go on strike.

FOP

His eyes were out of focus, aimed somewhere to the left of their path as he thought. There was a large scattering of leaves below a grouping of oak trees, and if he moved his eyes just right, they gave the illusion of movement. But then, when he blinked away the dryness in his eyes, he found that, to his surprise, they were still moving. More and more frequently, until suddenly they all took off from the ground like a flock of birds.

Timmy ducked his head as the strange creatures whooshed over his head, chattering nonsensically as half flew low to investigate while the rest took to the skies in with an odd sort of beauty. A few of them were brave enough to swoop in and playfully steal Dwalin hat right off of his head, exposing the Goblin's baldness and annoyance. It was when one came closer to his own face than comfort allowed that Timmy got a better look at what they were: Mice. White and brown mice about the size of sparrows; with bird wings instead of front legs, to which they used their hind ones as arms instead. And he heard their chatter clearly for the first time, making him laugh against his far better judgment.

"Chatter! Chatterchatter! Chatter! Chatterchatterchatterchatter chatter!" they squeaked and squawked in their high pitch ways, their teeth fighting against the sounds of their flapping and cawing. Dwalin swatted at them violently, picking up leaves and twigs and chucking them at the assailants with only enough force to make them drop his hat. Rather, it became a game of Keep Away of sorts, where they would dodge the projectiles and see how low they could drop his hat before catching it again. The others, though, found something equally fun to play with.

Poof.

"Poof, poof poof poof!" the toddler giggle happily as first two, then three of the little bird mice gripped his clothes with their hind legs and began lifting him away from the ragtag group of rescuers.

"Poof!" Timmy called frantically, trying to get directly below his brother should the creatures suddenly drop him. The Fairie child giggled again, before shaking his rattle and whacking the mouse bird closest to him with a resonating THWACK. Dazed, the stunned creature let go of the baby, in turn making him far too heavy for the others, and so Poof plummeted towards the ground without the slightest recognition of danger. Timmy tried desperately to catch the other boy, but he was too far away.

Luckily, or perhaps unluckily depending on who was observing, Dwalin hadn't moved from where he was, too busy trying to get the damnable monsters to give him back his hat. Poof toppled straight into the small Goblin, and both were momentarily stunned from the impact. Poof was the first to recover, sitting up to look around, before giggling unfazed and waving at the flock of mice birds that had decided that while this was fun, it was far too dangerous. The big one was no threat and the Goblin barely had any aim, but that little one was a force to be reckoned with.

It was only after Timmy had reached the scene of the accident and picked up the baby that Dwalin sat up, confused and bald, eyes searching for his hat. He found it laying limply in the leave a few feet away, waiting patiently for him to muster up the strength to wander over. As he did so, Timmy could hear him muttering something under his breath, although there was no real way of understanding what it was.

"They must hurry now, the Watch knows they are being followed. Tootie-Comrade's life in jeopardy now more than ever." That, though, Timmy could understand perfectly well.

"Dwalin, just what in the hell is going on? Who has Tootie? Why is she in danger?"

Dwalin had tried to move on, but it was obvious that the human wasn't moving, much to the Goblin's annoyance. He spun to look at Timmy, arms back and fists clenched.

"Tootie-Comrade is in danger, that should be enough for Timmy-Man-Brat!" he snapped, his little green face flushing with anger.

"Well it isn't! Tell me what's going on right now, Dwalin! Or so help me I won't move another inch with you!" Timmy shouted right back, letting Poof hover at his side in order to cross his arms and look more imitating. The Goblin threw up his arms in annoyance, huffing and puffing and walking around in circles, wearing foot traffic into the leaves. To add to the image, he began mutter what was obviously – to Timmy anyway – Goblin curses and swear words.

"ACGERH! Tootie-Comrade was taken by the Watch! Taken to Feldan, and every moment Man-Brat argues with Dwalin, another moment Tootie-Comrade loses humanity and closer to being lost!" In an instant Timmy was reminded of that day not so long ago, deep within the Goblin tunnels. Dwalin had put him in his place then, too.

"Then what are we waiting for. Come on guys, we have to hurry if we want to save her."

Dwalin had never wanted to simultaneous strangle something and slap his own forehead as much as he did at that moment.

~O~

It was well past midnight by the time Cosmo and Wanda had poofed back into the castle in their fishbowl, food and wine in the stomach and romance on the brain. They had gone straight to the bedroom, and Cosmo was busy starting a trail of kisses from below her ear, down her jaw, and continuing it along her neck. Wanda, meanwhile, was massaging his scalp with her fingernails, her coos morphing into moans when she felt her husband's nimble and experienced fingers wind around her back and to the zipper of her dress.

This night was long overdue.

That much was painfully obvious when the bodice of her dress came to rest at her hips and her own well educated hands pushed aside his tie and began undoing the buttons of his dress shirt. She had been so proud, so very undeniably proud of him tonight – sitting at the restaurant with him and having a conversation like two adult Faeries, it was like having her old husband back. The one that doted on her with loving pet names and kisses in the morning, even when she looked less than presentable. The one she snuggled with when they could be with Timmy. The one that would ravish her in the dead of night when their unsuspecting godchild was sound asleep.

So why not give them both a reward? It was the least they deserved after sitting through hours of marriage counseling, and getting back to this point in their lives together.

Cosmo had his shirt off and was already trying to work both getting the rest of her dress all the way off and removing his own pants, when Wanda noticed something odd. From the little window of their bedroom in their castle, she could see a light. Timmy's light.

Something was off.

"Cosmo, Cosmo, honey, wait, wait a minute." Her husband groaned, and it was obvious he was about to argue with her, when his eye suddenly caught what she was looking at. Now, he may not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but he was proud to say he was now only a half –wit, no longer a complete idiot. He knew that light should be off.

"It's late, Timmy should be in bed by now. Cosmo, would you go check on him? And I'll check on Poof, just to be sure." Cosmo nodded, and poofed his shirt back on as he watched her turn towards the nursery, zipping her dress back up as she did. It was an unfortunate setback but that was okay by him, he always liked unzipping that dress anyway.

"Timmy?" he called out in confusion when he left the bedroom and appeared in Timmy's room, which seemed empty. The bed was unmade, although that was nothing new, but it was vacant. The desk lamp was still on, and the physics book was still open to the chapter their godchild was reading when they had left several hours ago.

"Timmy?" he called again, lifting up the comforter on the bed to see if the young man was hiding beneath.

"Ti-immy. Where ar-re yo-ou?" he sang out, looking under the bed as well as in the closet. Well, this was just ridiculous; where could that kid have gone? Cosmo was about to venture down into the kitchen to see if he was eating or maybe sleeping in front of the T.V., when Wanda's frantic call stopped him.

"COSMO!" said green Faerie dropped the dirt gym sock he was investigating and was about to rush to his wife when she beat him to it. Poofing into the room with a hysterical sob, she grabbed onto his shirt with an iron grip.

"Cosmo! Poof is missing! I can't find him; he's not in his room, nor the living room, the kitchen, the play room, our room, anywhere! He's no where!" Cosmo stiffened, the empty room around them making just a little more sense.

"I can't find Timmy either! What if, what if – what if they were abducted by aliens!"

It was then that the pair felt the cool nighttime breeze from the open window.

"Oh, oh no, you don't think -" Wanda began, eyes wide with a mixture of fear and growing anger.

"I never think, but what do I not think –" cut off by his wife's soft hand over his mouth, which he desperately wanted to kiss, he agreed to remain silent as Wanda told him what they were going to do. Taking a deep breath, she pulled out her wand.

"Alright, Cosmo, you're going to track Timmy with your wand, and I'll track Poof with mine. Hopefully, and with just a little luck, they'll be together." Cosmo nodded, and together they pulled out their wands and began running the tracker. Wanda found Poof first, which she attributed to maternal instincts, and when Cosmo found Timmy and they verified that their boys were in fact together, breathed a sigh of pure relief.

It was a short lived feeling, though, for a second later she realized where they were, and what direction they were headed in.

"Oh no, Cosmo, they're in the Realms." She looked at him with more fear than he had ever seen, and it made Cosmo's stomach clench almost painfully.

"They're almost to Feldan's Kingdom."

They were gone in a flash of smoke, leaving behind an empty room, an open window and an unread note in their wake.

~O~

The sisters had decided they would travel moderately in the open, in hopes that another group of wanderers would stumble upon them. They had been alone far too long, and were desperately in want of some company. So it was a shock to them when they heard a commotion, followed by the Gealbhan Luchóg abandoning their feeding grounds and taking off for the great horizons. Within moments, their peace was interrupted again, this time by a Goblin, a human, and a Faerie; the trio stumbled into their camp and were left standing there, stunned at the sight. Nyssia was the first to recover, taking her sister's hand while standing up and offering a greeting to the newcomers.

"Please, join us by the fire. It's been a long time since we've had company." Hospitable as she was, she still let Orlana meld the flesh of their hands together, for security purposes.

"Thank you. He is Dwalin the Goblin, and his companions are Timmy-Man-Brat and Poof-Faerie." Dwalin introduced, bowing regally with a twirl of his hand and the removal of his cap. Orlana and Poof giggled as Nyssia bowed in return.

"It is a pleasure to meet Dwalin-Goblin. She is Nyssia, and her sister Orlana. They are most honored to share a fire with the Goblin King." As they all sat back down around the fire, Timmy was amazed. Not only could they speak Goblin like Tootie, but they knew Dwalin was the king of the Goblins. Maybe they knew about Tootie and this Feldan guy. Couldn't hurt to ask.

"Have you two seen a girl with shoulder length black hair and purple eyes, lately? She's a friend of mine, and was kidnapped and now we're on our way to rescue her." The sisters shared a look – on that Timmy didn't like in the slightest, before Nyssia returned her gaze to him.

"She was taken by the Watch? Then there is nothing you can do for her, she's Feldan's now, and once you belong to him there is nothing else." Everyone gasped as she had images in her head of those bright purple eyes within the prism, so full of life and curiosity.

"But Nyssia, we got out, we escaped. Maybe she could -" he older sister cut her off before she was allowed to voice her young ideas.

"No Orlana, we are still his. We may have gotten away for now, but that is only because he has a new focus. And I am sure he can see us even now, as we speak. When he desires it, he will collect us, it's as simple as that. I am sorry." Her apology was meant for everyone around the fire, even as she pulled her sister's arm more into herself, stroking the intricate oak leaves and acorn insignia they now shared. And action that both Timmy and Dwalin noticed. It was silent as the flames cackled and the wood cracked, each lost in their own thoughts, but it was Timmy who first returned with a look of pure determination on his face.

"I don't believe that, and even if I did I don' t care. I'm going to get her back if it's the last thing I do." Nyssia looked up at him with a sad sort of smirk, pausing her stroking of the brand.

"It may very well be."

"Nyssia?" Orlana spoke after a moment of silence in which Timmy and her sister stared each other down. At the nod from her elder, the young woman continued her thoughts. "Let us help him. I don't want that young girl to follow our path. She has this nice young man who is in love with her, and if we could get to her before she's marked, then maybe there's a chance they can escape before it starts."

The older woman thought it over as Timmy jumped to his own defense.

"I'm not in love with her." He snapped quietly, causing Poof to giggle, along with Orlana, while Nyssia's eyes shifted to Dwalin's and the two shared a long, hard look. Suddenly the elder pulled her younger sister up and completely into her being, shocking Timmy to the point of falling over. Snuffing out the flames, the two now one started off for a path that looked as if it hadn't been used in many years.

"Alright, we'll take you there." She said as ducked through the brush, before pausing to look at the three following her.

"And yes, you are."

Neither Nyssia, nor Dwalin, had the heart to tell them that in a way, they were already far too late to save her.

~O~

My captors were considerate enough to let me out of that crystal prison, which I was grateful for as we sat around the fire, sharing bread. Something was wrong with my head, I just knew it; I couldn't remember what I was wanting to escape back to. I suppose I could remember Timmy, and Dwalin, but little else could come to mind. I must have left someone behind, but I just couldn't remember. It was less like I had forgotten and more like . . . more like I had never know. Who were my parents? Did I have any siblings, and friends? Did I even have a family?

Suddenly an image came to mind, a woman in the forest, with those green, green eyes.

"Who was she?" I found myself asking again, my voice hoarse from lack of use. The three companions looked at me, but it was only the dark man that seemed to catch on immediately. He growled in my direction, and it was then that the green skinned man and the woman shared a knowing glance.

"That Nymph in the woods, she knew you, and I'm pretty sure now that you know her. Who is she?" I asked again, and this time I was able to catch his gaze, holding his dark eyes with mine. He seemed conflicted and hurt, like a wounded feral dog; I remember that look, but I couldn't recall from where.

"You should stop worrying about things that don't concern you, and more about what will happen when we get you to Feldan." his bark was wolf-like, and I sat back in thought for a moment, before returning to meet his stare.

"Who is this Feldan everyone keeps talking about?"

The campsite was silent save for the cackling of the fire.

"Feldan is Lord of this Realm, as well as many others. Lord of Oaks to some, Demon to others. He controls much of the seasons, as well as nature; his ever-faithful Witch at his side. And we are his obedient Watch, sent out to scout his lands and bring him all that he desires." The woman explained rather elaborately, her golden cloak wrapped around her in a mock sense of modesty. I could see the green man eye her every now and again, the leaves around his waist moving as if alive every once and awhile as he smoked what I gathered earlier to be Dwarf Moss.

"And, just what are you?" I ventured to ask. I had a faint idea that the green man was some sort of descendant of the original Green Man, the creature who was suppose to usher in spring, but to the others I had no idea.

"I'm a Fe'vert, a spirit of trees and foliage. The goddess is a Vendoise, the last of the Vendoise, a sort of Will-O-the-Wisp if you will. And our dark, brooding comrade is a Wolf." He explained between puffs of purple and blue smoke. I made a note to remember the names as well. Cerridik was the free spirited Fe'vert, Lorriana was the beautiful Vendoise, and Dominik was the dark Wolf. That should be easy enough to remember, right?

"Why am I losing my memory?" Dominik had gone back to into his silence, and Cerridik was too busy cough out the smoke from surprise, that I suppose Lorriana decided she had to answer. She let her cloak drop from her shoulders, reveal her in splendid naked glory, but didn't seem bothered by it in the least as she flitted over to me and sat down, taking my hand and stroking the bracelet carefully.

"It is a side effect all you humans suffer from when in this Realm. The closer to Feldan you get, the cleaner a slate you become. Tell me, have you forgotten everything that came before you were taken?" she asked gently, and I closed my eyes while wracking my brain for any memory, no matter how small. There were precious few left, I realized.

"I remember Dwalin, and Timmy, but not much else." Lorriana turned to Cerridik, who nodded, as if understanding the whole situation.

"Dwalin is easy enough; he's a Goblin, and therefore magic. Magic is harder to forget than uninspired memories. Now, this human, Timmy, is a little hard to explain." The pair thought for a moment, before more of my memories swirled within my brain.

"He has Faerie Godparents." I swear they both shared a moment of aha, is if the world were suddenly clear.

"Well, that explains a thing or two. Now do not worry, my dear, soon all your memories shall be gone, but until then, we shall just have to continue on our way. Come, you should try to get some sleep before Dominik decides we need to head out once more." I nodded, and was amazed at how maternal the woman I thought to be cold and aloof had become. She wrapped her silver green-blue arms around my shoulders, letting me snuggle into her breasts as if I were her own child, and I soon felt sleep make my eyes heavy. I could hear the three sharing a conversation in low voices, only serving to coerce sleep to take me. There was one thing I caught before I completely left the world though; an admittance from Dominik to his companions that I wasn't sure I would remember when I awoke.

"Her name is Nyssia; and were circumstances different, she could have been my wife."

~O~

Feldan watched her, transfixed as always, as she stood in the middle of the stone courtyard, allowing the crows black as night surround her. The previous black skirt and cloak had been deserted for a silver dress fashioned from and shimmering like the stars she had so cruelly manipulated the night before. Her eyes were closed in concentration as she watched with her third eye both sets of travelers coming into his Kingdom.

Once she had gathered all the intelligence she desired, she opened her eyes, the birds around her taking off in a flurry of black feathers. He watched her sways slightly on her feet; she always seemed to lose her balance after spying this way, ever since that day so very long ago . . .

Striding towards her, long wings folded behind him, Feldan let his large hand slide gently down her exposed back, before resting on the insignia. His other hand brushed down her pale arm, before taking her wrist and raising it to his lips, kissing it gently.

"You Watch is two days away, My Lord. And it seems those little Nymphs you let go have teamed up with Dwalin and a human, and are returning this way. They mean to take this new little human from you." He could hear the forced spite in her voice, and knew she was simply trying to keep up her appearances.

"My dear Harpsichord, you know perfectly well that I let those twins go so that they could lead the Goblin here. No need to be so jealous, or jump to so many conclusions. I can see you are just as anxious as I to see this girl." Harpsichord growled at being found out so easily, but still allowed Feldan to lead her from the courtyard, toward his chamber where he was expected to rule with a cold sort of clarity.

And she would be by his side, just as cold, just as calculating.

FOP