Meghan's POV
Ash has been gone a week and I have yet to get used to the cold palace. The flames in my fire place burns blue and has never died. Yet it is not enough to chase away the constant chill of the icy kingdom. I have been alone these past few days, with no one to talk to. I sit in my room waiting for Ash to return. Waiting for him to come and bring me hope.
Queen Mab has yet to call on me. I pray that she won't. I hope i didn't jinx that.
Ash's POV
I have ridden thought the Tir Na Nog with my brothers in search of the iron fey, to no avail. We arrive in court now to inform my mother. I task, I'm sure, that will not be pleasant.
As I walk into the great hall I notice everyone attention is on the pale-haired girl standing below my queen's dais. All watch as if waiting for a treat from the queen, who's smile is cunning, cleaver and can torment people, forever seeing that smile, the one that can destroy you and leave you with no hope.
Meghan.
My mother's eyes were narrowed to slits while she asked her, "And you would have me believe that you, a half-human with virtually no power, managed to kill the Iron King?"
"Believe her," I call out before I could think twice. "I was there. I saw what happened."
Meghan stiffened at my voice and slowly turned to meet my eyes. She showed no emotion, a wise choice.
Rowan, the second eldest of my brother's stepped forward and smirked at Meghan. I know he's going to try one of his games on her. I hope I won't have to hurt him.
Sage, my eldest brother, bowed to our queen and said, " My queen we have searched from border to border and have found nothing of the Iron fey our brother speaks of."
"Makes you wonder if our dear brother Ash has exaggerated a bit," Rowan spoke up, looking at me with that annoying smirk. "Seeing as the 'legions of iron fey' seem to have vanished into thin air."
I glared at him for doubting my words but kept my face bored. I hoped Meghan would not speak up and wait to be dismissed. I didn't have to wait long.
"Enough," our mother said while standing and making a dismissive gesture to the assembled fey. "Get out. Leave, all of you. I will speak to my sons alone."
The fey behind rushed to obey their queen. My queen watched as Meghan bowed gracefully and turned to leave. Rowan, the cruellest of my brothers, bowed mockingly to Meghan. With as much grace and dignity she showed the Winter Queen, Meghan returned Rowan's bow.
Sage twitched a smile when Rowan frowned, frustrated. Rowan enjoyed mocking others but my Summer princess answered with grace.
Meghan glided out the room. When the doors shut our queen began to speak.
"Ash, I know you would never try to deceive me but where are these iron fey?"
"I wouldn't know, my queen. I only know they exist and are hidden somewhere." I said smoothly.
Queen Mab stood still and examined me. After a few moments she begun to pace.
"I will have more scouts sent out after the Exchange. For now, Ash, you must remain at court. I will need all three of you searching for the iron fey." Our mother gazed at us and said, "The half-breed will stay here and you are not to harm her in anyway or bother her. I need her alive. Rowan, that means you cannot play with her as you do your other women."
Rowan bowed is head, "Of course , my queen."
"All right then," the queen said. "You may leave."
We bowed and headed off to our own destinations.
The Exchange
I didn't see Meghan until the night of the party. I didn't want us to be seen together, least someone suspected why I visited her.
Out in the courtyard we waited for the Seelie fey to arrive. The Sceptre of the Seasons would be given to Queen Mab by the Seelie representative and winter will begin. A weak time for Summer while Winter flourishes.
Sage, as the eldest son of Queen Mab, stood close to the dais where the queen sat. Rowan was speaking with Meghan, no doubt he is taunting her again. I watched as Meghan dealt with his advances with a calm temper and steady voice. I stood at the back of the celebration, not wanting to be bothered.
Finally, the Seelie arrived. Knights, trolls, satyrs and dwarfs bearing banners, more protection than usual. This sidhe must be a high ranking noble close to Oberon.
When the carriage door opened the Erlking himself stepped out with the sceptre in his hands, alight with an amber glow.
Winter fey gasped, myself included, hissed and growled at the Summer King. He walked without casting his glace anywhere else but at the Winter Queen.
"Lord Oberon, this is a surprise," Mab said honestly. "To what do we owe this pleasure?"
"Lady Mab," Erlking said with a booming voice. "I have come to request the return of my daughter, Meghan Chase, to the Seelie Court."
The assembled fey turned their eyes on Meghan with cruel looks. I saw Meghan shrink back slightly, not that anyone would know, unless they were focusing on Meghan completely, then she regained her posture.
"I'm afraid you misunderstand, Lord Oberon," Queen Mab said with a faint smile. "Your daughter is not a prisoner of the Unseelie court, but a willing guest. She came to us on her own, after making a bargain with my son to do so. The girl is bound by her contract to Prince Ash, and you have no power to demand her return. Once a bargain is made, it must be honoured by all."
Oberon stiffen and turned to find Meghan's determined eyes. "Is that true daughter?"
Meghan bit her lips and nodded. "It's true."
The Erlking shook his head, "Then I cannot help you. Foolish girl. You have doomed yourself to your fate. So be it." Lord Oberon turned to his people and said, loudly, "My daughter has made her choice. Let us be done with this."
Oberon turned and gave the sceptre to a waiting female fey and stepped back in his carriage.
Once again I wish I had not made the bargain with Meghan. Because of me, she is stuck here in a place where great danger haunts her.
I was drawn out of my musings when my queen announced, "Summer is over, Winter has come. Now, let the Revel begin!"
The Unseelie howled, roared and screamed into the night. Music started in a frenzied rhythm. The fey swarmed together in a chaotic, writing mass, leaping, howling and twirling madly, rejoicing in the coming of winter.
I drank wine, when offered, and walked through the madness. Four winter Sidhe, all friends, made advances to me but I turned each one down. Only when they have had to much wine do they flock to me as if I were like Rowan, basking in their attention and toying with their emotions. Many remember the love Ariella and I once shared and respected it too much to make advances.
When I was handed another goblet of wine I saw Sage offer his arm to Meghan and walk into the palace with his ever-present wolf at their heels. Curious, I followed at a safe distance.
Sage is to guard the Sceptre of Seasons, this night as is tradition to the first in line for the throne, a place I am sure he is taking Meghan.
"I've seen you," Sage murmured to her. "With my brother."
My breath hitched as I listened, surely he could not know, but then again he usually always knows what goes on where.
"You mustn't trust him."
"Which one?" Meghan replied with a coolness.
"Either of them, you don't know the enmity between Ash and Rowan, how deep the rivalry goes. Especially on Rowan's part. He has never forgiven Ash for Ariella's death."
Pain stabs at my heart when I hear this. Rowan was always in love with Ariella, we both were, but she chose me. He never forgave me but continued to love Ariella.
I didn't hear what else Sage was telling Meghan, I was lost to the past no one can change, no matter how hard one tries.
"How did you get in here?" I heard Sage hiss, his Wolf growling.
"Ash?" Sage questioned, confused.
"I'm afraid not, Prince Sage." A voice I recognized answered. "Your brother was simply the blue print for my creation."
"Tertius," Meghan whispered. "What are you doing?"
"Forgive me, princess," Tertius replied.
I drew my blade and ran for the throne room. I conjured my power and when I reached the door, ice shards flew at strange wire people. Wires of many different colours made up their bodies with iron armour over their chests, heads, arms and legs.
Sage pulled Meghan back by the wrist and dodged iron blades. I joined the fray along side him.
Tertius, an iron fey and my double, marched towards the sceptre, Meghan advanced to stop him but was thrown against the wall by one of wire men.
Sage and I fought to reach the double but there were too many. Unable to look but not unable to know, Tertius wrapped the sceptre in a cloth and strapped it to his back and advance on Meghan.
With a rage and desperation, I tried to fight my way to her. But i couldn't, i tried and failed again and again, trying to get near Meghan. Each time i failed, i tried again harder, but it didn't work.
"Don't," I heard Meghan's voice tremble. "What are you doing?"
"Following the orders of my king." Tertius answered solemnly.
"King? Machina is dead." Meghan said more panicked. This also rose fear in me.
"Yes, but our realm endures. I follow the commands of the new Iron King." Tertius murmured and drew his sword. "I bear you no ill will, this time. My orders do not include killing you. But I must obey my lord. You must come with me."
With that Tertius pulled iron chains from a bag and tossed it over my brother and I. Wire men secured us as Tertius picked Meghan off the floor and carried her. She screamed and screamed, but suddenly the screaming stopped. I looked up.
I saw blood gush from a wound on Meghan's head as the iron net burned me. My body was in too much pain to break free. Her shouting and screaming for us to help her started again.
At last I heard shouts from down the hall.
"Quickly, fetch your brother. Leave no evidence behind." Tertius ordered his men and turned out the door.
"Ash!" Meghan screamed and fought her attacker weakly. "Sage!"
"Meghan!" I called to her and fought to release myself.
As the last of the wire men escaped the shouts grew louder. Seconds later, satyers, redcaps and guards rushed in. Many cried out at the smell of iron but cut the chains away. Others ran after the iron fey.
When my queen and Rowan arrived minuets later cold radiated from her. Many stayed clear from her as she looked at mine and Sage's wounds.
"Who did this?" My queen asked, her voice had risen with anger and rage.
"Iron fey," Sage gasped as gnomes bandaged his chest. "They took the sceptre and the summer princess. We were unable to stop them."
The room turned even more cold and the queens power filled the air, so thick I felt ill. "Were the summer fey apart of this attack?" Mab asked.
"We did not see any, only strange wire creatures." I answered her, honesty in my voice, but my voice wobbled as the gnomes bandaged my burns up because of the pain.
"They have been pursued, hopefully trackers will catch them before they disappear again. Rowan, gather your Thornguards. I want every fey in Tir Na Nog searching for these iron fey." Mab ordered everyone but when they did not move immediately she yelled, "Go!"
Within five seconds Queen Mab, Sage and I along with the gnomes attending us were the only ones left in the throne room.
"Why did they take the princess?" Mab questioned us.
"I heard him say it was his orders," I answered while wincing as the gnomes pulled hard on the bandages.
"Oberon might very well be involved in this attack." Mab mused aloud.
"I find it hard to believe any fey would side with those abominations," Sage voiced.
"True, but he asked for the return of his daughter not three hours ago," Mab retorted. "We need to gather information on the summer fey. I suppose I could have some people sent as envoys."
"Who will you send, my queen?" Sage asked.
Mab thought for a moment.
"You will go Sage, we cannot wait for you to heal, you must go as soon as your done being bandage. Take many guards. Meet me in the great hall before you leave. Ash, you will go in search of the scepter and the princess. I need that girl back." With that Queen Mab walked out.
When the gnomes were done Sage and I headed to our rooms.
Slowly, I found my door, walked inside, locked the door and began to panic. The iron fey have Meghan. One lone tear slowly slid down my cheek. The pain in my chest had started again, but this time it was not one of physical pain, but one of mental pain, one of feeling pain, loneliness and heartache.
Why did they take her? What use is she to them? Who is their new king?
As thoughts run through my mind I reach for her ring on a chain, around my neck. When I had given Meghan the ring I had hidden away, I took the one she always wore and hung it from my neck. A token of her love, and mine for her. Let it guide me, to her, to my other half, to my soul-mate. The one I love.
Fates, what will I do? Without her?