The Tragedy of King Oberon and Queen Titania.
Chapter Two: The Meeting of the Fairies of the Athenian Wood
Disclaimer: I do not own A Midsummer Night's Dream. William Shakespeare does, and you probably know that already.
The forest of Athens, now crimson had suffered seventeen murders, from the "Murderer."
"Dear Fairies of Athens, I, as King of the wood, solemnly state that I and some of the elite guards are going to travel to the Northern Wood, where are allies lie. With their help, we may be able to defeat whatever has been killing our kin," proclaimed Oberon, "But do not worry, fellow fairies, for my wife," he gestured to Titania, "Shall protect you for the short time I shall be gone."
"King Oberon, please forgive if I may be rude, but I wonder why you have thought of the brilliant idea just recently. This is obviously the most logical way of taking care of the situation," complained Sneerblossum.
"Dear Sneerblossum, please, forgive us for our negligence. As you can see, seventeen innocent lives have been taken, and it has become so grave that we must now depend on others to help us. So please, forgive us if we may have offended, and hopefully this battle shall be ended."
"As you say, your highness," sneered Sneerblossum. "Exactly why did you have come to the conclusion that we must ask the Northern Wood for help? Is it that your highness has suddenly discovered that he is not invincible? Or is it that your slaves are dying so quickly that you must save them in order to have dinner?"
"Excuse me! This childish behavior shall not be tolerated! Do you not see that me and my husband that been tediously working on how to save your lives without any sleep? If you wish to be so rude and selfish, I suggest you leave the Athenian Wood," scolded Titania, with her brown eyes fuming.
"Fairies of the Athenian Wood, please, excuse the rude Sneerblossum, and I am afraid that our Forest Meeting shall come to a close, for it is already midnight," stated Angelo, "It is time for us to sleep, and pray for good fortune."
"Good fortune?! Look at them, those liars!" bellowed Sneerblossum, "They only wish to deceive us, so that they may flee to the safe Northern Wood!"
"Enough, Sneerblossum! Shut your trap or we shall behead your ungrateful mind!" bawled King Oberon.
The crowd of fairies suddenly turned violent, and shouted vulgar comments, some agreeing with Oberon, and others agreeing with Sneerblossum the fairy.
"Go, Sneerblossum! Represent what we know!"
"Die Oberon, die Oberon the Coward! Death is what you deserve!"
"Do not forget about the Queen and the human changeling! Death to them as well!"
"Fools! Be quiet! Have you all lost your minds? Oberon shall help us!"
"Or he shall deceive! He shall lie, lie as always, and lie forevermore!"
"ENOUGH!" cried Titania. "The Forest Meeting is now finished! I command all fairies to return to their homes immediately!"
"And if we do not, Wicked Titania?" shot Sneerblossum.
"Then they shall fear my wrath! Enough! Everyone, go to your respective homes now," yelled Titania. "Oh look, Sneerblossum, the sky has suddenly turned overcast. It would be rather unfortunate if one were to hit your tiny pea brain."
"Fine! Fine! I shall leave the wretched place," cried Sneerblossum, afraid of the consequences. He then quickly flew away into the dark stormy night, and was followed by a small group of fairies who were biting their thumbs at the Royal Family.
"Do not worry, Fair Royal Family, I still place my trust in you all," complimented Peaseblossom.
"As do I," piped Puck.
"Thank you, dear Peaseblossom and Puck. I am glad that we have not lost all of friends," replied Oberon, distraught over what had happened. "Please, my friends, rest in your homes now."
"Of course," answered Peachblossom and Puck, and then quickly flying away, knowing their masters were upset.
Three Days Later
"Angelo, please, listen. Stay here," said Oberon.
"Nay, father. I want to go with you," replied Angelo pleadingly.
"Please, Angelo, please stay here in the Wood. I may need your help over here," said Titania. "Listen to your father."
"Please, Mother and Father. Let me go, for I have never seen what it is like in the Northern Wood," begged Angelo.
"No--"
"Fine, fine. Let the boy have his way," Oberon replied, "I know that the boy is too stubborn to reason."
"Yes—Eerr.. I mean thank you, Father," said Angelo.
"Okay then, son, I shall let you go with your father to the Northern Wood. It would actually be a good experience for you," said Titania, giving up to her son's begging.
"Thank you, Mother," said Angelo, hiding his glee with a courteous bow.
"Attention, Guards of the Athenian Wood, we are about to leave the area. Please contact us immediately if anything wrong may happen. Come, Puck, Angelo," announced Oberon to his guards and people.
"Yes, dark master?" asked Puck.
"Be prepared to leave. I must say good bye to Titania," replied Oberon.
"Aye, sir."
The king then walked towards his wife, who quickly gave her husband a loving embrace.
"I fear your safety, dear, as well as Angelo's," she whispered, trying to hold her crystal tears. "Please, be safe. For my sake."
"Of course my dear, of course. We shall," replied Oberon. He then turned away, and commanded, "Come, Puck and Angelo. It is time to depart."
"Yes, sir," replied both Puck and Angelo, already saddled on white stallions, since the Northern Wood's barrier would slice their wings off.
"We are off!" cried Oberon, and the trio then galloped to the Northern Wood, where hopefully their answer to their problem shall be solved.
The area between the Athenian Wood and the Northern Wood was beautiful, with gleaming waterfalls, tall pine trees, and mountains that could reach the sky, however, two hours later into their trip, the ground would be a dark crimson.
"I say we rest here. It is already dark," suggested Angelo, knowing his stallion was already tired.
"I agree with the strange human boy, we should stop here," agreed Puck.
"Nay, we shall keep on going," said Oberon. "And that is my final judgment."
'It seems that the path to the Northern Wood was longer than I expected. However, my goal was to arrive there and then rest. And we shall meet that goal. My people comes before my health,' thought Oberon.
Angelo silently moved towards Puck, and whispered, "We should tell him that our horses are getting tired."
"Nay. When my lord says 'that is my final judgment' he means that it is," hissed Puck. "And just because you are his 'son' does not give you higher power, mortal."
"Who died and gave you the power to judge me?" jeered Angelo.
"Why should I listen to a changeling?"
"Perhaps the great 'Robin Goodfellow' is not as good as he was named."
"Perhaps the human should stop talking. Do you not know your mouth resembles that of a donkey?"
"Enough, you two! Angelo! Puck! I thought you were mature enough to handle riding on a horse. Perhaps I was wrong," scolded an irritated Oberon.
After the scolding of Puck and Angelo, an awkward silence followed. Puck and Angelo glared at each other, while Oberon paid only attention to the road ahead. Despite Oberon's constant hissing to 'go faster', the night grew so dark that the horses could see only darkness. The calming moon and the dancing stars were hidden by dark, ominous clouds.
"I guess it is time to rest now," announced Oberon, as his stallion soon collapsed out of exhaustion once he got out of the saddle.
"Of course," replied Angelo sarcastically, and thought, the horses would not have been so tired if Father had just listened to me. Stupid Puck. He got me in trouble.
"Absolutely, master of the night," said Puck. Stupid Human! Always thinking that he is higher than me. Lord, what fools these mortals be!
As everyone got to their sleeping positions, they made sure that the horses were secure, and that the magical barrier surrounding them was strong, since fairies and mortals were the most vulnerable from the creatures of the darkest nights.
Guiding stars, those who helps us throughout our troubles—where are you all? Thought the distraught King of the Athenian Wood, tossing and turning trying to fall asleep. Perhaps a lovely dream shall comfort me. And thus, the king fell asleep.
Puck, as usual, fell asleep immediately. After all, being mischievous and loyal to his master did take a lot of energy from the youthful fairy.
The trio dreamt of sweet dreams. Oberon dreamt of peace within the Athenian Wood, while the mischievous Puck dreamt of throwing lightning bolts at poor Angelo, for Angelo's "treachery".