Heyyyyyy ^-^

Okay that was an overly excited hey, but I got my first review! Whoever that was thank you so much! It really made me happy ^-^ So here is the next chapter for you hehehe

The Guardian of Love

(present day)

Skylin

The clanking of the iron knights' armor echoed through the large corridors as Glitch lead the way. Puck and him were throwing insults at each other. Every once in a while small bolts of lightning shot from atop Glitch's head, making me wince, but otherwise I barely noticed their bickering.

I couldn't stop thinking about how I had treated Puck this whole time. A sense of guilt tugged at my heart. You wouldn't call my behavior the one of someone who hadn't seen one of their closest companions in centuries. It was so unlike me to treat others badly in such a way. Especially people that meant something to me. The need to apologize to him grew and grew. I would have to talk to him again in private.

That was one of the perks of being me. I couldn't not have a bad conscience about something that I did wrong, however small it was. The feeling of guilt just intensified until I wouldn't be able to take it anymore. It could drive me crazy. Just like it was impossible for me to be upset with someone or hold a grudge for a long time. Who I was just didn't allow it. So now, I had to get this off my chest before I went mad.

When we reached a certain pair of doors Glitch turned to us.

"Just try not to get into any trouble while I go announce your arrival to the queen, Puck," he said with an exasperated expression.

Puck raised a hand to his chest, feigning shock.

"Me? Cause trouble? What would make you think that, thunder bolt?"

Glitch just sighed, briefly glancing at me before leaving us with the two knights.

"Can you believe it? People have no faith in me these days."

"I wonder why," I said with a smirk. I looked away from Puck. Apologizing was never something easy to do but hey, it was a part of life.

"Goodfellow, I'm sorry for my behavior before. I didn't mean to be so moody and snap at you the whole journey. It's just that... A lot has been happening and I'm having problems dealing with it," I sighed, my face slightly pulled into a grimace, "but that's still no reason to let it out on others. So, I'm sorry. I'll be back to my normal self soon, just give me time."

I stole a glance at him seeing him grinning like a fool.

"Don't worry about it, Blue. I'm used to being beaten down and kicked, so no biggie. It's my job to be obnoxious anyway, ask socket head," he said pointing in the direction Glitch had left. "Annoying people to the point where they dig their own grave is how I make my living."

With a relieved sigh I laughed, smacking Puck's arm. He was the same as always. After all he was Oberon's court jester. Even in serious times he could smile or grin or whatever. That's what I liked about him. He always had this hope he never let go.

"The queen is ready to see you," Glitch said when he returned.

"It's about time, I was starting to think you'd forgotten me," Puck joked.

With a last crackle of Glitch's hair he pushed the big metal doors open, revealing a large throne room. The usual nobles that occupied the throne room were no where in sight. Except for a few guards at every entrance we were alone. I suppose the lieutenant was smart enough to request a private audience since we weren't here for a cup of tea and some cake.

We neared the throne our steps echoing over the stone marble floor which seemed to reflect anything on its surface, giving the impression as if you could fall into another room through the ground. Vines crawled up white pillars which were lined up on either side, leading to the throne itself on which sat the Iron Queen. She didn't wear a royal gown as one might would expect, nor did she wear a crown. Yet, the simple clothing did not take away from her presence. Her power shone around her and she definitely possessed the air of a true queen.

Next to her stood a fey with jet black hair, an ice blue sword gleaming by his side, ready to protect his beloved queen. When his eyes met mine they widened a fraction before recognition settled on his face. I briefly nodded to him as a greeting which he acknowledged with a curt nod of his own. He then spotted Goodfellow, a small smile playing on his lips.

"Oi, ice boy! How's life in a big iron cage?" Puck called, raising his arms into the air.

"Never better, Puck, until you showed up."

"Whoa, calm down. You seem like you're about to burst with joy. All bubbly just because I decided to visit," the redheaded fey replied with his trademark grin.

The black knight shook his head, though too late for Puck to notice who was already focused on a shocked Meghan. With regal grace she rose from her seat, hesitating for a moment before running up to him and flying into his arms in a tight embrace.

"I've missed you, Puck," she whispered into his shoulder.

"I've missed you too, princess," he murmured into her ear.

I stood further off, not wanting to ruin their reunion. I knew what they had all gone through together so they deserved a little privacy. The warmth of their greeting filled me with joy that would only last for a moment, but it was there.

Meghan pulled back to face him, a displeased frown etched onto her face.

"You haven't been at the Elysiums. I was always looking for you."

"Well," he said, scratching the back of his head, "I've been busy lately. I didn't want to get back to court just yet. Got kind of tired of 'Goodfellow do this and do that'. So I took a little world tour. But I'm back now," he said with a wink of his eye.

"Or you didn't appear because King Oberon would have killed you for going against his orders?" Ash asked with a raise of his eyebrows.

"Yeah, that too."

"So why are you here Puck?" Meghan asked. "You can't stay the Iron will kill you!"

She examined him closer but when she found him to be in great shape she asked, "Why aren't you affected by it? You look... fine."

"That would be her doing," he said nodding his head in my direction.

The queen's attention turned to me. She stepped away from Puck, her eyes flicking across my rather filthy clothes before focusing on me, with a warm but cautious smile.

I knelt and bowed my head in respect.

"It is an honor to finally be in your presence, Iron Queen. I've heard so much about you and your knights accomplishments. The way you defied the courts for your love, saved the Summer and Winter Court from total destruction, became a queen and the Prince Consort gaining a soul to be with his one and only love. What you have done is truly something to be admired and I highly respect."

I had heard of their true love's story. How couldn't I have. Not only did they cause an outright uproar in the Nevernever, but they stood for what I believed in most.

"Rise," she said in an authoritative tone. "Who are you?"

I met her curious gaze and with a small smile I answered, "You may call me Skylin, your highness. Most say I am undefinable, but if you would have to put me into words some would call me the unquenchable fire that burns from deep within or the paradise where two hearts overflow with delight. The light that shines on the dark places. The remedy for wounded souls. I come and go like your favorite song, wonderful when it begins, sad when it ends. I am pure, honest and real like your heartbeat. I am the guardian of love."

"The guardian of love..." she repeated with a thoughtful expression. "I haven't heard of any guardians before."

"Not much is known to the fey about them," Ash cut in, stepping closer to us. "Every emotion has one. They don't really live among us but show up from time to time. We know that they yield their emotion and draw their strength from it, making them capable of doing many things. They call it essence. Similar to glamor yet the extent of their power is unknown. It is their duty to make sure that all emotions are in balance with each other. Every time a guardian dies a new one is chosen, whoever is deemed worthy by the essence itself."

Meghan looked back at me and I nodded my agreement.

"Why did you come?"

"I have an important message for you that concerns all of faery," I answered, my expression serious.

It was time for the queen to know the danger she was in. The danger we all were in. She studied me, a small flicker of uncertainty crossing her face.

"What is this information you have?"

"A long foretold prophecy is being fulfilled. One seeks to take over the Nevernever, but in order to do that they must kill the most powerful fey and take over their realm to easily invade and destroy the others. Those powerful fey are you two."

Ash's eyes narrowed dangerously.

"She will come on a predestined day, until then I must stay with you to protect from events that might occur in the preceding days. It is my duty to care for your safety, not only for you, but every creature that lives here," I said gesturing around me. "She will attack with full force, showing no mercy and when she comes only I can stop her."

Meghan paused to process what I had just said. After all, it's not every day that you hear of a prophecy like this. Not to mention that you are its first target.

"How do I know I can trust what you say?"

"You can. Ask your knight or Goodfellow. Besides, I cannot lie, it would be against my nature."

"You can trust her, Meghan. It's not like I just met her yesterday. She's legit," Puck claimed, slapping me on the back with his hand, which he quickly pulled away after earning a dark glare from me and returned to leaning back against a pillar.

"He's right. I know her, too," Ash confirmed. Meghan turned to him with a surprised expression.

"You do?"

"She was a considered guest of Mab's at the Winter Court a long time ago. Before I knew you."

Glitch rasped himself, joining our conversation. His brows were knitted together as he tried to figure out something.

"I'm sorry to interrupt but you said that only you can stop her. Why?"

Everyone's attention snapped to me. I knew this moment would come. I'd never said the words myself. Not wanting them to be true. With a sad smile I turned to Glitch, taking a deep breath.

"Because," my eyes darkened and my voice lowered to a near whisper, "the one that seeks to destroy you is the guardian of hate, my sister Kensley."