A Day in the life of the Brother VII
Britannia stayed still watching the boys until the embers of the fire dyed out completely and there was no light left. She stood up elegantly and walked proudly over to the boys. She knelt down and kissed each on the head before smiling gently but sadly at them.
A glowing orb appeared at the edge of the meadow, bobbing around attracting her attention and calling for her to follow. She glided to her feet and followed it with her head held high and her nobility clearly showing. She was authoritative and dominant and was obviously the one in command as she walked proudly to her destination, with her only guide being the faint blue glow of a will-o-wisp.
She appeared at the edge of the woods to come face to face with another woman, sitting in a stone chair, with sticks so people could carry it.
Half a dozen Ly Erg surrounded the chair, their blood covered hands glistening in the moon light as they stood tall in soldier's uniforms.
A large snarling black dog with savage yellow eyes lay at the foot of the chair like an angry statue or guardian. It was hideously aggressive with saliva and white teeth in full view as it growled continuously at her with the look of absolute rage and hatred.
An incredibly handsome man who Britannia recognised as a gancanagh leaned lazily on the throne, holding one of the woman's hands. It was obvious that he was some sort of consort.
The woman was easily recognisable to Britannia, even with her unrecognisable jet black hair on milky skin and ruby lips. She had taken the form of a beautiful woman in a dark grey, leafy dress that hanged loosely down to her knees but those black, condescending eyes that looked down on the island were so familiar, Britannia doubted that she could forget them as much as she wished she could.
Maeve.
Or Queen Maeve as she preferred, fancying herself to be the Queen of the rebellious and cruel Unseelie fae. It seemed unlikely that the Host would easily accept any ruler as they thrived on chaos and discord and having a Queen would dampen that.
"Britannia." The fairies all bowed from the waist except for the woman who just tilted her head slightly.
"Maeve." Britannia did not show any sign of respect back. Maeve twitched in annoyance at the lack of title.
"It's Queen Maeve or Your Majesty." Britannia smirked.
"I do not remember anointing you a Queen?"
"I am not under your rule!" Maeve snapped, her dark side slipping out, revealing her evil aura. "I can do as I wish! I am a powerful fae now. Others flock to me naturally so it is only right that I rule over them."
"Rounding up a dozen or so solitary faeries and convincing them to do bad deeds is not exactly what I call 'Queen-like'." Maeve reined in her emotions again and leaned back in the carved seat. She ran her finger along the cold, grey stone casually.
"Actually… nearly all of the Unseelie are under my rule except for a few foolish ones." She flicked a bit of loose rock from the chair. "And as a new Queen, I demand a tribute to celebrate my crown." Britannia raised an eyebrow.
"Excuse me? A tribute for a false Queen? Do not expect me to do the impossible." The sitting woman smiled cruelly.
"A false Queen? You are mistaken. I have been accepted by Gyre Carlin already. I may have forcefully taken the crown for myself but it is rightfully mine now."
Britannia didn't show her emotions on his face but this was upsetting news to her. Britannia usually had strained relations with the Unseelies but Maeve and Britannia were openly in distain of each other. If what Maeve said was true then that would mean that nearly all Unseelies would now be an enemy and she would be required to give a tribute.
"Do you have prove?"
"Of course. Aergad?"
"My Queen." The beautiful man helped her to her feet, knelt by her and kissed her hand. She smirked at Britannia who was staring at Aergad.
It was almost impossible for human females not to be attracted to a gancanagh. They were fae that were designed to cause uncontrollably lust that would leave any human dead from craving. They killed humans with their looks and gentle touches alone.
And although Britannia was a country by spirit, her body was completely human. An immortal magical body though unless her people or land are weakened too much or conquered, then her immortally fades away.
Aergad stood and wrapped his arms around the black haired fairy and leaned on her back slightly, staring ahead at the island nation. She concentrated on Maeve who was analysing the blonde.
"Your prove?" The supposed Queen flicked her hand forward and one of the Ly erg stepped forward and handed her an unsealed letter. She pulled out the letter and read it aloud.
'I, Queen Gyre Carlin, here by accept Maeve as a faery Queen and shall be titled as Queen Maeve from now on. She will be accepted as my equal and opposite as the Queen of the Unseelie. Seelie Queen – Queen Gyre Carlin.' Britannia frowned slightly.
"See, my dear Britannia, I am a Queen, not by your anointment but by another Queen's. You cannot oppose this nor can you refuse to give me tribute." The blonde sighed.
"What do you want then?" Maeve sat back down and tossed the letter at a Ly erg that caught it. Aergad was standing by her side again.
"Hmmm… A simple gift. How about one of your sons? The oldest one of course." Britannia laughed coldly.
"Why would you want a child?"
"Fairies love taking the first born for our own. They make excellent slaves or lovers." Britannia tensed slightly but still made an effort to appear in control. "I have seen the boy too. He is sleeping about half a mile away in a meadow with your other children. It has a seal around it so only you can control who can enter and leave."
Britannia was trying to stay calm now but it was difficult. She was brutal and cruel to anyone who might endanger her offspring. Maeve continued heedlessly.
"My fae have been keeping an eye on you and your children… They are quite strong, surviving nearly on their own... The oldest one is interesting. His unique appearance to start. No normal human has hair that colour, the colour of freshly spilt blood, or green eyes that glow in the dark. His magical ability too. He is strongly gifted and if he continues growing, he will eventually surpass the great Britannia who stands at the peak of the magical world. He also possesses the natural ability of speed and strength. He may be wild and savage at the moment but I could tame him in time."
Britannia bit back a growl. "I refuse to give you any of my children… especially my first."
"You may have to. I demand tribute and I will not accept anything else below that." Britannia noticed suddenly that there was only 5 Ly ergs and the Black Angus was gone.
She glanced behind her in the direction of the boys. She knew that they would not be able to go near the children in the meadow with the seal but she worried anyway. She was suddenly anxious to get back to her children.
"Ask for anything else but not my children."
"What else can you offer?" Britannia gulped discreetly. She didn't have anything of value, especially to a fae or a queen.
Before she could open her mouth, a loud growling, rustling and a cry of pain stole her attention. The huge black dog had a leg in its jaws as it dragged a struggling boy from the nearby bushes. The Ly Erg was trying to stop the child from moving around so wildly.
He cried out as the boy bite him, releasing his arm. He tried to grab the boy again but was stopped by suddenly branches shoot out of the ground and holding him fast. He tore at them with his sword, fighting to be free from the vicious branches.
Britannia drew a magical sword from nowhere. The blessed steel blade pierced the trapped Ly Erg's heart, almost killing him. The branches dropped him and he was left on the ground to bleed to death.
The boy kicked the Black Angus in the jaw with his boot, forcing it to release his foot.
Britannia rushed forward and pulled him away from the terrifying giant dog.
The boy clung to her, burrowing his chest into her so only his blood red hair was showing.
She held Scotland to her, feeling hot tears soak into his dress, and holding the sword up to battle with the other.
(A/N - Maeve is the dark fae queen in some legends so I thought she would be suited here. She ıs a shape shifter apart from her eyes that only remain black.)