Well, I think this chapter came rather fast! Warning now that this chapter was purely written to set up my OC character. I promise you Jack will be present in the next chapter!

Disclaimer: I own only my own character, everything else belongs to Dreamworks

Song of the Chapter: O' Sister – City and Colour

Chapter Two: The Backup

The ground was cold and hard, bringing a disturbing chill through her clothes and disrupting her dream. Through her mere consciousness, Ellie tried to remember what had happened and where she was, but her recall was vague. In the far distance voices seemed to pierce through the fog she was settled in. They were rich and musical, like liquid gold spilling over her ears. It brought her an odd sense of comfort fighting against the harsh ache in her head. Of course, her head!Slowly lifting her hand to the now violent cut, Ellie flinched. Shadows of someone had been chasing her but formed in her memory. Only the harder she thought about it, the more aggressive her headache became.

"The poor girl..." Ellie heard a female voice say. The talking was getting closer or becoming clearer. She wasn't sure which. "Should we not take her to the infirmary?"

"No, Lady Autumn wishes to see her immediately," a deep voice responded. That one sounded familiar.

"But she looks so pale! And her head! You really chased her through the streets?"

"Anowin, I had orders to follow. I was told to retrieve the girl. I accomplished that. If you're so concerned about her head, go fetch a cool cloth and wipe the blood off yourself."

Ellie heard a small "humph" from the girl she supposed to be Anowin. "Fine! As if I expected anything better from you. Is that really how you really treat a guess though?" The word 'guest' seemed greatly out of place to Ellie. Since when did a host leave their company bleeding on the cold ground?

An awkward tension filled the air as Ellie realised Anowin had left, leaving her alone with the male who had chased her down. It would have been twice as awkward if he knew she were awake. Now remembering the chase and her injury, Ellie began to feel the damage. Her bones ached with exhaustion and a severe sense of nausea was churning its way in her belly. She would have emptied all the contents of her stomach on the floor but held back the gagging as another presence entered the room.

"Is she awake, Nafayeth?" A woman asked.

"Yes. She's been awake for the last five minutes." Ellie's body tensed at his blunt words. "Anowin has gone to fetch her a cloth for her face."

"Good. Bring her to me then." Before Ellie could register the woman's words, a hand gripped her left arm and pulled her off the ground none to gently.

"Up you are now," Nafayeth said hastily, forcing Ellie's eyes open to ground her bearings. A wave of dizziness threatened to pull Ellie back to the ground, but Nafayeth's grip was iron. "Stand straight girl, you are in the presence of Lady Autumn."

Before her eyes could meet that of Lady Autumn's, Ellie's attention was pulled rapidly away by her surroundings. She seemed to be in a court of some kind but like nothing she'd ever seen. Long marble pillars erupted from the ground in a large circle, each decorated with twisting vines winding their way up to the tops. There were no walls connecting the pillars but tall trees in-between, all coloured with the most vibrant red and yellow leaves. No roof united the marble either, only the open sky with the sun making its routine way behind the trees in the evening hour. A vibrant forest separated with only regal foot paths encircled the court. At the very head sat an elegant marble throne. Intricate forests carved with an expert hand stretched across the bottom while the top smoothed into graceful lines, complementing the woman who sat in it.

The woman's beauty was almost overpowering. Deep auburn locks wound their way into an intricate braid hanging down her back. Tiny leaf jewels decorated her forest green dress and her face looked as if angles had carved it; perfect alabaster skin with rose coloured lips and shocking emerald eyes.

The woman caught Ellie's sight and spread her arms in a greeting fashion. "Welcome to the Autumn Court." She spoke with an air that demanded all who listened pay close attention. Her voice seemed to echo into the woods, the leaves of the trees nearby swaying with her breath.

Nafayeth's grip on Ellie's arm pulled her attention away. It was alarmingly unwavering and tight. She could feel a strange tickling feeling begin at her fingertips and work its way up her arm. She squirmed uncomfortably and tried to pull her arm out of his hands. "Nafayeth, let go. I believe our guest can hold herself," Lady Autumn commanded, her eyes never leaving Ellie's face. Relief surged through her arm as blood came rushing back upon Nafayeth's release. Ellie flexed her fingers slowly before shaking her hand to encourage the blood. "I suppose you have many questions," Lady Autumn continued on. "But I cannot give you answers to them all. What I can tell you is why you are here now, and that is because you serve a greater purpose."

Ellie held up her hands at the woman's words, impolitely signalling her to stop. Nafayeth tensed beside her at her rude gesture, but Ellie wasn't going to let court manners stop her rising anger. "Hold on," she interrupted, now fully annoyed with the theatrics. "You kidnap me, drag me to a random forest in the middle of nowhere and tell me that it's all because I serve some greater purpose? Are you mad?" Ellie's voiced raised an octave higher at the incredibility of it all. "I've never met you, or him," she said pointing to Nafayeth, "and I'm just supposed to be cool with it? Where are we? Who are you? And PLEASE, do be a little more specific on the whole 'we kidnapped you because we need you' part."

If Lady Autumn was the least bit annoyed at Ellie's outburst, her face betrayed it. "I understand your frustration. But yelling will not accomplish anything. If you would like answers, we can discuss them where you have calmed down."

Ellie sucked in a deep breath. How was it that she was being chided for her poor behaviour by the ones who kidnapped her? Counting back from ten, Ellie released two deep breathes before mustering any good behavior she had left. "Of course. I can be calm."

Lady Autumn gave a cool smile as if she anticipated Ellie's reactions, like a predictable child. Standing up, the woman began a slow pace toward Ellie and Nafayeth. She was tall and willowy, her long graceful limbs moving across the court in only a few strides. "You are in the Autumn Court. There is no geographical location, its existence moves around the earth as life flows through a cycle. The only way to get here are through portals or magic. You are here because you have a purpose to serve in a grand and master plan. I cannot tell you what that is," the woman said cutting Ellie off before she could interrupt, "but you will be needed in due time."

Now standing only a few feet away from her, Ellie could feel a sense of raw power radiation off Lady Autumn. It was as if there was an electrical current buzzing around her. "But why me?" Ellie said. "And why kidnap me? Wouldn't a simply Facebook invite suffice?" Lady Autumn showed no sign of humour. "Or you know, kidnapping works too."

"I will admit, Nafayeth's way of summoning you was most unorthodox, but sufficient nonetheless. Tell me, Eloni. Do you know where you come from?" Lady Autumn's eye were not questioning but almost challenging.

Ellie crossed her arms annoyed with the simply challenge. "Yeah, Canada. But I hardly see how that has to do with anything."

"Oh my dear, your heritage has to do with everything. Tell me about your father and mother."

All the muscles in Ellie's body tensed. "Why? You're a stranger to me? How come I should I tell you anything?"

Bending her head forward as if to whisper in her ear, Lady Autumn said, "if you want answers, you must give them first."

Ellie scoffed, knowing she would get nowhere if she refused to talk, but hating it at the same time. "Fine, you want answers? My father was a drunken bastard who ruined everything he touched. My mother was killed by a drunk driver when I was eleven years. And just to top it off, let me tell you about my sister's suicide. How she committed it exactly a year after my mom was killed because she couldn't bear to live with our stupid father. I'm one great big fucking tragedy, aren't I? Happy now?" Ellie was panting hard, forcing herself not to lose control. Not in front of this bitch.

But Lady Autumn would bring no sympathy. "And why did your father drink?"

Beyond frustrated, Ellie threw her arms in the air. "What the hell is this? Twenty fucking questions? You want answers to his problems; you can go ask him yourself!" Ellie could feel the blood boiling in her ears. This was beyond personal. "I answered your questions, now it's your turn to answer mine!"

Lady Autumn stepped back a bit, sizing Ellie's demand and lacing her delicate fingers together. "Your father was a drunk because he couldn't have the one thing he wanted. He poisoned everything he touched because he couldn't pay for the price of his desire."

Ellie reeled back at the sudden information. "What the hell are you talking about?"

Lady Autumn narrowed her eyes and spoke clear and calmly. "You. You're the price your father couldn't pay. Tell me, dear child, did you ever wonder why he never loved your mother? Or why he treated her the way he did?

Ellie had begun shaking at some point during the conversation. It was as if a thousand ton rock had been dropped on her chest. The colours of the forest seemed to blur together as Lady Autumn's words took meaning. "I don't get it. What price? What are you talking about?" Her composure was slipping drastically.

"As the Lady of the Autumn Court I must preserve my magic and kingdom. If anything were to ever happen to me, there must always be someone to take my place."

Ellie's mind spun at the sudden change of topic. "What? You mean like a back up?"

Lady Autumn smiled as if this was the greatest thing Ellie had ever said. "Exactly. I must always have an heir waiting to take my place. Think about it Eloni! As an immortal I cannot die unless I am killed. For this reason I must always have a daughter in waiting. They are always mortal of course, as I can only reproduce with mortal men. But if they were ever to replace me, my abilities and responsibilities would transfer to them."

Ellie backed up from the intimidating woman. Her words were clear and obvious but they made no sense in Ellie's growing anxiety. "And my father-"

"Was the last man I copulated with. Eloni, I cannot maintain relationships with the mortal men who give me children. It is the price they pay for my love." Lady Autumn's words rang loudly in Ellie's ears. A bitter truth to a bitter reality.

In the openness of the court, Ellie began to feel a sense of impending claustrophobia. It was as if the air in her lungs had been violently ripped out and replaced with a dense fog not suitable for breathing. "No. No, no, no, no, no! My mother was killed in a car crash! I was at her funeral with my sister and my father. I have memories of her! Pictures of her in our house! She was real and alive and beautiful!" Her voice came out cracked and disjointed, as if breaking a month's vow of silence.

"The woman you called your mother was real. But she wasn't your mother, a least not by birth right. She was your sister's mother, yes, and your father's wife, but she was not yours."

Ellie sunk down to the floor and wiped her hands vigorously at her face, as is she could scrub all the anger and frustration away. "Do not be angry child. You are a part of something so much larger than what you knew. If anything you should be grateful." Lady Autumn crouched down to Ellie's level and outstretched her had touching Ellie's shoulder. "You are my daughter."

Ellie laughed bitterly and swatted her hand away. "Well then, mother. It's nice to see you too. What's it been? Like seventeen years?"

Lady Autumn stood up and smoothed her dress, satisfied at Ellie's acceptance –sarcastic or not. "It is a mere moment for an immortal."

"Glad my life's so important to you." Following in her mother's footsteps, Ellie stood up and crossed her arms, angry, hurt and confused. Her entire life had been a lie. Her father's hatred had been because of her and the woman she had called mom for years now a sad lie. Ellie was vaguely aware of Lady Autumn departing and Nafayeth talking to her. It appeared Lady Autumn had had enough to say and was giving her space and time to think. Ellie assumed the minor details would be filled in later.

Turning to the outside of the forest, Ellie began wandering away from the annoyed elf. She had no interest in what he had to say. Quite frankly, she had no interest in what anyone had to say. A dirt path stretched to the left of the throne, catching her eye. It wound itself deep into the woods, looking isolated and inviting at the same time. A perfect place to be when one needed to be alone. Ignoring the elf who kept pointing to her head, Ellie began a slow walk away into the forest. She wanted to escape the new truths and forget the old lies; to remember her mother and sister and to forget her father.

The path continued its way through the lush forest. The colour of the leaves changed as the sun spilled its last rays upon them, fighting the darkness that accompanied night. The sound of a nearby stream reached Ellie's ears before she saw it. It was humble, no wider than five feet and shallow enough to cross without wetting your knees. Small pebbles eroded by centuries covered the bank, a few weeds popping their unwanted heads from out beneath. Finding a spot near the edge, Ellie collapsed on her knees. Her headache was now beyond bearable and the stress of the last few hours weighed down on her so heavily it was overwhelming.

With what little strength she had left, Ellie peered over the water's edge and was met by a gruesome reflection. Her forehead was bloody and bruised, matching her bloodshot eyes. Cupping her dry, cracked hands in the stream, Ellie brought water to her face and began washing away the dried blood. She scrubbed vigorously, tears mixing with the red water.

Before she could regain her self-control, the tears gave way to devastating sobs. "Oh god. Oh god, oh god, oh god," she repeated in distress. She was the reason for her family's destruction. The reason her father hated everything; why he never loved his children or devoted himself fully to his wife. She was a constant reminder of the woman her had once loved, but could never have.

"Oh, sweetie! Nafayeth told me you'd be here." A feminine voice said from the trees. It was the voice of the female she had heard upon first waking up in the court. Turning around, Ellie was greeted with a petite brunette. Her long hair framed her delicate face, complementing her big brown eyes. "Let's get you cleaned up shall we? There's a cottage down the stream. I can clean your head wound there."

Ellie didn't refuse as the small elf pulled her up from the bank. "That's a good girl," she coed while pulling Ellie's left arm around her shoulders, giving her support in her utter exhaustion. "This way now."

"So now what? Where do I go from here?" Ellie asked as Anowin finished stitching her cut. The two were sitting in a meek cottage located farther down the stream. The humble abode was made out of wood, equipped with only a bed, fireplace, table and a pot above the fire for boiling. It appeared to have been made a few centuries ago and used seldom. A bucket full of bloody cloths soaking in water was placed on top of the rickety table where Anowin was working.

"While, I suppose she'll send you somewhere safe," Anowin responded, referring to Lady Autumn. "She won't tell you what she needs you for but she can't risk you getting into trouble in the meantime."

Anowin swatted Ellie's hand for the fifth time as she attempted to touch her stitches. "They need to heal Eloni. Let them. Unless you want a ghastly scar," she threatened. Ellie dropped her hand immediately.

"So where's safe? Why is here not safe? Why can't I go home?"

Anowin sighed. "There are so many dangerous things out there. Now that you know your identity, it's important to make sure the enemies don't find out tell the proper time. They'll use anything against Lady Autumn to destroy her."

Picking up a glass of water beside her on the kitchen table, Ellie took a big gulp before saying, "enemies? And no offense to Lady Autumn but she doesn't exactly exude motherly affection."

"She cares about you Ellie. There's just so much to do right now. I mean with winter coming to an end, springs only a month away-"

"Spring? I thought this was the Autumn Court?" Ellie said, emphasising her words using air quotes.

Anowin chuckled as she stuffed the last of the medical supplies into a brightly coloured bag. "We're called the Autumn Court because the very first Lady in charge was named Autumn. Only a few centuries later did mortals use it to refer to the one specific season. Lady Autumn goes by many names however. Gaia, Demeter, Mother Nature-"

Ellie nearly fell off her chair, threatening to reopen her wound. "Holy shit! You're telling me I'm the daughter of Mother Nature?"

"That would be correct. But really Ellie, please try not to hurt yourself. Sit still!" Before Ellie could respond with something along the lines of 'me, hurt myself? Never!' a loud rap pounded from the door. Anowin was up without so much as a sound and moved gracefully across the floor. It was eerie to Eloni how elves moved without sound, like the ghosts of nature. With the door now open, the two girls were greeted with a sour looking Nafayeth.

"Ah, I see my stalker's here," Ellie said under her breath sitting up from her chair.

Nafayeth eyed her in annoyance, apparently having picked up her snarky comment from across the room. "I can assure you I was not stalking you. I had orders. It was not my fault you ran away."

Ellie held up her hands in defence. So typical of this impudent elf. Not even an apology. "Of course, it's always my fault. Forgive me."

The elf had apparently missed her sarcasm and he nodded with a quick "thank you." Nafayeth moved further into the cottage, pulling a disgusted face at the bloody cloths. "Anyhow, I haven't come here to receive apologies. I come here bringing news from Lady Autumn. We have discussed many things while you were being tended to and we have both agreed where to keep you safe!"

Ellie clapped her hands together in anticipation, eager at the change of subject. "Hawaii? Europe? Maybe Australia?"

Nafayeth scoffed at her suggestions. "Of course not!" he chided sharply. "We're sending you to the North Pole!"

XXXX

Well, I'm pretty excited to go to the North Pole. Such a coincidence that Ellie's being sent to the North Pole? Who knows?

Anyway, thank you for bearing with me in this purely character building chapter. I promise you Jack in the next one for sure!

Please R+R as that is what keeps writers writing! Your opinion is the best!

Cheers!