Ash

The hard slam of the door bouncing around in the high arches of the ceiling.

I stared at the closed door absent-mindedly, my eyes wide and unblinking. I tried to force my mind to recall the whole of Puck's outburst but only one part kept coming back.

"Yeah, I love her. I'm not her knight, you are, but I would do anything in my power to keep her safe. I would also do anything to stop that prophecy becoming the reality, even if that means killing the Iron prince. Think it over, Ash, because if you don't do something about it, then I will."

In those four sentences, Robin had brought my world shuddering to a halt. I struggled to comprehend the two major factors. The first being that my best friend has just threatened to murder my son. For the greater good, perhaps, but essentially it was the same thing to me. I would never shrug off Puck's menace as a bluff. There was no doubt, in my mind,that Puck truly intended to fulfil his threat. Everything I did now seemed to come back to the same choice. Kill Keirran and ensure the safety of Skylar, Meghan, Puck and the Nevernever, or let him live and pray the young prince chooses the right path. We can't win whichever we choose.

The second factor in Goodfellow's statement stunned me even more. Robin Goodfellow is in love with my daughter. It should be the least of my worries, with the possibility of Keirran destroying the Nevernever and Skylar not waking, but I knew that it would play on my mind. I didn't know what to think of it. I hadn't seen it coming. And I couldn't really think it through, no matter how I tried, I could not think seriously about it.

"Well that was interesting." Grimalkin says flippantly, appearing in front of me. I should of known that he'd been eavesdropping.

"You could call it that." I sigh, standing up.

"Perhaps I could have foreseen the threat on the young prince's life but the other reveal took me completely by surprised." the cat says, shifting his weigh to a more comfortable position. I sense the opening to give my opinion but I don't.

"You live for these moments, don't you, Grim?"

"When you have been around as long as I have, your need for some occupation will surpass what is moral and what is not. And the topics flying around recently have much to do with me. In effect, my future is in your hands, prince, and I would prefer you to not do away with it." he says matter-of-factly, his golden eyes fixed on me.

"I don't know why people are expecting me to make such a snap-decision. People act like it's the easiest decision ever."

"No one has said the decision would be an easy one, prince. You and Meghan ran the risk of this happening when you chose to not give Keirran to the Oracle." Grim replies sharply.

"I know," I snap harshly. "doesn't change the fact that I don't know what to do now."

"What is it the mortals say? Follow your heart." the cat says darkly, disappearing.

Almost on cue, Keirran storms into the room. Keirran looked like Meghan, the blonde hair, blue eyes, but his manner was anything but. He could be cold, hard, shadowy and oppressive, just like me when I was his age.

"You didn't kill him?" he says. Keirran looks at me with disgust and, to my anger, a sense of superiority. By his finger pointed at the door accusingly, it's clear to me that he means Puck.

"No."

"Why?"

"What happened to your sister was not his fault. Haven't I taught you to exercise restraint wherever possible?" I say smoothly, folding my arms.

"Restraint." he tuts, as though he is the adult. "You really don't get it. Showing restraint is being slack in other words. Maybe slacking off was alright when you were my age but it isn't that way anymore. It's weakness. People should know to fear you if they should."

His comment makes me angry. I think of Brynna and the countless others that had met their ends at the winter prince's hand. I was anything but slack.

"So you think being oppressive and despotic is right?" I say, my voice turning hard.

"Letting things slide every time gives people leverage over you. If being oppressive means that I get where I need to be, then yes." he says confidently.

"People like that lead the world into war." I swallow hard, keeping my face blank.

"You think I'm going to be one of those people?" he says, his voice hurt. I open my mouth but he stamps me down before I can deny it. "Yes you do, don't even try to deny it. That explains the favouritism for Skylar doesn't it? The first one isn't good enough so we have another, a pretty little princess that you can run around after. I suppose you already have her lined up for the throne."

"Stop being so childish, Keirran."

"Then don't talk to me like I'm a child. Merkhaz was right about you all, it's all corrupted." he hisses furiously. Turning on his heel, he leaves me with just Grimalkin, sat by my side.

"And so, it begins." the cat says sombrely.