PRIVATE RP ( for Libitine + [-R.a.i.n.b.o.w-] )

[Libitine]

"You are permitted to decide whether or not you are prepared to be bound to one person," Mab replied, sliding her left arm under Moira Melania's body, to relieve her right arm of the baby's weight. "If you are adult enough to have sex, Leah, then you are adult enough to announce yourself in my kingdom and open yourself to courting."

"There will be no 'using' of either you or Far Dorcha, and you are not to take him up on his offer," the Queen said. "That creature is infamous for his contracts with mortals and faes alike, so much so that only the very desperate creatures take him up on his offers, his favors, or 'promises' as you called them. He knows you lost your mother, and Sky, and underwent this transformation. He knows exactly what you will ask him, for a day in the past. For a chance to speak to Moira as you knew her. He will force you to sacrifice a day in your past, for a day of your wildest fancy, and he will take the day you were born."

Mab leaned back against her pillow, as if a wave of exhaustion had suddenly hit her. Leah looked ashen, and yet, determined, as if her mind was already made up as to how she would be conducting herself. Mab supposed there was nothing more she could do; she could not punish the girl, as she had not yet done whatever it was she wanted to do.

"I have seen it happen, Leah," Mab whispered. "He takes you in his grasp. There is no light, no sound, and no future."

-----------------------

Idath removed his helm and tucked it under his arm, looking at the landscape high above, and far below him that surrounded Anoeth. Above him, were the skeletons of pine trees that covered the mountainside, curving as the stone structure curved.

The trees had never been covered with leaves, always skeletons, for in Anoeth, it was always winter. If Idath were to walk to the edge of the rock his castle was perched upon, he would be able to peer down to the valley below. There were no trees down below, just rocks, and wolves.

His hunt had been successful, though that was meaningless, for people were constantly dying, dying even as Idath lead his horse to the stable and gave him a pail of water to drink. He and his men had a twenty-four hour window in which the soul would remain with the body, waiting to be collected.

Sometimes, Far Dorcha and the banshees went out without the rest of the Slaugh following, and collect the souls themselves. Souls more often than not carried their sorrowful emotions into the afterlife, and mourned the death of their bodies for a brief period after the breath escaped them. More often than not, the misshapen spirits of mortals were weeping when the Slaugh rode up to their house.

-----------------------

Leah was dismissed to bed from Mab's chambers, and the Queen was left to examine her next move, her method of attack. She needed Far Dorcha to act as her ally, not her enemy, so she could more easily investigate the disappearances of those in other realms. In the event that the menace moved into her Land Under Rock, she needed aid too, and Idath would become reluctant to help her if Far Dorcha had been mistreated. Despite his love for Mab and their daughter, the health of his kingdom had to be placed above all that.

She removed Moira Melania from her breast as the baby fell asleep, laying the infant between her legs so she could watch her. Mab covered herself, pulling a bit of fur blanket around the child so she would not grow cold. As if he had heard her concerns about a lack of heat in the room, Loke appeared to his sister.

"Mab," the Lord of Fire said. "I have devised a plan."

"A plan, really?" she replied condescendingly, looking up at him. "How extraordinary. I hope you did not miss too many events deep in thought to construct it."

"I missed the birth of your phoenix," he snapped, gesturing to the baby. "But since you impregnate yourself for personal gain so often, I figured I could miss just one birth."

"Explain to me your plan," Mab said, her eyes narrowing as Loke walked over to her bed, looking curiously at the child.

"She is pretty," he mused. "She has big eyes like you, and a jaunt mouth like you."

"I do not have a jaunt mouth, you arrogant fire sprite," Mab grumbled, touching her hand to Moira Melania's face, as if to erase whatever imperfections Loke saw.

"I want to wake the Mountain King," Loke said proudly, turning his face to stare at Mab and await her reaction.

"What good would prodding Yorick do?" Mab said after a moment of thought. "He has not held a human form for centuries. He is cursed. What do you need to wake him for anyway?"

"Cursed? Psssh!" Loke said, swatting the air as if to cast her statement out of the room. "Please, that has to have worn off by now? Besides, all of us have to ban together to fight the disappearances. I am going to need you to convince that Ariel woman too. I have to say Mab, I am not sure about her. Why is that we cannot just raise Vivianne and put her back in her place? Our Mountain Man would be much more cooperative if we did that."

"That is out of the question," Mab said firmly. "She would come and drown Moira Melania, or Leah, or them both, and I cannot have that. I was not aware, Loki, that your people had fallen victim to this unnamed menace."

"Oh, you are pulling out the old pet name, huh?" Loke teased, chucking her under her chin. Mab wrinkled her nose and Loke laughed. "My realm in tact thus far," he replied. "But I am trying to halt this before it gets that far. If any one element is weakened, the others fall victim to disease. The water world is taking quite a beating, as is Idath, whether or not he has expressed it to you."

"He probably does not wish to put the child in danger," Mab said softly, looking down at the baby. "Which I very much appreciate, but he is not equipped to combat this on his own."

"All the more reason for you to come with me, Mab," Loke said, touching her on her shoulder so her eyes would draw to his. "Leave Moira . . . Mel . . . Mellie with Merlin and come with me."

"I am nursing her," she said. "I would not be able to leave her for long intervals."

"So stop nursing her," Loke said with a shrug. "You will ruin your figure anyway, and that will make your Lord Idath even more distressed."

Mab narrowed her eyes once more, defensively glancing down at her chest.

-----------------------

Far Dorcha's trumpet sounded for the umpteenth time, and Idath slowed his horse as he approached the house his Anku had pointed out to him. He could sense the sorrow in the spirit, the confusion, and the need. Holding out the talisman he wore around his neck to collect souls, Idath felt a smile tug on his cheeks. His adrenaline rushed and he took a deep breath, ready to feel the surge of energy when the soul was collected.

His horse sprinted past the mall house, picking up speed again as it always did after a soul was collected. There was no surge, no glow to the stone. Idath let out a shout, and his horse stopped immediately.

"What is this about?" Death growled, holding the empty stone so his Anku could see. Far Dorcha was clutching his trumpet as he peered through the window of the hut. He was pale, and when his eyes met Idath, they were large.

"There is no soul here," he said. "I was wrong."

"You were not wrong," Idath dismounted, still holding the talisman out in front of him. He dangled it in Far Dorcha's face. "I felt the soul. Where did it go?"

Far Dorcha swallowed. "I can only guess my Lord," he said, acting his part. "But I believe it was just taken from us."

[[-R.a.i.n.b.o.w-]]

The air in Tintagel was choked with so much magic it was almost like being Under the Hill. Mab liked it that way apparently. She was constantly weaving new layers of enchantment to thow over the entire area. Many of the old layers from ages past still held power as well.
But Tintagel was no more than a temporary dwelling while they waited for Moira to grow up. It would never equal the land of magic. And that was exactly where Leah had wandered away to, in her search for fae-flesh. It was Mab's realm, there was no reason to fear.
But she was all alone. The recovery of Mab's court would take time. The landscape and crystals glowed with a new brightness, but her people would take time to grow to what they once were.
Leah swore to herself she would have a bloody orgy right here right now if only there were flesh to take advantage of.
She couldn't get her mind off sex. Her aura throbbed with unfulfilled desire and an unquenchable craving. Then she tasted a delicious scent as Far dorcha made himself known to her.


----------------

Ariel and Loke stood rather far apart from each other on the rocks. It was nothing personal, but their elemental powers were naturally opposite and antagonistic. Water's instinctual response was to smother fire, so it was best not to stand too close to each other. Instead Ariel poured her water down through the earth, awakening the plants, the worms, and the earth itself. It was soothing and refreshing to the ground and it groaned in delight. The Mountain King unconsciously shifted in his slumber, seeking more soothing water. There was a sudden violent hiss of air as Loke slashed his fire across the rock face and stopped its attempt to move toward the water.
The combined power of their taunting woke up the Mountain King with a roar. "Why do you torture me?" his gravely voice rumbled with anger.
"Oh please, its the only real way to get your attention." Loke jeered.
The Mountain King's hand clenched and then reached for him. Yorrick was feeling less and less sleepy lately. The earth was slowly waking up again as the renewed practice of the Old Ways rejuvenated it. Small movements that would have seemed troublesome before no longer bothered him. Loke brutally singed the rocky hand that reached for him.
Ariel sent a huge wave to fall between them. "Now boys, behave yourselves. We didn't come here to start a fight."
Yorrick turned his attention to her. "You're not Viviane, and yet I sense the power of Water rests in you."
"There's been a slight regime change while you were asleep." Ariel explained.
"My friendship was with Viviane. I will not help you."
"I'm fully aware of your friendship. But can we not become friends? Water and Earth have always gotten on so well." Ariel smiled sweetly and allowed her water to gently flow over him and caress him.
For a moment it looked like he would buy it, then he said, "You stink of Mab."
That made Ariel's face fall in disappointment. "So you're only friends with people who hate Mab?"
"No, I'm friends with people who are wise enough not to trust her." Yorrick growled darkly.

Ariel brushed her golden hair back from her face and looked at Loke. "Now what do we do?"
"Where persuasion doesn't work....you use threats." Loke grinned sadistically. "Stone-head, unless you get up off your backside now, you will find out what the powers of water and fire can do when combined."
Yorrick was insulted, but as he examined the determined look on both of their faces, he realised his only ally was dead and he could not fight off two elements at once.

With much grumbling and muttering of curses, Yorrick pulled himself from the ground where he had slept for so long. As he stood up, great earthy chunks fell from him until he was mortal-sized. Long ago, he had laid down on the hillside and when he had fallen asleep, he had became more like a personification of his element until he was inseparable from the earth itself. But now he returned to his more human-like form. Earthy shards fell from his gray skin and he smelled of earth and growing things.
"You always look like you need a bath because you're covered in dirt." Loke criticized him as he sized up his brother.
Ariel however walked forward and placed a hand against Yorrick's cheek. The earth-man flinched at the contact, but then Ariel lightly ran water over his skin washing away the last of the dirt and making Yorrick at least halfway presentable for an elemental king.
Yorrick took her hand from his face, gazing at her with wonder, "Water was always so much kinder to me than Air."
Loke snorted to himself behind them.

-------------

"Do you think there's any particular reason why Idath and my people are hit the hardest?" Ariel spoke up. "I don't see any connection, but its very strange."
Ariel was seated on the right side of Mab and Loke was on the other side of Mab. Yorrick was on the other side of Ariel, glaring sullenly at Mab.
If Ariel hadn't been in between them, Yorrick might have attempted to make a move on Mab. He blamed her for Viviane's death.
Idath was not seated, but peering out the window, his back to them all.
Loke grinned cheekily at Yorrick and the Mountain King lunged for him in response. An earthquake started at the same moment Loke set the table on fire. Mab and Ariel stood up. Ariel doused the table with water, but Loke ran into her trying to dodge the sudden avalanche of rocks aimed his way by Yorrick.
There was a violent hiss of steam that rose where Loke's body collided with Ariel's. They fell away from each other onto the ground. "Ouch!" Loke whined, half of his body, which normally was always burning, was soaking wet. Ariel hadn't fared any better. Half her body was scorched and looked far more painful than Loke's wetness.
But their wounds were healing quickly.
"Enough! You two stay on opposite sides of the room at all times. Also, Yorrick and I stay on opposite sides as well." Mab snapped at them.
"Who made you Queen of the Elements?" Yorrick retorted.
"We took a vote and it was decided." Mab spoke sarcastically, then rolled her eyes. "Use what little common sense you possess and cooperate."

Idath said nothing as he watched this little drama between the elements play out. They had never gotten on well, the elemental powers. They represented opposite extremes so of course it was hard for them to reach a consensus on anything.
"So what are we going to do about our problem?" Idath interrupted what was promising to look like an excellent cat fight between all of them.

"Any suggestions?" Mab asked skeptically.
"How about..." Loke whispered conspiratorially, "Mab and Ariel remove all of their clothes while I watch and..." Mab slapped him around the face.
Loke grinned, while Mab rolled her eyes again and Ariel stared at him in disbelief.

-------------

Mab and Ariel's eyes met as they both felt the same thing for different reasons.
"Far dorcha has taken Leah." Mab whispered in horror.
"Where?!" Ariel beseeched her. She would tear apart the oceans and the land to find her.

[Libitine]

There was an emptiness that rang through Mab's body. It reminded her of the emptiness one must feel when a death is witnessed, as if at that moment there is a realization of eternal loneliness. Far Dorcha's laugh reverberated in her skull, and Mab grabbed hold of Loke for a moment, waiting anxiously for the sound to die down.

Where has he taken her?

"Far Dorcha?" Loke questioned, pulling Mab to his side. She pulled away roughly, smoothing the wrinkles on her tight, velvet dress. Loke watched her carefully, clearly able to detect the cogs turning in her head by the expression she held in her eyes.

"The Anku only kidnaps on his employer's behalf," Yorrick interrupted, his eyes fixated on the window Idath had been looking out of previously. "Is that not correct, Lord Idath?"

"You are not to accuse him," Mab growled, leaping forward, her eyes glimmering like a great black cat's. Her deep navy dress clung to her frame as tightly as a second skin, but the fabric at her feet fanned out, shifting as she shifted her weight on the floor. Besides the waving fabric, Mab was still, posed to strike Yorrick if he so much as took a breath.

Idath, as was his nature, stood still, where as Ariel froze out of fear. Loke wanted so badly for Mab to strike him. That release of energy would center her, bring her back to the task at hand.

"Far Dorcha does not act outside of instruction," Yorrick said.

"Why?" Loke said, instigating. "Because faes are too simple to act on their own accord?"

Mab's shriek harmonized with the great sound of a crack from the ceiling. A bolt of lightning came down, striking Yorrick at his feet. The Master of Mountains did not flinch, but rather shook his head.

"You have always plagued my trees with your shards of fire," he sighed.

"And you have always made mountains to cut apart my storms," she snapped.

"It is finished, Mab," Loke said, an oddly serious expression on his face. "If Far Dorcha is the puppet in this scheme, than Idath cannot be the master, for his people as most wounded."

"A perfect cover," Yorrick grumbled, stepping away from Mab slowly.

"You cannot protect him because he is your bedfellow, Mab," Loke said with a shrug as Idath crossed to the Queen.

"And you cannot speak of me in such tones as though I were absent from the scene," Lord of Winter declared. He did not touch Mab, but stared at Loke as if he had just placed a protective arm around her. "Far Dorcha rides in my Slaugh, lending his services to me, but I have no hold over him. He has never kidnapped for my cause, only Mab's."

"Are you accusing---"

"I accuse no one," Idath interrupted Loke, lifting up a hand to stop his word. "I merely recall the pattern of his behavior. But do you think, perhaps, we have leapt to too grand a conclusion? Leah gave him her purity, and was probably in Mab's court to seek him out, or some other fae to quench her thirst. Who are we to say she did not go willing so as to have him carnally?"

"I cannot feel her," Mab said, her voice almost a whisper. "I feel her constantly, she had Moira Melania are twin candles, blown out when they . . . leave worlds I cannot reach."

"And which world's are these?" Loke pressed, impatient with talk.

"Worlds in which I do not exist," she answered, lifting her gaze to Idath.

*

In the still of the night she crept into darkness to meet him. The woods was cold, the first winter's snow was upon it before the next moon, she guessed, which would be early but welcomed, as the summer heat still seemed to beat against the backs of those who had worked in the fields.

It was an unusually still evening for one on the brink of winter. Ordinarily, the winds howled in this late month, but tonight, Mab kept him still. Her fingers brushed the thick trunks of trees as she moved through the forest, her feet seeming to float above the fallen leaves that coated the floor.

Where have you taken them?

She passed something she thought strange and lowered her gaze, a rare action for Mab to commit. A tree trunk. Just the trunk, sawed clean. The light colored wood glowed in the moonlight, a dull moon itself.

"Anku."

She moved faster, stopping to glance each time she passed a stump, which was more and more frequently as she got deeper and deeper into the thickening wood. Without the passage of too much time, but rather, the passage of a great deal of ground, she came to a man-made clearing, constructed. Stumps littered the ground before her, an odd collection of them in the center of the clearing, lit wholly by the glow of the moon.

"Her Majesty!" the forest breathed, "Long live the Queen! A chair! Bring Her Majesty a chair!"

The chant continued, voice upon voice echoing over the next. A stump, closer to the collection of them, the prime seat before a stage, began to grow. It grew, not into a tree, but a throne, a long back that curved with vines and carvings of faes near the top, and great clawed feet that dug their toes into mud.

"The guest of honor! Our guest!"

Mab walked cautiously to the chair, noting as she drew closer, the way the voices grew more desperate, and yet, more quiet. She sat, and the branches of the trees burst into light. For a moment, Mab thought it was a burst of fire, but she soon saw it was only an incredible multitude of lightning bugs. They floated over the stage, situating themselves in such a way as to direct light specifically on the stage's center, a spotlight. And then a child appeared.

It was a child small in stature, dressed in sheer white with a ruff around his neck and a white skull cap on his head. His face was dusted white, eyebrows and eye lids outlined in black. His small mouth was painted red, exaggerated lips drawn up in a smile, while his actual lips were set in a frown. His movements were very . . . forced, structured, as though he were being pulled. Upon reaching the stage's center, his bowed head was raised, and he produced a white sheet. He held it out to his left, then his right, as if to try and prove to Mab that it was real. He then held it in front of himself, showing only his head. With a smart tug, the cloth was thrown into the air, but what remained behind it was not the child, but smoke.

Suddenly, there was music, a great drumming, that drowned out the silence. Children appeared on the stage, very suddenly, boys and girls alike both dressed and painted in the same manner. The all had vacant expressions on their faces, and moved as thought they were dolls, manipulated by a larger, invisible child, except they performed acrobatics.

They jumped into the air, dancing and tumbling to the drums' beat. It quickly became more advanced, children ran to grab hold of vines ans swung from them, gliding through the air only to let go and be caught by another swinging child. It was as she watched, details of the children's origins became clear.

One of the children on the vines had lumps beneath his skin. His forehead bulged from underneath his cap and his arms seemed to be heavily weighted by other growths beneath his skin. A girl on the stage, flipping at the beat of the music, had skin that was peeling from her body.

Diseased, all of them.

As quickly as it had begun, the movement stopped. Children above hung to the vines on which they had been swinging, and those on the stage looked to their right, making a path in the center of the stage. Even more children lead a pot of boiling water to the center. The little boy from the beginning undid a latch on the side of the pot, revealing a panel of glass from which Mab could see inside.

The little boy lead the girl with the peeling skin to the side of the pot. She hung her hands at her side for a moment, and then took a great twist into the water. There was a splash, and the water burned the child bystanders. They did not flinch.

Mab watched the girl writhe in the hot water, her makeup running off her face as her hands pressed against the glass. The water on the surface bubbled and hissed, smoke billowing down over the edge of the pot. The girl suddenly ceased her motion.

One by one, the children dropped to the ground, as if at that moment, their diseases had overcome them. When the last one fell, Mab stood, her eyes scanning the fallen bodies for a sign.

Far Dorcha appeared in the center of them, near the pot, and smiled.

*

The memories of their escapades, circuses, wounded Queen Mab, especially when her gaze fell upon Moira Melania's face. Had she been taken, what would Mab have done? Had the baby gone missing, a token left in her place, what would Mab to do?

That is why they, the people, had turned on her. There was no other reason. She had seen it as an honor, that the fae Queen had chosen their child, but they had seen it as treason against them, for as they served her, she was to protect them.

Mab had excused herself from her siblings to go to the baby. She had no plan beyond confronting Far Dorcha, and that was something to be done alone.

--------------

While the ground before him was cracked, it had not cracked under his weight. It had always been cracked. He lead Leah, wings bound tightly across her chest, hands tied together at her waist, though it did not matter, for there was no magic here.

Far Dorcha clapped his hands, the sound bouncing off jagged rocks that jutted up from the broken clay, and looked out to the gray horizon. Everything was gray.

A great man appeared from thin air, not by use of magic, but by use of his soul. All he had in this wasteland was his soul, and the soul could appear and disappear at will, but never cross the boundry of this land.

"Imperial King," Far Dorcha said, gesturing behind him to his prize. "Jupiter, I have brought you the faery princess."

The man in red touched his hand to Leah's cheek and smiled.

[[-R.a.i.n.b.o.w-]]

Leah screamed when the man in red touched her. She kept shrieking until Far dorcha slapped her. Her eyes snapped open. The Imperial King was gone. "Would you stop it? He could have killed you for such insolence." Far dorcha warned her.
"Bite me." Leah snarled at him.
"Don't tempt me."

------------------


He entered her hard and fast. Her nails bit into his dark skin. She tried to bleed him, to tear him to shreds, but he healed so quickly it didn't matter how much she struggled.

"How about this....I'll f*** you as many times as you want and more if you'll keep quiet and follow my lead." Far dorcha offered her.
She screamed defiance at him.
He pressed his face against hers, breathing words into her ear. "They are all going to die anyway. This way you're safe and I get to keep you."

One of them appeared during their violent lovemaking. He hissed at the spirit, his body still crouched over hers like some kind of feral cat. "She is mine!"
His eyes glowed dangerously.

"Hmmph. You don't have to worry. I will not take her from you. She is no longer my creature and even I cannot change her back." Viviane scoffed at him.

Leah's mouth fell open in shock.

"The Imperial King has asked for you, Dark man."

"And you're his new messenger-girl?" he taunted her, still angry at the interruption.

"Do not mock me! I will kill you!" the spirit's voice echoed strangely.


----------------------


Leah had been missing for years by human world time, but for the land of magic it had only been a few months. Time flowed differently in different places. Moira, raised in the human world to accelerate her growth, was a little girl now, from appearance she looked around 5 years old. Mab adored her, but her fear grew everyday.
The elemental powers and their people continued to dwindle, slowly being drained by the darkness that now clung to the borders of every world.

----------

Ariel's back was pressed against the stone wall. Loke traced feather-light fingers up her arm. She hissed in pain when red welts appeared wherever he touched.
"It's summer solstice. We should be able to touch. If only you would restrain yourself a little..."

"Well maybe I don't want to restrain myself." She scorned him, but sounded slightly breathless anyway.

"Heh, that's fine. Pain and pleasure were much the same in my book."

He crushed his hot lips against her cool ones and she was forced to restrain herself or end up with a bleeding mouth.
"You're just doing this to mess with Yorrick..." she accused.

"Maybe I am...maybe I'm not." Loke's eyes gleamed with excitement.
"I still love the idea of you and Mab, skin to skin." He purred at her. "You two can touch without harming each other."

"Keep dreaming, lover boy."

He laughed loudly, happily. "Then I will have sweet dreams tonight."

He pressed hot, open-mouthed kisses along her neck and steam rose off her skin.
He entered her slowly, watching her face with delight. She writhed underneath him.

------

"Why does it feel like a sauna in here?" Idath complained. When he had opened the door, hot mist had billowed out of the chamber.
Loke responded playfully. "If you weren't so busy interrupting my summer solstice celebration, you might be having one of your own."

"Ah, I already took care of that."

The mist cleared out of the room enough for Loke and Ariel to see Idath's arm draped around the waist of a naked Mab.
Loke's grin only increased. "This must be one of those sweet dreams. Mab and Ariel in the same room...naked."
This time it was Ariel who smacked him.

Mab rolled her eyes. "We have a new development, which has interrupted the fun tonight."

"Yorrick needs to hear this too." Mab's eyes traveled over them for a moment. "And I don't think he'll be too cooperative if he sees any of us like this."

Loke scooped Ariel up into his arms before she could protest. "Very well. Then we will find some clothes."

---------------

Ariel had been wonderful. But it was tamer sex than what he would have experienced with Mab. It had to be. They could hurt each other so easily if they lost control. Water and fire were opposite elements, but Mab...Mab was the center. She could sleep with either one of them without holding back. And there would be such ferocity, such power in either combination.

Right now Loke was just a little bit envious of Idath, he didn't have to hold back with his lover.
However, there had been another purpose in sleeping with Ariel besides good fun and annoying Yorrick. The firelord had hoped that by joining their bodies and powers, they could somehow reignite the magic that they all so desperately needed... but it was still fading.

The firelord cursed himself. He had tried to do it out of sequence. He should have known better. He was the oldest of the four. He knew what order it should have been done in.

Fire was the first element to appear before the beginning of time. Air followed Fire and mated with it. Then Water appeared and mated with Air. Fire had chased after Air, trying to catch it. But Air and Water together had proved too strong to tame alone.
Finally, Earth had appeared and caught Water's attention, the beginnings of the division of the strength of Air and Water. Fire had his chance with Air again, for a short time, but quickly lost it to another ancient being unlike the other elements, Death.

Loke shook his head to clear away such ancient memories. Things had changed so much since then. But perhaps a small reenactment of the process would renew the universe and their strength?
Loke grinned devilishly to himself. Mab would think he was just using it as an excuse to get into her bed. But he really did believe it would work...it certainly couldn't hurt.

The elements needed to be at their strongest for something bad was coming. Loke could feel it in his bones. Something was going to happen and no world -magic or mortal- would be safe.

[Libitine]

Ariel seemed to raise her head, and the steam that was in the air collected in a stream around her naked form. It swirled around her body for a moment, and then faded to reveal a blue-gray garment covering her body. Loke, though pleased she was coming into her element so smoothly, was disappointed to see her cover up. He was even more disappointed to watch Mab casually clasp a black robe under her breasts, hiding her nakedness as well. In protest, Loke neglected to dress.

"I will not stay here if he has not decided to take this seriously," Yorrick said, suddenly having entered the room. "Mab, make him dress."

"Do not run to big sister Mab," Loke said, leaning against a great stone dresser. Irony was his plaything. "I am plenty serious about the matter. I do not have to put on my grown-up cloak to prove so."

"And if Moira Melania enters?" Yorrick challenged, his stone physique having made him utterly panicked by the thought of human flesh.

"She is with Frik, having a lesson," Mab said dryly. "But that is hardly the point. Both of you stop it! You will force me to do this entirely on my own if you continue to bicker."

Yorrick slumped into a chair in the far corner of the room, disappointed that he had failed thus far to get even one of the elementals on his side. As the youngest, and the most reserved, he was often overlooked. It was because of this he hypothesized they were weak, but had he ever thought to mention that, he doubted it would be considered. Mab lead their camp and the others listened.

"I remembered an encounter Far Dorcha and I had years and years ago," Mab said, not bothering to wait for an invitation to speak. She did not normally need one. "I have been going over his employment with me in great detail as of late, and I began to see somewhat of a pattern in the kidnappings, but working backwards."

"I do not follow," Loke interrupted. "Are you saying he alone is responsible for this darkness?"

"Not at all," Mab said. "I am saying that his employer is using my history with him to attract my attention. I was first alerted to this when Idath informed me of his last encounter with Far Dorcha, roughly two days before his disappearance almost five years ago."

"We were riding in my Slaugh," Idath said, not interrupting, but contributing. "And he sensed a soul, as was his duty. He began to lead me near it, and I sensed it too, but as we drew closer, the sense disappeared all together. He blamed it on a miscalculation, but there is no way that could be. I sensed it too."

"I asked Idath to take me to that location, if he could remember," Mab continued. "And he could, and he did, and I found myself in a small forest town. Far Dorcha was fond of taking his . . . the children to the forest, where they would be secluded, and having them perform, for me. Mostly acrobatics, and the children were mostly sick, so, at the time, it did not seem to matter."

She paused, realizing how defensive she was beginning to sound.

"I thought the target of the human world, Loke's people, and the water world was an odd combination," Idath said, taking over once more. "I mean, Ariel and Loke, water and fire, are opposite by nature, as displayed by your exchanges and behaviors when not in the time of the solstice. Wounding the Loke hardly hurts Ariel directly, rather the elements as a whole; the same goes for wounding Ariel in relation to Loke. For the longest time, it did not make sense to me in the slightest, until I reasoned that with the elements in turmoil, the earth was in turmoil. I was also in turmoil."

"But," Mab said quickly, having regained her composure. "The more we traveled through the mortal world, tracing our steps, we discovered two things. The first, that this meddling with capturing spirits from our realms actually hurts the mortals more than it hurts us. Think of it this way, if Idath cannot collect the correct souls, than people cannot cross into the next world. Their spirits begin to haunt the earth, and families are tortured. Some people cannot even bring themselves to die. They lie in endless misery."

"Mermaids and water sprites keep the underwater atmosphere in tact," Idath jumped in. "They clean the coral, filter the sea, and maintain the balance between predator and prey, enabling fishermen to bring dinner to their families. Fire sprites lend the power of flame to the mortal world, starting fires in kitchens, and in forests to promote rebirth. Fire brings life."

"So the human world is suspended in limbo," Mab continued. "No Death, no Life."

"All of this is obvious," Loke snorted, unimpressed. "Your detective work does not seem all that fruitful."

"The humans are the victims in all of this, not the gods," Mab said sharply. "That is the point. This is not an attack on us, but on the human world, we just happen to be connected."

"How does Far Dorcha tie in?" Loke inquired. "You said that the disappearances created a trail of some sort."

"A trail, perhaps not," Mab corrected herself. "But a . . . a series of links, to me. I understand you and Ariel are obvious links, but I am looking deeper than that. Each of the captured mermaids were former followers of mine, when they were mortal. Each of the sprites had been a gift to Vivianne I had crafted decades ago. Same goes for Loke. They were original sprites of my design. The humans, though, were different. This took a bit of guessing."

"They are all Roman immigrants," Idath said proudly. "People who fled after the death of Caesar and the disposal of the Roman religion. They are Roman Christians in Britain to spread the new religion."

"So," Loke said, drawing out the vowel sounds. "You are saying that..."

"Far Dorcha is employed by dead gods," Mab said with a small shrug, as if it was that simple all along.

-------------------

"How can you teach me fire when that is under my Uncle Loke's domain?" Moira Melania inquired, staring quizzically at the flame before her eyes. Mab had focused on her speech before her magic in her first few years of life, and the way she spoke very much chilled Frik's bones. She was such a little girl, and yet, such a mirror of the Moira who had come before her. Granted, he saw more Idath in this Moira than the previous, but still, he often felt he was speaking to the original all over again. He often felt Moira was under a spell, and could wake from it at any moment and remember it all.

She did not like Frik in this body either. She looked at him with a confused expression, as if she was at a loss was to how to explain to herself his appearance, or existence. She thought he was without authority as well and did not understand why she could not learn exclusively from her mother. Mab had spent a lot of time training Moira Melania, despite the chaos in the realms. It was only when Mab had to chat with her siblings, or visit Idath in Anoeth, that Moira Melania was dropped off with Frik.

"Well, Mistress Moira Melania," Frik gulped, trying to get all of his words out before the girl set him aflame. "Though fire itself is under the rule of Lord Loke, conjuring it is just a trick, especially since you are . . . are only a h-hand wizard, currently, but, but, but all that will change! In time, you will improve and then . . . you will n-not n-n-n-eed the illusion of fire."

"Illusions are not real," Moira Melania said, weaving her fingers together as she placed her hands on the table. "I find it a waste to master illusions when you should be teaching me magic."

That's not real magic! It's a twick!

Gods, she echoed in his head. Children were all the same, well-spoken or not. They were all impatient. He knew Moira Melania was smarter than this, cleverer even; she enjoyed yanking him around far too much.

"Everything happens in stages, princess," Frik said cautiously. "Even your mother had to take it in strides when she first took form. As long as you p-practice, you will build strength and master your craft."

Moira Melania eyed him curiously. She caused his muscles to tense when they were in lessons. Frik was very skeptical of her capabilities, sometimes convinced by the look in her eye that she remembered her magic in her past life and could do more. I thought for sure she would strike him. That would be so like her mother.

As the thought crossed his mind, he placed an unlit candle on the table.

"Why don't you try lighting this?" he asked, gesturing to the candle.

Moira Melania smirked, and the candle disappeared from the table. Frik gasped, only to notice that she had made the candle reappear on his head, lit.

"How's that for illusion?" the little girl whispered.

[[-R.a.i.n.b.o.w-]]

A woman with eerie pale skin and hair the color of vivid seaweed silently massaged the Imperial King's shoulders.
Far Dorcha walked unerringly towards the King. He looked neither right nor left at the shadows and spirits that choked the barren landscape around the simple throne of redwood.
He knelt on the ground, "Milord, you requested me?"

"Yes, how is your pet?" His voice was a discord of broken violin strings and made Far dorcha want to wince.

"She is well-guarded." It was easy to hear both the promise and the threat in his words.

The Imperial King smiled briefly before his face clouded. "You may keep her Dark man as payment for your help. But if she gets in our way, I will show no leniency."

"Then I will make sure she stays with me."

---

"Dear sister do you remember how we first came into being long ago?" Loke's eyes bored into Mab's. "If we are to rescue Leah and defeat these wayward gods of the past, we will need all of our magic. The kind of magic we wielded in our younger years."

All four elements in the room would have to agree to this reenactment of creation. But Loke believed Mab was key, her consent more important than any of them. If she decided to do something, the others would eventually follow suit.

"Would you lie with me once more?"

---------

Ariel was entertaining Moira. Idath sat nearby deep in thought, only half-watching the antics of his daughter and Ariel.
Loke and Mab were gone, but would soon return and then Ariel and Mab would leave together.
Yorrick pouted in the corner silently, but he kept glancing at Ariel. She ignored him, not happy with his attention, not happy with what she would have to do with him. But it was a necessary sacrifice to save Leah, her beloved.

Moira happily splashed up and down in the puddles Ariel had created, giggling as she soaked her dress. Moira would often turn the splashes into bubbles she could chase.
Moira turning her water to bubbles made Ariel wonder what would happen when her powers were combined with Mab for the first time. It was sure to be something more dangerous than bubbles.

"Can you make it rain?" Moira melania asked her excitedly.

"mmm..I'm more concerned with the water on the ground. But with your mother's help, yes I could make it rain."

"Where is my mother?"

"She is with Loke right now. She will return shortly, but I'm afraid she won't be able to stay very long."


-------------------


Leah stood at the door of the cave, starring out at the dark landscape. They were somewhere deep in Anoeth as far as she could tell. But perhaps it only looked like Anoeth. She really didn't know where she was.
Her hand pressed against the invisible wall that kept her from moving outside the cave. She had been here for two weeks now.

After a few minutes of staring forlornly out at the landscape, Far dorcha came striding through the rocks and reached the entrance.
"How long do you intend to keep me here, imprisoned like a bird in a cage?"

"Until I know you're safe."

"Safe from what?"

"From what's coming."

"Stop with the vague sentences. You must not harm the mortal and faery worlds. Why would you want to do that?"

"I do not wish to harm them, but I have no other options. I intend to survive this war."

"What war? You have to give me some answers. Maybe if we put our heads together, we could discover a way to get you out of this mess."

Far dorcha shook his head sadly. "No, it is impossible. Every plan will fail. You cannot kill the dead, especially not in this place because magic withers immediately. No one's powers work here, not even mine. How would you defeat an enemy without your magic?"

"I'd find a sword, a mortal, anything that doesn't require magic."

"Everything, including the mortal realm, requires magic to live, some just need less than others."

Far dorcha moved into the cave. "Leah, I'm trying to save you."

"I will not let you sacrifice everyone I love."

Far dorcha swept her into his arms, trying to distract her with the feel of his flesh.
"No." She pushed away from him. "The burning need I felt is coming to an end. You will not control me that way any longer."

He dropped to one knee in front of her. "I would worship you like a goddess if you would only give yourself to me."

[Libitine]

"Do not be afraid, little sprite. I will not harm you," the man in red said, extending his hand toward the amethyst fairy. She was crouched down near the earth, shielding herself behind roses on a bush. He smiled kindly, taking her hand and gently tugging her from behind the foliage.

"That is no way for a Queen to behave," he said, raising his arm, hand in hers, prompting her to do the same. She lifted her arm as he lifted his and his eyes widened, taking in her figure. She lowered her chin, pink flushing her cheeks.

"Now, now," the man in red smiled. "You are a pretty little thing, yes you are." He stepped toward her, free hand swinging out to grab her by the waist. "Let's see how pretty you taste."

Without warning, the girl lunged forward, breaking her hand free from his and plunging a dagger into his side.

"Is this the behavior you had in mind for your Queen?" she whispered, shoving him to the ground.

Maeve wiped the hand that had been inside his on the side of her dress, watching the man in red struggle for air in the dirt. She smiled to herself, pleased she was able to deceive him so. As she heard his gasps turn into chuckles, the smile dissipated.

"You are nearly as fiery as I," the man said, gesturing to his side. It was without wound. "Perhaps I shall crown you Queen of Fire, mistress to me, instead of Air and Magics and whatnot."

He leapt up from the ground and gave her another good look from tits to toes.

"You are perfect."

-----------------

"Perfect, oh gods," Loke whispered, lips lost in her onyx locks. Her legs wound around his waist, the thin layer of black fabric between them wetting slightly under her. He touched his lips to her porcelain skin, hand gently massaging her left breast.

They would tango in this tangle for a while more, as Mab was not conquered easily. Her manner of dragging the affair out was so unfair, especially considering her current plaything. Loke imagined Idath had her often, and if he did not, he had enough memory of her tight around his member to hold him over. Loke saved himself for Mab. He took no other bed partner, as was the tradition of the Elemental Kings before each of them grew progressive, and Mab's sexual energies became attached to her wings, things she used by the second in the good old days.

Her icy grip tightened around his organ and Loke let out a low moan. "By the gods, madame," he said and flipped her over, pinning her to the bed. "Your reign is over."

-----------------

"Who are you?" Maeve said, tilting her head as she looked at the red man. He had thick, curly hair in different shades of amber and a long beard. His eyes were black, his clothing blood. While his appearance at first startled her, the sprite was adjusting to his face, even beginning to take to it. There was an odd, exotic quality to the red man that she wished to investigate. Never had a man taken such interest in her form.

“I am what sparked life, when first you stirred,” the man replied, slowly collapsing into a deep bow. “I am Loke, Lord of Fire, and you are what begot me, Mab, Queen of Air and Darkness.”

In these first moments, timid breaths and shaky stances, she experienced speechlessness. If they had come to be in the same moment, this moment, or a moment before, how was it that he was endowed with such knowledge, yet every detail of her surroundings was stark and startling and new.

“Innocence,” Loke said, standing again and approaching her. He laid a warm hand on her chilled cheek. She flushed. “We played in the sky, carving this . . .”

He kicked at a rock near his feet, smirking. “This bit of our brother, who will be about shortly, no doubt.”

Her eyes darted around, a forest, she had thought, but as she looked she saw about her everything was coming to be. Sprouts tore holes in the ground and unfurled toward yellow light in the sky, every darkening by a rush of oncoming clouds. It was colder, suddenly, in her apprehension of this, this Loke, she felt it growing colder.

“We played in the sky, carving this world,” Loke finally finished. “We were one when you knew me, and you have given yourself the precious gift of Innocence.”

-----------------

Mab looked up at him, fingers running frigid paths down his chest.

“This is not carelessness, Loke,” she warned. “This is business. This is duty.”

“Your concept of duty differs from mine,” Loke whispered, slipping between her legs. “For you, duty is spiritless. For one as old and as bored as I, duty is blessing, a privilege.”

She felt him, and the great glass doors to the balcony of the room burst open. There was a howling wind, one that screamed the flames on the candles out. Loke shivered, hoping Idath, ever vigilant outside the door, was reacting the same. He moved his hips forward harshly, and a red lick popped back into harmony with its wick.

“You wish to tear this castle down,” she said, one clawed hand digging into the flesh at his hip. “Don’t you? The consequence . . . you will stop at nothing but utter destruction.”

“In service to my goddess,” he whispered, breathing becoming more labored. “I will stop at nothing to perform my duty, to relish in my blessing.”

She fought him, the wind fought him, and he fought back harder. What to an outside eye would have appeared a joyful coupling suddenly toiled against darkness. A wardrobe fell, then a mirror, then a small table that took with it a burning candle. The wax cylinder rolled along the floor to the bed, where it kissed a bit of black fur blanket. Mab breathed sharply, having regained her position on top, as the blanket sparked heat, flame curling the individual hairs and reducing them to ash.

Her wind raged, knocking the wood on the door so violently Idath could have sworn it was a cry for help. Wishful thinking, he concluded as the smell of burnt hair reached his nostrils. What a spectacle, he thought, as necessary as it was not, for he knew the element of play and deep yearning lingered in them both. He kept his eyes on the wall opposite him, back to the door, simultaneously steadfast and utterly flaccid.

“You play this game a wicked way,” Loke huffed, palms heating with anticipation. He held her waist, the skin he touched turning pink from ash white.

“Loke . . .” she labored. “It is not a game.”

“Then release, for me,” he said, sitting up to face her, ever connected.

She had to, she knew she had to in order to restore their balance, but part of her regretted that technicality so deeply. Though she found herself in a vortex of air, littered with flame, the sound of Idath’s breathing, what she imagined it to be, seemed to fill the room, fill her ears and consciousness. The wind, her very wind, mocked his meter, and her mind, desperate to focus on Loke and his craft, extinguished and danced around thoughts of her partner, the girl’s father. And it was his fault, Loke’s fault, as guardian of emotion. His very presence intensified her conflict, her doubt, and the speed of her wind.

“Mab,” Loke said, raising his voice a bit to be heard over her reeling and her element. “Queen Mab, how I worship you. Reign over me, Queen. Prove your immortality.”

It is a duty, she thought, feeling Loke reach his point of expulsion. It would be like fire on oil, she knew the great burn. It is a duty, to Loke, to our world, and to Moira. For what else does a Queen hold but a duty?

“Now, Loke,” Man replied, “Bow to me as only you know how.”

Loke’s mouth took her breast and he bit and sucked as hard as he could, concealing the shout that threatened to boil out of him like lava. He would spare Idath that. Idath, Idath was her quietness, the sincerity and determination with which he felt her quench, tighten beyond comprehension, and then quake to stability. The winds ebbed and he kissed her forehead.

“Lustful sprite . . .” Loke said softly, cradling her shoulder blades in his hands as he rested his forehead on her collarbone.

“I know,” she replied, hand untangling his hand. “Loke, I know. No poignant closing line, please.”

“As you wish,” he said, placing a tender kiss right below her neck. “As you wish, my origin.”

[[-R.a.i.n.b.o.w-]]

This is a scene I wrote all those years ago while I was waiting for Libitine to finish her post, but then it was never released to the public. I'm going to cook up a real ending shortly, but I wanted to let this scene play out like I always intended it to.

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Ariel was old, but nowhere near as old as Mab. Ariel had been around a few centuries as a mermaid before she became Queen of the element of Water. But Mab was as old as creation itself. Ariel was frightened too. She was new to these powers, afraid she wouldn't be able to control them, afraid she would fail her people. Mab had lived with the duties of a queen for so long she made it look easy, her confidence never seemed to waver. Ariel wanted to be strong like that, but she still felt mired in so much self-doubt.

"You don't think...Loke will try to spy on us?" Ariel glanced around the room, suddenly feeling awkward and nervous.

"He wouldn't dare." Mab hissed, tossing her cape aside.

Ariel took her dress off and placed it folded on a chair. She sat down on the bed, avoiding Mab's gaze. Her fingers twitched nervously in her lap.
She didn't realize Mab was right beside her until Mab put one hand on top of her twitching ones in an effort to calm her.
She looked into Mab's green eyes, an exact copy of Leah's eyes. Maybe this would be easier if she just imagined Mab was really Leah.

"You won't fail them." Mab assured her.

"What?" Ariel blurted.

"Because what you and I are going to do tonight will make your people strong again." Mab promised as she pushed her back gently onto the bed.

"Loke and Idath are keeping a barrier around the room at all times, so you don't need to worry about losing control of your element."

"Do you always think of everything?" the white goddess stared up at the hypnotizing dark goddess above her.

"Of course I do." Mab's lips crashed down upon Ariel's.

It was like the pull of the moon, the pull of the wind on the ocean tides. The bed was suddenly soaking wet and there was a sudden wind storm in the room.
Then it began to rain, drenching the rest of the room, leaving nothing dry.

Two pale bodies writhed against one another on the bed. Midnight and golden hair were mixed together like the rain and the wind mixed together in the atmosphere above.

It was nothing like what Ariel had shared with Loke. She had been crippled with him. Unable to unleash her full powers in fear that she would harm him. With Mab, there was nothing she could do that Mab couldn't match with her own. They fit perfectly together, skin to skin, feeding on each other's power, until a hurricane swelled to life.

They were like yin and yang, darkness and light, two opposite halves coming together to finally form one complete whole.

It didn't take long for the younger one to reach her orgasm. Mab did her work well. She wiped her fingers on the sheets and then pulled an unresisting Ariel on top of her.
What Mab did efficiently, methodically, Ariel did lovingly, innocently. Mab was a goddess of lust while Ariel was a goddess of the heart.
Mab shuddered as she reached her completion under Ariel's gentle caresses.
Ariel stole one last kiss as Mab slid from the bed. It was not in her nature to do anything without it reaching all the way through her heart. She could not detach herself from emotion the way Mab could.

Mab stood at the edge of the bed and stroked Ariel's eager face for a moment while pondering the next step of the plan, "And now for Yorrick..."

Ariel recoiled instantly. "I do not want him to touch me."

Mab sighed. "Remember Leah. You want to save her as much as I do. I would bed Yorrick myself if I had to..."

-------

Yorrick sneered when Ariel and Mab entered the room. "Is it my turn yet?"
"You will be swift and do your job." Mab ordered him. "If you use this opportunity to take advantage of her, you will pay."

"Hmph!" he snorted and looked over at an Ariel who was glaring determinedly in the opposite direction.

----------

Yorrick slid an arm around her waist. She tensed, but gave no reaction. She would be strong just like Mab. She would handle this just like Mab would and save her people.

[[-R.a.i.n.b.o.w-]]

Loke was somewhat jealous of Yorrick. Although Loke considered Mab to be the greater prize, Ariel was still very beautiful in her own right. But nevertheless, Loke dutifully added his strength to the barrier Idath and Mab created around the room.

----------------

Yorrick followed after Ariel into the room, stomping petulantly like a child. Ariel could feel the slight, unintended tremors of the earth beneath his feet as he did this.

Determined to melt his stone heart and save Leah, Ariel released a flood into the room. It flowed gently around his legs, soothing the earth into submission.

“Come,” Ariel held out a hand to him. “Earth needs water for life. There’s no reason for this tension between us.”

“Ariel, don’t you understand?” Yorrick pressed himself against her. “Earth and water create life and it is the most miraculous of all the elemental combinations. The others have never understood it. They think themselves the most important just because I’m the youngest and fire, air, and water had to come together first for the world to be born. But it would be a barren world without our powers.”

Ariel let out a peaceful sigh as Yorrick’s power enveloped her. She didn’t notice the minor earthquake happening below her flood, instead she was hypnotized by the smell of fresh summer roses. Vines of roses grew instantly and creeped up the walls and across the ceiling.

Yorrick continued his pleading, “Viviane understood this quite well. Water/Air are nothing but a destructive combination. Fire is just as deadly. But Water/Earth is peace, bliss, healing…..it is never destructive. We are the true elements of life.”

--------

As soon as Ariel and Yorrick finished being together, the land of Anoeth experienced a major earthquake. The Imperial King let out a horrifying shriek as he and his netherworld minions toppled down into a giant ravine that had opened up, splitting the entire land of Anoeth into two.

Next a giant tidal wave of greenish water swept over the land and down into the ravine, drowning any who had survived. A great cloud of steam rose up as if molten lava had been at the bottom of the pit. The skies above of Anoeth, normally a dull grey dead color, churned with deep colors of purple and blue, and sent vicious lighting strikes into the massive pit of water.

“Well, that was a shocking ending, wasn’t it?” Far dorcha laughed, making a terrible pun about the lightning.
Leah snorted at him in response. The barrier that the Imperial King had placed on the cave had vanished.

“I think you should run. Run far away and never stop…. because they will hunt you until the end of time for this.” Leah advised him.

“Not if I swear myself to someone.” Far dorcha turned to her seriously.

“What good would that do?” Leah criticized. You’ve been in Mab’s court and Idath’s court. You were loyal to neither. Your oaths are meaningless.”

“You misunderstand. I never swore oaths to either of them. I have always kept myself court-less on purpose. I was an amusing friend or servant to them, but never a true denizen of their kingdoms. I loved having no true loyalty to anyone but myself.”

“However, I always intended to swear myself to you, Leah. That’s why I took you. To keep you safe from the Imperial King’s plans. In return for my services, he granted me permission to save the life of only one person from the coming destruction. I chose you. Because if you were dead, who would I swear myself to?”

“I do not want you.” Leah brushed him off defensively.

“But you have me anyway.” Far dorcha knelt before her. “I swear to Leah, my queen, that I will always be faithful and true in all service to her cause. That I will defend her to my last breath. And that if I should ever break these oaths, I will immediately be taken and devoured alive by the great carrion-crow of death himself.”

Leah let out a small breath of irritation, but said nothing, instead choosing to vanish back to Tintagel.

---------------------

What Leah found at Tintagel was surprising. All four Elemental Kings and Death were present.
That immediately explained the fantastic destruction Leah had witnessed in Anoeth. The Earth King, Yorrick, touched Ariel briefly on the shoulder before he headed out into the world, humming to himself. It sounded like the peaceful sound of birds and bees in summertime. Loke toasted the air from where he was lounging at the table. “And the missing princess returns!” he joked in Leah’s general direction.
Ariel ran over to hug Leah in relief.
Mab simply gazed steadily at Leah. “Good, she is unharmed.” Mab thought to herself.

Idath, his mouth set in a grim line, put out his hand and forcefully summoned Far dorcha from the netherworld to stand trial before them all.

Far dorcha collapsed in front of Idath and Mab. With the full weight of Idath’s power bearing down on him, he could not stand. “Traitor…” came a vicious hiss from Mab.

“Instead of warning us, you helped the enemy.” Idath spoke calmly. “This level of treason cannot go unpunished, Far dorcha.”

“I saw the enemy’s strength and did not believe there was any hope of defeating him.” Far dorcha explained dully, no plea for mercy in his dead voice. He had already accepted the inevitable.

“You are not swore to any court, therefore judgement and punishment must rest with me.” Idath explained to him. Idath drew his sword Caliban and raised it to deliver the final blow.

Still gripping Ariel’s hand tightly, Leah finally decided to interrupt. “Actually, he his sworn to a court. He is sworn to me now. I get to decide his punishment.”

“That would actually be me, but go on, dear, I’m eager to hear how you will punish him.” the look Mab gave her was a command to show no mercy.

Leah took a deep breath and pronounced her verdict. “You protected me, Far dorcha. Therefore I will not kill you since I owe you a life debt. However, because you are a traitor, you are banished from Faerie forever. You will dwell in the mortal realm for all eternity… or until you wish to perish of your own will.”

It was as close to a death sentence as Leah could get without actually killing him. But ultimately, Leah didn’t want to see him killed. Some small part of her still held affection for him, as disloyal as he was.

Mab seemed mostly satisfied with that punishment. To her, being permanently banished from Faerie was like being banished to eternal hellfire. But she dropped a small lightning bolt near Far dorcha, who flinched. “Be gone, insect!”
Far dorcha fled immediately, and then Mab swept out of the room to collect Moria melania.

“I must return to the water now.” Ariel squeezed Leah’s hand gently. “Please come visit me when you are ready.”

Ariel slipped away, leaving nothing but a puddle of water behind as evidence.

“I love happy endings!” Loke jumped up and exclaimed, grabbing Idath around the shoulders like they were best friends. “Drinks all around!” He toasted his mug of ale into the air.

Idath eyed him. “Yes, congratulations. But I must return to my kingdom now to assess the damages caused by all of this.”

Idath vanished, right before Mab returned to the room carrying Moira melania.

“We are going home too.” Mab proclaimed.

Loke sighed with fake-depression. “I guess the party is over.”

------------

Epilogue:

Moira grew up strong and beautiful and slowly over time her memories of her previous life did return to her. She spent a great deal of time in Anoeth with Idath, while Leah often visited Ariel in her realm.

Dustin prospered as king of the mortal realm and Mab continued her usual schemes, as she had for a millennia, to gain as much influence in the human world as she could.

Yorrick and Loke walked the land far and wide, occasionally stopping in to visit their favorite respective sister. And so peace and harmony was finally restored between the elements.


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This fic could have been never-ending lol, but frankly it was time to wrap it up. Although it will always be possible to open it up again in the future.