Seasons of Ferne, Summer's Passion

Chapter 13

"So," Evelyn said after a few deep breaths, "you're saying I'm some sort of magical fairy princess, well, half fairy I guess. And you need me to somehow travel off to some other magical world and stop an evil sorcerer from building an army and taking over that world with powers I don't know how to use? Forgive me if I'm a little skeptical, but this all sounds a bit far-fetched, even coming from you."

Puck shook his head, "Not really, at least not all of it. You're not a princess Eve, in fact you wouldn't even really be considered royal. The queen already has an heir apparent in her son, Lykos. Just because you're Oberon's daughter doesn't give you a claim to his throne. Plus you'd have to kill the queen, since the Fae are immortal. As for your powers, I'll teach you everything you need to know to survive my world, our world. But I have to teach you now, we only have a few months left before the spell dies. Think of it as a flower, one we need you to water so it can continue to bloom."

Evelyn shook her head, "This all still sounds like a kid's fairy tale, like something out of the books we used to read together."

Puck jumped backwards onto Evelyn's bed and laughed, "Where do you think all those fairy tales came from, if not from the fairies themselves? Oberon and Titania were both friends with the man you call Shakespeare, where do you think he got the names of some of his most famous characters? We used to live amongst humans, sometimes working with them, sometimes against. It was humans who pushed us out of this world and back into our own. I'm not asking you to fully believe me, just trust me. Belief can come later."

"I trust you, Puck. I always have." Evelyn sighed, "OK, let's say I take a chance and agree to all this. Why me? Why not Titania's son?"

Puck bit his lip, skin turning a dull shade of green. "I'm not supposed to know this, nobody is. Lykos is Titania's son, but he's not Oberon's. The night after Oberon was killed the queen drank a potion that would guarantee a child, then in secret took a guard into her bed. Later that night she poisoned the guard while he slept and had his body thrown from the walls to be eaten by the beasts that protect the castle. When she gave birth there was much celebration, for she claimed Lykos to be Oberon's parting gift to his people. But he's not, and as he shares not even a single drop of Oberon's blood he cannot be the one who seals the spell. Only you have that power."

"That's horrible," Evelyn gasped, "why kill the guard? Why lie about her son?"

"Hope," Puck said simply, "the people needed the hope that in such a dark time an heir with Oberon's blood still drew breath within the halls of the castle. Oberon was powerful, the most powerful of the Fae. His people, our people, depended on his magic for protection."

"And how do you know about Lykos, why did she tell you her secret?"

Puck looked genuinely ashamed, his bright violet eyes refusing to leave the floor, "Because I was the one who threw his body over the wall. I told you Eve, I'm bound by blood and oath to serve Oberon. When he died that bond was transferred to Titania."

Evelyn looked at Puck with pity, understanding the pain of having to do something hated. "I'm so sorry Puck, I wish you didn't have to do that."

Puck shrugged, wiping a tear from his eye with one childlike hand, "It's OK, sometimes duty gets in the way of what's right, not much we can do to stop it."

Suddenly a thought occurred to Evelyn, making her sit up straight in her chair, "Wait a sec! Wouldn't Lykos have powerful magic? He is the queen's son after all, can't he help with the spell?"

Puck shook his head again, "No, magic is passed from the father's blood, not the mother's. All Fae, no matter the type, have one thing in common. The father gives strength and power, the mother patience and wisdom. Whatever magic the father passes on to his son or daughter, it's always the mother's heart that governs how that power is used."

"But I'm only half fairy, wouldn't that make me weaker too weak to heal the spell?"

Puck grinned, "No Eve, that makes you even more powerful. When a Fae mates with a human, the human's blood somehow amplifies any magic passed to the child. The queen has outlawed all Fae and human couplings, fearing that one would be born more powerful than herself. She'll fear you, Eve, hate you even. But she'll need you, and that need will keep you safe."

"OK, so what do I have to do to prepare?" Evelyn asked.

Puck brightened up immediately, "You mean you'll do it? You'll help us?"

Evelyn smiled, "Anything for you."

Puck's smile became almost comical, he jumped off the bed and landed hard in Evelyn's lap, hugging her tightly while tears streamed down his face. "Oh thank you eve, thank you! I knew you'd do it, it knew it!"

Evelyn choked on her own laughter as she struggled against Puck's grip, "Not if you crush me first! You got to let go!"

Puck jumped back again, landing on the carpet in front of Evelyn, "Sorry," he said sheepishly, "I'm just so happy!"

"So tell me what I have to do."

"I have to teach you your magic, you're years behind. We can rush it though, your stone will help your magic remember!"

Evelyn reached up and lightly touched the gem, "Is that why this has always been so important to you?"

Puck nodded, "Yea Eve, it's your heart stone. A piece of our world that's connected to you. It'll help you along, help your magic remember."

"You keep saying that? How can my magic remember anything?"

"Because your magic was Oberon's magic. It lives within you, passed on as a living thing from father to daughter. It's small now, but it'll grow. And once it's ready, we can cross the vail and seal the spell once and for all."

Evelyn bit her lip, "But what about my life here? I can't leave it Puck, I love my parents and things are finally going my way. How long would I have to stay in your world?"

Puck's eyes dropped to the floor again, refusing to meet Evelyn's stare. "Well," he stammered, "time's different there you know. I think... Well..."

"Puck?" Evelyn said sharply, "how long?"

"I don't know," he whispered.

"But I will come back? Puck, promise me I'll come back if I go." For the first time Evelyn was sharply aware that she didn't have the ability to feel Puck's emotions. It scarred her. Ever since that power had started she had desperately wished it would go away, but now that she couldn't use it, she desperately wanted it to work. Puck played with a piece of the carpet, refusing once more to look into Evelyn's eyes. Finally he looked up with tear filled eyes and forced a small smile.

"I promise Eve, I'll get you back."

Evelyn sighed with relief, cocking her head as the sound of a car pulling into the driveway filled the room. "My parents are home, you'll have to get out of here. Come back tomorrow after school, we'll talk more then."

Puck stood and hugged her again, "Thank you, Eve," he whispered into her shirt, "I love you."

Evelyn hugged him tightly, "I love you too, I've missed you."

For a moment the two embraced in silence, only breaking apart at the sound of the front door opening. Puck quickly climbed out the window, making it only half way out before a final question entered Evelyn's mind. "Puck?" she asked.

"Yea, Eve?"

"When I go to your world, to the castle, will I meet my mother?"

Puck looked at her sadly, "I'm sorry Eve, but no. The queen slit her throat the moment you were born."

Evelyn gasped in shock, but before she could say anything else Puck was gone.