The Iron Hostage (An Iron Fey Fanfiction)

Chapter Nine: Incomplete

Kenzie felt her body almost materialize into nothing in front of Ethan.  Her vision went dark as she felt her body fly around.  Was it through time?  Space?  She had no idea.  All she knew was that when she next woke up, she was laying on the ground and Bonecrusher was sitting next to her, leaning against a tree.

"How did it go?"  He asked.

"Not good.  I didn't get him."

"Did you not find him."

"No, I found him.  But he knew me somehow.  He wasn't even scared.  I got a bad feeling, I just had to get out of there."

"Titania will understand.  She has other ways of getting to him."

"Like what?"  She sat up to look at him now.

"Ethan has a girlfriend.  Put her in the mix and he'll do just about anything.  Besides kill her though."

"So what, are we going to try and kidnap her?"

"It's a little more easy than that."  Bonecrusher laughed.  "She's a mortal."

"A mortal?"

"Well, so is Ethan?"

"Then how is he related to the Iron Queen?"

"See that's, that's a really long story that I can explain on our ride home.  We just have to wait for Ello.  He went around to find dirt to tell Titania."

"I'll take a nap then."  Kenzie said as she rested her head on the ground once more.  She didn't have her eyes closed long before she was stirred awake.

"Get up.  It's time to go."  Bonecrusher said.  She stood and hopped up onto her horse.  Again they let Ello lead the way back.  Kenzie rode next to Bonecrusher.

"So, tell me now, how Ethan and the Iron Queen are related."

"Well, let's first start off at the beginning."  He went on to tell her about Meghan's 'father' and how he disappeared when she was six.  Then about how she learned, while trying to save four year old Ethan while she was sixteen, that she was the daughter of Oberon.  Ethan was the son of her mother and another mortal man.  Which made Ethan full on mortal.

"That is a complicated story."  Kenzie said at the end.

"Very much so.  Titania resents Meghan for Oberon's infidelity, so she tries to cause her harm.  This is one of her ways to do so."

***

Titania sat on her throne as Kenzie, Bonecrusher and Ello walked over to her.  She stopped them and they all got down on one knee, faces towards the ground.

"Ello, come and tell me what you learned."  She said.  Ello, who was on the right of Kenzie, stood and walked over.

"Well, I learned that there is a search team for the mortal."  He turned around to look.

"She can't hear you from here.  That's why I have their heads down.  Tell me, do they have any idea where Kenzie could be?"

"No, they just hope that you or Mab don't have her.  I laughed when I heard that."

"What else?"

"Well, Ethan thinks he saw her at some point."

"What do you mean?  He saw her."

"You should have Kenzie tell you about that."

"I will."  She eyed Kenzie evilly before turning back to Ello.  "Go on."

"Meghan wants to meet with all the courts to settle who knows her whereabouts."

"She knows that if she calls a meeting, we have to come here or Tir Na Nog."

"That's why she wants to go to the Sacred Grounds, deep in the Wyldwood."

"That spot is for competitions."  A wicked thought grew in her mind.

"What should we do then my lady?"  Ello asked.

"We train Kenzie to fight.  We fight Meghan, and only if she wins, she can keep Kenzie."

"How will she win?"

"By killing her."  The two of them laughed together before she sent him off with a wave of the hand.  "Kenzie, dear.  Come retell your trials."

Kenzie walked slowly over.  "I am sorry my Queen, I have failed you."

"How so my dear?"

"I was not able to kill the Iron Queen's brother."

"And why is that?"  Something in her voice seemed kind, Kenzie wasn't afraid to tell her.

"Something in me got scared when he wasn't frightened of me.  He kept getting closer.  If I moved, he would have too.  It seemed he was determined to get me, so I had to escape."

"So you used the Return?"

"Yes."  Titania stood, and smacked Kenzie across the face.  "How dare you fall weak at him!  He is but a mortal.  Nothing he could have done would have hurt you!"

Kenzie had fallen to her knees after being hit.  However, she did not bring her hand to her face.  That would be another reason to be hit.

"I'm sorry my Queen."  She said sheepishly, "I will not fail you again.  Tell me how I can get the boy."

"We will have a battle.  You will train day and night with my finest men.  Then, when the time comes, you better not fail me again."

"I won't."  She said as she straightened up.  Titania looked to Bonecrusher.

"Take her to the training area.  You can teach her for today."

"Yes my Queen."  He said before taking Kenzie's arm and walking her to the fields.

Titania sat back down on her throne just as a procession of fey came into the room.  Oberon's traveling fey.  He followed close behind and sat on his throne next to hers.

"You seem tired my dear."

"I am."

"Tell me what troubles you."

"No."  She said bluntly before getting up and walking to her room, where she would spend the rest of the day.