5: Darken Star

17: almost time

i stepped from the mushroom circle, back in the forest, only an hour left until sunrise.

"are you okay?" Robin asked as he used his wings to block me from the other fairies. 

"i am." i answered. "Father wants to be out here for this. he wants to spare the fairies."

"i can do that." Robin nodded. "when the sun rises i will drop the force keeping him in the fairy realm. but why would he want to see his child die in front of him?"

"so that i am not alone." i answered, knowing that i was not lying, if this went wrong then i didnt want to be alone and i know he wouldnt want me to be.

"Good," he nodded. "i cant show weakness right now, not in front of them." he motioned to the gathering dark fairies. 

"Robin." i spoke softly. "there might be another way."

"no." he shook his head, trying to stay strong. "it is too late for trying to get out of this, you sealed your fait by coming here. please call me Oberon in front of them."

"it is also too late for you to find another sacrifice." i snapped at him. "what is stopping me from just killing myself now and ending this? just listen to what i have to say."

"we need to prep you for the sacrifice." Robin turned away from me. "she is all your Lunar." he walked away.

"come with me." Lunar took my hand and led me to a large tent. "you need to look your best if this is to be your last day." he said as we entered the tent. he closed it behind us and turned to me. "what is the other way?"

"wait. you want to listen to me?" i asked, not sure why he would care now.

"i dont want him to die." Lunar explained. "and i do not want him to lose a part of himself. and i do not want you to die, when i interrupted the two of you.... the way he looked at you.... he needs you. he will be broken if you die."

he motioned to the inside of the tent, i looked and there was a hot bath waiting for me, with a pile of clothes sitting on a table next to it. "your still sore right?"

"i am." i answered truthfully. "i dont even feel like i have the strength to step into it."

"i will help you in." he said. "while you tell me what you have planned."

i carefully took off the dress and truly looked at myself. i was covered in dirt and blood. 

he took my hand and carefully guided me into the tub, where two of the hot fish the can clean people went to work on cleaning me. 

"what if father stood by Oberon's side?" i said, looking at Lunar. "what if instead of a sacrifice, they stood by each others side to control the dark fairies?"

"that would work if your father were willing to take a chance at peace." Lunar stated plainly. "but to convince Oberon that your father truly wants peace..."

"i cannot lie to him." i said. "we made a deal."

"thats the thing, he made a deal with all the fae here to always go through with the harvest." Lunar helped my lay back so that the fish would work on my hair. 

"do you know the power of a dragon?" i asked him.

"i do." he answered. "something about being able to pick what power you have."

"i chose to be able to break fairy law without consequences." i told him, feeling i could trust him with this secret.

"you know that if you told anyone but me you would be dead right now right?" he looked annoyed. "is that what you did with Oberon?"

"it is." i answered. "he in no longer bound to that promise."

"how does that help us if they decide to attack?" he raised an eyebrow.

"i think i can also block a fairies power." i explained. "my family are different then normal dragons, sometimes our chosen power has added effects."

"we can test that now you know." he smiled a bit, holding up his hand as it glowed. 

i nodded. "if it doesnt work then it is just some pain before i die." 

"this should hurt with with the force of the light of the sun." he warned. 

"do it, im ready." i closed my eyes and focused on blocking the pain as he placed his hand on me, no pain. 

i opened my eyes, his face full of surprise. "you really can do it. do you think you can extend that to Oberon and James?"

"i do." i answered, hoping i was right. "i think i can shield them from any attack."

"that would be useful when dealing with them," Lunar removed his hand from me. "but it would mean exposing your powers to all of them."

"i know." i nodded as Lunar helped me out of the tub. "can you go explain all of this to him?"

"i can." he nodded. "but we only have about twenty minutes left." he walked to the tent door. "get yourself ready." 

i nodded. "i will be."