To Battle the Night

Chaper One

     Once upon a time, as all fairy tales must begin, a king and queen of land long since forgotten announced with great elation that her majesty the queen was finally with child. The land celebrated for nine months and when it was finally announced that Queen Selena had given birth to a healthy little girl; with her fathers flaming locks and her mother's steely gray eyes. Plans went underway for a grand ball due in a month.

     Invitations to all the dignitaries in the neighboring kingdoms were sent, especially to King Oberon and his wife Queen Titania of the fae and all the faeries of their court. King Leander and Queen Selena toiled over inviting Queen Mab and her court.

     “Leander, it would be foolish not to...” Selena wrung her hands as she paced their spacious bed chamber. She paused at her daughter's glided crib smiling as he daughter lay giggling, unaware of the trepidation haunting her parents. They had put this off till last, hoping the gods would give them a sign of what they should do.

     “Selena, my dear Selena...” Leander moaned in frustration before hugging his wife from behind as they bother peered at their baby girl. “We must,” Leander finally decided as he left his queen's side to peer out of the large window facing the forest. He posed with his hands folded behind his back as Selena sighed, looking wistfully back at the crib one last time before joining her husband by the window. She shivered even though she was clothed in a thick gown made of white fur. Leander hugged her to his side, knowing her shiver had nothing to do with the cold for a grand fire was cheerfully crackling away in the fireplace.

     The messenger who was impassivly waiting buy the door stepped forward at his king's gesture; “Prepare a message on our finest parchment as an invitation to Queen Mab.”

     “Right away, your majesty.” The messenger bowed and promptly turned to send for the scribe.

     “I feel we will come to regret this, Leander.” The King looked deep into the forest and nodded.

     “But I fear more what will befall us if we do not.” Selena sighed and folded her hands.

     “I know, I know.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

      Queen Mab sighed on her throne, watching the two dark fae fight for her attentions she never intended on giving. Her cloak of shadows covered her body, barely, managing to keep her form hidden as she shifted restlessly in her seat. “Enough!” she commanded as two guards drug in the body of a human page. “Why do you interrupt my afternoon entertainment?”

     “Your Highness,” each guard bowed, “It seems your presence has been requested at the celebration of the human rulers, Leander and Selena, daughter's birth celebration.” Mab sat up a bit straighter on her throne as a wicked smile on her face.

     “I wonder how long they toiled over my inevitable invitation... Very well, send the body back with a confirmation or my attendance. Leave my presence.” Her ruby-red lips split to reveal sharp white teeth as she contemplated her gift for the princess.