69I don't sleep for long. An hour at most. I'd probably have slept for longer but a cold wind blowing through the tent wakes me up. Ash is no longer next to me, but over by the entrance of the tent, talking quietly with an Unseelie guard. From his tense posture, I'm guessing that whatever the guard wants him to do, doesn't please him.
"Ash?" I ask sitting up, my voice still thick with sleep. Ash's head whips round in my direction before turning back to glare at the guard who shrugs. Ash walks over and bends down next to the bed. "What's going on?" I ask, reaching out to take his hand.
"Mab wants to see me." He mutters, rubbing circles on the back of my hand.
"Oh." Now I understand why he's so tense. "You can go, you know." He looks up at me, a multitude of emotions shining in his eyes.
"I remember what happened last time I left you alone to speak to her." He says, his other hand skimming my arm, making me shiver in pleasure despite the less than pleasant memories that are surfacing. Before the final battle with Ferrum, Ash left me alone in a tent exactly like this one to go and speak to his Queen. Whilst he was gone, Rowan showed up, attacking me whilst my knight was away.
"What are the chances that that will happen twice?" I ask, trying to keep my voice light.
"If you wish me to go then I will-"
"But you don't want to." I say, a small smile playing on my lips. He returns the smile.
"Why would I want to talk to Mab when you're here?" I only just manage to not draw in a huge breath at that. I'm not used to him coming out with these things. I'm not used to anyone telling me these things. Instead of answering, I lean forward, kissing him gently. He sighs against my lips, his hands pulling me closer. I break the kiss, resting my forehead against his.
"Go Ash. Mab already hates me for taking her favourite son away from her; lets not push her." He groans and closes his eyes for a second, before kissing me again.
"Ash." I murmur against his lips. "Stop. Stalling. And. Go." I push him off laughing at the disgruntled look on his face.
"As you wish." He pauses, any playfulness gone from his eyes. "Meghan. If you need me. No matter what it is – however small you think it is. Call me. Do you understand?" I sigh and nod.
"Although, if I remember correctly, I did call for you last time." I say without thinking. I curse silently when I see him wince at the memory.
"I will be there Meghan. The second you need me. Mab be damned." I raise an eyebrow at him but he doesn't say anything more on the subject. He kisses my forehead once more and walks out of the tent. I lie back against the pillow, a cold, sinking feeling settling in my stomach and I want to call Ash back and tell him I was wrong – Mab will understand. Eventually anyway.
Grow up Meghan. I tell myself sharply. Don't be ridiculous. With that thought I force myself back to sleep.
I'm woken again, a little while later as I am dragged off the bed. I can only manage one word before I'm knocked unconscious,
"ASH!"
Ash POV
I stifle a groan as Mab questions me, yet again, on my relationship with Meghan.
"Ash." She purrs. "Come back, come home."
"No, my Queen. I will not leave Meghan." Mab narrows her eyes.
"You are willing to give up everything for the half-breed whelp?"
"Yes my Queen. I am-" Before I can any further, a scream rips through the camp and pierces my heart.
"ASH!" Meghan. With not even a glance at my former Queen, I race out of the tent and head towards where I left Meghan.
Please be okay. Please, please be okay. I plead silently as I run towards the tent. I tear the flap back and stop. There's no one there. The only thing that tells me (aside from the scream) that Meghan didn't willingly get up and walk out, is the pile of blankets that have been distributed on and around the bed. I glance around the room, looking for any sign of an attacker. My gaze rests on the small bedside table. Next to the water jug is a small, dark object. I walk over and pick it up. It's a small stick from a young tree. Several small leaves have sprouted from the wood. Although the tree is young, it's not young enough to have escaped the Iron Realm, threads of iron runs down the length of the wood and it reminds me of a similar message left for us a few days ago. Rowan. I should have known. Rage bubbles up inside of me and I turn and fling my arm out, sending several icy spears through the wall of the tent, ignoring the screams outside as the shards make contact with some unfortunate Unseelie outside. Rowan's final words to me in our last fight come floating back.
I had the upper hand – barely. Rowan always had been the better fighter but this time, I had something other than pride to fight for. I was watching Meghan's battle with Ferrum out of the corner of my eye. The whole room is suddenly awash with power and Meghan goes flying across the room as a bolt of lightning hits her.
"Meghan!" I yell, turning my head to look at her limp body. Which was my first mistake. Rowan delivers a crushing blow, which I barely manage to miss. I stagger to the side, trying to concentrate on my winning this fight, on killing Rowan once and for all. But I can't breathe properly. As I parry yet another blow from my brother, I hear her groan softly and sigh in relief. She's okay. She's alive.
"Come on little brother, is that the best you can do?" Rowan gloats.
"I will kill you Rowan." I reply. I don't say the words but I don't need to. We both know that it's not an idle threat. It's a promise.
"I can't wait." He says, raising his sword once more. As the fight continues, I lose track of Meghan's fight with Ferrum. Until her scream rings out through the room. I'm standing over Rowan, about to deliver the final blow. I can't stop myself from turning to look at her and my heart stops. She's bent over Ferrum, his hand inside her stomach. Her face is deathly pale and for a brief second, she meets my gaze. Pain and fear are laced with an apology and it's then that I realise. She knew that Ferrum was about to deliver the killing blow and she didn't stop him. I'm torn between anger and fear myself- anger at Meghan, for not stopping him and fear that I'm about to lose her like I lost Ariella all those years ago. While I've been focused on Meghan, Rowan has slipped out from under me. He brings his sword down, snapping my attention away from Meghan.
"Well little brother. It seems you have a decision to make. Kill me and lose her. Or save her and lose me." He leans casually against the wall. "The choice is yours." He's right and I know it. I can't do both, there's no time. I spare a quick glance at Meghan and my stomach clenches at the sight of her. Her face is screwed up and a surge of power suddenly ripples through the room and, a moment later, Ferrum lets out a yell as Meghan's glamour starts to take over. I feel a surge of pride – she finally managed to use her glamour. Maybe all those lessons in the clearing with Puck paid off? She slumps to the ground. I turn back to Rowan, my sword pointed at his chest.
"I will kill you Rowan – this isn't over."
"Of course little brother. I look forward to it." He replies as I turn on my heel and race over to Meghan. I don't have to look behind me to know that Rowan is long gone. It doesn't matter, Meghan matters. Puck finishes his battle with Tertius and joins me on the floor next to the girl who stole both of our hearts. Her eyes are closed and her breathing is slow and laborious. I grasp her hand and squeeze it tightly, willing her to come back to me.
I force myself out of that memory, before I remember…everything else. I look forward to it he said. The tent flap suddenly opens, revealing Puck. His red hair as dishevelled as ever, a cheerful grin etched on his face. He doesn't know. He doesn't know Meghan is gone.
"Everything alright ice-boy? Only the Unseelie healers have been inundated with people suffering from wounds not sustained during battle. They look suspiciously like the wounds you might get from an ice shard being flung at you. Know anything about it?" I don't answer him – he knows full well that it was me.
"Hey what you got there?" He asks, coming to stand beside me. "Another rowan tree stick? What does your brother want now?" Puck and I had already had a heated discussion about the fact that I left Rowan alive that day – choosing Meghan's life over Rowan's. Puck was annoyed until I pointed out that he would have done the exact same thing in my position. He dropped it after that.
"A war." I mutter under my breath. Puck raises an eyebrow.
"Oookay. Have you told Meghan that her second favourite ice prince has sent us another message?" He looks around the tent. "Where is she anyway?"
"Rowan has her. That's why he left the rowan stick. He wanted me to know that he has her. He's goading me to go and get her."
"Woah, woah, woah. Back up a minute princeling. Did you just say Rowan has Meghan? How did that happen? Were you sleeping on duty?" I roll my eyes.
"Mab wanted to speak to me and Meghan wished me to go so as not to infuriate Mab any further. I was two tents away. He must have been waiting – knowing I'd have to leave her sooner or later."
"Please tell me you left someone outside guarding her?"
"No." I whisper, my stomach rolling. "I thought she'd be okay – I was only two tents away, I'd be able to get there if she needed me."
"Yeah well that went well." Puck mutters, shooting me a glare. I ignore him – I know I deserve to hear that and more; but I can't be distracted by insults and feelings of guilt - no matter how well earned they are
"If Rowan wants a war, then a war he'll get." I mutter, clutching the stick in my hand.
"That's all well and good but do you know where he's taken her?" Puck asks and I sigh.
"Somewhere in the Iron Kingdom but I'm not sure where." I pause. "But I know someone who probably will."
"Don't say it." Puck groans.
"We need to find a certain cat." I say, smirking as Puck raises his hands in despair.
"I told you not to say it." He says. I shrug and follow him out of the tent. Hang on Meghan. I'm coming, just hang on.
Thank you for your reviews - they make me so happy knowing people are reading and looking forward to the story :) So Rowan has Meghan and Ash and Puck have to first find Grimalkin before they can even think about rescuing Meghan. What does Rowan have planned for Meghan? What will happen when Ash eventually finds her? Will they get their well-deserved happily ever after or not? Please review and tell me what you think! xxx