Hey guys. Sorry about not posting for a while, but here it is, enjoy.


I arrive just as the trod opens, early, my heart rate slowing as I ascertain that I didn't miss them as I recognise Meghan's posture, more confident than ever. The cold wind raises the hair from her neck and she wraps her arms around her waist. I can see that it doesn't bother her as much as last time, but she still feels the chill carried from the heart of winter.

I try to ease the gale to a light wind and the corner of her mouth turns up as she glances to the shadows where I stand in wait for Puck and Grimalkin to step through behind her.

"Charming," Puck drawls, announcing his arrival, "I love the barren, dead feel they're going for. Who's the gardener, I wonder? I'd love to get some tips."

I watch as Meghan pips up, teeth chattering.

"H-how far are we from Mab's Court?"

I frown down at the cloak in my arms, seeing a flaw in my plans. How am I going to get this to her without arousing's suspicion from Puck?

"The Winter Court is maybe two days' walk from here." Grim leaps up onto a tree stump to shake the snow from his paws. "We should find shelter soon, I am uncomfortable in this weather and the girl will certainly freeze to death."

As if I would let that happen.

I chuckle lightly, hearing it echo around the clearing as I step forward to meet Meghan's gaze.

"I wouldn't worry about that now."

Puck shoves Meghan behind her and I smirk at Puck, amused by his protective actions as much as when Meghan rolls his eyes where he can't see it.

"I've been waiting for you." I murmur, mostly to Meghan but also for the sake of not changing the future without thought, but still galring at her for speeding up the timeline. She rolls her eys at me and mouths, 'sorry'.

"Ash. What a surprise to see you here. How did you find us?" He isn't taking his eyes off me and I don't blame him, old me was trying to kill him here.

"It wasn't difficult." I shrug, not trying to rile him up, just having fun. "The princess mentioned she was looking for someone within Mab's Court ad there are only so many ways into Tir Na Nog from the mortal realm from the trod Grimalkin lead her on."

I hide my wince when I realise that I shouldn't have known about that trod that Grimalkin took her on, let alone that it goes to the mortal realm and Grim seems to be the only one of the two to realise that something was off. Meghan shoots a worried glance at Puck before relaxing when he sticks to the script.

"Very clever," Puck just puts it down to my quick mind. "But then, you were always the strategist, weren't you? What do you want, Ash?"

He doesn't take his eyes off me as I pretend to ponder the question, "What do I want? I want for many things." I watch his hand tighten on his knife. "But what I want doesn't matter this time, because I've come for her."

I nod towards Meghan and my smirk grows bigger as Puck draws his knife and points it at me, "Over my dead body."

"Oh well, I tried," I say conversationally to Meghan before stepping further into the clearing toward the fountain. I circle past the fountain, dropping the cloak next to where Meghan will sit, "Prepare yourself."

"Stay back, Princess." Puck says, "This might get a little rough."

This time Meghan only complains a little before walking to where I dropped the cloak, "Please be careful, someone could die."

"Duels to the death tend to end that way," Puck says, a little put out that she didn't worry more, though I'm not sure she was speaking to him. "One moment, princeling."

An incline of my head lets him disengage from out staring contest and he follows Meghan to the fountain, murmuring a few words to her as I nd to the cloak on the ground that she hasn't picked up.

She smile graciously to me before nodding forlornly at whatever Puck just said. My heart rises in my chest when instead of kissing Puck on the check, she opts to sit down on the side of the fountain.

Puck hides his disappointment well, still letting out a whoop, flourishing his knifes pointlessly and charges at me.

As soon as Pucks back is turned, Megan bends down and picks up the cloak, wrapping it securely around her shoulders to keep as much of the cold out. I smile at her acceptance and move my attention to the small blade whistling down towards me.

I raise my sword to block the strike and counter with a lunge of my own that I don't intend on hitting him with. We quickly agree that this fight is more for the purpose of showing off to Megan as I send a miniature blizzard of ice shards towards him that he turns into snow.

I keep only a little of my concentration on keeping Megan out of the cold wind but otherwise fall into the old rhythm of dueling with Puck.

We'd both missed this the past 17 years.

When I kill Other Puck for a second time, I get a small respite that I use to send a smile to Meghan while waiting for Puck to leap out of the snow.

Because we're here earlier than last time, I'm not sure if the iron gremlins are going to show up or not, so I call him out on his deceit then put him in a hold that could kill him if he doesn't yield.

At first his pride holds strong until Meghan cries out, a little late for it to be of surprise, but still effective.

"Wait! Okay, okay, I yield, for now."

"Run!"

Grimalkin's yowl pierces our ears and my head snaps up, releasing my hold on Puck and helping him up to his feet, much to his surprise.

I can feel the iron vibrations in the ground now too and as I raise my sword again, this time towards the forest, Meghan comes running towards me. I see her reach for the sword on her back but I shake my head, we can't answer those questions easily.

The clinking grows louder and Puck tenses, looking to me for what it could be; to him, it probably looks like I know what's coming is bad enough to make me want to team up with him.

Puck reaches for Meghan as she gets to us, thinking that she wanted his protection, but her eyes are on mine telling me that it'll be alright and once she's situated behind us, her hand finds mine.

The rustling grows louder and just before it breaches the edge of the clearing, Meghan lets me go so I can fight unimpeded and Puck and I glance at each other, automatically forgetting our feud now that we have a common enemy. I'm sure Puck is wondering why I'm so quick to put Meghan to my back and protect her against something unknown.

Unlike Puck, I know what I'm up against, so I don't gasp in shock when the rolling mass of glinting metal bugs pour over everything like a living carpet.

I start swinging my sword as soon as they get within reach, backing up to stand shoulder to shoulder with Puck, keeping Meghan behind us both.

"What are they?" Puck pants, already effected my the iron stink.

I don't know how to answer without giving anything away so I don't say anything, instead opting to keep the creatures at bay for as long as possible. But how can you fight something as evasive as water and as toxic as, well, iron.

Soon enough, I hear Meghan let out a cry of pain as the creatures that had flanked us drag her away, surrounding her in a wave as they retreat, allowing us to move.

"Ash!" She screams in pain and I glance at Puck in anticipation of what he might do about her asking for me, not him but she quickly follows with, "Puck! Help!"

Puck and I follow the trail of destruction the iron creatures left behind with Grim close behind, grumbling about the tenacity of the creatures, being iron in the Fey world. Little does he know that they belong here too.

I hate to think abut what Meghan's gong through right now, she was so scared last time, and cold, and Ironhorse isn't our friend yet. I know in the rational part of my mind that Ironhorse just wants to bring her to King Machina, but I can't help but think about all the possibilities for how he could hurt her.

Puck interrupts my musing, "Why are you really here, Princeling?" He's suspicious about my willingness to chase after Meghan, I didn't do that last time without a bit of prodding.

"The queen wants her." I answer simply, anything more might give away the game. The perfect distraction yawns up ahead through the trees; the cave mouth. "We're here."

He glares at me but leaves the subject alone, until I pull him back to plan before we get in there. "We need a plan, hothead."

He glances longingly at the cave mouth and I know how he feels, I don't want to wait out here, but if it gets us out quicker and without any injuries, then all the better.

"And what do you propose, Your Iciness." He sneers. "Just leave her there?"

"No," I glare back at him, annoyed by his high and mighty act, "There are thousands of eyes in there, so we need a distraction so I can pull her out, and because you're so annoying, you should be that distraction."

He puffs out his chest and smirks at me, knowing that he's gotten to me. Now that Meghan's around I've let me guard drop a little and Puck is lapping it up.

"And let you take her back to the Ice Queen? No way." He stands his ground and I roll my eyes, something I've picked up off Meghan.

That was my intention last time, but now I just want her by my side, "And I promise not to takes her more than a yard outside the cave entrance unless you are with her, or dead. Happy?" I take in his shocked expression as an agreement and stride off into the cave.

He catches up but lags behind, suspicious of my intentions and more than a little scared of the lour screeching and roaring up ahead. I ignore the sounds, looking for the little crack in the wall juts before the last corner.

I smile slightly when I see it, creeping closer with Puck lagging much further behind, he has good survival instincts. I slowly lean around the corner, trying to stay as still as possible as I servey the area.

Megan is busy trying to get answers out of Ironhorse but then he starts to resort back to replies that I recognise.

I lean back and whisper to Puck, "You're up."

He takes a peek now, paling at the sight, swallowing loudly before sending an illusion to the other side of the cave, having it throw a stalitite, "Hey ugly."

Ironhorses' head whips around to focus on Puck , snorting angrily at the interruption and stomping to warn him away.

"Nice place you've got here! Next time, try a hide out a little more resistant yo fire han an ice cave!"

Ironhorse screams and rears up, those deadly hooves pounding the air.

Puck, ignoring the danger, just smiles, waving at Meghan, whose waiting for Ironhorse to charge at him so she can get away. Those deadly hooves shake the ice around us as he charges at Puck, turning his illusion into a leaf.

Puck reappears further back into the cave and I take the chance to sneak up behind Meghan.

"Come on," I whisper in her ear, happy to see her relieved smile. "What, you didn't think I'd leave you to the mercy of that idiot, did you? Ironhorse isn't our friend yet." I remind her.

"Hellooooooo," Puck taunts even further down the cavern.

Ironhorse snorts fire, his iron hooves ripping up the frozen dirt in anger.

We edge our way towards the cave mouth, keeping our eyes on the gremlins so we can run when they spot us.

"Sorry ugly, wrong me! Keep going, I'm sure you'll get it right next time!"

Megan and I tense at the words that lead to our demise last time, our eyes darting to all the gremlins. They don't notice our movement, more the lack of a prisoner, chittering out a warning to the enraged Ironhorse.

I push Megan toward the cave mouth but she's already running, almost leaving me in the dust as I keep my eyes on Ironhorse, not wanting to hurt a future friend, but drawing my sword as a last resort of defense.

I refrain from sending a hail of ice shards at him, knwoing they'll have to impact, but as I glance back at Meghan to check her progress, I hear the heavy hoofbeats as gains on me.

I judge the sound to roll to the side when Ironhorse brings his flaming hooves down on where I was standing, not making the same mistake of rising behind him again.

But he moves faster that I expected, clipping me with one hoof as he lashes out, the iron causing the effect of the blow to intensify making me fall to the ground.

I groan and roll away from Ironhorses flailing hooves, staggering to my feet when Puck's ravens come to my rescue. The real Puck grabs my arm to help me up as raven illusions distract Ironhorse.

"Time to go." He lets go of my arm once I'm up and moving in favor of running to Meghan at the entrance.

I stumble towards them, shaking my head at Meghan as she starts toward me with a look at the arm I've pressed to my side, not wanting to be any slower getting out of here.

Her eyebrows pull together but she clenchs her jaw, nods, and turns towards the exit after a glance at Ironhorse.

Puck moves after Meghan, not waiting for me to get my balance, "Prince, either keep up or get left behind." His voice may be slightly cheerful, but he means it when he says he won't go back for me, especially since Meghan's also in trouble.

I speed up as the raging, fiery hoofbeats start up behind us again, not bothering to look behind me as the small grey silhouette leaps down from the rock, revealing itself to be Grimalkin.

"You found her." Grimalkin stops up ahead, not wanting to get any deeper into the cave, glaring at both me and Puck, "Idiot. Why did you fight them?"

We rish past him but Puck is the only one with enough breath to warn the cat, "Can't talk now, little busy at moment!"

If it wasn't for the one turn in the cavern, he would've caught up already, crashing into the wall followed by the clinking of the gremlins following his lead.

Grimalkin takes one look at the thing, and turns tail, the great bellow as he senses his prey escaping causing icicles to fall all around us.

We reach the entrance, Puck and Grimalkin stopping at the treeline, while Meghan turning back to watch as I turn and almost fall to the ground as I kneel.

"Collapse the cave!" Grimalkin's screech is almost hidden against the backdrop of crashes inside the cave, "Bring the ceiling down on their heads! Do it!"

I focus on the glamour all around me, feeling the power of the icebound land answering my call, gathering around me.

I fling my hand out from my chest, throwing everything I have at the ceiling of cave to bring it down before Ironhorse has a chnce to get free.

Ironhorses bellow of rage and pain is overpowered by the cacophany of iciles shattering like glass breaking, the roar falling to just a few clinks of ice and as the adrenaline fades, I fall to my side on the ground, soaking in some of the power to help heal me.

I faintly hear Puck and Meghan argueing about me, which comes as a surprise, as last time, I'd been to out of it to hear anything much. I tune back in after Puck finishes what sounds like a speech of 'Reasons You Shouldn't Trust the Ice Prince'.

"I thought you were better than them," Meghan scolds, "I'm going to make sure that he's all right, so get out of my way."

Puck throws his hands up in the air, but follows her anyway. "Fine, Princess. I'll help the son of Mab, eternal enemy of our court. Even though he'll probably stick a sword in my back the second my guard is down."

I rise to my feet with the help of Meghan, one hand still wrapped around my ribs to try ease any pain. "I wouldn't worry about that," I draw my sword, much to the disbelieving scoff of Meghan, pointing it at Puck's chest.

"We can continue now, if you'd like," I can see in his eyes that he's ready to do just that, but I can feel Meghan's iron glare so I offer him something else, shifting my sword to my right, "But I suggest we postpone our duel until we arrive at Chillsorrow Manor and the Princess is out of the cold."

Her glare turns to convincing shivers as Puck shifts his gaze to her and his resolve wavers. He looks to the Manor in the distance and starts walking, Meghan between us to act as a bridge, or at least a shield, "Or how about you don't fight at all. Ash, you're in no condition to fight, and Puck, shame on you for wanting to duel."

Puck tries to say something, but Meghan just glares at him, "I saw the face you made, don't try to contradict me. Grim, you coming?"

A sneezing laugh comes from behind us as Grimalkin joins us, "A daughter of Oberon after all, Queen Titania would be proud."

She scoffs, "Titania can go stuff it, I don't answer to her."

The same sneezing laugh comes again, and this time both Puck and I laugh along with him. I keep an eye on Meghan's aura in case of emotional spikes and I see disappointment as Puck moves with her even as she sidles up to me.

We eyes the distance between us and Puck before whispering beween ourselves, "What are we going to go now? I don't want to have make the same contract as last time."

I don't pretend to be at ease, watching Puck's glares over Meghan's head as she answers, "We should discuss this later, but think about whether you think you should go to the Winter Palace after Ethan is safe."

She nods thoughtfully, moving a little further away from me for the walk to Chillsorrow Manor.

I don't want to watch the Winter Fae try to corrupt her again, but she'll probably be safer with me, than with Puck.

I let my fingers brush hers before limping up to open the doors to Chillsorrow Manor. Meghan steps through the threshold, quickly heading to the main sitting room to light to fireplace while Puck looks around warily as if expecting someone to pop out and kick him out.

"The Lady of the house is away at court." I slam the door behind him before making for the staircase.

He moves to where Meghan is crouching on the floor, throwing a blanket around her shoulder before taking over at the fireplace. I watch them for a moment as he tells her go sit on a chair but she moves past it towards me, helping me up the stairs to my surprise.

"I'm not as hurt as I was last time, he only knicked me on the side." I try to make it seem a little less painfully than it seems but she just walks along under my arm to the room I'd been in last time where she rings the bell for medical attention, leaving the door open.

She sits me down on the bed, unbuttoning my jacket and helping me drag my shirt over my head.

"How are we going to stop your doppleganger if we're not at the Winter Palace during the Season stick thing." She starts up the conversation from earlier just as the brownies enter.

"Please treat and wrap my wound." I say to brownies, knowing that they won't interrupt or repeat our conversation as I correct Meghan, "and it's the Exchange of the Scepter of Seasons." The Brownies start on my wound and I wince at the poltice they put on it, "I don't want to have to be cruel to you again, I am sorry for what happened."

She looks down at her toes and sits next to me, "I know why you did it, it just hurt at the time. It's all forgotten and forgiven."

I reach one hand out and lift her chin, "Still, I'm sorry."

She smiles sweetly and we share a short kiss before moving on.

"What if we ask Puck if it's possible for me to stay at the Summer Palace and just visit during the Exchange? Would he allow me to do that, do you think?"

I'm already shaking my head, "You could ask, but after what will happen with Machina and me, I don't think he'll let you in our territory for the next century."

"I'll ask him," She doesn't seem to be holding out hope for that outcome as she moves, "What about King Machina and Ethan, I don't want to have to go to the oracle for the same things we went for last time, but if we don't, then Puck will have to come into the Iron Kingdom with us."

She pauses, unsure of how to finish that sentence, but I know what she means, "I was looking forward to not having to pretend as well."

The Brownies leave and she relaxes into my side, resting her head on my shoulder.

"Come on," I shake her lightly, "Let's get you more comfortable before you fall asleep."

I pull her up lay against the pillows and she snuggles into my side.

"Thanks for the cloak, by the way," she mumbles.

"Of course, anything for my Lady."

She smiles into my shirt, "This body really doesn't have much in the way of glamour, I am knackered."

"Well, don't fall asleep now, mi'lady, we do have to figure out what we should do next."

"Can't we do that tomorrow?" She whines.

I chuckled lightly, "Alright, now go to sleep."

I kiss her on the forehead and rest my cheek on her head, listening as her breath slows and steadies. I can't believe how things have changed since when we were here the first time. I almost hate my past self at his attitude toward my lady and the love of my life. I couldn't life without her and I'm so glad that's she's here in my arms right now.

The moment is ruined by footsteps out in the hallway as Puck checks different rooms for the girl in arms. I sigh and try to move sideways without disturbing her but she moans and tightens for grip on me, "Don't go."

"I have to, love. Puck is coming," I whisper back, "I promise I'll talk to him. I promise to help you find Ethan, deal?"

A faint "deal," comes from the bundle in my arms and the clamps around my waist loosen, letting me slide from the bed.

I grab my shirt and cloak and my hand is on the doorknob before I look back at her, seeing her curl up, smile faintly at me then fall asleep. I open the door, my own lips mirroring hers as I slip through and close it quietly behind me.

I force my face into my mask and shrug on my shirt, wincing as it pulls at my side, not acknowledging Puck until he comes up to me.

"Forgive me if I don't care for you, but have you by any chance seen Meghan in the last few minutes?" He glances at my shirt and bandages, then the door I just came through before looking at me for my answer.

"No," I say simply.

Now that I've spoken to Puck, I turn away, throwing one last comment over my shoulder as he reaches for the doorknob, "Let the poor girl sleep, she's exhausted."

I smirk as I hear his footsteps catch up to me.

I go to grab a piece of fruit from the bowl in the kitchen, but when I see the summerpod, I lose my appetite, instead situating myself in the chair closest to the fire that they'djust built. Coincidentially, it's also the chair that Puck pushed closer for Meghan.

I ignore Pucks quizzical look and stare at the fire until he can't hold it in any longer, which isn't long.

"Did she fall asleep on her own, or did you help it along?" he accuses, pulling up a chair.

"Why would I have any need to use my glamour to make her sleep when she practically fell asleep just by sitting down?" I don't know how much Meghan wants to tell him, so I'll let her make that decision in the morning.

Puck looks put out, as if he wasn't looking after her well enough, which he wasn't, but also angry at the fact that I was the one that pointed it out. I don't want to fight him, "I suggest to continue that truce until Ethan is safely back home."

He looks up shapely, wondering how I know about Ethan, then he looks up toward the bedroom Meghan it's in and looks even more put out.

"What else did she tell you?" He asks almost as if he doesn't want the answer.

"I have agreed to help her find her brother, who has apparently been taken my the Iron King Machina. I won't bore you with the details, but I answer to her, not you, and I won't fight you unless she's says so."

He scoffs at that, "Okay, so you're here to help her which means that we need to help each other. I agree to this temporary truce."

We spend the rest of the evening talking sporadically about what we could do, but before long, he goes off check on Meghan before finding a comfortable place in the next room over from her room to my pleasure. As Iw ait for him to fall asleep, I stare at the fire, smiling as it reminds me of the strength in my girl as she fought my our parents for the sake of all three kingdoms.

But it also reminds me of her Summer heritage, clashing with my Winter heritage that I have and still will reject for her, just like the Iron Fey became her people, forcing my mission. I almost cry at the thought of having to go through my mission again, but I love Meghan to much to even consider not trying again.

When Puck finally falls asleep, I move silently past his room to open her door, letting my shoudler relax as I see her fast asleep slightly to one side of the bed. Even without the knight bond, I still feel the need to protect her from anything that might take her away from me, even Puck, especially Puck. My smile grows wider when Meghan snuggles into my side as soon as I climb under the covers with her, holding her tight to my side.