Part 1: Oberon
As Azaron plowed away at Mab from behind, pounding at her shapely round bottom, he thought back on the events of the day and what had led him to be balls deep in the moaning fay princess.
Azaron was a mortal mage from the world of Magna. He had learned magic and gained access to powerful artifacts that he used to attempt world domination. He failed, and as punishment was banished.
Azaron's body lay limp in whatever new world he was sent to. When he awoke, he found himself under a warm blue sky, laying in a bed of tall grass. He shut his eyes as the light burned them, then sat up, attempting to adjust to his new environment. As his dark eyes stopped burning he looked around. Aside from small clouds and a light breeze, nothing stood between the bright rays of the sun and soft brush of the grass.
As he scanned the wide expanse of rolling hills around him, his eyes caught sight of a beautiful slender woman sitting atop a hill not so far from him. Her light skin was without blemish and reflected the sun so that her cheeks shone brightly. Her crystal blue eyes glittered with sunlight and joy, and her braided auburn hair hung over either shoulder, sitting just in front of her pointed ears and flowing out from under her gold tiara. Azaron was immediately entranced by her beauty, and stared dumbfounded at the sight before him.
Mab giggled at the sight of the disoriented stranger. "You can come say hi if you'd like. I don't bite," she teased, her voice soft and pure as white linen and sweet like honey.
Azaron rolled his eyes and chuckled. "Well that's good, I thought for sure you wanted to eat me." His voice was strong but calm, as he portrayed dignity in spite of his confused situation.
As he stood, Mab drank in the sight of him. Azaron was tall, in dark robes that were dirty and singed. His short, jet black hair sat unkempt on his brow, laden with sweat. He had olive skin and deep purple eyes that leered curiously from under thick eyebrows, while his face was a bit bruised and stubble cropped up all over his lower face and neck. Mab was taken in by this dark figure; he was clearly a stranger and Mab wanted to understand this outsider... and perhaps know him more intimately.
"I am Princess Mab of Avalon" the magical woman declared as she elegantly strode towards the stranger, her white dress dancing over the grass, which seemed to part and make way for her.
"I am the mage Azaron. Pleasure to meet you, Princess." He declared his identity with uninhibited pride, but softened his gaze as it locked with her own. Azaron wasn't familiar with her name, or her kingdom, but given her friendly gestures towards him it was a good bet she didn't know him either, and a naïve princess was just his type.
Azaron bowed before the royalty, as was custom where he was from. His long form bent at the knees and back to ensure he prostrated himself below her height. Mab indulged his show of fealty, and curtsied in return.
"A mage you say? Did one of your experiments go awry?" she half teased, gesturing to his damaged robes with an easy sway of her gloved hand.
Azaron looked down at himself as he stood upright, then scoffed. "I was in a battle to defend my home from thieves and foolhardy adventurers. Unfortunately they used a relic of mine against me and banished me here." He grimaced at the thought of the battle he had recently lost, losing focus on the present for a moment.
"I see. My mother has several mages at our court, perhaps one of them could assist you in returning to... wherever you are from." She offered politely, a small smile of her thin pink lips showing only kindness.
Azaron thought for a moment. This could certainly be a trap, and yet the soft, kind face of the woman before him lulled into making a foolish decision. He accepted the potential consequences of this move and agreed to accompany the princess to her home. "Your assistance would be greatly appreciated, Princess." Azaron smiled warmly, his expression in contrast with his rough features.
Mab saw no consequences. She was in her home and nothing would harm her. She put her hand out to him, as if expecting something. Azaron was confused and looked to her eyes for direction. She giggled, and looked to his hand. He raised his bushy eyebrow in confusion, but gave his hand over to the princess. She smiled at him, but this was no nicety; this was a smile of genuine joy, as if he had given her some great present. He couldn't help but smile back at her.
She led him along through the dancing grass, striding towards Mab's home beyond the rolling hills. As they walked they talked of their homes and their lives: Mab is a fay princess of the Seelie Court. She rules over the elves, gnomes, fairies, sprites, and others with her mother, Titania. Azaron is a human mage who seeks to harness the power of the veil to learn secrets hidden from other mortals.
"You can harness the power of the veil?" Mab said in shock, stopping dead in her tracks to turn to him. Her eyes now pierced his own with intent.
Azaron was now suspicious, but she had yet to give him any reason for doubt. "...Yes." he quietly assured her. She grabbed his shoulders tightly, startling him: "we must get to the castle at once." Her declaration was followed by a swift gust of wind that called up beautiful red flowers out of nowhere that swirled around the two, dissipating as quickly as they had come. Azaron now gazed around at a gorgeous hall of marble and gold that stood no less than 80 feet above their heads. Paintings of Mab and her mother hung over mirrors, tables, and vases of the most exquisite plants. As Azaron was lost in the sight of such splendor, Mab called out frantically to her mother.
"Mother! Mother come quick!" she bellowed down the halls. Her yells got Azaron's attention, and he put a hand on her shoulder.
"Now wait just a minute... He growled, sparking a bit of fear and confusion in Mab "...you were going to make us walk the whole way here?" he asked with pointed frustration, which only made the poor Princess more confused.
"That's what your concern is right now?" she questioned indignantly. Before they could get into it, Marianna, the queen's assistant, entered the hall.
"Mab! Your mother is at a meeting with the elven lords, what could you possibly need at this moment?" she demanded in a tone straddling the line between a yell and a whisper as she darted towards the pair. Marianna stood nearly a full foot below Azaron but wielded a large golden staff with a blue gem that gleamed in his eye. She too had pointed ears and blue eyes similar to Mab's, but her eyes were dark with frustration and her golden hair flowed freely across the pink robes that adorned her pert body. While her size may not have intimidated him, her tone and strong movement convinced him to step aside.
"This man can harness the veil!" Mab proudly proclaimed as if she had discovered a new land.
"That's lovely, but it can wait until after her meeting. You should relax in your quarters until she is finished, then I will send her to you." The blonde majordomo insisted, pushing Mab along. Mab grumbled, but relented, then stormed off. Azaron stood in confusion for a second, but after one look at the fuming chamberlain, he decided to stick with the evil he knew and followed Mab with haste.
Mab stormed off across the halls and stairs, complaining the whole way of her mother never prioritizing her needs, despite her efforts. Azaron had half a mind to tune her out, but listened in, figuring if he was to be here, he should know what was going on. Mab glided past servants and statues on her quest to her bedchamber, while Azaron darted clumsily after her. Throwing open the door to her room, she threw herself dramatically on her bed with an exasperated wail, which would've made Azaron laugh if wasn't out of breath from chasing her through the winding and slippery corridors. He shut the door behind them and gazed around the room until his eyes met rays of sun beaming in from over her balcony. Azaron was immediately entranced and walked to it as if sleep walking to some great dream. Azaron stood on the balcony, a woven chair flanking each side, as he gazed down upon Avalon. The city sat on a lake, and every building was a glowing white stone. Canals made up streets in a whole section of the city, and cheery people of the many races Mab had told him of strolled through the streets with joy painted on each face. Music flowed dreamily from below before caressing Azaron's ears with its beautiful sound. The sight nearly brought a tear to his eye. Azaron loved balconies; he loved looking down on the world and feeling as if he were its lord, and to be lord of such a beautiful realm would be a dream beyond what he had ever imagined.
As the visions of power inflamed his imagination, he thought of how he would come to possess this garden of Eden, which caused him to turn around and face the incensed princess who lay, face in her pillow, still griping about how no one would listen to her pleas.
"I'm listening." Azaron assured her. His calm voice lowered to a soothing tone as he slowly and intently made his way back to the grieving royal. "I hear you, Princess. You seek only what is best for this place, and yet no one takes you seriously because you are seen as not but a girl," he purred, sitting on the foot of the bed. Mab looked up from her pillow as her ears tingled at the sound of his pity.
"It is more than that," she continued to whine, "My mother is always in some meeting or event, and I'm either excluded, or kept to the sidelines. She never lets me do anything! These are my people too!" she bellowed, as if a limb were broken.
Azaron pet her shoulder softly with the back of his hand "I hear you, Princess. Tell me all about it," he smiled, encouraging her to continue. Without a second though she laid the back of her head in his lap and began pouring out every perceived slight her mother had inflicted on her. Azaron was not prepared for this verbal assault but presented calm and sympathy as he played with her hair. The princess vented her frustration for what felt like ages before completing her final story, then she looked up at Azaron, and warmth engulfed her body. He had listened to her. This strange man whom she knew so little of had sat by her side and felt her pain. As she smiled at him, he couldn't help but be overwhelmed by the warmth of her stare as she projected her comfort and appreciation onto him. Azaron was stunned for a moment, ensnared by feelings that had not held him before as he gazed into the bright icy orbs looking up at him as if he had saved her life.
As the door swung violently open, Mab nearly sprang to her feet. From the hall marched Titania, queen of the Seelie Court. The gold bands around her neck, wrists, and hips held a flowing white cloth that draped around her ridged form. Despite her height falling short of the pair, her dark eyes gazed down at the two as her immaculately done hair sprang up like a fountain from behind her bejeweled crown. Her slight pout and stone features displayed iron will and disinterest in her current situation.
"You say he can harness the veil?" the queen pried. Mab nodded
"He is an experienced mage, his power is derived from the veil. He may come from the other side of it." Mab stated coldly, more than upset at her mother's timing.
"The other side?" Azaron questioned, unsure of what exactly was going on.
