Recognizing a Hero
By Donna and Abby

Oberon was thinking about the night he'd spent with Fae, but he was still aware of the approach of a friend. "Goodfellow," he said, sighing. It was both a description of the new arrival, and his name. "How fare thee?"

Robin Goodfellow was known more as Puck. "I am well, sire."

"And you look it. Alas I . . ." Oberon sighed again. Fae males did age, even if it took thousands of years. Females, like his wife, did not. And that was why he was in Edan without her.

"Thinking about your Queen?" asked Puck. "This very minute, in the castle of yon fair Camelot, they boon the bravery of the very image of Queen Titania."

"Aye, so. But her heart belongs to another, and I would not move it."

"And the other beauteous maid?"

"Matron. She is not only wed, she is bedded by my get. No, good Puck. If anything is to be done there, it is to put to rights what is wrong."

"Aye," agreed the other. "Till then, may we go see Faline feted?"

"Aye. To Camelot we go, Goodfellow! Let us go hence quickly." Rising from his couch, the faerie king slipped an ornate cloak over his shoulders. As they
made their way to the castle, others were also heading that way as well, including Faline's very proud father.

There was going to be a ceremony, in honor of her bravery. Jane Mountbatten, fresh from her honeymoon night, stood blushing next to her husband. She was one of the women saved by Faline.

The other woman was Lady Jewel. She stood by her consort, Ramirez. Even without the benefit of being officially married, the Immortal had made sure that Jewel was protected as well. Since she was fae like Faline, she could control pregnancy, and once they decided to go for it, they had! 

Faline was another story. The previous night she had been a little too worked up for Navarre to make sure she was protected. Besides, she had shown she could take care of herself! Even so, he would not mind making sure she was safe from harm.

For now, the Captain of the King's Guard was standing beside Faline, a proud look on his face. Her courage in the face of danger had made her even more special in his eyes! 

"She does look so like your Lady wife," said Puck, looking down from the visiting royal's box. Oberon seldom went anywhere without his companion.

"She is nowhere near as haughty," Oberon observed. "Do you not see the playfulness in her eyes? My Lady wife lost that a long time ago." 

"After you married her, I assume," said Puck, then glanced over to be sure he was not in trouble. "Anon! Here cometh the king of this castle!"

King Arthur came in, his lovely Queen at his side. Behind him were his trusted knights, who each took the arm of a lady once they were in the room. It was
interesting to see who the unattached knights singled out! 

The Old One watched, nodding in approval at some of the matches. The one he really didn't approve of was standing with the Trooper Faerie contingent. Fae was with Count Grogan, looking happier that she had in a long time, even though she was having to put on all the proper appearances.

Aeron needed to be close to Oberon, of course, but he was staying out of earshot of the King and his confidant, Puck. He did not do this to give them
privacy, but so he could see Fae more clearly.

He managed a slight smile. She was pregnant with his child, and she was beautiful! If there was only some way of freeing her from Grogan, but at the moment, he did not know of any. Of course, that was what Oberon
meant by "put to rights what is wrong." But how to do it? Grogan was under the watchful eye of the Grand Banshee, who had also come to watch the ceremony. Oberon wondered if he could get her to cooperate with him.

"Maid Faline, approach," the King called out. In his hands was a medallion, and in the Queen’s, a crown of laurel leaves. The women all sighed. One of their own was getting decorated for valor! How exciting that was. Usually they were there to see knights given honors, not women.

"On the occasion of one of our own exhibiting courage such as you did in providing a chance for Lady Jane and Lady Jewel to escape, we are honored to recognize you with this medallion." He showed her the medallion, on which was the engraving of a lion, and then put it around her neck. Taking the laurel crown from his Queen, he placed it on Faline's head. "I dub thee Lady
Faline, and add you to the ranks of the guardians of all within this castle who cannot defend themselves." 

All of the fae were thrilled! It was a strange thing, who was a Lady and who wasn't. Mostly, Faline wasn't because she had started in the stables as the resident feline! And Lady or not, she wasn’t about to change now! 

While all this was going on, the Grand Banshee was studying Count Grogan. He was frowning, having noticed a fleeting smile that had crossed Fae's face as she looked over at King Oberon and his party. He was the jealous type, of course, but he hadn't thought she would be attracted to the king after the one night. Then again, power was exciting, and Oberon was
powerful. His frown deepened, as he tried to figure out a way to use this obviously mutual attraction to his benefit! But more than anything, Grogan was jealous of the fact that a mere stable girl was getting the attention that rightfully belonged to him! Hadn’t he defended the Innocents successfully from the Evil ones?

But Oberon, of course, as said before, already had his fate in mind, and knew now exactly what carrot to dangle in front of him - to get him out of the way possibly forever!