Night of Souls, Autumn's Reign, ~11,000 B.C.E.

The wrath of a Faerie King was not to be suffered softly.

Tension knotted my stomach as Arawn glared at me with unparalled intensity. As a Hunter I was accustomed to many things in life, yet nothing perturbed me half as much as he did. One second felt like a thousand seasons under his watch. Our eye-locked eternity finally came to an end when She-Who-Wanders stepped before me and averted his gaze away. Winter was already providing solace for me.

"He's of our court now, let him go, Arawn.
Queen Mab does not seek to rattle your brawn."

I was being protected. I would owe a debt for this. But it was a debt I would pay. Despite his threats and power, I knew what I had to do.

"Do not think this gives you resolution;
Only death is peace, a last solution.
Leave now, take thyselves.
But stay shall my Elves.
The path you tread begets desolation,
Walk it, free of Elves, in isolation."

Arawn phrased that firmly, but there was no mistaking his words; he was letting me go. Satisfied with his words, a smirk returned to She-Who-Wanders' face. She spoke softly to me as She brushed past me.

"We shall be going, then," She said casually as She made her way across the area.

My feet remained planted in place. I would not be intimidated. I would not leave yet.

She-Who-Wanders turned her head her ever so slightly. For a brief moment, I caught a silvery glimpse of light flash from under her hood where her eyes should be. They gazed past me, however, and instead at Arawn. Only a Hunter's eye like my own would have caught it. But I am certain Arawn noticed, and She meant for him to see.

"Heed your actions carefully, champion Elf. Lord Arawn is an intricate being. Like Autumn, he is complex and ever changing. He is as eternal as the infinite Annwyn. He is a Fae who understands this world far better than your mind could comprehend. Remember that autumn is a forgiving and pleasant season at first, but always carries forth the chilling bite of winter. It would be rational to accept his offer before you anger him further. Winter will only do so much to preserve your life."

Her back may have been to me, but I could tell that She was not smiling. This was the most earnest She had been with me. However, I remained steadfast in my conviction. I was not a rational Elf.

"No," I declared.

There was confusion among the Woodborn. She-Who-Wanders stopped in place but did not turn around. The raven flew off her shoulder to a perch above my head, scrupulously assessing me. Emboldened, I spoke even louder this time.

"I do not accept that. The Woodborn are fools, but they are earnest, unlike you, Arawn. They deserve better."

Arawn's brow furrowed and I could see him tightening the clutch on his staff.

"I am not the first to forsake Autumn. I am not the first to explore the courts and see where I truly belong. I am not the first one to wonder about the capacity of their magic! But you would have us stand by ancient edicts and be herded like prey! How can you be an agent of change, while you perpetuate stagnation? I will take any of my kin who are wise enough to follow me!" I told him, enraged.

Stepping back towards She-Who-Wanders, I kept a careful watch on Arawn. Darkness stared at me from behind his tired hazelnut eyes and my stomach twisted again. But my stubborn determination was rewarded.

One Elf, a younger one I recognized from my time as a Hunter, slowly walked over to where I was standing. After some arguing another one came and joined my side. Once again, She-Who-Wanders was beaming widely. The Woodborn continued to argue virulently until nearly a third of them had taken my side.

A determined foolishness filled my next words.

"Now we are leaving, Arawn," I asserted.

This displeased him.

Torch flames flickered around us. Shadows danced just out of sight. A pulling sensation awoke the pain in my broken arm. The Preservation magic I was using on it faded away at an alarming rate. I could feel my entire body weakening.

The raven cawed.

I would not be brought down yet! I mustered what fortitude I could to stand in the face of adversity. My limbs shook as atrophy settled in. Many of the Elves who took my side had already lost consciousness. The rest of their eyes were on me; seeing what I would do; seeing what I could do. She-Who-Wanders stared intently at me, smirking only slightly. Once again I saw the the silvery flash of her eyes beneath her hood. She was entirely unaffected.

The raven cawed.

Desperately clinging to what little magic I could, I collapsed to my knees. It was a struggle to support myself, especially with my disabled arm. I felt the Erlking's club pound against my chest every time I took a breath. I chocked under the pressure of his aura. Darkness now obscured my vision. Blood oozed from every orifice on my face. In seconds, I would be dead.

The raven cawed.

And then, through the darkness, I saw his true form encasing his physical body in an ephermal coat. His black, empty eyes hid behind an ancient wooden mask. Stag antlers protruded from either side. A white fur cloak enshrouded his body, which was a lanky and tangled mess of decaying wood. It was the perfect host for the black and red spotted mushrooms adorning him. From them, emitted a spore that caused more pain with every breath I took.

When he spoke, his voice echoed in my head at the same pitch of a deathly croak. I was unsure if sight or sound of him was even real, but both petrified me nonetheless.

The Night of Souls allowed him to harness the true power of Annwyn. Tonight he was more powerful than anything I had ever faced. Any Fae would be a fool to challenge him. Even the other Queens would think twice about it.

I was not a rational Elf.

"This is the last chance I shall give: stand down.
Elf-King, keep fighting; you will find no crown.
To dead kings, none bow.
Live, and begone now."

Through a mouthful of blood I smirked.
I always was stubborn.

The raven cawed.

"No," I reiterated strongly.

I was prepared for death; prepared to face Arawn in his own domain. Death, however, is not what was granted to me.

A surge of strength: power, and magic like I had never felt before coursed through my body. Once more the pains in my arm disappeared. As the dark haze clouding my eyes dissipated, I pushed myself to my feet, feeling nearly completely renewed. The sight before me ensnared the attention of everyone in the area, even Arawn.

She remained concealed mostly in shadow, but the fractured fractals of Faerie glamour still glistened against her hair, illuminating it the same hue of the moonlight. The grin on her face pierced through me and rent my soul asunder. My strength may have returned, but my breath froze as it left my body. Whispers in the back of my mind told me who this was; there was no mistaking this overwhelming aura. She-Who-Wanders had fooled me from the beginning.

Breaking the collective stunned silence, Arawn finally spoke and confirmed my suspicions.

"Finally, you have stripped your raven drab,
And revealed yourself, o Winter Queen Mab.
Your new pet's eyes,
Ne'er did scry thy guise.
But my watchful gaze did swiftly find thee,
The moment you entered my land with She."

Mab and She-Who-Wanders were fooling me from the very beginning. Perhaps even sooner. The raven feathers woven into her luminous hair were evidence of this.

I am not sure how I found the confidence to speak, but as soon as I opened my mouth She-Who-Wanders interrupted me.

"Do not. This was a welcoming gift from our court. Her majesty, Queen Mab, does not expect nor want your gratitude for it. It is contrary to what appealed to her about you. Gather your followers, champion Elf, our Lady will handle Lord Arawn."

I rallied the companions who joined me, and helped them recover. As we readied to exit the area, a flash of sparks exploded in the air. Arawn slammed his staff down, and the ground rumbled. Darkness enveloped the area except for the dying flicker of torchlight. From the shadows slowly skulked two spectral hounds. I recognized their muscular form as the Cù Sìdhe, bearers of death. It was told that they carry magic bearing souls to Annwyn. Their mere presence was unsettling. However, for the time being, they kept closely to Arawn, not yet attacking.

"Stand firm," She-Who-Wanders advised.

I looked at her with a cocky grin.

"I'm not nervous; I'm excited. If I were in my prime, I would test my skills as a hunter against them."

"That will not be necessary, champion Elf," She assured.

I watched the great Mab remain confident, and cool in the face terrifying face of the Lord of Annwyn and his deathly Faerie Hounds. She was the epitome of winter: mysterious, resilient, and absolutely unpredictable.

I admired her.

Her breath chilled the air as she spoke in a dissonant verse.

"Arawn, dearest King,
Is fighting me truly what you seek yet?
You are indebted, or did you forget:
He slayed the Erlking.

He may be a pariah seeking fame,
But he saved your Elves, so you do proclaim.
Give him what he seeks; he has earned a name.

Do this, Arawn, and we need not battle.
My quarrel is not with you,
But with those in Summer who,
Favor Autumn below human cattle."

Mab's fascination with me suddenly became clear. She was many things, unpredictable being the foremost among them. But despite that fact, I was able to discern a few clues about her.

From what I observed, she had a fondness for Arawn, or maybe Autumn as a whole. There was something about its ever changing nature, or Arawn's association with decay that appealed to her, and made her choose diplomacy before violence.

I believe the reason I caught her interest was because I represented the traits she once saw in Arawn: change. I was a catalyst for revolution among the Woodborn, perhaps even all of Autumn. Unlike others, I took charge and fought against Summer's Goblin invaders. I understood why she wanted me in her court. She needed Fae who shared her ideals of preserving the future of the Fae. I even understood her feelings towards Summer. Why should Goblins from Summer be allowed to encroach on our lands, and hunt my kin? If they wanted land and sentient creatures to hunt, then why not target the humans? They were primitive and base creatures: nomads with little potential for magic. Though, despite that, their kind continued to grow in number and intelligence. If left unchecked they could become troublesome for us. Even I was not so cold blooded as to hunt my own kind, and do nothing to those two-legged primates.

I did not, however, share Mab's fondness for Arawn, and hoped she would fight him after all.

Sadly, however, the intensity of Arawn's aura began shrinking. His hounds kept their guard up, both focused and ready, but careful to avoid direct eye contact with Mab. Arawn peered at me with his dark, hollow eyes and spoke to the pair of us.

"I seek no war, Mab. The debt shall be paid.
Annwyn ensures the Fae shall never fade;
Nor shall our customs.
While all ends must come,
Our way of life shall indeed carry on.
Pariah, take what you seek and be gone."

Carefully, I stepped towards Arawn. It was an unspoken understanding that if he attempted anything, Mab would retaliate in full. I could not prevent the cocky smile that ran across my face.

"You battled Erlking,
But what you now sing,
Sows discord within. You see, your great win,
Has wrought end, for the Woodborn you called kin,
Be cursed forever;
You are Kinsever."

Kinsever.
That was my name.
Who I was before mattered no more.
This name was given as an insult: a moniker so any Fae who meet me may know what I've done. But I did not care. This new name reflected my new life.
My beautiful curse.
It was perfect.

"Know what your actions cost: hold out your arm;
Observe what is spent; see now, Winter's harm."

Thanks to Mab's powers of preservation, I felt minimal pain as I pulled my broken arm out of its makeshift sling. What I saw should have alarmed me, but instead, I found myself intrigued. My skin was cracked and singed. Its natural oaken hue was now a pallid ash. Sapphire saturated scars slithered up my forearm.

Mab beamed as she looked upon my useless, transformed arm and spoke with almost childlike fascination.

"Do you see now its absolute beauty,
A gift earned by you, but given by me;
The wonderful power of Entropy?"

Winter's magic was changing me, a side effect that had never happened before. There was no doubt that Arawn was the cause of this. He was the only one I knew with enough power, to affect my control of Entropy so it would reflect on my skin. Declaring me a pariah had not been enough; he made it so that I would be permanently separate from the Woodborn.

"Born in shadows, created of this night,
A corrupted kin, forsworn from my sight,
See this brand you wear,
Tis the mark you bear,
You are Woodborn no more. Prepare thyselves,
You who chose Winter, shall be the Dark Elves."

So it was not just me, then. It would be all of my followers. They would likely transform after learning the secrets of Entropy as well. Part of me felt as if this was Mab's plan all along. I was a Hunter, no matter what court I belonged to. I would always trust my instincts, and right now, they were telling me that Mab needed us, would do what it it takes to keep us.

But I would oblige.

She helped me find power.
She gave me solace in her court.
She protected me from Arawn.
I owed her a debt, and I would repay it. As an experienced survivalist I could not give her my trust fully, but I could give her my loyalty. Queen Mab of Winter would have the loyalty of the Dark Elves until our debt was sufficiently settled.

No more words were exchanged.
The Cù Sìdhe slowly retreated back into the shadows of the trees. As the dawn sun painted the horizon, hazelnut eyes filled Arawn's empty hollows once more. His illusion was back, but mine was forever dropped.

With one final respectful, yet unhappy bow to Mab, Arawn walked away back into the forest. The Woodborn who remained loyal to him were close behind. Neither side looked back.

Mab grinned a chilling smile. Her fierce, powerful confidence was equally alluring and intimidating. Without saying a word, she transformed back into a raven and took off faster than even my trained sight could follow.

She-Who-Wanders, however, was not smiling. Once more, her eyes were glowing a faint silver, yet the rest of her face still remained concealed in shadow.

"I will not be going."

Surprised, I raised my brow at her. I admit, I had grown accustomed to her presence.

"My duty is to help lost Fae find their way. You have found your path, Dark Elf."

Whether I only understood why, or also regarded her as a friend, I smiled regardless. This was to be our indefinite parting.

"I earned my name, you know," I told her.

That familiar smile of hers finally returned.

"I know. Trust in your skills and you shall do well in Winter. May we meet again if you ever lose your path. Farewell, Kinsever." She bid me before disappearing behind in a gale.

I smirked and gathered my newly ordained Dark Elves and we began the journey to our new life.

I did it.
I earned my name.
I was Kinsever.