The merfolk from Cornwall slid into the lake's waters, their fins flowing golden, silver and pink. But none was daring to approach the lake's bank. Their teeth were sharp like stones, shining under the moonlight. I looked at the sky. The full moon was hanging glorious and white, like our Queen's skin and the light was majestic like our skin and hair.

I looked across; on my left, the embassy of the Cornwall had settled, while on our right the embassy from Ireland, represented by Epona and her horses were as loud as always. Our Seelie Court of Scotland, represented by no other than Viona the Tenth, had settled on the top of the meadow's hill.

This was the yearly gathering of the folk and in this place, the matters of our people were discussed. With the pollution, these cursed humans were causing more of the fae and the mer were unsettled, choosing sometimes to immigrant at the cities or at the seas. I turned to my left; as one of her Majesty's ladies in waiting it was my duty to ensure the safety of our Queen as also conduct the Hunt.

"Rise, for the Horse Lady Epona, the Mer King Ruff, and the Fae Queen Viona the Tenth!" the pixie announced with strong voice despite its tiny body. Our Queen rose from her throne; her gown made of green leaves and decorated with honeycomb flowers. Her hair, a style I had suggested, was braided with vines while some faint pixie dust was decorating her silver eyelashes, giving an extra tone to her green eyes.

Her throne was made of stone, a fine work of the trolls. Viona walked with grace towards the center of the circle, which had been drawn before the gathering. Inside the circle all the leaders were equal and every opinion was heard. I followed from behind making sure no one would disturb her. When she reached the edge of the circle, she flickered her wrist, without turning her head. "That's enough Trey."

"As you wish my Queen," I whispered and stepped back.

Despite the peace our Seelie Court had for centuries, there was an edge on the contacts we had with the humans. Teasing and deceiving were necessary for our existence like air was for the mortals. While the three rulers discussed, I reached for the small pebble stone on my tunic, sending a tiny message to the patrol. After this meeting, the Queen would have to see what our Hunt would bring.

And that was nothing other than human babies. It seemed that they tasted quite lovely for our Queen. And in return for this 'offering' fae babies were placed instead. When they would reach maturity, they would join the Seelie Court, bringing back all the knowledge they had taken from the human world. This was a productive plan and in the few years of its existence, we had managed to repel many attacks as also gain advantages on the way humans were thinking.

I was responsible for the Hunt and soon I would have to join. Despite my four hundred years, I was still young. My honey-colored hair was threaded with rose rope while my tunic had earthly colors with my golden sword attached to my waist with a belt.

When I was born the Queen herself blessed me, knowing that I would serve her just like the females of my family always did. My yellow eyes were a proof for that. And I had never betrayed my Queen's trust.

The mer King nodded in something unspoken between Epona and Viona. The Irish goddess Epona was a protector of horses. Her sky stallions, with their blue colors and eyes, her sea horses with coral on their hooves and manes made of pearls and lastly my favorites; the earth mares with manes which smelled of lilies and bodies strong and warm like earth. All of them were respected from the fae.

When the session ended the three leaders stepped back to their respected groups and with the sound of the pipes, we began dancing. I made a circle and joined the males and females of my people, feeling the moon's glow on my pale white skin. I laughed and tilted my head back and forth, left and right, my feet carrying me around the fire which appeared in the place of the circle.

The horses neighed and the merfolk joined the pipes of the small trolls with their harps and drums. The song escalated and we all jumped into the air letting our wings, frail and transparent explode from our backs. We danced around and top of the fire until we descended and bowed to the three leaders.

Slowly, the merfolk disappeared into the depths of the lake, following the underground canals which would lead them back. Epona whirled her whip and all of her horses jumped into the air disappearing into fog and mist. I walked to my Queen who stood regal and unmoving watching as the rest of the fae were getting ready for the Hunt. I knelt.

"This session went well this year. Good work Trey."

"Thank you, your Majesty."

"Is everything ready for tonight?"

"As you commanded. We will scout the nearby villages and the fae children had already been glamour to look like humans."

I felt her palm touching the crown of my head. This was not praise but the Queen's touch would mean threat, danger.

Power.

"I want a boy." She said. "Something with blue on it."

"Your wish my command."

Her hand left my head and she burst into white light and butterflies. I got up and with a roar, I gathered everyone around me. I gave the final instructions and I raised the horn to my lips. The sound echoed through the forest and with a crazy sound of laughter and cries, the fairies scattered into the darkness.

The Hunt was on.

My mother, Glodwin the Brave, had served our Queen for six hundred years, more than any other of our family. Before she returned to the ground, thus becoming one with nature, she made me swear. Swear that I would never harm a particular human family.

The Harrows.

I never understood her fascination with them. Although I was suspecting that my mother had fallen in love with a man of this family, she never accepted my words. She was too pride for that. But from time to time I would catch her leaving our home and travel to the far end of our forest, watching over the house which rested at the end of the village close to the forest.

An oath was sacred and tonight I was responsible for not letting any of the folk to harm them. I had taken special measures for that; I had to carry iron crosses and place them all around the perimeter of the house and the garden.

My hands had bled for two weeks after that but I knew that iron would make the fae leave its residents alone. I ran, together with a group of ten, outside the forest, using the trees and the faint night's fog for a cover. Using my sword I guided the fae, green and pink, grey and bodies made of wood and twigs, fly towards the center of the village, commanding them to stay focused on the mission, not betray our position.

My head swirled to the direction of the Harrows' house. Flying around, keeping in mind not to disturb the iron, I found my way on one of the windows of the upper floor. Light was streaming from it and with a small trick, I stepped into the room. It was a nursery; the walls were painted blue with yellow stars and animals on them. A crib was to my left and slowly I made my way closer.

I knew that I couldn't harm them but my oath was not mentioning the chances of their child being taken for the Hunt. The baby boy slept peacefully, its tiny hands clasped into fists. Tufts of blond hair were on his head and his chest was moving up and down.

Blonds were my Queen's favorites.

The baby's eyes opened suddenly and stared at me. I gasped, surprised by the move but stepped front and looked down at the boy. His eyes were dark but with my vision, I could see that his irises were blue.

I grinned. My Queen would be pleased.

"Get away from my son."

The voice was hard and I turned around. The man was tall with dark hair and the same blue eyes like the baby. "I know who and what you are." His voice was deep and steady.

I smirked. "Oh really? Good for you, mortal." I lifted my sword at him.

He didn't flatter. "You look just like your mother."

I scowled. "Don't dirty her name with your words human. She lived to our clan's expectations."

"But that cost her soul."

"Fae don't have souls. We carry earth in us and the elements of the moon and water."

The man walked towards the crib and took the baby in his arms. "His name is Mathew. Why have you come fae?"

"My Queen wants a blue-eyed baby."

"I am not giving him to you."

I hissed, feeling my teeth growing sharper.

"And I know that you can't use violence on me."

I swore in my native tongue and sheathed my sword. "And I have to obey my Queen's commands." I glanced at him and smiled. "I could give you anything you wished, in exchange for the child."

"I have everything I need. I wish nothing from you."

I bristled and walked towards the window. "Fine, keep your brat. There's nothing for me here anyway." I flew out from the house and followed the wails of the crying human children. I wished that another blue-eyed child would be brought to my Queen.