~ Curtain Opens ~
The dark and dangerous clearing, deep in the forest where OBERON regroups and prepares for battle. A low fog rolls in and a light snow begins.
Enter HAREBELLE and YARROW, guarding the scene.
HAREBELLE
It were good that Oberon restored our youth. My older bones could not abide these battles and the wandering weathers of this night. Mark how Oberon hath frighted summer's sultry night into these frozen vapors with the sting of a viper's bite.
YARROW
Even our young bones may not launch arrows against Queen Mab's army to any effect. We were defeated because her warriors were like open doors through which our arrows flew to lodge in trees! But soft, villagers approach! Let them not see us!
[ HAREBELLE and YARROW hide.]
Enter NICHOLAS WINTERBOTTOM, PERCY PEAR, FRANCIS QUIBBLE, WALTER ANDREAS, TOOT and SIEVE
PERCY PEAR
We look like bears in these coats. Are bears in season?
WALTER ANDREAS
Would you rather freeze to death?
PERCY PEAR
The season is not in season. I suppose all bets are off.
WALTER ANDREAS
Nobody wants to hang your mug over their fireplace, believe me. You're not in season.
[FRANCIS QUIBBLE is so cold his lips are blue and his tongue is tied. He sees a tree studded with arrows and tries to warn everyone.]
FRANCIS QUIBBLE
Umteen ees nn seas on! Ook at at eee!
[NICHOLAS WINTERBOTTOM fishes out black cloths from a bag and hands one to everyone. He hands two to FRANCIS QUIBBLE.]
NICHOLAS WINTERBOTTOM
(To Francis)
Your face is frozen! Tie the second one around your mouth...to warm your lips. I can't understand a word you are saying.
NICHOLAS WINTERBOTTOM
(To everyone)
This will keep us safe. Tie on your bandit masks like so, everyone!
[ FRANCIS sighs, turns his back on the arrow studded tree and follows WINTERBOTTOM and tugs on his coat sleeve to get his attention again. Meanwhile, YARROW and HAREBELLE remove the arrows and hide again.]
NICHOLAS WINTERBOTTOM
I don't see anything.
SIEVE
Are we going to commit masked robbery?
PERCY
(To SIEVE)
That's the plan. Quick! Nab those pinecones before some squirrel beats you to it!
PERCY
(To WALTER)
You look like a giant, woolly, prehistoric raccoon.
WINTERBOTTOM
We aren't going to rob. We are just borrowing the peace and quiet that robbers enjoy. No one wants to bother a robber. Now let's head up the mountain to that cave where I used to play as a boy. We can build a fire and hide there tonight. In the morning we will check to see if the village is still there.
TOOT
My bakery!
SIEVE
I wish I had robbed your bakery before we left the village, but I wasn't a robber then.
They all exit.
Enter YARROW and HAREBELLE, followed by TOADFLAX and YEW carrying POPPY on a stretcher which they place of the ground gently and replace the cloth that was covering POPPY'S face. POPPY is dead.
TOADFLAX
How stood your guard?
HAREBELLE
Quiet, save for some villagers seeking refuge in the caves
TOADFLAX
There is no refuge in this night. Like as not they will find in the cavern some relative to the merciless spirits who killed our Poppy. I would not venture the caverns tonight.
YEW
Nor would I
Enter FOXGLOVE, BUD, PUCK, OBERON and a legion of OBERON'S FAIRIES, all armed with bows and arrows. PUCK bows to OBERON before making his report.
PUCK
Before the attack I was given a letter by Rowan. A letter writ by Queen Titania. Upon my injury, I gave the letter to Poppy for safe keeping.
TOADFLAX
Poppy is dead.
Enter more Soldier Fairies carrying the bodies of STRAWBERRY and FORGET-ME-NOT, which they place beside POPPY. PUCK is sickened by POPPY'S death, but does what he must. He kneels and searches POPPY for the letter. He finds the letter soaked with POPPY'S blood.
PUCK
(Softly to Poppy)
Gentle Poppy, I do not think heaven has had time to prepare for you. Do your best to persuade them to allow me to enter when my time comes. I desire more adventures with you. Who are your companions?
[PUCK pulls back the cloths and to reveal STRAWBERRY and FORGET-ME-NOT. PUCK weeps a little and quickly pulls himself together.]
PUCK
(Softly to POPPY)
Good choice of traveling companions, Dear Poppy. Look after eachother.
(PUCK kisses POPPY'S forehead)
PUCK
Until we meet again.
[PUCK rises and quickly brings the letter to OBERON as the soldiers continue to bring in more of the dead and place them next to POPPY. PUCK hands the blood soaked letter to KING OBERON. OBERON opens it carefully.]
OBERON
This is my Lady's hand. The ink runs with Poppy's blood, joined by my tears, for Titania has refused to remain my wife.
[OBERON crumbles the letter, throws it on the ground and turns away so no one can see him weep.]
Enter HERALD with his golden beaver down. Before HERALD can say a word, OBERON'S FAIRIES have all drawn their weapons and have HERALD in their sites. OBERON spins around with no trace of the heartache that gripped him a moment ago. OBERON motions for HERALD to approach.
OBERON
(Aside to PUCK)
I know that gait, and yet I should not, for it's owner is a dead man.
OBERON
(To Herald)
Speak Herald. Tell us thy name and speak of ransom.
HERALD
Queen Mab graciously grants King Oberon permission to gather his dead and leave this island before dawn, never to return.
OBERON
Speak thy name, Herald.
HERALD
Thou knowest I am the Herald Bandar, once Knight of thy train, stolen from the Indian King, stolen from thy Virgin Queen, stolen from thee by death, stolen from death by my dread mistress Queen Mab. Take flight with thy dead, former master, before their souls are snatched and forced to kill thee.
PUCK
Surely Poppy is already beyond Mab's reach!
HERALD
No one is beyond Her Majesty's reach. Accept the mercy Queen Mab offers and flee. Heed this the message or suffer my fate.
OBERON
You may tell your Queen that her message is understood and that we will spend this night searching for a worm vile enough to eat her wretched heart for breakfast at dawn. Fare-thee-well, Bandar, Herald from hell.
BANDAR THE HERALD bows and exits.
OBERON
(To PUCK)
Select a group to tend the dead and tell the rest to prepare to embark at once. We are going to the Temple of The Virgins. This eve turned when that blue diamond appeared upon my love's sweet neck. Suddenly she is moved to remain a virgin for all time and will have none of me. The Goddess Artemis knows Titania's heart is mine. Prepare the troops to hunt the Great Huntress!
PUCK
(Bows and prepares to exit)
Good, my Lord.
OBERON
And let it be known by all that Rowan is a traitor to be killed at first sight. Do not attempt to capture her. Kill Rowan.
PUCK
(To himself)
I will kill Rowan tonight as I have killed her many times in my dreams. It is an honor I dream of often. It is an honor I will not share. Rowan is mine and mine alone.
PUCK and the remaining FAIRIES exit.
[OBERON stands alone with the dead]
OBERON
May the Gods forgive me if Rowan is not a traitor. Traitor or no, she deserves to die for not protecting Titania.
OBERON exits.
[Two knotholes in a tree open and reveal a pair of eyes that look about. ROWAN steps out of the tree. She looks upon the dead and SIGHS sadly. She walks to where OBERON threw the letter and picks it up, carefully uncrumpling it.]
ROWAN
(To herself)
O letter misread! True writ, but thy ink hath bled. I must take you now to Artemis. Nothing here to be done or said. Everyone here wishes me dead.
~Curtain Closes~
