"You'll never get away with this," Rose shrieked clenching her tiny fists tightly.

Aubrey laughed, ensuring that the rope binding his prisoner was tight enough. "But my dear, I already have." with a wicked smile he snagged the invitation from her top pocket

"Give that back, you good for nothing, poor excuse for a moth," she cried shrilly, struggling in vain against her bonds. "What're you going to do with it anyway?"

Aubrey spun to face her, like all good villains he could not resist divulging his oh so brilliant plan to a captive audience. Emerald eyes sparkled wickedly, "I am going to the Royal Christening. It is extremely unfair that you and your cronies have the monopoly on such events. Besides" he rolled his eyes, "you are oh so boring with your choice of blessings. It's time for a change and I plan to be the one to spice things up."

"How dare you defy tradition."

"Tradition dictates that seven faeries must attend each Royal Christening. It doesn't say which seven, just the seven with invitations." He cackled evilly, waving, with a flourish, the piece of paper in front of her face, "looks like that's me."

Aubrey appeared with a flash of light in the middle of the great hall, all eyes were instantly upon him. Brushing his fiery mane from his eyes he laughed. By the gods he loved making a stylish entrance.

Glancing around he noticed, with relief the star of the show was not yet here. So much the better. With a twist of his fingers he made the relevant changes and set about to have some fun.

"Well what we all waiting for? Someone bring the baby in, us faeries don't have all day you know."

Everyone gaped at him.

"Where's Rose?" one of the faeries asked him.

"She's a little tied up at the moment," he stifled a laugh at exactly how true that was. "So well I have her invitation and came to take her place. You," he pointed at the nearest mortal, "go get the baby before I turn you into a frog."

The young girl dashed off, returning moments later with a beautiful baby nestled in pink blankets, sleeping soundly.

A murmuring broke out in the hall, horrified expressions crossing the faces of most of the crowd.

"Silence," Aubrey commanded, waving his arms elaborately, all noise within the hall fading. "Hurry up," he pursed his lips at the others, "give your blessings."

Marigold stepped forward hesitantly, glancing down at the babe, "I bless thee with divine beauty. All who shall behold thee shall not fail to be entranced."

Aubrey groaned at the massacring of the old tongue.

Marigold stepped back making way for Poppy. "I bless thee with grace, even when thou walks thou shall move with such lightness, almost dance."

Aubrey groaned louder, making an exaggerated show of yawning.

Daisy hurried forward trying to compose herself. "Charisma" she blurted out, "I gift thee with such charm that all shall love thee."

Lily looked even more flustered, "music" she chimed out. "Your... thee... thou?" she looked around confused and started again. "Your voice shall be as sweet as the birds themselves. Any music you play shall be true sweetness itself."

 Holly glanced around and stepped towards the baby, "a kind heart. You shall be a sensitive soul who truly cares for others and shall do your best to make things right."

Violet looked awkwardly at Aubrey, gesturing for him to go first. With a smirk he shook his head and pushed her forward.

"Wisd... d... dom," she stammered forgetting her words, "b... be wise. L... learn from your m... mi.... mistakes. Like learning. Listen to others."

Aubrey pulled her forcefully out of the way deciding she was finished, "and at last my turn." He tilted his head back, gazing up at the sky through the windows, "CUE STORM" he yelled, clapping his hands over his head the room instantly darkened, thunder rumbled through the castle.

"All very nice gifts but where's the fun? Okay babe, on your 18th year you're going to prick your finger on a thorn and die a horrific and painfilled death."

The doors flung themselves open, lightning setting the sky aflame for an instant. The crowds parted revealing a very wet, rather tattered, extremely angry looking Rose.

"No you will not die" she called out, clear as bells, "just fall into a deep, unaging sleep." Rose caught her breath and continued, "until the day you are awoken by the kiss of a handsome prince with whom you shall live happily ever after."

Aubreys laughter echoed, coldly, through the hall. He bowed elaborately to Rose, slight twist of his fingers reversing the spell he had cast when he first entered the hall. The babies blankets shifting from soft rose pink to their original shade of sky blue.

"Looks like I'm in your debt Rose. Oh that was so funny what you did to the baby boy. Well done. Bet his parents can't wait for the handsome prince to turn up."

"You planned this?" she growled angrily.

"Of course dearie. If I had really wanted to keep you prisoner then I would have tied you in bonds of iron not rope," he chuckled, "I may be many things, stupid is not one of them. Now sorry to rush off like this but I have other business to attend to. It's been fun, bye, ciao" and with that he vanished.