7. Shuttle queue

After a long journeyon the shuttle to E1: Tara, Artemis arrived underground. He had spent the journey time filling up his notepad with ideas for his speech, using up all the ink in his pen, and thinking about Gaia. When he stepped out of the shuttle, he found himself in the centre of a chutes tourist queue. Everyone stopped and stared at him, eyes wide in disbelief. He ignored them, pushed his way through the crowd and out the double doors, the million eyes following him. And there, in front of him, was Gaia and Edward. Artemis smiled shyly, suddenly overpowered by their combined beauty over his rather normal features, and held out his hand to Edward.

“Artemis Fowl II.” Edward took the hand and he and Gaia smiled warmly back.

“Edward Cullen.”

“Thank you for doing this Artemis. And we have our clans’ army not a block away from our current location.” Gaia informed Artemis. Then she and Edward led the way, and Artemis followed. Passers-by just stood still, their eyes were the only thing moving as the odd trio carried on walking. Artemis, Gaia and Edward paid no attention to them, and Artemis could not help seeing the veela and the vampire were holding hands. The jealousy hit Artemis like a cosh, jealousy for the beautiful, bronze-haired boy.

*

Artemis entered the courtroom. Behind him walked Gaia and Edward. They looked up into the tiered seats to meet bewildered Council Members faces, before taking their seats. A burly elf barked to Artemis,

“Well, I haven’t a clue what’s going on here, all I know is you are going to give us a proposition. So tell us, Mud-boy.” he pronounced the word ‘Mud-boy’ with particular distaste. Artemis replied in fluent Gnommish.

“Actually, I’m a human/fairy hybrid, not a Mud-boy.” The heavily muscled elf got down from his seat, holding his gavel like a weapon of mass destruction, before coming to Artemis and craning his head back to look into Artemis’ face.

“No cheek.” he said gruffly, and a little perturbed at Artemis’ height, waving the gavel in threat before returning to his judge’s seat. “Speak.” he commanded. Artemis opened his briefcase, took out his notes and stood before the assembled Council.

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