Act 4

Scene 1

~ Curtain Opens ~

The Temple of the GODDESS ARTEMIS.

Enter OBERON and his fairies, all heavily armed.  A  VOTRESS stands on the steps of the temple.

VOTRESS

You must return with the blue diamond.

OBERON

Votress, where is Titania?

VOTRESS

It is as I told you.  When the stone is here, only then will Titania appear.

PUCK

Does the great Goddess Artemis only protect virgins who give her jewels? 

[ PUCK lunges towards the VOTRESS but OBERON holds him back. ]

VOTRESS

The Artemis Stone is a weapon, stolen from this temple.  Do not underestimate its power like you overestimate Titania's continence.

PUCK

Master, let me make this hag tell us the truth!

[ OBERON yanks PUCK  back again, harshly.]

OBERON

( To Votress)

We will bring you the stone.  Well I know where it is.

[ The VOTRESS turns and goes inside the temple.  OBERON motions for his train to follow him.  They begin to exit.]

PUCK

(to Oberon)

Master, how do you know where it is?  Is it not with your Queen? Have you seen it since?

OBERON

The hideous blue adorns the breastplate of Mab. We go to crack it now like the shell of a boiled crab.

[ Exit OBERON and his army of fairies. ]

[Enter ROWAN.  She kneels at the foot of the steps of the temple.  The GODDESS ARTEMIS appears.]

ROWAN

I stole the stone.  I meant to free Oberon from the curse and then return it before it was missed.

~ CURTAIN CLOSES ~

~ To Be Continued ~