After years of mourning Ariella and fighting back the darkness that rose inside him on the day she died, Ash met Meghan and, while accompanying her into the Iron Realm to defeat King Machina, began to fall in love with her. Later, after helping Meghan to escape Tir Na Nog and take back the Scepter of the Seasons from the false Iron King’s lieutenants, Ash confessed his love in front of both courts. Refusing to be separated from her, Ash chose exile from the Nevernever, only to be pulled back in when Meghan agreed to go back into the Iron Realm and defeat the false king before he could spread his iron plague across the Nevernever.

Ash is an expert swordsman, and he wields an icy-blue sword made for him by the Ice Archons of Dragons’ Peak. His blood, glamour and a tiny piece of his essence went into its creation and he doesn’t like anyone touching it but him. Ash is also a master of Winter glamour, often shooting ice shards from his hands at his enemies during battle. He was also able to free Meghan from the block of ice his mother had encased her in.

When Meghan asked Ash to be her knight, invoking an ancient ritual that shows ultimate trust and would tie his life to hers, Ash made the vow instantly, bestowing upon Meghan his True Name. When she defeated the false king and lay dying in the Iron Realm, Meghan released Ash from his vow of knighthood in order to save his life, and used his True Name to order him out of the Iron Realm. As he left, he made a new vow—to find a way for him and Meghan to be together once again.

With the help of Puck, Grimalkin and some unexpected new companions, Ash set out for the End of the World, where it was said he might earn a soul and become human, thus allowing him to live in the Iron Realm free from harm. Along the way, he discovered a secret that changed much of what he believed about himself and his former friendship with Puck. Working as a team, Ash and his companions made their way to the Testing Ground at the End of the World. There Ash faced tests that no faery had passed before, earning a soul and becoming something between human and fey, so that he could return to the Iron Realm, to Meghan Chase, and marry her.

Good to know: Since gaining a soul, Ash has become more sympathetic to the human condition. He is still not the easiest person to ask for help, unless you are one of his respected acquaintances or friends, but his moral code in the end compels him to do the right thing. Unless you threaten his wife in any way. Then you’re frozen toast.

PUCK

(Robin Goodfellow, Robbie Goodfell, the Great Prankster)