Gabrielle - After Happy Ever After

“I need your help right away, Maive. I need you to let me use your powers. Virginia is in danger and will die if we don’t act immediately. Will you let me use your body?” she asked.

Maive nodded, trusting Snow White even though she didn’t know her. “Yes.”

Tony looked at Maive. Something was wrong with her. He moved his brainless horse next to hers and took her reins. He was afraid to disturb her if she was having another vision. Who knew what might happen?

Suddenly, Maive sat straight up in her saddle, her eyes flying open. “Stop.” she said and there was something different about her voice.

Tony pulled on his reins and hers. “What is it?” he asked.

“I need to do a spell now. You will assist me. Virginia’s life is in danger,” she said tersely as she dismounted.

Tony didn’t like the idea of being involved in any kind of witchcraft, but if Virginia was in trouble, he would do whatever it took to help her. He hurriedly dismounted and followed Maive as she removed things from her bag and set them on the ground.

“I don’t have time for a full ceremony, so let’s just get this arranged. Set these candles up in each of the directions. Leave room to stand in the middle. When you’re done I need you to join me in the center. You’re close to Virginia. It will help,” Maive instructed.

Tony did as she said as quickly as possible. Maive lit each of the candles, saying incantations under her breath. When she was done, she stepped into the center with Tony. “Take my hand. Thank of Virginia. Think of her safe and of how much you love her. And believe in me. I will help her,” Maive promised.

Tony nodded. Anything to help Virginia. He closed his eyes and listened to Maive’s lilting rhyme. He wondered why everything here had to rhyme, then focused on Virginia.

“Ancient powers I summon here, bide my words and do my task. Protect the one who is close to our hearts, this we bid you, this we ask. Throw off the foe who threatens her and guide her to the one who can her questions answer. As it is spoken, so mote it be. As it is spoken, so mote it be. As it is spoken, so mote it be,” Maive said.

The candle flames roared up, then died just as quickly. Maive’s eyes flew open and she dropped to one knee. She looked at Tony, wondering why she was holding his hand and why they were standing in a spell circle. He looked at her and she could tell he was waiting for her to tell him something. “What happened?” she asked.

Tony blinked in surprise.

“What? What do you mean what happened?” he demanded.

“That was Snow White before. She wanted to use my body to help Virginia. What did she do?” she asked.

“She did a spell. She said it would help her. Did it or not?”

“I don’t know. But I can check. Stand back, give me some room. I can scry her out.”

Maive got some water and poured it in a bowl. She did the proper spell for scrying. She and Tony both leaned over the bowl. The two guards waited apprehensively.

Cinnamon growled again, letting her fangs show. The girl climbed to her feet and ran away. Cinnamon followed her a little, then turned and headed back. She made sure to destroy the girl’s scent with some strong smelling weeds. She swam back across the river to get rid of the scent on herself. When she finally reached Wolf, he was still asleep. Cinnamon’s eyes flashed and dimmed. She shook her head in confusion. Why had she done that? It was the same girl as before. Was it the girl? Or was it her?

Cinnamon wrung out the bottom of her shirt over Wolf’s head. He started awake and jumped to his feet. “What was that for?” he asked.

Cinnamon shrugged and smiled. Those other thoughts just gave her a headache. She pushed them aside and concentrated instead on Wolf.

Wendell paced in his castle. He had probably paced miles worth in the past few days. Tension was mounting all across the kingdoms. He didn’t know what it was. He supposed it might have something to do with the witch, but he couldn’t rely on that. All the rulers of the other kingdoms were pressuring him to do something and all he could tell them was to please wait. Soon, one of them would get tired of that answer and take it out on him and his kingdom.

“Anthony. I’ll give you anything. Just please, please fix this,” he said out loud.

Virginia kept running even though she knew that the girl or whatever she was had stopped following her. She had been incredibly lucky. She still didn’t know what had kept the monster-girl away from her. She decided not to question it, but to just be thankful and not waste the chance for her life that had been given her. When she finally stopped, she leaned over, hands on her knees, panting. She waited to catch her breath, then continued on at a walk. She kept her guard up, just in case the girl had followed her, but she was pretty sure she was safe now. She tried to work out the strange things that had happened.

“Who was that guy anyway?” she asked herself, wishing with all her heart that she knew the answer.

“I know! I know!”

Virginia jumped in surprise, whirling around, looking for the source of the small voice.

“It’s me!” the voice said, “Look down.”

Virginia looked down and saw a ring on her hand. On the ring was a small, pearl-like face. And it was talking.

“Who are you?” Virginia asked.

“I’m a symbol of eternal love and devotion,
But I got scared by all the commotion.
The one whose name you asked so forcefully
Is your husband, your one and only,” the ring sang happily.

“Do you have to rhyme?” Virginia asked, but she ignored that and concentrated on the ring’s song. “You mean that that man was my husband? I have a husband? And I don’t remember him! Please, tell me more. I really hope this memory loss isn’t permanent.”

“The name of Wolf goes he by
And you are the apple of his eye.
Your name is Virginia, daughter of Tony and hero to all.
You brought about the evil queen’s fall,” the ring sang.

“Wolf. What an odd name,” Virginia mused.

She really wanted to go back now and talk to Wolf. But she was too afraid of that girl to do so. “Do you know where we are? Where I can find help?” she asked instead.

“The Fifth Kingdom this had been deemed,
But help isn’t as it seemed.
Your memory is what you need,
A mirror is where they can be freed,” the ring sang.

“What?” Virginia asked, confused. “You mean a mirror can give me my memory back? Where is it?”

“The nearest one that will help you
Is due east, inside a shoe,” the ring replied.

“In a shoe? What’s that supposed to mean? Hey! Come back here!” she yelled at the ring as it rolled over and the face was gone.

Virginia sighed. Due east, huh? Well, that was a start at least. She would have to be on the lookout for any unusual shoes.

Wolf pushed the pace as much as he could. It gave him little time to think and the way things were going, he wanted it that way. Cinnamon didn’t complain and didn’t really seem to notice, really. She bounded along next to him and was in a way too playful mood for Wolf’s liking. Well, actually it was a lot to his liking, but that’s what he didn’t like.

“Wolf, let’s go find a deer. I bet we could take it down really quick together. It would be fun, wouldn’t it?” she asked, walking backwards so she could look at him.

“No. I want to get the rose and go,” he said, forcing himself not to look at her.

Cinnamon paused mentally. For some reason she agreed readily with that idea. “Yeah. Yeah, that’s a good idea. But can’t we have fun on the way? Don’t be all huffy-puffy,” Cinnamon said. She made a playful growl and tugged on Wolf’s arm. He jerked it away from her.

“No!”

Cinnamon frowned. She let herself pout a little. “Oh, come on. Don’t be mean. I won’t bite unless you want me to.” she promised.

Wolf bit down on his tongue before he could respond to that. He shook his head forcefully.

Cinnamon frowned a little deeper. She let Wolf get ahead of her a little bit, then followed. An idea suddenly came to her and she smiled mischievously.

Cinnamon snuck silently up behind Wolf. She snapped her hand out and yanked his tail out and gave it a pull. Wolf yelped and spun on her. He held his tail behind him with both hands. “What do you think you’re doing?!” he demanded.

Cinnamon covered her mouth with both hands, trying not to laugh. She shrugged, but the movement caused her to snort.

“You think that was funny?” he asked in a very serious tone. Cinnamon shook her head and snorted again, giggling into her hands. “You do, too!” Wolf accused, “I’ll show you what’s funny.”

Cinnamon watched him with wide eyes, her hands still over her mouth. Wolf circled her, then lounged and freed her tail of her pants and pulled it. Cinnamon jumped forward, whipping around towards Wolf.

“Still funny?” he asked.

“That was not fair at all.” Cinnamon declared.

“Oh yeah, and it was fair when you did it,” Wolf replied sarcastically.

Cinnamon ignored him and glanced behind him. “You’ve got a nice tail. Grey, like my father,” Cinnamon commented.

“Thanks,” Wolf sputtered, embarrassed. “You, too. Only like my sister. You look like my sister. She was a red wolf.”

Cinnamon pulled her tail over a little so she could look at it. “The full moon’s close. I don’t remember it being this long,” she said.

“Yeah,” Wolf agreed, “Do you…do you think we could leave them out?”

“I know. And of course. You think I’m going to stop you? I’ve got one, too,” she said simply.

Wolf nodded and couldn’t help but smile a little. “I think we’re close to those bushes. I can almost smell them, I think,” he said.

Cinnamon sniffed, concentrating on the smells. “I think you’re right. Come on. Race you,” she challenged. She took off before Wolf could respond, her tail wagging behind her. Wolf grinned and ran after her.

Virginia was getting tired. She had seen nothing but trees and birds and other woodsy stuff for the past hour. The day was ending. She wanted to sleep. But she wanted to know who she was even more than that. She continued on, hoping she would find whatever the shoe that the ring had spoken of was.

Virginia came into a clearing and came to a dead stop and her jaw dropped. “This has got to be it,” she said out loud. In the clearing was a giant shoe. But there were windows in it and a door. It looked pretty old, but kept up, as if somebody had fixed it up and taken care of it. Virginia scanned it with her eyes and saw there was a light on in one of the higher windows. Virginia felt hope rise up in her. She ran to the door and knocked desperately.

“Coming!” a voice called, but Virginia couldn’t seem to stop knocking.

“I said I’m coming!” A woman opened the door, a little exasperated at Virginia’s knocking. “Yes?” she asked.

“I was told you could help me,” Virginia blurted. “You’re supposed to have a mirror.”

“What? Who are you?” the woman demanded.

“I know I’m Virginia and I know I’m married to a guy named Wolf, but I lost my memory and I need your mirror to get it back so please, please, please let me use it,” she gushed in response.

The woman stared at her for a moment. Then sighed. “Oh, I know I’m foolish, but come in,” she said, opening the door. Something suddenly registered. “Wait a minute! Did you say Virginia? And Wolf? The Virginia and Wolf who stopped the Evil Queen?!!”

“I…guess,” Virginia said uncertainly, but the woman didn’t even hear her. She hurried Virginia inside, sputtering nonsense and babbling. She straightened her apron and fixed her hair hurriedly as she sat Virginia down at the table and poured her some tea.

“Oh, this is such an honor. I simply must write letters to all my relatives. It’ll take a month! You may have heard of our family. We are the Hubbards.” She puffed up a little as she said that. “My grandmother had two historic poems written about her.”

“I’m sorry, I don’t remember…” Virginia began apologetically.

“Oh, of course! I’m so sorry! Can I do anything, anything at all to help you?” she asked.

“Well, the…” Virginia started again.

“The mirror! I’m such a troll! Right away. Here, follow me.” Miss Hubbard hurried Virginia away before she could get even a sip of tea.

Virginia let her bustle her up the stairs. Miss Hubbard opened a door to a room with a large dusty mirror in it. “This is the only magic mirror I know of. I don’t know exactly what it does, but I’m sure it’s magic. Mom told all of us children that. It was a gift to my grandmother…but you don’t care about that. Here, here. You see to the mirror and see if it helps you,” Miss Hubbard said, placing Virginia in front of it.

Virginia’s head was still spinning from all Miss Hubbard’s chatter and being whirled all over her house, but she concentrated on the mirror, trying to figure out what she was supposed to do now. She looked to the ring for guidance. “Will you help me now?” she asked. “I need to know how to work this.”

“Turn the handle to turn it on,
Then pose your question as my song.
The mirror will answer tried and true,
Then a rescue you must do,” the ring sang.

“’Kay,” Virginia said, trying to decipher that. She ran her hands along the frame of the mirror, trying to turn it “on”. She came to a knob on the side and as she ran her hand over it, it moved. The mirror lighted a little and a face appeared in it.

“Pose my question as the ring’s song. That must mean in rhyme. Okay.” Virginia took a deep breath and turned to the mirror. “Can you return to my memory to me…if I ask very nicely?” Virginia knew that rhyme was incredibly lame, but it was the best she could do on short notice.

“I can do the task,
But this first I must ask.
You must do something in return,
Then the favor you will earn,” the mirror replied.

“What?” Virginia asked. The mirror didn’t reply. She sighed. “What must I do for you and get my memory, too?”

“I do not wish to remain in the dust.
So in you I trust.
Spread word to all to visit me,
And restore me to the fame of previously,” the mirror replied almost shyly.

“You mean you want to be used again?” Virginia was surprised. The mirror was lonely! It wanted to get used and talked to. That she could do!

“This favor I will ensure, but please my memory loss cure,” Virginia rhymed.

A hand reached out of the mirror and touched Virginia on the forehead. Virginia gasped at the cold touch, then fell to her knees as all the memories rushed back to her. She barely avoided fainting. Miss Hubbard hurried over to help her.

“Oh, goodness! Are you all right, dear?” she asked worriedly.

“Yes. I’m great,” Virginia nodded. She turned to the mirror. “My greatest thanks I give to you. And to our agreement I will be true,” she promised whole-heartedly.

The mirror smiled and faded back, then disappeared as Virginia turned it off.

“Did it work, Virginia dear? Do you have your memory back?” Miss Hubbard asked.

Virginia nodded. “I’m afraid so. And I remember that my husband is in a lot of trouble. I’d love to stay, Miss Hubbard, but I have to hurry. It may be too late already.”

“Tony! Stop! Tony, no!” Maive cried desperately. They had reached the witch’s house and Tony wanted to charge right in there and force her to undo all her spells, but Maive knew that would never work. She grabbed Tony’s arm and pulled him back into the bushes. “You can’t just barge in there! She’ll kill you or worse. We need to think this out. I’ve been working out a plan now…” Maive began.

“Oh, my god! Maive! What is that?!” Tony cried, pointing behind her. Maive whipped around to see what Tony saw. Tony grabbed her from behind and clapped a hand over her mouth. He motioned to the guards. “I’m really sorry about this Maive. Well, not really sorry, but sorry at least,” Tony said as he and the guards tied her to the tree and gagged her. She shook her head furiously, her eyes wide. They couldn’t do this to her! “We’ll come back for you after we take care of this witch. All right? Good,” Tony said. “Come on, guys. Swords ready.”

Tony and the guards snuck off around the house of the witch. Maive tried her best to get free, but without being able to use her hands or speak, she couldn’t even use her magic.

Cinnamon slid to a stop. She couldn’t believe her eyes! She looked backwards for Wolf, wondering if it was just her or if he was seeing this, too. Wolf had just run up. He looked up and saw the roses and nearly ran into her as he tried to stop.

“Cripes,” he breathed. They had found the golden roses. They sparkled and glistened. They were too beautiful for words. And only a few feet away. Wolf didn’t see anything between him and the roses, but he knew better. “What do you know about the traps on them?” he asked without taking his eyes off the flowers.

Cinnamon shrugged, also staring at the roses. “Not much. Mostly just what’s in the legends. Dark spirits, death traps, poison thorns. Who knows if the spirits are even still around or if their traps still work? But I wouldn’t rely on that,” Cinnamon warned.

“Me neither,” Wolf agreed. He picked up a rock and threw it at the ground right before the bushes. Steal spikes, six-feet long, shot up out of the ground. Wolf gulped.

The spikes held in position for about three minutes before sucking back into the ground. Wolf gulped again.

“So what do we do?” Cinnamon asked.

“Um…okay. If you can stay here and make sure the spikes stay up, I can get through. Okay?”

Cinnamon nodded and quickly gathered a big pile of stones.

Virginia alternated running and jogging, trying to find the river. If she could find the spot where she had last seen Wolf, she could start from there. She wasn’t a tracker (although she was learning quickly from all this), but she knew she would be able to find him. Had to be able to find him.

“Wolf. I’m coming. Don’t do anything stupid,” Virginia muttered.

Tony waved the guards in first and followed slowly after. The first guard kicked down the door, his sword in hand, the other guard on his heels. They stormed into the house. Tony heard a (he couldn’t find a better word) cackle and then silence. He poked his head around the building to see what was happening.

“Come in, Tony,” the witch said. Tony started in surprise, then warily entered. The two guards had been frozen in place like painted statues. Tony stepped around them, but kept them between him and the witch.

“I’m ordering you to stop with the spells and magic mumbo-jumbo,” he said in his most dignified and commanding voice.

The witch cackled again. “I won’t be ordered around by an ex-janitor,” she said sharply, and Tony winced. “An ex-janitor who couldn’t even keep his daughter from running off with a Wolf and right into a terribly dangerous situation. You’re not even there for her now. What gives you the right to tell me what to do?”

Tony stuttered. Her words had cut too deep. She had practically stated some of his greatest doubts and fears. “Th…that’s not true. I’m a h…hero.” he protested.

“That’s what Wendell tells you because he feels sorry for you. What did you actually do? Followed Wolf and Virginia around. Talked to Wendell. Occasionally convinced someone to help the others.” She shrugged. “They would have fared perfectly fine without you.”

“Shut up! You’re just trying to trick me!” Tony yelled. “You’re lying.”

“Am I?” the witch asked simply and turned her back on Tony. Tony saw an opportunity and lounged at the witch. But just as he was closing in on her, she spun and threw dust in his face. Tony realized his mistake too late. Then he fell to the ground as Wolf and Cinnamon had done earlier.