Kimberly - Our Little Chop

They arrived at Snow White Memorial just before the prison’s dinner hour. Wendell’s personal guards were waiting for him, and handed over the scrap of fabric from Wolf’s shirt as soon as they arrived. Wendell then sent them to deliver the witch to the governor and retrieve Wilfred Peep before dinner began. They said their good-byes to Hansel, who had been quiet during their whole journey, thinking about seeing his sister again. He apologized for not being better company but they wouldn’t hear of it. Wendell extended him an open invitation to his palace and asked specifically that he be there for the party he was planning for the elves and Hansel for helping his friends.

Wolf bounded off immediately to find the facilities, while the others gathered in the governor’s office. Wendell insisted that Virginia sit in the relatively comfortable seat behind the governor’s desk. He left them alone in the room at Virginia’s request. She felt they needed to try to reach Peep themselves, and gain his confidence. Tony paced back and forth in front of the desk, consulting the new wristwatch Virginia had given him at every turn. Wolf returned just as the guards arrived with Peep and the old man recoiled in horror when he saw Wolf coming toward him in the hallway.

"You - you stay away from me, you filthy beast! If you come any nearer I’ll err, I’ll uh…."

The guard to his right laughed and looked down at the old man. "You’ll what? Cry? Scream like a girl? I heard what you did to your own grandchild, old man, and I know what you did to Sir Wolf and the Lady Virginia. You’re lucky I was under orders to get you here alive or I would have taken you out myself. I -"

"Stop!" Wolf interrupted him, taking the guard’s hand from the old man’s collar. "That’s not what we’re here for, Wilfred. Nobody’s going to hurt you. In fact, we need your help."

"My help?" Wilfred said, and almost laughed, but thought better of it, feeling the pressure of the guards’ hands around his arms. "What makes you think I’m going to help you? It’s because of you and your friends that I’m in this mess."

Wolf gestured, trying to hide his anger at this comment, and the guards shoved Peep into the governor’s office. Wolf stepped in behind him. The angrier of the two guards pushed the old man down roughly onto a stool in front of the governor’s desk where he was forced to look Virginia in the eye. Tony stood stone-faced beside the desk on the left, and Wolf took his place to Virginia’s right. He stood, happy to be feeling strong enough to do so, but worried because of the obvious spite and mistrust in Wilfred Peep’s eyes. Wolf tried to smile but he was terrible at hiding his emotions. His eyes flashed their brilliant wolf green and he was sure the effect was more frightening than friendly, but it was the best he could muster for the moment.

"Wilfred," he started, thinking how strange it sounded. He stopped and started again, this time pouring on all of his wolfish charm. He knew it was much stronger on women than men, but it had worked on Tony the first time they’d met and he was hoping it would work on Peep now. "Mr. Peep, we know about the curse that you have placed on our family. We’ve been to see the witch. In fact, we’ve brought her here with us, and she’s being set up in my old cell as we speak. It was she who helped us find you in the first place." He paused, taking in Peep’s response to all of this.

The old man shifted in his seat and grunted, "What are you telling me for? You’ve got the witch, why would you need to talk to me?"

"Because," Tony butted in, "apparently we have to have your approval to be able to break the stupid spell. The witch says that if you still bear ill will toward Wolf and Virginia here, no matter what we do we can’t break the curse. Then the crazy old bat smeared quickening powder all over my daughter, and apparently the baby is due at any moment now, so as you can see," he said, advancing on the old man menacingly, "we’re on a bit of a deadline here." He now held a finger inches from Peep’s face, standing over him, leaning in to intimidate. "So why don’t you just bury the hatchet, before I bury it in your skull?"

"Tony!" Wolf cried, and pulled his father-in-law away from the old farmer. "That’s no way to get cooperation." Wolf had had a chance to compose himself while Tony ranted, and having placed his wolfish charm and cunning into the forefront, he launched into what began as a very convincing "good cop" routine.

"Listen, Wilf," he said, smiling his most winning smile. "I understand that you were really angry with us after everything that happened in Little Lamb Village. I do. I can see how a man like you, accustomed to getting what he wanted, would be furious. And with your connections, I can see how you would have gone to the witch for help. But Wilf, please, if you want to blame someone, blame me. Take it all out on me. Turn ME into a sheep if you want, but come on! You can’t take it out on my child."

He knew he’d resorted to begging, and way too soon by the look of satisfaction on the old man’s face. But he couldn’t help himself. He was a wolf. It was either begging, or tearing him apart. He couldn’t sit and coldly discuss the fate of his child. He just wasn’t capable.

Wilf smiled malevolently, crossing his arms in front of him. "What makes you think I’m going to let you off the hook? I’ve lost everything. My livelihood, my wife, my standing in the community - they’re all gone because of you troublemakers. You’ve got the cloth. Do your best, but don’t expect my blessing in this. I hope you all rot!"

Wolf’s eyes flashed his anger and frustration. Could he never have a poker face? He clenched his fists, and tried one of the anger management techniques he’d read about in the books. He took in a deep breath, "Hhhhuf….", held it for a count of ten, and let it out slowly. What should have been a nice, calming "puff", however, came out as a terrible growl that frightened even Wendell’s guards, each of whom took a small step away from the object of Wolf’s frustration. Peep shifted again on the stool, and swallowed. Hard.

Wolf knew he was on the edge and he was loosing his battle against his temper. The more he tried to suppress it, the more upset he got, and the more upset he got, the more his wolf nature gained control. He remembered his rage at the Gingerbread cottage, and he felt sure that if he allowed himself to lose control this time, Wilfred Peep would not survive. The threat to his family was both direct and imminent this time, and a wolf in that situation is not likely to allow the attacker to live. He forced himself to turn away, and look at Virginia. He had to concentrate on her and the baby. They needed him to be calm and levelheaded. He skirted the desk and went to her side. She knew what he needed, and reached up to him, placing a hand on his cheek. He leaned into it and indulged in a small whimper, knowing that it would appear as weakness to his adversary, but needing it nonetheless. He stroked her hair absently for a moment, nuzzled her neck, and let himself drift in the comfort of her scent. He felt himself calming, his blood cooling and his desire to do harm subsiding. He took another deep breath, and it came out steady and calm this time.

"Okay, Mr. Peep. I see that you’re not willing to help us out of the goodness of your heart, but I -"

Tony interrupted with a laugh. "What goodness? What heart? Did you see what this man did to his own grandchild? Why did I ever think he would care what happened to mine?"

Virginia shot him a warning look, and Tony quieted. He pushed passed the guards and out into the hall, saying he needed to get some air.

Wolf tried to start again but he had lost his train of thought and some of the hard-earned calm that he had just acquired. Virginia took his hand and used it to pull herself up.

"Mr. Peep," she said, "how many children do you have?"

The old man looked up at her suspiciously, but he answered her with a shrug. "Five. And they’re all boys. Strong, hard-working boys."

"That’s great, sir. I bet you’re proud of them, aren’t you?" Virginia asked, as if this was nothing but a pleasant conversation.

"Of course I am!" Peep bellowed. "They’re among the best farmers and herdsmen in the Kingdom!"

"They are?" Virginia asked innocently. "Or they were?"

Peep’s eyes clouded over again with anger as Virginia walked around the desk toward him. "They were until you people came around! If it weren’t for you they still would be. It wasn’t just the well, you know. We Peeps have always been good farmers. For generations!"

"That’s great," Virginia said encouragingly, ignoring the petulance in his voice. "And from what I saw in the village, you all stick together, don’t you?"

"Of course we do - it’s the way of any good family. That’s what went wrong, you know. Sally went against the family! She never should have betrayed her family like that."

"And that’s why you killed her?" Virginia asked, again as if they were talking about nothing more pressing than the weather.

"Yes. Well, no. I mean I didn’t kill her. I didn’t mean to anyway. I was angry. I just wanted to teach her a lesson…" the old man trailed off uncertainly.

"You wanted to teach her the importance of family loyalty," Virginia added for him, and he nodded. She had watched plenty of courtroom dramas in her day, and thought she was doing a pretty good job of manipulating the conversation in her favor. "But something went wrong, am I right?" The old man nodded again, clearly a little shaken. "And she died."

"Yes," the old man stated in a barely audible voice. Tears stood in his eyes as Virginia continued.

"Did you want your granddaughter to die, Mr. Peep?" she asked, and realized too late that she’d gone too far. She had hoped only to tap into his emotions and appeal to his grief to get him to help them, but she’d pushed a step beyond that, and he glared up at her.

"Of course not!" he cried. "Who do you think you are to say that to me? Every last bit of this is your fault!" he cried, returning to his familiar refrain. He pointed his finger at Wolf, then at Virginia. "If you outsiders hadn’t come along, Sally would never have destroyed the well and everything would be fine!"

Virginia had come quite close to the old man and he reached out and poked her in the belly with his accusing finger. She recoiled at his touch, then realized that it was more than his touch that had made her react. Pain shot through her abdomen and she cried out and stumbled, nearly falling to the floor. Peep’s eyes grew round as Wolf rushed to her, lifted her off the ground with a gasp of his own pain, and laid her on the desk.

"Get the doctor!" Wolf cried, and one of the guards dashed out the door. "Oh cripes!" he said, realizing that Virginia’s middle was bigger still, and that the baby had grown faster than the doctor had estimated and might be coming already. "Are you okay, my love?" he asked, holding her hand in one of his and brushing her hair out of her eyes with the other.

She tried to smile up at him, but it came out as more of a grimace. "I… I think I am," she said. "I think I’m having a contraction."

By the time she finished the sentence the contraction was over, and she was feeling much better. The doctor rushed in and, assessing the situation, he said "Good thing I’ve already sent for a midwife from the village."

"Midwife?" Tony said, rushing into the room and glaring accusingly at the doctor. "You said we had until morning at least! And what do you need a midwife for? You’re the best doctor in the kingdom, right?"

"Yes…" the doctor began, "but this is going to be a very difficult birth. Your daughter’s body has not had time to prepare itself for giving birth. The baby hasn’t had time to turn either. It will most likely come breach, or if it’s still a lamb, feet first." Tony and Wolf both gasped at the thought, and the doctor continued, "And once the baby does arrive, if it survives, there will be the question of feeding it. I’m sure there hasn’t been time for Virginia to begin producing milk."

Tony looked sick. He was not ready for any of this. He didn’t want to hear anything about producing milk, much less the possibility that the baby wouldn’t survive. And as he thought about it, he realized the unspoken corollary, that it was all too possible that the birth would kill Virginia too.

Wolf looked even sicker. He understood the situation perfectly and could sense just how much danger his Virginia was in. Looking down at her, he could see that she was at least as frightened as the rest of them were, and that bloody Wilfred Peep was just sitting there smugly. He looked like he was enjoying her pain!

Focusing his attention squarely on his beautiful wife, he lifted her again, ignoring the searing pain that told him he’d probably just re-opened his wound, and headed for the hallway with Tony and the doctor falling in line behind him. He didn’t acknowledge her protests that she could walk herself, that she’d only just had one little contraction. He would carry her, and that was that. Luckily he knew the prison well - better than any of his companions - and he headed straight for the dispensary.

Laying her down on one of the cleaner-looking mattresses, he looked around. A fairy was standing at an open cupboard with what looked like a clipboard in his hand. Wolf rushed over and shoved the fairy out of the way, tearing through the cupboard. He found clean sheets and towels, and set about preparing another one of the beds, then shifted Virginia to it. He was already laying her on the bed when the doctor finally made it into the room, accompanied by the king, who had been retrieved from outside where he’d been trying to forget the days he’d spent avoiding poisoned dinners here as a dog.

"The midwife is here," the Royal Physician said. "She’s just getting her things from her cart. I sent Sir Anthony to help her."

Wolf simply grunted his acknowledgment, intent on taking care of his beloved. He helped her to settle as comfortably as possible on the terrible straw mattress, and turned in time to see Tony enter the room, his face hidden behind a large bundle, accompanied by a pleasant, peaceful-looking woman of middle age.

Wendell, at a loss for anything constructive to do, decided that at the very least he was capable of handling introductions, so he reached out a royal hand to the woman. "Hello," he said. "Thank you for coming. I am King Wendell, and these are -"

"I know who you all are," the woman said. "It’s hard for the royal carriage to come through town without news getting around. I am Lia, and I am here to help. I understand that there is a quickening involved here?"

"Yes!" Wolf cried. "Have you ever seen this happen before? Do you know what to do?"

"I have seen a few quickened pregnancies," the woman said reluctantly. "They are always difficult, and the chances of survival are not good."

"Huff puff," Wolf muttered under his breath, turning his back to Virginia so she wouldn’t see his distress. "Tell me the truth. Can you save them?"

"I can try," she answered truthfully, with concern in her eyes. "But Anthony says there’s also a curse to contend with. Is that true?"

"Yes," Virginia said, squirming to try to sit up some and face the midwife. Wolf rushed back to her bedside and propped her up with the pillows from the other beds. "There is a curse, and we don’t know if we can break it."

"Then that is the first thing you must deal with. There is time - possibly an hour or more, although it’s hard to say with a quickened pregnancy. Do what you have to do to break the curse," she said to the men. "The doctor and I will stay here with Virginia."

"I can’t leave her!" Wolf insisted. "Not now. Besides, if I go back in there now, I’ll rip the old bugger’s throat out!"

"He’s probably right," Tony said to the midwife. "He is a half-wolf, and I don’t think he’d be able to control himself."

"Wendy!" Wolf said, grabbing the king by the arm. "Wendy you must go! You talk to Peep. Maybe he’ll listen to his king! Don’t worry, Tony will go with you." Wolf looked at Tony, who nodded his consent.

"Sure, Prince," Tony said, using his old pet name for his previously furry friend. "I’ll go with you. I don’t think I can stay here and watch Virginia in pain when I could be doing something constructive."

"You don’t have to talk me into it, old friend," Wendell said, pleased to have something useful to do that did not involve pain or blood. "But just let me do all the talking for a change, will you? We’ll need to try diplomacy instead of threats and sarcasm for a change." Tony shot him a look that implied that his sarcasm was only just barely in check, and followed him from the room.

Dinner had long since come and gone in the Snow White Memorial Prison, and while Wilfred Peep had learned already that baked beanstalk didn’t hold a candle to their magic-enhanced fare at the Baa-Bar back home, he was hungry. And thirsty. And tired. And worried. He’d been sitting alone with the guards for nearly half an hour after they’d all dashed out to take care of the girl. He knew that at least one of the guards would have happily killed him and he doubted that the other one would have stopped him. He was almost glad when he heard voices coming back toward them in the hall and Tony came through the door. Almost glad. When he saw the next figure enter the room, however, all the color rushed from his cheeks and he stared uncomprehendingly for a moment. It was King Wendell! What on earth was he doing at the prison?

"Ah, Wilfred Peep," the king said, nodding at the old man condescendingly. "I see you recognize your king. I think I’ll just stand here and look at you for awhile, so I can remember what a man looks like who’s driven by greed and spite and is willing to give up his whole life for them." Wendell folded his arms across his chest. He thought that was a smart little speech. He’d just stand here and stare at the old man for a bit - let him worry - he might just give up of his own accord. He motioned for Tony to have a seat, and not to say a word. For once, Tony complied.

Peep just nodded. His mind was reeling. How did the king know his name? He thought back to the encounter with that nasty half-wolf in the hallway. At the time he’d been repulsed and afraid and hadn’t paid very close attention to what the guard had said to him. Thinking back now, he remembered that the guard had spoken of what he’d done to Sir Wolf and the Lady Virginia. He hadn’t even stopped to wonder why he’d said that.

When Tony and Wolf and Virginia left Little Lamb Village with their dog, Peep had been thrown straight into jail. His family had been disgraced, their farming and shepherding licenses revoked. They’d been run out of town and he’d been left to rot in the town jail alone. His wife, who had loved Sally like her own since Sally’s mum had died years before, had disowned him and had gone to live with her mother’s family on the other side of the kingdom.

Wilf had assumed that his whole family had abandoned him and was shocked two nights later when four of his five boys (Sally’s father had gone off to the in-laws with Mrs. Peep) showed up and broke him out of jail. They’d hidden out in the Disenchanted Forest for several days, becoming increasingly disgusted by their situation. The boys wanted to return to Little Lamb Village but could not because of their father’s actions. They knew of Wilf’s connection to the Gingerbread Witch and had wanted to get her help to get their reputations (and hopefully their magic) back.

Wilf had led them there but when they arrived, instead of asking her to help his boys, he had sought vengeance against the outsiders that he blamed for all of his trouble. He had taken the scrap of cloth used as evidence at Wolf’s trial, and the witch used that to cast the spell. The boys were so angry that he had wasted his time on vengeance instead of helping them to get their farms and their lives back that they had left him alone in the forest.

He’d wandered for days, knowing that he mustn’t be seen by anyone from the village. He finally took a ride on the back of a cart full of gypsies. They took him to Bordertown, and he moved into the Last Stop Inn, paying his tab by tending the pathetic excuse for a garden that they tried to maintain across the road from the inn. The proximity to the Third Kingdom and its beanstalk infestation had taken its toll on the land and the garden barely grew acceptable vegetables for goats.

Wilf hated the place and he hated the shoddy little garden and the lack of magic. He spoke to as few people as possible and avoided idle conversations, but he did remember, while eating a bland dinner in the inn one night, overhearing the discussion of a great event that had happened in the Kingdoms. There was talk that Prince Wendell had been enchanted by an evil queen and that three travelers had restored him to himself and saved the attendees of his coronation from poisoning at the hand of the queen. He was almost certain now that one of those travelers had been reported to be a half-wolf. Yes! That’s it! It was said that the king had issued a pardon for all wolves in the Fourth Kingdom. He remembered being disgusted that wolves like the one that had caused him so much trouble would be free to wreak havoc all over the kingdom while he, an upstanding citizen and excellent farmer, was forced to live in hiding. It had never occurred to him to link the outsider in Little Lamb Village to the travelers that had saved the Kingdoms, but now it all made sense! The witch must have known about this all along! But why hadn’t she told him? It didn’t make sense. Unless… yes, that must be it! The witch had known all along and when he had come to her for revenge, she had taken the opportunity. She must have wanted something from the travelers. What could it have been?

Wendell cleared his throat. He had been waiting for some time for the old man to crack under the pressure but Peep seemed to be thinking a mile a minute, working something out in his head.

"Well Peep," Wendell said. "What have you got to say for yourself?"

The old man looked up at Wendell as if he’d forgotten he was even in the room. His eyes cleared and he tried to bow a little without rising from the stool, which he feared would upset the guards.

"Your Majesty," he said, "I am terribly sorry for the trouble I’ve caused your friends. I had no idea who they were until you came into the room just now. I have been in hiding and never realized that these were the people who helped restore you to your throne and save the Nine Kingdoms. Please, forgive me for any trouble I have caused them."

Wendell smiled broadly, inordinately pleased with himself. His little plan had worked better than he'd expected.

"Then you give your consent for them to break the curse?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. At once. But if it pleases Your Majesty, may I ask a question?"

"What is it old man?" Wendell asked impatiently and nodded his assent as Tony motioned to go and tell the others.

As Tony left the room, Peep leaned in confidentially as if he’d rather the guards didn’t hear what he had to say. "Was the witch thoroughly searched when she was brought in?"