Debra L. Rollins - Revenge For the Huntsman

Burly, Blabberwort and Bluebell were shown to their chambers and locked within. Each were outraged at being kept prisoners within their own palace, but Bork assured them that it was for their own protection. He swore that he would release them later, after talking with the Troll council of his plan. Until then, they were still in grave danger and would have to trust him. It was as simple as that.

Burly paced the hard, flagstone floor. His heavy, leather boots squeaking and groaning under his weight.

“Suck an Elf!” he yelled out loud. The strategic plan Bork the Brave outlined served to benefit his sister and brother, but where did that leave him? It was unfair! Bork wished to place little Bluebell on the throne as temporary king and take Blabberwort to wife. He on the other hand, as the elder was to become king, but only after he proved himself worthy in the eyes of the Troll Kingdom. The council would be instrumental in deciding an extremely hard task for him of that he was sure. If he proved his worthiness though, Bluebell would step down and Burly would take his rightful place on the throne with Bluebell as his second in command. He threw himself down on his bed and wondered if the other two were as despondent as he was. Not even the smell of leather from his cache of shoes and boots served to boost his spirits.

Bluebell on the other hand was overwhelmed with that fact that Bork looked to place the kingdom in his hands, even if it were for the time being. Burly was really the rightful heir; not only being the oldest, but his mother had been Relish’s first wife…one of three in quick succession. Unfortunately for the three siblings, the three Trollines had fought and bickered so often and so much for power between them that Relish banished them in disgust and never took another wife.

Of course, thought Bluebell, his brother may fail in the task set by the council and then “he”, not Burly would rule the Troll Kingdom forever. Mom would be so proud of him. The thought sat his long nose twitching. He rubbed at it with dirty fingers, glancing across a deep bruise left there by the father of the witch who brought about the demise of their dad. They should have killed her when they had the chance, he thought angrily. Then slowly, Bluebell’s face brightened as an idea formulated in his mind.

“What a great idea! I’m the smartest Troll in the whole kingdom!” he said to himself gleefully. But he needed help from Bork the Brave if his idea was to succeed and the little witch made to suffer. She deserved her just desserts.

“No more dessert, Wolf,” groaned Virginia, totally stuffed from the sumptuous meal that he prepared for her and her grandmother. Tomorrow was the big night for their first catering job and Wolf felt obligated to try out the recipes on Virginia and Marjorie first. Everything was delicious, from the no-lettuce, all meat salad for starters to the warm, creamy, egg custard with cinnamon dusted lightly on top for a light ending to the meal.

“Well…what do you think, Virginia?” asked Wolf beseechingly, scratching nervously at his temple. “I slaved soooooo hard over the stove because I wanted dinner to be perfect for you, my love!”

He looked over at Marjorie who was finishing up her custard with gusto.

“And for you too, Grandma!”

“What…? Oh.” Marjorie had gone deep in thought and lost track of the conversation. “You know my dears, Wolf and I got off to a bad start, but I’m willing to forget and forgive if, Wolf…you and Virginer allow me one thing as a frail, old woman not long for this world?”

“What’s that, Grandmother?” her granddaughter asked with caution. She knew her grandmother was up to something.

“Yeah, what’s that?” repeated Wolf.

“I have “carte blanche” with your wedding plans.” Quickly she whipped out the bridal magazines she had hidden beneath her and dropped them in Wolf’s lap. “Please say yes, my darlings. Don’t worry about the cost…I’ll pay for everything. It will be the wedding of the year!”

“Well, I don’t know, Grandmother,” Virginia hesitated. Wolf was weeding through the magazines and planners, tossing the most uninteresting ones over his shoulder.

“Oooh! Oooh! Grandma! What about this gown? I want nothing but the best for my beautiful bride, my succulent sweetie-pie. Does this come in blue? Virginia looks great in blue! To match her gorgeous eyes, of course.”

“See? Wolf loves the idea. Please say “yes”, Virginia and make your grandmother happy.” Marjorie dabbed at her eyes for effect.

Virginia glanced from Wolf to her grandmother, each looking at her expectantly.

“Oh…oh, all right. If it truly makes you happy, Grandmother, then get started with the plans.” She had an afterthought. “But nothing too extravagant, please? Something small with just close friends and family.”

“Of course, my dear…something small, um-huh,” she promised quickly, a little too quickly. “Now Wolf…let me see that gown. Hmmm…maybe, but white is much more appropriate for a first time bride.”

Wolf handed her the magazine, a slight look of disappointment on his face at the woman’s color choice. White may be the choice of wedding colors here in Virginia’s world, but wolves favored silver and blues and his fiancé looked especially creamy in blue.

Virginia saw the look on Wolf’s face, but knew there was no way of stopping her grandmother now. The elderly lady did have a sense of style, abet a little flamboyant. All she could hope for was a small wedding in good taste and soon, before she started to show or she wouldn’t be able to get into any color of wedding gown.

As the courier had thought, most the mirrors were useless except as looking glasses. Madam Tatler smashed most of them in anger and impatience. The last of the lot had been stored at the very bottom of the wagon as they were the largest and heaviest. They looked very old, she thought with hope.

“Where were these found?” she asked.

“In the dungeons in a locked room. One of the guards let me have them because they gave him the creeps. He swore he could hear voices whispering from them when no one was around. He doesn’t know where they came from, he had just gotten back from the First Kingdom visiting relatives and there they were, locked away.”

“These appear “promising”.” She turned and looked at him. “I have no more need of your services. You are free to go.”

She did not glance back, but waved him away with a flick of her hand, keeping her eyes as if mesmerized on the mirrors.

“Yes, Madam. Good-bye, Madam.”

After the door closed behind him, Madam Tatler rubbed her hands gleefully together.

“Now, we shall see what magic you possess, my lovely mirrors.”

While Virginia was preparing for her wedding in the Tenth Kingdom, Blabberwort now too prepared for the possibility of hers in the Third Kingdom. She had never thought about getting married to anyone, let alone Bork the Brave. Not that he was a bad looking Troll; it was just that, well…she looked up to him almost like another brother. He had always been there, in the palace since she, Burly, and Bluebell were little, always teasing her for a good laugh in front of the other Trolls. She on the other hand, schemed of ways to revenge herself, leading the other two into trouble with the older Troll. Bork finally grew too big for childish games and the teasing stopped. In a way, she missed his teasing or…she thought, maybe, just maybe she missed Bork.

“Grrrr! Suck an Elf! What should I do?” She paced the floor, pulling at her red, pouffy hair in frustration. “I must weight up both sides and decide which is the best road to choose. On one hand, I get married to Bork and am able to keep my head and on the other hand, I will be killed by rebel Trolls.”

Blabberwort stared over at the royal wedding attire that had been brought to her room not an hour ago in preparation for the ceremony if she decided in that direction. The yellow leather smelled heavenly and she found herself tempted to try it on. Instead, she withdrew her knife from its sheath and sent it slicing through the air to stick in the middle of Relish’s picture hanging on the wall. Large tears ran down her cheeks as she realized what she had done.

“I’m sorry, Dad!” she blubbered, grabbing the blade from the picture. “This is all that little witch’s fault! She will pay for what she did to you…I swear it!”

But how?

Tony was having a blast living in Wendell’s castle until his own lands were chosen. The bevy of beauties Wendell promised him put even Mrs. Murray to shame and that was saying a lot. Between the never ending round of parties, visiting dignitaries, plans for making bouncing castles and other sundry activities, he hardly had time to realize how much he missed his daughter. Now, two weeks after she had left to return home, he had a quiet moment in his quarters to reflect on how much they had gone through in the past weeks. It was truly amazing; he even missed that Wolf. Tony frowned at bit, a memory jarring his mind. Why had Wolf called him Grandpa? Was it possible that Virginia was going to have a baby so soon?

He wasn’t ignorant, no matter what some people thought. Wolf had shown interest in Virginia since the first day he saw her picture. Tony also knew something had happened in the forest outside of Wendell’s castle, but had said nothing to either of them. Virginia was an adult after all and Wolf…well, he loved her in his own wolfish way and Tony would just have to accept the fact that things happened differently here in the Nine Kingdoms. He found himself hoping that the two would get married soon though just in case!

A soft rap on the door heralded a servant asking that Tony please visit King Wendell in his quarters as soon as he could with an update on his castle plans. Tony smiled to himself. He knew Wendell was only giving him this job of making bouncing castles to sway him into staying in the Nine Kingdoms. It was funny, a few weeks ago he was ready to run back to New York as quickly as he could. This world was full of danger and loonies. But now, when he was able to hop back at his leisure, he found he wasn’t in any hurry at all.

He stopped at his full-length looking glass before leaving to visit Wendell and smoothed back his thinning hairline. The mirror reflected a mature, pleasant looking man in the finest of clothing and that man was smiling back with a self-satisfied, fulfilled look on his face. Tony’s eyes widened as he thought of something he never realized before. He never returned back with Virginia because he found something here he had lost in his world a long time ago...his self worth.

Tony straightened his back, squared his shoulders and walked proudly down the corridor to King Wendell’s suite carrying his castle plans tucked under his arm.