Debra L. Rollins - Revenge For the Huntsman

The silence was shattered as an anguished sob erupted from the Troll prince who lay in the dust, arm still outstretched, in shocked disbelieve.

“No…no…no…!” he repeated over and over again.

Caring hands drew him back from his precarious perch. He looked up, the pain of loss written in his eyes for all to see. Virginia closed her eyes to his agony, as her tears overflowed, running unchecked down her cheeks. The enchanted wolf had saved her life, giving her own in return. She hid her face in Wolf’s strong chest and cried until her tears were spent.

“Burly?” a familiar voice asked tentatively. “Are you all right?”

Burly looked up, focusing on the speaker. Blabberwort knelt beside him, concern written on her dark face. Bluebell stood behind her, shuffling his feet in the dirt, unsure of what to say. They had all suffered their dad’s death, but this alone was Burly’s to endure.

“I don’t think I’ll ever be all right again!” he moaned pathetically, large tears rolling down his own cheeks. Slowly he got to his feet, unsteady from his trauma. Blabberwort and Bluebell each grabbed hold of an arm, supporting him. Bork, Derk and the other Trolls stood aside as Burly walked stiffly past them, towards King Wendell, stopping before him. Wendell’s guards rallied around their king, suspicious of the Troll prince’s intentions.

“We are intruding in your domain. I wish nothing more than to retrieve Cierce’s body, give her a decent burial and return to the Third Kingdom. As long as I live, none in your kingdom will ever be bothered by a Troll again.” Burly turned to the other Trolls surrounding him. “Do I make myself clear?”

Bork and Derk looked at each other and nodded in agreement, the other Trolls following suit.

“Blabberwort? Bluebell?” he asked his siblings directly. “Do you both agree also?”

“Sure, whatever you wish, brother,” Blabberwort agreed.

“Suck an Elf. As long as you live may be a long, long time, Burly,” responded Bluebell. “Are you sure…?” The expression on his brother’s face and the thunderous dark gaze of his sister silenced him. “Yeah, what Blabberwort said and that goes double for me.”

The descending path that ran beside the cliff to the dried up river was rutted and treacherous. Only goats and wild game had used it since the water had disappeared so long ago. After reaching the bottom, a still, dark figure was spotted laying the last few yards near the base of the cliff, beneath the shady branches of an old oak. Burly edged up to it, hardly daring to look.

Madam Tatler’s body lay there broken and bloodied with her eyes open wide, blankly staring at them. Virginia shuttered as Wolf reached down and closed the woman’s lids.

Bork gestured to a few of his Trolls. They covered the body with blankets, wrapping her cocoon-like, then strapped her body over one of the horses.

“We Trolls will dispose of the body, Your Majesty.” Derk addressed Wendell. “She has played Prince Burly false. It is only fitting and our right.”

“Agreed,” Wendell nodded. “Indeed, the Fourth Kingdom has no need to bury yet another witch ourselves. We have had our share of evil queens and witches in the last few centuries to last, well…a few more centuries.” He stole a glance at Virginia giving her an apologetic look. Her loss was still fresh, he reminded himself.

The search for Cierce’s body was taking longer than Burly expected. They should have found her near the body of her mistress, but did not.

“Suck an Elf!” he cursed. “Where can she be?”

“It’s magic!” Bluebell announced. “The old witch made her vanish before she died. What else could it be? I understand she was very powerful!”

“Ah…go suck an Elf, Bluebell!” Blabberwort pooh-poohed his theory. “She was probably dead from the knife wound before she hit bottom. I’ll bet a Dwarf got here before us and took the wolf for her pelt. Those little slugs will sell anything they can get their hands on if it’s not tied down.”

“What do you mean, took her for her pelt!” Bluebell pushed the tipsy crown back up on his head for the thousandth time. “That’s crazy talk, why I…”

Tony cut in between the bickering younger Trolls, separating them.

“Hold it you two. Get a grip and think about what happened. Be logical! If the witch fell two hundred feet and landed here,” Tony pointed at the spot were the dead woman had landed. “Then that would mean the wolf would have landed here also. If she’s not here, then we must assume she didn’t land at all. In other words, we’re looking in the wrong place. We need to look…”

“Up!” Wendell finished for him.

Everyone craned their heads upwards. The oak branches were thick with leaves, making it hard to see anything in their depths. Wolf took a deep whiff of air, beyond the sweet smells of his creamy-dreamy Virginia and the vile odors of the Trolls there came a distinct aroma. Cierce!

Wolf pointed to the spot from where the scent was strongest. It was not however the scent of death.

“She’s right there, above me!” His keen eyesight caught her form in the dappled light. He grabbed hold of Burly’s arm as the Troll started up the oak’s thick trunk to retrieve her remains. “Take care, she’s still alive…barely.”

Burly’s eyes widen in amazement. Could the half-wolf be right? Was Cierce truly alive?

“The fall was tremendous, so how can it be that she lives?”

“Her weight as a wolf is not as heavy as a human. If she had not returned to her wolfen self then the fall would probably have killed her instantly. The trees branches slowed her speed as she fell.”

Burly glanced over his shoulder as Wolf climbed up after him. He was far more agile than the lanky prince and better able to help get the wolf down without causing more duress for the animal than a cumbersome Troll.

“Why would you want to help the wolf and me?” Burly asked, curious. “I would have killed your Virginia and given you to the Huntsman’s mother.

“Huff-puff!” Wolf motioned towards Cierce. “I owe her a debt for the life of Virginia and our cub. A Wolf’s noble gesture must be returned in kind.”

Slowly they were able to disentangle the silver wolf from the limbs of the oak. Five minutes later, all three were down on the ground once more.

Wolf and Burly backed away as Wendell’s personal physician stripped away the human clothing that still clung to her, checking on the wolf’s wounds. The news was indeed grave.

“She has internal injuries.” The doctor looked at Burly sadly, shaking his head. “I’m sorry, but there’s nothing I can do. Perhaps if she were still human I could operate, but as it is…” He glanced over at Wendell. “I am indeed sorry, Your Majesty.”

“If there is nothing you can do, then you did your best,” Wendell sighed, then turned toward his guards. “Prepare a grave for the wolf.”

He caught Burly’s attention.

“Is the shade of this old oak satisfactory, Prince Burly?”

Burly nodded…his heart heavy. At least Cierce would be free in her cherished forest when she passed on.

“Why don’t you people just change the wolf back into a woman again?” Marjorie questioned. “Couldn’t the wishing well do that?”

“Wishing well?” Burly asked. “What’s that?”

“Marjorie!” exclaimed Tony. “You’re a genius!”

“You mean the wishing well that ran dry years ago?” Wendell asked. “I heard rumors that it had filled once more, but I haven’t had time to confirm them as yet. Have you seen this well in action?”

“Well…no,” replied Tony. “But there were tons of people waiting in the square of Little Lamb Village for a chance to make a wish, so it must be true.”

Virginia turned to the doctor.

“Can she make it that far? To the village, I mean?”

“Don’t rightly know, child. I don’t do wolves you know. Possibly, if she were not jostled too badly. Someone would have to physically carry her. Even then the journey may be too much. That’s miles from here…it will take hours to get there.”

“I’ll carry her!” Burly thumped a large fist upon his chest. All who cared to look saw hope written in the Troll’s eyes.

“I’ll help you carry her, brother,” Blabberwort announced.

“No!” exclaimed the little Troll King. “I’m king of the Trolls and stronger than you, Blabberwort. I’ll help him carry her.”

“Go suck an Elf, you little toad! You aren’t stronger than I am! I could take you in hand-to-hand combat anytime.”

“Blabberwort! King Bluebell!” Bork interrupted their exchange, a warning glint in his eye. “I think your brother wishes to handle this one alone.”

“Do you think so, Bork?”

He tweaked his wife’s pouf fondly.

“I know so.”

Burly pulled himself astride his horse, gathering the still form of the silver wolf carefully in his arms as Tony and Wolf handed her up to him. Blankets were used to help prop her up so his arms wouldn’t grow weary and slip.

King Wendell rallied his guards, as did Bork his Trolls, thus the large party set off towards Little Lamb Village at a cautious pace for fear of jostling the injured wolf. They traveled the whole of the afternoon, arriving at the village near sundown. Still, the late hour heralded hoards of well wishers, amazingly ignoring even the two kings and their large entourage as they made their way into town.

Ahead they read a sign.

They could see that the number two had once been a one. Someone had changed the price for magical wishes.

Throngs of denizens from the kingdom fought each other for a place in line. Once reaching their goal, the lucky individual dropped a gold piece into a locked coffer and one into the well, then were lowered into the well in a specially made “bucket”, which was really more of a tiny platform tied to a rope. From there, the village idiot would call down the individual’s wish and raise them back up after the magical water did its work.

“Looks like the village idiot isn’t much of an idiot after all!” Tony noted sarcastically, spying the leather bag straining under the gold coins.

“Huff-puff! He’s abusing his position!” Wolf cried out, outraged.

“How vulgar!” Wendell agreed. “I will put a stop to it immediately. Abuse of power will not be tolerated.” He pushed his horse through the crowd amid shouts and jeers as others thought he was cutting in line. He was nearly pulled off until the Trolls sliced a path through the mob allowing him to ride up to the well, Burly following immediately behind.

“How dare you charge an extra Wendell for wishes from the well? What gives you the right?” Wendell demanded, furious.

The idiot stared in awe at the king with beady unintelligent eyes.

“Are you really King Wendell? I say…I never met a real king before!” The portly young man seemed truly amazed that a king was standing before him.

Wendell closed his eyes, wiping the man’s spittle from his face.

“Yes...I’m King Wendell! Now, tell me why you’re charging extra for wishes when you know all you have to do is throw in one gold coin!”

“Yes...I’m King Wendell! Now, tell me why you’re charging extra for wishes when you know all you have to do is throw in one gold coin!”

“Don’t rightly know,” he answered, scratching his head as if that would help him think better. “I threw in my coin and wished for a way to make more money and this idea just popped into my mind. Amazing isn’t it?”

“Great…the well turned him into an extortionist,” exclaimed Tony. “Even when good things seem good here, they’re not.”

Bluebell and Blabberwort elbow their way between Wendell and the idiot.

“What’s taking so long?” Bluebell demanded. “We have a wolf dying here. Let’s get this show on the road!”

The idiot’s eyes bugged out of his head.

“Two kings!” He nearly did a little jig. “How lucky I am. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d ever met two kings!”

“Yes-well, thank you,” Wendell said. “But right now we have an emergency. We must get this wolf down the well and turned into a human quickly or she will die. Can you help us?” “Most certainly! Bring the wolf up and put her on the bucket.”

Burly placed Cierce’s still form on the platform and started to guide it over the opening of the deep well. It wiggled and wobbled, nearly sending the wolf plunging into the waters below. Burly grabbed her back swiftly and exploded in rage.

“What are you trying to do? Finish her off?” he spewed at the portly little man.

“Oh, dear.” The idiot scratched his head. “Someone will have to get on with her and hold her.

Burly hopped aboard and then Cierce was handed to him gently. It was a tight fit. The large Troll was hardly able to keep his feet from scraping the side of the well and the rope groaned under the combined weight of the pair. It took two strong Trolls to turn the crank slowly enough to keep them from plunging too quickly into the deep, dark folds of the well.

“What is the wish?” the idiot asked of Wendell.

Wendell pressed a gold coin into the man’s hand for the wishing well and explained exactly what they wanted.

“Very well. Here goes!” He dropped the coin over the side, waiting for the plunk as it hit water.

“OW! Watch it up there will you?” Burly yelled up. “You hit me on the head with that thing!” He snatched the coin off his head and threw it the rest of the way down. The idiot nodded his head in satisfaction as he finally heard the coin hit the water far below. It was time.

“Magic well, please grant a wish.”

An eerie voice rose up from the depths.

“What is you wish?”

“My wish is that the beast in your waters be turned into a human once more.”

“Very well, it is done.”

Quickly they began raising the bucket; it’s weight even heavier now.

“Uh-oh,” exclaimed Virginia.

Wolf looked down at her.

“Uh-oh, what?”

“If it worked and the wolf is turned back into a woman again…well, think about it. She doesn’t have any clothing on!”

“Huff-puff, really?” Wolf glanced over at the well’s opening hopefully, then turned back grinning at her outrage to show he was teasing. Wolfies just loved to pretend to do naughty things. He couldn’t help himself; Virginia was soooo easy to tease.

“Really. Here, Wolf.” She grabbed a blanket off one of the horses. “Take this to Wendell and tell him to have it ready as they get to the top.”

Wendell threw down the blanket as Cierce and Burly neared the opening of the well. Once they cleared, the Trolls gasped in shocked outrage. The wish had not only returned Cierce to her former human form, but Burly as well.

“The well has made a horrible mistake!” Bluebell cried out. “It is not what we wished for at all!”

“Lower him back down,” demanded Bork. “He cannot rule the Troll Kingdom if he is not a Troll. It is not possible!”

“Can’t do that…,” the idiot said, trying to explain as best he could. “No going back on wishes. It’s the rule.”

“Whose rule is this?” Blabberwort inquired. “I will force him to change this “rule.” We want our brother back!”

“It’s the wishing well’s rule.”

“Rule-shmule! Rules were meant to be broken.”

“Can’t break this one, it’s up to the wishing well.”

Blabberwort and Bluebell leaned over the well’s rim and peered in. Far below, a gold shimmer twinkled back at them.

“Hey, you down there! You need to reverse the wish on our brother!” Blabberwort yelled down.

“Yeah! What she said!” Bluebell dittoed.

A moment passed before the waters of the well answered, “Your wish was for the beast in my waters to be turned human. There were in fact, two beasts. I knew not which you wanted changed so I transformed both. I gave you what you wanted. Your wish is final.” With that answer, the voice answered no more.

“Suck an Elf! Did it just call us Trolls beasts?” Blabberwort asked of Bluebell, outraged.

“I think it did. Maybe we should…”

A low groan reminded them all of Cierce. Burly gazed down at her face, pinched white with pain and looked to King Wendell.

“Where do I take her?”

“There, to that hostel. The doctor can operate in one of the bedrooms.”

Quickly the whole entourage moved from the wishing well to encamp outside the main door of the little bed and breakfast as the doctor prepared to operate on the now human female.

Wendell and Tony stood in the doorway of the operating room with the doctor, allowing Burly to sit with Cierce before he started.

“What chance does she have, Doc?” Tony inquired. He glanced over at the former wolf who in the end had saved his daughter and grandson’s life.

“Won’t really know for sure until I open her up. But at least she has a chance now. I’ll give them a few more moments, then proceed.”

“Very well, let us know as soon as possible,” Wendell said. Then he and Tony left to join the others at the Baa-Bar Tavern.

The Troll prince sat as gingerly as his large body would allow on Cierce’s bedside with his head bowed in deep sorrow.

“Cierce, I don’t know if you can hear me or not,” Burly started, his voice quaking slightly. “But I just wanted to let you know that whatever happens to you…that is, if you make it through…I felt that…oh, suck an Elf! I’ll just say it! Cierce…I love you, too! I don’t know how or why. You’ve stolen my prisoners, cracked me on the head numerous times and bit me to boot. You’ve used your feminine whiles to get your way and to drive me crazy! I must be crazy because deep down, though I’m still a Troll and you’re a wolf, I hunger for you more than anything in this world. Even more than being King of the Trolls.”

“Is that truth you speak, Burly Troll, or are you trying to make a dying wolf happy?” a weak voice whispered.

“Cierce?” Burly looked up in amazement, then concern that she should not tax herself too severely. “Don’t talk, you need to save your strength for the operation.”

“Don’t worry about me,” she raised her hand to his face and stoked his cheek once before letting it drop back. Her silver-blue eyes were barely open, but Burly could see the love there, shining forth as brightly as a full moonlit night.

“I have to worry about you. Who else in this world would wish to put up with a crafty, irritating little vixen like you anyway?” he teased, choking back a deep sob. She was as brave as any Trolline could ever be, he thought.

Cierce chuckled lightly, the pain in her chest was unbearable, but she refused to let him see her discomfort. Instead, she closed her eyes until the pain settled to a dull ache.

“No, you’re not, liar.” He smiled at her fondly.

“Prince Burly…I must begin,” the physician interrupted.

“One more moment!” Burly begged. “Please!”

The doctor looked over at Cierce who nodded back.

“Very well, two more minutes, but that’s all!” he said sternly, then left them once more.

“Burly…”

“Cierce…” he murmured into her soft, silvery hair. “Come back to me…please!”

“Oh, Burly…” she cried, tears filling her eyes. “I’ll try, truly I will.”

Burly leaned over, kissed her lightly on the forehead and then with a groan, placed another more firmly this time on her lips. Then resolutely, he turned his back on her and left the room.

A single tear swept down her cheek as she watched him walk away before blackness overtook her once more.