Macster - The Last Dragon

"Come in!" His daughter's voice sounded a little tired, but cheerful and welcoming.

Relief flooded through him, he hadn't woken her. Before he could change his mind, he turned the oversized brass knob and swung the door wide, stepping into the room beyond. It was long and broad, far too large for a single occupant, but he had gradually become used to the opulence and overdone architecture of Wendell's castle. The chamber was filled with morning light, pouring and streaming in through the open doors to the balcony so that the gauzy lace curtains, which danced and twirled in the breeze, shimmered and undulated lambently, as if they were composed of light. The walls were cut blue velvet to match the carpeting, the sconces and chandeliers were of gold, the dresser and wardrobe and vanity were of carved mahogany. And everywhere he looked there were flowers, lilies and violets and gardenias and roses and daffodils, hundreds of them set upon every available inch of space, perfuming the air with a heady mix of fragrances, so palpable he had to step back a pace and breathe shallowly to acclimatize himself to it. Apparently all the well-wishers in the Kingdoms had been busy the last two days.

At the far end of the room stood a vast Colonial-style bed with silken sheets and a cerulean bedspread thrown back. Sitting at the head, propped up by a mountain of pillows, was Virginia, cradling Warren in one arm as she gazed down at him lovingly. Her other hand idly stroked the golden head of Prince, who lay snuggled beside her on the mattress, his chin resting comfortably on her stomach. Soft sounds of doggy contentment could be heard from time to time.

The scene was so tranquil and wonderful that for a long time Tony didn't want to disturb it, he only stood there and drank it in. He smiled fondly, not only at his daughter and grandson but at Prince. The once-magical dog had been a firm companion and friend for him in the months since Virginia and Wolf had returned to New York, something he had very much needed after being separated from his daughter for the first time in fourteen years. Sometimes he would go on hunting parties with Wendell, and of course he had his special kennel to sleep in, but the rest of the time the golden retriever could invariably be found with Tony. The Royal Inventor had required more than the company of his numerous assistants and the Dwarves who helped manufacture the plastic for the bouncy castles, and Prince fit the bill well. He was a very intelligent dog, Tony learned, probably a holdover from his time as a human, and sometimes he would catch the dog looking at him with a penetrating glance that seemed to see right into his heart. It was at those times he loved the dog the most and would lavish attention on him. He was very grateful Prince had been in his kennel for the last two weeks and had not been subjected to the horrible influence of the Ice Queen.

"Well, Dad?" Virginia asked with a wry grin, interrupting his thoughts. "Are you just going to stand there and look at us, or are you coming in?"

Embarrassed, Tony softly shut the door and crossed to the bed. As he drew closer, he realized she wasn't just holding Warren, she was nursing him, and he quickly averted his eyes from her open nightgown. "Um...um, hi, Virginia."

She chuckled and carefully tucked the chiffon back into place, concealing her bosom even as she continued her motherly task. "Sit down, Dad, you look like you're ready to take off. You've been hanging around Wolf too much."

He complied wordlessly, settling into place right beside his daughter. He tried to calm himself by stroking Prince, who looked up at him with an expression of adoration. Her mentioning Wolf reminded him why he had come here, and why he was so nervous. Ever since Virginia had told him she was pregnant, he had decided her marrying Wolf was pretty much a foregone conclusion, despite all her protests to the contrary. He had been very troubled by this for a long time, but had finally come to terms with it. After all, despite all the dangers and worries and wild adventures that had beset them ever since they met Wolf, he had proven himself again and again. Tony had forgiven him for the dragon dung bean--it had enabled them to talk to Wendell, after all, and the way the wishes had spun out of control was all Tony's fault, he privately admitted. And all throughout the rest of the quest he had been an invaluable source of information, a knowledgeable guide, a good man to have in a fight, and--however much he hated to say it--a devoted and loving protector of Virginia. Even the fact he had seemingly betrayed them to the Queen...to Christine...was forgotten once the truth was revealed, even though Tony had wanted to break Wolf's jaw at the time.

No, what worried him wasn't Wolf himself. It was what marrying him would mean for Virginia, and what the motivation was behind it all. Before being taken to her room to rest, his daughter had informed him she intended to have the wedding as soon as all of them were healed and prepared for the ceremony. It had been quite a shock to Tony, especially right after all the harrowing things he had witnessed while frozen in the throne room. What with the rampant emotions and confusion in the wake of the Ice Queen's exile and the birth, he had been certain Virginia was acting on impulse and told her so, saying she should wait a while before making such a decision. But she had been adamant, revealing she had already made this decision some time ago during the quest to find the dragon, so he had to drop that objection.

He wanted her to be happy. He truly did. And he knew Wolf made her happy. But he was so extremely worried that this wasn't what she wanted, that she was only doing it to make Wolf happy and because of the baby. The recent birth seemed to make that even more obvious. He knew Wendell had been pressuring her to get married because of the stigma of the unwed mother, which remained a force to be reckoned with in the Nine Kingdoms. And so he was afraid Virginia was doing the right thing, but for the wrong reasons. He knew what that led to.

"So," he said at last, breaking the long silence.

"Yeah, Dad?" Virginia looked at him with a mixture of amusement and wariness.

He hated this awkwardness between them. For so long, for all her adult life, they had always been able to be honest with each other. He knew now they had not truly been connected, or respected each other, or understood each other. But at least they had been able to talk without all these annoying pauses.

"Are you all right?" Tony asked, unable to think of anything else to say.

She rolled her eyes at him. "Now how many times have you asked me that in the last two days?"

Tony rubbed uneasily at the back of his neck. "Yeah, I know...but, honey, I worry about you all the time, you know. You've been through a lot, I don't want you to do too much too soon."

Virginia gave him a level stare, but then she sighed and smiled. "Dad. I'm twenty-two years old. I think I can take care of myself now. And I have Wolf with me night and day. He'd be with me right now if he weren't getting his stitches checked and talking to Lord Rupert about the wedding. I know you want to take care of me, and it's really sweet, but you have to let me grow up sometime." Her tone was earnest and tender.

He winced slightly. She'd certainly pegged him to the mark. She would always be his little girl, no matter how old she was, and it was very hard for him to break old habits. Still, there was more to this than that, and he knew the time had come to tell her. "Yeah...about the wedding..." he ventured, uncertain of her reaction.

"Yes...?" Virginia sounded tense, as if she were torn between anger and discouragement.

"I...it's just, Virginia...I want to make sure this is what you really want," he blurted out. "I know Wendell and Wolf have been very insistent, and you just had a baby so you'll be very emotional, and...and, I just remember what it was like for me and your mother. I forced her to have you, and it ruined our marriage and her mind. I don't want you to end up like Christine. If you get married just because others tell you to, or for Warren's sake, and you become bitter and resentful because of it...if you've inherited her problems, then...then I'll never forgive myself."

For a long time she simply stared at him, fury and pain and worry and distress darting about on her face. Finally her expression settled into understanding and sadness. Even so, when she spoke quietly, he was afraid it was not because she held no anger toward him but because she didn't want to wake up Warren, who was blissfully asleep in her arms after finishing his warm meal. "Oh, Dad...you don't know how many times I've worried about the exact same things. We can't know what's going to come unless we use a magic mirror or something, and I don't think we want to do that. But...I do know this, and you have to believe me. I'm not marrying Wolf for the baby, or because I'm being pressured into it. I love him, Dad, I love him so much that I can't stand to be without him. He makes me happy, Dad. That's why I want to marry him." She reached out and took his hand, squeezing it firmly, reassuringly.

Slowly Tony relaxed, let the tension out of his shoulders, and sighed in relief. He'd been carrying those worries what felt like a very long time, and to have them released now...it felt like when Christine agreed to marry him, it was so uplifting and wonderful. Smiling, he squeezed her hand back. "Well then if it makes you happy, honey, I'm all for it. Nothing would make me happier than leading you down that aisle."

The tears in Virginia's eyes shone like tiny crystals. "Thank you, Daddy...thank you."

Prince whined at that moment, as if feeling left out, and Tony scratched behind his ears, making the dog whimper joyfully. When he looked up again, his daughter was watching him with a strange look in her eyes--as if she wanted to tell him something, but was afraid to. Whatever it was, he wasn't going to let it stay blocked up like his concerns had been. "Something on your mind, Virginia?"

After several minutes she nodded and looked away, gazing out the window. "A lot of things happened to Wolf and me when we went west. Some good, some bad. And one of them involved you, in a way. We...we ended up in this magic maze...and while we were there we all ran into spirits from our past." She paused significantly. "I talked to Mom. And she told me everything that happened."

Tony froze, his hand dropping limply on Prince's neck. He had not expected this, not at all. It made him feel cold inside, and yet he was sweating too. The past was one thing he had not wanted to revisit. Unfortunately, coming to the Kingdoms had made that inevitable, it turned out, but once Christine had died he had thought that part of their lives was over now, that they could move on and think of happier times. He didn't want to remember all of his failures, his awful mistakes that had destroyed everything. He didn't want to think of what Christine had once been, and what she had become. Seeing her again in the mirror alcove, and having her not even recognize him, as if all they had shared together had meant nothing, had broken his heart more than Virginia would ever know. Yet somehow it had seemed appropriate, a logical end to their strained and tortured relationship, the nadir of what had once been something so beautiful, like a fairy tale. She had left him, left their love, tried to kill their daughter--why not forget him entirely?

All of this ran through his mind, drawing down to one fixed point. Whatever Christine had said, he did not want to hear it. He was afraid to, he was certain it would be what he had told himself all these years--that she hated him, that she had never loved him to begin with and he was only a pawn in her society games, that once he'd lost his wealth he'd been of no use to her anymore. And worst of all, that he was to blame, he was the one who had caused all their pain and suffering.

Yet somehow he was compelled to ask as well. He couldn't not know.

"I see," he said slowly, surprised at how calm and collected he sounded. "And what did she have to say?"

The room was utterly silent except for the incongruous chirping of birds outside the casement and the occasional grunt from Prince as he shifted positions. When he looked up, Virginia's eyes bored into his, so overflowing with sympathy and love he blinked in shock. She'd never looked at him that way before, not in years. "Dad...she said a lot of things. Some made sense, some didn't...but the most important thing she said was this. She wanted me to give you a message, about you and your marriage."

He braced himself, closing his eyes as if that could ward away the words he knew were coming.

"She wanted me to tell you, Dad, that it wasn't your fault."

Tony's eyes popped open in disbelief.

Virginia went on, her voice firm and resolute, yet soft and tender as well. "She said that you shouldn't blame yourself anymore for what happened...that it was her fault, that she was too weak and insecure. If it hadn't been one thing to break her, it would have been another. And...she said that she loved you, and always will." Her voice broke. "That she was sorry...and that if she could change things she would. She said she will always remember what she had with us..." Unable to continue, Virginia began to cry.

Instinctively he slid closer, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. She set Warren down gently against Prince's side and then hugged him back, and at once it was like a floodgate had been broken, and he was crying too, burying his face in her shoulder as he sobbed, shaking with his grief.

He didn't know how much time passed, and he didn't care. All he knew was that he'd been wrong...Christine didn't hate him, she'd forgiven him, she'd released him! His tears were ones of sorrow but also happiness, understanding, and truth. It was over. He could finally let go, he could forgive himself...he hadn't failed, he could still do things right this time...

Eventually his emotions ran their course and no more tears would come. Strangely he wasn't embarrassed by his display, he felt cleansed and more alive than he had in a long time. He sat back and looked deeply into his daughter's eyes and was proud of what he found there. Somehow, through everything, he'd managed to raise a daughter who was so strong, so real, so amazing. He didn't know how much she had gotten from him, but he hoped at least a small amount of her strength was his. It would make everything worth it.

Sighing, he hugged her again and kissed her cheek, then leaned back against the headboard. As she leaned against his side and rested her head on his chest, he stroked her cheek gently. After a long while, he spoke very softly. "It's strange, isn't it? We all were hurt so much by it...but if she hadn't come here, we'd never have understood each other, would we? Or found a way to be happy...or helped so many people."

She nodded into his chest but said nothing, and he knew why. Nothing needed to be said. This moment didn't need to be disturbed. But he did say one thing more. "Thank you, Virginia. I...I really needed to hear that."

"I know. I've always known." She smiled winsomely and tweaked his nose.

Again silence descended, and this time Tony was content to leave it unbroken. But after a long time, Virginia sat up and looked at him curiously. "So...um, how is everyone else?"

He recognized what she was doing, changing the subject to get his mind off of what had passed between them. Like him, she was still adept at hiding her feelings and deflecting attention from them. But he went along with her, since he didn't feel like dwelling on the past anymore. "Oh, they're just fine. Wendell's right back at work on all the kingly stuff, there's a lot to catch up on, you know. Lord Rupert's his usual self--he's going nuts over your wedding." He chuckled. "And Red Riding Hood is healing well, you'd think that the Royal Physician had an entire ER trauma team in his medical bag..." Shaking his head in disbelief, Tony trailed off, contemplating the weird link his daughter and Wolf seemed to have with Carmine. If the old fairy tale, and the political situation he'd heard described in Wendell's council meetings, were any indication, the queen of the Second Kingdom should be the last person a wolf would be concerned over, and Virginia would be fiercely protective of Wolf's rights. Yet they all seemed to be quite close, as if they had been through a lot together that had changed matters. There was a story behind that, he knew, but no one, especially his daughter, had seen fit to tell him.

Nor did she seem inclined to do so now. Instead Virginia was staring out the window again, an introspective and distant look on her face. "And the Last Dragon?"

Tony frowned. Now there was another kettle of fish altogether. He did not trust that beast one bit. He'd seen the dragon enter into combat with the Ice Queen, of course, and he had been the one to free everyone from the ice. But beyond that he was not certain how far the animal could be trusted. He didn't know what Virginia had said to get the dragon to help, but there was no guarantee any deal was still in effect, and who knew what she had promised him. "He's outside somewhere, I suppose," he answered finally, distastefully. "Doing whatever dragons do. He's asked about you, even poked his head in the window a few times, I think, but your maid fainted and the castle steward ordered him out." He sat up and looked at her candidly. "I don't know why he's still hanging around, he doesn't belong here, he belongs in some cave, away from civilization where he can't hurt anybody. And with all those 'thees' and 'thous' I can't understand a thing he says."

He was looking away, so the punch that caught him in the shoulder was unexpected. "Ow! What was that for?"

"Dad, how can you still be such an idiot?!?" Virginia's cheeks were flaming, her fists were clenched, and he cringed in case she planned to hit him again. "He's not a monster or a beast, he's as human as you or me! He has a heart, he has feelings, and he's suffered so much...how dare you..." She shuddered with her rage. "You want him to go live in a cave? That's where he's been for over a century! I think it's high time he get out of there and actually live again! He belongs wherever we accept him...he's the one who's been hurt, and he's a hell of a lot more civilized and intelligent than some people I can name." Crossing her arms vigorously, she ground her teeth. "You have no idea...you don't understand at all..."

Tony was fairly shocked by her tirade, and held up his hands placatingly. "All right, all right, I'm sorry! Jeez, I didn't know, cut me some slack..."

"You're right, you didn't know," she snapped. "He's the one who saved us all, you know, without him you'd still be stuck in the ice. He deserves our gratitude, not our prejudice."

Crestfallen, Tony looked away. He'd never thought of himself as prejudiced before. Oh, back in New York he'd had a few run-ins with blacks or Hispanics and there had been some misunderstandings, but he'd always told himself he respected and understood everyone. He'd even had ethnic friends down at Joey's, the old watering hole he used to go to for a beer after work. But this was different, for God's sake it was a dragon they were talking about!

He stopped himself. Creatures here were no different than people, he'd learned that right away. Whether you were a goblin or a Troll, everyone received pretty much the same treatment, both the bad and the good. And prejudice was what lay behind all the trouble with the wolves. He had no right to be judging, or perpetuating another hateful rivalry in the Kingdoms, no matter how ugly the dragon was.

Sighing, he looked back at Virginia. She had cooled down some and was no longer so quivering with fury, although she was still glaring at him. "I'm sorry, honey...I really am, I didn't think...that's the problem I guess. Maybe...maybe you should take me to meet him, huh? So I can find out what he's really like?" He smiled tentatively.

Very slowly, she relented, either because of his offer or because of the pleading, intensely apologetic look he gave her. Shaking her head, she smiled back and took his hand again. "I just don't know what to do with you sometimes," she commented. "One minute you do something so stupid, the next you do something sensitive. All right, Dad. I'll take you to meet him as soon as the doctor says I can get out of bed. If you let yourself, I think you'll like him."

He didn't know if he'd go that far, but he promised himself he would try as hard as possible, for Virginia's sake. "We'll see, honey. We'll see."

For a while after that he busied himself with studying his grandson, then holding him as he leaned down to kiss the infant on the forehead. He couldn't wait until the boy was awake so he could play with him, he'd always wanted to be a grandfather. And the one thing he had wondered about during the months of pregnancy, whether the child would have a tail, was no longer an issue anymore. Now that he saw it, it seemed completely natural, and incredibly cute.

Eventually Tony regarded his daughter again, thinking he should make some other concession in the matter of the dragon. Clearing his throat, he said, "Well...um, if I'm going to get to know this dragon, I think I should know as much as I can about him. Where did you find him, how did you meet him? And how'd you know where to look, anyway?" That point had been puzzling him for quite a while.

Virginia bit her lip and glanced down at her hands, which were clasped tightly in front of her. Then she looked up and shrugged. "That's...a long story. But I guess we have time. Still..." She paused, and then a small smirk appeared on her lips. "Before I tell you that, there's something else you should know."

"Oh?" He rocked Warren gently back and forth, smiling down at him and not really paying attention. "What's that?"

A mischievous twinkle glinted in her eyes. "Well, Dad...remember all those silly stories Great-Grandpa Lewis used to tell about Great-Grandma? Turns out they weren't stories after all..."

King Wendell waited until the study door had closed behind Lord Rupert before he threw himself in an ignominious heap in his chair. He wished he could lock the door behind him, not only to keep him away but to keep everyone away. Somehow, in the little over two weeks since the Ice Queen had appeared in his throne room and cast her spell, the duties of the throne had multiplied a hundredfold, it seemed. And he was not ready to face it.

The wedding plan Lord Rupert had just presented to him, and the requests he had made for cooks, couturiers, decorators, designers, tailors, milliners, and messengers--not to mention the mounds of bunting and flowers and the cakes, meats, nuts, beverages, and other foods that overflowed the menu--seemed to exemplify the workload that lay ahead of the young king. The revelation that Wolf was a prince of the House of Red and that Virginia was a princess of the House of Charming had radically altered the wedding, turning it into the greatest extravaganza of the century, and Rupert was in his element, wildly orchestrating it all. It was overwhelming to Wendell; he could only imagine how it would affect his stepsister. And cousin, he reminded himself.

As if that was not enough, the piles of parchment and scrolls completely covering his desk only increased the pressure. There was so much to do he had lost track. Somewhere amongst the mess were Virginia's wedding invitations. There was a proclamation establishing a wolf-hold in the Fourth Kingdom where the wolves could take refuge during the full moon, for their own safety as well as his people's. Others would be built in the following months. There was also an order for more supplies of stone and lumber in the reconstruction of Beantown, a request for more guards to increase security both at the palace and at the Snow White Memorial Prison, and a note from the Viscount Lansky's widow asking permission to bring her son to court so he could meet the king he would serve when he was old enough to take the place of his heroic father, who had tragically sacrificed himself for Wendell's sake. The sons of Wilfred Peep wanted a pardon for their father--had that been the petition he'd agreed to?--and the people of Kissing Town wished to erect a monument to the Four Who Saved the Nine Kingdoms, including pieces of the broken Traveling mirror and its frame.

In addition he had three important letters to write. The first would be relatively easy, a cordial congratulation to King Arundel and Queen Rapunzel of the Sixth Kingdom, re-opening relations after the ending of the curse by Virginia and her companions. The second would be much more difficult, a missive to Duke Gerome of the Eighth Kingdom, informing him of the death of his sister Griselda and that, pending the decision of the Council of the Nine Kingdoms, he would most likely be crowned king and his son Gunnar would be the Crown Prince. Gerome was a good man, as was his son, and neither of them had condoned the Ice Queen's icy conquest. They were also unlikely to hold a grudge, since they had been well aware it might take strong measures to save the Kingdoms from her evil sorcery. But she had been family, and they had loved her despite her frigid heart, so Wendell knew he had to word his letter carefully.

The hardest letter of all would be to the Royal Council of Advisors of the Second Kingdom, explaining that, though wounded, their queen was well on her way to recovery and would return home as soon as she had attended a state function. He would not dare to mention what that function was, both because many of them still harbored hatred toward Wolf and because the kidnapping of Carmine by Virginia and Wolf created a tangled quandary with great political ramifications. Of course since they were both heroes of the land, twice over, and they themselves had been imprisoned first, the council would probably not wish to make an issue of their crimes. And since Carmine seemed to have mellowed considerably toward her captors during the journey--how Virginia had managed that, Wendell had no idea--she herself would likely grant clemency upon her return to Incarnadine. Still, there were many ways it could go wrong, and the king did not relish this task at all.

Relish. That reminded him of the final blow, the icing on the cake. Although the return of their magic shoes had mollified the three Trolls, the children of Relish had insisted upon an audience with him today, and he was afraid they would demand some form of reparation from him or Virginia for their father's death. He had posted extra sentries outside the study in case the Trolls grew violent, which further added to the tension.

As if his thoughts had summoned them, there came a heavy knock on the door. He heard the sound of a deep, gravelly voice demanding entry, and then the door opened. "King Burly, Princess Blabberwort, and Prince Bluebell," the sentry said with some distaste and a warning glance.

Wendell rose at once to his feet, straightening his royal uniform jacket and presenting a firm, imperious visage. Clasping his hands behind his back, he strode around the desk, trying not to show his trepidation as the three Trolls, two towering over him, entered the study. They looked threatening, but then they always appeared threatening. Their postures, at least, did not suggest they planned some secret attack. In fact if he had not known better, he would have sworn they looked apologetic.

"Your Majesty," Burly grated, and bowed, his steel chains and iron adornments clinking. The other Trolls bowed hurriedly as well.

"Your Majesty," Wendell replied evenly. The stench was hideous, but he managed to conceal his disgust. "What was it you wished to discuss?"

Burly looked extremely embarrassed, an expression not usually found on a Troll. "Well, first of all, I wanted to...say once again how sorry we are for helping your stepmother. It's just our kingdom's so awful, we can't help but want something better..."

"I know," he said patiently.

"...and we're extremely grateful for the pardon you gave us in your great mercy..."

"You are welcome." Would he ever get to the point?

"...but we wanted to know, was what the Lady Virginia told us true? Did your stepmother kill our dad?" Burly growled, baring his fangs in pent-up fury.

Wendell blinked. This he had not expected. He'd anticipated having to explain again and again, in soothing tones, what had happened to Relish while backing away from a swordpoint and hoping his sergeant-at-arms would come quickly enough when he called to save his life. But Virginia had apparently done most of the work for him. He silently thanked her, profusely.

"Yes, it is true." He affected an expression of deep mourning. "I questioned her servants immediately after my coronation, and there were several witnesses. He was poisoned along with twelve of his men, and then she beheaded him. He was given a proper burial in my own churchyard." Wendell did not mention this was done to combat the smell, which was even worse when Relish was dead than when alive, and to dispose of the body, not out of respect for the dead.

The fiery explosion of rage in Burly's eyes was horrifying, and for a moment Wendell saw his life pass before his eyes--all twenty-one years of pampered riches and empty vanity. He winced; he would have to remedy that and make a life worth remembering, one of virtue and wisdom...assuming he lived. But then the Troll whirled aside, pounded one meaty fist on the wall until dust and plaster fell from the ceiling, and leaned against a bookcase, head bowed.

When he turned around, Wendell was shocked to see tears in the Troll's eyes. Blabberwort and Bluebell, too, looked heartbroken and enraged as they attempted to comfort their brother without seeming to. "Suck an Elf, we were idiots," Burly declared thickly. "Dad must've been yelling at us from his grave and wanting to pound our heads together."

Confused and distressed, Wendell did not know how to react to this, so he replied in his best approximation of sympathy. "Don't feel too badly, Your Majesty, she fooled us all, every one of us. What matters is that she is dead, and you have learned the identity of his killer, so he can rest."

"Yeah..." After a long moment, Burly straightened up. "Well...I guess we've done enough, then. If you'll give us our father's body back, like the Ice Queen promised, we'll get out of here and never trouble you again. He deserves to be in the Third Kingdom, where we can perform all the sacred Troll ceremonies." He nodded solemnly.

Wendell didn't want to know what those ceremonies were, but he could see no harm in granting their request, since it would end the threat of Troll invasion that had been hanging over his head for the last eight months. "Indeed. Very well, speak to my Royal Sexton, he is in charge of the cemetery and can aid you in your task."

"Thank you, thank you very much, Your Majesty!" Blabberwort exclaimed, bobbing her head eagerly. "We won't forget this, we'll be all nicee nice now!"

"Yeah!" Bluebell chimed in. "If you ever need us, just ask and we'll be here!"

Wendell would lay a golden egg before such a day would ever come, but he privately kept that thought to himself. "Of course. Farewell!"

Taking the hint, the three Trolls bowed their way out of the study. As soon as they were gone, the golden-haired king relaxed, trembling. That had been far too close. Only luck and Virginia's intervention had saved him, but that was true over and over again. How had he allowed matters to progress to this? Running his hands through his hair, he retreated to his chair and slumped down into it, resting his forehead on his crossed forearms upon the desk.

"What's the matter, Wendell?"

He looked up to see his grandmother Cinderella standing in the doorway. "You have to ask?"

"Oh, I think you did rather well, grandson," she observed, striding into the room and closing the door behind her. Her expression was at once amused and understanding. "No one else could have handled that better. You should be proud of yourself."

"Me? Proud?" He snorted. "Hasn't that always been my problem, the fatal flaw that has twice now jeopardized my kingdom? In my arrogance I underestimated both my stepmother and the Ice Queen. I have failed dismally." He seemed to recall saying that once before, but at the time the haze of drunkenness had blotted it out.

Cinderella sighed and shook her head. "Wendell, no one is perfect, not even a king. You have done the best you could with what you had and what you knew. You have learned much in a short time, you have changed and realized your potential. Stop measuring yourself against the standard of your grandparents. Learn from your mistakes and move on! You have all the qualities you need to be a good king."

Wendell sat back in his leather chair, looking at her directly. "You mean courage, wisdom, and humility? I thought the dog had those, not me."

His grandmother paused, gazing at him penetratingly. "Is that what this is all about?" Chuckling, she sat down in the chair across from him and folded her hands in her lap. "Wendell, you may not have stood before your peers and proven your worth in a silly ceremony, but you have done something far greater. You risked your life for your subjects, for your friends, for your Kingdom. You learned you were wrong about the lower classes and adopted a more selfless attitude. You even pardoned the Trolls and understood that the Evil Queen was not in her right mind and not responsible for her actions. You are daring to stand up to centuries of tradition in pardoning the wolves. And you are well aware of your shortcomings and limitations. That, to me, is more than enough to prove your worth for the throne."

Stunned, the young king stared at Cinderella, feeling something he had never felt before. Pride in his accomplishments and in his heart, rather than in his name and his wealth. Slowly he sat up, dignified and confident, and planted his hands on the desk. He regarded his grandmother, and then he smiled. "You always know what to say, Grandmother. What would I ever do without you?"

"Luckily we'll never have to know." She winked at him, but then her expression turned solemn. "Seriously, Wendell, I shall not live forever. But I am glad to know my dear friend Snow White's kingdom will be in good hands in the years to come. I know my daughter Amelia will have a great advisor in her nephew when she assumes the throne."

Sobered by this prospect, Wendell clasped his hands and studied them for a while. Glancing at all the parchment still scattered across his desk, reminded once more of his responsibilities, he looked up at her. "You know I still must do something about the dragon. We owe him a debt that can never be repaid...especially in light of what my kingdom did to his kind."

"Yes." Cinderella nodded gravely. "And you know what it is you have to do. As for a reward, I'm sure you'll think of something." A merry smile appeared on her magenta lips. "In the meantime, perhaps I can give you an easier decision to contemplate." She reached into a blue silk handbag she carried with her and removed a folded sheet of parchment. As he glanced at it, Wendell recognized it as his own stationery. "When the Ice Queen lured me here, she used the offering of a ball held to choose a wife for you...a ball I have been determined to cajole you into holding. It seems to me her promise should be kept. What do you say to a month after Virginia's wedding...will the seventh do? That should give all eligible maidens enough time..."

Wendell stared at her in disbelief, dejection, and resignation before groaning and collapsing back onto the desk again, his face in his hands. In a muffled voice he answered. "Oh no...oh no...you are far worse than my stepmother, the Trolls, and the Ice Queen acting in concert. You know that, don't you?"

"Of course I do," Cinderella replied smugly. "Of course I do. Now, when was it you said you could hold the ball...?"

Until this moment, Red Riding Hood III would have sworn she could never feel nervousness, uncertainty, or indecision when it came to matters of state. But as she strode slowly down the hallway toward Virginia's chamber, she felt all three, and all three were linked inextricably with a choice she must make as queen which would ripple throughout all the Kingdoms.

It was now four days since the defeat of the Ice Queen, and most of that time Carmine had been laid up in bed, recovering from her near-fatal stab wound to the stomach. She had slept a great deal, partially due to her weakened, fragile state, partially from a desire not to remain awake. It was true that sleep brought the same dreams and nightmares as it had for the past week, yet somehow they did not seem as strident and insistent as before, as if her confrontation with Griselda had appeased the spirits of the dead wolves somewhat. In any case, the waking world offered just as much pain and distress, and choices she did not wish to face.

But eventually she had healed and regained her strength, and she could not retreat behind her eyelids anymore. And soon she had not wished to, her usual determination and iron will had reasserted themselves. Why should she hide? It would accomplish nothing, and it only made her a coward. She might have been one all her life until now, but no longer. She would be brave. She would face the truth. She would live.

Demanding to be propped up and for the stifling room to be opened to the outside world, she had declared that it was no longer a sick room, but a room for life. And as she eagerly devoured the rich, filling broths and stews her maid brought her, as she sat in the perfumed bower of her bed with the curtains tied back so that the fresh breezes from the window could bathe her face, Carmine had contemplated her change in attitude. In her boudoir in Incarnadine and on the carriage journey to Wendell's palace, throughout the conflict with the Ice Queen, she had been fully prepared to die. In fact she had hoped she would, and the knife she had hidden concealed in her robes had been originally intended for a suicidal attack on the Witch of Winter. That was why she had willingly placed her life in danger repeatedly during the final climax of the battle, had risked the evil magic of the Lethe mirror. After all, she had been certain the Nine Kingdoms would be better off if she were lost and forgotten too. When she had miraculously survived, she had instead hoped to succumb to her wound, yet Wendell's physician had saved her, to her extreme annoyance.

Yet now...now things were different. Despite all the odds against it, she had escaped death. And that told her, however much she might wish to deny it, that she was meant to live, that she had a greater purpose to fulfill. She could not evade it, she could not bury her head in the sand and pretend it didn't exist. She was not to be allowed to abrogate her responsibilities with the easy out of death. Her grandmother's words in the May Queen's hedge maze still echoed in her mind, and she knew what she had to do and why. And for the first time she wanted to do it. It would be difficult, of course, but she had done many difficult things in her reign, and nothing worth doing was easy.

So, galvanized by her newfound sense of self, Carmine had sought her health and strength with a vengeance rather than merely clinging to life, and it had paid off. Now, four days later, she walked the halls of Wendell's palace with a proud carriage and unfaltering stride. It was true that she still wore bandages around her midsection beneath the scarlet robes, and that she felt twinges of pain every now and then. But thanks to periodic bouts of walking exercises, she was nearly the woman she had been before her stabbing.

Physically, anyway. Mentally and emotionally she was quite a different woman entirely. And she found that she much preferred this woman to who she had once been. She had more respect and love for herself now than when she had been wrapped up in her ego and vanity, strangely enough.

Still, that did not assuage her fears or prevent her from endlessly debating her decisions until the arguments for and against fluttered around inside her head like magic birds trying to break free of their cages. A long road lay ahead for her. The blatant dangers of this quest might be over, and she might have taken a major step in changing her outlook toward wolves, but the more subtle and insidious dangers of prejudice and distrust remained ahead. Her own government and subjects would work against her, and there would be a great deal of resentment, suspicion--perhaps even sedition and treason. She did not intend to back down, but that did not eliminate her worries. So much hinged on this, both sides in the conflict would be affected for generations. But she knew this was how it had to be. No matter what happened, she could not be swayed from her course. Not after all that she had seen and heard and experienced.

All that remained was to somehow convince Virginia and Wolf that this was true.

Soon enough she arrived at the doorway of Virginia's chamber and found that the door was already open. Stepping across the threshold, she knocked politely on the jamb. "Come in!" came the answering call, and hurriedly she entered before she could change her mind.

Inside, she saw a scene of domesticity that warmed her heart. At the foot of the bed, Wolf and Virginia sat on an ottoman facing the balcony doors, which were open to the evening breezes. Wolf had his bandaged arm around Virginia's shoulders, squeezing her tightly and protectively close, while she held little Warren in her arms, rocking him back and forth as she hummed a sweet lullaby. As the queen entered, the new mother looked up and smiled in astonishment and pleasure. "Carmine! It's you...I didn't know you were up and about. Please, sit down!"

Crossing to the couple, she found herself feeling like a sacrilegious intruder, the love and devotion in the room were so palpable and so clearly delineated from herself. Neither of them seemed annoyed or angered by her presence, although Wolf did look a little wary, yet she knew she did not truly belong here. At the same time it felt like a great honor to be granted acceptance. Seeing Warren only reminded her of the miracle she had witnessed and felt in the throne room...that a wolf-cub had been brought to her newly born, and instead of a monster she had seen him as the treasure he was. So much had changed in such a short time.

Finding a small armchair near the bed, she settled down in relief, a trifle winded from her long walk even now. She smiled at Virginia gratefully. "Thank you, Lady Virginia...I am nearly recovered now, but the pain comes and goes. Hopefully I will soon be fully healed, I would not care for this to remain a nagging complaint until my old age. But, it was worth it in order to bring about the Ice Queen's downfall."

Virginia's expression lost some of its cheeriness, and she glanced askance before nodding. "Yeah...we nearly lost everything, but luckily it all worked out all right."

"Luck had nothing to do with it, my dear." Carmine understood her discomfort and worked at once to soothe it. "It was destiny."

After a long moment, she looked around the room and asked tentatively, "Shall we be alone for a great while? Where is your father?"

Virginia recovered from her moroseness and chuckled softly. "He should be a while, Your Majesty. I introduced him to the Last Dragon a couple days ago, and my dad in turn introduced him to alcoholic beverages. Ever since then they've been fast friends, when they haven't been busy singing horribly off-key dragon songs."

In spite of herself, Carmine began to laugh. "I see...that is good to know. Well then...that means I can tell you what I came here to say." She paused, sobering, and then took a deep breath and began.

"I am certain Prince Colin told you what transpired, and what passed between him and me...in generalities if not in specifics." She waited for confirmation, and when Wolf nodded, she continued. "Well. Many things have changed between us...and within me. The reason I fled the Sixth Kingdom to return home was not what you thought. I was not doing so to refuse to believe your words...it was because I did believe them. And they filled me with horror, and dread, and pain. It was because I could not face you knowing you had been right all along. It was an attempt to hide from the truth, yes...but it was a futile one. Because thanks to you, and to Colin, I knew that I had wronged the wolves, and wronged you, and I was the evil, deplorable murderess you knew me to be..."

She trailed off, her emotions threatening to consume her as tears flowed down her cheeks. She did not attempt to stop them, nor did she wipe them away. They were a symbol of how she had changed, a sign that her heart was not cast in stone, and she welcomed them. Wolf and Virginia only stared at her in stupefaction, and she knew they doubted her, that their narrowed eyes tracked her soul and searched for ulterior motives, hardly daring to accept what she said at face value. She did not blame them, nor did she expect them to believe her yet. So she clasped her hands and waited, waited for them to break the silence with accusations or confused questions. But they did not, and instead they formed a wordless tableau, as if enacting a scene in a play where all the actors had forgotten their lines, and in the empty void of sound she could hear, unmistakably, the voices of her victims...the wolves who still cried out for justice.

Shuddering with guilt, Carmine forced herself to say more, to expose herself to their cynosure, to explain if she could the conflicting thoughts and emotions that had guided her--or more aptly, led her astray--during the last few days and throughout all her life. Her voice was halting, uncertain, even to herself. She could not imagine how it sounded to Wolf and Virginia, who knew her only as the calm, stoic queen of the Second Kingdom. "I...I did not come to this decision easily, it is...hard to examine yourself with honesty. It is far easier to hate than to forgive, to understand. But I could not deny it anymore. Virginia...you showed me by your tales of Wolf's bravery, and your own example in trusting him to aid you in defeating the Ice Queen, that Wolf was an honorable and loving...man. And Wolf...you not only shattered my illusions with your stories of your father...of Duncan, but you demonstrated time and again that you were no bloodthirsty monster. You were steadfast and true, loyal and dependable...and in Wendell's throne room I saw a side of you I had never seen before. You risked your life to save mine, simply because it was the right thing to do. You dared contend with the Ice Queen alone, fending off her knife strikes to give Virginia and me the chance to set a trap for her. You clearly had the best of intentions and a will to save the Kingdoms all along..."

Now, finally, she was interrupted, as first Wolf, then Virginia, cleared their throats and tried to speak, but she held up a hand to silence them. "Wait, let me finish. This is difficult enough as it is. I...I have been blind for so long, blind to what lay before my eyes. So many things have I seen, things that could not be explained in my narrow field of vision. The way you kept selflessly endangering yourself for Virginia's sake. The perilous and impossible tasks you confronted on the slender hope you would succeed. The way you kissed after the departure of the May Queen. The little things, the glances and touches and inconsequential words. The birth of your baby." She smiled down fondly at Warren. "They were all clues, they were manifestations of your love, and I could not see it. I would likely still be blind were it not for the May Queen...and my grandmother."

"Your grandmother?!?" Virginia burst out, stunned.

Carmine nodded slowly, even as she recognized this was where her listeners would hopefully begin to believe her. "Yes. She came to me in the hedge maze, and she told me many things. Things I did not accept or understand, things I refused to believe. At the time I only agreed to do as she asked in order to escape her horrible words, and because I wished to act for the good of my people and my realm. But now I understand everything she said was true. And what she said was this: she told me she had been wrong all these years, that it was her fault I hated wolves and she had come to undo her wickedness, that in her naivete and ignorance she had maligned a noble and honorable species that did not deserve to be destroyed for the sins of a few members. That I needed to let go of my hatred because it was only crushing my spirit, shriveling my heart and robbing me of my humanity. That I could not punish Old Grey, and that I had to forgive myself for not being able to save my great-grandmother or my sister."

Wolf's breath rasped in his throat as he slowly, amazedly answered her. "Red...Red Riding Hood said all that?" Virginia took one look at his face, then set Warren down in a wicker bassinet so she could take his hand and embrace him tightly.

"Yes." Red Riding Hood found a strange kindred spirit in Wolf's eyes, as he too heard something he would never have believed possible, something that united them in common understanding as the shrouds of the past were lifted. "What she told me nearly destroyed me. For you see, if it were true, if I were wrong, then I did not deserve to live. I did not deserve forgiveness or absolution, I would never find Happy Ever After. And worse, when I died my soul would be consigned to the underworld." Fresh tears blurred her vision as Carmine closed her eyes, trying not to imagine what torments awaited her below. She was a God-fearing woman; although the church had never been a strong part of her life, she had always believed in the Afterlife, and had striven to attain paradise. It had seemed the only thing left for her in a world where no one loved her. But she had not delved too closely into spiritual matters, lest she find what she could not accept--that she was a worthless, loathsome sinner. The church in her Kingdom had long decried the wolves as pagans, as cannibals, as barbarian slaughterers. But she had not ever dared to apply ecclesiastical rhetoric to her speeches, to her people or even to Wolf and Virginia. She had wisely felt religious matters remained in a different sphere than politics and should not be misapplied to that arena. But in her heart she had also secretly known such an act would have condemned her soul even more...that God would not approve of her speaking for Him, claiming wolves were heathen murderers and did not deserve to live by His commandment.

Virginia, meanwhile, was watching her with a troubled, dubious, and pitying expression. "That's not true, Carmine, that's so not true. Everyone can be forgiven...anyone can change and become a better person. Of course you deserve to live...you've proven it by your actions." She remained strangely silent on the issue of souls and sins, and Red Riding Hood wondered if she did not believe in such supernatural matters.

"I hope you are right, Virginia." The queen sighed and took a handkerchief from her pocket to wipe her tears. "But there is only one way to be certain, one way to make a difference. And that is to make amends. I realized this after I left your company, when I was in Incarnadine, when I was traveling here. I realized that I had assumed my destiny was fixed, but what if it was not? Or what if my destiny were not what I had believed it to be? There was still time to repent, to change. And so I came here to defeat evil...I came here to die if it were my time. Barring that...I came here for the same reason I sit before you now."

Wolf scratched nervously at his temple and ventured to ask the obvious question. "And what reason is that?"

The time had come. She could not hide any longer. She had to face her fate, and tradition be damned by the knowledge she knew could not be denied. Sitting up straight, she said it softly, almost matter-of-factly. "To pardon you, Wolf."

Disbelief washed across his face, followed by suspicion, hope, confusion, and understanding. Slowly he rose from the ottoman and moved toward her, walking like one entranced. When he reached her side, he stopped and looked down at her as if he had never seen her before. "What?"

"To pardon you, Wolf," she repeated more firmly. What, did he wish to milk this for every drop of smug vindication it was worth? Did he still hate her so that he would rub salt in her wounds? "And not only that. I shall remove your father's name from the record books as a traitor and murderer, and your family's name shall be cleansed of all wrongdoing. In addition...I shall give you what you deserve...your royal rank."

At that Wolf tottered on his feet and collapsed, falling to his knees before her. He clutched her dress and stared up at her in shock, struck speechless. So many warring emotions filled her as she gazed down at him that she could not say what she wished to say, something personal that would reconcile them, and so instead she resorted to what she was most comfortable with, formality and protocol. His instinctive genuflection gave her the perfect opportunity. Reaching out, she placed one hand on his head, the other on his shoulder, and spoke the solemn words that had been passed down throughout her house's sovereign reign. "I confer upon thee the rank of prince and all responsibilities and honors appertaining thereto, as is thy birthright and heritage, as should have been long ago. Thou hast a higher calling now, thou servest the people, and 'tis thy noble duty to ensure the ensanguined hue of thy House shall nevermore stain thy Kingdom's fields or thy people's hearts. Arise, Prince of the House of Red."

Wolf looked ready to faint, and Carmine was not too far from that condition herself. What she had done would cause many of her advisors to wonder if she had taken leave of her senses, if her mind had been broken by all her recent trauma, if she had been Persuaded into this rash and reckless course of action. But no, for the first time she had found her senses, healed her mind, and acted on her own free will to do what was right. As she gazed down at Wolf, she found herself marveling at how handsome and strong his features were, how regal. Why had she never seen it before, why had she never allowed herself to see it? Had she simply been that black-hearted, or had she never truly studied Wolf's face before...afraid of what she would see?

Finally Wolf found his voice. "Oh, Your Majesty...huff-puff, I can't believe this! You have no idea what this means to me!"

"Yes, I do," she replied gently.

"I mean...I could care less if I was a prince, but you actually making me one...what this'll do for my family, for the Kingdoms, for wolves everywhere--cripes!" Wolf was actually beaming with joy, his emerald eyes sparkling with tears unshed, and she could not help but respond with a warm, enraptured smile of her own. She had done right. She could feel it.

Virginia too was amazed and grinning from ear to ear, but then slowly her smile faltered, and she eyed Carmine assessingly, worriedly. "That's wonderful, Carmine...but what about the other wolves? What are you going to do about them?"

She would ask that. Yet the queen did have an answer ready, even if it was one she still feared and fretted over. As Wolf looked up at her guardedly, she sighed and placed her hands in her lap. "That...will be more difficult. Pardoning Wolf and Duncan, while unheard of, is relatively easy, as queen it is my decision and mine alone whom I shall hold accountable for treason. Wolf's offenses were only against me, not the realm...and they were warranted. And Duncan...he was blameless, a target of my hatred and jealousy. A fabricated murder charge is readily dealt with. As for Wolf's princehood, that is similarly within my province, and unassailable, for while many would take issue with his being a wolf, they cannot deny who his mother was. But the other wolves...there is much to consider. So many years of hatred and prejudice have passed. So many crimes have been committed, so many accusations made. It shall not be simple to expunge such a mindset. The laws will be like iron, only bending and breaking when heated by my will. The government and the people will resist for a long time. I may never succeed in erasing all the injustice I have perpetuated. Not within your lifetimes, or mine."

Slowly the meaning of this sank in, and both Virginia and Wolf looked depressed, upset, and resentful. Wolf rose to his feet and turned away, looking silently out the window, while Virginia crossed her arms and glowered. "We understand."

Carmine shook her head; she had known this would be their reaction. "No, I don't think you do. I was not saying I would fail to act. I was only preparing you for the immensity of the task. Upon my return to Incarnadine I shall set at once to altering, removing, or otherwise blunting the laws. I shall make it my life's work to end the persecution, to spare the wolves further suffering. And the first law I shall repeal will be the order that all half-wolf infants be slain at birth. I see now how great a tragedy that would be." She gazed significantly at the bassinet. "I cannot promise you a great deal, nor can I determine how long it will be before you see any appreciable changes--"

And she was cut off by a warm, firm embrace as Wolf rushed to her side, swept her out of her chair, and whirled her around the room. By the time he had set her down again, laughing exuberantly, she was quite out of breath and flustered. Before she could recover, Virginia was taking her hands and squeezing them tightly, then giving her a much more sedate hug but one no less full of emotion and meaning.

As the two of them continued celebrating, Carmine sat down again, her cheeks aglow with warmth and her heart similarly full of life. She clasped her hands, amazed anew at how wonderful this rectifying of the past felt to her. What she had always imagined would sear her heart, would bring only fury and hatred and bitterness, had done the exact opposite. It was the persecution and prejudice that had harmed her. And now...now, as she sat in a bemused daze, all sound seemed to fade, and she could hear only one thing: peace and quiet. The voices, the pain-haunted voices of misery, the wolves crying out for justice...they had been silenced. She knew at once that she would have no more nightmares, not as long as she continued on this path to redemption.

When Wolf and Virginia had finally settled down, she caught their attention. "There is one further thing. I am certain you are aware of the Second Kingdom's uncertain future. I am unmarried and without an heir. I intend as of this moment to re-examine the offers of the various suitors I have turned away over the years so that I may find a proper husband. But, should I fail to do so and remain childless, I will, regardless, have an heir. That heir shall be you, Wolf."

Wolf fell off the ottoman.

Carmine bit her lip. This decision was the one that would send shock waves through the Kingdoms, but she had known it to be the right choice, she had thought it through from every angle. No other decision would impress upon the Kingdoms, upon her people, that wolves had exactly the same rights as humans. The moment Wolf had saved her life in the throne room, she had known he would be her heir. He had the courage, the intellect, the cunning, and the tenacity. And while he might be thrown for a loop at the moment, she knew he would take to the position admirably. Not only would it enable him to see to the integration of wolven and human societies and the ending of the prejudicial laws, but with Virginia by his side he would be certain to make good decisions and see to it that justice was upheld for all and the Kingdom ran smoothly and peacefully. Most of the other Kingdoms would accept it, for Wolf was one of the Four Who Saved the Nine Kingdoms. The Fourth would especially be amenable because of Wolf's friendship with Wendell. It would mostly be her own subjects that might object.

"I know what you are thinking, Wolf," she said at last. "But do not worry, I am not a fool, I know that many would question your appointment, and many more might well rebel against it. But remember this: I intend to live for a very long time, and opinions can change over many years. It will be far in the future that you would ever take the throne, and between that time and this, the people of the Kingdoms will witness changes that will open their eyes, as mine have been opened. Wendell will enforce his pardon; he already has plans to safeguard his people and yours, so that his citizens will see wolves pose no danger when treated with courtesy and respect. I shall be working to alter the laws and re-educate the people of the Second Kingdom about wolves, slowly changing their perceptions so that the next generations will be kind instead of cruel. And during that time you will be a prince, aiding me in looking after the well-being of my kingdom. Any who object to your presence in my councils will face the headsman's block. They will learn to respect you, and when they see your decisions carried out and the good it will bring, they will accept you. I will make you baron of Red Riding Hood Forest to facilitate that acceptance."

She watched Wolf as he struggled back up onto the ottoman, and sympathized deeply with the decisions he was facing, bombarded by so many new changes and challenges all at once. But there had been no real way to break it to him gently, and the need for healing and reconciliation was far too great to delay this. He was strong; he would adapt.

Eventually he ran a shaky hand over his face and looked at her. His expression was still a trifle wild and harried, and sweat stood out on his brow, but his eyes were more calm and collected, understanding what was expected of him. "I...I don't know how to thank you. I never thought I'd say this, but I don't know how to repay you for your kindness."

Carmine was not surprised by this, although it did still bring a twinge of pain to her heart. "Please, do not feel obligated to repay me. This is my debt to fulfill, I must work all my life to earn your forgiveness, and that of your people. I do, however, have three requests to make of you in return."

Wolf frowned thoughtfully, as if even now he still thought she had some secret trick up her sleeve that would abrogate everything she had already promised. "Oh? And what are they?"

"First...I would like for you to accept this gift, and place it upon Virginia's finger when you marry her." She removed from her right hand a small, golden band surmounted by a faceted ruby and held it out to Wolf.

He took it, but looked at her in a mixture of confusion and offense. "Your Majesty, don't you think I should be the one to pick her wedding ring?"

"Wolf...it was your mother's."

He froze.

Carmine's throat fluttered as she continued, just as softly. "It was one of the many heirlooms and valuables Cerise left behind when she went to live with your father...with Duncan." It was important to her now to say that wolf's name. "It was her birthstone, and I am certain she would want you to have it."

Wolf didn't answer her, but she could see the tears in his eyes, and a soft whine of grief came from his throat as he solemnly and ceremoniously put the ring in his pocket. His silence said more than enough.

"Second," she said, "I was hoping that I could be Virginia's maid-of-honor. I know I am rather old for the role, but I am unmarried, so unless she has friends closer to her age who could take the position...?"

Virginia, who had been leaning back against the bedpost with the heel of her hand pressed to her forehead, shook herself and smiled apologetically. "That's very kind of you, Your Majesty, but I was planning to ask Cinderella to be my matron-of-honor."

"Oh...well, perhaps we could share the duties?" Carmine smiled in what she hoped was a motherly fashion. "After all you have lost, and what occurred with your mother, you deserve to have as many people stand up with you as possible."

"Then...I would be happy for you to be my maid-of-honor." Virginia took her hand and patted it gently, smiling.

Wolf had his hands clasped before his face and was regarding her candidly, insightfully. "And what is the third request?"

Carmine braced herself and leaned forward, holding out her hands to him. "I was hoping that you could teach me about wolves...show me what your people are truly like, so I may never misjudge them again. And...I was hoping that now, you and I could talk about our memories of...Cerise."

The look Wolf gave her was indescribable. She saw things there she had never seen before, things she had never imagined, things that surpassed her understanding of Wolf and of wolves in general. She saw what Virginia must have seen many times. She saw what her sister must have seen in Duncan. It made her shiver, the power of his gaze, it made her heart pound, it made her tears burn trails of fire down her cheeks. Most of all she saw something that she had believed impossible--respect.

"I would love nothing more," he replied humbly, "than to speak with you about that...Aunt Carmine." The way he said it was no longer derisive and contemptuous. It was a wolf speaking to another member of his pack.

"Thank you...Nephew." She smiled at him, nervous but honest as she finally acknowledged the relationship between them.

He reached out then, across the intervening space, across the gulf that had separated Hood and wolf for centuries...and took her hands.