Mary Anne Gruen - The House of Red

Queen Leaf Fall was standing in front of the Mirror of Truth in the present with the remaining members of the Council of Truth. They were watching flames leap up as the fire engulfed Scarlet and the sliver of mirror around her neck. There was no sound, however. Cinderella had asked the mirror to cut it off. The spectacle alone was hard enough to endure. The talisman was still operating because the killing flames had not yet reached it. It scanned the crowd, stopping for close ups on certain faces. Some were filled with hatred, others laughter, and even a few with sadness.

“I don’t understand why Snow White waited so long to call them back,” King Cole asked. His usually jolly face was anything but. He was pale and sweating. His eyes were full of pain.

“Because,” Leaf Fall said, “she wanted us to see that there was absolutely no evidence of poaching. Josiah was in our sights all day till the crowds arrived. And Scarlet, although gone for quite a while, carried no great knife and had no trace of blood on her clothes when she came home. We even got to hear what the family was planning for dinner for the next two evenings. Without that testimony others might question our ruling.”

“Mirror, stop!” Cinderella commanded. She stepped forward on shaky legs, leaning on the cane she’d been using the last few days. Her limbs felt stiff because of the colder weather, but her magically corrective contacts saw things better than most. “Give us a close up on the left at the back,” she told the mirror.

Immediately, the mirror complied. It had been panning very slowly at the back of the crowd near the edge of the clearing.

“Is that who I think it is?” King Cole asked.

“Yes, I’m afraid it is,” Eranthis said, shaking his head.

“Mirror," Leaf Fall commanded, "give us more of a close up.”

The mirror swirled gray for a moment and gave the closest view it could from that distance. The flames from the fire flared up in front of the picture from time to time. But the sight was unmistakable. It was Wolf’s two foster parents, holding his younger self at the edge of the clearing. The he-wolf held one of the boy's arms and the she-wolf held the back of his shirt. They were forcing him to watch his parents burn, forcing him to remember in agonizing detail the cruelty of humans towards wolves.

“Enough!” Cinderella said. “Mirror, off!”

The mirror complied without hesitation.

Slowly, Cinderella made her way in-between the darkened mirror and the others. “I don’t know which is worse,” she said with disgust. “The humans burning Wolf’s parents. Or his foster parents forcing him to watch. I don’t know about the rest of you. But I’m ready to make a ruling.” She settled onto the top of her cane, her eyes flashing and ready for the task ahead.

Tony and Matilde landed in the great foyer at the entrance of Wendell’s castle. The perfect butler was waiting for them. Because Matilde was in charge of this trip, Tony found the landing far superior to the others he’d made. He landed on his feet with barely a sway, instead of falling in a pile on the ground half-conscious.

“Your Highness,” the bowing butler said with great nonchalance. It was as if he saw people appear and disappear all the time. “I was sent to tell you that Miss Virginia and Mr. Wolf have been taken in hand by the Royal Physician. So far, he finds them well. Except that Mr. Wolf is greatly bruised and in severe shock. Miss Virginia, though seems fine.”

“Thank you,” Matilde said. “And the Council?”

“They are waiting to tell you their ruling.”

“Good. Let Miss Virginia know that her father has returned safely.”

"At once." The butler clicked his perfectly shined shoes and glided backwards away from them.

“Would you like to hear the Council’s ruling?” Matilde asked Tony.

“Sure," Tony said, rubbing his back. "If I don’t have to walk too far.”

“Take my cane,” Matilde said, slipping it into his hands. “It has great healing powers, if you remember. It will help you.”

Tony took the cane with a weary smile and limped slowly in the direction of the mirror room. “Is this going to be an important ruling?” he asked.

“I think so.” She slipped her hand though his free arm to give him additional support. And she noticed how good it felt to touch him.

“Thank you for coming to get me,” he said.

“Not at all. You knew I would.”

“Yeah. I guess I did.”

They were both silent for a few steps.

“I ought to thank you for helping me get through those last few days,” he said. “It was you I was talking to, wasn’t it? I wasn’t just imagining it?”

“No. It was me.”

Tony looked down at his exhausted feet. “I don’t think I could have gotten through this last part without you. Thank you.”

“You’re quite welcome. I only wish I could have been there sooner this evening. It was the Naked Emperor’s Great Grandson, of all people. He got it into his head to try and lead the battle with the Ice Maidens at the edge of the Sixth Kingdom, in the altogether of course. He even thought his armor was invisible. How he could stand to do that in late fall, I don't know. Princess Alicia sent me a message that I should get him back to his castle before she shot him with one of her ice arrows or he died of exposure. So, I went late this afternoon in my coach to quiet him down. When I left, you and little Warren were still catching tadpoles down by the creek. If I’d known what was going to happen next. I would have sent Princess Alicia’s father instead.

“That old buzzard is frightening to look at, all wild gray hair and all. You may remember him. He was at Wendell's coronation in company with Alicia and several of her Ice Maidens. He probably could have gotten the Emperor back to his castle as easily as I did. But I've been keeping him busy lately building us a cache of magic traveling powder which I think we’ll need soon. I’m really sorry. Leaf Fall notified my crystal ball soon after the mobs arrived and she saw you weren’t leaving.”

They were almost at the entrance of the mirror room now.

“Matilde, I . . .” Tony began.

But he never got to finish. King Cole suddenly appeared in the doorway of the mirror room. “Matilde!” he said. I was just coming to see get you. We’re about to make our ruling.”

Tony pushed a little harder on the cane and leaned more on Matilde’s arm to quicken himself. He’d extended more energy that night than he would have thought possible. Evidently his body intended to punish him for it.

“Good.” Leaf Fall said, as Matilde and Tony entered. “This ruling is of course subject to your agreement, Matilde. But I feel certain that won’t be a problem. Eranthis.” Leaf waved to the little dwarf and he stepped forward.

Eranthis placed his hands neatly behind his back and raised his white bewhiskered chin in a kingly attitude. “We find firstly, that Queen Red Riding Hood the Second was guilty of conspiracy in a double murder involving her sister and that she did so for political and personal reasons. We find secondly, that even though Red Riding Hood the First’s daughter Scarlet abdicated the throne to her sister, her children are still lawfully in line for succession behind Red Riding Hood the Third. This is especially important as we are at war. The health and well being of the present Queen are not guaranteed.”

“I’ve been keeping track of her by crystal ball,” Matilde said. “I look in on her once a day. Her health and well being are not good. But it is dangerous to stage a rescue inside the bowels of a dungeon, even with magic. We would have a better chance if they took her outside and we knew specifically where she was.”

“So, saying,” Eranthis continued. He had relaxed his attitude a bit and was now looking at everyone over his wire framed glasses. “It is important to set a line of succession because the Queen has not done so herself. Therefore it will stand as follows. The man known as Wolf, Scarlet’s oldest surviving child, shall be first in line. The woman known as Rose, Scarlet’s second oldest, shall be second. Third in line shall be a descendent of Flint Thompson’s brother, Miss Maria Thompson.”

“I found her listed through various records held by the Council,” Matilde explained to Tony. “My crystal ball located her in a quiet corner of the Second Kingdom. She seems a sweet child with a tiny farm. She grows snow peas predominately. If we’re to be fair about this, she must be included also.”

Tony nodded.

“All parties will have titles fitting their positions,” Eranthis went on. “And of course, the line of succession will vary upon the arrival of legitimate offspring.”

“That means none of King Henry’s ‘extra’ children can claim the throne,” Leaf Fall put in. “Red tells me there’s quite a few of them.”

“It also means,” Matilde said to Tony, “that Virginia’s child will become second in line at birth.”

“This finding will be written up and announced to the populace of the Nine Kingdoms by first light,” Eranthis said.

“Do you endorse this ruling?” Leaf Fall asked Matilde.

“I do.”

“Good. Then we’ll begin at once to draw up the necessary documents.”

A moan suddenly came from the mirror and all eyes turned to it.

“He’s in pain,” Eranthis said. The dwarf moved to the mirror and ran his hand gently over the spot where the three pieces had been removed. “The talisman must be burning."

Again the mirror moaned. It was a low cry at first. But then it became greater, as if the mirror were trying to stifle the sound but just could not.

“Matilde, please,” Eranthis said.

Matilde retrieved her cane from Tony and waved its point around the full circumference of the mirror. Then she turned the cane sideways and carefully touched it to the wounded area. The moaning stopped. “Eranthis, take the cane and hold it in position for a while.”

“Yes,” he said.

“Lord Lewis,” Matilde said. “You’re looking a little better, but I still think you should pay a visit to the Royal Physician before retiring.”

“That’s probably a good idea.”

Matilde offered him her arm again and they started away from the mirror room very slowly.

“Should we tell Virginia and Wolf?” Tony asked. “About your ruling I mean.”

“Actually, the Council made an earlier ruling which you should also hear as well. But it’s nothing that can’t wait till tomorrow. You’ve all been through quite a lot tonight.”

“Yeah,” Tony said wincing.

“You’re still moving very stiffly. I’ll have someone bring my cane to you after the mirror’s pain has passed. Keep it with you as you sleep.”

“But I can’t take your cane away from you for an entire night.”

“You must. There's a lot of work for you to do tomorrow.”

“For me? What kind of work?”

As if in answer, the high pitched clippity clip footsteps of Lord Rupert sounded from around the corner of the corridor.

“Is that who I think it is?” Tony asked.

“I believe so. No doubt his friend the butler told him of your arrival.”

“Lord Lewis!” Lord Rupert said, dancing excitedly toward them. “I heard you were back. I’m so glad to see you!” He threw his arms freely around Tony, causing a look of agony to cross Tony’s face.

“Lord Rupert!” Matilde said. “Please be gentle. Lord Lewis has had rather a trying night.”

“So sorry,” Rupert said. “Just got carried away. There’s so much to tell you.”

“Yes. But no hugging,” Tony said.

Just the hint of a smile escaped from Matilde. "I’m sure Lord Lewis will be interested in everything you have to say. Why don’t you tell him on the way to the Royal Physician.”

“May I?” Rupert took Tony’s arm and started leading him off. “We’ve been working so hard here. Not resting a minute. Wait till you see what we’ve done!”

Tony looked back when he realized Matilde wasn’t accompanying them. “Matilde?” he said.

“You go ahead. I have to help the Council write up that proclamation. I’ll see you in the morning. And I’ll have someone bring you my cane later.”

Tony sent her a look that said, “You’re leaving me with HIM?”

Matilde’s answer was a smile. She really did have other things to do and she knew Tony was in safe hands. “Lord Rupert. Mind you, don’t keep him up all night. Just bring him to the Royal Physician and then straight to bed with him.

“Of course, your Highness,” Rupert answered.

Tony rolled his eyes at Matilde and she smiled again.

"King Eranthis has been helping us,” Rupert continued in great animation. “We couldn’t have come so far so fast without his help. Tomorrow morning, you must come down to the workshop directly and I’ll show you everything we’ve done.”

Matilde watched them as they continued down the corridor and turned out of sight. Then she went back to the mirror room. Eranthis was still holding the cane to the mirror. Leaf Fall was beginning to pen their official statement. And Cinderella was doing a critique of Red the First.

“I never thought all that much of Red Riding Hood’s big push toward public education,” Cinderella said. “Oh, it sounded all progressive and forward thinking to try and bring schooling to all the intelligent beings. But she was really just trying to make herself seem important and beneficent. She still considered all the wolves to be savages. And did she try to bring even one talking mouse or magic bird into her schools? No she did not. I had several birds specifically come and complain to me about that.”

“Yes, Cindy, we know,” Leaf Fall said. They’d heard this complaint a million times. “Your schools were the first truly progressive ones.”

“Well, they were.”

“Shouldn’t we send this notice out tonight to our various Prime Ministers and such,” King Cole asked, changing the subject.

“Yes,” Matilde said. “First to them. And then to the populace at large in the morning.”

“I’ll organize my elves after we’ve gone over the wording,” Leaf said.

“This is a monumental moment in the history for the Nine Kingdoms,” Eranthis said. He removed Matilde’s cane from the mirror to see what would happen. But the mirror remained dark and silent. “Is he all right?”

“Yes,” Matilde said, taking her cane back. “He’s asleep. When he awakes, his attention will return to the present. At some point I’ll send someone to retrieve the lost piece of mirror. But it will have to be after this war.” Matilde stood in front of the mirror and addressed it. “Snow White, I know you can’t answer me right now because of the state the mirror is in. But I know you can hear me. Your quest has been completed. And your questers have all returned safely. You heard our rulings and you can rest now at least on this.” She turned to touch Cinderella’s hand and her eyes met with Leaf Fall’s. “We who were alive when some of these things happened, were derelict in our duty. We were too wrapped up in other things to realize what was going on. We’re glad that you gave us the chance to undo some of these wrongs.”

“Yes,” Cinderella said.

Leaf Fall nodded in agreement.