Mary Anne Gruen - The House of Red

Through that whole day and into the night, Virginia had stayed by Wolf's side. She ate as Matilde recommended, having trays sent to their room. And she sat on the bed next to him, touching him and smoothing back his hair. He moved reflexively from time to time and emitted little growls. Otherwise, he was completely still. When bedtime came, she curled up next to him and slept fitfully, waking up at any sound he might make. Still he slept on.

When Wolf first fell asleep, it was as if the world closed over him. He felt and heard nothing. Then he became aware of himself, lying on the ground in a gray place. There was a mist in the air, but it was very faint. It seemed as if he’d woken up. But he knew he hadn't. He jumped from the ground and looked into the gray emptiness. "Virginia?" he said. But there was no answer.

Then all of a sudden a leafless white vine started growing on the ground toward him. It grew and grew, branching up, twining in on itself many times, till it stood at his height. In the center, he became aware of a presence. It was a young woman with platinum blond hair, pulled up into a curly mass at the back of her head.

"You are in pain," the young woman said. "Let me help. You must go into yourself and see what you've suffered."

"No," Wolf said.

"You must. I will shield you."

With that, the white vine disassembled itself and crawled away. Wolf followed, not knowing why. When they came to a stop, he saw a series of three dimensional images appear before him. He was part of them, but not part of them, all at the same time. The vine wove itself up to his height again, slightly to one side. It stood between him and the visions.

"This is who you are and the world you came from," the woman said. I will stand between you and the pain, so you can see."

With that, the images in front of Wolf became clearer. He saw himself as a young cub at home with his parents and siblings. He saw himself going to school and being chased by the human boys.

"You had one would-be protector," the woman said.

And the scene before them showed Tony with young Warren, shielding him from the cruel boys and the wolves that would eventually become his foster parents. Then it showed them at the creekside enjoying each other's company.

"Too bad he came along after this pain had already occurred, so you cannot remember it," the vine woman said. "But he was also there when you needed him later."

The scene now changed to Tony talking fast and getting rid of the men who had attacked Wolf when he'd tried to save his parents at their house. Then it followed Tony as he pulled Wolf away from the fire that had killed Scarlet and Josiah. It ended as his father-in-law sent him back to the present with Virginia, giving him his own talisman for the journey.

"It seems you are uneasy allies with more closeness than either of you will admit to."

Then the scene focused in on the confrontation between Wolf's mother Scarlet and her sister Ruby. He heard his mother threatening to apply for succession for her children, even as she spoke of the throne as something she didn't want for them. At the end, the scene swirled into a warm spring green. And he saw Scarlet walking towards him. She recognized him in his full-grown self. Her smile was warm and loving.

"Thank you for trying to rescue us," Scarlet said. "I'm sorry I didn't know who you and Virginia were. How can I tell you how proud your father and I are of you? You defeated your own pain. And more than one cruel plot. You and your sister are the pride of our family. It's right that you should carry my name and station. Believe how much I love you. And how glad I am that you survived."

Wolf reached out hand to touch his mother. But she began to fade.

"See what your work has begun," the vine woman said.

And the scene transformed before them. Scarlet had gone. They were now watching the Council of Truth as it came to it's two rulings.

"What you did will benefit many," the woman said. "Now remember your days with your foster parents."

Wolf saw himself as an adolescent next, still hated by the human children in school. He saw how he fell in with questionable groups who accepted him but had much anger to work out.

"Remember what you did," the woman said. "The things you are not proud of. The actions you have not even told your wife about."

Darker images rose up now. They were from the years after he left his foster parents. Wolf watched in horror as everything he'd been trying to forget replayed before him. He remembered his fear, his desperation, and his willingness to say and do anything to survive.

"Remember them and learn," the woman said.

The darker images started to fade away. And Virginia's face appeared instead.

"There are other things you must know as well. There is a war outside and it waits for you to join, dressed in the brown color of your people."

Virginia's sweet face melted away. It was replaced by a scene depicting the difficulties of the present war with the trolls and the giants. Wolf saw the Second Kingdom taken and the day and night fighting at the four borders. Finally, he saw Queen Red Riding Hood's rescue.

"Your father-in-law is going to join this fight. But they need the help of Red Riding Hood's grandson as well," the woman said. "Will you go?"

Wolf didn't answer.

"There is one more here who wants to speak with you," the woman said.

Out of a purple haze the Evil Queen appeared. She walked toward him with all the single-mindedness that he remembered. Like his mother, she also seemed recognize him.

"Remember," the Evil Queen said. "You are a wolf. You must do what a wolf does. And that means you must protect your home and family. Take care of my daughter." And with that, she dissolved away.

"So what will you do?" the vine woman asked. "Will you heal and go on?"

Wolf suddenly realized that he was crying. For how long, he didn't know. He couldn't speak, but he nodded his head yes.

"Good," the woman said. "I will heal you. And tomorrow, there is one you must speak to, so her healing can begin as well."

With that the vine slowly twined itself around him, covering him entirely. A strange peace came over Wolf. And the pain drained away. The vine then unraveled and released him.

"Sleep now," the woman said. "In the morning you will be healed."

"Who are you?" Wolf asked.

"My name is not important. But my work is."

"Who are you?" Wolf asked again.

"I was called Raphaela." And with that she was gone.

For the rest of the night Wolf slept quietly, with Virginia clinging to his side. In the morning his first stirrings woke her.

"Wolf?" Virginia said. She ran her fingers over his face tenderly. "Are you all right?"

He swallowed. "Yes," he said, almost surprised to hear the sound of his voice.

"I was so worried. Are you all right?"

"I think so."

"You seem strange."

"I'm still there," Wolf said.

"Where?"

"Wherever I was."

Virginia moved her body against his and rested her head on his chest. "I love you," she said.

"I love you too," he said. Wolf held her close for a long time. "I've got to go," he said at last.

"What?" Virginia said.

"To fulfill my destiny."

Virginia didn't know what to say. She moved aside as he got up and dressed himself, leaving the cane where it was on the bed.

"I need to wear brown," he said. He pulled through his few items of clothing and came up with a brown shirt he'd worn to the past and his old khaki pants.

"Where are you going?"

"To join the war."

"Wolf ... "

"I have to."

Virginia got up and stood in front of him. "Maybe you should wait till you're feeling better."

"No. I left Rose to handle it. Now it's time to join her. It won't take long, I think. My place is there. It's a Prince's job to defend his country."

"Then you heard everything we said yesterday."

"No. Raphaela told me."

"Who?"

"The spirit of the cane. She also told me that your father is going too."

"My father? No way!"

"Yes. I have to go too."

"If you're going downstairs, I'm coming with you," Virginia said. She wanted to keep an eye on him. "Wait for me!"

Wolf picked the cane up off the bed and headed for the door. "No. I'll meet you downstairs. There's someone I've got to see." And with silent steps, he left her.