Debbie Banna - Shattered Dreams, New Beginnings

Matilde stood before the mirror still talking with Snow White. Wolf had disappeared just a moment before and now curious to know what would happen next, she asked a question that had suddenly come to her. “How will we know if Wolf succeeds and the past has been changed?”

“Actually, you will only know because I will tell you and even this you will forget. When Wolf is successful in his mission, no one else will be aware of it. In changing the past, all of your memories of it will be changed also. Anything that happens as a result will seem normal to all of you. I will tell you that in just a moment, it will be over. All of time will have been altered and Virginia will live again. I will not be here, everyone’s lives will adjust.” The room shimmered and changed as she spoke. The mirror disappeared, as did Matilde. The war room was now empty but for a silent attendant who busied himself straightening papers and files on the king’s desk nearby. He looked up for a moment, an odd, disconcerted feeling passing over him, then resumed his cleaning.

The ceremony had been in full swing for some time and still Virginia had not appeared. Wolf listened to the music playing in the background and prepared himself for the arrival of his soul mate. Each moment of this return to the past had been nerve wracking, leaving Wolf to wonder if he had caused further problems or had carried out his responsibility correctly.

He had almost made a dangerous mistake at one point the first night in the queen’s bedchamber, when he was forced to reenact his betrayal of Virginia. Her eyes turned on him with greater disbelief than the first time as, after his change of behavior in the wood, she had truly begun to trust him and his professions of love. Everything within him wanted to shout, “It’s not true. I’m not working for the queen,” but all he could do was to turn away so he wouldn’t have to face her expression of disbelief. This time it was easier to carry out his plan, knowing ahead of time that it would succeed. Once the queen had been defeated and the truth had been revealed, Wolf had opened his arms to his love, and she accepted his embrace, realizing that what he just accomplished had saved her life and that of all present at the coronation. What he hadn’t expected was that she responded to his declarations of love and shows of affection so much more readily than the first time they had arrived at this point.

His attention became distracted by the sight of Tony and King Wendell discussing something across the table from him. They paused and Wendell gestured in the direction of two beautiful women at the far side of the table. Tony’s expression changed from astonishment to delight as the ladies waved and smiled at him. “Uh oh,” Wolf uttered to himself. “I think I see what Snow White meant about Tony.”

The door to the dining room opened and Wolf turned toward the entering Virginia, knowing that his moment had come. “Miss. Miss,” he shouted leaping to his feet. “Over here.” Virginia smiled at his antics and crossed the room to join him. “Succulent,” he murmured in her ear as he pulled out the chair for her and unfolded her napkin with a flourish. He placed it in her lap then sat back down beside her. “What would you like to eat?” he asked eagerly, knowing what was about to happen next.

Tony spoke up, watching her carefully from where he sat. “You’ve got to eat something”

“Yeah. You’ve got to eat something,” Wolf repeated, hardly able to restrain himself.

“Ok,” she replied hesitantly. “I’ll have some…um…I’ll have some…fish.

This was the moment Wolf had been waiting for. He raised his hand to summon the waiter. “Waiter. Waiter!” he shouted. “Bring some fresh fish immediately please.”

The waiter arrived instantly with a silver platter of fish and Virginia thanked him as he set it down before her. She glanced up at Tony who mouthed the words, “Are you all right?” She nodded and reassured him, “I’m all right. Really!” then lifted a forkful of fish to her lips. Wolf hovered anxiously, looking first at her, then at the fish. Before she could take a bite, the song began, just as Wolf had hoped.

“How I long to linger on your sweetheart’s finger.” sang the ring from within the fish. Virginia gaped, shocked at the miracle unfolding before her but Wolf just smiled happily and took her hand.

“That’s my engagement ring,” he stated emphatically. “A singing ring never fails to get the girl,” he told her, looking deeply and confidently into Virginia’s eyes. “It’s destiny. Put it on, my beloved.”

Feeling a bit bewildered by all that had happened to her in the past few days, Virginia looked to Wolf for confirmation, then smiling softly, she accepted the ring from him. “We were meant to be together Virginia. I’m a wolf. I know these things. I just know.”

This time, Virginia did not argue. She realized that though she had not known Wolf long, he had changed greatly since the beginning of their adventure together and this was not the same man she had fought in her grandmother’s apartment. The difference in him was reflected in his eyes, in the way he looked upon her as if she were someone he cherished and she believed in her heart that he did. Never in her life had she ever been loved this way. Her dad had lavished his love and protection upon her but this was love of a different kind. This was the adult kind of love that a man offered a woman and yet it was so different. She had offered herself to him, thinking that’s what he would want from her but he amazed her by asking for something more. At first she could hardly believe his words but his tenderness had assured her he would be content with nothing short of her heart, completely, totally, forever.

Looking up into the face of her beloved, she melted at the look of desire and longing in his eyes. Slipping the ring further down her finger she responded, “Yes, Wolf. I think you do know.” Then she reached up to pull his face down to hers, sealing her decision with a kiss. “Woo! Wolf howled happily jumping to his feet and attracting the attention of every person in the dining room. “She says she’ll marry me!” he shouted happily to the now smiling group. Then, pulling his beautiful dream girl to her feet, he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her romantically for all to see, even dipping her dramatically back in his arms as they parted.

Virginia blushed with embarrassment at being the focal point of all this attention. “Wolf. Control yourself,” she reprimanded him in mock horror.

“Oh, you don’t know the half of it, baby girl,” he growled into her ear as he gathered her into his arms and whirled her in a circle until they were both dizzy with delight. Tony and Wendell were whispering again and looking in their direction, when Wolf noticed and stopped in his tracks. “Tony. Oh, I’m sorry. I want to do this right.” He took Virginia’s hand and rounded the table to where Tony sat, a look of disapproval on his face. “Tony, I know this is sudden and I know you don’t much like me, but I love your daughter. I promise to take care of her and never, if it is within my power, let anything bad happen to her. And before you say anything, Tony, she loves me too. Oh please,” he begged, “say you’ll give us your permission.”

Tony watched the two standing together before him hand in hand, their faces radiant with love. So maybe he didn’t quite trust the guy but he had proven himself to be a hero in the eyes of his daughter. He’d even won the approval of King Wendell, who had overcome his own bias toward wolves and presented him with a pardon for all of his kind. Virginia watched her father hopefully, as he made up his mind. “Oh, all right. You have my permission,” he granted, standing up to shake Wolf’s hand reluctantly. “Welcome to the family.”

Virginia flung her arms about her father and hugged him, as she had not since she the long ago days of childhood. Wolf, not wanting to be left out, joined the two in a group hug and then impulsively gave Tony a loud kiss on the cheek. Tony reached up and touched the spot in disbelief, shaking his head in mock disgust. Then, with one more hug and a pat on the back, Wolf whisked his Virginia into his arms and onto the dance floor where, blinded to the fact that a crowd of people surrounded them, they began to plan their life together.

Wolf reached down to help his very awkward, very pregnant wife from her chair. “That was a wonderful meal Wendell. I do think that you have outdone yourself this time. Lamb chops and chicken stuffed with bacon.” Wolf patted his belly, then pushed it forward in imitation of Virginia’s rounded form. “Virginia, darling, I think possibly you’ve had a bit too much tonight.”

Virginia slapped at his arm in mock anger and laughed at his antics. “Wolf, darling, when it comes to food, I could never hope to keep up with you. And as for this,” she stated, pointing at the little one within who awaited his hour to be born, “I think you know very well how it got to be so large.”

Wolf blushed, but proudly smiled and rubbed her belly. “It won’t be long now. Our son can’t wait to be born. It might be that if he doesn’t arrive soon, he just might be upstaged by the wedding of his auntie and the king.” He looked to where his sister stood, a diamond ring glittering on her finger and a handsome king on her arm.

“I’m so grateful for the advice you gave me on how to woo your lovely sister,” Wendell replied. “If it weren’t for you, well, I’m sure I would have messed things up royally,” he laughed at his own pun.

“And then there’s Dad,” Virginia reminded, glancing over at the couple still seated at the table together. Tony gazed adoringly into the eyes of Matilde, who at the moment, was giggling like a schoolgirl. “I don’t know what happened to him since you two have been spending time together, Wolf, but he’s acting like a new man. He’s happier than I’ve ever seen him. Who knows? Maybe things will work out for all of us,” she said, looking with admiration and affection at her husband.

“Oh, they will. They will. I can assure you of that. I’m a wolf and wolves just know these things. After all, we live in the Nine Kingdoms where, when we follow the principles of the kingdoms, we all can live happily ever after.” Smiling, Wolf glanced over to the carved wooden mirror, which had been a gift from the dwarves at their wedding. For just a moment, he thought he saw the shape of a dark-haired beauty in a silky white dress appear. He looked again, but the mirror was empty. “Come along, my love. We have dreams to dream and secrets to share. The night is young and time’s a wasting.” And with that he bid adieu to the others and escorted his lovely wife to their room, where together they reaffirmed the love that had grown steadily and unwaveringly with each passing day.