Debbie Banna - Shattered Dreams, New Beginnings

The smell of a fresh brewed pot of tea aided Rose in reorienting herself to her surroundings to which she'd become oblivious. So deep had she allowed herself to enter into her grief that she'd forgotten where she was. She was suffering not only for her loss of a friend and sister-in-law but also for the pain she knew her brother was now enduring. His love for and loyalty to his mate was extraordinarily strong, owing partly to the fact that his life before Virginia had been lonely and difficult. Her love had been good for Wolf, helping him to move beyond his bitter past to a better life.

Rose sighed and arose, wiping her eyes with her hand. "A cup of tea, Your Majesty?" asked the middle aged physician compassionately.

"I've brewed up something special with calming properties. It'll do you good."

"Yes. Thank you Doctor...uh... I don't know you. Where is my husband's physician?"

"I’m Dr. Alexander,” he answered. I'm the new physician in training. I've only just arrived last week from the Fifth Kingdom. King Wendell's physician is soon to retire and I will be taking over for him. Here you go." he said as he passed her a steaming cup.

Rose sipped the fragrant, brown liquid and within moments could feel strength returning to her shaky limbs. The sting in her eyes, which were red and swollen from grieving, began to fade and the clouds retreated from her mind. From the bedroom, Rose became aware of a whimpering and crying that continued without respite.

"Would this tea help Wolf, Doctor?" Rose asked.

"I have something a bit stronger for the husband," he answered, turning to retrieve a bag from the counter near the stove. "This will put him to sleep for a few hours and give him the chance to rest his mind and body. Do you think you could get him to take it? He wasn't able to respond to me when I tried to give it to him earlier." He opened the bag and withdrew a small, green vial filled with a clear liquid.

"I don't know," Rose answered, "but I'll try.” She took the vial and braced herself mentally as she entered the room. Ten minutes later, she emerged. "Doctor, he's fallen asleep on the floor next to Virginia's bed but that shouldn't be a problem for him. He's used to sleeping on the ground. Let's just leave him there."

"That's fine, Your Majesty."

"Oh! Please call me Rose. I'm Wolf's sister."

"Yes. I see. And this is Princess Virginia's father," he said, pointing at Tony, who hadn't moved in over an hour. "I think he could use some of the potion I gave to Wolf. Would you help me?"

"Yes. Of course, Doctor. Tony?" Rose said, kneeling down to look at him and taking his hand in hers. "It's Rose. Can you hear me?"

There was no reply. "Tony, the doctor has a potion he'd like you to take. It will help you to sleep. Come with me over here," she gestured toward the couch in the living room, "where you can lie down." She stood and put her arm around Tony to lift him while Dr. Alexander assisted on the opposite side. They led him like a lost and helpless puppy to the sofa where the doctor administered the potion. Within a minute, Tony was asleep.

"Now it's up to you, my queen, to decide what it is we are to do," Dr. Alexander stated, looking to Rose for direction. "Do you know what their wishes would be concerning the girl?"

Rose's mind began to work, quickly reviewing the situation. "As you already know, Wolf and Virginia were no ordinary citizens of the kingdom. They are heroes in our world as well as royalty. And as befitting a hero and queen, just as with Snow White, Sleeping Beauty and others we revere, it is important that Virginia is recognized and mourned properly by our people. King Wendell will want to honor her so we must bring her body back to the Fourth Kingdom. Our dilemmas at the moment are two; how to bring her home and which way is back?”

"I am not at all familiar with the ways of this world we are in, having never traveled to this place before, and I am not sure of how to properly transport her to the mirror gateway. The answers to our questions," said the doctor, "lie with our sleeping friends. We might best pass our time until they awaken by cleaning up and preparing Virginia for travel, and getting some rest ourselves." Rose thought the doctor to be correct and trusted that when Wolf awoke, she could get him to work with them to bring Virginia home.

When Wolf finally did awaken ten hours later, it was dark, and his head felt heavy and confused. He stretched and sniffed, trying to determine where he might be, and then he remembered. He jumped to his feet and groped for the light switch, needing to see with his eyes what his nose had already revealed. Before him on the bed, dressed in her maternity jeans and a long sleeved, blue sweater, lie Virginia, pale but beautiful in her repose. Wolf found himself drawn to her side, his hand hungering to touch her once more. Gently he placed it against her face, then reached down to gather her small, lifeless hand in his. He sat down beside her, trying to fill his eyes with her sweetness, endeavoring to commit her every feature to memory... her soft skin, once creamy and white, her delicate little turned up nose, those soft, luscious lips that such a short time ago were warm and inviting. Unconsciously he fingered the singing ring that he had given her as a promise of his love. For the first time since he'd purchased it in Kissing Town, it was strangely silent.

"Wolf?" Rose whispered as she quietly entered the room. He turned to look at her but said nothing. "We need to talk. When you're ready could you come into the kitchen? Tony's awake now too. We have to make plans now that it's dark. We need to get Virginia home." At the word 'home', Wolf seemed to find the inner strength to stand and release Virginia's hand.

"I'll be there in a moment, Rose," he said huskily.

Rose left the room as quietly as she had entered and a few moments later Wolf joined her in the kitchen. Dr. Alexander had warmed up another pot of his tea and was pouring a cup for each of them. Tony sat at the table silently sipping his second cup. Wolf remained standing but accepted the tea from the doctor. "Take a drink of this. Then we'll talk," the doctor said to Wolf. Wolf complied and, within a moment, his face relaxed a bit as the soothing liquid began its work. "Now," said Dr. Alexander authoritatively, "we need to make our plans. Queen Rose and I thought it best that we bring Virginia home and do so as swiftly as possible. Our best chance to do that is now that it's dark. But, we need you and Tony to lead us back to the mirror. Do you think you can do that?" he questioned, watching Wolf carefully for his reaction.

"I can do that ," Wolf answered flatly.

"When would be the best time to leave?" the doctor asked.

“I think probably in the early morning hours. By then the gangs have gone home for the night and the vagrants have settled in to wherever they've chosen to sleep for the night. If we can avoid the police patrols, we should be able to make it," Wolf spoke with a renewing of purpose. Something in his heart was beginning to find hope in the idea of bringing Virginia from this land of cold reality to his home of magic where anything might happen. If there was hope to be found for Virginia, it surely would be found in the Nine Kingdoms.

"Good," the doctor assented. "Now what would be the best way to get her there unnoticed?"

"I'll carry her myself," Wolf declared firmly. The uncompromising look on his face prevented the doctor from voicing his objections.

"Fine. Then if there is anything you need to do before we leave, do it now. When you're ready, let us know and we'll depart."

The time passed swiftly for Wolf as he prowled their apartment looking through the things that had belonged to Virginia. Clothes...pictures...a bracelet he'd bought for her.... In the end, it was the pictures Wolf chose to take, smiling memories of the girl he adored, along with a sweater or two, which carried Virginia's scent strongly. He rolled them up and dropped them into an old backpack, slipping it onto his shoulders. The rest of their things meant little to him and he left them all behind without a thought.

Tony, in his dazed condition, did not have the heart to look. It would have overwhelmed him to have to sort through the memories of their life together. And other than leaving the apartment key on the table, he gave no indication that he was a man walking away from his past and his home forever.

At three a.m., Wolf indicated he was ready and, disappearing into the bedroom, he emerged in a few moments carrying Virginia near his heart. Cautiously, the doctor checked the hall to be sure it was empty and then the foursome set out for the elevator and descended to the street.

The streets were quiet but not empty, as was typical for Manhattan, but those who were out and about were not particularly interested in the doings of the the three strangers who passed them, one of whom was carrying a girl. They entered the park and, after reaching the seclusion of the trees, Wolf picked up his pace, moving at an effortless run, as if the burden in his arms weighed no more than a doll. His intent was to reach the mirror before anyone or anything could prevent him from accomplishing his goal. Rose and Dr. Alexander followed, each one holding onto one of Tony's hands and hustling him along between them.

Wolf rounded the corner and there before him stood the mirror gateway. Wolf paused a moment and looked upward, almost as if praying, and then, without a backward look, he disappeared, carrying his beloved home.