The Fairy Tale

by Talia Haze

“It appears blue from here!”

  “Blue bug,” announced Saramine.

  “How are you finding all these…?”

  “Blue rock!” Sean said, “that’s two for me.”

  “Blue butterfly,” said Connie, holding it in her hand.

  “Blue house!” Ryan finally called, triumphantly.

  “House?”

  “Up there.” Ryan pointed. A blue cottage sat far up the path and leaned dangerously close to the edge of the hill we had been climbing. Angel released my hand and inched closer. I wished she’d slow down; what if the house was unstable? It looked like it could go crashing off the edge in any second.

  “Hello?” she called opening the creaking door. “Is anyone here?”

  “Come on in, Granddaughter!” replied a sweet voice. “It’s nice of you to have come and visit me. Oh! You’re all here! What a lovely surprise!”

  A large wolf lay snug in a four-post bed. A yellow bonnet sat between his ears, a high ruffled collar buttoned to his chin and his big paws were poorly concealed in white gloves. He pulled the blankets over his nose as we neared, though it didn’t do much good. His large snout still protruded through it. I covered my mouth to stop myself from giggling. Ryan grinned at me.

  Sean walked closer to the bed and patted the covers. “How are you feeling?” he asked, sympathetically. We giggled quietly.

  “Very ill, Dearie,” the wolf answered with a sneeze.

  “Why, Grandma, what huge eyes you have,” Ryan gasped, edging closer to the wolf.

  “All the better the see you with, My Dear,” explained the wolf. I smiled broadly. How Little Red fell for his trick I’d never know. Saramine smiled and slowly sat on the bed on the bed, patting “grandma” dearly.

  “Why, Grandma,” she exclaimed, lovingly, “what big ears you have!”

  “All the better to hear you with, My Dear,” the wolf clarified.

  “Why, Grandma,” Angel muttered, playing with her bow behind her back. “What poor tricks you have!” She swiftly put an arrow in the notch and fired at the wolf. With a dying gasp, the wolf slowly turned into a troll.

  “Thank you!” A girl in a red cloak and simple dress and a little old lady appeared. “You have saved us!” Angel fell back in confusion as they crowded and embraced her.

  “Thank you so much; we can never repay you!” praised the lady. “Won’t you join us for some cakes and wine that my granddaughter has brought?”

  I cocked my head. They were holding and hugging Angel a lot. Angel’s grip on her bow loosened because of their smothering.

  “Walk silently down the road, do not talk to any strangers,” I muttered. Ryan barely looked at me. “‘Any’ was underlined.”

  Ryan nodded. “Decent, Gabby. Ready, then?”

  “Ready!”

  We charged the lady and the girl. They finally got Angel’s bow out of her hand, but they didn’t have enough time to think of what to do next. Ryan and I sent them sprawling to the floor. They jumped up in their troll form. One of them grabbed around Angel’s neck and the other grabbed Ryan.

  Angel calmly pulled the dagger from her scabbard and leaned back. The troll cried out in pain, but Angel wasn’t finished with it and held its head up by grabbing its mane, raising her dagger in the air.

  “Stop!” the other troll ordered. Sharp claws shot from his paw and he held them dangerously close to Ryan’s neck. “Na-izik,” the troll repeated, giving Angel a smirk. “Lesan sae. Iamo!” With a push, Angel let the other troll go. “Lesan bekane.” Angel hesitated at the order. The troll growled and rubbed Ryan’s neck with the claw. So controlled was the claw that it didn’t leave a scratch on him. “Iamo, Nik’dalo.” Angel dropped her dagger.

  “Now then…” Ryan grabbed the troll’s arm and bent forward, throwing the troll over his back. Caught off balance, the troll stumbled backwards until Angel gave him a quick kick, knocking the troll towards, then out the open window. The terrified scream faded as he fell down the cliff. She then pounced on the other.

  “The key!” she demanded. The troll didn’t answer but gave a quick look past Angel. With an angry huff, Angel spun around, kicking his face and toppling on top of him, dagger ready. “Is it worth dying for?”

  Connie searched the area the troll glanced at. Nothing but the basket of snacks Little Red brought. “Here!” she opened the basket and pulled out a gleaming key (4).

  Angel got off the troll, giving him a dirty look. “Get out of my sight.”

  The troll disappeared.

  Chapter Five

  Key Five

  We stood close to each other in a small room. A lone candle flickered on a nearby table, casting our shadows against the stone walls. In the corner of the room sat a stone statue. A man! Carved from a gray, grainy rock, the statue sat in a wooden armchair and was dressed in a brown, hooded cloak. Every feature of his face was perfectly defined; even down to the stubby hairs on his chin. His eyes lay closed in silent meditation, his lips pressed in frozen thought.

  “It is exquisite!” Connie exclaimed, breaking the silence. “The craftsman has certainly outdone himself!”

  Ryan knelt at the seated man’s side, reaching out. “It’s like he’s real. Lad’s even got eyelashes…”

  The eyes opened suddenly and focused on Ryan. We cried out in terror and fell back. Angel’s hands readied.

  “You’ve completed the first stage.” The stone man, fully animate, stood from his chair and neared our frightened huddle. Angel allowed him to approach, keeping to his right, and watching him carefully. “Now, you must hand me the book before I can give further instruction.”

  All eyes traveled to Sean, who hesitated. Ryan elbowed his ribs. “It’s Stony, Sean,” he said. “It’s our guide, lad.”

  Sean relaxed, and after an approving nod from Angel, handed the stone man the book.

  “This is the more difficult stage. You must now figure out things by yourself. Occasionally, if it be possible, I shall appear to give you specific instructions, but during the times I do not show myself, you must use your own knowledge to secure the key. Bear in mind that you have only six more keys to get before you are admitted into the land of Agyra.”

  The blinding flash appeared from nowhere. I waited until the light vanished before I lowered my hands. We stood on the long drawbridge of a fortress. Narrow towers stood at each corner of the high walls, and several small arches carved into the wall served as windows for each of the two levels.

  “Ma-hali,” Angel ordered. We followed her over the crystal waters of the moat, under the largest arch that served as the door. Hay lay everywhere in the open-air square, and dead in the center, a small man slept curled up in a ball, a silly grin plastered his face.

  “Is it alive?” Ryan asked, picking up a stick. The man sprung to his feet and howled the instant Ryan poked him.

  “What do you wish?” the man demanded, pointing his hand at Ryan and glaring at him. His high, squeaky voice already annoyed me.

  “The key,” Angel answered.

  “But the king wants gold!” The man pointed at one of the towers. “The king of old! He wants all of the gold, to the tower’s hold!”

  What an odd thing to request! But after I scrutinized the hay more carefully, I could see several bars of gold lay scattered about.

  “Is the key up there?” Sean asked.

  The man smiled broadly. “Behold, my fold! Rewards are tenfold! On my behalf, you take the gold, from down here, to the tower’s hold!” He pointed again to the tower. Ryan turned to me.

  “Gabby?”

  I shrugged. I remembered no tale of moving gold anywhere…but at least this time, we were given instruction. The man danced around, repeating his little poem.

  “Certainly helpful, isn’t he?” Ryan complained. “Come on, let’s get some gold up there!”

  I managed to lift two gold bricks, Angel and Sean three each, Saramine and Connie one. Ryan lifted the most, carrying five up the stairs. We took quite a few rests and breaks; there
were so many stairs. After fifteen minutes, we managed to get to the top of the tower. Ryan pushed open the door, revealing a bare room with not even straw lying about.

  “That little liar!” The gold Ryan carried thudded loudly against the stone. “Oh that…!”

  “Na-izik, Ryan.” Angel grabbed his arm. “That was our mistake. We should not have assumed it was up here.”

  “I just wish to talk with him, Angel,” Ryan replied, shaking his arm free and spinning on his heels. Connie gave me a look as we followed.

  “Where’s the key?” Ryan demanded, his angry voice echoing off the walls. The little man hobbled to meet him, stupid grin still stuck on his face.

  “Why did you force us to carry all that gold?” Connie added, slightly stomping her foot.

  “Force?” The man leaned back, genuinely shocked. “Sweet lass, with hair of gold! If I might be so bold, take it up, I never told! You offered so…who am I to control? Besides, truth be told, I’ve got a cold, my back is old, and…”

  “Enough!” Ryan demanded. “Enough of your nonsense! Just give us the key before I lay hand to you!”

  The man paused and stared at Ryan, and for once, a look of seriousness passed his face. “Mind your temper,” he said in a voice much deeper than the shrill one we were introduced to. My whole body trembled. “I will not just give you the key. You will have to get it yourself. I have been forced to play this game for far too long.”

  Ryan swallowed hard. The two stared for a moment before the man continued to dance.

  “Now! I decree! A game just for thee!” The man’s shrill voice returned, but I still couldn’t relax. “We shall shoot to get the key! Two targets ahead, near that tree. Whose aim is better? We shall see! There are no rules apart from these; if you are able to outshoot me, you will be the owner of my key! However, if my shot should lead, then mine shall all of your keys be!”

  All eyes looked to Angel, who rolled her eyes. “So. Are we agreed?”

  Angel waved her hand in consent. The man laughed and clapped his hands. Two targets appeared far ahead near the corner of the fortress.

  Ryan gave Sean a knowing look. “This’ll be easy.”

  It couldn’t be too easy. I shifted my weight. I had no doubt in my sister, but I didn’t trust the little man. Certainly, we were being tricked…again. The answer had to be in what he said, just like he did with the gold. He was right; he never said we had to carry it…he told us outright that we would do it on his behalf. But he spoke so quickly that none of us caught it. What about now? And what tale was he from?

  “To the rules you must abide! So, take this paper, and now please sign…”

  “Read it first,” Ryan stated. Now, the man rolled his eyes.

  “Speak my name, or play the game, to showcase your aim and key obtain!” he recited very quickly as if it were a forgotten chore. “If you should you sign your name, you are then bound by this frame…blah, blah, blah. Do you not trust me?”

  “No.”

  “It is fine.” Angel read it quickly. “It is as he says.”

  I didn’t object. I didn’t trust the man, but I still didn’t know why.

  “Jack be nimble!” the man exclaimed. “Ladies first,” he added with a humble bow. I shifted. Angel stood at the line and took no time to aim. Her arrow pierced the dead center.

  “My turn!” The man danced around Angel and held up his bow. “Jack be quick!” He aimed and shot the bulls-eye, also in the center. They fetched their arrows and returned to the line. Angel never looked so bored. Connie seemed interested and the boys joked with each other. A pit settled in my stomach. What was he up to?

  This time, he shot first and hit the target in the center. Angel quickly held up her bow as before, but in the same instant, the man rolled a giant candle at her. No one watched him; I had no idea where it came from. Nearly as large as a barrel, it knocked Angel off balance and sent her arrow whizzing into the air.

  “Jack,” he cried out, addressing Angel in feigned disappointment. “You didn’t jump!” Angel didn’t know how to respond and stood as the man let out a victorious laugh. “I win! Get me the keys!”

  I knew it couldn’t be so simple! Sean just barely grabbed Ryan as he darted past him. “You cheating little…”

  “That was not fair,” Connie objected, “you hit her with a candle!”

  “I didn’t cheat!” the little man sneered. “I was quite complete and neat in my explanation of this treat! I said that there were no other rules. So, now, now, do not be cruel! You lost this duel! Now hand to me what’s due!”

  Angel rearmed her bow. The man saw her move, and his eyes widened in panic, but the paper she signed glowed and flew into the air. As it hovered, Angel screamed, dropping to her knees and covering her ears. The others rushed to her. The little man smirked as Angel crumpled, inching his way closer.

  “Give him the keys!” she ordered. “That contract is bound with the scream of the jewels! Give him the keys! Iamo!”

  Like the bag was on fire, Sean tossed the keys to the man. The glowing paper fell to the ground and Angel fell backwards on the ground, limp into Saramine’s arms.

  “At last! The keys are all mine!” The man rolled around on the ground, did somersaults and cackled hysterically. I picked up the paper and inspected it. It was as he said. He never lied. But surely there had to be a way to defeat him! We couldn’t give up our keys!

  The man danced in a frenzy before falling to the ground in bliss. Sean held Ryan firmly.

  Speak my name, or play the game, to showcase your aim and key obtain. Or? We had a choice? He never gave us a choice…did he? The man spoke in riddles…

  “How do we get our keys back?” Connie demanded. With a grin, the man rolled to his side, and propped himself on his elbow.

  “I’m sorry, Jack,” he said. “Consider yourself ransacked! You cannot get them back!”

  Ah! I see! I smirked, but Connie was furious.

  “You rouge!” she cried out. He stared silently with his eyes popping out for a moment, before bursting into giggles as if he couldn’t hold it all in. Connie rebuked the man while I laughed with him. I knew his tricks, I guessed his riddle. And to think! I imagined so many times keeping company with such a rouge!

  “Keep laughing, Rumpelstiltskin,” I teased, “but the joke is on you!”

  The man instantly silenced, turning to me in rage. Sean stepped before me, but the attacking man wasn’t so big. Quite small. Smaller. He shrank!

  “How did you know?” He dashed around, becoming smaller and smaller by the second. “I was so close! So close!” He ran for the keys but continued to shrink until he was no more.

  “And look what he left for us.” Ryan picked up a golden (5) key.

  Chapter Six

  Key Six

  We stayed another full day in the fort to give Saramine some time to rest. Angel favored the place as it was easy to defend. I favored it because there were plenty of places to explore or hide away to read. The fortress looked exactly how I imagined it from the tale. I would sit in the hall next to where the princess would spin gold and read, or just lay on the straw and daydream.

  I pulled the sketches of my parents from my book and ran my hands over them. Who were they? What were they like? Why were my father’s eyes so piercing? Why was my mother’s smile so sweet? What made him so solemn, what made her so bright? What had they seen on the merchant road that made their expressions so unique?

  I closed the book as Sean called out. “There’s a kitchen in here, Angel! With fresh food!”

  We followed the sound of his voice down the fortress halls. The kitchen cupboards and pantry were loaded full of fresh and dried foods. All we had to do was stuff our bags. Angel packed lightly, taking the dried food and wrapping it tightly in stiff weeds, so it became smaller and she could carry more. Connie silently filled her bags with fresh fruit.

  Sean bent to the floor of the pantry and paused suddenly.

  “What is it, Sean?” Angel asked. Sean
shrugged and pulled and pushed at the stove. I bent to look inside. Would it be a prince, or another trick?

  “Wait.” Angel opened the bag with the keys, handing us each golden key. “I do not want another close call like last time. Keep yours safe.”

  Sean nodded, and after placing the key in his pocket, pushed the stove again.

  “A door! This must be the way. Look how wide the passage is. It’s far longer than it is from the outside...”

  Whish!

  We stood in a new building. The door we emerged from vanished, so we looked around. Various suits of armor stood on pedestals along the high brick walls. A rotted staircase led up to the next floor and several old, moldy rugs lay under our feet. Bright afternoon sunlight poured in through the high windows, reflecting off all the dust in the air, and making the room appear hazy.

  “It looks to be an old armory,” Connie said. “One of my ladies has a brother who works in one.”

  “More of a junk pile than an armory, this,” Ryan replied. He picked up a bent, rusty sword. “Half this lot isn’t even useable.”

  “Then, let’s find something that is,” Sean answered, venturing deeper into the room. “It might come in handy.” I followed, carefully stepping over some items and walking around others. What an odd place. It all seemed so random. In addition to the weaponry, there were linens, blankets, bags, clocks, a spinning wheel, two butter-churns, barrels, a wagon wheel and so much more.

  Sean and Ryan fastened sheaths to their belts and placed short swords in them. I found a club. Angel took several arrows and so did Connie and Saramine. Connie also found a bow and quiver. I sat and watched as Angel silently put a dagger in her other boot and one in the bosom of her shirt. I would take a dagger too, just in case.

  “This is divine!” Connie said, looking over Sean’s sword. “I do love this design engraved on it!”

  “And look!” pointed Saramine. “The rose design is the same on this shield. Perhaps it once was a set given to a knight.”