CHAPTER XII
WHAT HAPPENED IN THE THRONE-ROOM
Led by Queen Titania, Dame Drusilda, Violet, and Daffodil, the strangeguests, who had come to the wedding without an invitation, mounted thespacious marble steps and passed into the palace.
In spite of a meek, respectful demeanor that it was very hard for themto assume, they could not conceal the gloating satisfaction that was ontheir faces.
In the meantime the Brownies and fairies were already beginning to enjoythemselves in different parts of the palace grounds.
Introductions are hardly necessary when sprites meet, and many foundways of getting acquainted, and were warm friends on their firstmeeting.
Having no suspicion of what was in the evil minds of those she waspreparing so hospitably to entertain, Titania with her companionsushered them into the magnificent banquet-room.
There upon one of the long tables were spread many delicacies to makeone's mouth water, and, even before an invitation to partake of themcould be extended, the four red imps seated themselves before it, and,smacking their lips, began to tuck napkins under their chins.
Titania had thought that the guests would leave the presents they hadbrought out in the hall when they came in, but they still held on tothem with a grip so tenacious that she wondered if they really meant togive them up, after all.
Nevertheless in a free-hearted way she urged the visitors to refreshthemselves. The imps were already engaged in trying to stuff whole plumpuddings into their mouths at once, a greedy proceeding that DameDrusilda, Violet, and Daffodil watched with considerable disgust.
All but the leader started quickly to seat themselves, but he stampedhis foot imperiously, and they came to an instant stop.
Then he threw back the hood of his scarlet cloak, disclosing a wickedface, and transfixed Titania with his malicious gaze.
"I am Dragonfel the enchanter, my fine little lady," he said, infiendish tones, "and I have come to take you away with me!"
Titania was so frightened that she could neither scream nor run away,and she allowed him to gather her up in his arms and hold her just asa little girl does a doll, making light of load.
There she lay passive and trembling, with the realization that it wouldbe useless to make any effort to escape.
Almost immediately afterward Grouthead seized the biting, scratching,and clawing Dame Drusilda, whom he dumped in spite of fierce resistanceinto the baby's crib, and when Mandrake and Wolfinger put Violet andDaffodil in after her it was very plain why this particular gift hadbeen selected.
"Yes, and you're not going to get these presents, either," sneeredDragonfel to Titania, who said never a word. "You may call me anInjun-giver, if you like, but I mean to take them back, just the same!"
With Titania helpless in his arms he started toward a rear door, whileafter him came Grouthead and Wolfinger bearing the crib in which DameDrusilda, Violet, and Daffodil rattled about like dried peas in a pod.The others followed slowly and reluctantly in their wake, castinglonging glances backward at the tempting-looking desserts on the table.
The imps, however, did not budge, but continued eating. When Dragonfelcalled out to them in angry tones they sprang up and attempted at thesame time to jam charlotte russe into their gaping mouths.
In their frantic haste they smeared the charlotte or russe, whicheverthe white part is, all over their faces, so that as they hurried afterthe others with occasional frisky somersaults they looked as though theyhad just been lathered by a barber.
Out by the rear all passed into the deserted back-garden where there wasa small iron door locked and bolted from the inside, and with the key,fortunately for their nefarious plans, in the lock.
Through this door Dragonfel and his followers effected their escape withtheir captives, and ran with all possible speed toward the sea-shore.
The galleon tossed upon the lazy swell, not a great distance out, and ina small boat with Snoutpimple and Boundingbore at the oars they rowed toit, and soon were on board.
Then the anchor was weighed, and with all sails filling they set theircourse for Dragonfel's enchanted country, which they reached withoutmishap of any kind.
When they got to their journey's end, and all stood safe upon the shore,the full malignity of Dragonfel was shown.
Realizing that the indomitable Brownies would not relinquish Titaniawithout a struggle, but would follow as quickly as they could to wresther if possible from him, he ordered Vulcan's imps to call upon theirmaster to impede them with a storm.
The imps thereupon cast balls of fire into the air, and, even asall bent their steps toward the palace, the enchanter noted withconsiderable satisfaction quite a change in the temperature. Clouds werealready beginning to form on the horizon, and there came the distantrumble of continuous thunder.
While they stood just outside the massive doors they heard the sounds ofwhat appeared to be a violent altercation from within. In an agitatedmanner, as though he feared the worst, Dragonfel quickly threw themopen, and was greatly relieved to see the Demon Usher and Red Spiritengaged in a friendly game of checkers.
"You cheated!" the Red Spirit accused hotly. "You jumped three of my menwhen you should have only jumped two!"
"Stop it!" snarled Dragonfel at them. "You don't know how to playcheckers, anyhow!"
They sprang in consternation to their feet, upsetting the board, andcausing the checkers to roll all over the floor.
While the Red Spirit stood gloating over the success of a venture inwhich he had played a modest part, the Demon Usher half skipped, halfflew, to the throne, and with a display of much enthusiasm began dustingoff the seat with a cloth.
With swaggering stride Dragonfel went to the throne, and threw himselfin it, while Queen Titania, Dame Drusilda, Violet, and Daffodil all camerunning toward him.
"Oh, sir," cried Dame Drusilda, very much distressed, "why have youbrought us poor, defenseless girls here?"
"Us, my venerable fairy!" said Dragonfel, most insultingly.
"Venerable!" repeated Dame Drusilda. "Oh, you nasty man!"
"How do you keep your age?" he sneered.
"Easy enough," she replied indignantly. "I never give it away."
As she spoke she made for him as though she meant to scratch his eyesout, but Queen Titania pulled her back.
"Don't touch him, Dame Drusilda!" she cried, and then turned pleadinglyto Dragonfel. "Why have you made me a prisoner, and carried me awayfrom home in this way?"
"To prevent your marriage to the Brownie prince," he said coldly.
"But we love each other, and would be so happy," she said, while tearsfilled her pretty eyes. "Why do you oppose the marriage?"
"Because if this marriage were to take place," he said, with an uglyfrown, "it would make you all so powerful as to result in my undoing."
"You fear," she said reprovingly, "that we will frustrate all yourwicked plans."
"It must not, shall not be!" was his decided response. "The Brownies andfairies have long been my enemies."
"If you did good," she reminded, gently, "we would be your friends. Tellme, must I stay here always?"
"Yes, always!" he snapped out. "The sooner you forget your Brownieprince the better. You shall never see him again."
Then Titania showed her spirit.
"Oh, yes, I shall!" she contradicted. "The Brownies will rescue us!"
"Bah!" he said contemptuously. "Those poor, weak creatures of the night?They could not do it."
"The Brownies can do anything," she said, with perfect trust andconfidence.
"My pretty pet," said Dame Drusilda, "you waste words with him. Let usask some of these other creatures to help us. Maybe they are not as badas their master."
So she coquettishly sidled up to Grouthead, Boundingbore, Mandrake,Wolfinger, and Snoutpimple who stood near by in a highly interestedgroup. But before she could say even a word Grouthead gathered her up inhis arms, and held her out in the air, while in her fright she keptkicking the turned-in toes of her ti
ny shoes together.
"Don't be alarmed, my dear," he croaked, in tones that were meant to bereassuring. "There's a heart here that beats for you, and you alone!"
"Where's the heart?" she gasped.
"In this troubled breast," he roared. "I've half a mind to marry you."
"Put me down!" she screamed. "I wouldn't marry anyone with half a mind!"
Dragonfel rose, and stamped his foot angrily, at which silent rebukeGrouthead set Dame Drusilda hastily down. She gave a sigh of greatrelief, and, gathering up her skirts, flew toward the enchanter.
"Oh, sir," she implored, "can nothing move you?"
"Yes," he said, in sneering tones, "a ton of dynamite! You are a pippin,but you withered on the stem!"
"You villain!" she screamed, shaking a tiny clenched fist at him. "Icould annihilate you for that; you deserve worse!"
And she made for him again, but the tactful Violet and Daffodil graspedeach of her arms, and held her back.
Dragonfel grinned most provokingly, and his myrmidons fairly shook withglee, while the Demon Usher cackled his exultation, and poked the RedSpirit on his elastic ribs.
Titania took a little spider-web affair of a handkerchief from herbodice, for her eyes threatened to fill again.
Noting the coming tears, the wicked enchanter hastened to say, in tonesthat were meant to be particularly comforting:
"No harm shall befall you. When you have a wish you have but to nameit."
"I have one now," spoke up Titania quickly.
"So have I," added Dame Drusilda.
"I'll hear yours later," said Dragonfel to the latter gruffly, and thenturned to Titania with what he thought was a most winning smile. "Whatis yours?"
"I want my Brownie prince!"
"Didn't I tell you you were never going to see him again?" said theenchanter, in disgust. "Ask me something else, and make it as hard asyou can."
But Titania had no other wish, and Dame Drusilda was given noopportunity to make hers known.
The days dragged slowly by, and, though Dragonfel was not actually roughin the treatment of his captives, he still was most unkind in deprivingthem of the liberty for which they continually sighed. They were watchedand spied upon continually, so there was little or no chance for escape.
He endeavored to provide amusements for which they had no heart, and wasa sorry host at best. In his crude efforts to entertain them he welcomedall ideas for sports and diversions, so when on one occasion they wereall together, and his prisoners seemed unusually depressed, he sat uponhis throne knitting his brows in trying to think of something that mightcheer them up a bit.
In the midst of his unsuccessful cogitations the Demon Usher halfskipped, half flew, to him, and prostrated himself at his feet.
"Kind master!" he cried, in a flutter of excitement.
"What is it?" asked Dragonfel.
"A band of wandering minstrels outside humbly crave permission to playbefore you."
"What, another?" said Dragonfel. "Show them in!"
The words he used were hospitable enough, but the tone of his voiceboded little good for the daring musicians.
The Brownies and Prince Florimel; Or, Brownieland, Fairyland, and Demonland Page 13
