“Where is the witch?” Impatient and unable to keep silent any longer, Mato suddenly turned on Wals,
“What?” Wals spun to face Mato, his sword halfway out of the sheath again. “Where? Do you see her?”
Mato held up a hand to stop him. “No.” With an effort, he managed to keep the anger and worry out of his voice. He pointed all around them. “Which way her tipi?”
Wals shook his head at the demand. “No, we aren’t ready yet.”
Eyes narrowed in anger, Mato repeated his question without the use any words.
Recognizing the same stubborn trait that was in Wolf, Wals knew it would be better for both of them to just give Mato what he wanted. Reluctantly, he pointed off to the north. “That way. A few miles off. Once we get out of the trees, you can usually spot the castle’s location by the nasty storm clouds that always circle her towers.”
Satisfied that this was the same direction from which the summoning howl had come, he now knew where his brother was being held. Mato grunted and, once more, indicated to Wals that he should continue the way they already had been headed.
Relieved that they weren’t headed into a fight so soon, Wals gave a single nod. Turning back to their original course, head down, Wals trudged on as they followed the narrow, shadowed path through the woods.
Back in the same room behind the tavern he had used before, Wals heard a timid knock on his door later that night. Open just a crack, he could see a tall, black-robed figure standing on his sill. Before he could say a word, a swoosh of black fabric pushed the door open and rushed past him into the room and slammed the door shut.
He didn’t even have time to protest before the dark hood was thrown back to reveal beautiful golden hair and happy blue eyes.
“Rose!” Wals gave a glad cry, his arms wide open to welcome her.
As she embraced him, she spied the silent warrior crouched in a dark corner, knife in hand and ready for attack. “Mato?” With a surprised gasp, she pulled away from Wals. “Is it really you? I’m so happy to see you! Oh.” She broke off once he recognized who she was and put his blade back in its sheath. “Can he understand me?” Looking back over her shoulder, she whispered loudly to Wals—who wasn’t very happy to have his reunion interrupted.
“Hau wiya.” Mato gave her a nod in greeting. Seeing her confused expression, he had a half-smile on his face as he came fully into the dim candlelight that illuminated the room. “Yes, I understand. Part.”
There was some unusual movement around her hair and a blue, pointed hat peeked out from under the waves of gold. “All clear, dear?”
“Yes, Merri. You can come out. We’re all friends here.”
Mato’s eyes opened wide in surprise as the blue Fairy unexpectedly popped full size into view, quickly followed by her two companions. Wals’ small room was now suddenly quite full.
Rose introduced her friends to the stunned, silent warrior.
Seeing the stunned, unbelieving expression on his face, the red Fairy, Fauna, tried to put him at ease. “Taŋyáŋ yahí” Welcome.
That simple greeting started a lively discussion amongst the three fairies. “Why, Fauna! I didn’t know you could speak other languages!”
The red Fairy gave a loud huff. “Well, why couldn’t I?”
“That sounded just lovely, dear. What did you say?” Flora wanted to know.
“Do you even know what you said?” Merriweather indicated the still-silent warrior. “Just look at him! You might have insulted him, for all we know!”
“I did not insult anyone! I told him he was welcome.”
“What a nice thing to do, Fauna. Could you teach me some words, too?” Flora gave a hopeful smile, her eyes wide and her hands clasped eagerly in front of her. “What else do you know? Say something else to him!”
“I…I just learned that one phrase so far for the wolf.” The red Fairy started to stammer, all the time wishing Flora hadn’t asked that. She had been so proud of herself and that took some of the wind out of her sail.
“Ha! I knew it!” Merriweather had a wide, triumphant grin on her round face. “You don’t know what you’re saying!”
Fauna pointed at the confused Mato who took an involuntary step backward from her finger. “Does he look insulted? No, he does not!”
The three humans in the room looked back and forth in silence as if watching an odd three-player tennis game.
Remembering the fiasco with her dress when she had turned sixteen, Rose decided she had better step in before their wands were pulled out and the trouble really started. “Now, Fauna, I think that was just lovely! I’m sure Mato appreciated it very much. You do know who he is, don’t you?”
With one last contemptuous look at her two companions, Fauna huffed as she folded her arms over her bosom, “Of course I do. He is brother to the wolf. That’s why I said what I said to him. I am assuming he is here to help with the problem.”
“Problem?” Rose repeated, her eyebrows narrowing in suspicion when she realized that something was being kept from her—again. “I haven’t been told of any problem. What’s wrong, Wals?” She turned back to him, figuring—correctly—that she would get more out of him than out of her three stubborn companions.
“Oh, I thought you knew and that’s why you were here.”
Her worried expression changed into an unexpected, lovely smile, one tinted with shyness that so many others were there to witness it. “I came because I haven’t heard from you in a quite a while and because I was worried about how you were getting on.”
Knowing now was not the time to take her into his arms for a kiss—especially with her three watchful chaperones so near at hand and glaring at him as if they knew his intentions—Wals had to settle on giving her hand a tender squeeze.
“So, how does Wolf’s brother come to be here?” Once all the tempers had been settled and the humans were finally seated in the few chairs and onto the plank floor, Rose smiled an encouragement at Wals. “The last time I saw Mato was when we were living in his village. What is this problem you mentioned? Did something happen?” The fairies, after they provided their own comfortable seating, whipped up some refreshments for everyone. They were amused by the close scrutiny Mato gave the dainty, rose-covered china cup that suddenly appeared in front of him.
Mato indicated for Wals to take over the explanation as he tried another teacake from the tiered plate suspended in midair next to the teapot. He had decided early on—agreeing with his father’s advice—to just accept anything that happened as long as everyone else seemed to think it was normal. He had no way of knowing if three brightly-dressed magical beings were considered normal in this time period or not. As they made a nice cup of tea, he let the fact that they hovered a few feet off the ground in plush chairs go without comment.
“You know what’s going on, don’t you.” Wals turned to Fauna, the apparent leader of the three fairies.
After a quick glance at the others, who nodded for her to speak for all of them, she cleared her throat. “Yes, we do. We keep a close watch on the Evil One now that she is back.” She sadly shook her head. “We think it’s just tragic. You did the right thing in bringing him.” She motioned at Mato with her rounded chin.
“Will someone please tell me what is going on? Why is Mato here?” Rose angrily pushed up from her chair, hands on her hips as she regally stared at Wals, silently commanding him to speak.
He took a deep breath before he continued. “Okay, okay…don’t go all princess on me. Gosh, where do I start? Well, it was Wolf himself who asked me to bring his brother here. He opened the whirlpool and sent me through.”
The sharp blue eyes narrowed as she listened. “Why did you need to go back and why didn’t he go with you? I well know Mato isn’t from your time. You would have had to go through another portal. Without Wolf’s help, I don’t understand how this could have worked or why it was necessary.”
“Sit down, dear.” Kindly Flora took the young woman by the hand and led her back to her c
hair. “You’ll want to be sitting when you hear.”
At the encouraging nods, Rose retook her seat and looked expectantly at Wals.
“I don’t know how exactly it happened,” Wals started, “but the evil fairy, Nimue, as she is now calling herself again, captured Wolf…and put him under some kind of spell.” He stopped when Rose gave a startled gasp.
“That was the woman who was with Merlin! The one we met, right? I know the ballad that’s still being sung about her! So that’s who it is inside the Dark Castle now. I thought there something was off about her, but nobody else seemed to notice.” Her hand came up to her lips as she thought about her friend. “Oh, dear. Poor Wolf.”
Wals nodded at everything she stated. “Wolf came to me here and had me follow him to our beach where we met.” His mouth suddenly went into an “Oh,” when he thought he might have revealed something he ought not, and glanced over at the fairies.
“We know,” Merri replied flatly, staring accusingly at him. “Her brothers were even less pleased than the King.”
Clearing his throat, he resisted the urge to run his hand around his suddenly-tight collar and went on with his story. “Wolf told me he was supposed to kill me, but, instead he sent me through the whirlpool and said to bring his brother back. He knew Mato would be the only one able to help him.” Here he stopped and looked pointedly at the three fairies. “Well, Mato is the only one Wolf thinks can help him. Are there any others?”
“We can only do so much, Wals, as you know. When the Evil One went after the princess so long ago, we could only protect her, not change the spell. We will do what we can.” Fauna gave him her promise, as the other two fairies solemnly nodded in agreement.
“Oh, Wals! This is terrible! Poor Wolf. This must be killing him.” Rose looked as if she wanted to cry as her hands formed into fists. “We have to help him! How will we get to him?”
Merri looked upward at the ceiling. “Oh, I think he will find us when it is time.”
“She will know we are waiting, too.” Flora looked absolutely miserable. She flew over to the silent warrior to put a kind hand on his shoulder. “You will have to be strong to face your brother.”
Mato nodded that he understood, his dark hand covering hers. “Yes. I know.”
As they continued to talk, Fauna flew over to the men’s weapons and waved her wand over them with the silent hope it might, somehow, be enough to help. “Now we have to wait,” she told them when she returned to her chair. “But, I fear it will come much sooner than we expect. She likes to work that way.”
The discussion had gone as far as it could, so the three fairies went over to talk to Mato, who, in spite of the seriousness of the occasion, was vastly amused by their antics. Rose and Wals took the opportunity to quietly slip out the door. Around at the back of the tavern, they were out of sight of any curious eyes. Her hood securely in place hiding her royal tiara, she quickly embraced Wals. “I wanted to come before, but my brothers kept an even closer watch on me. They hate you, you know,” she told him sadly.
“Yeah, I heard. Is it because I’m not royal and don’t fit in?”
Nodding slowly, the princess confirmed his suspicions. “That, and your connection with the mysterious pendant that they don’t understand. But, there’s something else I need to tell you, Wals.” She paused before she continued. When she took a step back from his warm embrace, the lively sparkle in her eyes had gone out. Whatever it was that she was about to say, it was obvious that it hurt her deeply. When she started to speak again, her voice was very low. “You see, I was promised at birth to Prince Phillip. I...I thought perhaps you were he when you came to rescue me on the Island. And then, when you told me your middle name was Phillip….” She trailed off into a miserable silence, her head slowly shaking side to side, hating what she was about to do—what she had to do.
Not liking where this conversation seemed to be headed, Wals had to know. “Has the prince been found? Last I heard he vanished at the same time you did.”
Rose’s head dipped, her face suddenly hidden by the cloak. He could barely hear her answer. “Yes, the prince is back. He was on a quest to find me. Phillip thought he might find me hidden in a neighboring country. For many years he searched through every town and village, not accepting the fact that I could be gone. It wasn’t until he happened to hear a traveling balladeer sing about my return that he knew to come home.”
“You were gone for a long time, Rose. He must be a lot older than you by now.”
Rose looked up at him now, her blue eyes filled with tears. “True, he should be, but he looks just the same as when I first saw him in the forest.” With a tilt of her head and a small, fond smile, she indicated the three fairies still inside as they chatted with Mato. “That must have been their doing. He was so happy to see me….” She broke off, not wanting to tell him the rest.
“And you? Were you just as happy to see him as well?” Wals asked in a kind voice, a voice that masked the fact that he knew his heart was about to break.
She gave a slight nod of her head. “I’m so sorry, Wals,” she whispered, looking up into his dear face. “All the feelings he and I had for each other came rushing back when he first ran into the throne room. The joy we had felt in the forest when we first met when I was sixteen…. When he awakened me with his kiss…. The completeness we found in each others arms when we danced…. It was as if we had never been apart.” She went into Wals’ arms for a final hug. “I’m so sorry, Wals, I really am.” Her whisper tickled his neck. “I do love you, you know. You rescued me when I needed you the most. I’ll always love you.”
He brought her to arms length and gazed into her beautiful face. “And I’ll always remember my beautiful princess.” Wals managed to give her a look that might have been called a smile. “Just remember this one thing, will you, Rose? You have to live happily ever after. It’s required, you know.”
She wiped a tear from her eye and gave a broken laugh. “Will you be all right?”
No. “Yes.” He had to change the subject while his knees were still able to keep him upright. “I have another mission right now. Mato and I have to save Wolf. Do you think your three friends in there will still help us?”
She glanced toward the room where the friends in question were still entertaining Mato. “I don’t think I could stop them even if I wanted to! They seem to be quite taken with Mato.” She picked up Wals’ limp, cold hand and gave it a kiss. “I have to go, Wals. Phillip and his father, King Hubert, are waiting at the castle. I have a wedding to plan.” She tried to say it lightly, to smile, but her heart was torn. Feeling so badly for Wals, Rose gave him one final, gentle hug. “I won’t ever forget.” She then quickly turned to mount the waiting white horse that impatiently pawed the ground.
Stunned at what had just happened to him, Wals mutely stood there, and stared into the darkness until the sound of the hooves faded away. He barely felt the hand that was suddenly placed on his shoulder.
“It had to be this way, Wals.” Merriweather spoke in a kinder voice than she usually used for him. “Surely you knew that.”
He looked at the blue Fairy and could see there was no bad intent in her eyes, only truth and unexpected compassion. He had to nod. “Yeah, I kinda did. But, I was just hoping I was wrong.”
“You know, they were promised from the day she was born. It’s a good match. He’s twice proven himself to be worthy of our princess.” The hand on his shoulder tightened in sympathy. “You’re a good man, too, Wals, and very brave.”
He gave a small chuckle. “Bet it hurt to admit that.”
“A little,” she admitted, the corner of her mouth turning upward. “You have proved worthy, as well. You took care of our girl when she needed it the most and brought her home safe to us. For that we will be forever grateful. But….” She suddenly stopped speaking to make sure she had his full attention.
Suddenly wary, he asked, “But what?”
“But, you really don’t belong here.” The blue
Fairy gave a tired sigh and held up a hand to stave off his protests. “Now, don’t take that wrong. You know you’re having a hard time of it. We’ve been watching all along and doing what we can to help.”
He rubbed the sword scar on his sore arm. “A little help then would have been appreciated.”
“Those were her men. It had to play as it played.”
After a long moment of silence, Wals had to ask her something that was foremost in his mind. “Will Wolf be all right?”
Merri sighed again and looked toward the Dark Castle. Angry lightning continually flashed all around the uppermost turrets. She was very active. “I certainly hope so, Wals. I certainly hope so. He is lost right now. You and his brother have to help him find himself. You both need to make him remember home and family and love. She took that away from him. They are things she knows nothing about.”
Wals just nodded as the blue Fairy talked. It seemed so daunting to him, regardless of their offer of help. “We will do what we can. We have to.”
She patted his shoulder. “You and the warrior go to sleep now. You will need every ounce of your strength for what is about to come. We’ll keep on the watch through the night.”
Concerned about another matter, he looked toward Rose’s castle. “Don’t you need to follow Rose? Will she be all right? It’s pretty late.”
“Her horse knows the way well and she will ride fast. She was riding astride—a bad habit she picked up in your time,” she chided. “No, she won’t be harmed.” Merri turned to go, but, after a second thought, came back to the man. “I have to tell you this, Wals. It broke her heart to tell you what she did.”
“Mine, too, Merri. Mine, too.”
As Wals returned to his room, Merriweather’s wand appeared in her hands. Humming quietly to herself, the animated stick danced in the air as she motioned in the man’s direction. “You’ll be fine, Wals. You’ll be fine. This is my gift to you for all you’ve done and all you will do.”
He didn’t even feel the blue sparkles as they gently landed and played across his back.
Wolf! Happily Ever After? Page 18
