So that’s how they did it, Marabel thought.
The king started to speak, but his sister interrupted him.
“It won’t be easy,” she warned. “It took a thousand years for things to get so far out of balance between our two lands. It might take some time for everything to be set right again when we’re reunited.”
“And maybe…” Marabel started, but she hesitated. She didn’t want to go too far, but while he was listening, she wanted to say it. “Maybe we can make our own destinies, Father. Maybe there isn’t just one Chosen One—we’re all the Chosen One in our own lives.”
This time, the king didn’t even try to answer.
“Let’s leave him for a while,” Marabel whispered to her aunt. “This isn’t the kind of thing you can change your mind about in a minute.”
Mab nodded and turned to her brother. “You know where to find me.”
The pink light of dawn was beginning to come through the windows when Mab walked Marabel back to her room. Marabel was about to curtsey to her aunt but on an impulse threw her arms around her instead. “Thank you,” she whispered. “Thank you for taking me seriously, and especially for making my father listen.”
Her aunt patted her back as she returned the hug. “Get some sleep,” she said. “I’ll come find you in the morning, and over breakfast you can ask me anything you like about your mother. I’d love to tell you about her.”
And on that, they parted.
he next night, at the auspicious hour of thirteen minutes past thirteen o’clock, Marabel and Marco joined the rest of the royal family on the balcony to the cheers of the people gathered below. Hundreds of flaming torches illuminated the courtyard almost as bright as day.
The crowd was so large that it spilled through the gate, onto the drawbridge, and into the yard beyond. Most of them were Magikians, but the few soldiers from Mab’s army who remained in Magikos, both human and magical, were there, too. Humans and magical beings mostly stayed separate, although there was already a little mingling. “Give them time,” Lucius had said to Marabel. “Change is hard for some.”
In front of King Matthew was an elf-o-prompter loaded with the scroll containing his speech. An elf stood next to it, ready to turn the handle and unroll the scroll.
“My people!” the king began. The elf made a quarter turn. “My sister Mab has returned to Magikos after a long, er, vacation on the other side of the Wall. I am pleased to say that she has agreed to share with me the responsibility of ruling the United Kingdom of Magikos, bringing the Barrens back into the kingdom. We will rule as equals from this day forth. It is our hope that this healing will solve problems on both sides of the Wall. Magical beings in the Barrens have become restless and harmful, while magical beings have appeared on our side, as if there is an imbalance that magic itself is trying to correct.”
Murmurs arose from the crowd and the elf finally stopped cranking the elf-o-prompter. He mopped his tiny brow.
“Further,” King Matthew went on, “there will be a change in how succession to the throne is handled in Magikos. For the sake of the kingdom—”
“And to keep his big sister from beating him up,” Marco whispered to Marabel. She choked back a laugh.
“—we declare that Prince Marco and Princess Marabel will co-rule the United Kingdom of Magikos after us.”
The king lifted his eyes from the elf-o-prompter and spoke from his heart. “My dear people, the Book says, ‘For, lo! When the Chosen One is recognized, what was broken shall be repaired and harmony shall rule o’er the land. The Chosen One’s valor will turn a great threat away from the kingdom and all shall rejoice.’
“Only now, dear subjects, do I know what those words mean. Perhaps the Book is not as infallible as we have all thought, but I hope we can agree that it’s correct when it says that healing is better than remaining enemies. Magikos was broken into two pieces a thousand years ago, and now it must be made whole. What do you say, Magikians? Are you with me in reuniting the broken kingdom?”
Silence from the crowd. Then a chorus of cheers rose from below. “Long live the king and queen!” some shouted, and others cried, “Welcome home, Mab! We’ve missed you!” Still others shouted, “United Kingdom of Magikos forever!” Marabel made out a few calls of, “You go, Mab girl!”
The king broke out in a smile that showed the same relief that Marabel was feeling in her heart. All the members of the royal family, even little Maria, took turns waving to the crowd. When the people finally stopped cheering and turned to the refreshments and entertainment that had been provided, the royal family went down the stairs together.
“Well!” Queen Maggie said. “I don’t think it could have gone any better.”
It really was perfect, Marabel thought. Marco was safely home, and she and Ellie and Floriano had had an adventure that people were already writing ballads about. Her father had overcome his pride and stubbornness, and had done the right thing for his country. Lucius, having revealed his true nature to the king, was finally permitted to teach her to fence.
Nothing could go wrong now.
A thrennight later, the long-postponed birthday celebration finally took place. Much less fanfare was planned than for the first attempt. The king and queen had invited only a few guests—“Just some of our closest friends, dear,” Queen Maggie had assured Marabel. Marabel and Marco would sit with Floriano, Ellie, and even Cornelius, despite Queen Maggie’s worry about how much an ogre would eat. Mab would be an honored guest. (Veneficus had not received an invitation. It was dangerous to slight a wizard in this way, but Queen Maggie refused to allow him anywhere near her family.)
Poppy carried Maria down the steps, and Ellie held Maisie’s hand. Malcolm clutched the banister and refused all offers of help. “I’m a big boy!” he proclaimed.
When Marabel entered the banquet hall, she saw, to her dismay, that Ginevra was there, seated next to Marco.
“Are you surprised?” Queen Maggie asked anxiously. “I noticed you talking with her at the birthday party and I thought you would be happy to have her back. Many of the princesses’ parents wouldn’t let them come, after what happened last time, but Ginevra apparently insisted on being here. She must be a good friend to you!”
Marabel didn’t want to hurt her stepmother’s feelings, so she said as graciously as she could, “How nice of you to notice. Thank you, Maggie.”
The queen smiled with obvious relief. “We decided not to be so grand this time, but to have lots of music and fun activities instead. Your father hired some of those elves—you know, the ones who are so clever at making pictures? And we have—”
A scream interrupted the queen. Everyone looked at Ginevra, who had leaped up and knocked over her chair. Ginevra pointed a trembling finger at the magic detector, where Cornelius stood with his arms stretched wide, while one of the guards ran a wand around him. They were being extra cautious under General Goblin’s new regulations.
“What’s that thing?” Ginevra squawked. “You’re not letting it in, are you?”
White-hot anger ran up Marabel’s back and she kept her voice calm only with difficulty. “That is our friend Cornelius. He is an honored guest at this party.”
“But he looks like an ogre!”
“He is an ogre,” Marabel said, “and a friend to Magikos. Cornelius!” She waved him over. “I think this is your chair.” She pointed at the only seat in the room large enough to accommodate him. “And, Ellie, this is yours, next to mine.”
“Many thanks, gracious princess,” Cornelius said. He bowed to Ginevra. “I extend my sincere apologies for having affrighted you, my lady.”
Ginevra managed to scrape together a little of her usual self-possession. “I wasn’t frightened,” she said haughtily without looking at him. “I was startled, that’s all. I’ve never seen a—one of them before.” She sat back down, and Cornelius settled into his seat, which, Marabel was amused to notice, was straight across from Ginevra’s.
“So I hear you had…” Gi
nevra paused as though looking for the right word. She finished, “An adventure.”
Marabel nodded.
“Everyone’s talking about it,” Ginevra said.
Marabel thought, It must upset Ginevra to hear people talking about something other than her.
“It doesn’t sound like a very princessy thing to do,” Ginevra went on.
“It doesn’t?” Marabel pretended she was surprised to hear her say that.
“Oh no,” Ginevra said. “Adventures mean consorting with all sorts of… people.” She looked at Ellie, who was taking a sip of bluefruit juice, and then at Cornelius, who had unfolded his napkin and laid it neatly on his lap. “Sleeping out in the open. Using a weapon.” She shook her head in disapproval. “Not what my family considers appropriate behavior. Of course, things are different in your kingdom.” She looked pointedly at Malcolm, who was raising a fuss about something, and Queen Maggie, who was trying to calm him down.
The musicians played a lively tune while servants hurried around with dishes and laid them in front of the diners. Ginevra wrinkled her nose and picked at the food as though it was spoiled, but Marabel ate everything in front of her. It was delicious.
Two elves were at the next table. Explosions of laughter arose from the guests as the small creatures worked their modest magic to create instant portraits.
“Ooh!” Ginevra exclaimed. “I want to take an elfie with the ogre! Nobody will believe I had dinner with an Evil unless I show them.”
Marabel felt an angry response welling up in her, but before she exploded, Floriano trotted up to the table. “Sorry I’m late,” he said. “That stupid donkey—”
“Is this the talking unicorn?” Ginevra squealed.
“Floriano, at your service.” He bowed gracefully and took his place next to her. Ginevra stared as he ate his salad as tidily as any human. “Ah, that’s better,” he said. He glanced at Ginevra.
Please don’t lay your head on her lap, Marabel begged him silently. Even though that was the usual unicorn behavior, the fussy Ginevra would be sure to object. Luckily, at that moment Ellie asked Floriano a question. The unicorn turned his attention to the other side of the table, where Ellie and Marco were trying to remember something about Hotshot’s new cave.
Ginevra reached into her pocket. “Oh, I almost forgot!” She handed Marabel a small package wrapped in red-and-silver silk, her country’s royal colors. “Happy birthday from all of us in the Kingdom of Norumbega.”
A present? From Ginevra? Maybe Ginevra wasn’t so bad. Maybe she wasn’t jealous of the attention that Marabel was receiving from across the known world, after all. And maybe she didn’t know how to be nice but was trying.
“Please open it now,” Ginevra said. “I think it’s something you really need. I hope you like it!”
Flushing with pleasure, Marabel untied the string and found a glass bottle that fit in the palm of her hand. A glowing liquid swirled inside it, and fancy letters on the label read BEAUTY POTION.
“What’s that for?” Ellie asked.
Ginevra ignored her and addressed Marabel. “Surely you aren’t happy with the way you look.” Ginevra patted her own glossy black curls as she eyed Marabel’s hair, which, up until now, Marabel had thought looked quite nice. Marabel gazed at the bottle, the label hard to read through the tears of hurt and anger swimming in her eyes.
“It doesn’t work if someone else puts it on you. You have to do it yourself,” Ginevra went on. “It will spread through your whole body and make you beautiful. Or at least pretty. It depends on how much improvement is necessary.”
Wordlessly, Marabel handed the bottle back to Ginevra, who looked astonished. “Why, don’t you want to be pretty?” Ginevra asked.
Before Marabel could think of an answer, Floriano laid his blue head on Ginevra’s lap. His horn bumped her wrist, and the small bottle flew out of the princess’s open hand. Its top popped off, and the liquid splashed all over her.
“Aieeee!” Ginevra screamed, jumping up from her seat. “You stupid unicorn! You’re as big an Evil as that ogre!”
Why was Ginevra so upset? Marabel wondered. Why would she object to a little more accidental beauty?
Then Ginevra’s nose widened, and her whole face pushed forward. She stared at her hands as her fingers fused together, and then split into dainty forked hooves.
“What’s happening to her?” Marco cried, and Ellie drew back, shock on her face.
“Help!” Ginevra cried as people crowded around her, gasping and murmuring. “Help me! Help meeeee! Eeeeee!” With a final squeal, she dropped down on all fours, and to everyone’s astonishment, where the princess of Norumbega once stood, there now was the prettiest pink-and-black pig, a red gown trailing behind her, a crown sliding off her cute little head. She squealed and ran around furiously. She bit ankles and stamped on toes with her sharp hooves. The guests jumped out of her way, which seemed to enrage her even more.
“Whatever happened here?” the king demanded.
Marabel explained rapidly. Her father put his hand over his mouth, but Marabel could tell he was smiling by the way his eyes crinkled.
Mab sniffed the empty bottle. “Oh, I know this potion,” she said. “Children in my kingdom use it to play tricks on one another. If she just got a drop or two on her, the spell will wear off in a day.”
“It was the whole bottle,” Marco said.
“It will take some time, then.” Mab’s lips twitched. The squealing pig ran after some fleeing guests and skidded on the polished stone floor. “How did it get on her?”
“She…” Marabel paused, and then made up her mind. “It was an accident. She was holding it when it spilled, so I guess that counted as putting it on herself. I’m sure she didn’t mean to give me a birthday present that would turn me into a pig. She thought it was a beauty potion. The labels must have gotten mixed up.”
Her father eyed the pig doubtfully. “Well, she’ll have to stay in the barn until she turns back into a princess. I’ll tell her parents what happened, and when she’s back to her normal self, they can send a swan to take her home.”
The pig froze, a look of horror on her face. Lucius picked her up, saluted the king, flashed a grin at Marabel, and left with the wriggling, squealing animal under his arm.
Maggie turned to the musicians. “Play something happy, will you?” she asked, and they struck up a lively tune. Cornelius caught Marabel’s hand and pulled her onto the dance floor. Ellie ran to join them, as did Floriano. They showed everyone how to dance in a circle the way they had done at Cornelius’s village. Marco and Marabel joined hands and danced and danced.
Lucius was right, she thought as she twirled. The important thing is what I know in my own heart. And what I know is that I’m capable of great things. She couldn’t wait to find out what they would be.
Her father and Aunt Mab would rule the kingdom together, and, one day, if she and Marco proved their worth, the two of them would sit side by side on matching thrones and be the best king and queen of the United Kingdom of Magikos that they could be.
Yes, everything was perfect now. Her troubles were over. From now on, Princess Marabel of Magikos would live happily ever after.
That is, unless Princess Ginevra of Norumbega had something to say about it.
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Acknowledgments
Anyone who says that writing is a solitary occupation never had the pleasure of working with the team that created Marabel! This book feels like a real collaboration.
First, and always, my deepest gratitude to my agent, Lara Perkins, for her creativity, professional insight, and good cheer throughout t
he process.
Many thanks to the Alloy team: Annie Stone, Joelle Hobeika, Hayley Wagreich, Les Morgenstein, Josh Bank, and Sara Shandler. Every writer I know who has worked with Alloy told me that I’d have a great time with them and learn a lot—right on both counts! I’m also fortunate to have art director Mallory Griggs and managing editor Romy Golan steering the ship.
Many thanks are due to the Little, Brown team, especially Lisa Yoskowitz and her assistant, Hallie Tibbetts, and Allison Moore, who have fine-tuned the story and encouraged me to dig deeper. Thanks also to Marcie Lawrence, Sasha Illingworth, Emilie Polster, Jennifer McClelland-Smith, Kristina Pisciotta, Elisabeth Ferrari, Adrian Palacios, Victoria Stapleton, and Jenny Choy, and to Sara Gianassi for her wonderful illustrations.
Grateful thanks to the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators for the education and support over the years.
A big thank-you to the members of my critique group (Shirley Amitrano, Mary Buckner, Candie Moonshower, Carol Stice, and Cheryl Zach), who listened to the entire first draft and then some, and who laughed in all the right places and have thoughtful and important feedback.
As always, thanks and love to Greg.
Marabel and the Book of Fate Page 19
