Do You Believe In Magic:
So, I only got one review but I just really love the four musketeers (I really hope they don't kill Eli off!) and so I wanted to at least put up one more chapter to see if people would read this….also should I change the title or keep it as is?
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"Will let the king explain," the guard spoke as his counterpart moved out of the room.
"King?" Katie said looking at the guard, "last time I checked this wasn't a monarchy?"
Placing a hand on his girlfriend's shoulder Jake whispered toward his girlfriend's direction.
"I don't think we're in Kansas anymore Dorothy."
Katie just shot her boyfriend a glare as Eli took a step toward the guard. He knew there was something un kosher about this whole situation. Fourth Kingdom? King? He wanted answers and he wanted them now.
"I'm sure your so called KING will be able to explain," Eli said, "but it wouldn't kill you to give us a little more information. I mean just look at them."
Motioning toward Clare and Katie who were nervously standing by Jake.
"They are scared to death, for their own piece of mind…."
The guard looked toward the girls and let out a sigh. He never liked seeing damsels in distress and so he simply nodded.
"I can't tell you the whole story, there are things best coming from King Wendell's own lips but what I can divulge is that you're in the West Wing of the Palace of the Fourth Kingdom in the mirror room once used by the Wicked Queen."
"Wicked Queen," Eli said, "okay."
The guard just nodded avoiding the sarcastic tone in Eli's voice as he went on.
"You came through the traveling mirror which is a rare feat as it normally can't be turned on from the outside…but then again…"
Pausing the eyed Jake and Eli
"Then again what?" Jake asked as his eyes met the guards.
"Nothing," the guard said knowing he said too much, "anyway the king hopefully will want to see you soon and then he can tell.
"You keep saying Fourth Kingdom?" Katie said, "This means there are more here right."
"Nine to be exact, well Ten if you include your world which is as much a fairytale here as our world may seem to you four."
The teens let the kings words sink in a bit as they tried to think of more questions to make the guard crack.
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"Sir Marcus," King Wendell White called out as he watched one of his most trusted guards enter his throne room where he'd been sitting beside his trusted adviser and great friend Tony Lewis, "did you and Edger find out what the commotion was about? Why it sounded as if someone or something activated one of the queens mirrors?"
Marcus nodded.
"I did your highness."
Wendell nodded as he let out a breath.
"And…"
"And someone….well multiple someones came through the traveling mirror."
"Impossible, it's not accessible unless turned on from this end."
Marcus nodded.
"Impossible but not improvable," he spoke thinking of the stories he'd heard long ago, "not when the person coming through the mirror was from the Nine Kingdoms to begin with….the Fourth to be exact."
Marcus's eyes met with the King who had now began to look as flustered as his guard had looked the first moment he noticed just who had crossed over.
"William?" The King spoke not knowing the last time that he thought about the son he regrettably banished from the kingdoms what felt like a lifetime ago. The son who was the heir to the House of White.
Moving his gaze from the king to the man sitting beside him.
"Tony Junior too, as well as two young maidens."
Tony looked from the guard to the king trying to process what he'd just heard. His grandson…back. It had pained Virginia that she'd not been able to have another child with Wolf after TJ had left and he knew that once his daughter and son in law came back from their monthly trek to their cabin just outside of the palace grounds they'd be ecstatic to see him.
"Would you like for me to tell Edger to send them in?" Marcus asked, "Or should we send them back on their merry way through the mirror?"
Wendell thought for not even a second before saying.
"Bring them here at once."
Marcus nodded walking out of the room as the two older men looked at one another.
"It's been seventeen years Anthony; I'd all but lost hope that they'd actually find their way back here."
"I know," Tony said with a nod, "anyway I suspect that we're done talking business now."
The king nodded as he watched the entry way for Marcus to return.
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The foursome was still trying to decipher what this man was talking about. He'd mentioned Evil Queens and Fairy Tales however it all just seemed one big jumble to them.
"So, do you have a name or are you going to continue to be cryptic and make us guess," Jake asked as they were still trying to make him crack.
"I'm thinking it's something like Butch or Spike," Eli said.
"Edgar," Edgar said, "Sir Edger, one of King Wendell's most trusted guards."
The teens nodded as the other man reappeared.
"So Marcus," Edgar said, "what did the King say?"
Looking from his partner to the teens, Marcus made a sweeping motion with his arms as to silently answer 'come with me'.
The teens were lead out of the room they'd been in and down a hall admiring the ornate decorations and stunning portraits that lined the walls. One portrait of a dark haired women caught their eyes as they read the name that was written below on a gold plated plaque.
'Snow White'
"Snow White," Clare whispered, "this is some sort of mad house Eli."
"Well, you're the one who fell through the looking glass first Alice," he whispered as Clare gave him an annoyed glare before soon they stopped in a massive open space where in a pair of thrones sat two men. One looked to be in his 50's or 60's dressed in a casual suit while the other man who looked to be in his 30's or 40's was dressed in a regal style causing the teens to bow before him out of respect for he must have been the King.
As they stood up they looked as the King directly locked eyes with Jake.
Jake noticed the way the king looked at him, the same way that the guards looked at him before they began to freak out and whisper something about son's returning. This had to be about him he just knew it and so he grabbed hold of Katie's hand and squeezed it tight before being the first of the foursome to speak up to the king.
"Edger said you'd give us answers."
Edger looked at the king as he flashed a look as to say 'who me' before the King nodded in his son's direction.
"And you shall receive them." Pausing, he didn't know how much the teens knew and so he decided it'd be best to start with introductions.
"My name is King Wendell White of the Fourth Kingdom. Grandson of the great Queen Snow White whom I'm sure you've heard of in your world."
Clare gently slugged Eli as if to say 'see I wasn't loony' before turning back to the king while Katie and Jake just looked on with a mix of wonderment and confusion in their eyes before the King motioned to Tony.
"And this is my trusted advisor and friend Anthony Lewis; he's from your world so he knows firsthand the culture shock you're going through."
Tony nodded before the king continued.
"Anyway I'm sure you're wondering why you were sent here?"
"Sent here?" Katie said, "You mean there is a reason why we're here."
"Quite Miss…."
"Katie Matlin your majesty," Katie said giving the king another curtsy out of respect, "and this is my boyfriend Jake Martin, his step sister Clare Edwards and her boyfriend Eli Goldsworthy."
At the mention of the boy's names the king shook his head.
"The reason why you're here Miss Matlin is that you're boyfriend and Mr. Goldsworthy are not who they appear to be."
"And what do you mean by that?" Eli asked snapping at the King before realizing his raised voice, "I'm sorry your majesty."
Wendell nodded that he accepted the apology and looked at the dark haired boy.
"Well, you're real name is Anthony Lewis Junior, my nephew and grandson to this man over here."
Eli looked over toward Tony squinting as he tried to find some form of resemblance while the king went on and turned toward Jake.
"And you are William White, my son."
Looking from the king to Katie then back to the king, Jake shook his head.
"Me? A Prince?"
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TBC