The Last Stand: The Deleted Scenes
Seven
(From Chapter Fifteen)
Algernon and Gareth materialised in the entrance hall just as a piercing scream of pain rang through the castle. There could be no doubt that it had come from Della. The two men began to follow the sound but before they could reach its source, they heard running footsteps coming in the opposite direction, and stopped so as to avoid a head on collision with whoever was careening along the landing. Algernon adjusted his glasses and saw that the figure loping along towards them was Egbert, who was as white as a sheet, his eyes wide with fear.
This reaction, Algernon thought, was somewhat understandable given that his daughter was the one making the pained noises. It would be distressing for any father to hear such screams.
"Algernon?" Egbert asked in disbelief, slowing to a halt as he recognised his friend. "Gareth? How did you get in here?"
"How do you mean?" Algernon asked. "We just… appeared. Shouldn't we have?"
"I…" Egbert opened his mouth as if he was about to explain something, but then he seemed to think better of it and closed it again.
"How's Della?" asked Gareth anxiously. "Where is she?"
"She's in Constance's room," said Egbert weakly. "And she's… loud." He put a hand instinctively to his right ear and winced. Algernon had to suppress a smile; Della was normally a very soft-spoken soul.
Gareth broke away from the wizards and pegged it down the corridor towards his wife.
"Gareth!" Egbert called after him. "Gareth, I really don't think that's a good idea. Della's cursing the entire population with a Y chromosome at the moment…"
But the warning had come too late. Gareth had entered Constance's room. If Algernon had thought that Della's screams of pain had been loud before, it was nothing compared to the volume that her enraged voice now reached.
"GARETH ARCHIBALD JONES, YOU ARE NEVER TOUCHING ME AGAIN! YOU ARE NEVER EVEN GOING TO LOOK AT ME WITH A SUGGESTIVELY RAISED EYEBROW!"
"Egbert," said Algernon, "only your daughter could be so eloquent in such circumstances."
"I know," said Egbert weakly, his expression undecided between fear and awe. "I'm worried about her Algy."
"I know you are. But it will all turn out for the best. She's a strong one Della, she'll get through this."
"It's not that." Egbert looked his friend in the eye. "Gareth's middle name isn't Archibald."
Well, what can I say? *Grins.* I've just noticed how many scenes have come from fifteen… I had fun writing that chapter. I promise that this one is the last time we venture into the world of Algernon's mishaps though.
