Chapter 10 The Mad Tea Party or Escape from W(B)itch Mountan
Like she did the day before Clark walked into the main hall and down the passage that led her to the gardens. When she arrived the only other person that was there was Indra. Clark didn't talk to her but simply stood quietly.
"Hello lady Lillabeth." It was Sir Finn who had arrived shortly after her.
"Hello." She said feeling happy that there was some she at least liked in the room.
"How are you doing today?" he asked her. She smiled sweetly and said
"I am well, but I am starting to miss the forest already."
"How unfortunate, how much longer do you plan on staying in the city then. You will not be leaving us too soon I hope." He gave her a charming smile.
"I do not know. It all depends on her majesty's wishes. If she wants me to stay than I shall of course do as she requests. If not, than I shall stay long enough to set my affairs in order and return to my grandfather." Clark noticed Sir Finn frown a little at her reply.
"I will admit that this news is disheartening. I was hoping that you might stay the rest of the month. I thought I might be the gentleman that would show you around." Clark blushed a little at the man's advances.
"Then you had better hope that the Queen would like me to stay." They continued to talk, when the Glass arrived, this time without her companions from the day before. She happily joined in on their conversation. until finally The Red Queen arrived with Bellamy walking quietly, by her side.
"I love the color of your dress today." The Queen told her as she walked by.
"Oh my goodness your majesty I apologize." Clark said when she notice that the Queens voice was a little cold sounding when she had spoken. "I wanted so much to impress you by wearing my favorite dress, I didn't even think that I would insult you by wearing your color, I will go and change immediately." This had been part of Clark's plan for the day she was hoping that the Queen would dismiss her until she was able to change. Of course that would not take up much time so she thought that she might be able to sneak up to the book room and take the White Queen's book. The Red Queen smiled at her looking far more pleased then Clark expected.
"That is quite alright." The Queen started to say. "What you are wearing is a little too dark to be my color, so I will not make you leave this time. Just do not where anything so close again. We would not want to confuse people as to who is the Queen is now would we." The sweetness in her voice hid what Clark suspected was malice.
"Thank you your majesty." She said curtsying to the Monarch. "You are so kind and understanding." Clark sighed internally with disappointment. She would have to wait until later when she saw Raven.
The croquet game was easier to enjoy today now that she was no longer the center of attention. Handling her hedgehog was also easier now that she knew what to expect from it. She was careful not to do too well, she did not want to come so close to beating the Queen two days in a row. She didn't want it to look like she was trying to lose either however soon she came to the conclusion that most of the people who played tried hard not to do too well either. The game lasted only a little longer the one they played the day before, which surprised her since the party was almost half the size of the one the day before.
"Lovely." The Queen cheered. Every one clapped politely and congratulated her on winning the game. She thanked them and told them that she had just been lucky that the Glass had not brought her friends with her. Everyone laughed at the joke and then sat down at the table for tea. Clark carefully hid a smile as she dabbed at her mouth with a napkin, when she saw Raven and Jasper come out both in serving uniforms. The two of them went around the table serving each of the guests except for Clark, who sat quietly pretending to sip from a cup that was filled with tea.
"This is a lovely tea blend." Indra said hardly noticing the yawn that almost escaped her mouth. The Queen nodded her agreement and then continued talking about the plans she was going to make for a grand celebration, in honor of Bellamy coming home.
"That game was unusually tiring." She yawned as she Held up her cup so that it could be filled with more tea. Clark started to grow nervous. This had been the Queens third cup of tea, and none of the people at the table had fallen asleep yet. Raven went to pour the Queens tea, and Clark watched and waited. A few minutes later the conversation had stopped and everyone seemed to be in a tired stupor."
"Please excuse me." Clark said as she rose form her seat. "I have to find the bath room, but I will be back shortly." The Queen turned to look at her with half lidded eyes.
"Of course dear. Just be back soon." Clark curtsied and ran from the table winking at Bellamy as she went straight for the castle doors.
"Go to the first door on the right!" Raven called to her as she followed Clark. Jasper soon came through the door after them carrying with him a pot of tea and a few cups. As Clark opened the door she was met with a grand spiraling stair case which they started climbing immediately.
"Are you sure the Queen won't be able to figure out that you slipped something in her tea." Clark asked panting as they climbed the stairs.
"No. I just had to add a few extra herds to the brewing tea. She will think that it was a bad tea blend." As Raven finished talking they reached the top and entered a large hallway that branched off several times.
"Jasper give the tea to Raven, and go look for the hat." She told him. He passed the tea pot to Raven and went down one of the other hallways. The night before while they were discussing their plan for the day Jasper had explained how he had narrowed down where the Queen had put Bellamy's hat. Clark and Raven continued straight down the hallway until it stopped at another staircase. They followed this pattern, going up staircases, and though hallways until they finally neared the top of the tallest tower.
"You wait here, I will take care of the guards." Raven told her. She took a short moment to straighten out her uniform and then picking up the tea continued up the stairs. "Hello gentlemen, how are you doing today."
"About time you got here I'm parched." Said the gruff voice of one of the guards.
"I'm sorry I was delayed. One of the Queens' newer guests did not know where the bathroom was, and I had to stop and show her the way. The poor thing was wondering the hallways looking in every door." Clark heard the guard's chuckle. There was a little more conversation, as the guards talked to Raven and sipped on their tea, but Clark was pleased to hear them slump to the ground sooner then she expected. "You can come up now." Raven called.
Clark quickly climbed the stairs and joined Raven who was standing beside the two sleeping guards. "The book should be in there. I will keep an eye on them." Raven told her.
"Are you sure?" Clark asked.
"Yes, yes." Raven said waving her arms. "Half the castle might be asleep right now. But we don't want to waste any time. What if they woke up?" Clark to open the door but it stayed shut. She pulled harder and it still did not budge.
"It's locked, where is the key?" Clark asked and Raven shrugged. Clark walked back to the guards and started searching their clothes and pockets. She found a single key strung on a cord around one of the guards neck, the key itself carefully tucked under his armor. Pulling it off the cord Clark went back to the door and unlocked it.
The room beyond the door was nothing like Clark expected. Instead of ornate decorating everything was bare accept for a large and nearly panoramic view of the city and the lands that starched out beyond the walls. In the middle of the room stood a pedestal made of the same White stone that seemed to make up most of the castle. There on the pedestal was the book, bound in White leather, and covered in sliver, and gold filigree. Clark walked into the room and as she did she felt a strange sensation, like walking through spider webs.
"Raven?" She asked as she walked through. "What if there are enchantments on the door?" Raven looked at her but there was no alarm on her face.
"I wouldn't worry too much about it. The Queen will sleep through any warnings that you trip." With Ravens assurance Clark continued into the room, despite her screaming instincts.
When she was finally close enough she reached out for the book and found that hand stopped just a few inches away. She tried reaching for it again, but received the same result. Clark pushed against the unseen wall, and then tried to feel for a place where it was weak. To her shock the area surrounding the book was encased. As she searched a memory from her lesson with Jasper came to mind. Trying to focus, she imagined that there was a place in the invisible barrier that was large enough for the book to pass through.
"I need this book now." She thought to herself, as she closed her eyes focusing on her want as she reached for it. "I need this book." She gasped in surprise as she felt her hand touching the cool leather of the book cover. Moving her had away from the book she felt around the opening. A space was now in the wall very closed to the dimensions she had imagined. Beaming, a new idea formed in her mind. She flung the book open and searched its pages.
"What are you doing?" She heard Raven shout from outside in the hallway. "You're taking too long."
"Just give me some more time!" Clark hollered over her shoulder, as she continued to flip through the pages of the book. "Yes!" she rejoiced as she came upon the last page with writing and found what she had been looking for. There was only one decree that was written there and Clark was determined to do something about it.
"Bellamy Augustus Cerberus Ares Blake is from this moment on bound to the whim and will of Anya Diana Rose Trikru the Red Queen."
Clark looked at the words carefully before placing her hand over them. She thought about how much she wanted to change the binding that was on the page. This time when she closed her eyes she focused on the paper, on the fine fibers that made it and the ink that stained it in order to form the words. She thought about the ink like it was a few days ago. Thick and dark just before it left its stain on the page. In her mind page was still pure, awaiting infinite possibilities. Then the ink returned but this time the words were a little different. "Bellamy Augustus Cerberus Ares Blake will now be bound the whim and will of Clarke Abigale Griffin." She said out loud as she imagined the ink moving on the page beneath her hand. "He is mine, bound to my will, not the Queen's." Clark could just about feel the magic she was trying to work when she was interrupted.
"We have to go now." Raven shouted as she stepped into the room, she stopped in bewilderment to swat at the invisible spider webs that were strung across the room. Clark didn't have a chance to look and see if it worked. Raven had made her way to the center of the room and had taken hold of Clark's arm. Hastily Clark shut the book, and tucked it under her arm, and then went to follow Raven as she made her way out of the room. But now something strange was happening. Gone was the feeling of being tangled in fine spider webs, instead it felt like yards and yards of yarn had been tangled around her. As she walked more and more lengths of it were clinging to her body making movement impossible. "Lillabeth hurry up." Raven shouted at her
"I can't move." Clark yelled at her. She had made it to the half way point but it now seemed like every part of her was tightly secured by the unseen strings. Raven looked quizzically at her for a time before something seemed to register in her mind. "This is how they got him last time. It's the book, there is an enchantment." Raven came back into the room. "Let me take it." Clark relaxed her arm, so Raven could slip the book out of her grasp. As soon as the book was no longer in her possession Clark could move again. Unfortunately after a few steps Raven was restrained. Walking over to Ravens other side she stepped as far away as she could while the book was still in reach and grabbed it from her.
"Now take the book back from me, like were in a relay." She explained. Raven did as Clark said and soon they were moving, though their progress through the room was not as quick as they would have liked it to be.
"Go!" Raven said shoving Clark towards the stairs once they left the Book room. Clark noticed that Raven had stopped, and poured herself some tea from the tea pot on the floor.
"Aren't you coming?" She asked starting to feel a little panicked about having to try and navigate the castle on her own.
"I have to make it look like someone tricked me too. Or the Queen will know that one of the maids did it. I will be the first person singled out." She sat herself down on the wall near the guards. "You have to go. We have already been here for too long. Things won't be pleasant once the Queen wakes and finds you and the book missing." Raven looked like she was getting tired and tried her best to stifle a yawn as she continued to talk." You need the longest head start possible before the Queen wakes and sends her Reepers after you." Clark shuddered at the thought of the strange shadowy beasts.
"Thank you Raven." She said to the young woman who was nearly asleep. "Thank you for all of your help." Raven lazily waved Clark away, and Clark wasted no time running down the stairs, doing her best not to trip. Clark tried to remember the way they had come up to the tallest tower, but she soon felt like she was getting herself lost.
Resigning herself to the fact that she needed to get down to the ground floor first she found the nearest stair case and went down. Clark raced down the stairs, paranoia creeping up on her with every step she took. A few times she stopped thinking that she had heard someone coming after her only for it to be the echo of her own footsteps. When she thought she was so hopelessly lost that the only way she would find her way out of the castle was when the guards found, her Clark managed to stumble her way into the entrance hall.
"Thank god!" She cried out in relief as she started to run for the door. She stopped just before she reached it. Remembering that there was at least one guard who was likely still awake at the castle gates. Knowing he would not miss her walking out with The White Book, Clark ran back into the grand hall. With all her strength she pulled at one of the purple wall hangings. When the sheet of fabric came falling down upon her, she tried tying the fabric so that it would be a convincing bag.
After fussing with it for several minutes Clark believed that she had done the best she could do and walked to the front gate.
"Lady Topplepot, did you have a nice tea?" Asked the guard named Miles.
"Oh yes it was lovely. I only wish that I could have stayed longer." She told him.
"So they are still having tea then?" He asked Clark started to nod.
"Yes last I knew. I was starting to not feel very well and told the Queen that I should remove myself from her company for the night. I did not want to make her ill"
"I'm terribly sorry to hear that you are not feeling well young Miss. I do hope that you are feeling better soon." Clark gave the man her best smile and said,
"Thank you for the well wishes." And with a small curtsy she turned and left the man at the gates. Being careful not to look to strange Clark kept up a moderate pace as she walked down the castle road until she came to the green arches.
I want to give a shout out to everyone who gave me name ideas for Bellamy. I couldn't use all of them there were some realy good ones.
Thanks so much to Liberated insanity, and Homerunhitter.
There wasn't a lot of Bellamy in this chapter But I will make up for it in the next one
Sneak peak: He was looking down at her a broad smile on his face. "I don't know how you did it but you got me away from her!" Without much of a warning he leaned down placing a quick kiss on her lips. "I think I love you right now because of that. How hurry we have to go."