Chapter Twenty-Eight: A Few of My Favorite Things

A mixture of brown and white slush existed beneath the would-be kidnappers of the 8th Kingdom. Leading them was Henry, ever stoic and silent. He lagged behind his men, watching their move and supposedly protecting them from unseen harm. Truthfully, Henry had insecurities about people walking behind him. It was a self-enforced rule he created while serving in the 1st Kingdom military: never let someone be at your back. He reasoned that doing so would make him vulnerable. Even many years later, Henry still maintained that paranoia.

And he was of no use in the front. Johnny had taken over that responsibility and was excelling at his task. Digging further into his own psyche, Henry became conscious of his underline jealousy of John: he envied the young boy's enthusiasm and naiveté. He missed not having to fight since, at that young of an age, an uprising seemed preposterous. This feeling was the reason he looked forward to sitting quietly and waiting for something; it required minimal effort and kept him away from the dreaded ruler while still appeasing her.

Then, Henry felt something vibrating. The wave of movement in his coat pocket became too profound for him to ignore. He knew what it was; he knew who it was. But Henry thought he was done with her, at least for a little while longer. What does she want now?

He ceased to tread momentarily, but his team did not notice. His station as the leader was a joke, and now Henry would have to assert himself over young men who were uninterested in his words. Henry stopped advancing conclusively, and waited for someone to take note. No one did. Before removing the lively item from his vest compartment, he had to make a scene.

"Halt," he yelled, never having used such a sophisticated word as a command prior to this moment. Some of the men looked back, while others continued to ignore him. Henry chalked it up to the distance between them and the lowness of his voice. "The Ice Queen is making contact." That got their attention.

Henry finally pulled the thin, frigid stone from his jacket. It was motionless in his hand, gradually revealing the queen's masked and angered face. His palm was becoming numb, but Henry would hide his pain in order to keep the Ice Queen from reveling in it.

"Why the delay, Mr. Rivers?" she asked calmly, her eyes starting to glow a smooth red. The group of faithful boys eagerly eavesdropped in the discussion.

"I had to gather my team. They were being a little difficult," he admitted. While it was not his intention to report such irreverent details, he knew that by doing so the Ice Queen would be irritated and subsequently call her soldiers into a meeting. Henry wanted them to know how it felt to be out of her favor and on the brink of death.

"Were you trying to ignore me?" she catechized, her elevating wrath depicted though featureless mask.

"Of course not, my lady," he insincerely replied, attempting to disable his gag reflex. He was beginning to sound like John.

"I'll be brief. There's been a change in plans. You'll be stationed in a new location."

Henry shook his head in vexation, which luckily overlooked by the Ice Queen in the unclear reflection of the rock. He was tired of moving around and did not look forward to kidnapping his temporary friend, Malinda.

"Go to the border of the 7th Kingdom, the central entrance. She will come to you. Simply wait," she continued, her tone more resolute and stern. The Ice Queen didn't query about Henry's understanding of her demand; she lacked the tolerance.

"Yes, my lady. As you wish," he replied, quickly tucking the stone in his pocket and ending the conversation. He would deal with the repercussions later.

He raised his head to stare at the crowd of wide-eyed men. Henry just walked past them to the front of the group, not saying a word. He enjoyed keeping them in suspense. Surprisingly, they followed him, awaiting a rejoinder to their silent inquest.

"Well, what did she say?" asked John, insulted by his removal of his high position. But he got no response. Henry simply gestured with his hands for the men to follow; he didn't even look back to see if they did as he commanded since he knew the Ice Queen's authority stood behind him.

It would be warmer there, along one of many boarders departing the 7th Kingdom. Henry resented the constant movement to which he and his faction were subjected. It seemed every few hours the Ice Queen would change her mind.

xxxxxxx

"Why are you laughing?" Malinda asked, her feet stopped advancing. Gabriel, who was now slightly in front of her, slowed down and was still fighting back some chuckles. He stopped out of courtesy and turned about face her, only to find an annoyed girl with one hand to her hip.

"Because it sounds ridiculous," he stated with certainty. "Nobody's done that for years."

"Well I'm doing it. If you're gonna laugh at me, you can stay behind." Malinda began to stroll once again, heatedly passing the prince. The situation that caused the minor quarrel was the disclosure of Malinda's reason for leaving the castle unannounced: she was in search of someone in the 7th Kingdom for magical purposes. It was a slight fib on Malinda's part, but too close to the truth for Malinda to tolerate. She had wanted to squash the discussion, but Gabriel found some hilarity in her mission. He assumed she was going to meet some elf or fairy to answer her questions or make a potion for her to drink.

"I apologize," Gabriel said, quickening his and Lucy's pace to catch up to Malinda. "Whatever your destination is, I will take you there," he promised, steadily regaining composure. Malinda knew how excessively serious she was behaving. She recognized that it was better if Gabriel believed her silliness than doubt her explanation.

"I guess it is kinda funny," she admitted, trying to ease the atmosphere. "But it's something I need to do, so please – no more jokes." The prince nodded, his horse's reigns firmly in his palm as he guided Lucy along the wide dirt path.

They had rested for a few hours, but upon Malinda's insistence the two of them continued. Gabriel felt pity for his loyal steed and had decided to give her back some rest. And a part of him was relieved Malinda's destination was close by; nonetheless, he was still suspicious. Gabriel knew she wasn't being completely honest. She had told him of her intention to not reveal her true plan to him. When the time came, he would confront her, but for now he was simply enjoying her company.

In the silence that settled, Gabriel's mind wandered in search of other humorous moments between them. Recently their encounters had been solemn. It seemed as if the more acquainted they became, the duller their discussions were. He missed the liveliness of their first meeting. Suddenly, he recollected a time he wished to share with Malinda, who appeared to be in a more pleasant mood.

"Remember when you called me an ass?"

"Vaguely," she responded dismissively, embarrassed by the memory.

"Well I recall it quite vividly," he grinned. It had been such a long time ago – when they were traveling to the 2nd Kingdom. But it stood as a testament to how their relationship had evolved: it went from one of loathing to one of camaraderie, with only the occasional clash.

"I'm sorry about that, by the way," she muttered after a long pause. "You're not an ass, even though you were one when I said it. No offense."

"None taken," he laughed.

"You're a better person than I thought," Malinda admitted, looking at a perky Gabriel. She smiled back. "I misjudged you. So I'm sorry."

"Thank you, but you were right." She gave him a confused glance and grew concerned when the prince's face shifted from merry to pensive. "I see a maturity in you, Malinda. And you've infected me with it. I can call myself royalty only because I've met you."

She began to blush, her eyes still fixed on his. He was genuinely enamored with her and truly grateful. It was something she never felt: appreciation. Back in New York, all her work and effort often went unnoticed. Her responsibility was expected and anything less than perfection from her was ridiculed. But in the 9 Kingdoms, she had a clean slate; with Gabriel she could start over. If only her name wasn't already tarnished by a certain sovereign.

Suddenly a gigantic shadow passed over the pair, breaking the staring match that had formed between them. Malinda gasped loudly, her eyes moving to the ground, which was completely engulfed in darkness. The outline was in the shape of a winged creature. Her pupils darted upward, expecting to come face to face with a large reptile that breathed fire.

However, the dragon was high above them, gracelessly soaring in the indigo sky past the occasional cloud. Malinda shuttered at the idea of how big the mythical animal must be if, from a distance, it was so alarming. Still, a part of her was brightly awed; it was something she only saw in movies. Now she had witnessed it. But her partner had an opposing appearance. Gabriel looked reflective and weighty. He then let out a faint sigh.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing, just," he stammered. "I would have been one of those things… had it not been for you." She reddened in a way only he could trigger. Malinda had mostly forgotten about her experience with the prince in Pine Town, but it was clear he had not. "You save me, Malinda," he whispered. "And you still question your parents' love. How can you think yourself unworthy of affection when you do such honorable things?"

She remained silent, giving him a weak smirk. If she answered him honestly, she would be informing him of her true origin. Malinda now wished she could forget; she remembered why in fact she was able to cure Gabriel. The proof was in his recollection of the day the Ice Queen had cursed him, and her words of warning: 'But nothing except me can stop the curse I have put on you.' Malinda, having been spawned from the cruel ruler, was only able to heal him because she was herself part of the Ice Queen.

xxxxxxx

Back in the 4th Kingdom, the area was busy and filled with movement. The dreariness of the castle had seemed to disappear in the course of a day as preparations for Gabriel's belated birthday celebration were being conducted. No longer plagued by thoughts of unhappy children and even sadder parents, numerous servants transported goods and decorations to all corners of the palace.

Heading the hectic atmosphere was Lord Rupert; he was wandering around, frantically organizing the social gathering. In his hands were a couple of invitations, all of which confirmed attendance to the festivities. At this he huffed, gaining the attention of Virginia. As she walked closer to him, holding an array of ribbons and rapping paper, she could hear his jumbled complaints. "I cannot believe this," he stated in a frisky voice. "Only two! This is going to be the party to end all parties, and only two?"

"Two confirmations is actually a good thing," she said, starling him. "It's weeks away. We have plenty of time."

"When you're as busy as I am, weeks are like mere seconds!" he retorted, his pitch high. "Uh, I feel faint." Virginia rolled her eyes, an action that remained unseen by Lord Rupert. He appointed himself as chief planner, but was in over his head. She always found he exaggerated his circumstances to a great extent and created the drama in his own life. Still, it was better than worrying about other things.

"That's why Wendell started the preparations now. He gave everyone plenty of time," she repeated, setting down the multiple items in her hands. As Lord Rupert distanced himself from Virginia, she could tell he absorbed her reminder but was too bothered to admit it. She laughed at the sight and leaned against a nearby wall. She took in the scene of maids hanging up trimmings and dusting the chandeliers, butlers sweeping the floors and rearranging furniture. It was custom behavior whenever the castle hosted a party, but it was been so long since such a routine took place. The acts that once annoyed Virginia now made her feel content. Things are finally getting back to the way they were.

And she had Wendell to thank for it. Seeing the gloominess that had guzzled the kingdom, he decided to resurrect the prince's birthday celebration. He knew his castle was in dire need of some livening up The invitations had been sent out again days ago, but Virginia couldn't blame the delay in their return. After all, it had been canceled before, and if could very well be called off if the Ice Queen came back.

Virginia's thoughts were interrupted when she saw the king by the door post, several feet away, conversing with an undecipherable man. It was Sam, one of the many guards who were stationed outside the castle.

"So you have no idea where he is?" Wendell questioned, running his fingers through his blond hair.

"No sir, I have not," Sam replied, hiding something from the ruler. "But isn't it a good thing he's not around? Wouldn't want him to see all this, right?"

"You make an interesting point," the king admitted. "However, not even having a clue of where Gabriel could be isn't exactly most favorable either." He shifted his glance away from the boy, looking around the mansion, expecting something to inspire him.

"Well," Sam confessed, "I did see him last night. H-he, um, was on his horse." This information caught Wendell's undeviating attention. His master's stare encouraged Sam to divulge more. "I told him not to leave the castle grounds, but, as he pointed out, I didn't have the authority to stop him."

"And you decided to tell me about this now?"

"Well, yes, sir. It's very early in the morning. This only happened hours ago." Wendell's face became enraged, but the anger was directed at himself. How could his son depart without him being aware? Wendell permitted the guard to abscond, remaining alone in the crowded hallway. Just as he was about to go upstairs to rally a search party, a gentle hand was placed on his shoulder.

Virginia stood behind him, a rare grin on her lips. "Is everything okay?" she asked, already knowing the response.

"Not really, no. I just found out Gabriel left to… who knows where," he groaned. "I have to gather my men to go looking for him. I have to—"

"Relax," Virginia interrupted. "You have to relax. Give the kid some freedom. He's been very selfless lately," she stated, igniting a light bulb the king's head. "Maybe he just needed some time to himself."

"Or he could be in danger."

"Yes, he could be. But…" she paused, giving her recommendation some time to fully develop. "If he doesn't show up in a day or two, then you can send your army to search for him." They were silent, pondering on the idea. But they both knew doing so would make a rescue even harder to accomplish. "Or maybe you can send a few men to find him. And if they do, then tell them just to watch him and not interfere."

That solution seemed optimal to the both of them. "You always were wise beyond your years, Virginia. I'm sure you'll be sharing such wisdom with your children one day." Wendell returned her gesture, rubbing her back in support. Then he went to complete the task Virginia had recommended.

xxxxxxx

The sky was cloudy, a combination of pale gray and dark blue. Along the undisclosed path, Malinda and Gabriel kept walking. The day was coming to a close and the two of them had no secure place to stay. But the worry of not having a roof over their heads was subdued by the soothing of the hunger that had beleaguered them for hours. They ate food that Malinda had prepared and taken with her, but even that was in limited supply.

The duo had taken pleasure in the quietness of their surroundings, only disrupted by the occasional bird call and windy grass. Malinda chewed on her apple while Gabriel munched on a loaf of bread. They sporadically glimpsed at one another, flashing week leers. And it was nice. Malinda saw this as an opportunity to better to know the prince.

"So," she began. "How many girlfriends have you had?"

Gabriel nearly choked on his roll, swallowing the uncrushed remnants down this throat. "None," he curtly replied, which was met with a skeptical look on his companion's face. She cocked an eyebrow and slowed her pace, not letting him get away with that answer. "What? It's the truth."

"You honestly expect– fine, you don't have to tell me. It's too personal of a question I guess," she said, backing off. "Sorry I asked."

But Gabriel realized that by not responding more precisely, he permitted Malinda's mind to run wild with ridiculous numbers and estimations as to how many women he had been with. It was the last impression he wanted to bestow. "Yes, I've flirted with many girls," he said, getting Malinda's notice. "But I've never had a successful serious relationship with anyone. Hard to believe," he smiled, "but true. In fact the only long-term female in my life, aside from your mother, is Princess Gretchen, but she's a childhood friend."

"Thank you for sharing," Malinda laughed, knowing he didn't have to reward her inapt inquiry. "Though I have to admit, I'm surprised. It seems a guy like you would have a bit more… experience in that area."

"Oh I have experience," he countered. "Just not the kind I would prefer to have." At that, Malinda was undisturbed and satisfied, returning to her red and juicy fruit. "How about you – what's your love life like?"

The statement caught her a bit off guard, but she knew she deserved it. She knew a part of him was only teasing, but Malinda felt a need to comply. It took her several seconds to formulate her response. "Well… it's kinda hard to explain."

"That complicated?"

"No, just similar to your situation, and yet the exact opposite," she elucidated, seeing the perplexed expression in the prince's eyes. But they were void of judgment and superiority. She felt like Princess Gretchen; as if she had known Gabriel for years, fully able to tell him intimate aspects of her life. "I've never had a boyfriend. I mean, sure I've liked a lot of guys and interacted with them just fine." She took a moment, moving her gaze from the soil to him. "It's just… I've either really liked a guy and he treated me like crap, or I've had obsessive classmates that had 'unhealthy infatuations' with me."

"I see… like stalkers," the prince offered, knowing to what she was referring.

"Yeah, but I'd wager you've had it worse than me." They both laughed, reveling in their mutual bad luck socially. As the merriment died down, Gabriel chose to change the topic of discussion to something lighter.

"What's your favorite food?" he asked, biting down on his last piece of bread.

"Now that's a tough one." Malinda put her fingers on her chin in a playful manner, already knowing her absolute favorite meal. "Hands down, it would have to be pizza."

"Oh," Gabriel said in mild acceptance. "What… what exactly is pizza?"

She giggled at the thought, not believing he was actually serious. But after many moments passed in silence, with Gabriel still puzzled, Malinda viewed his difficulty more legitimately. "Well, it's a mix of dough, tomato sauce, and cheese, but that's just to start with. You can put all sorts of toppings on it." The prince wasn't any more entitled than when he initially posed his query. "First they mold the dough into a flat circle," she continued, thinking that perhaps an explanation of how the food item was created would produce more clarity. "And then they put the sauce on, followed by the shredded cheese. Then they heat it up and cut it into slices. And there you have it."

"Sounds fascinating," he replied, letting the issue go.

"I would ask what your favorite food is, but I already know thanks to Gwen," she stated gleefully, attempting to mess with the prince. She chortled whenever she envisioned Gabriel slurping on his childish breakfast back in the 2nd Kingdom, while the rest of them ate more solid dishes.

"Oatmeal is not my favorite food. I have no idea where that lady got that notion," he snapped, elevating his volume somewhat.

"Sure."

"Wait," Gabriel stopped walking for a moment, putting their trek on hold. "You'd believe a crazy woman, who tried to kill her own grandchild, over me?"

x

Almost an hour had passed. The group had diverted from the distinct path into the forest without giving the change in direction much consideration. Malinda and Gabriel continued with their candid conversation characterized by series of questionnaires. The topics ranged from serious to more light-hearted, like the discussion that was taking place currently. It was a refreshing change of pace for the two of them, having been overwhelmed by sorrowfulness and surprises.

The clouds were increasing in number, signaling bad weather ahead. But neither of them took notice. They were preoccupied by their mutual laughter, finally acting like their teenage selves; the problem of finding shelter was moved to the back of their minds.

"What's your favorite color?" he solicited, running out of information he didn't know about his friend.

"Purple," she answered simply. "What's yours?"

"Currently, it's gold," Gabriel said, his tone more robotic and distracted than previously. Malinda, a tad flustered by his response, followed his stare to a thick patch of wood, which failed to completely conceal a cozy cabin. It belonged to the fabled Goldilocks, and seemed heaven sent. They both looked at each other, giddy grins on their faces. With Lucy's ropes in hand, Gabriel and Malinda sprinted toward the lodge just as it started to rain heavily upon them.