I know, I know, long update periods suck, but I am getting busier.

IMPORTANT- Here's one of those random changes that I warned happen when I... well, when I write. I got tired of a bunch of young people all seemingly the same age running about the curse and I decided my cast needed some tweaking. Of course I already mentioned somewhere, Adele and Albert are several years older so early twenties, but I then got a wonderful scene in my head which you will see below in which Arbol is actually much younger looking, something preteen. I think the already planned relationship is funnier that way. Enjoy X)

Tea and Keys

I grip the blade tightly as I look around at my suddenly strange surroundings. White tile floors, a few odd couches, a coffee table with a single steaming cup, and several mismatched doors leading to seemingly nowhere each with a strange twisting tea kettle sort of contraption at the top. Seated on the chairs are a watery sort of lady and a small giant, though small for a giant is still bloody enormous. I'm going to go ahead and guess this is the lounge/waiting room that Adele mentioned that one time.

"Adele, you are not going to believe what happened," I pant, catching my breath and pinching a cramp. "I was being chased by the glitches and there was this glowing tower with a woman on top then the glitches got through the fence, you got me just in time you know."

I get some funny looks.

"You were out there with the glitches?" the watery lady asks in a strange low voice.

I nod.

"Don't suppose you saw Gural out there?" the fairy godmother asks with a rather peeved edge in her voice.

I look warily at her, "No, why?"

"We can't find him, and we're worried," Adele explains.

"Do you think he's in danger?" I ask quickly. He had been so nice! I swear I will dismember any glitch that so much as scratches him!

"We know not, but we hope for the best of course," the water lady says leaning over her couch, I get a glimpse of her tail waving anxiously.

"He will be fine, I am sure, Gural is remarkably lucky," I hear a deep rumble from the giant. I get my first really good look at him as he bends down some to look at me. I am caught off guard, to put it lightly. I've never seen a giant before to be honest, but he is three times taller than me with a pair of glasses and a pipe the size of my forearm. "Pleased to meet you Princess, I am Xjarl" the giant offers two fingers for me to shake.

I shake them rather awkwardly, quite at a loss for what to say.

"Gural spoke very well of you," he nods, "While his stories are often quite entertaining, I often find it best to take them with a grain of salt. However, you seem just as lovely as his account, and it would appear just as clever."

"I suppose," I mumble modestly.

"Let us hope that Gural makes it back in time that you may see him."

"We've been collecting all of the creatures, it's not safe to wander about in the in between anymore," the fairy godmother comments, her smile seems almost to be accusing. Yeah, I still don't like her.

"Most of the others stay in their rooms anyway," Adele motions to the doors, "but Gural always did like to explore, said he was looking for and exit..." she says rather sadly.

I get an idea. "Did he ever mention a bright pink-"

"I found him!" I hear as Falada enters from between two of the doors. Seated on his back is a rather shaken up little Gural, much paler than I remember.

"Gural!" Adele and Xjarl exclaim and rush over to lead him to a chair.

"What happened?" The water woman asks, still confined to her chair.

"Glitches came out of no where," Gural laughs shakily, "Fortunately good old Rill was there to save my hide."

Falada makes a face as if he hates that nickname, but doesn't want to say anything at the moment. I wish I could remember what Gural had said his real name was.

"We are glad you are unscathed," Xjarl smiles, "and the Princess Elle is here as well."

"Miss Elle!" Gural's smile is enough to light a room. "Glad to see you safe and sound!"

"You too!" I instantly feel more comfortable and come closer to the group "Though it sounds like you are the one we should be much more concerned about."

"Not a wit," Gural protests to Xjarl's chuckle. "I am much too slippery to get into too much trouble," he assures me.

"All the same, I will go make you some tea. For my nerves," Xjarl excuses himself before Gural can protest, bending over in half to fit through even one of the wider doors.

"Gural," I ask, remembering my question. "Do you wander about often?"

"Often?" the godmother exclaims, "he's out there all the time! Especially on his turn to wash dishes!"

Gural looks down with a nervous sort of laugh, "Yes, well-"

"Have you ever seen a bright pink tower?" I ask.

"You have seen it too?" he asks excitedly.

"What is this?" Adele asks in some confusion.

"I've seen it twice now in that dark place," I explain to her. "It's this glowing pink tower with, well, what I think is a woman on top."

"It is! It is!" Gural nods furiously. "It is the witch!"

"Don't be ridiculous Gural," the fairy godmother dismisses from where she is now seated in an arm chair.

"I am quite certain of it, Giselle," Gural responds calmly. She simply sniffs and returns to her silence.

"Why haven't you mentioned it before?" Adele asks.

"Mention what before?" Xjarl asks returning with a delicately held teacup in his hands, which he hands to Gural. While the cup had looked minute in his hands, it looks much too big for Gural, but he takes a large awkward sip all the same.

"The magical tower that Elle and him saw," Adele explains.

"Didn't seem to be much use of it, I could never get close enough to actually enter the tower," he says regretfully.

"How did you find it?" the water woman asks. Of course Gural, a natural born story teller starts right in. The others sit back and listen; I take the moment to think.

As he finishes, I turn to Adele with a smile. "I need to find a tree." If there is anyone in this whole bloody curse who will know something about the witch or the tower or whatever is going on, it's probably going to be Arbol.

"Don't be silly," Falada shakes his head, "It is much too dangerous out there."

"Well, how do you guys get to the tales?" I frown.

"Your door whistles and then you have to find the right key," Giselle says shortly and cryptically.

I am about to demand a better explanation when Adele interrupts. "Wait a moment," Adele struggles up and rushes through the simplest white door.

I exchange looks with Gural. "That's the key room," he explains.

"It's how we move between tales," Xjarl explains. "In that room is a library with all the fairy tales and attached to each is a key."

"And you do what exactly with the key once you get it?" I ask.

"You'll see," he promises with a smile.

Adele rushes back out a few minutes later holding a short twisted little key, "Dwarf Longnose" she says proudly.

"Why does the curse even have that one?" I ask, pushing myself up.

She shrugs, "It was the first one I saw."

"Is this goodbye for now, princess?" Xjarl rumbles from his seat.

"Well, I was hoping not to take that long, but Arbol aught to know whatever this tower is, then I can come back and tell you."

They all look strangely at me, and I recall that Arbol keeps mostly to himself. "Umm, I'll be back so long as the curse doesn't drag me off."

"All the same, " Gural reaches out a hand. I hug him.

"It was great meeting you all," I say to all of the creatures present.

Meanwhile, Adele is at the same plain door she had entered before, but this time she is fiddling with the key in the hole.

"After you," she says once she gets it open and holds it open for me.

"This won't start a new tale or anything will it?" I ask, hesitating before I enter.

Adele shrugs, "I've never done anything like this before."

"Here's to hoping," and I walk through.

We enter beside a pond, and the door vanishes as soon as Adele closes it behind her.

"I much prefer that mode of travel," I grin.

"There was a tree that grew the rare herb around here somewhere-" Adele starts towards the nearest tree.

"I'm pretty sure magical wasn't a particular requirement or anything," I shrug. "He just pops up kind of like Albert, whenever I need him."

"I take offense to that," I hear from the willow tree. "I am not at all like Albert."

"There is nothing wrong with Albert," I smile wryly. "In fact, his manners are quite an improvement on yours."

"Manners are merely a cover up," he says with a grin.

"Albert is perfectly sweet, thank you," Adele protests.

"Adele!" Arbol jumps up, finally noticing her behind me. "You look quite as lovely as ever." He pulls a flower out of nowhere, bowing. And what am I? Rotting meat?

He pushes right past me, but the only thing I can do is try to hide my laugher, as his height disadvantage and youth had never been so glaringly apparent before.

"Arbol, we just came here for-" Adele starts but Arbol interrupts.

"It is of course always a pleasure to see you," he says, kissing her hand, and having to look up at her even when he straightens.

"Arbol," I whisper, trying but rather failing to keep my face straight and not laugh. "One, she's taken, and two-"

"I'm calling in all my favors, right now," Arbol tries to shake me off, still smiling at Adele. "Just stand back and watch me work." He mutters, pulling his arm away. I would have chased him, but that pulling sensation in my stomach starts and I am being wrenched to my next tale. I can't even feel angry at Arbol, I just can't stop thinking how funny he is, and how he doesn't even stand a chance. Sorry, Arbol, even if Albert is "polite" he's her age!

Well, finally off to the next tale. I grin, I am finally looking forward to a new tale, because at least one of my questions is about to be answered. Donovan had better keep his promise! Otherwise I will... I'll sic Lexi on him, and tease him mercilessly!

Oh I'm excited.

Next chapter is on time, promise, it has to be because I already wrote it!