C52

-oOo-

Gasps and murmurings broke out amongst the ranks of household staff as the scene outside the castle doors freeze framed. It was open knowledge that, all-be-it to a much lesser degree than her nephew the Magenta Mage, the Mistress was also had some limited magical abilities. However, what she had just achieved was beyond anything any of them had witnessed previously. The skill and, more astoundingly, the level of power that it took to be able to cast such a spell over such a large space, one where even the breeze was stilled within the area the Aunt had defined, was far above that of an everyday witch and healer. Throughout the awestruck staff gathered there, and the Squire, spread the dawning realisation that the Magenta Mage was possibly not, in fact, the most powerful one of the two, and the braver amongst those who had just witness a level of magic unlike they had ever seen before, turned to gaze in both shock, respect, and fear at the tall slender figure of the Aunt.

-o-

Unmoved by the stares, the Aunt took a deep breath and stalked back to her original position, using the speed of movement to hide the fine tremor coursing across her shoulders, down the length of her arms and into her fingers. It was impossible to cast that level of magic without expanding a large proportion of the body's reserves of energy and stamina, but the Aunt was not about to let that fact show. Holding her head high, she quickly took charge of the situation, first turning to the pale and mesmerised figure of Crouch.

"Squire Crouch. Please allow His Lordship, my nephew, the Magenta Mage, to escort you directly to the Summer Room, you are most surely in need of liquid refreshment after such distressing events? And I beg you, have no fears for your man, His Lordship will, I am certain, dispatch men to find him and bring him safely to you. If you would be so kind as to excuse me? I'm sure you'll understand, there is a small matter outside to which I must attend. One must ensure that our friends waiting outside are properly greeted, and your man's poor horse well taken care of. I do so love horses, don't you?"

Completely overwhelmed, Crouch understood three things, alcohol, friends with Cardashibumbeckonins, which even he, ignoramus though he was, knew were two of the most self styled yet influential non titled families around; and the third thing he understood went Ooo...Really powerful, best get on her good side witch, like horsy's. Me too!

Outside his head simply went big dumb dazed sloppy smile.

-o-

There were a number of those present who saw the Aunt glance at her nephew, and give him a sharp, stern nod of command, before she turned and fixed her stare onto the row of perfectly still and silent maids.

"You...Yes, you girl. Remove that...Object off my...the stairs."

The flustered nominated maid instantly broke rank, moving so swiftly to carry out her Mistress' command that she produced a sort of stumblskiphop style run as she scurried across to the staircase, leaving the Aunt surprised that such a clumsy looking girl was on the staff, and making a mental note to put that right. Suddenly, one after the other, the remaining maids bounced into the air, wide eyed and sounding off with a high pitched squeak of shock. Frowning, the sharp eyes of the Aunt spied a pair of short legs scuttling along the line of maids. Who-so-ever those legs were at the back of was the next maid to do the jump-squeak trick. Furious, she pointed at the offending legs.

"Guards! Get that thing!"

The Munchkin skidded into view as he ran out of maids, cheerfully waving the ladle he had just bounced off each maid's backside in one hand, and dangling a brown cloth bag in the other. He ground to a halt, his head twitching from the sight of the seething witch, to the sight of half a dozen castle guards launching themselves, snarling, in his direction. It dawned on him then exactly who "that thing" was.

"Uh-oh!"

-o-

A neat flick of the Munchkin's wrist sent the contents of his bag rattling and rolling onto the floor, scattering in all directions. The Munchkin blew the Aunt a kiss.

"Byesie-bye!"

In the blink of an eye, the giggling Munchkin had disappeared out of sight, opening one of a number of doors accessing different rooms directly from the Grand Entrance, slamming it loudly behind him. His swift departure left behind his would be captors who were busily carrying out a whole variety of contortions in their doomed attempts to keep their balance, despite the marbles that were rolling and spiralling around the floor, being scooted and shot this way and that beneath their scrabbling feet.

-o-

The instant he witnessed the true power of the Aunt, the Head Houseman had cowardly and quietly moved to ensure he was some way behind her, firmly out of her line of sight. He was also the unfortunate soul who was quickest to turn and glare up the stairs in response to a cheerful Cooeeee! Unknowingly volunteering himself as a target and so being slammed in the middle of his forehead by an extremely well aimed, and incredibly solid, onion. His eyes crossed, his knees wobbled and gave way, leaving him sat on the floor dazed...And completely at the mercy of another pair of Munchkins who instantly popped out from under the stairs and raced towards him, ominously hauling a bucket between them. The pair slowed only long enough to pout their full load of stinking, sloppy kitchen swill over the man's head and the floor all around him. Throwing the empty bucket at the skidding guards, they carried out a gracefully executed 90 degree skid through the disgusting, oozing and gradually spreading pig swill, helping themselves to stay upright at the end of their slide by each grabbing onto a leg belonging to the surprised Head Cook. Unfortunately for him, the Munchkins then took off in opposing directions, whilst still hanging tightly onto the cook's legs.

-o-

There was a very brief moment where, unable to plant his feet firmly amongst the vomity looking, gloopy mess of waste food, the Head Cook momentarily experienced what it was like to be the wishbone of a roast chicken ... A shrill whistling sound came from the back of his throat as he clamped both hands over his valuables. Released from the Munchkins' grasps, legs spread like a very wide "A" the cook tipped forwards, still holding himself securely, and landed with a splat, face down in a mixture of creamed potatoes, custard and lumps of porridge. A joint Yehaaaay signalled the reappearance of Growsac and another of the Munchkin guard re-joining the chaos by the expedient method of swooshing, feet first down one of the polished wooden banister rails gracing either side of the central staircase. Sat in front of his comrade, Growsac covered his eyes with his hands when he realised their journey was destined to end, along with the banister rail, right where a huge floral display had proudly been positioned.

-o-

Spinning around, the Aunt's eyes opened wide in horror at what was about to befall one of her beautiful and carefully arranged giant displays of flowers

"Noooooo! Guards, anyone, everyone! After those ugly little gargoyles! One hundred gold for each one captured and brought to me alive!"

The sound of the vase which had held the flowers crashing to the floor and shattering into dozens of pieces coincided with the sound of an even louder crash from outside the castle entrance. It was loud enough that the Magenta Mage heard the double crash whilst running back from dumping the stunned and traumatised Crouch in the Summer Room. Coming into the Grand Entrance area, the Mage hesitated, unable to fully comprehend the riot zone that the Grand Entrance had somehow become. He anxiously glanced around, seeking out his Aunt and hurrying to her side when he spotted her. She was stood, unmoving, a frozen figure amidst the madness. Her mouth was formed into an O, her complexion an odd sort of grey, her eyes, bulging in shock, were fixed unblinkingly on the view beyond the open entrance doors.

-o-

The Mage swallowed hard and cautiously sidled nearer to his obviously shocked Aunt. At her side, he cast his gaze in the same direction as her, a terrible thought crawling into his mind and causing his own eyes to open wide. Lips close to his Aunt's ear, his voice raised so that she might hear him above the increasing shouting, cursing and screaming.

"Um, Aunt? Please...That loud crashing type sound? It wasn't...? It couldn't have...It...Was it?...Aunty?"

His aunt's eye's never moved from their focus on the castle entrance as she nodded slowly in response to her nephews half formed question. Turning, the Mage stared again in the same direction as his Aunt.

"I see ... Um ...You think they're likely to be ok?"

The Aunt shrugged, still concentrating thoughtfully on the freeze framed area and it's occupants outside. Her voice, when she replied, was a flat, monotone, emotionless.

"Not a clue ... Never had anyone ram in to a patch of frozen space before."

-o-

Dean fixed his attention on Sam and Merrick.

"Just remember you two, I've spent time in this bitch's company an' I can vouch, that witch's got some pretty fast fingers on her."

Merrick gave Sam a surprised look.

"And here we both were, thinking your brother needed rescuing!"

Sam shook his head sadly.

"You've definitely spent too long in Dean's company my friend."

"Hey! I'm bein' serious here! This woman throws spells around as easy as she breathes, she's the more dangerous of the two, the mover and shaker. The Mage might like the idea of bein' in charge, but it's her that's in the drivin' seat. You try not to hang around being an easy target for her, ok?...And anyway bro', Merrick's actually spent much more time in your company."

Merrick grinned at Sam.

"He's right you know."

Dorothy held her hands up.

"Enough! Don't you three ever stop bickering? Sam, Merrick, your job is to separate the witch and the Mage, but only if you can do it safely. Don't go being dumb. Got that?"

The two men nodded.

"Right, lets go."

Merrick spoke up.

"We should check out any rooms we come across as we go. I've spent long enough residing within both castles and grand houses to know that most often there are at least two ways in and out of many rooms, usually when the rooms might be used by a number of people at the same time, like a dining room. There's a good chance we'll find some that give a more direct route to the castle's Grand Entrance area.

-o-

Silently walking along the stone floored hall and away from the chapel, the five humans could hear the jumble of muffled noises. Charlie grinned.

"Sounds like the party's started. I guess we just follow the hollerin', let it lead us in the right direc..."

Dean grabbed Charlie's shoulder, squeezing it in warning and stopping her from speaking further. Listening, the others tuned into what Dean had heard, hurried footsteps, fairly light, but very much heading their way.

-o-

Rounding a corner at the end of the hallway, a castle maid came to a standstill. She had a large metal serving platter clutched in her hands and she held it in front of herself like a shield. She stared briefly at the small group of people who were gazing back at her, then dropped into a deep curtsy less than five yards away from the little group, keeping her head respectfully bowed, even when she stood up straight again.

"Please to be forgiving me Master's 'n Mistresses. I didn' no-tend to interrupt anyones. Um...Does you needs I shows yous the way to the Summer Rooms?"

Merrick straightened his shoulders and let his gaze drift slowly over the maid as he strolled up to her. Taking her hand, he raised her up from her curtsy, smiling down at her lasciviously.

"No need my dear. My companions and I are not lost. You may run along now and go about your business, there's a good girl."

He reached behind the maid and gave her a firm pat on the backside, encouraging her onward. As the maid glanced back at him over her shoulder, he gave her a slow wink.

"You should know that I may take it upon myself to seek you out again later, my little sugar plum; so make certain you do not wander too far, eh? My juicy little pomegranate. Off you go, until I decide whether I wish to...Converse with you again."

The flustered maid continued on her errand, this time at a run, eager to get away, and hoping to stay away, from the good looking stranger's lust filled gaze. Charlie stared at Merrick, clearly impressed.

"Awesome! Honestly, you should have a go at LARPing! I bet you'd love it!"

"You really think so? I've never heard of it before. Is it a fruit, or a vegetable?"

-oOo-