Dipper, Grenda, Bacon, and Fenris continued travelling throughout the night, in order to put as much distance between themselves and the trolls of Clan Marwolaeth as possible. The dark velvet sky was just beginning to show the barest hints of the indigo and violet that precede dawn, when Grenda simply stopped walking, and sat down.
Dipper stopped short, nearly tripping over her.
"What's goin' on?" mumbled Bacon, from within Dipper's pack, where he had been sleeping off the troll grog. "Why th' stopping?"
"Resting now," said Grenda.
Fenris nudged Grenda with his nose, to which she responded by patting him on the head.
"Ye're right, Fen-me-boy," said Bacon, as he poked his head out of the pack. "Dipper, y' both need to rest. Fenny says he'll watch for trouble so's we can nap."
Fenris bared his teeth and growled at Bacon.
"Okay, I won't call you Fenny. Ye're no fun, you know that?" pouted Bacon.
Having finally stopped moving, it occurred to Dipper just how exhausted and drained he felt.
"Okay, that sounds good to me," said Dipper, as he grabbed Grenda's wrist and pulled her up, so they could get off the road.
They lay down in a small clearing, and both Dipper and Grenda were asleep within seconds of their heads hitting the ground.
/
Dipper walked alone in the darkness. A light mist hovered over the ground, and the inky shapes of leaves and branches blotted out any hint of the starry sky above.
He didn't know where he was going, or why he was going there, but he felt the urge to keep moving.
Suddenly, a lighthearted laugh echoed through the trees. Dipper spun around, searching for the source of the laughter. He saw a flash of red, and ran toward it. Wendy.
"Wendy, wait!" he cried, running toward her.
"Dipper?" Wendy sounded surprised.
He saw her, straight ahead. She had flowers woven throughout her long, red hair. The flowers were all she wore.
Dipper stopped dead, his heart pounding. She was the most beautiful creature he'd ever laid eyes on. Her skin, lightly freckled in spots that saw the sun regularly, was bone white on the rest of her body. Her hips swayed seductively as she slowly approached him.
"Dude, I'm up here," she said softly, a slow smile spreading across her lips. As his eyes met hers, she crossed the remaining distance between them. Dipper was entranced.
"W-Wendy…why are you… naked?" he stammered.
"Because I've been waiting for you, dork," she murmured, staring up at him through her dark lashes.
"But I've been here the whole time—"
Wendy cut him off by pressing a finger against his lips. "I've been waitingfor my little Dipper to grow up." She looked him up and down, her eyes lingering on his strong satyr thighs, his newly visible abs, and his chiseled jawline. She caressed the side of his face, and pressed her lithe form against the length of his body, whispering in his ear "And my, has he grown up."
Dipper encircled her with his arms, reveling in the softness of her firm flesh beneath his hands. She bit his earlobe, causing him to moan.
He closed his eyes, burying his face in her hair, as she gently nipped and licked at his neck.
"Wendy…" Dipper managed to groan.
"Dipper…" she whispered hungrily, as she slid her hands down toward his loincloth.
Dipper inhaled sharply.
/
Startled awake by a cold, wet nose in his ear, Dipper grumbled. He would have liked to have seen that dream to its climax.
Hey, we need to get moving soon, but I thought you'd want me to wake you up first.
Dipper shot up, and looked quizzically at Fenris. "Did… did I just hear you? In my head?"
You did.The dog glanced down at Dipper's loincloth, then back up at his face. It appears that your…pine tree… has pitched a tent. You might want to take care of that before I wake up the others.
Grenda snorted in her sleep and rolled over, spurring Dipper to his feet. He raced behind a clump of trees.
A few minutes later, he emerged from behind the trees, red-faced. "So, uh… thanks for waking me first Fenris. Also, how come I can suddenly hear you in my head like Bacon does?"
I can allow whomever I want to "hear" me. I just prefer to get to know gods and beast-people somewhat before popping into their heads. You seem like a good enough god-beast-person...thing.Fenris cocked his head to the side. By the way, when Puck transformed you into… well, him, essentially… did he tell you much about being a satyr?
"Not really, no," said Dipper. "Why, is there something I should know?"
Fenris sighed audibly, his ears flicking back slightly. Ugh, tricksters. They think they're soclever. I think finally getting in touch with your magic somehow also "woke up" your satyr side, because satyrs represent abundance and… fertility. They're known for being always...ready for a good time. In the loincloth area. Add to that the hormones of a seventeen year old boy… Let's just say you're going to have to practice a lot of self-control once we rescue your girlfriend.
"Oh, good," said Dipper flatly, as Fenris trotted over to prod Grenda awake.
Not seeing Bacon anywhere, Dipper peered inside his pack, and found the clurichaun fast asleep, clutching the vial of emergency glitter like a teddy bear.
"Yo, Pork Rind, time to go," said Dipper, grabbing a startled Bacon by the back of his shirt and dumping him unceremoniously on the ground.
"Hey, watch the goods, Goats McGee," huffed Bacon, standing and dusting himself off.
Fenris knelt down next to Bacon. Up you get, wee man. We need to travel quickly to reach the mountains before noon.
"So if we get to the base of the mountains by noon, how long will it take us to actually get to the Green Palace?" asked Dipper, as the group made their way back to the road.
"Yeah, I'm bored of traveling," complained Grenda. "When will we get to the rescuing Wendy part of this trip?"
"That…uh," said Bacon, hesitating, "that will depend on whether or not the dwarves allow us passage through their territory in the mines, or if they… remember me. Incidentally, Dipper, I will probably need to go for a ride in your pack again once we near the dwarves' territory."
A deep rumble emanated from within Fenris' chest, and his ears flicked back. What did you do to offend the dwarves, Beagán?
The small man chuckled and shook his head. "It's kind of a long story, that."
Dipper grinned. "Why don't you indulge us, Bacon?" He glanced at the mountains in the distance. "We have time."
"Story! Story!" chanted Grenda, throwing her fists in the air.
"Ah, fine then," said Bacon, settling himself into a more comfortable position on Fenris' back. "To begin with—did you know that some dwarven women are bearded? I didn't… and I learned the hard way."
/
"Time to wake up, Wen."
Wendy felt a soft kiss on her forehead, followed by one on each of her eyelids.
"Mmmmmm." She stretched and rolled onto her side, smiling up into Dipper's warm brown eyes. She loved the way he looked at her—like she was soft and beautiful, and the most important person in his whole world.
"But I want to stay in bed," Wendy mock whined, reaching up to pull him down to her level, kissing him passionately. He moaned low against her mouth, sending tingles down Wendy's spine. She pulled him closer, twining her fingers through his soft brown curls.
"I love you, Wendy," Dipper whispered in her ear. His hands began roaming her body, caressing her breasts, the curve of her waist, and the soft rounding of her belly. He let his hand rest there. "But you have to get out of bed, so we can go to your appointment, and find out if we're having a Stanford Lee, or a Beithe Mabel."
Wendy grinned, putting her hand on top of his. "Or both."
Dipper nodded, a twinkle in his eye. "Well, twins dorun in my family."
As he said that, the life within Wendy gave a powerful kick.
"Alright, alright," said Wendy, rubbing her belly as she eased herself up from the bed. "Let's get going."
/
Wendy slowly opened her eyes, her hand going to her stomach. It was its normal, flat self. A wave of disappointment washed over her. I'm definitely not ready to be a mom, she thought. So why am I so sad now?
She pictured the older Dipper in her dream; the love in his eyes, the excitement in his voice. Her heart skipped a beat. I… I love him so much that I want to have a family with him.She smiled, as a tear trickled down her cheek. She already knew she was in love with Dipper, but the feeling of loss after waking from a dream where she had been pregnant with his child was so intense, that she was absolutely sure now—He is the one. The one I'm going to marry.
"Mistress—er—Wendy?"
Wendy leaned off the bed on one elbow, and looked down at Bork. "Yeah, man, what's up?" she asked, trying to stifle her emotions and sound casual.
"You should be getting ready. Cernunnos will be here soon to escort you around the palace grounds," said the young brownie. "Are…you okay? Have you been crying?"
"What?" said Wendy, quickly wiping the errant tear from her cheek. "No. I mean, yes, but—"
Bork nodded sagely. "Nightmare?"
Wendy sighed. "No, it was a good dream. It just made me miss Dipper even more."
"Ah, yes," said Bork, "And this complication with Cernunnos possibly wanting to take you as his bride doesn't help matters."
"Yeah. What's that about, anyway?" asked Wendy, as she got out of bed and went to her wardrobe to pick her day's outfit. "I mean, he just met me."
"You're asking the wrong guy," said Bork. He crossed his arms as he stood at the door of the wardrobe, waiting for Wendy to decide what to wear. "I just work here."
Wendy selected a burnt orange, sleeveless silk gown, with a corset-style bodice that laced up the front. The laces and embroidered accents were a deep brown. She waved Bork away, and stepped behind a screen to dress.
"The trick is going to be trying to get this Cernunnos guy to lose interest in me without doing anything obvious that would alert the Green Man to my intentions," said Wendy, as she fumbled with the laces on the front of the dress.
"Can't you just be honest?" asked Bork. "Just tell him you're not interested—that you love someone else."
"I totally would—except we know the Green Man can be exceptionally cruel when he's angry… we don't really know anything about Cernunnos." Wendy finished lacing her bodice, and emerged from behind the screen. "What if he went after Dipper and hurt or killed him, so that he wouldn't have competition? I couldn't handle that."
Bork motioned for Wendy to sit in front of the vanity, and he climbed up onto a small stool so he could fix her hair. "I don't know what to tell you then," he said, as he started to glide a brush through her long locks.
Wendy sat silently, lost in thought, as Bork brushed her hair until it shone, and then tied it in a ponytail with a simple gold ribbon.
She was startled back to reality by a sharp knock on her outer chamber door.
"Eek!" screeched Bork, as Wendy swooped down and scooped him up, settling him on her shoulder once again.
"Sorry, bud," she said quietly. She strode to her chamber door, and opened it with a shaking hand.
Cernunnos stood on the other side, fists on his hips, feet planted firmly, with a friendly grin spread across his face. He looked like a little boy who was proud of himself, and was showing off. Wendy smiled back in spite of herself.
Cernunnos didn't seem to be big on shirts, because his torso was bare again. He wore loose, soft brown pants, held up with a leather belt, and his feet were bare. The only decoration he wore on his person were the large gold rings at the base of his stag antlers.
"Good morning, fair lady," said Cerununnos with a wink.
Wendy rolled her eyes. "Sorry dude, I'm anything but a 'fair lady.'"
"Well," said Cernunnos, not phased in the least, "Good morning, anyway. And to your small friend, as well. Bork, I believe it was?"
Bork nodded mutely. He was receiving entirely too much godly attention lately.
Cernunnos held his hand out to Wendy. "I know you are eager to explore the palace. Where shall we go first?"
Wendy ignored his hand, and walked briskly past him. "Can we go out on the grounds first? I need some sun in my life."
"As you wish," said Cernunnos, falling into step beside her.
Wendy, Bork and Cernunnos spent the morning outside. The palace grounds were an interesting mishmash of different types of forests, woven together by gravel footpaths. Wendy marveled at the tropical rainforest, which included its own low-hanging mist and humidity, as well as native rainforest creatures. For a while, Cernunnos gave a baby sloth a ride on his back. He would quicken his pace into a jog, and the creature tilted his head back, squeaking, its mouth opened in an obvious smile. It was incredibly cute.
Wendy's favorite part of the palace grounds, however, was the coniferous forest, because it felt like home. As they walked beneath the tall trees, the smells of pine needles and sap, and the earthy smell of the moist loam underfoot nearly brought her to tears.
"Are you okay, Wendy?" asked Bork softly, noticing her beginning to sniffle.
"Yeah, dude," she replied. "I—I just really want to go home."
Cernunnos, who had been walking ahead of them, slowed down until they caught up. "You seem sad," he said, noticing Wendy's watery eyes. "Would you like to go back inside now?"
"Actually, do you—both of you—mind if I have a few minutes to myself?" asked Wendy.
"It's okay with me," said Bork, sliding down Wendy's arm, and then hopping to the ground.
Cernunnos looked like he wanted to say otherwise, but he smiled slightly, and said, "Of course. I'll remain nearby if you need me."
"Thanks," said Wendy softly. She waited until her companions were out of sight, and sank down to her knees at the base of a large hemlock, finally letting her tears fall freely.
"Dipper," she whispered between shuddering breaths, "I miss you. Oh gods, I miss you so much. I don't know how I'm gonna get out of this…"
She leaned over, her fingers digging into the soft forest soil, her tears watering the earth.
It took Wendy a moment to realize, through her tear-blurred vision, that each spot where one of her tears landed had begun to sprout shoots of green.
Her eyes flew open, and she gasped. She touched one of the shoots, and it began to grow larger quite quickly. Wendy laughed wetly when she realized what kind of tree the little sapling was. A common Sugar Pine. A pine tree.
She laughed again, louder. She kept laughing. She was nearly hysterical by the time Cernunnos, carrying Bork on his shoulder, came running to see what was going on with her.
Cernunnos grinned. "I see you have discovered your essence—the type of tree that your soul is bonded to."
"That my soul is bonded to?" asked Wendy, raising a brow. "Well that makes sense, then."
"How do you mean?" asked Cernunnos.
"Oh, well my…" Wendy trailed off. She had almost told Cernunnos about Dipper. She swallowed, and began again. "I just love pines. They're my favorite."
"Well, I'm glad you're in a better mood, because I have a surprise for you," said the handsome god. "Instead of lunch at the high board, we're going to have a secluded picnic—just you and me—in your grandfather's inner courtyard. It's beautiful, and very private. He doesn't let just anyone in there."
Wendy tried to bury her panic. "Se-secluded? You know who loves secluded picnics with just you and me? Bork!"
"Sorry, he only gave the two of us permission," said Cernunnos. He did look genuinely apologetic. "You don't mind, do you buddy?" he asked the brownie on his shoulder.
Bork looked at Wendy with wide eyes. She shook her head at him ever so slightly. Bork gave her a small shrug, as if to say sorry, nothing I can do, and said "Not at all, Master Cerununnos."
Wendy sighed, as she followed Cernunnos back to the palace. A secluded picnic in a private courtyard, with a handsome god that wanted to make her his bride. Nah, nothing could possibly go wrong there.
/
The sun was high and bright overhead when Dipper, Grenda, Bacon and Fenris reached the base of the mountains.
"There's the entrance to the Dwarves' territory," said Bacon, pointing from his seat upon Fenris' back.
"Where?" asked Grenda, holding a hand over her eyes and squinting.
Dipper pointed to a stone arch in the side of the mountain. "Under there."
"Under where?" Grenda asked, still unable to locate the arch.
Dipper and Bacon burst out laughing. "Underwear!" cried Dipper, slapping his thigh. Bacon laughed so hard he snorted. Fenris heaved a heavy sigh.
Oblivious, Grenda said "I still don't see it."
Shaking his head and chuckling softly to himself, Dipper muttered "Underwear…"
"Sweetie, after all this is over, ye may want t' ask your parents to get ye an eye exam," said Bacon, as he climbed down from Fenris' back. "Pack down, Dippicus. Time for me to do a little hidin'." Dipper sat the pack on the road, and the little man climbed in.
There's no alcohol in there, right?Fenris' ears twitched.
"No, mother, the last of the grog is gone," came Bacon's muffled voice, as Dipper closed the pack and swung it back over his shoulders.
The group walked up the softly sloping incline to the arch at the base of the mountain. They were less than twenty meters away from the gateway when Grenda gasped.
"Oh, nowI see it!" she cried happily, clapping her hands.
"Eye exam, very necessary," said Dipper's pack quietly.
"Shut up, Bacon," muttered Dipper out of the side of his mouth, as the stone gateway under the arch opened.
A dark, bearded young man about the size and build of Grenda strode forward. He was dressed simply in a red tunic, tied with a yellow sash, black breeches, and well worn, brown leather boots. He had a large, double-headed axe strapped to his back.
"Greetings, travelers," he spoke formally. "I am Dorin, Son of Gorman— the Dwarven elder. What business brings a satyr, a dog, and a… beautiful young woman together to Dwarven territory?" His eyes lingered on Grenda, who tried to disguise her awkward laugh with a cough.
Dipper stepped forward. "Uh, greetings," he said. "Look, I'm not good at this kind of thing. We were hoping for safe passage beneath your mountain. We need to get to the Green Palace, and we're kind of on a deadline."
While Dipper was talking, Dorin never took his eyes off of Grenda.
"That might be arranged," said the dwarf, still eyeing Grenda. "For a price."
"Uh," said Dipper, looking at Dorin, then Grenda, then back at Dorin. "What kind of price are we talking about?"
The dwarf finally looked up and met Dipper's eyes. "I don't suppose the girl is available for marriage?" he asked hopefully. Fenris stepped forward and bared his teeth at Dorin, and Dipper crossed his arms, frowning.
"Hey," said Grenda. "If whatever bargain you're making involves me, talk to me, short man."
"My apologies, fair maiden—"
"Can it, dude," said Grenda. "Number one, I'm not for sale. Number two, I have a boyfriend. And number three… I forgot number three." She turned to Dipper. "Sorry, man. I know you wanna get to Wendy as quick as possible, but… just no."
Dipper gave a half-hearted smile and patted Grenda on the back. "No hard feelings. I'd do anything for Wendy, but I think she'd be put out with me if she found out I stooped to selling peopleto rescue her."
Dorin's shoulder's drooped in disappointment. "It was worth a shot," he muttered. He raised his eyes in hope, and said to Grenda "I don't suppose you'd at least grant me a kissin order to secure safe passage for you and your friends?"
Grenda eyed Dorin skeptically. "Just a kiss—that's all? No tricks? I grant you one kiss, and we're good to go?"
Dorin smiled. "Correct."
Grenda glanced at Dipper, who nodded his head vigorously, then at Fenris, whose tail thumped the ground.
Grenda sighed. "Sorry Marius," she mumbled, as she leaned forward and puckered her lips.
Dorin grabbed Grenda, and pulled her to him, holding her head, and sweeping her in a low dip. After a lingering kiss he let go of Grenda, and she stumbled away, dumbfounded.
"The mines are just a little further in," said a grinning Dorin, as he motioned to the stone arch behind him. "Tell the workers Dorin sent you, and you need cart passage to Greenside."
Dipper nudged Grenda to walk on, Fenris bringing up their rear. As they passed him, Dorin winked at Grenda. "If things don't work out with that boyfriend of yours, you know where to find me."
/
The inner courtyard of the Green Palace was as private and secluded as Cernunnos promised. It wasn't a fancy, manicured lawn full of statues, as Wendy had been expecting. Rather, it was a little forest grotto. A small stream bubbled lazily through clumps of blooming trees, ending at a small, natural pool situated in a clearing, shaded by a lone birch tree.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" asked Cernunnos, grinning. He was always grinning. Wendy decided it must be his default setting.
She nodded, noticing a picnic basket set up beneath the birch tree. "What's for eating? Did you slay another beast?"
"Haha! Right to the meal, huh? I like that you're not a dainty little flower, scared to appear un-ladylike," he said, patting her on the back. He let his hand linger against the small of her back, and Wendy, noticing, jerked away.
Cernunnos sat down next to the picnic basket, and indicated for Wendy to take a seat on the ground next to him. She sat just out of arm's reach. He delved into the basket, and began setting its contents on a cloth in front of them. He opened his mouth, then sighed, and closed it again.
"What?" asked Wendy. She grabbed a soft roll, and began tearing it into pieces and popping them into her mouth.
He sighed again. "You don't like me, do you?" Cernunnos asked, glancing up at Wendy with warm brown eyes, so similar to Dipper's. Wendy felt a pang of guilt. He really did seem like a nice guy.
"No, I like you," said Wendy, trying to choose her words carefully. "But you have to remember, I was brought here against my will."
Cernunnos cocked an eyebrow. "Your grandfather said he had his guard rescue you from the Mundane, where you had been imprisoned by a family of lumberjacks."
"Oh, he said that, did he?" said Wendy bitterly. "Well, then it must be true."
"He also said they had brainwashed you into thinking you were one of them, which was why you threw such a fit when they brought you in."
Wendy clenched her fist, squishing the roll she was holding. An angry tear slid down her cheek.
"Hey, hey, sorry," said Cernunnos, sliding closer to Wendy and putting his arm around her shoulders. He pried the squished roll from her fingers, and held her hand. "We don't have to talk about it if you don't want to."
He was so close that Wendy could feel his warm breath on her cheek. She blinked slowly. He was making her feel so warm and comfortable—and loved. Like she felt in her dream this morning. She glanced up at Cernunnos from beneath her lashes. His eyes were so similar… so similar to…
Suddenly, his lips were on hers, the weight of his body forcing her down to the ground. She felt like she had been struck by lightning. This wasn't Dipper!
"No!" she shrieked, pushing him off, and jumping to her feet. She felt a breeze and looked down—somehow he had managed to partially unlace her corset bodice, and her breasts were nearly falling out of it.
Cernunnos stood and reached for Wendy, receiving a kick to the stomach for his efforts.
"How. Dare. You." Wendy hissed through gritted teeth.
Once again, Cernunnos started toward her, his hands outstretched. "Wait, Wendy, I'm sorry! I—OOF" He stumbled back into the birch tree, clutching his stomach after another vicious kick.
"Please," he wheezed, "Let me explain…" He tried to walk toward Wendy, but something was stopping him. "What-?" As he turned around to see what he was caught on, a birch branch swung down and smacked him firmly across the face, leaving a bloody scrape in its wake.
"Are you—was that you who did that?" Cernunnos asked Wendy uncertainly.
Eyes wide, Wendy shook her head, as the vague shape of a feminine face appeared in the trunk of the tree. Its mouth opened, and a voice, dry and raspy from years of disuse slowly spoke.
"If you…ever…touch my…daughter…like that again…I will…kill you."