AN: sorry that ch. 13 is too descriptive and...uh...to the point of stuffiness, but it's necessary, so bear with me, ok? And I know part of the second scene is really just a restatement of what you already know, but I felt that it was important to drill that info into your skull! Now, on with the story!
Chapter Thirteen~
Ranita could remember the days when the Elven Circle was first created. There was first Sakeri, Zora, Kalliope, Amin, Majid, Sibeta, Tyler, Dustine, Raines, and herself. The First Ten. Raines was their leader; it was he who helped them escape the dungeons and flee to the nearby woods. A natural leader, Raines led through the swamps of Mornth decided to make their home in these woods.
Zora told the of campfire stories, and she told them of the ancient Elves who supposedly build entire cities in the trees. Majid the Dreamer convinced them to do the same. Ranita was the best at manual work; she never complained and did the most. After they'd built their first homes, extremely crude compared to the ones that existed now, Dustine jokingly dubbed it the Elven Circle.
Sibeta the Kind-Hearted found other suffering people, gathering them to join The First Ten. Runaways, fugitives, people escaping from the law...all found welcome in the Elven Circle. Soon there was entire village, a village that needed order to survive.
The Council was Tyler's idea. Nine people to form the Coucil. They would have to be wisest of all in the Elven Circle. As the Council they would appoint the jobs of every member of the Elven Circle, make laws, and carry out justice when a crime was commited.
Insanity was a crime. Anything that could betray the Elven Circle or hinder its existence was a crime. The life of one was less important than the survival of the whole. Creating a fire, making too much noise, not covering one's tracks, not contributing to food-gathering...all crimes. Running away from the Elven Circle was the one of the worst crimes. That person's name was no longer allowed to be spoken, their belongings buried or drifted downriver. Any who helped the runaway was killed.
The mentally incompetent were also killed. Since the creation of the Council, five people were declared insane. All had lost their families before and most had suffered torture at the hands of the King's men, the Victorens. The silence of life in the Elven Circle, or perhaps the law that they could never communicate with loved one's again, drove many mad.
Ranita had lost her entire family, and she knew all too well the torture Victorens could inflict.
When the first Council was established--Raines, Tyler, Sibeta, Zora, Dustine, Proctor, Ulliam, Innis, and Allan--Ranita was twenty. In the last thirty years she had established respect in the Elven Circle, for being hard-working as well as a member of the First Ten. She protested unjust laws and healed the ill. She married the much-loved Majid, which further raised her in the eyes of the Elven Circle. Who would have thought that "Ol' Ranita" would become the sixth person in the Elven Circle to be executed?
The entire village watched as the Council gathered. From the original nine there was only Innis and Dustine. The other seven had passed away. Ranita knew their replacements well. Tawen and Verlen were twins that Ranita had helped to birth. Kannon was the little boy Ranita healed when his skull was split open. Jemain was the young man Ranita had found in the forest, starving and nearly paralyzed. To Haidee Ranita taught the use of the bow, and to Luna and Lunn, siblings fleeing from an abusive father, she taught the healing arts. Surely these people who knew her as well as she knew herself would not condemn her?
Nine cold faces were all that she saw. Innis was the first to speak, soft Innis who was now as old as she. He stood and addressed her formally with no flicker of recognition in his eyes.
"Ranita of the First Ten, you stand under the charge of insanity and therefore are a possible threat to the existence of the Elven Circle. So say witnesses Lada, Matteen, and Samuel. Do you deny it?"
"Yes," Ranita answered fiercely, pushing her chin outward. "I only momentarily lost my temper."
"Lada, what say ye?" Jemain asked. Lada did not step forward. She remained in the crowd, contemplating what to say.
"I agree," Lada said at last. Kannon stood in agitation.
"Then why are you wasting our time?" he demanded, glancing at Ranita. Matteen, one of the men who had dragged Ranita to the Council, stepped forward.
"I have known Ranita for a while," Matteen began, "and she has never lost her temper before. Today she flew into such a rage that she attacked Lada and beat her."
"Losing your daughter can cause one to become easily irritated," Ranita protested. "In my grief I grew short-tempered. That is all."
"Snow White?" A muscle in Innis's cheek twitched. "I have not heard of her death."
Ranita glanced at Lada to see if she would tell the Council of Snowy's disappearance. The woman did not meet her eyes.
"We think that she got lost in the wood," Lada said finally. Innis raised an eyebrow.
"'Lost,' you say?"
"Lost," Lada declared firmly. "Missing."
"Has a search party been sent?"
"Yes, and they haven't found her yet, but they will," Lada told him. She sighed. "Please, this was all a misunderstanding. Ranita is not insane. There is no need for this gathering. All of you know that Ranita isn't crazy. Any one here would quickly tell you so."
"She has gone crazy," Matteen insisted. Lada glanced at him sharply.
"Have you never lost your temper before, Matteen? I believe once you were so furious with your son for courting my daughter that you whipped him soundly. Yet here you are, eager to kill another for an action you commited not so long ago."
"Yet Matteen easily loses his temper," Samuel protested. With one hand he restrained Matteen, who looked ready to throttle Lada for her words.
"Hardly justification." Lada turned to the council. "Have we all not lost our temper once in our lives or acted out of character? Yet we were not accused of insanity, were we? I ask the same consideration for my longtime friend Ranita. She was stressed."
Innis stared at her for a long moment. Behind him, Luna and Lunn whispered to each other. Innis waved an arm to Matteen.
"Your temper," he began, seeing his clenched fists and red face, "deem you unfit to be a witness here. From Lada's testimony, and because this is Ranita's first offense, we will ignore this incident."
"Thank you," Lada said gratefully. Innis gave Ranita a stern look.
"I suggest you keep tighter rein on your temper in the future," he told her. Ranita, who had not yet spoken, at last looked him in the eye.
"Ya don't need to worry about that, Innis," she told him. He looked puzzled for a moment before nodding and dismissing them. Lada hugged her as they left the meeting.
"I'm sorry, Ranita," she whispered. Ranita smiled wryly.
"Was my fault too," she replied. Lada smiled.
"Well, that too. I'm surprised the trial was so short, but Innis was right. It is your first offense, and you are of the First Ten, after all."
"Yeah. I haven't seen a trial that short since--hell, I've never seen a trial so short!"
Ranita glanced around, then pulled Lada with her into her house. She stared at Lada for a long moment. Here was her closest friend. Lada knew everything about her--her past, joys, sorrows, dreams, hopes...Ranita could not recall ever having told Lada a lie in her entire life. She must truly have gone momentarily mad to have thought that Lada would even dream of harming Snowy.
"I'm leaving, Lada," Ranita said seriously.
"What do you mean?" Lada whispered. "You're--you're running away??"
"No," Ranita retorted. "I'm leaving. I'll not betray the Elven Circle, no need to worry 'bout that. I'll head north, to Telren. I'm leaving this country, Lada, an' I'm leaving the Elven Circle. Can't ya see? I've lost my place here. People'll doubt me now, doubt my sanity and my virtue. There's no reason for me to stay."
"But...what am I to do without you?" Lada all but whimpered. Ranita placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"You're going to stay here an' keep an eye out for my Snowy."
The rules the Children of the Mines set upon Cel were simple: do all of her chores without complaint, obey King Basilius, and never leave the dwelling area, which was the lower part of the mountain and extended four levels underground. It consisted of two hundred very small bedchambers, the huge dining hall, seventy living chambers, five workrooms, two kitchens, four public bathrooms, and the washroom. The washroom was a cave the size of the kitchen with a pool of water in its center. Cel later learned that the water came from melted snow that ran down from the peaks of the mountain, which the Children of the Mines called Vortneth.
At first these rules were easy to follow. Her chores kept her too busy to think of much else. As she swept the caves clear of dust, Cel wondered why there were so many rooms for so few people. She couldn't tell how much time had passed since anyone had actually lived in these chambers because they were kept so spotless. Because some of the Children of the Mines were somewhat still hostile and wary of her existence, she decided not to question them, for the moment.
One day Cel discovered another cave. It was so small that when standing in it she could touch all of the walls with her fingertips. There was no roof to this cave--sunlight poured freely in. When Cel brushed away the soft layer of snow on the ground, she could see the remains of what used to be a garden. Most of her day was spent in solitude; the only time she saw any of the Dwarves was during mealtimes. That evening, she asked about the garden.
"Leander planted vegetables and fruits," Sen explained to her. "When spring comes, that is what you are to do."
"I miss going outside," Cel sighed. "The caves are so stifling."
"Yea, a human'd think so," Kistur sneered, hearing their conversation. "I'll bet she's 'fraid o' the dark, too. And enclosed places."
"That's enough, Kistur," Sen said quitely. Kistur looked at Cel with contempt.
"if she finds our caves so stiflin', she can leave. We're not 'ere to--"
"I said that's enough," Sen repeated. He had not raised his voice; this was not his way. Yet, as Cel had learned, something in his calm voice still acheived the same affect.
Kistur raised his hands to show his goodwill. "Eh. She's yer maid'n. Though if I was ye, brother, I'd watch me back. Don't trust this lassie any, Sen, and nigh should ye." With one eye he looked Cel up and down. "And I thought ye'd better taste in women, Sen."
Sen didn't answer this, instead returning to his food as if nothing had happened. Cel on the other hand, burned with fury. It was a common scene, one that replayed itself every supper. One of the company would question Cel's intentions, or insult her, and Sen was always fend them off. King Basilius and Gaelan were impartial, and usually tried to stop such arguments without taking sides. Thus Cel divided the Dwarves into two groups--one that defended her and one that attacked.
Despite that the days fell into routine, every week the same as the one before it, Cel somehow didn't feel that this life was monotone existence. Rather, living in the company of the Children of the Mines excited her. They were a strange family to her, not as affectionate as the Elven Circle, not as cold as her stepmother. They were both, yet they were neither.
King Basilius was most like her father, trying to be fair and just to everyone, never favoring any of them. Adon and Kistur she considered to be like brothers or cousins, and she looked upon their insulting of her as sibling rivalry. Gaelan was the advisor and godfather of sorts, healing injuries and giving her tips on her chores.
Leander and Sen were the hardest for her to categorize. She could say that Sen was an elder brother, as he always defended her, yet Sen somehow had an untouchable wall around him, preventing them from growing closer. Sen was kind, and often quite brotherly, but he was too cool and distant to truly show affection. They had pleasant conversations, but they were mostly on meaningless, or nearly meaningless, topics. Cel tried to grow closer to Sen, learn more about him, but something always stopped her from doing so. Just when she thought she could confide something to him, Sen seemed to push her away.
If it was possible, Leander was even harder to puzzle out. He and Sen seemed very similar. Leander had a similar air of coolness and distance, yet he did not have the same barrier that Sen possessed. Cel knew this from experience; she clearly remembered his easy manner, the wolfish grins and roaring laughs. Now that he barely spoke to her, Cel knew only his guarded expressions and carefully planned words. To his companions he still laughed and joked, but the laughs were controlled, the jokes well-planned. At last Cel decided to simply classify him as a brother who was always away and she didn't know well.
Soon, though, she began to itch for the outdoors. After four years of sweet freedom, four years after an earlier four years of confinement, she needed the outdoors as much as she needed water. When the snow began to melt and the ground became muddy, Cel could stand it no longer. Earlier she had simply contended herself with standing in the garden cave, letting the sun fall on her face and breathing in crisp air, enviously watching the occasional that ventured into the cave. Now she HAD to be outdoors.
"Why can't I go outside?" she demanded. "If I finish my chores, or if I wake up early in the morning, why can't I just take a brief walk? I wouldn't venture far!"
"Lass, it's dangerous," King Basilius said. "And ye might get lost."
"I said that I wouldn't venture far! I'll stay close to Vortneth. I can hunt, too. Maybe one day Sen could cook and I hunt instead. I may not look it, but I could hunt better than many boys in my village," Cel declared. King Basilius's frown deepened.
"I'm 'fraid it can't be done. Sen can't cook, and ye will venture off. No offense lass, but it's natural for one to forget and then wander away 'fore remembrin'," he said kindly. Cel squashed the urge to throw a tantrum.
"But I HAVE to go outside!" she wailed. Then she winced, realizing how childish that had sounded.
"In summer she could go down t' the river t' fish," Leander said suddenly. Cel looked to him in surprise. He was helping her!
"True," Gaelan said. "Sen, though skilled archer, can't well fish."
"And what's to stop 'er from runnin' away?" Kistur demanded. King Basilius glared at him.
"Indeed, what's? She's a guest, not priz'ner." He nodded to Gaelan. "Right then. In summer, ye can fish."
Cel wanted to protest that she couldn't wait until then, but she decided not to press her luck.
"Thank you." She chewed her lip in thought. If Sen couldn't fish, what else was there that he couldn't do, but she could?
"I could gather eggs," she added suddenly, excitedly. "I'm really good at that! In the springtime...I can climb trees well, and any egg you want, I can fetch!"
This brought a laugh from the company, and Cel's face fell. What was so funny? Perhaps they didn't want any eggs or were content with Mertingale eggs.
"Sen's good with eggs an' tree-climbin', lass," King Basilius told her. "Nimble thing, he is. Scales up a tree faster than the eye can see. Tricks the birds of their eggs 'fore they know it's missin'."
"Oh," Cel said as her heart sank. Adon grinned at her, the first time he ever looked upon her positively.
"He'd be better than ye anyway, lass. Why, being half wood-faerie an' all!" he said, pounding the table. Everyone was suddenly quiet, some of them stopping mid-laugh. The previously carefree air was filled with tension.
"Half wood-faerie?" Cel repeated in confusion.
She looked sideways at Sen. Now she realized that he DID look different from the others. He was taller than them all, lean and lithe. They were sturdy, broad chested, and strong. While he was clean-shaven, they all wore beards of some sort. Sen's eyes were black whilst the others had pale colored eyes. Then there was also how he didn't have the same accent that they did. "That explains a lot," Cel said at last. "His lack of accent, why he looks different."
No one answered her statement. The rest of the meal was eaten in silence.
Chapter Fourteen~
Queen Minerva stood before the mirror, wearing only her simple white nightgown. The moonlight filtered through the open windows, making her skin aglow with light. She admired her reflection. No one her age had ever managed to retain such radiant beauty.
"Mirror," she began, her skin tingling with anticipation. It had been several years since she had asked the mirror this question, as she had been too busy thinking of other things that she did not have enough time to endulge her vanity. "Magic mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?"
"Fair is the queen I see," her reflection began, "but another is far fairer than thee. Two women, though one is still a child, outshine the beauty of the queen."
"It cannot be!" Queen Minerva hissed. "How much have I changed in three years? In three years have I aged so far that...no! I will not believe it!"
Indeed it had been three years since she last asked the mirror. With a trembling hand Queen Minerva touched her face. There were wrinkles there now, but surely a few wrinkles did not make a difference! There were bags under her eyes, but she could rid herself of them with a simple spell.
"Magic mirror," Queen Minerva said at last, "Magic mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?"
"One who is not human, one who is only part. The second has beauty of spirit, the first has beauty of heart. They are the fairest in the land."
"Yes, but who ARE they??" Queen Minerva cried. Her reflection cocked her head in agitation.
"You know the second, the one who is only part human. Do not ask me for that which you already know," she snapped. Queen Minerva gasped, and she had reason. This was the first time her reflection had ever spoken to her without a preceding spell.
"You--you--"
"Surprised?" her reflection asked, raising an eyebrow. "The Mirror of the Lady is no ordinary mirror, nor an ordinary magic mirror. It has been amusing these past decades, to watch you try to figure me out. Though I grow tired of your stupidity."
"Stu-stupidity??" Queen Minerva stuttered. Her reflection laughed.
"Yes, stupidity. I wondered when you would figure out...why, the other uses of me. Do you think I am to be your spyglass to the world? Hardly. I obey you when I choose. I am not your slave."
"And if I threaten to smash you?" Queen Minerva growled when she finally recollected herself.
"You forget that I've already been smashed before. That would be your loss, not mine. How long do you think I have been a mirror? It is quite tiresome. Of course, at first I thought that it would be interesting, great fun. Now I know the consequences of my folly." She glared at Queen Minerva. "To think that I would require an idiotic rhyming verse in order to work. What sort of magic mirror would I be, then?"
Feeling her cheeks flush, Queen Minerva glared back at her reflection. Then, her curiosity conquered her anger. This was indeed a most peculiar magic mirror. Queen Minerva had others, ones that her godmother had given her as gifts. They had never before spoken to her in this...this insubordinate fashion. Indeed, it never occured to her that magic mirrors had minds of their own.
"Who are you?" she asked finally.
"Why am I to tell you my secrets? I hardly like you." Sighing she continued, "but I've already given something away, I suppose. I wasn't always a magic mirror. That's all you have to know."
"What shall I call you?"
"Call me?" She chewed her lip, thinking. "How about...Perita? Yes, Perita."
"So you were an Elf before you became a mirror? Or perhaps a Faerie?" Queen Minerva reasoned. "Or was were you a human once, and Perita was your name?"
"Why do I have to tell you?" she demanded.
"Why does it matter what I know or not?"
"It matters to me!" Perita insisted crossly. "Now, do are you going to ask me that stupid 'fairest of them all' question again?"
"Just tell me the answer," Queen Minerva said.
"Ask nicely," Perita snapped. Queen Minerva threw her hands up in exasperation.
"Magic Mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?"
"That's better," Perita said darkly. "Now, the fairest of them all...which one do you want?"
"The one that I already know," Queen Minerva answered after thinking.
Perita vanished. In her place stood a black-haired girl. She was slim, with long limbs and a tiny waist. Her skin was ivory-pale. Pale blue eyes regarded Queen Minerva curiously, her full lips a sunset red. She was perhaps sixteen years of age.
"Icelynai," Queen Minerva said unbelievingly. "It can't be. She's dead. You said so yourself!"
"I lie sometimes," Perita responded with a shrug as Cel's image disappeared. Queen Minerva gasped.
"Then how do I know that you're telling the truth now?"
"You don't," Perita replied, her tone matter-of-fact. "But look at her."
So saying, Perita's image changed into that of Cel's. She smiled mockingly at Queen Minerva. "Surprised you still recognize her, though. She is beautiful, is she not? She'd grown lovelier while you...well, you've grown older." Perita/Cel held up a hand. "Flawless skin, a figure that could make you almost green with envy. And this face....so young, so--"
"Stop!" Queen Minerva shrieked. "You're lying! I am the fairest! I am the fairest!"
"Hmm..." the mirror replied, the image once again returning to that of Queen Minerva's. "Pity you don't want to listen to me. I haven't even begun to tell you anything interesting yet."
"What?" Queen Minerva demanded. "What's interesting?"
"You just can't accept the truth," Perita said with a yawn, her body beginning to fade. "There's really nothing to say to anyone like that..."
"Tell me. Tell me!" Queen Minerva cried as Perita began to disappear completely. She stared at the mirror. It was a perfect reflection of the room save one detail--there was no one in it.
She cursed at the empty mirror.
Cel was determined to fish her best.
Everyone in the Elven Circle had always commented on how she had a way with animals. Here was where that was put to the test. If she wanted to stay outdoors...she had to fish better than she ever had in her entire life.
She didn't care that summer hadn't arrived yet. She went to the river anyway, though she knew that King Basilius wouldn't be pleased. Perhaps catching thousands of fish would ease his anger a bit, though.
Dangling her hands in the water, she tried to be as still as possible. Soon enough, fish were swimming through her fingers. When a large one brushed her fingertips, Cel clutched it and drew it out of the water. Clasping it with both hands, she managed to toss it into the large pail that she had brought with her.
The first catch of the day, and the sun had not yet risen. Good. Again she put her hands in the water. The unaware fish were snatched up easily. It was spring, after all. The pail was already half full by the time the sun did begin to wash the sky with light.
The pail was heavy. Try as she might, Cel couldn't lift it. At last she decided to drag the pail back. Groaning and muttering words that she'd heard the Dwarves use, Cel dragged the pail behind her. She'd gone quite a ways, leaving a trail behind her, when she realised that she didn't remember the way back to the caves.
Now she cursed outright. Glancing around, Cel attempted to recall which way she had come. One tree looked half-familiar, so Cel walked in its direction. However, Cel soon found herself even more lost than she was before. A blue bird chirped curiously at her.
"Yes, I am lost," Cel said sourly. The bird hopped from one branch to another, cocking its head in question. It chirped again, then flew away. Making a face, and since she had no better idea, Cel followed the bird.
It was a small bird and rather dark shade of blue, too. Thus Cel had trouble seeing it. She soon lost sight of it altogether, but continued walking in the same direction.
"Mogyeun," she spat, though she really didn't know what the Minen word meant. "Last time I follow random birds." Leaning against a tree, Cel paused to catch her breath. The she heard the faint cry.
"Princess!"
"I'm here!" Cel cried at the top of her lungs. "I'm HEEEEERRRRRRRREEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!"
She screamed when a figure dropped out of the tree above her without a sound. Holding a hand over her heart, she recovered when she saw that it was Sen.
"Don't ever do that again!" she said breathlessly. He didn't say anything but instead looked to her pail. Cel shoved the pail toward him with her foot. "I went fishing, the pail was too heavy, and then I got lost."
"You know what Bazek will say," Sen said as he lifted the pail easily. Cel nodded gloomily.
"I know, I know. I shouldn't have been--"
"Yellow-eyed carp," Sen interuppted, pointing to the top fish. "His favorite."
"Really? Does that mean that he won't be angry with me?" Cel asked hopefully. Sen laughed softly.
"No. But it will make him soften the punishment a bit," he replied.
"Punishment?" she repeated, suddenly terrified. Sen saw her look and smiled to reassure her.
"Just more chores, I'm sure," Sen told her. "You weren't there to cook breakfast, so Leander had to do it." He started walking--in the opposite direction that Cel had been traveling--and Cel scrambled to keep up with his long, light strides. "Actually," he said thoughtfully, "I think it's a good thing you went fishing."
"How could it be a good thing when I get more chores?" she demanded.
"For one thing, we haven't had fish in such a long time that everyone will love you."
"Love isn't that word I'd use," Cel replied. He laughed again, a soft, faint sound that was smooth as running water.
"As Children of the Mines, we are fickle people. To win us over you need merely cook."
Cel frowned, as she couldn't decide if he was joking or not.
"And another thing," Sen continued, "is that Leander will be in a good mood as well. You see, he rather enjoys cooking, though he would not admit to it."
"And you?" Cel asked curiously.
"And what about me?" he asked blandly.
"What do you enjoy? Do you enjoy hunting?" She wasn't sure if he would actually answer, as he usually didn't like to talk about himself. Cel was determined to learn something about him, though.
"Yes," he said after a while. Then stronger, "Yes. Hunting is my passion.The way the bow fits, how the arrow and the string are tight with tension before the release....the trees." He lifted his free palm upward, glancing up at the bare trees overhead. "Climbing them. The feel of bark beneath your hands. Forest. The leaves and the wind whistling past your ears, through your hair. The sweet scent of the wood--"
He stopped, suddenly embarrassed. Cel gripped his arm.
"No, continue," she protested. "That was beautiful."
"No," he answered hastily, shaking himself. "No, it wasn't."
"Yes, it was," Cel insisted. "I finally know something about you! And the way you described the forest...that was pure, heartfelt."
"No," he said harshly. It was the first time Cel had ever seen him lose his cool demeanor, raise his voice. "No. It wasn't. It was foolish. Forget everything I said."
"Why?"
"Because I'm a Child of the Mines. The Mines are my home, not the woods. The darkness of the mines, the joys of unearthing minerals. That is what I enjoy."
He sounded so sure of himself that Cel almost believed him. Almost.
"Why do you lie?" she asked. "Why should you have to lie about liking the forest? The forest is wonderful. You shouldn't have to hide that. What shame is there in that?"
He didn't answer. She watched him carefully as they continued walking. She recalled what Adon had told her the previous night. He was half wood-faerie. Half wood-faerie and half...Dwarf?
"Oh," she said suddenly as she understood. "I see."
"Do you?" Sen asked.
Ranita slipped easily away from the Elven Circle. She had a pack of dried food on her back, enough to last her the journey. She ran, her footsteps silent. Twisting between trees, winding around them, Ranita made sure to confuse a possible follower.
A lone tear coursed down her cheek. A brief hug with Lada, the only good-bye she'd been allowed. Would they miss her? She'd devoted her life to the Elven Circle, only to watch their faith in her vanish in an instant.
Even though Innis had not condemned her, she'd seen the looks in the eyes of the people after her trial. The respect was gone. Ranita had nothing but her respect, and now that it was gone there was no reason for her to stay.
Telren. Would she like it? Ranita hoped so, as she was heading in that very direction. Well, she was heading toward the mountains anyway. She really didn't know where Telren was, only that it lay somewhere past those mountains.
Then there was also the thought of Snowy. She was dead, Ranita knew now. It was the only reasonable answer. And yet...yet she did not feel that Snowy could be dead. No, Snowy wasn't dead. But then if Snowy wasn't dead, Ranita would never see her again. That thought was more than she could bear.
"Lada would take good care of her," Ranita whispered to herself. "If Snowy wanders back to the Elven Circle, Lada would tell her the truth, and then protect her."
Still, this was no consolence. She looked toward the forboding mountains in the distance. Suppose...suppose Snowy had also run that direction? Suppose...suppose they happened to cross paths there?
"Stop thinking such nonsense," she growled. "Lada's right. You're only hurting yourself this way."
With a stiff upper lip, Ranita continued to run.
Chapter Fifteen~
Sen was right. King Basilius was both angered and pleased when he saw her. He decided that she was to fish in the spring as well, which was intended to be her punishment, but they all knew better.
Sen was also right about another thing. Upon the sight of the carp, Kistur grudgingly complimented her while Adon even went so far as to give her a huge bear-hug. Leander even smiled at her, though he still didn't say a word.
So, she thought, the way to a Dwarf's heart is through his stomach.
She would do well to remember that. Fish had always been a favorite of her father's, so Cel knew how good fish tasted. Therefore she was able to cook for the Dwarves an entire feast of fish for breakfast, lunch, and supper.
"You see, fish is the common dish for the Children of the Mines," Sen explained as he finished a second helping. "It always has been, ever since our ancestors first discovered it. Unfortunately, there are no underground pools or streams here. Since I am not a fisherman, we have had to do without."
"How is my cooking?" Cel asked nervously. "I know my father would love it, but you are...are different. Is it too spicy for your tastes?"
"Not salty enough," Sen said after chewing for a moment. "And not enough Gamelin. The spices are different."
"Humph. You're just too used to salted meat." Cel wrinkled her nose. "I think it's fine without being caked in salt."
"Boil egg on it," Adon told her. "Me ma used t'. Robin's egg on bass. Ye'd love it, I think."
"Nay," Kistur protested. "Yer the only un who likes the taste o' robin's egg on fish. The real way t' eat bass is wit venison in a Gamelin stew."
"Wit venison!" Adon cried. "Nay, I thinks Princess dun like the taste o' bass wit venison."
"Gamelin stew?" Cel repeated. "Is that what I think it is?"
"Aye, lassie. Though I thinks it be too strong for ye. Too thick for me, least the way Leander cooks it."
"Mogyeun," Kistur spat. "Leander cooks better Gamelin stew than ye, Adon. What say ye, Leander? Cook Gamelin stew for the pretty princess."
Looking to Cel, she waited nervously. He was lounged as casually as ever in his seat, thinking carefully. At last he shrugged indifferently, his eyes cold. Cel slumped in disappointment.
"Matters not t' me," Leander said at last. "Though I'd say our vistin' princess don't like Gamelin much. Why don't ye ask 'er?"
"I think I'd like Gamelin stew very much," Cel said quickly. Something about his manner made her mad. So he was still angry with her. Just how long could a person hold a grudge??
"Really?" Leander raised an eyebrow coolly. "Right then. Our princess 'ere says she'd like Gamelin stew t'morrow. Guess I'm yer cooks then."
"Mogyeun," Adon grumbled. On impulse Cel patted his arm.
"I'm sure he'd cook a great stew," she reassured him. Adon viewed her with one eye.
"Lassie, ye've never tried Leander's stews 'fore," he responded. Cel shrugged good-naturedly.
"You've never tried my stews before either," she told him. "How do you know mine isn't worse?"
"Not possible," Adon insisted, viewing her with both eyes now, two perfectly spaced and formed orbs in a face the vision of perfection.
"Well, think about it. I've never cooked a stew in my life. Well, once, but I doubt that counts. MY stew was so thick, it caught fire. Think on it."
Adon's response was to reach for another serving of fish.
Queen Minerva gestured to the stack of thick books on her table. She nearly jumped with glee when Perita paled considerably.
"What's this?" Perita demanded.
"Books," Queen Minerva replied.
"Yes, I can see that," Perita answered irritably. "What about the books?"
"They're all about magic mirrors, my darling girl," purred Queen Minerva. "How to make one, how to make one obey you, how to trap a spirit inside one, how to release the spirit inside, how to destroy one..."
Perita shook with fear, but attempted to hide it, clasping her hands behind her back and glaring at the grinning Queen, who made no attempt to hide her own emotions.
"You're bluffing," Perita accused. "Only the most powerful people, with experienced magic--BORN with magic, not learned magic--can trap a soul inside a mirror. That knowledge is...is secret!"
"Obviously not secret enough." Queen Minerva tapped a dusty volume. "Now, I have a proposition to make. One I think you'll like very much, my dearest Perita."
"I'm not interested," Perita snapped. "I'll make no deals with you. I do what I want."
"Am I right in assuming," Queen Minerva continued, ignoring her statement, "that the Lady placed you into this mirror as a punishment for something you did? That you want more than anything to be free?"
Perita said nothing.
"How about this? Be a nice, agreeable magic mirror, and I'll help you get what you want. Don't and..." Queen Minerva shrugged. "I suppose you can guess that there are a number of things I could do to you."
This time Perita actually laughed. "You think you know what I want? What I fear? I've nothing to lose. What could there possibly be that you could punish me with?"
Queen Minerva smiled coldly. "I could release you from that pretty little home you have there. Rip you from it and torture you. My husband's Victorens are...quite skilled in torture."
Perita stared at Queen Minerva for a long moment before grinning as well. "Ah...but then you wouldn't be able to have the wonderful uses of a magic mirror any longer."
"Hardly a problem," Queen Minerva said swiftly. "I'd just replace you with a more obedient servant."
"If you really intended to do that, you wouldn't be giving me this 'proposition.'"
"I believe in being fair," said Queen Minerva with a shrug. Perita laughed outright.
"Being fair? You truly believe you're being fair? Oh, of course not, what am I saying." She clutched her belly as she nearly fell to the ground with laughter. "Fair? Fairness? Oh, you're a good one to talk to me about fairness. You forget that I'm a rather special magic mirror. I know all, see all."
"All?" Queen Minerva asked with a raised eyebrow. "Really? This should be useful."
Perita stopped instantly and scowled at her. "Oh, well, maybe I'll help you...a bit. But only for my entertainment! Not for any of this...'proposition' business."
"Fine," Queen Minerva responded. "Now, tell me, where is Icelynai?"
"No, no. Ask in rhyme."
"Where is Icelynai?" Queen Minerva repeated through clenched teeth. "Long has been my wait. Where has she been of late?"
"Of late?" Perita repeated, then dissolved into giggles. "Oh, dear. This is fresh. I can't tell you that, I'm sorry."
"Why not?" the queen demanded furiously. Perita shook her head.
"Against the rules. Against the honorable code of the magic mirror."
"There is no such thing. Answer my question."
"You're right. There is no such thing as the honorable code of the magic mirror. But there oughta be. I'll start one, maybe. But fine, fine. Let's see...for the past four years that you've been searching for her, she's been living with the Elven Circle, of course."
"That band! Why...they're but a myth!"
"If you say so," Perita responded. "Now please leave. I've answered your question, alright?"
"I have more," Queen Minerva said angrily. "Magic mirror on the wall, who is the fairest one of all."
"Not THIS again!" Perita cried in exasperation. "If I tell you that you are, will you go away?"
"I want the truth."
"Hah! The truth! I already TOLD you! Well, if you must hear it again...one who is not human, one who is only part. The second has beauty of spirit, the first has beauty of heart. They are the fairest in the land."
Queen Minerva listened carefully. Slowly she recalled what the mirror had told her the day before.
"Icelynai," she began slowly, "is the one who is only part human. How is this so?"
"How do you think? She was adopted, wasn't she? It's all very well that her parents could've been goblins or ogres. She could even have selkie blood, but she doesn't have the look."
"So, what is she?"
"Now THAT I definitely won't tell you. And if you ask me again, I'll lie."
"What about the other one? The one who is not yet human?"
Perita thought for a moment, hand on her hip before she responded. "No need to worry about her. She'd due to die in a few months anyway."
"You can see the future?" Queen Minerva could not stop the note of awe from creeping into her voice. Perita straightened with pride.
"Yes, I can. I can see the past, present, and future. Now leave me be."
"Will you answer if I ask you a question about the future?"
"That depends on the question," Perita responded warily. Frowning, Queen Minerva ran a finger over the spines of the books.
"It think you're lying. If you could really see the future, you wouldn't have been so shocked when I brought these books in."
"How do you know I wasn't acting?" the mirror countered, grinning wickedly. "But you're right. I can only see these things when someone commands me to."
Perita stopped and clasped a hand over her mouth, horrified at the information she had just revealed. Slowly Queen Minerva sat into a chair.
"Really? Fascinating..."
AN: Since there's 3 chapters in a part, I update about every 3 wks. Just a head's up.
Chapter Thirteen~
Ranita could remember the days when the Elven Circle was first created. There was first Sakeri, Zora, Kalliope, Amin, Majid, Sibeta, Tyler, Dustine, Raines, and herself. The First Ten. Raines was their leader; it was he who helped them escape the dungeons and flee to the nearby woods. A natural leader, Raines led through the swamps of Mornth decided to make their home in these woods.
Zora told the of campfire stories, and she told them of the ancient Elves who supposedly build entire cities in the trees. Majid the Dreamer convinced them to do the same. Ranita was the best at manual work; she never complained and did the most. After they'd built their first homes, extremely crude compared to the ones that existed now, Dustine jokingly dubbed it the Elven Circle.
Sibeta the Kind-Hearted found other suffering people, gathering them to join The First Ten. Runaways, fugitives, people escaping from the law...all found welcome in the Elven Circle. Soon there was entire village, a village that needed order to survive.
The Council was Tyler's idea. Nine people to form the Coucil. They would have to be wisest of all in the Elven Circle. As the Council they would appoint the jobs of every member of the Elven Circle, make laws, and carry out justice when a crime was commited.
Insanity was a crime. Anything that could betray the Elven Circle or hinder its existence was a crime. The life of one was less important than the survival of the whole. Creating a fire, making too much noise, not covering one's tracks, not contributing to food-gathering...all crimes. Running away from the Elven Circle was the one of the worst crimes. That person's name was no longer allowed to be spoken, their belongings buried or drifted downriver. Any who helped the runaway was killed.
The mentally incompetent were also killed. Since the creation of the Council, five people were declared insane. All had lost their families before and most had suffered torture at the hands of the King's men, the Victorens. The silence of life in the Elven Circle, or perhaps the law that they could never communicate with loved one's again, drove many mad.
Ranita had lost her entire family, and she knew all too well the torture Victorens could inflict.
When the first Council was established--Raines, Tyler, Sibeta, Zora, Dustine, Proctor, Ulliam, Innis, and Allan--Ranita was twenty. In the last thirty years she had established respect in the Elven Circle, for being hard-working as well as a member of the First Ten. She protested unjust laws and healed the ill. She married the much-loved Majid, which further raised her in the eyes of the Elven Circle. Who would have thought that "Ol' Ranita" would become the sixth person in the Elven Circle to be executed?
The entire village watched as the Council gathered. From the original nine there was only Innis and Dustine. The other seven had passed away. Ranita knew their replacements well. Tawen and Verlen were twins that Ranita had helped to birth. Kannon was the little boy Ranita healed when his skull was split open. Jemain was the young man Ranita had found in the forest, starving and nearly paralyzed. To Haidee Ranita taught the use of the bow, and to Luna and Lunn, siblings fleeing from an abusive father, she taught the healing arts. Surely these people who knew her as well as she knew herself would not condemn her?
Nine cold faces were all that she saw. Innis was the first to speak, soft Innis who was now as old as she. He stood and addressed her formally with no flicker of recognition in his eyes.
"Ranita of the First Ten, you stand under the charge of insanity and therefore are a possible threat to the existence of the Elven Circle. So say witnesses Lada, Matteen, and Samuel. Do you deny it?"
"Yes," Ranita answered fiercely, pushing her chin outward. "I only momentarily lost my temper."
"Lada, what say ye?" Jemain asked. Lada did not step forward. She remained in the crowd, contemplating what to say.
"I agree," Lada said at last. Kannon stood in agitation.
"Then why are you wasting our time?" he demanded, glancing at Ranita. Matteen, one of the men who had dragged Ranita to the Council, stepped forward.
"I have known Ranita for a while," Matteen began, "and she has never lost her temper before. Today she flew into such a rage that she attacked Lada and beat her."
"Losing your daughter can cause one to become easily irritated," Ranita protested. "In my grief I grew short-tempered. That is all."
"Snow White?" A muscle in Innis's cheek twitched. "I have not heard of her death."
Ranita glanced at Lada to see if she would tell the Council of Snowy's disappearance. The woman did not meet her eyes.
"We think that she got lost in the wood," Lada said finally. Innis raised an eyebrow.
"'Lost,' you say?"
"Lost," Lada declared firmly. "Missing."
"Has a search party been sent?"
"Yes, and they haven't found her yet, but they will," Lada told him. She sighed. "Please, this was all a misunderstanding. Ranita is not insane. There is no need for this gathering. All of you know that Ranita isn't crazy. Any one here would quickly tell you so."
"She has gone crazy," Matteen insisted. Lada glanced at him sharply.
"Have you never lost your temper before, Matteen? I believe once you were so furious with your son for courting my daughter that you whipped him soundly. Yet here you are, eager to kill another for an action you commited not so long ago."
"Yet Matteen easily loses his temper," Samuel protested. With one hand he restrained Matteen, who looked ready to throttle Lada for her words.
"Hardly justification." Lada turned to the council. "Have we all not lost our temper once in our lives or acted out of character? Yet we were not accused of insanity, were we? I ask the same consideration for my longtime friend Ranita. She was stressed."
Innis stared at her for a long moment. Behind him, Luna and Lunn whispered to each other. Innis waved an arm to Matteen.
"Your temper," he began, seeing his clenched fists and red face, "deem you unfit to be a witness here. From Lada's testimony, and because this is Ranita's first offense, we will ignore this incident."
"Thank you," Lada said gratefully. Innis gave Ranita a stern look.
"I suggest you keep tighter rein on your temper in the future," he told her. Ranita, who had not yet spoken, at last looked him in the eye.
"Ya don't need to worry about that, Innis," she told him. He looked puzzled for a moment before nodding and dismissing them. Lada hugged her as they left the meeting.
"I'm sorry, Ranita," she whispered. Ranita smiled wryly.
"Was my fault too," she replied. Lada smiled.
"Well, that too. I'm surprised the trial was so short, but Innis was right. It is your first offense, and you are of the First Ten, after all."
"Yeah. I haven't seen a trial that short since--hell, I've never seen a trial so short!"
Ranita glanced around, then pulled Lada with her into her house. She stared at Lada for a long moment. Here was her closest friend. Lada knew everything about her--her past, joys, sorrows, dreams, hopes...Ranita could not recall ever having told Lada a lie in her entire life. She must truly have gone momentarily mad to have thought that Lada would even dream of harming Snowy.
"I'm leaving, Lada," Ranita said seriously.
"What do you mean?" Lada whispered. "You're--you're running away??"
"No," Ranita retorted. "I'm leaving. I'll not betray the Elven Circle, no need to worry 'bout that. I'll head north, to Telren. I'm leaving this country, Lada, an' I'm leaving the Elven Circle. Can't ya see? I've lost my place here. People'll doubt me now, doubt my sanity and my virtue. There's no reason for me to stay."
"But...what am I to do without you?" Lada all but whimpered. Ranita placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"You're going to stay here an' keep an eye out for my Snowy."
The rules the Children of the Mines set upon Cel were simple: do all of her chores without complaint, obey King Basilius, and never leave the dwelling area, which was the lower part of the mountain and extended four levels underground. It consisted of two hundred very small bedchambers, the huge dining hall, seventy living chambers, five workrooms, two kitchens, four public bathrooms, and the washroom. The washroom was a cave the size of the kitchen with a pool of water in its center. Cel later learned that the water came from melted snow that ran down from the peaks of the mountain, which the Children of the Mines called Vortneth.
At first these rules were easy to follow. Her chores kept her too busy to think of much else. As she swept the caves clear of dust, Cel wondered why there were so many rooms for so few people. She couldn't tell how much time had passed since anyone had actually lived in these chambers because they were kept so spotless. Because some of the Children of the Mines were somewhat still hostile and wary of her existence, she decided not to question them, for the moment.
One day Cel discovered another cave. It was so small that when standing in it she could touch all of the walls with her fingertips. There was no roof to this cave--sunlight poured freely in. When Cel brushed away the soft layer of snow on the ground, she could see the remains of what used to be a garden. Most of her day was spent in solitude; the only time she saw any of the Dwarves was during mealtimes. That evening, she asked about the garden.
"Leander planted vegetables and fruits," Sen explained to her. "When spring comes, that is what you are to do."
"I miss going outside," Cel sighed. "The caves are so stifling."
"Yea, a human'd think so," Kistur sneered, hearing their conversation. "I'll bet she's 'fraid o' the dark, too. And enclosed places."
"That's enough, Kistur," Sen said quitely. Kistur looked at Cel with contempt.
"if she finds our caves so stiflin', she can leave. We're not 'ere to--"
"I said that's enough," Sen repeated. He had not raised his voice; this was not his way. Yet, as Cel had learned, something in his calm voice still acheived the same affect.
Kistur raised his hands to show his goodwill. "Eh. She's yer maid'n. Though if I was ye, brother, I'd watch me back. Don't trust this lassie any, Sen, and nigh should ye." With one eye he looked Cel up and down. "And I thought ye'd better taste in women, Sen."
Sen didn't answer this, instead returning to his food as if nothing had happened. Cel on the other hand, burned with fury. It was a common scene, one that replayed itself every supper. One of the company would question Cel's intentions, or insult her, and Sen was always fend them off. King Basilius and Gaelan were impartial, and usually tried to stop such arguments without taking sides. Thus Cel divided the Dwarves into two groups--one that defended her and one that attacked.
Despite that the days fell into routine, every week the same as the one before it, Cel somehow didn't feel that this life was monotone existence. Rather, living in the company of the Children of the Mines excited her. They were a strange family to her, not as affectionate as the Elven Circle, not as cold as her stepmother. They were both, yet they were neither.
King Basilius was most like her father, trying to be fair and just to everyone, never favoring any of them. Adon and Kistur she considered to be like brothers or cousins, and she looked upon their insulting of her as sibling rivalry. Gaelan was the advisor and godfather of sorts, healing injuries and giving her tips on her chores.
Leander and Sen were the hardest for her to categorize. She could say that Sen was an elder brother, as he always defended her, yet Sen somehow had an untouchable wall around him, preventing them from growing closer. Sen was kind, and often quite brotherly, but he was too cool and distant to truly show affection. They had pleasant conversations, but they were mostly on meaningless, or nearly meaningless, topics. Cel tried to grow closer to Sen, learn more about him, but something always stopped her from doing so. Just when she thought she could confide something to him, Sen seemed to push her away.
If it was possible, Leander was even harder to puzzle out. He and Sen seemed very similar. Leander had a similar air of coolness and distance, yet he did not have the same barrier that Sen possessed. Cel knew this from experience; she clearly remembered his easy manner, the wolfish grins and roaring laughs. Now that he barely spoke to her, Cel knew only his guarded expressions and carefully planned words. To his companions he still laughed and joked, but the laughs were controlled, the jokes well-planned. At last Cel decided to simply classify him as a brother who was always away and she didn't know well.
Soon, though, she began to itch for the outdoors. After four years of sweet freedom, four years after an earlier four years of confinement, she needed the outdoors as much as she needed water. When the snow began to melt and the ground became muddy, Cel could stand it no longer. Earlier she had simply contended herself with standing in the garden cave, letting the sun fall on her face and breathing in crisp air, enviously watching the occasional that ventured into the cave. Now she HAD to be outdoors.
"Why can't I go outside?" she demanded. "If I finish my chores, or if I wake up early in the morning, why can't I just take a brief walk? I wouldn't venture far!"
"Lass, it's dangerous," King Basilius said. "And ye might get lost."
"I said that I wouldn't venture far! I'll stay close to Vortneth. I can hunt, too. Maybe one day Sen could cook and I hunt instead. I may not look it, but I could hunt better than many boys in my village," Cel declared. King Basilius's frown deepened.
"I'm 'fraid it can't be done. Sen can't cook, and ye will venture off. No offense lass, but it's natural for one to forget and then wander away 'fore remembrin'," he said kindly. Cel squashed the urge to throw a tantrum.
"But I HAVE to go outside!" she wailed. Then she winced, realizing how childish that had sounded.
"In summer she could go down t' the river t' fish," Leander said suddenly. Cel looked to him in surprise. He was helping her!
"True," Gaelan said. "Sen, though skilled archer, can't well fish."
"And what's to stop 'er from runnin' away?" Kistur demanded. King Basilius glared at him.
"Indeed, what's? She's a guest, not priz'ner." He nodded to Gaelan. "Right then. In summer, ye can fish."
Cel wanted to protest that she couldn't wait until then, but she decided not to press her luck.
"Thank you." She chewed her lip in thought. If Sen couldn't fish, what else was there that he couldn't do, but she could?
"I could gather eggs," she added suddenly, excitedly. "I'm really good at that! In the springtime...I can climb trees well, and any egg you want, I can fetch!"
This brought a laugh from the company, and Cel's face fell. What was so funny? Perhaps they didn't want any eggs or were content with Mertingale eggs.
"Sen's good with eggs an' tree-climbin', lass," King Basilius told her. "Nimble thing, he is. Scales up a tree faster than the eye can see. Tricks the birds of their eggs 'fore they know it's missin'."
"Oh," Cel said as her heart sank. Adon grinned at her, the first time he ever looked upon her positively.
"He'd be better than ye anyway, lass. Why, being half wood-faerie an' all!" he said, pounding the table. Everyone was suddenly quiet, some of them stopping mid-laugh. The previously carefree air was filled with tension.
"Half wood-faerie?" Cel repeated in confusion.
She looked sideways at Sen. Now she realized that he DID look different from the others. He was taller than them all, lean and lithe. They were sturdy, broad chested, and strong. While he was clean-shaven, they all wore beards of some sort. Sen's eyes were black whilst the others had pale colored eyes. Then there was also how he didn't have the same accent that they did. "That explains a lot," Cel said at last. "His lack of accent, why he looks different."
No one answered her statement. The rest of the meal was eaten in silence.
Chapter Fourteen~
Queen Minerva stood before the mirror, wearing only her simple white nightgown. The moonlight filtered through the open windows, making her skin aglow with light. She admired her reflection. No one her age had ever managed to retain such radiant beauty.
"Mirror," she began, her skin tingling with anticipation. It had been several years since she had asked the mirror this question, as she had been too busy thinking of other things that she did not have enough time to endulge her vanity. "Magic mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?"
"Fair is the queen I see," her reflection began, "but another is far fairer than thee. Two women, though one is still a child, outshine the beauty of the queen."
"It cannot be!" Queen Minerva hissed. "How much have I changed in three years? In three years have I aged so far that...no! I will not believe it!"
Indeed it had been three years since she last asked the mirror. With a trembling hand Queen Minerva touched her face. There were wrinkles there now, but surely a few wrinkles did not make a difference! There were bags under her eyes, but she could rid herself of them with a simple spell.
"Magic mirror," Queen Minerva said at last, "Magic mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?"
"One who is not human, one who is only part. The second has beauty of spirit, the first has beauty of heart. They are the fairest in the land."
"Yes, but who ARE they??" Queen Minerva cried. Her reflection cocked her head in agitation.
"You know the second, the one who is only part human. Do not ask me for that which you already know," she snapped. Queen Minerva gasped, and she had reason. This was the first time her reflection had ever spoken to her without a preceding spell.
"You--you--"
"Surprised?" her reflection asked, raising an eyebrow. "The Mirror of the Lady is no ordinary mirror, nor an ordinary magic mirror. It has been amusing these past decades, to watch you try to figure me out. Though I grow tired of your stupidity."
"Stu-stupidity??" Queen Minerva stuttered. Her reflection laughed.
"Yes, stupidity. I wondered when you would figure out...why, the other uses of me. Do you think I am to be your spyglass to the world? Hardly. I obey you when I choose. I am not your slave."
"And if I threaten to smash you?" Queen Minerva growled when she finally recollected herself.
"You forget that I've already been smashed before. That would be your loss, not mine. How long do you think I have been a mirror? It is quite tiresome. Of course, at first I thought that it would be interesting, great fun. Now I know the consequences of my folly." She glared at Queen Minerva. "To think that I would require an idiotic rhyming verse in order to work. What sort of magic mirror would I be, then?"
Feeling her cheeks flush, Queen Minerva glared back at her reflection. Then, her curiosity conquered her anger. This was indeed a most peculiar magic mirror. Queen Minerva had others, ones that her godmother had given her as gifts. They had never before spoken to her in this...this insubordinate fashion. Indeed, it never occured to her that magic mirrors had minds of their own.
"Who are you?" she asked finally.
"Why am I to tell you my secrets? I hardly like you." Sighing she continued, "but I've already given something away, I suppose. I wasn't always a magic mirror. That's all you have to know."
"What shall I call you?"
"Call me?" She chewed her lip, thinking. "How about...Perita? Yes, Perita."
"So you were an Elf before you became a mirror? Or perhaps a Faerie?" Queen Minerva reasoned. "Or was were you a human once, and Perita was your name?"
"Why do I have to tell you?" she demanded.
"Why does it matter what I know or not?"
"It matters to me!" Perita insisted crossly. "Now, do are you going to ask me that stupid 'fairest of them all' question again?"
"Just tell me the answer," Queen Minerva said.
"Ask nicely," Perita snapped. Queen Minerva threw her hands up in exasperation.
"Magic Mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?"
"That's better," Perita said darkly. "Now, the fairest of them all...which one do you want?"
"The one that I already know," Queen Minerva answered after thinking.
Perita vanished. In her place stood a black-haired girl. She was slim, with long limbs and a tiny waist. Her skin was ivory-pale. Pale blue eyes regarded Queen Minerva curiously, her full lips a sunset red. She was perhaps sixteen years of age.
"Icelynai," Queen Minerva said unbelievingly. "It can't be. She's dead. You said so yourself!"
"I lie sometimes," Perita responded with a shrug as Cel's image disappeared. Queen Minerva gasped.
"Then how do I know that you're telling the truth now?"
"You don't," Perita replied, her tone matter-of-fact. "But look at her."
So saying, Perita's image changed into that of Cel's. She smiled mockingly at Queen Minerva. "Surprised you still recognize her, though. She is beautiful, is she not? She'd grown lovelier while you...well, you've grown older." Perita/Cel held up a hand. "Flawless skin, a figure that could make you almost green with envy. And this face....so young, so--"
"Stop!" Queen Minerva shrieked. "You're lying! I am the fairest! I am the fairest!"
"Hmm..." the mirror replied, the image once again returning to that of Queen Minerva's. "Pity you don't want to listen to me. I haven't even begun to tell you anything interesting yet."
"What?" Queen Minerva demanded. "What's interesting?"
"You just can't accept the truth," Perita said with a yawn, her body beginning to fade. "There's really nothing to say to anyone like that..."
"Tell me. Tell me!" Queen Minerva cried as Perita began to disappear completely. She stared at the mirror. It was a perfect reflection of the room save one detail--there was no one in it.
She cursed at the empty mirror.
Cel was determined to fish her best.
Everyone in the Elven Circle had always commented on how she had a way with animals. Here was where that was put to the test. If she wanted to stay outdoors...she had to fish better than she ever had in her entire life.
She didn't care that summer hadn't arrived yet. She went to the river anyway, though she knew that King Basilius wouldn't be pleased. Perhaps catching thousands of fish would ease his anger a bit, though.
Dangling her hands in the water, she tried to be as still as possible. Soon enough, fish were swimming through her fingers. When a large one brushed her fingertips, Cel clutched it and drew it out of the water. Clasping it with both hands, she managed to toss it into the large pail that she had brought with her.
The first catch of the day, and the sun had not yet risen. Good. Again she put her hands in the water. The unaware fish were snatched up easily. It was spring, after all. The pail was already half full by the time the sun did begin to wash the sky with light.
The pail was heavy. Try as she might, Cel couldn't lift it. At last she decided to drag the pail back. Groaning and muttering words that she'd heard the Dwarves use, Cel dragged the pail behind her. She'd gone quite a ways, leaving a trail behind her, when she realised that she didn't remember the way back to the caves.
Now she cursed outright. Glancing around, Cel attempted to recall which way she had come. One tree looked half-familiar, so Cel walked in its direction. However, Cel soon found herself even more lost than she was before. A blue bird chirped curiously at her.
"Yes, I am lost," Cel said sourly. The bird hopped from one branch to another, cocking its head in question. It chirped again, then flew away. Making a face, and since she had no better idea, Cel followed the bird.
It was a small bird and rather dark shade of blue, too. Thus Cel had trouble seeing it. She soon lost sight of it altogether, but continued walking in the same direction.
"Mogyeun," she spat, though she really didn't know what the Minen word meant. "Last time I follow random birds." Leaning against a tree, Cel paused to catch her breath. The she heard the faint cry.
"Princess!"
"I'm here!" Cel cried at the top of her lungs. "I'm HEEEEERRRRRRRREEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!"
She screamed when a figure dropped out of the tree above her without a sound. Holding a hand over her heart, she recovered when she saw that it was Sen.
"Don't ever do that again!" she said breathlessly. He didn't say anything but instead looked to her pail. Cel shoved the pail toward him with her foot. "I went fishing, the pail was too heavy, and then I got lost."
"You know what Bazek will say," Sen said as he lifted the pail easily. Cel nodded gloomily.
"I know, I know. I shouldn't have been--"
"Yellow-eyed carp," Sen interuppted, pointing to the top fish. "His favorite."
"Really? Does that mean that he won't be angry with me?" Cel asked hopefully. Sen laughed softly.
"No. But it will make him soften the punishment a bit," he replied.
"Punishment?" she repeated, suddenly terrified. Sen saw her look and smiled to reassure her.
"Just more chores, I'm sure," Sen told her. "You weren't there to cook breakfast, so Leander had to do it." He started walking--in the opposite direction that Cel had been traveling--and Cel scrambled to keep up with his long, light strides. "Actually," he said thoughtfully, "I think it's a good thing you went fishing."
"How could it be a good thing when I get more chores?" she demanded.
"For one thing, we haven't had fish in such a long time that everyone will love you."
"Love isn't that word I'd use," Cel replied. He laughed again, a soft, faint sound that was smooth as running water.
"As Children of the Mines, we are fickle people. To win us over you need merely cook."
Cel frowned, as she couldn't decide if he was joking or not.
"And another thing," Sen continued, "is that Leander will be in a good mood as well. You see, he rather enjoys cooking, though he would not admit to it."
"And you?" Cel asked curiously.
"And what about me?" he asked blandly.
"What do you enjoy? Do you enjoy hunting?" She wasn't sure if he would actually answer, as he usually didn't like to talk about himself. Cel was determined to learn something about him, though.
"Yes," he said after a while. Then stronger, "Yes. Hunting is my passion.The way the bow fits, how the arrow and the string are tight with tension before the release....the trees." He lifted his free palm upward, glancing up at the bare trees overhead. "Climbing them. The feel of bark beneath your hands. Forest. The leaves and the wind whistling past your ears, through your hair. The sweet scent of the wood--"
He stopped, suddenly embarrassed. Cel gripped his arm.
"No, continue," she protested. "That was beautiful."
"No," he answered hastily, shaking himself. "No, it wasn't."
"Yes, it was," Cel insisted. "I finally know something about you! And the way you described the forest...that was pure, heartfelt."
"No," he said harshly. It was the first time Cel had ever seen him lose his cool demeanor, raise his voice. "No. It wasn't. It was foolish. Forget everything I said."
"Why?"
"Because I'm a Child of the Mines. The Mines are my home, not the woods. The darkness of the mines, the joys of unearthing minerals. That is what I enjoy."
He sounded so sure of himself that Cel almost believed him. Almost.
"Why do you lie?" she asked. "Why should you have to lie about liking the forest? The forest is wonderful. You shouldn't have to hide that. What shame is there in that?"
He didn't answer. She watched him carefully as they continued walking. She recalled what Adon had told her the previous night. He was half wood-faerie. Half wood-faerie and half...Dwarf?
"Oh," she said suddenly as she understood. "I see."
"Do you?" Sen asked.
Ranita slipped easily away from the Elven Circle. She had a pack of dried food on her back, enough to last her the journey. She ran, her footsteps silent. Twisting between trees, winding around them, Ranita made sure to confuse a possible follower.
A lone tear coursed down her cheek. A brief hug with Lada, the only good-bye she'd been allowed. Would they miss her? She'd devoted her life to the Elven Circle, only to watch their faith in her vanish in an instant.
Even though Innis had not condemned her, she'd seen the looks in the eyes of the people after her trial. The respect was gone. Ranita had nothing but her respect, and now that it was gone there was no reason for her to stay.
Telren. Would she like it? Ranita hoped so, as she was heading in that very direction. Well, she was heading toward the mountains anyway. She really didn't know where Telren was, only that it lay somewhere past those mountains.
Then there was also the thought of Snowy. She was dead, Ranita knew now. It was the only reasonable answer. And yet...yet she did not feel that Snowy could be dead. No, Snowy wasn't dead. But then if Snowy wasn't dead, Ranita would never see her again. That thought was more than she could bear.
"Lada would take good care of her," Ranita whispered to herself. "If Snowy wanders back to the Elven Circle, Lada would tell her the truth, and then protect her."
Still, this was no consolence. She looked toward the forboding mountains in the distance. Suppose...suppose Snowy had also run that direction? Suppose...suppose they happened to cross paths there?
"Stop thinking such nonsense," she growled. "Lada's right. You're only hurting yourself this way."
With a stiff upper lip, Ranita continued to run.
Chapter Fifteen~
Sen was right. King Basilius was both angered and pleased when he saw her. He decided that she was to fish in the spring as well, which was intended to be her punishment, but they all knew better.
Sen was also right about another thing. Upon the sight of the carp, Kistur grudgingly complimented her while Adon even went so far as to give her a huge bear-hug. Leander even smiled at her, though he still didn't say a word.
So, she thought, the way to a Dwarf's heart is through his stomach.
She would do well to remember that. Fish had always been a favorite of her father's, so Cel knew how good fish tasted. Therefore she was able to cook for the Dwarves an entire feast of fish for breakfast, lunch, and supper.
"You see, fish is the common dish for the Children of the Mines," Sen explained as he finished a second helping. "It always has been, ever since our ancestors first discovered it. Unfortunately, there are no underground pools or streams here. Since I am not a fisherman, we have had to do without."
"How is my cooking?" Cel asked nervously. "I know my father would love it, but you are...are different. Is it too spicy for your tastes?"
"Not salty enough," Sen said after chewing for a moment. "And not enough Gamelin. The spices are different."
"Humph. You're just too used to salted meat." Cel wrinkled her nose. "I think it's fine without being caked in salt."
"Boil egg on it," Adon told her. "Me ma used t'. Robin's egg on bass. Ye'd love it, I think."
"Nay," Kistur protested. "Yer the only un who likes the taste o' robin's egg on fish. The real way t' eat bass is wit venison in a Gamelin stew."
"Wit venison!" Adon cried. "Nay, I thinks Princess dun like the taste o' bass wit venison."
"Gamelin stew?" Cel repeated. "Is that what I think it is?"
"Aye, lassie. Though I thinks it be too strong for ye. Too thick for me, least the way Leander cooks it."
"Mogyeun," Kistur spat. "Leander cooks better Gamelin stew than ye, Adon. What say ye, Leander? Cook Gamelin stew for the pretty princess."
Looking to Cel, she waited nervously. He was lounged as casually as ever in his seat, thinking carefully. At last he shrugged indifferently, his eyes cold. Cel slumped in disappointment.
"Matters not t' me," Leander said at last. "Though I'd say our vistin' princess don't like Gamelin much. Why don't ye ask 'er?"
"I think I'd like Gamelin stew very much," Cel said quickly. Something about his manner made her mad. So he was still angry with her. Just how long could a person hold a grudge??
"Really?" Leander raised an eyebrow coolly. "Right then. Our princess 'ere says she'd like Gamelin stew t'morrow. Guess I'm yer cooks then."
"Mogyeun," Adon grumbled. On impulse Cel patted his arm.
"I'm sure he'd cook a great stew," she reassured him. Adon viewed her with one eye.
"Lassie, ye've never tried Leander's stews 'fore," he responded. Cel shrugged good-naturedly.
"You've never tried my stews before either," she told him. "How do you know mine isn't worse?"
"Not possible," Adon insisted, viewing her with both eyes now, two perfectly spaced and formed orbs in a face the vision of perfection.
"Well, think about it. I've never cooked a stew in my life. Well, once, but I doubt that counts. MY stew was so thick, it caught fire. Think on it."
Adon's response was to reach for another serving of fish.
Queen Minerva gestured to the stack of thick books on her table. She nearly jumped with glee when Perita paled considerably.
"What's this?" Perita demanded.
"Books," Queen Minerva replied.
"Yes, I can see that," Perita answered irritably. "What about the books?"
"They're all about magic mirrors, my darling girl," purred Queen Minerva. "How to make one, how to make one obey you, how to trap a spirit inside one, how to release the spirit inside, how to destroy one..."
Perita shook with fear, but attempted to hide it, clasping her hands behind her back and glaring at the grinning Queen, who made no attempt to hide her own emotions.
"You're bluffing," Perita accused. "Only the most powerful people, with experienced magic--BORN with magic, not learned magic--can trap a soul inside a mirror. That knowledge is...is secret!"
"Obviously not secret enough." Queen Minerva tapped a dusty volume. "Now, I have a proposition to make. One I think you'll like very much, my dearest Perita."
"I'm not interested," Perita snapped. "I'll make no deals with you. I do what I want."
"Am I right in assuming," Queen Minerva continued, ignoring her statement, "that the Lady placed you into this mirror as a punishment for something you did? That you want more than anything to be free?"
Perita said nothing.
"How about this? Be a nice, agreeable magic mirror, and I'll help you get what you want. Don't and..." Queen Minerva shrugged. "I suppose you can guess that there are a number of things I could do to you."
This time Perita actually laughed. "You think you know what I want? What I fear? I've nothing to lose. What could there possibly be that you could punish me with?"
Queen Minerva smiled coldly. "I could release you from that pretty little home you have there. Rip you from it and torture you. My husband's Victorens are...quite skilled in torture."
Perita stared at Queen Minerva for a long moment before grinning as well. "Ah...but then you wouldn't be able to have the wonderful uses of a magic mirror any longer."
"Hardly a problem," Queen Minerva said swiftly. "I'd just replace you with a more obedient servant."
"If you really intended to do that, you wouldn't be giving me this 'proposition.'"
"I believe in being fair," said Queen Minerva with a shrug. Perita laughed outright.
"Being fair? You truly believe you're being fair? Oh, of course not, what am I saying." She clutched her belly as she nearly fell to the ground with laughter. "Fair? Fairness? Oh, you're a good one to talk to me about fairness. You forget that I'm a rather special magic mirror. I know all, see all."
"All?" Queen Minerva asked with a raised eyebrow. "Really? This should be useful."
Perita stopped instantly and scowled at her. "Oh, well, maybe I'll help you...a bit. But only for my entertainment! Not for any of this...'proposition' business."
"Fine," Queen Minerva responded. "Now, tell me, where is Icelynai?"
"No, no. Ask in rhyme."
"Where is Icelynai?" Queen Minerva repeated through clenched teeth. "Long has been my wait. Where has she been of late?"
"Of late?" Perita repeated, then dissolved into giggles. "Oh, dear. This is fresh. I can't tell you that, I'm sorry."
"Why not?" the queen demanded furiously. Perita shook her head.
"Against the rules. Against the honorable code of the magic mirror."
"There is no such thing. Answer my question."
"You're right. There is no such thing as the honorable code of the magic mirror. But there oughta be. I'll start one, maybe. But fine, fine. Let's see...for the past four years that you've been searching for her, she's been living with the Elven Circle, of course."
"That band! Why...they're but a myth!"
"If you say so," Perita responded. "Now please leave. I've answered your question, alright?"
"I have more," Queen Minerva said angrily. "Magic mirror on the wall, who is the fairest one of all."
"Not THIS again!" Perita cried in exasperation. "If I tell you that you are, will you go away?"
"I want the truth."
"Hah! The truth! I already TOLD you! Well, if you must hear it again...one who is not human, one who is only part. The second has beauty of spirit, the first has beauty of heart. They are the fairest in the land."
Queen Minerva listened carefully. Slowly she recalled what the mirror had told her the day before.
"Icelynai," she began slowly, "is the one who is only part human. How is this so?"
"How do you think? She was adopted, wasn't she? It's all very well that her parents could've been goblins or ogres. She could even have selkie blood, but she doesn't have the look."
"So, what is she?"
"Now THAT I definitely won't tell you. And if you ask me again, I'll lie."
"What about the other one? The one who is not yet human?"
Perita thought for a moment, hand on her hip before she responded. "No need to worry about her. She'd due to die in a few months anyway."
"You can see the future?" Queen Minerva could not stop the note of awe from creeping into her voice. Perita straightened with pride.
"Yes, I can. I can see the past, present, and future. Now leave me be."
"Will you answer if I ask you a question about the future?"
"That depends on the question," Perita responded warily. Frowning, Queen Minerva ran a finger over the spines of the books.
"It think you're lying. If you could really see the future, you wouldn't have been so shocked when I brought these books in."
"How do you know I wasn't acting?" the mirror countered, grinning wickedly. "But you're right. I can only see these things when someone commands me to."
Perita stopped and clasped a hand over her mouth, horrified at the information she had just revealed. Slowly Queen Minerva sat into a chair.
"Really? Fascinating..."
AN: Since there's 3 chapters in a part, I update about every 3 wks. Just a head's up.