Sorry it's been so long since updating - a combination of mum being in and out of hospital for the last month and preparing for OFSTED in school. More soon!!!
Merryweather crunched through the snow and blinked furiously as the strong wind forced snowflakes into her face. It was bitterly cold and in deference of this fact she was bundled up in a fur cloak and fur-lined boots. Because she was Merryweather, the clothes had been enchanted to appear bright blue. Ahead of her, she could just make out the outline of Fairy Godmother, beating out a trail in front of them. The two had left Kyle and the carriage in a copse of trees an hour behind them, making their way on foot to avoid alerting Simon to their presence by the use of anything magical.
"Just one warming spell?" begged Merryweather, another gust of wind stealing her voice and sending it out to the night.
"No! The watchtower is over this rise – if we keep going at this rate we should reach it by sunset. Now come on!" Fairy Godmother pulled her white cloak around her a little closer. Rather sensibly, she'd opted for camouflage rather than fashion when styling her cloak. Merryweather stood out like a sore thumb against the grey and white landscape. Fairy Godmother reached the tip of the rise and crouched down, surveying the landscape in front of her. Merryweather crawled next to her, panting slightly.
"Remind me again why we told Kyle not to come with us?"
"Because someone needed to guard the carriage."
"I could have guarded the carriage."
"I need you to help me. Now quiet." She raised a hand to shelter her eyes from the glare of sunlight against snow, trying to peer through the snowstorms. Fairy Godmother knew that the storm was not natural – the glare of the winter sun contrasting with the furious snowstorm around them. The sky above them was clear – had this been a natural storm there would be clouds blocking their light and making their journey impossible. "He really doesn't want company does he?" muttered Fairy Godmother, searching the valley below for any signs of life.
"Are you sure we can do this?"
"No."
"Then why are we here? Harold's plan was much more sensible. Why didn't you do as he asked?"
Both fell silent for a moment. At the war council, it had been decided to send Harold's army north to the mountains, descending on the watchtower en masse. Given the time needed to gather supplies and move a large number of people across a country and through mountains, it would have been a month at least before they had even found the tower. The night after the council Merryweather had been woken up by a very nervous Fairy Godmother, who had somehow convinced her to leave and head for the mountains that moment. By dawn, Kyle had dropped off Fairy Godmother and Merryweather and had orders to stay hidden in the trees until their return. Fairy Godmother turned back to Merryweather.
"Because Charming could be dead by the time Harold gets here." She scanned the landscape again, edging forward over the rise and trying to control her descent over the ridge. Her wings were almost useless in this weather, offering little support as she stumbled, slid and tripped her way down the slope. As she reached the bottom, she scanned the valley again and saw a dark shadow to the east. "Bingo," she whispered. The wind was quiet down in the valley, the storm obviously designed to keep intruders out of what appeared to be a calm and pleasant glaciated plain, covered in snow this late in autumn. Merryweather came crashing down behind her, cursing and complaining as she drew closer. "That's right Merryweather, as stealthily as you can so we don't get caught."
"It's not my fault I fell over!" shouted Merryweather. Her voice echoed around the cliffs surrounding them. "Oops," she added quietly.
"Oops indeed if we get caught. Onward!"
The two fairies trekked on, using ridges of ice and snowdrifts as cover while they approached the shadow in the distance. As they drew closer, they saw the shadow take the form of a tall tower, shielded from the snowfall in the mountains by a steep sloped roof. The grey stone reflected the sunlight dimly, hiding the tower against the mountain behind. A treeless expanse spread out in front of them – there would be nothing to give cover to the two travellers as they commenced the final approach to the tower.
"What did you tell Kyle to do if we didn't return?"
"Wait three days and then go and warn Harold," whispered Fairy Godmother.
"So there's no chance of a rescue?"
"None." She looked out at the watchtower again. Much to Merryweather's surprise, she stood and strode purposefully towards the tower, signalling Merryweather to keep quiet and follow her. Whimpering slightly, Merryweather scampered to catch up with the older fairy. They reached the tower wall without incident and with some relief rested their backs against it, flattening themselves to avoid being seen from the windows.
"If you'd care to explain?" started Merryweather.
"Look back to where we were hiding," panted Fairy Godmother. As Merryweather did so, she was forced to cover her eyes. The sun was lower in the sky now, the rays slicing across the land almost at ground level. She could barely make out the ground, let alone their hiding place. Anyone trying to look west would not have seen the fairies, the glare from the snow blinding any guard.
"Clever."
"Thank-you."
"Now where?"
"Well I was thinking the door may come in useful..." Fairy Godmother edged around the tower until she saw a small wooden door, which was wedged open with a guard posted either side. "Try not to act afraid," she whispered to Merryweather. She stood away from the wall, smoothed down her dress and walked up to the guards, who did not flinch or blink as she walked between them and into the tower. Merryweather followed, sweating profusely under the fur cloak. She saw Fairy Godmother dart into a side-room and followed suit.
"How?"
"It's Simon's enchantment. If we'd challenged the guards, they'd have attacked us. But as with all the cursed, if you ignore them, they will ignore you unless ordered to attack by Simon. I'm guessing Simon is at the top of the tower."
"How do you know?"
"I don't. It just fits with the stereotypical evil sorcerer image."
"Okay. Lead on."
"After you."
The top of the watchtower widened, giving the impression from a distance that the tower was a large birdbath someone had fitted a roof to. As the fairies ascended the tower, various cursed servants walked past them, each scurrying to complete an errand for their master, each unaware of their surroundings or selves beyond that which was necessary to complete the task in hand. Up ahead, they saw a larger, ornate door that had been decorated with a tree motif long ago.
"And in the dark, dark mountains, in the dark, dark tower, up the dark, dark stairs, there was a dark, dark door. And behind the dark, dark, door..." whispered Fairy Godmother to Merryweather, making her jump and sending chills down her spine. She held her hand over her mouth to stop herself shrieking and closed her eyes to calm down for a second. As she opened them, she saw Fairy Godmother raising her hand to the door. For a moment, the older fairy did not move. Then Fairy Godmother rapped smartly on the door three times. The door opened of its own accord and both fairies walked into the room.
A fire burned brightly in the fireplace, next to which a pair of Akita dogs lay curled up and asleep. A dining table held the remnants of a rich feast, reminding the fairies how long it had been since they had eaten. A wooden throne faced the door, on which a young man of nineteen sat, his eyes twinkling with mirth as he watched the two fairies. The boy wore a scarlet robe, trimmed in gold, with a pointed hat. Peculiarly, he also wore thick-rimmed glasses and had a strange goatee-like red beard. Merryweather felt herself about to laugh at the idea of being scared of this child, but then looked back to his eyes and realised what a dangerous thing laughing might be. The boy removed the glasses and handed them to a servant who stood facing the wall behind the throne. His eyes were completely black, and reflected no light from the room. As she stared, Merryweather was sure she could see stars behind those eyes and felt herself falling forward. Fairy Godmother coughed and Merryweather shook herself mentally, re-focusing on reality.
"And how might I help you Dama?"
"Simon – where is my son?"
"Right here," he clicked his fingers at the servant to his right, who turned and stared at Fairy Godmother. The servant was indeed Prince Charming, his brilliant blue eyes glazed over, his mind still under Maria's spell.
"Release him. And leave the kingdom of Far Far Away alone."
"Retreat now when I am so close to victory?"
"Yes. I see you have fed well – though I'm not sure your old glasses suit a child so young."
"One of the trials of my life I'm afraid, constantly trying to find a wardrobe that suits a man who can reverse his ageing."
"Give me back my son. Retreat from Far Far Away."
"And in return?"
"I might not kill you."
"Retreat from absolute victory and lose a servant, or fight you, Dama. Is that the bargain you wish to strike with me?"
"Yes Simon. What is it to be?"
"Neither. Charming, dispose of these intruders." Prince Charming drew his sword and advanced towards the two fairies, Merryweather clinging to Fairy Godmother in terror as they both backed away. The door had closed and neither fairy needed to test it to know that it would only open again on Simon's command. On his throne, Simon relaxed back and smiled at the scene before him. "Choose," he said softly, "is it more important to kill me, or save your son? To do the former you must kill Charming in order to attack me. To do the latter simply allow him to kill you and I will let Charming go free. Choose."