Chapter Eleven: The Elven Islands

And I'm so sad, like a good book

I can't pull this day back

A sorta fairy tale with you

A sorta fairy tale with you.

From "A Sorta Fairy Tale" by Tori Amos

The driver pulled over to the river in front of the Seventh Kingdom. The trip was blessedly quiet and uneventful giving the travelers enough time to talk things over and think about their mission. "Thank you, "Virginia said to the driver.

" My pleasure miss," he then turned to Wolf. "And thank you kindly sir for your payment." He said as he drove away.

"What was your payment?" Virginia asked.

"Well the guy wanted a lamb," Wolf said. "So I got one for him."

"As a pet?" Frick asked.

Wolf shook his head. "No, he had rich in-laws coming over and he wanted to have a fancy dinner made for them."

Virginia held up her hand. "Stop, I think I get the idea." She then glanced at the far end of the horizon to see if she could find any trace of their destination."I can't see the Seventh Kingdom. All I can see is fog." At the far end fog rolled in making it impossible to see the other side of the water.

"I've never been there," Wolf said. "But from what I have heard they make the land invisible to unsuspecting travelers."

Frick nodded. "I was here once years ago with Merlin and Nimue, they do all kinds of things to keep travelers unwary."

"Could they do the same thing to Excalibur?" Virginia asked.

Frick nodded. "It is a more than likely a possibility yes." Wolf nodded in confirmation.

Virginia continued. Well, how do we know where Excalibur is and what do we do with it once we find it?"

Frick shrugged. "Cinderella was a bit fuzzy on the details, remember? But she said it is in 'the graveyard of lost memories'' and we have to combine it with the Holy Grail to find Arthur's body."

"I wonder if Dad and the others are having as much trouble as we are having looking for the Holy Grail," Virginia mused.

"Yes but what about that other thing that you mentioned, what was it, the blood of Arthur?" Morgan asked remembering the story that her friends told her. "How do we get that before finding his body?"

"Maybe his blood was on something,Excalibur possibly," Virginia suggested.

"Maybe," Frick said deep in thought. "Or maybe it's something else. Well anyway, I guess we'll cross that bridge when we get to it."

"Umm, one question speaking of crossing bridges," Morgan asked. "Excalibur is in the Seventh Kingdom the other side and we are on this side, how do we get across?"

Wolf squinted on the horizon looking for a boat or something when a sound filled his ears. He glanced over at the trees on the other side of the group.and heard a rustling in the woods. "I think someone is following us." he whispered to his friends. "They've been following us since the Fifth Kingdom. I lost scent of their trail before, but they're back!"

"Is it that female hunter who chased us earlier?" Virginia asked.

Wolf sniffed the air. "I don't know, it doesn't smell like her. It might be someone else."

"Well we don't have to worry about that now, look!" Frick pointed at the horizon as a boat appeared and sailed through the river.

"Is it an enemy boat?" Wolf said crouching down and ready to attack.

Frick looked at the approaching ship and touched Wolf on the shoulder. "Down boy, easy there Rover," he said. "That's not an enemy boat. It's a cruggah, we have those in the Otherworld. The Seventh Kingdom must have them too."

True to Frick's word, a boat appeared at the shore. It was a narrow gold colored boat with a dragon symbol on the mast and a green sail billowing in the wind. Frick grinned. "Any questions?" he said. When none came he took Morgan's hand and led her to the boat. "Ladies first."

"I guess that includes you Frick," Wolf smirked goodnaturedly still smarting about Frick's "Rover" comment. Frick sarcastically laughed at Wolf's joke.

Wolf was about to take Virginia's hand and lead her onto the boat when he caught hold of the movement again. It moved through the trees and then dropped into the water. Wolf watched the ripples move like a large animal staying ahead of the surface.

He was about to lead Virginia into the boat, when a hand reached from the water and grabbed the young woman's ankle. Virginia screamed as the figure emerged from the water. It was a man with a shaved head and a demented look in his large eyes. His gray clothing and daggers that he held at Virginia's throat gave indication as to what he was: a hunter! He held onto Virginia while she struggled in his grasp!

"Let me go!" she demanded but the hunter only grunted in reply. Virginia kicked the Hunter and punched him. He drew back and Wolf jumped up to defend her. Wolf grabbed the hunter and the two of them fought. Wolf shoved Virginia in the boat and then released it into the water. "Go, I'll be back!" he said as he struggled to fight with the Hunter. The two struggled and fell into the water below.

"Wolf!" Virginia yelled. "Wolf!" She leaned over the edge while Morgan held her back but the only sound that could be followed was Virginia's echo.

"I'm sure he will be all right," Morgan reassured the younger woman. "He seems to be a resiliant fighter.

"And he is part wolf," Frick reminded her. "They are adept at fighting in many circumstances, even under water."

"No that's not it," Virginia said her voice not bothering to contain the fear. "You don't understand! He is claustrophobic! He can't stand to be in closed in spaces anywhere, small rooms, closets, elevators, even underwater for very long! He can't stand to be anywhere where he can't roam free!"

She once again called her husband, but only recieved her echo as a mocking reply.

The boat bobbed further from the shore as the three occupants hung their heads in silence. Suddenly, ripples appeared from the surface as something moved under water. Virginia caught her breath, hoping beyond all hope, but just in case. she turned to Frick and Morgan Le Fey. "Get ready," she commanded. Frick and Morgan held their oars ready as weapons.

Suddenly, a hand emerged from the water. Virginia stepped back in surprise and anticipation. A body then clung to the oars and the occupants sighed with relief. It was Wolf! "Help him, guys," Vuirginia said. She, Morgan, and Frick pushed Wolf in. He stood up and hugged and kissed his wife. "I'm glad you're all right," she said.

"You too," Wolf said. He then pulled away and embraced Morgan in a friendly way then turned to Frick.

"I see you got your jacket off," Frick said noting that Wolf's red jacket was gone. "Glad it wasn't your shirt." But he was teasing.

Wolf smiled and grasped the gnome's hand in a brotherly grasp.

"What happened to the Hunter?" Morgan asked.

"I left him in the water," Wolf said. "We'll be safe from him for now. Let's just enjoy the ride."

The cruggah bobbed up and down in the slightly rocky waves as it moved further and further in the fog. At first Wolf, Virginia, Frick, and Morgan used their oars to propel the boat, but when they realized that the boat moved on it's own accord by magic, they just used the oars to maneuver the boat up and down the waves. Then after awhile as the waves calmed they didn't even have to do that anymore. They pulled the oars in and let the boat guide them.

The fog then began to recede and the four saw a small chain of lush green islands. There was a fragarent smell and a sweet pleasent music filled the air. Virginia marveled in amazement. "Have you ever seen such a place?" she asked.

Morgan Le Fey nodded pleased, but her voice had a wistful tone to it. "Yes, once. It looks like back home in Cornwall."

"So which one of these has the graveyard of lost memories," Virginia wondered half to herself and half to the others.

"Maybe Leaf Fall would know," Wolf suggested.

"Yes of course," Frick agreed. "The Queen of Elves. That's a splendid idea. You're entitled to one!"

"Like the idea of eating roast beef with a gnome on the side?" Wolf growled. Frick shut his mouth quickly.

"That's a good idea boys," Virginia said.

"Abosolutely," Frick and Wolf said.

"An excellent idea," she said.

"Of course," they agreed.

"The best idea we have had yet," Virginia said in mock amazement.

"Oh thanks," the two men said ignoring her obvious sarcasm.

"Except one other thing," Virginia said. "Where is she?"

Wolf and Frick stopped in mid air their expressions caught on their faces. "Well that's a problem," Wolf reasoned.

"There you have us," Frick said.

Morgan Le Fey, who remained silent during most of the conversation then pointed. "Well we won't have to decide very long. Look!"

As she pointed, the cruggah reached a shore. The four grabbed onto the sides preparing for impact! But then the boat stopped neatly by the shoreline.

"I guess we have to leave," Wolf said. The quartet stepped out of the boat and looked around.

Virginia wiped her forehead. "Is it just me or is it hot?" she asked.

"It's not you," Frick said.

"It was cool minutes ago," Morgan said. "Where is it coming from?"

Wolf sniffed the air and felt under his feet. "Down there," he pointed downwards. Sure enough, Wolf was right. The ground was hot from below. Wolf explored the closer section of the island until he came upon a door inside a hill. He knelt down and motioned his friends to check it out. Morgan, Virginia, and Frick followed suit as Wolf opened the door.

Inside the door was a large red boar next to a great glowing ball. As the boar blew on it, the ball sent warm air through the ground and out of the hill.

"I was wondering when you would come," the boar said in a low grunting voice.

"How do you know us," Virginia asked. "Our boat crashed. We are looking for Queen Lea Fall."

"Then we can benefit each other," the pig said. "I will help you and you will help us. We chanted to the father god, Lugh and Queen Leaf Fall for assistance and here you have come."

"What are you doing?" Wolf asked.

"Let me introduce myself," the pig said. "My name is Naoise." He pronounced his name, Neesa.

Frick was startled. "You mean like the Celtic warrior?"

Naoise nodded. "The very same. My mother aided him on his journey and named me for him." He then turned to the glowing ball." You have asked what this is. This is one of the lights that alight the entire island and provide us with the warmth of the Gods. It is my job to keep it safe and properly lit."

"Such a tremendous job," Frick reasoned.

"And an important one," Naoise said with a touch of pride.

"I'm sorry you said you needed our help," Virginia said. "What for?"

Naoise nodded. "In the center of our island, there used to be an apple tree that grew golden apples for our food."

"What happened to it?" Morgan Le Fey asked.

Naoise shook his head and frowned. "We do not know. The tree is still there, but it no longer grow golden apples. We pray for release so that we do not go hungry."

The four looked from one to the other. "Don't worry, we'll help you," Virginia said.

"Such a soft touch," Wolf said. "That's what I love about you."

The four walked to the center of the island and looked around. There was a ring of trees that were all empty. Even though it felt like spring, no leaves or plants grew on them. The four inspected the trees until Morgan's ears perked up. "Did any of you hear that?" she asked.

Her three friends listened but then shook her head. "No," Virginia said. "I don't think so."

"I didn't hear anything," Wolf said.

"What did it sound like love?" Frick asked.

Morgan looked around confused listening for the sound but was now gone. "It sounded like hissing.You'll think I'm mad, but it sounded like a large sna-!" but that was as far as she got, for she fell down a large hole screaming!

Frick, Wolf, and Virginia ran to the edge of the hole. Morgan had fallen on her back. "Are you allright, Morgan?" Frick asked.

Morgan warily stood and inspected her body. There was a slight tear in her gown and she was slightly shaken from her fall, but otherwise she was okay. "I think so," she said. "But I will feel a lot better when I am out of this hole." Without waiting for another word, Wolf grabbed hold of Frick and led the gnome down to reach his bride.

Morgan grabbed Frick by his wrists as she heard a hiss. She let go in surprise and peered into the darkness to see one large yellow eye appearing at her. She gulped, backed into a wall, and raised her head. "Get me out of here," she whispered frantically. Frick once again leaned over to catch his wife, but as he was about to be lowered into the hole, the eye emerged from the darkness forming a huge fangs, a forked tongue, and gray scales. Hissing at Morgan was a large snake. She shivered feeling her body tighten in fear. "Umm, this is a bad time to mention that I am scared to death of snakes," Morgan called weakly to her friends.

"It's alright, Morgan just sneak away," Frick said calmly. The noblewoman was about to sneak away grabbing the side of the wall when the snake lunged at her She ducked down to avoid the snake's bite

"Something tells me that didn't work," she said.

From the top of the hole, Frick turned to Wolf. "Quickly, find me something sharp."

"Like what," Wolf said.

"I don't know, like a stick or something," Frick said. Wolf and Virginia ran off to find something that fit Frick's suggestion.

After a few minutes, but what seemed like a few hours to the gnome, the couple returned. Wolf had a fallen tree branch in his hand. "This was all we could find," Wolf said.

"That'll have to do," Frick replied. He then jumped down the hole, branch in hand.

Morgan who had her fill of creeping and leaping to get away from the snake sighed with relief. "Thank you," she said.

"Just stay behind me," the gnome yelled. Morgan stood behind her husband as Frick aimed his sword at the snake parrying and thrusting at it like a knight to a dragon. The snake then veered forwards to attack the gnome, but he propelled himself by the wall and used the branch as a shield. The snake then lunged forward and Frick jumped back and stepped away, but he got caught up in the snake's coils. The serpent then knocked his attacker to the ground and wrapped him in his body.

"Frick!" Morgan yelled. The branch fell out of Frick's hand at his wife's feet. Seizing her chance, Morgan picked up the branch and approached the snake. The snake lowered his body at her, Morgan then knelt down and the snake followed her. She could actually see herself reflecting in the big serpent's eye. She gripped the branch tightly and thrust it into the snake's eye! The snake hissed and yowled in pain, the branch caught in his eye! In it's fury, it banged against walls and on the hole shaking the earth in it's confusion. Morgan pried the branch from it's eye, then ran on top of the coils until she reached the top of the snake's head. She then aimed under the snake's head and shoved the branch into the creature's back. With a scream, the snake fell dead.

Morgan jumped off the body and then pulled her husband free from the snake's grip. Virginia and Wolf reached down and helped their friends out of the hole. Morgan and Frick sighed in relief and exhaustion.

"That was wonderful beloved," Frick said.

Morgan nodded and waved her hand in disdain. "For once it pays for Mordred to have kept pet snakes," she said sarcastically.

Virginia looked up from the pleasent scene in surprise. "Guys look!" The others followed the direction that she was pointing. All around them the barren trees began to grow green leaves and golden apples! The air was filled with the lovely scent of fruit growing.

"Safe to say our mission was accomplished," Wolf said. "Let's take these to Naoise."

When they lay the apples at the feet of the boar, Naoise smiled. "Thank you, you may have a branch of apples as a gift."

"Only a branch?" Virginia asked. "I mean, don't think I'm ungrateful or nothing but-"

"- The apples on the branch have the power to grow as many apples as are needed," the boar replied. " But take only what is needed, no more. Leaf Fall's castle is in the center of the river, now go and good luck!"

The four friends thanked Naoise as they left the island and sailed into the calm water.

Frick plucked an apple from the branch and then gave three apples to Wolf, Virginia, and Morgan. Each time he pulled an apple from the branch, another apple grew in it's place! The four sighed in amazement at the boar's gift! The apples tasted better than any apple that they ever had before and they tasted differently to each person. To Frick they tasted like sweet honey and necter. To Virginia they tasted like fancy cupcakes fresh from a bakery. To Wolf they tasted like a scrumptious small piece of lamb or steak. To Morgan they tasted like fine wine and berries like in Tintagel.

Virginia munched lightly on the apple and looked at the approaching water. "It seems like smooth sailing right now," she said. As soon as she spoke, a loud rumbling echoed through the river sending rocks falling to the water below. The four pushed the river away to get away from the falling rocks. "Spoke too soon," Virginia yelled. "Sounds like thunder."

"Or an earthquake!" Frick yelled.

"Keep maneuvering the boats!" Wolf said. The four grabbed the oars as the sound got louder and louder. The boat sailed quickly pushing past the waves that were created from the falling rocks.

Morgan squinted far ahead. "Why don't we try for that island over there, the one with the tall statue!"

"I see it," Wolf yelled. "Wait that's not a statue! It's moving!"

As the boat approached the island, the statue could be seen clearer and the closer they got to the statue, the more the waves rocked back and forth and the walls rumbled with the noise, until it was clear that the noise came from the statue. The being was a giant with gold skin and golden hair all the way down to his ankles. He sat on top of a mountain with his gargantuan hands in his knees. The travelers discovered that the sounds were the giant's moaning.

Wolf, Virginia, Morgan, and Frick rowed the boat directly under the giant's mountain. The closer they got, the boat threatened to tip over from the echoes. "I can imagine telling people in New York that I got killed by a crying giant," Virginia yelled as a large rock tumbled from the mountain onto the water below! A wave sprang knocking the boat over like a child's toy in a bathtub sending it and it's occupants to the shore. The quartet tumbled into each other as they fell onto the beach.

Frick caught his breath as he looked to his friends. "Are you three allright," he asked.

"I'm wet," Morgan said. "But other than that I'm alright."

"I could be better," Virginia said.

"Enjoyed the swin," Wolf quipped."You?"

Frick nodded. "Ler's give this titan of a gentleman a talking to or we will never continue our journey."

The friends then walked down a small narrow path to a green field guarded by two fences.

One fence had a flock of white sheep and the other had a flock of black. The sheep were

about the size of a grown man. "Oh my God," Virginia moaned. "It's Sheepzilla!"

Periodically, the giant picked up a sheep and moved it to the other fence and as he did the sheep changed color to match the others around them. Each time, the giant moaned sending the shockwaves throughout the walls.

"What is he doing?" Morgan asked.

"I haven't the slightest idea," Frick said. "Let's find out."

The four walked up to the fence and stood yelling to get the giant's attention. "Hey, we're down here!" But he paid him no mind. "Hello-," he then turned to his friends and wife. "Maybe he will hear us better if we all yell."

All four friends yelled to get the giant's attention. "Hey, Tall Man!" "We need your help!"
"Paul Bunyan!" "Mr. Giant!" But still he couldn't hear them.

"He must be too tall to hear us," Virginia said. "Maybe we should just go."

"How far would we go with the Moaning Madman?" Morgan said sarcastically.

"Hey, where's he going?" Wolf said interrupting the women's conversation. They turned to see where he was pointing, at a retreating Frick walking up the hill.

"I'm alright," the gnome called to his friends. "I'll just have a talk with him. Wait there!"

"What is that gnome doing?" Wolf said in disbelief as Frick leaped over one of the fences and stood next to a white sheep.

"I hope not contemplating suicide," Morgan said biting her lip in worry but also shaking her head in disbelief at her husband's bravado.

Frick looked up as a shadow fell over the pen, like an eclipse just appeared even though the sky was clear. On top of the gnome, five large fingers wrapped themselves around the sheep and gnome. Frick choked in the giant's tight grasp, but moved upwards, and to the left. His ears popped in the high altitude, but Frick rather enjoyed the ride. Sort of like riding one of those metal contraptions that humans made called airplanes.

The giant's hand moved to the other pen on the left. He opened his closed fist and lay the sheep and gnome down on the other side. Next to Frick, the sheep turned black though Frick remained the same. The giant did not moan this time, instead just shook his head like he saw it coming. He was about to move a black sheep to the other side, when his eyes fell upon his visitor. He grabbed Frick in his hand and lifted him up so that he and the gnome could be face to face.

"What are you doing here?" he demanded in such a loud booming voice that Frick was almost knocked off the giant's hand if he hadn't grabbed onto the giant's thumb for support. "Are you planning on stealing these sheep?" He asked in a tone that indicated he wish Frick did.

"No, sir, absolutely not," Frick said with a bow. "My name is Frick and my friends-those are my friends down there- are sailing to see Queen Leaf Fall when we landed on your island by mistake. We just require your help to move our boat." He nodded to where the boat had landed on the island, but in the force had been destroyed. What's left of it, the gnome thought to himself.

The giant's eyes drooped and his face fell "Oh I apologize, it was my fault that your boat crashed on my shore, but I was preoccupied."

"How so?" Frick asked.

The giant sighed. "Let me begin. My name is Tellitail, and I was given the duty to protect Queen Leaf Fall's sheep."

"So what's the matter?" Frick asked. "Lonely out here, no balls, no...uh incredibly large women to entertain?"

Tellitail shook his head. "No I am much too shy and serious for that sort of thing. I was to move the sheep from one pen to the other so they would change from black to white and back again. Her request is for her sheep to be all black and white, but none to be black or white. I have tried to move them from one side to the other and they are always the same color."

Frick tutted in sympathy. "Such a tremendous burden. How long have you been at it?"

"30 years," Tellitail sighed.

Frick tried not to betray his surprise. "Oh I...see. Perhaps I can help."

Tellitail waved his hand in disdain. "If you wish, I don't think that it will be of any help."

Frick looked down at the two gates and the grazing sheep. He watched as Tellitail put a black sheep to the other side as it changed to white. All black and white, but none black or white, he considered. "Can they leave the fenced areas?" he asked.

"No," Tellitail said. "They are only permitted to stay within the outside fence."

Frick traced the fence with his thumb and as he did, he noticed that his thumb covered the inside barrier between the two fences. Suddenly he had it!

"Tellitail, can the wall between the two sides be taken out," Frick asked.

"Yes, of course," Tellitail replied.

"Take it out," Frick answered.

"But-" the giant said.

"Just do it," Frick replied. Shrugging, Tellitail reached down and pulled out the inside wall that seperated the two sets of sheep. With no such division, the sheep excitedly ran to their fellow sheep and as they did, a change fell over them. Instead of being solid black and white, they grew black and white spots and stripes. Frick waved. "See they are black and white mixed and neither black nor white because they are not a solid color."

Tellitail smiled and yelled in triumph, sending some nearby rocks down to the water. Noticing this, the giant sat back and laughed a slight nervous laugh. "Anyway, thank you," he said relieved. "You have relieved my burden."

"Anything I can do to help," the gnome grinned. "Now could you put me next to my friends."

"Of course," Tellitail replied. He gently set Frick down next to Virginia, Wolf, and Morgan.

Frick introduced the gang to his new friend and explained the situation. He then told Tellitail about their journey and the problems with the boat.

"I am very sorry about the boat," Tellitail replied. "But I can help you. On the other side of this island is a ferryman who will take you across the river for ten gold coins. He will take you right to Queen Leaf Fall, for she is on the next island. But I should warn you: Whatever you do, do not allow the ferryman to trick you into taking or holding the oars. If you do, you will be stuck rowing the ferry for eterinity until another takes your place."

"We will, thank you," Frick said.

"And thank you my little friend," Tellitail answered.

Robyn followed closely on their trail. It had been a struggle coming up for air after the half-wolf had taken him by surprise. But he gasped as the sweet oxygen filled his lungs. Then he sniffed the air, the half-wolf and his friends had been there at least an hour ago. The ground was warm, even hot in some places for the hunter to put his feet on. But he paid them no heed. He sniffed his pursuits but another feeling caught him. Robyn felt his stomach rumbling. The exertion with the wolf hungered him. His acute senses caught the fragrance of apples. He walked to a meadow in a circle of trees. He felt his stomach rumble even further. He looked around to see if anyone watched him, then he reached he made a slight climb up the tree and grabbed three apples from the branches, then plucked four branches. He took a big bite from one of the apples and spat it out! The apple tasted rotten like a combination of molded bread or dried fruit. Infuriated, Robyn threw the apple on the ground. He tasted another one, but it was even worse! He took a bite out of each one but they all tasted horrible. Furious, the Hunter threw the apples on the ground and continued his search.

The gang walked to the edge of the giant's island. The air was thick with silence and mist filled the approaching twilight. The mist seemed to crowd into the travelers and blocked their vision. The earlier sweetness and fragrance was gone and replaced with a deep sadness and foreboding.

Frick and Wolf exchanged knowing glances and Wolf turned to his wife. "Virginia you may want to wait here."

Virginia resisted her husband's grasp. "What do you mean? No I am in this as much as you are."

"It's just Leaf Fall doesn't like outsiders from the 9 Kingdoms so near to her castle. So sometimes she puts up barriers to those who are outsiders. Those who aren't from the 9 Kingdoms and those who are not touched by magic will be affected."

Frick nodded. "Yes, Wolf is a native from here and I am a magical creature. Morgan, though would be vulnerable under normal circumstances, she has been under mine and Bluebeard's spells so long that she is immune."

Virginia blinked taken aback. "Oh so I get it. The weakest link gets to stay behind?"

Wolf reached to touch his wife's hand. "That's not it, my Wolf Girl."

Virginia drew back annoyed. "I appreciate your concern," she said sarcastically. "But I think I can take care of myself. I am not some hot house flower that you have to protect! I'm going!"

She then turned from her companions as if to say the conversation was over.

The four fell into a gloomy silence. Suddenly, Wolf's ears perked up. "Do you hear that?"

Frick was about to come back with a smart remark about wolves and their hearing, when he heard it too. It sounded like oars running along the water. "I guess that's our ride," the gnome said.

A boat appeared out of the mist as if from the air. It was smaller than the cruggah and a lot less ornate. In fact it was a small brown ferry with signs of wear on the sides, but no wear was more shown than on the driver. He carried the oars and rowed his back hunched over. His white beard hung to his ankles and was untrimmed. His face was careworn and lined and his eyes held a downcast expression. His robe though currently ragged and patched showed signs that it once was fine and royal.

"Ten gold coins are all you need to pass this shore," the ferryman said in a rusty voice hoarse from disuse. Frick, Morgan, Wolf, and Virginia searched their pockets and were able to come up with ten coins. Virginia gathered them and handed them to the man. "Thank you," he said in a flat voice. "Where are you headed?"

"Leaf Fall's castle," Frick replied.

"I will take you there," the man said. "Get in." Before anyone could make any objections, Virginia stormed onto the boat in front of them. Not wanting to say more to set the young woman off, Wolf, Frick, and Morgan walked in the boat without another word.

The man rowed the boat across the river without saying anything and neither did the companions. The air seemed to forbid frivolous discussions or any type of close friendliness that they earlier enjoyed.

The Ferryman stopped for a few minutes and wiped his brow. "It is a very difficult tiring journey. Would one of you please be kind and hold the oars while I rest my arms?"

Wolf was about to stand and offer his help, but Virginia held him back and shook her head. She fixed him a look and Wolf nodded remembering Tellitail's words about not taking the oars from the Ferryman. Wolf quickly sat down. The Ferryman moaned resigned, but continued rowing.

Virginia leaned over the side of the boat and looked at her reflection bobbing up and down the water.

She sighed thinking of her earlier fight with Wolf. She didn't mean to snap at him in that way. It was just she felt so edgy lately. She recalled the frightening dream/hallucination/vision that she had in the 5th Kingdom. Herself in that awful black gown holding her children over the roof and threatening to drop them. She could still hear Luna and Gray's frightened cries and her other self's words...I am you! She also recalled the Dream Virginia's mocking words after she insisted that she would never harm her children... But you have remember and you killed your own mother! She didn't want to think about either of those times. They were too frightening to recall.

Thinking about that made Virginia think about her mother. If Virginia had these thoughts that her mother acted upon, did this make her any different than her? What made Christine's near murder of her so terrible and Virginia's actual murder of her mother so admirable? And what about her baby? Virginia could still hear her newborn's cries that night and their sudden stop as her breath was still. They weren't even able to give her a name and still... Virginia lowered her head and sobbed wondering about her fate. Inside wasn't Virginia the same as her mother?

Wolf put his hand on Virginia's shoulder to silently reassure her, but the young woman turned away without a word. Wolf was wonderful, but he can't know about these thoughts or about that night. It's not that he wouldn't understand, but she couldn't bear to see the shame in his eyes or his fear of her. She wouldn't reveal any of that no matter how much he asked.

It was better that way.

Virginia looked closely at her reflection. It seemed to change. Instead of the young woman with the soft brown hair and the wide blue eyes, she once again saw herself in that other form! The cold haughty woman willing to throw her own children over a building just to taunt her weaker self. Weaker? Virginia started. Where did that come from?

The Dream Virginia stood in Snow White's castle, her beautiful alabaster face filled with such anger and hatred. She stood in front of one of her mother's old mirrors. Though Virginia could not hear what her vision was saying, she knew the chant by heart: Mirror, Mirror on the wall. Who is the fairest one of all?

"No," She screamed. Virginia could hear Frick, Morgan, and Wolf move to her side and Wolf take her by the shoulders. She pushed them away in fury and reached over and splashed her hand in the water removing the reflection from her eyes. After a few minutes when her friends were convinced that she was well, she felt them moving away from her, though Wolf stayed close by.

Damnit, why doesn't that wolf just leave me alone? Virginia thought to herself. She shook her head. What possessed her to think that of her husband?

You thought it yourself, a voice seemed to say inside her head.

Virginia looked around to her companions. Who had said that? Wolf stayed watch over Virginia but didn't say anything. Frick and Morgan seemed to be locked in their own private conversation. They laughed and she slapped him lightly and then they kissed. It wasn't either of them. The Ferryman was still rowing, but he gave Virginia a stony glare as though he were contemplating something. It wasn't him. Besides the voice was female and somehow seemed oddly familiar, though Virginia couldn't place from where. Was she insane? Was she going mad?

The voice continued. You destroyed that image, but you will never destroy who you really are what you were born to become.

Virginia shook her head but the voice spoke once more. Come to me. You harbour such pain.

Come to me and I can make it all go away.

Virginia covered her ears trying to block out the voice but still it called to her. She shook her head

furiously willing to do anything to block out this awful siren song.

"VIRGINIA!" Wolf's yell interrupted her thoughts. She looked up and saw The Ferryman approach her in a blind fury. He screamed in rage his oars held over his head. Virginia wasn't sure whether he was going to force her to take the oars or hit her over the head with them. She didn't want to wait to find out. Virginia reared up her feet and when the Ferryman stood over her, she kicked him to the side knocking him into the water, oars still in hand.

Virginia sighed with relief but it didn't last long. the force of the Ferryman's fall knocked the boat over and the four friends plunged into the water.

They weren't far from the shore, so they didn't have to far to swim. The four waded to the shore and caught their breath. "You know I'm beginning to sense a pattern in the boats we ride," Frick said.

"At least we landed in the right place," Wolf said and pointed ahead. In front of them was a beautiful silver and gold castle. The silver turrets gleamed in the sunlight and the golden bricks and mortar were almost blinding to the travelers. On top of the castle waved the solid green flag of the Seventh Kingdom. It waved briskly seeming to welcome the visitors to it's castle.

"I guess this is the place," Virginia said dully. "We better get going."

Wolf followed Virginia to the castle. He once again reached for his wife and again she pulled away. There was something torturing her that she couldn't tell him about. There was something going on that she didn't want him to know and it was causing her to lash out at him. He wanted to help her with whatever was troubling her, but she wouldn't have any of it. Wolf sensed that his wife was in some sort of emotional distress, but he didn't know what it was and that worried him. Wolf looked to Morgan and Frick who were trailing behind them. They walked hand in hand, laughing, and talking softly. Frick whispered something in his wife's ear which caused her to laugh harder. No doubt this journey was bringing Frick and Morgan Le Fey closer together, but it was driving Wolf and Virginia further apart.