Circle of Sisters

25. The Captive Freed

Wolf flexed his wrists experimentally, testing the limits of the rope the bound him. Would that it were the full moon instead of this dark night, he cursed quietly under his breath. The Goddess would give him the strength to escape. Save his brother, get the cub and Virginia and run for the hills before the moon rose and Elias stalked the land. He cursed the rotten luck that had brought the Red soldiers to this spot on this day. With their very Queen, no less. Except that Wolf didn't really believe in luck having anything to do with it. Now that he had seen the boy, Connor (and Wolf could only ever think of him as such), he had little doubt that someone had set the Queen and her men on this particular path for a reason. In the back of his mind there was an evil sounding cackle suddenly. Wolf scowled fiercely, mustering as much mental energy as he could to dispel the swamp witch from his thoughts. He pushed it away, with effort, and added to it with a little sneer of his own. Go ahead and laugh, witch, but I am coming for you first. His lips must have been moving, for he had the attention of the Queen at once.

"What is that you say, wolf?". Her voice was as haughty as he remembered overhearing it at Wendell's Coronation ball. He almost smiled at her obvious ire at having to address him with his name, instead of just 'wolf'. A totally unexpected bonus, choosing to call himself Wolf, he thought to himself. Even someone like the Queen of the Second Kingdom had to use it, for there was no other option. It lessened her hold over him, he knew. Made it sound like they were having a normal conversation. She raised her pale blonde eyebrows at him , but did not stoop to repeat the question.

"I was talking to Hera" he answered anyway.

"Hera?"

"The Swamp Witch. She sent you here, did she not?"

"I...ah"

"You don't know? This letter you recieved, the one you're hiding behind your back, you didn't know who sent it, yet you followed it's suggestions?" Wolf asked, feeling incredulous. Scarlett's quickly concealed blush told him the truth of his guess. "Let me get this right. You receive an anonymous letter, bidding you make haste to this location. What if it were a trap? What was offered of such value to you that you would take this risk? Me?" Wolf continued, his instincts telling him to keep his voice soft and non-threatening. The Red Queen gulped and swallowed and he knew he had hit on the truth. But her motives for wishing him harm were likely many, so he waited out the heavy silence, knowing she was about to spill all her deepest secrets to him. He risked a glance over his shoulder, seeing the sky darkening. The sun had set. Only a few minutes to moonrise now. The swish of the Queen's rich fabrics recalled his attention to the here and now. She paced back and forth in agitation.

"Yes, damn it, it was you! There, are you happy now? All these past long months I have dreamed about getting you. You, who spoiled all my plans, my future. You, with your damnable honour, your bravery, your thwarting of the Evil Queen. Earned you a nice reward, didn't it? Made a Hero, given a nice commission, garnered a pardon for your kind, a place at the court of White...". Wolf heard her silent stumble over the last part, and all of a sudden it fell into place. Of course. Risky to mention it, but he felt compelled to.

"You loved him. Wendell, I mean. You loved him...". Scarlett's rising sob that she was unable, or unwilling, to hide, burst forth. Wolf was partially horrified. It was one thing to see any woman cry, but a queen? He spoke into the charged silence, putting the pieces together. "And so, you looked on him, and loved and desired him. Then I come along. Bad enough that I save your life, but then Wendell goes ahead and rewards me for it, except not only me, but all wolf's in that Kingdom. And your courtiers, your stuffy advisors, they know nothing, for when can a queen let her desires be known? Then they gather about and whisper, how horrible, how awful for that King to bow down before such nasty animals. Out loud, they pity whoever that King finally chooses to be his Queen. And how proud are they that none of their royal family would taint themselves with wolf-lovers. And so they go on, and you go home alone..."

The queen continued weeping, wiping her face with a corner of her sleeve. "It's true, curse you, but it's true" she whispered. Wolf doubted that anyone else knew of these things. Riding Hood's were a proud family. Revelling in the abilities to stay strong in the face of danger. Or heartbreak. But not this scion of the line, thought Wolf unhappily. The worst part was of course that he could sympathise entirely with her. He knew what true love felt like, intimately. Many nights, he had imagined how he might live out his life if he lost his Virginia. Even the thought of it hurt.

"I'm sorry" he said at last. Queen Scarlett looked up at him from behind her sleeve. Her red puffy face was damp, her eyes unfocussed. Whatever she saw when she looked at him, Wolf had no idea. It came to him suddenly that her damnable Red pride could kick in at any moment, and no way would she suffer him to live now that he knew her hidden pain. But even as she strove to find words, the night was rent with an unearthly noise. Wolf wanted to close his ears. That horrible howl he had heard in his mind many times over the past weeks. There was a quiet commotion amongst the men of the camp. Somewhere, he heard a woman cry out in fear. The queen had blanched as white as he had ever seen anyone.

"What...was that?" she said. Wolf could see her trembling hands as she fought not to show fear. "What, is, that?" she asked again, moving to stand in front of him.

"It's a wolf, my Lady. But wait!" he said as she turned to call out to her guards, "it's not like any wolf you have seen or heard of. This thing is three times the size. It has no fear, no reason. It lives only to hunt and kill. Tell your men to flee this thing. Get your women and courtiers and get away, fast!"

"But, but it's full dark. We would never survive the chase down that mountain!"

"Then come together, make a defensive circle, anything! Stick together. Maybe it won't attack if there are numbers against it" Wolf answered, feeling a rising panic. Of course the thing would attack. Wolf firmly believed that it would try and break through the lines, if only to get at him in particular. Outside, there was the clinking of weapons being drawn and armed, men rushing to and fro. The queen looked at a loss. One of her guard, the captain, Wolf thought, thrust through the hanging drapes.

"Forgive me, my Queen..." he started, going down on one knee.

"I heard it, Captain"

"We are unsure, my Lady...what to do. It's a thing that none of us have heard before. Like to a wolf, it is, but something more...perhaps one of the foul creatures that cross from the 8th Kingdom from time to time...it's coming this way, making a great racket through the trees..."

"Move to intercept this creature, Captain. Kill or capture, I don't care. But leave enough to guard my tent"

"Of course, my Lady, but, one more thing..." the guard began.

"Go, and quickly. I trust that you will see to this, personally, Captain" the Queen cut him off. Wolf had a sinking feeling as he watched the man turn to go. She had just likely sent him to his death. Her back was straight now. No sign of her earlier tears. It was a formidable display of strength, albeit misguided, and Wolf found himself admiring her mettle. She probably would have made a good match for Wendell, he realised. Outside, he heard the Captain barking orders, heard them forming a loose knit line as they marched off up the beach. Their boots scuffed the gravel.

"Release me, and I will fight for you" he said, using all the persuasiveness at his command. Sometimes, if a human was as far away in thought as this one was, a soft command spoken with just the right tone could yield helpful results. He saw her hand lift in his direction for a moment before her head caught up with her actions. Wolf sighed. She was no simpleton, this queen. But before she could respond, a scream tore through the still night air. A human, a man's scream. Men did not often scream like this one did. It was cut off abruptly. Another soon joined it, then another. The sound of running feet came towards them, so that even the queen was aware of it. Men shouted commands.

"Fall back, fall back! Leave them, fools! Fall back to the Queen! Get them together". There was an instant panic as the retreating guards burst through the tents beside their's, hustling the weeping court ladies and noblemen together.

"Untie me, woman!" Wolf almost bellowed at the Queen. She shook her head, hand over her mouth, but Wolf doubted that she had even heard him. A scent came to him, wafting across the open space. His heart practically leapt out of his chest. Virginia. Turning his head as far as it would go, he saw her standing in the entrance. She wore a long blue gown, her hair loose about her shoulders, a slender circlet of silver about her brow. She looked so radiant, so alive with power that he barely recognized her. Then she glanced aside at him, a subtle wink, and he knew it was her. But he was beyond words, and so was the Red Queen, it seemed. Virginia crossed the few steps between them and Wolf felt the ropes break free. He wanted nothing more than just to scoop her up and run, but she held up a hand to stop him.

"No, wait, Wolf. Elias comes. I have to go to him. Stay here, protect this Queen" she said. Her voice exuded control. Wolf desperately wanted to both obey her and defy her at the same time. But without even waiting for his answer, she had turned and gone, the tent flaps billowing in her wake. Wolf felt dazed. Had she been here at all? He looked to the Queen. As one, they turned towards the opening, pulling aside the drapery to peer out into the night. Wolf almost wished he hadn't looked.

Virginia stood there. She was several yards away, her back to him and the trembling gaggle of soldiers. Even in his fear, Wolf saw that at least half their numbers were missing. A sudden bugle blast tore through the night. Wolf started in confusion. He knew that bugle call, had heard it many times. That was King Wendell's call. What in the fairying forest was Wendell doing here? A quick clatter of hooves announced the House of White joining the party. Wendell, accompanied by several soldiers carrying torches, topped the rise. They had their bows drawn in readiness, and Wolf saw the silver tips glowing in the torchlight. The Red soldiers called out to them in recognition and welcome. The White guards cast about in the dark, seeking their target. A great wailing howl broke out, and the hair on Wolf's neck rose in fear.

The werewolf was every bit as terrifying as he imagined it. He had only seen the paw prints of the thing that night and had therefore been able to guestimate the size of the monster, but in reality in was far worse to look upon. It towered over Virginia. It bayed and showed it's enormous rack of teeth at her. It lunged and snapped right at her face, but still she stood there unmoved. Wolf was silenced by the horror of the scene. Surely he was about to witness her death. The werewolf sidled to one side, but Virginia held out her hand, stopping it from going past her. The creaking strain of bows held taut hummed in the air. Wolf wanted to shout out. No, don't shoot now, you'll hit Virginia as well! And, he realised belatedly, probably the cub as well. The tiny form of Alice clung to the back of the monster. Wolf almost howled at her to jump down, but stopped himself just in time. Dangerous though it looked, the cub had obviously chosen the best possible spot. Elias could not reach her, nor shake off her determined grip. The werewolf scuttled sideways again, and once more Virginia held out her hand to stop it.

Wolf was stunned as the monster backed up a pace. Why hadn't it attacked and killed her? What was it waiting for? Why could Virginia stand there like that and know that she was safe from it? Or was she only guessing that? Was she attempting some heroic act of sacrifice to save the others? Well, Wolf knew he wouldn't be able to allow that. He took a half step forward before he felt the queen's hand on his arm.

"No" she whispered, "look!". Wolf turned to face her, with a wordless protest, when he saw, slinking from the shadows, a long silver gleam. The knife swung down to lodge in the back of Queen Scarlett. She sagged forward into Wolf's arms, preventing him from blocking the retreat of Connor. Within seconds, he was melted into the shadows. Scarlett coughed, and a great gobbet of blood came up out of her mouth, staining her lips crimson. Her guards, their attention on the scene between Virginia and the monster, didn't even realise what had happened. Protect this Queen. That was what Virginia had charged him to do. Torn between the woman he loved and the woman he should hate. Wolf lifted Scarlett easily and bore her away towards the line of mounted horsemen that formed King Wendell's guard.

"Wendell!" he hissed aloud as he drew near. The line parted and the King himself rode his stallion forward. He opened his mouth to speak, a dozen questions on his face, but Wolf cut him off. "No, wait, first things first. This is Queen Scarlett. She's been stabbed in the back. Bring your medic here!"

"He's at the bottom of the slope, Wolf, but I'll get him immediately!" said Wendell, sliding off his horse to come and take the limp form of the queen from Wolf's arms. One of his men rode off down the hill as Wolf handed her over. He didn't like the look of her all that much. Other White soldiers came forward, exclaiming softly at how the Red soldiers could allow this to happen to their monarch.

"Don't blame them overmuch. They'll do that themselves when they find out. She was struck from behind, by a coward who has fled"

"Should we seek him?" the guard asked. Wolf shook his head, impatient now to get back to Virginia and her dangerous standoff.

"No, leave him for now. I'll deal with him personally, later" he muttered. He spared a glance for Wendell. The King was kneeling in the dirt, his lap providing a cradle for Scarlett's head. But half his attention was on Virginia, Wolf saw. The guard spoke his questions.

"Is that the Lady Virginia? And is that the very same monster that roamed the Disenchanted Forest a moon ago? How is she controlling it?"

"Yes, and yes, and I haven't a clue" Wolf answered for both of them. He looked back to Virginia, seeing that she was walking forwards, slowly now, arms outstretched, and the werewolf was backing up from her. Steadily, she drove it backwards down the beach. It gave ground, unwillingly, growling and snarling all the way, until she had it right at the edge of the water. There was a hiss of steam from the surface of the Lake as the monster's rear paw stepped into it. The werewolf howled as if in pain, but Virginia was resolute, driving it back into the water. Soon, all four paws were submerged, and Virginia also stepped into the Lake. When she was belly deep, the waters began to bubble and churn as if they were boiling. Random flashes of light shot through from the depths. A great fish jumped with a splash just as a blinding white light enveloped Virginia and the werewolf. His eyes dazzled, Wolf strove to see what had happened. He was halfway down to the water before he saw that the monster was gone. In it's place, Elias the man.

Elias shocked face contorted into a variety of expressions. He shrieked and pulled at his hair. He grabbed at Virginia, speaking at her in low, but near hysterical tones. Wolf couldn't make out the words, but he saw Virginia shake her head, slowly. She lifted his hands from her shoulders and turned as if to go back to shore. But Elias' face, at first blank, seemed to melt with rage. Wolf opened his mouth to shout a warning, but it was too late. Elias leaped forward, bearing down on Virginia, tearing at her long gown, dragging her down into the dark water.

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Virginia struggled as the water closed over her head. Elias was strong, maddened and his large hands gripped her around the throat as he bore her under. Virginia's mind flashed back to the moments when she had first emerged from the Lake. The strange guards, wearing what she had guessed to be the livery of the Second Kingdom, had gaped at her openly. Further back, along the rocky shoreline were pitched tents and pavillions of varying shapes and sizes. Virginia scanned the immediate area. No sign of Wolf, or Elias or even Will. And she didn't have her enhanced senses to find them either, she thought with a pang of worry. One of the men came forward to grip her forearm, probably as much to test if she were a real person as to help her to shore. His eyes were wide, puzzled, but whatever he or the other's truly thought about her sudden appearance from the depths of the Lake, Virginia didn't know.

As she stood on the lip of the water Virginia became aware that she was still dressed in the garb that Coventina had wished on her. A totally impractical get up of long gown and cape, silk slippers even. The clothes seemed to magically dry before her eyes, which was a comforting thing at least. It was an unexpected bonus that the men who stood staring at her suddenly seemed to realise that they were ogling a 'lady'. They went from suspicious to deferential in a matter of seconds. It gave Virginia an insight into how easily a woman might conquer a whole Kingdom, if only she dressed well for the occasion. Men never suspected a well turned out lady. Virginia straightened her back a fraction as she addressed the man closest to her.

"Good Sir, I am seeking three friends, a man and two..." she began, then stopped herself just in time. If she was in the 2nd Kingdom, then the chivalrous attention of these soldiers could turn nasty in an instant. But the guard heard her stumble and his eyes narrowed.

"You mean, wolves, Lady?" he said in a monotone voice that told Virginia it was not a question, really. The other soldiers, hearing their fellow's words, turned their eyes on her in a way that made Virginia cringe inwardly. Fancy gowns meant nothing to them now. Trying desperately to think of a way out of her predicament, Virginia looked back over her shoulder at the dark waters of the Lake.

"You cannot escape, wolf lover" the guard ground out. He spat at her feet and reached again for her arm, but just as he did so, the first howl of the werewolf rang out. His hand paused inches from her as the other men muttered in confusion. For a moment, Virginia could only feel immense sorrow. She was too late. A glimpse of the shadowed moon confirmed it, and now, mayhem would begin all over again. Elias howled again, closer this time. More soldiers appeared from all directions. They turned to the man near Virginia; evidently he was their Captain. He barked orders to several of them.

"You, and you fellows. Go find out what makes that noise! And be quick about it!". The men grabbed up their swords and ran down the beach towards a stand of withered trees. Virginia reached to tug at the man's sleeve.

"No, no, call them back, please!" she whispered as loud as she dared. The man scowled at her fiercely.

"And why would you want me to do that? Do you think my men can't handle any wolf that dares to approach our Queen?"

"It's no 'wolf' fool! Listen for yourself. Tell me you have never heard a wolf make that kind of noise!" Virginia said, louder now. Some of the other guards were listening to her, she saw. If only she could make them see the danger that they were now in. And their Queen as well. Scarlett herself was here? How, and more importantly, why? The werewolf howled again, and a man screamed in agony. Then another. The Captain's face betrayed nothing of the unease his other men showed as yet another shriek was cut off abruptly. he strode off up the shore towards a grand pavillion. Virginia watched as he went inside, knowing that he likely reported to the Queen. Within seconds he was back out, grim faced as he gathered his men around him. Virginia watched with horror as he made obvious plans to go after the werewolf. As they filed past her, the Captain paused to scrutinise her, clearly unhappy about leaving her unattended.

"Go, Captain. I'll keep an eye on her" said a new voice. An all too familiar accent, that one, Virginia thought, as the former Irish priest stepped out from behind a tree. The Captain nodded his assent briskly, hurrying to catch up to his fellows. Connor came forward. Virginia felt a moment's confusion. How had Connor gotten here, of all people? The last she had seen of him was his maddened presence in the swamp...Hera. Of course. Hera had sent him on a little side trip. Hera, who knew exactly where Virginia and Wolf would be, had thought to spring a little trap. Probably she had had Connor somehow convince Queen Scarlett and her many guards to accompany him, knowing full well the reception they would be able to plan for them. Virginia cursed quietly. Plans within plans within plans. She started up the slope of the beach towards the Queen's pavillion, ignoring completely the priest as he made vain attempts to halt her.

"Get your hands off me, little cur!" she hissed as he grabbed at her. She managed to get a good shove in of her own, throwing him off balance so that he skinned his knees on a sharp rock. He yowled and whined as she aimed a kick at him in her ridiculous slippers. "Back away, Connor, or I'll feed you to Elias!" she added threateningly. He slunk away as she approached the pavillion. All the guards were off facing the monster, it seemed, for none stood at attention here. Further back, small sounds of fear came from the other tents. Virginia pushed aside the drapes. Her first view took in only Wolf. He was tied firmly to the centre pole, but seemed uninjured. He gaped at her as if she was a ghost. The Queen Scarlett, her face red from either anger or tears, stood mute. Virginia loosed Wolf from his bonds, knowing as soon as she said it that she did in fact have to face Elias. And he wouldn't harm her, not this time. But she couldn't waste time explaining it to Wolf. Instead, she charged him with guarding the Queen, knowing that to do otherwise would mean he would follow her. He almost baulked at the command, she knew, but she wrung the obediance from him before leaving the tent.

Outside, it was chaos as the retreating soldiers ran to and fro in their panicky attempts to avoid the snapping jaws of Elias. The werewolf seemed bigger than she remembered. He was only yards away. Several arrow bolts stood out from his hide and he was enraged, far more so than when Virginia had first seen him. The soldiers parted unknowingly as she walked calmly through their loose knit line of defence. Littered all over the beach in the werewolf's wake were torn and mangled bodies, a few still twitching with life. But Virginia's entire attention was focussed on the monster. As was his on her the moment he saw her. Trusting her instincts, Virginia drew nearer. He dwarfed her as he had before. He howled and snapped and howled again, but he did not attack, just as Virginia had guessed he wouldn't. Unknowing as he was, he knew that within her dwelt that tiny spark of life that held his own blood. The foetus was of Wolf and Virginia, certainly, but Virginia's werewolf tainted blood had nourished it. Coventina and Lucine had not worked the change on the infant, knowing that to do so would bring about it's death. And so Virginia, guessing correctly that the werewolf would sense it's own kind, used the baby as a shield, even as her own heart broke to do so.

Bit by bit, she had herded him down to the water. Only if he is willing, the Goddess had said. Now, Elias was unable to say one way or the other. Virginia decided for him. When they were both waist deep in the water, Virginia saw for the first time that a tiny form clung to the werewolf's back. As small as a child, it looked, but before she could think anymore on it, a great ripple of Power flooded the Lake, almost knocking her off her feet. She closed her eyes to the light, and when she looked again, the monster was gone. Elias, naked and blinking, stood. A distant splashing sound revealed itself to be the goblin Clayface. He dove under and surfaced with a child in his arms. The child coughed and spluttered as he bore her to shore. Elias was staring at his hands in horror.

"Oh, Virginia, how could you do this? Where...where has my wolf gone? Why are you not changed?" he began. A great racking sob came from him. Virginia felt for him. She had had a hard enough time deciding to give up the power, and Elias had lived half his life that way.

"Elias, listen, isn't this what you wanted?"

"Oh no Virginia. It was you I wanted. So like my poor Bella. What has happened? We were...we were meant to be together, Virginia!" he gasped between his tears. He closed the distance between them, holding her shoulders. "Please, put me back together, come away with me...we can...rule this world...". Virginia shook her head in reply. It was all true, of course, if one really did want to rule the 9 Kingdoms, and Virginia did not. All she wanted was her Wolf and her children. Wolf was approaching them and she turned away from Elias. But she had not taken one step when Elias made his decision.

The sudden weight on her back shocked her so that she drew in a mouthful of water even as she went under. Elias, no! What was he thinking? Then she knew. He meant to kill her, drown them both. Such a stupid and cowardly thing to do, but it gave her a great burst of anger. She struggled to free herself, but his grip was determined and strong. He was pulling her backwards, into the deeper waters. Stars swam before her eyes. Coventina! Help me! She screamed aloud in her mind. For a second she thought that the water Goddess had indeed come forth. A long silver spike, pushed along by a larger form, streaked through the darkness. As her vision failed, Virginia saw the shape materialise into Wolf, a long arrow shaft held securely in his hand. She felt rather than saw the impact of the arrow as it struck Elias. His hands jerked reflexively and she was free. The surface looked too far away to reach. Beside her, Wolf also struggled with his breath completely spent. He pushed her upwards, weakly.

Virginia opened her eyes to stars overhead. Stones under her back. Wendell, hovering over her. A huge amount of coughing and wolfish curses made her smile from ear to ear.

"Stop pounding me on the back, will you Tone?" Wolf muttered. "Help Virginia" he added, coughing mightily again.

"Virginia's fine, Wolf" said Wendell. Virginia grinned at him, then frowned in thought.

"Wendell! How did you get here? And where is here anyway?"

"Well, we are in the far west of the 2nd Kingdom. As to how and why I am here, well, I could ask you the same things! But those stories can wait for now. You've been nearly drowned!"

"How, how did we get out, Wendell?"

"You don't remember? Well, after you had all disappeared under the water for a while, we began to get worried. Tony was all for jumping in after you, but before he could even set foot in the Lake, a great wave came from nowhere and lifted you and Wolf right up to dump you here. Nearly washed us all away, it did. Then you were both gasping like stranded fish, so we knew you'd be alright"

"Only us, Wendell? Not Elias?"

"No, he did not surface...do you want me to have my men scour the water for him?" Wendell asked, his face clouded over.

"No, leave the Lake in peace. He is dead, Wendell" Virginia said slowly, surprised by the sadness she felt. Next to her, Wolf had managed to sit up. He grinned at her sheepishly.

"Hey there, tasty girl"

"Hi, gorgeous". Tony sighed in apparent defeat. Virginia laughed at his expression. "Oh, hi Dad". There was a muffled growl from one of the nearby tents. Willem, clutching at his head, peered through the throng of Wendell's soldiers. Virginia thought he looked ill, and he had a nasty looking wound on one of his hands. Wolf gazed at his brother, then snorted good naturedly at him.

"Typical. Sleeps through the whole affair..." he began. Will's reply was cut off by the sudden small weight of the same child that Virginia had seen on the back of Elias. Will tossed her high and kissed her brow. Virginia shook her head. Too many things had gone on in her absence, it seemed. But Will, casually carrying the child on his hip, only then appeared to take in the surrounds. The Red soldiers, hanging back now and crowded around their Queen's pavillion. The White soldiers standing about and the King of the 4th Kingdom kneeling in the mud on the edge of the Lake. He huffed, making him look all the more like his brother.

"Hmm. Have I missed something then?"