Chapter 13

Jake grabbed a chair next to the men playing the music and watched everyone. It was times like these he was most happy. Seeing other people have fun and be merry made him feel good inside and for a time forget about all the hardships in the world. Will and Anjelika were dancing together and Jake could tell Will had been drinking again. The music too was fast and happy and all the little men took turns dancing with each other and Eleanor. Jake got up to grab a drink no sooner had it reached his lips did someone bump into him and he dropped the drink to the floor.

"Oh great." Said Jake looking up he saw in was Eleanor that had bumped into him.

"Wanna dance?" she asked, "If you're up to it I mean. I know that you still must hurt on your side."

"Actually I feel quite alright." Yelled Jake happily, stretching his arms to show he was feeling fine. Eleanor and some of the dwarfs laughed when they saw Jake wince in pain for a few seconds.

"Well all right then." and with that Elanore grabbed Jake and they went dancing around the room. They danced and drank late into the night forgetting all their worries, and laughing among friends.

Jake woke up the next morning he did not want to open his eyes but could tell that it was morning for the sunlight was hitting his face. He could feel people sleeping all around him. "We must have passed out on the floor." thought Jake. He could feel someone's head on his chest. This head had long hair.

"Eleanor?" Jake whispered .He opened his eyes to see, but jumped up on his feet in a flash sending one of the dwarfs crashing to the floor.

"What's the idea!" yelled the small hairy dwarf rubbing his bottom.

"Ewwwww." Yelled Jake dusting off his clothes." I slept next to you!"

"Well, you're no sleeping beauty neither!" yelled back the dwarf before rolling over and falling asleep again. Jake looked around the crowded room. Everyone was there. Will was asleep snoring loudly next to Anjelika. The little dwarfs were scattered all over the place and one dwarf was actually being used as a pillow for Will. Cavaldi was sleeping in a corner still holding a bottle of wine. Everyone was there, except Eleanor.

"Where could she gone off to?" he said rubbing his side. It felt much better, but he did have an awful headache. "I better get some fresh air." and he stepped over the sleepers and out the door. The bright sunlight hurt his eyes and it took him a while to get adjusted. Finally, he could see and he started scanning the area.

"Well she's not out here." He said stretching. He stopped he could hear voices coming from around the corner of the cottage. He walked toward the voices and soon e could hear who it was. It was Eleanor, but she was not alone Jake could also hear a voice of another women. And by the tremble in the voice, it was an old woman. Jake was right turning the corner he saw Eleanor talking to and a very old lady. The old lady looked so old and fragile and was wearing dirty clothing. She was hunched over and looked very tired. Jake could see she was holding a basket out to Eleanor and wanting her to take it. The old lady spotted Jake a for a brief second a look of panic was upon her face.

"Oh." Stammered the old lady. "Is this young man your brother?"

"No." answered Eleanor smiling "He is my friend."

"Nice to meet you young man. I was just selling this lovely girl a basket of apples. I hope you don't mind?"

"Not at all." answered Jake. "We are more then happy to help a kind old lady."

"Bless you sir." Said the old lady patting Jakes arm. "These apples I have sold you are very special I raised them myself, but there is one apple in the basket that is most special to me." She opened the basket and among the green and yellow apples was a bright red apple. Jake had never seen an apple look so beautifully red before. Eleanor gasped at the sight of it and took it in her hands to get a better look. The old lady's eyes flashed with delight.

'This apple is for the beautiful girl." She said." Only for you for you have been so kind to old peasant women.

"Ill make sure that Eleanor is the only one that gets this apple." said Jake handing the women some money.

"Thank you sir!" she yelled. "You have made me very happy indeed." She then walked off toward the woods with a smile on her face.