Eric felt his stomach drop at the doll maker's words. Then he threw himself to the left, snatching up a wood carving knife that had rolled beneath the worktable. Pulling Clara close, he held the knife out.
"Show me the way out," he snarled.
Theda eyed the knife coolly, looking rather bored by Eric's demand.
Clara shifted in Eric's arms, mumbling softly. Without thinking, Eric glanced down at his wife. "Clara?"
In that split-second distraction, Theda snapped her fingers. Immediately, loose puppet strings hanging from the ceiling beams snapped to life, stretching down to warp around Eric's outstretched arm. The strings yanked harshly, tearing Eric away from Clara and dragging him forward. In his surprise the knife fell from his grip, tumbling to the dirt floor. Eric swung his free hand towards the knife, but another set of puppet strings coiled around his arm, wrenching him upright.
With Eric secured, Theda bent and retrieved the carving knife. She straightened, tapping the knife against her palm as she scrutinized him.
"I have not yet constructed a nutcracker," she mused. "You'll do very nicely for my first one."
Icy fear pooled within Eric. "Are all these dolls victims of your magic?" he seethed. "Innocent people who had the misfortunate of stumbling upon you?"
Theda's brow creased in confusion. "Innocent? What human is innocent, my king? You all are guilty of heinous deeds, no matter how insignificant you may think them to be." Her mouth curved into its unnatural smile. "No, Your Majesty, they are not all enchanted. Most of them were created solely by my hand." As she looked up at the dolls hanging above Eric, something close to adoration flickered in her unblinking eyes. "Are they not perfect? There is not one flaw among them." She pointed the knife at Eric. "How lucky for you, to have experienced that perfection before."
"There is nothing perfect about it," spat Eric. "It is a curse."
"A curse to never age?" Theda asked with raised eyebrows. "To always be beautiful? To have sickness and the hinderance of human emotions pass over you?" She shook her head. "It is a blessing."
"You know nothing of it," Eric snapped.
Theda smirked. "Perhaps. But I promise to spend a special amount of time on you. I would want nothing less than perfection for the king." She slipped the carving knife into one of her skirt pockets. "Though I think we shall keep you silent. I don't understand why your enchantment allowed speech before, as there is no need for a nutcracker to speak."
Panic rushed through Eric. This couldn't be happening. Not again.
Behind him, Clara mumbled Eric's name.
"Clara?" Eric twisted his head around, attempting to catch a glimpse of her. He looked back at Theda dangerously. "Don't you touch her. Don't you dare touch her."
"Eric…" Clara moaned, pressing a hand to her forehead. "Eric, wha…what happened…" Her eyes fluttered open, and Clara painstakingly pushed herself onto her side. She winced at the protests her bruised body made, blinking hard to focus her gaze.
"Let her go," Eric said to Theda. "You must let her go. Please."
Theda looked amused by the request. She turned her attention to Clara, watching as she slowly sat up. Clara stared at Eric and Theda in confusion, as though unsure whether she was truly awake. She glanced about them, taking in the strange doll-infested cave. When she looked back at Eric, alarm had seized her expression.
"What –" She moved to stand.
Theda snapped her fingers once again, and more puppet strings flew down from the ceiling beams, wrapping around Clara's arms and roughly pulling her to her feet.
"No!" shouted Eric. "You let her go!"
"After I am done with you, she will be released," said Theda, sounding completely indifferent to Clara's fate. "I have no need for more ballerinas and princesses." She gestured to a row of dolls above her, which wore varying tutus and gowns.
"What do you mean, done with him?" demanded Clara, the sluggishness of her senses quickly evaporating as she realized the real danger they were in. "Who are you? Where are we?"
Theda ignored Clara. She walked over to the table with herbs and began pulling out various ingredients.
"Eric, what is going on?" Clara asked anxiously.
Eric yanked at the puppet strings, trying to calm his breathing as he stared up at the dolls watching him and Clara. Not again. Not again. I can't endure it again.
"Eric!"
Eric snapped his head towards Clara. But he found that he could not bring himself to voice Theda's intentions. He merely shook his head, his eyes full of fear for himself and anxiety for Clara's safety as they locked gazes.
"He is to be returned to the perfection he had been bestowed with before," Theda finally answered. Her back remained turned as she mixed herbs in a bowl. "He will be my most prized possession here."
Clara looked at the surrounding dolls. Horror filtered into Clara's eyes as she realized the meaning behind Theda's words. "You can't," she said, her voice quivering. "Please, you can't."
"I do not understand your despair for him," Theda said. "You are the unlucky one, for I have no need for you. You will continue on as a human, plagued by suffering and age." Centering the bowl before her, she waved her hand over it. The contents of the bowl immediately burst into purple flames. She bent over the bowl and placed her face directly into the plume of lilac smoke drifting upwards, breathing deeply. After taking several breaths, she drew back and turned to Eric and Clara, her eyes unnaturally bright in the dimness of the room.
"What is that?" demanded Eric.
"It is not for you, my king," said Theda. "The spell I am to perform on you is very draining, and I need as much energy as I can muster before doing so. These herbs provide that strength."
"You don't have to do this," Clara said urgently. "Please, please let us go."
Theda did not look at Clara as she approached Eric.
Eric strained at the puppet strings. "Don't!" he ground out. "Don't you touch me."
Unfazed, Theda reached out and grabbed Eric's left wrist. She mumbled something under her breath, tightening her hand as she spoke. A gasp of pain escaped Eric, and he wrenched his arm in an attempt to free himself. But Theda's grip held, her nails digging into his skin. Eric cried out, his hand curling into a fist as he struggled against her.
"Get away from him!" shouted Clara. "Take your hands off him!"
Theda brushed her free hand against the strings binding Eric. They snapped, and Eric collapsed to the floor. Stepping free of Eric's reach, Theda watched him with a wild eagerness.
But Eric seemed incapable of standing, much less able to try and attack Theda. He gritted his teeth, squeezing his eyes shut in pain as his arm twitched spastically. He curled on his side, clutching his left arm as it stiffened.
"No!" Tears welled in Clara's eyes. "Please, please stop it!"
Theda turned to Clara, watching with disgusted fascination as tears streaked down Clara's cheeks. Pity flickered in Theda's eyes, though it was similar to what one would reserve for the most pathetic of creatures, nothing more. She frowned in faint irritation. "If it will make you leave with less resistance, you may say your goodbye." Theda snapped her fingers, and the strings holding Clara's arms broke. Freed, Clara rushed to Eric's side.
"Eric!" exclaimed Clara, dropping to her knees beside her husband.
Eric's eyes were hazy as he looked at Clara. "Clara," he gasped. "Go. You have to go."
"No," sobbed Clara. "No, I won't." She stroked the sides of his face, weeping as she cradled him.
"You must," choked Eric. "You…" He gave an agonized groan, his body writhing.
Clara looked down at Eric's left arm. It was completely stiff, and the skin of his hand, now a painted white, had taken on the texture of polished wood.
"I love you, Clara," said Eric, his voice strained. He raised his right hand to her cheek, and Clara's heart ached at how cold it felt. "Don't ever forget that."
Clara shook her head, unwilling to say her goodbye, unwilling to believe that she was to leave him behind. Instead, she pulled his face to hers and pressed a desperate kiss to his lips. Eric shuddered, bringing his still-human hand to the back of her head to hold her steady as he returned the kiss. Then he wrenched away, his chest heaving for breath.
"Eric?" Clara asked worriedly.
Eric's body gave a violent jolt. He grasped Clara's arm with his good hand, inhaling sharply. Then his eyebrows twitched together in confusion. His body stilled, and he glanced up at Clara.
"Clara," he whispered. "You…your kiss…" He looked down at his left arm. Clara followed his gaze and stared in wonder.
His skin was steadily regaining its natural tan. The texture of his arm was softening, losing its wooden surface in exchange for smooth flesh. Clara grasped his left hand, and gave a relieved sob as his fingers slowly curled over hers. She looked back at Eric, and he smiled wearily.
"No!" cried Theda. She grabbed Clara, tearing her away from Eric. Eric lunged forward, but Theda snapped her fingers. The puppet strings flew down, wrapping around his arms once again and yanking him to a stop.
Theda whirled on Clara, who was crouched on the floor. "You," she hissed. "You possess magic. What is it? What kind of magic can reverse my spell?" She pointed threateningly at Clara. "Tell me what it is, before I claw its source from your chest."
Clara gritted her teeth, courage burning in her anew at the revitalization of the power that had saved Eric once before. "You will not have my husband," she said viciously. "You will release him, and any other prisoners you have trapped here."
Theda gave a sharp laugh. "Will I? Or perhaps I will revoke my merciful offer of allowing you to leave. After all…" She ran a finger along the puppet string binding Eric's arm. "A queen should be by her king's side. You two would make an exquisite pair."
Clara pushed herself to her feet, glaring at Theda. "I do not believe your powers will work on me," she said, raising her chin defiantly. "But you are welcome to try."
Theda snarled and snapped her hand away from Eric. She strode forward, eyes hateful as she advanced on Clara. Eric struggled against the strings, but they held.
Clara stood tall and regal, no fear in her eyes as Theda's hand snatched out and grabbed her wrist. Theda wrenched Clara's arm up, squeezing tightly as she muttered her incantation once again. Clara winced at the pressure, but did not try to break free. For a long moment the two women simply stared at each other, their arms raised between them.
Then Theda grimaced. Her hand constricted around Clara's wrist, and she stared at her skin in disbelief. Clara looked too, and her eyes widened in surprise.
Theda's fingers were beginning to harden. Flesh solidified into wood, and the infectious magic seeped over her hand and up her wrist.
Theda ripped her hand away from Clara. "What…how?" She clawed at the wood, but it continued unhindered, spreading towards her shoulder. "This is impossible!" she shrieked, her voice brimming with equal terror and rage. "This cannot be!" She looked back up at Clara. "You!" Theda cried, throwing herself at Clara.
Clara dodged the swiping hand, stumbling into the workshop table. Theda spun about to face Clara again, but when she took a step her leg buckled beneath her. Panic on her face, Theda partially lifted her skirt to reveal a now wooden leg. Her second leg stiffened, and Theda let out a cry as she collapsed to the floor. She screamed, her wail reverberating off the walls chillingly as she thrashed about.
Clara hurried to Eric's side and reached for the strings securing him. To her surprise, they broke easily under her touch, and Eric staggered forward into Clara's arms.
"Clara," he said breathlessly. "We have to…" He words trailed off, and he drew Clara against him as they watched in horror.
Theda was shrinking, her body hardening and limbs straightening. Once she was the size of a regular doll she stilled. All sense of cognizance faded from her eyes, and the painted glass orbs stared blankly ahead.
Silence engulfed the cave.
Clara glanced up at Eric, who was staring at Theda's doll body. "Eric?"
Eric blinked and refocused his attention to Clara. "Did you know you could do that?" he asked in awe.
Clara shook her head. "I don't think that was me," she said. "At least, I didn't curse her. I think whatever is inside of me…" She struggled to find the words to explain it. "It simply turned the curse back onto her." Fear flashed in her eyes as she mentioned the spell, and she grabbed Eric's left hand to examine it. Reassured that it was as normal as ever, she pressed a kiss to it, sighing in relief.
Eric pulled Clara into an embrace. "Thank you. Again." He laughed weakly. "We're going to have to figure out exactly what your magic is, Clara. I'm incredibly curious, now more than ever."
"You weren't impressed before?" she said with a smile, pulling away to properly look at him.
Eric chuckled. "I was. But now I think you're keeping things from me," he teased.
Clara shook her head, grinning shakily. Eric wrapped his arms around Clara again, pressing a kiss to the top of her hair. He gave a shuddering breath, exhaling the fear that had coiled within him.
Clara tucked her head against Eric, her nerves calming as she felt his chest rise and fall with his breathing. Then she broke the embrace, pulling away in alarm. "The other dolls," she said, glancing about them. "Are they all cursed as well?" She looked appalled by the idea.
"Theda said only some were," said Eric. "But I have no idea which ones specifically."
Clara tilted her head up thoughtfully, studying the hanging row of dolls closest to them. She moved away from Eric and approached them. Raising her hand, she brushed her fingertips over the first doll's surface. She was silent, her brow creasing she concentrated. "No," she muttered. She touched the next and paused, then moved on to the third one. It wasn't until she was halfway down the row that she stopped.
"This one." She tugged free the puppet strings holding a jester and lowered the doll so that it rested in her hands.
Eric walked over to her side. "How do you know?"
"I just do. Somehow," said Clara curiously.
"Now what?"
Clara turned the doll over, inspecting it. She frowned, frustrated with her uncertainty of what to do next.
Hesitantly, she raised the doll to her lips and pressed a soft kiss to its forehead.
For a second, nothing happened. Then a wave of magic rippled through the doll. Clara hastily set it on the floor and she and Eric backed up, watching with fascination at the doll grew and morphed into a human man.
He looked not much older than Eric. He was still wearing the jester outfit, but the hat had tumbled off, revealing a mop of sandy hair. He fumbled about on the floor, his body trembling from the aftereffects of the transformation. Seeing Eric and Clara standing over him he jerked back, fear in his eyes.
Clara knelt and held her hands out. "Don't be afraid. We're here to help."
"The…the woman…the woman with the shining eyes…" sputtered the young man.
"She's gone," said Eric. He crouched down. "You're safe now."
Relief washed over the man's expression and he nodded anxiously, his eyes darting about the cave.
"Eric, stay with him," said Clara. She stood. "I'll find the rest."
There were fifteen other cursed dolls. Clara cured them easily, though it took some time to calm them and explain everything. Finally, they were prepared to leave.
"What about her?" Clara asked, gesturing to Theda's doll form.
Eric grimaced. "I suppose we should take her," he said reluctantly. "Secure her somewhere."
Clara nodded and walked over to a cot that had been pushed against the far wall of the room. She ripped a musty blanket from it and securely wrapped Theda in the cloth.
"I'll carry it," said Eric, though he looked revolted by the idea.
Clara shook her head. "No, I will," she said firmly. She tucked the bundle under her arm, giving Eric a look that barred any further arguments. After what Theda had nearly done, she refused to let Eric carry it.
Going deeper into the cave, they discovered a hidden second passageway. It led back up to the woods, the entrance to it concealed within a stack of boulders piled against a sloping hillside. Upon emerging into the woods, some of the people Clara had revived immediately set off on their own, insisting that they knew the way to their homes. Clara had been reluctant to let them go, and instructed them to come to the castle if they needed anything.
The others agreed to accompany Clara and Eric to the castle. A few had been prisoners of Theda for many years, and they were unsure of where their families may be now, especially since the Mouse King's reign had passed during their curses. Clara and Eric promised to help them in any way possible, assuring them that they could stay at the castle until their families were found.
Fortunately, Clara and Eric's horses were still near the ledge Clara had tumbled off of. They led their horses by the reins, keeping a brisk walking pace with the rest of the survivors as they headed back to the castle.
"Are you sure you're alright?" Eric asked in concern, eyeing Clara.
Clara smiled tiredly. "Just a little bruised. Nothing serious. I slid down the cliff some ways before hitting my head, so I think that saved me from breaking anything."
"And how is your head?"
Clara cringed. "Throbbing," she admitted. "But I'll be fine."
Eric sighed. "I'd feel better if you rode your horse."
"No one else has a horse to ride."
"No one else took a fall off a cliff and struck their head." Eric reached out and grabbed the reins of Clara's horse, tugging it to a stop. "Please, Clara. For me."
Seeing the pleading look in his eyes, Clara let out a defeated breath. "Very well. For you." She allowed Eric to help her into the saddle, hoping she didn't look as dizzy as she felt after walking for so long.
By the time they arrived back at the castle, Major Mint was waiting for them frantically at the gates. His irritation quickly drained away into confusion and concern, and he ushered the haggard group inside. Food was provided while Eric and Clara explained the situation to the astounded Major Mint and Captain Candy. It was immediately decided that a group of soldiers would go back to the cave and burn everything inside. As for Theda, Eric suggested placing her in a box made of rowan wood, which was known for its properties of warding off evil. It would then be locked inside an iron chest and secured in the weapon's room. Candy promised to do this while Clara was being attended to.
Knowing that Major Mint would see to the others' needs, Clara and Eric went to their rooms, where Dr. Astros was sent to upon his arrival. Besides the bruising from her fall, the only other notable injury Clara suffered from was a slight concussion, which Dr. Astros said would best be treated by a few days' rest from any strenuous activities. With nothing else serious for Dr. Astros to attend to, he soon left, wishing Clara a quick recovery. Eric had a bowl of cold water and a handful of washcloths sent up, to use to reduce the bruises' swelling.
Clara grimaced as she lay face-down on their bed, apprehensive of Eric's reaction as he exposed her battered body. Black and blue splotches had blossomed along her right side and lower back, and Clara could not help the sigh of relief as Eric helped her out of her constricting corset. He was particularly gentle as he laid the cool damp cloths over her bruises, pressing soft kisses and whispered apologies to the unblemished skin around them. When he was done, he lay on his side beside her. Clara grasped his hand, pressing her lips to his knuckles.
"Are you alright?" she asked.
"Am I alright?" Eric shook his head. "Clara, you're the one who's injured. I should be asking you that question."
Clara gave a quiet laugh. "You have been. All afternoon." She reached out, stroking his hair. "I didn't mean it in a physical sense."
Eric sighed, his expression conflicted as he debated how to answer.
"You can be honest with me, Eric," said Clara. Her fingers brushed over his ear, then threaded back into his thick locks. "It's okay to be afraid."
"I know," murmured Eric. He pressed his lips together in discomfort. "I was afraid. I was…terrified. It was so similar. The pain, the tightening of the lungs as the air is forced from them, your senses being stripped from you…" His voice wavered, and he let the words trail off.
Tears welled in Clara's eyes. She pulled Eric close, resting her forehead against his. "I told you that I trusted you to protect me," she said softly. "Now I need you to trust me. For I will protect you too."
Eric smiled. "I know." He kissed her forehead. "I know you will."
After a while Eric removed the washcloths and, careful of her injuries, drew Clara into his lap as they settled against their bed's pillows. He whispered his love to her, and she murmured it back, eventually falling asleep in his arms.
With her, Eric felt the safety he craved. They would provide it for each other, and he knew that would be more than enough.
