Disclaimer: I do not own The 10th Kingdom. This is merely a fanfiction.
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"ALL ARCHERS FIRE ON MY MARK!"
A volley of arrows darkened the skies. The incoming hordes of Frost Knights charged directly into the line of fire, their front ranks shattering into shards of ice. The snow around them whipped, forming new Frost Knights. As one fell, two more took its place.
Olaf the Elf King watched in horror as the Snow Queen's forces breached the outer walls of the Seventh Kingdom. He marched back and forth on the wall, shouting orders. His wife, Queen Leafall pulled her arrow back, narrowing her eyes.
SHOOM!
A Frost Knight went down. She smiled, pleased with herself.
Below, a regiment of elf warriors stood at the ready as the Frost Knights charged. "Draw swords!" the commander shouted. The elves drew blades in unison and met the enemy head-on.
"We're holding them at bay," the Elf Lieutenant reported to the king, catching his breath from climbing the stairs of the wall. "But we can't hold – they'll have the wall down in an hour."
The king stared down at the fighting below. With each stroke of a sword, a Frost Knight fell, only to be replaced by more ice titans. His warriors were slowly being beaten back. He nodded grimly. "Hold the wall for as long as you can. Then, signal the retreat."
"What about your own safety?" Leafall asked.
"It doesn't matter. I will stand with my soldiers. My men and women will not face this horror without their king."
"Then I shall stand with you," Leafall stated.
"No! You must get back to the palace! You must -."
He was interrupted as a bird perched on his shoulder. He eyed it in surprise. "A messenger hawk?" The bird was carrying a roll of parchment around its neck. The king unrolled it, his eye scanning the contents.
"What's it say?" Leafall asked.
"A summons," the king gasped. "The Fourth Kingdom is proposing a War Summit. All Nine Kingdoms are to send emissaries to discuss a coalition to unite the nations against the Snow Queen."
"A War Summit?" Leafall was skeptical. "Who's requesting?"
"It's not a request. It's an order."
"An order? Who is arrogant enough to think they can order around the rulers of the other Eight Kingdoms? Certainly not King Wendell the Humble -."
"General Lord DeConte."
"Okay, that makes more sense." She bit her lip. "But what does not make sense is why DeConte would be ordering a War Summit and not Wendell."
Olaf burrowed his forehead. "Trouble must have befallen him. Again. Look, the summons bears the crest of the Fourth Kingdom's Royal Council. By the bylaws of the Nine Kingdoms Treaty, I must attend." He stared down at his elves being slowly but surely pushed back. "But how can I leave my people? They need their king."
"I will go!" Leafall suggested. "As I attended Wendell's coronation in your place."
Olaf stared at his wife. "The trip there will be treacherous."
Leafall pulled an arrow back into her bow and released it into the head of a Frost Knight, exploding it into crystalline shards. She turned to her husband, a satisfied smile on her face. "In case you've forgotten – I can take care of myself."
King Olaf sighed. "Then go – quickly! The wall cannot stand but an hour."
Leafall kissed her husband passionately. "I will return," she breathed. "We will destroy the Snow Queen once and for all!"
Below, mounds of snow began morphing and swirling – in a burst of powder and ice, white-furred monsters appeared, snarling and pounding the sides of the wall with sledgehammer fists. Abominable Snowmen – monsters conjured by the Snow Queen to reinforce the Frost Knights. The wall was quaking.
"Retreat!" came a shout from one of the Elf Generals below. The routed elves scattered back behind the wall as it began crumbling from the force of the Abominable Snowmen. A breach formed and then a section of the wall exploded. Frost Knights flooded in, meeting the elves blade to blade.
The king turned to Leafall. "Go! Quickly!" They kissed once more. Securing her bow, she gave her husband a smile, before sprinting down the wall. The king turned, hoping that this would not be the last time he saw that smile …
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The Second Kingdom – Afternoon
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN SHE'S 'HALF-WOLF'?!"
Tony's voice rang through the woods of the Second Kingdom, sending birds fluttering up through the sky. He was sitting in the back of a hay-cart with Prince and Virginia who had a very matter-of-fact look on her face. Wolf sat at the helm, holding the reigns of a donkey which Tony had nicknamed "Bob."
Virginia folded her arms, trying not to laugh at her dad's predictable reaction. "Grandma Nessa is half-wolf," she grinned. "She came to New Jersey from the Nine Kingdoms."
"That cannot be true, it just can't!" Tony shook his head. "Oh, I get it - you're putting me on. Very funny, Virginia. You almost had me there for a second."
Virginia rolled her eyes. "It's the truth!"
"Virginia – little tip. It gets less funny the second time."
"She ain't joking, Pops," Wolf chimed in from the front of the carriage. "I saw her transform and take down an assassin. She's a tough old bird. Not sure where you came from, though."
"Hey, I'm tough! Who took down the three trolls in Wendell's Palace, huh? Who came with Juliet's axe to save you from the Huntsman? And who -."
"Yes, you're big and tough," Virginia sighed. "Fact is – your mom is half wolf."
Tony leaned back against the cart, trying to process this revelation. "I just don't understand – I grew up, no sign, no hint. And what does that make me? Am I part wolf?"
"It can skip a generation or two," Wolf confirmed.
"At least we know where your appetite comes from," Virginia shrugged.
"Hey – what's that supposed to mean? Anyway, which kingdom do you think she came from? You wanna give a suggestion there, Wolf?"
Wolf raised his shoulders. "Beats me. Most half-wolf packs are either located in the Fourth or Second Kingdom. Mine was from the Fourth. Most come from the Second."
"And why's that?" Virginia asked.
"Because the Second Kingdom is full of things all wolfies like! Little girls in red riding outfits. Fat and chubby little boys and girls lost in the woods looking for candies." He licked his lips, his eyes going mad. "Neighborhoods owned by pie makers. Buildings made of gingerbread -."
"Hold on, hold on," Tony interrupted. "The Second Kingdom – that's where Little Red Riding Hood and Hansel and Gretel lived, right?"
"Yes. Originally it was split up evenly with Queen Riding Hood the 1st ruling the northern half of the kingdom and Gretel the Great ruling the south. Then there were a series of civil wars which left the male population quite decimated. Now it's run by adolescent girls who live with their grandmothers. Oh, and the witches. Can't forget the witches."
"Oh you must mean my mother-in -law," Tony replied.
Virginia gently rapped him on the shoulders. "Lay off, she's still in therapy after Wolf tried to eat her."
Wolf smiled as he pointed ahead. Dispersed throughout the woods were old gingerbread cottages. As their cart passed, old women emerged with candy in their hands.
"Gingerbread cookies for the lovely lady?"
"Gumdrops. Button gumdrops – they make a wonderful addition to any suit."
"Fresh cakes and muffins – straight from Drury Lane!"
Tony eyeballed the candies and baked goods as they passed the gingerbread houses. His stomach rumbled. A little old lady ran up to their cart, offering him fresh desserts in her arms. "Raspberry swirls and treacle tarts for the handsome lord? I have more if you'd like to follow me inside …"
Tony reached over the side. "Well – don't mind if I do -."
Wolf snarled over his shoulder. "Get away you old bag before I throw you in a furnace!"
The old woman sputtered, before backing into her gingerbread house.
"Hey, that was uncalled for!" Tony protested. "She was just trying to give us weary travelers a snack -."
"Have you forgotten where you are?" Wolf retorted. "Old ladies in gingerbread houses luring you into their houses with offers of sweets? Hansel and Gretel anyone? They were fixing to eat you!"
They passed through the assortment of gingerbread houses without stopping. All the old ladies offering treats sighed and lowered their heads in defeat as the cart trotted on through the woods.
"Honestly, isn't anyone what they appear to be in this world?" Tony demanded, folding his arms. Prince barked and jumped onto his lap.
"How much longer 'till we reach the Sixth Kingdom?" Virginia asked.
"Couple days," Wolf admitted. "Maybe a week. A little less if we make no pit stops. We've got the entire Second Kingdom ahead of us."
"An entire Kingdom full of crazed hags in gingerbread houses that eat people?" Tony groaned.
"Only if you're stupid enough to fall for their tricks!" Wolf admitted.
"We should make a stop to get supplies," Virginia suggested. "Any major towns nearby?"
"Mostly small towns run by bakers. There is the Village of Gretelheim about ten miles – it's on the way."
"Gretelheim?"
"Where Hansel and Gretel grew up. It wouldn't hurt to get some supplies there. Just watch your step – it can get a little rough."
Tony was in disbelief. "A place called Gretelheim is rough?"
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On the edge of the woods stood the Village of Gretelheim. Old wood-thatched cottages lined the streets. Tony grinned as he watched piemakers through the windows of their shops. "Cherry pies today!" one called.
"Apple strudels!"
Tony couldn't help but notice that many of the villagers were portly and quite happy. He also noticed that males were few and far between – most of them were pie makers. The village was dominated by young girls and little old ladies – their grandmothers.
"We'll stop at the Great Gretel Inn," Wolf said. "We have enough money to lodge for one night."
"I thought you said we shouldn't make pitstops?" Virginia asked.
"We shouldn't, but I'd much rather not travel the woods in the Second Kingdom at night. Lots of half-wolves roam these forests looking for lone travelers – and trust me, Second Kingdom wolves are not as nice as us Fourth Kingdom wolfies."
He flicked the reins as the cart stopped in front of a three-story inn – an inn that looked lopsided and tilting over. It was thatched with straw roofing and wooden beams, with clear cream-colored stucco.
Tony stared up in amazement. He was about to make a smart comment when he gagged. Another toad landed in the cart. But this time he brightened up. "And that makes one hundred! Finally, that curse from Mother Holle is done with!" He beamed at Virginia. "And I for one am not stupid enough to fall for another curse! Mark my words, no one will ever get one over on Tony Lewis again!" He puffed his chest out with his index finger raised to the heavens as though he were a victorious hero.
Virgina stared at her father deadpan. "Prince just peed on your lap."
"What?!"
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On a thatched roof above, Leone watched the group, his hand on a dagger hanging from his belt. He grit his teeth. There she was. She would be sleeping in the inn tonight – his for the taking. His eyes saw nothing but red bloodlust. But the Snow Queen had warned him to not harm them. Follow them and report on them, but nothing more. But who was she to order him about. She and the Evil Queen had ruined his life – why did he owe her any obedience?
Something landed on his shoulder.
A messenger hawk. With a written note. He unfurled it.
Meet me at the woods. Midnight. Make no moves on the girl. The Snow Queen is watching.
His lip furled as he clenched the note in his fist, crumpling it up.
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"Ah, and what brings three strangers and a gorgeous Labrador to the Great Gretel Inn?" An attractive, middle-aged woman with blonde hair and a generous bosom flaunted her way over, carrying frothy mugs to a customer. "I reckon y'all want lodging? I got two nice rooms available. They're not quite ready yet, I wasn't expecting such … overwhelming company." She winked at Tony. He beamed.
"Here, we got gold," Wolf muttered, dropping several coins into her hand. "Should cover us for the night."
The inn keeper nodded. "I'll have Lars take your bags upstairs. Oh Lars!"
A short portly man appeared and dutifully saluted. Virginia spread her hands to show they had no luggage. "We travel light."
"He'll show y'all to your rooms all the same," the inn keeper nodded. "And …" she leaned in closely to Tony. "Y'all should come down 'round midnight. I make a lovely midnight snack and I could do with some company." She winked at Tony. "Name's Vinka, if y'all wanted know."
"We'll be sleeping," Virginia said, liking Vinka less by the second.
"A shame. If y'all change your mind, come on down to the kitchen."
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"She was flirting with me!" Tony was in their room pacing.
"She was not flirting with you," Virginia insisted.
"She might've been a little," Wolf said.
"She was not!"
Tony puffed his chest out. "You know what Virginia – I think you're jealous!"
Virginia was incredulous. "Of what?!"
"That someone could find your old dad interesting and might take him away from you!"
"Right, because I was so concerned about you being away from me when you stayed behind to be the Royal Bouncy House Maker. How'd that work out by the way? Oh, right – you invited King Trident of all people to try it out and he popped your prototype!"
"Is it that hard to believe that someone could be interested in me?"
"No! It's hard to believe that someone could be interested in you without an ulterior motive!"
"I gotta agree with my dreamy wife-to-be," Wolf chimed in. "In the Second Kingdom, nothing is what it appears to be."
"Bah, you're crazy, both of you! I'm going to bed!"
"Dad," Virginia warned. "Promise me you won't get up in the middle of the night to go see Vinka."
"I -."
"Dad!"
"Okay, fine. I won't go see Vinka."
Virginia pursed her lips and held out her pinky for him.
Tony scoffed. "What is this?"
"Pinky promise."
"I'm not gonna pinky promise, I haven't done that since you were nine -."
"Dad …"
"Okay, fine, I won't go see Vinka." He grasped her pinky with his own. "There, happy?"
"I won't be happy until this whole mess is over," she sighed.
Rolling his eyes, Tony walked out of the room. Wolf watched him. "We really should keep an eye on him, he's got the look."
"The look?"
"Of hunger. Trust me, the people of the Second Kingdom know how to tempt people. Kids, adults – they know all the tricks."
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Tony lay awake at night in his bed tossing and turning. Prince was sleeping at the foot of his bed. Tony stared out the window lattice at the crescent moon in the sky. It was nearing midnight. His mind turned Vinka over and over. She was into him, that was clear. A gorgeous, middle-aged woman who was single (he hoped). After his fiasco with Mrs. Shoemacher it would be nice to have some normal female company. And she was innkeeper – specializing in food and sweets and craft beers – his kind of lady!
Oh, but he had pinky-promised Virginia!
His stomach rumbled.
He hadn't eaten much for dinner. Oh, it wouldn't be breaking his promise to go downstairs for food. He had pinky-promised that he wouldn't go down to see Vinka, not that he wouldn't go downstairs to order a midnight snack. A man had to eat, didn't he?
Resolving himself, he swung his legs over the side of the bed. Prince was sprawled out on his back, tongue out, snoring. Shrugging and rubbing his hands together greedily, Tony threw on a flannel shirt and raced down the stairs.
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Leone stood in the edge of the forest as the moonlight shone through the trees. He paced restlessly, his fingers opening and closing in frustration. How much longer would he be made to wait?
"So you showed up?"
He spun around to find Fiona leaning against a tree trunk, arms folded.
"You. I should've known."
Fiona scoffed. "Nice to see you again too Leone." She began circling him.
His hand went to his dagger. "Was there a point to this meeting, or did you just want to aggravate me some more?"
"I'm here to remind you of your mission."
"I know my mission!"
The smirk on Fiona's face grew. "The Snow Queen felt you could do with some gentle prodding. She wanted me to stress that you were to only follow them – not attack."
"And I've restrained myself just fine without some half-wolf tart -."
"Careful Leone – we're beyond the reach of the Snow Queen's mirror now."
"Is that a threat?"
"A warning. Not just from the Snow Queen – a warning from me."
"I'm not scared of you," he spat.
"Then you're a fool. Or have you forgotten how I took down an entire village of trained arms-men single-handedly? Broke their bones, paralyzed them – then devoured them alive as they screamed for mercy." She licked her teeth. "Delicious. Fear salts the meat."
"You're repulsive."
Fiona flipped her dark hair. "I'm a femme fatale – emphasis on fatal."
"Your good looks don't tempt me any."
"No. And they're not for you either. I have my charms locked on another target."
"The wolf that travels with them."
"Which is one reason I'm here to remind you of your mission – he is to be unharmed. And the girl – the girl is mine." She licked her lips.
"The Snow Queen promised -."
"As I said – we're far from her mirror. The girl is a threat to her anyway. And the Snow Queen would forgive me. Perhaps I just couldn't control myself here in the Second Kingdom. With all these fat pie makers and little girls in riding hoods riding around – my inner wolf couldn't be contained. Maybe I lost control. Maybe I devoured the girl and took Wolf for my own."
Leone drew his blade. "You'll have to go through me first!"
Fiona walked past him towards thicker parts of the woods. "Don't get in my way, Leone. The girl is mine. I'll tear anyone who tries to stand between me and her limb from limb. Consider this your only warning."
She vanished into the darkness of the forest.
A cold chill caused Leone to shudder.
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"Ah, I knew you'd come, I just knew it!"
Vinka was delighted as Tony entered her kitchen. "I just came for a midnight snack," he admonished.
"Well let's just see if I can't fix up something hearty for the handsome stranger. Y'all just have a seat."
Tony sat down at a table as Vinka bustled about. The kitchen ceiling was hung with sausages and tender steaks on meat hooks. A large open oven burned with flames, the smell of something roasting inside wafting into his nose. His stomach grumbled. Now he knew how Wolf often felt.
The next thing he knew, Vinka had placed plates full of sausages in front of him. "Go on, try it. Best and fattest hogs this side o' town. Better than anything the Peeps ever produced if I could brag."
Trying to give off the air of a gentleman, Tony picked up a fork and knife and cut into the sausage, popping a small bite into his mouth. It was fantastic! Tony's pupils dilated at the taste, and the next thing he knew, he was grabbing the sausages with his hands and stuffing them into his mouth.
"My, my – I love a man with hearty appetite." Vinka beamed. She dumped more sausages onto his place, along with a side of steak. Tony grabbed the steak with his hands, ripping it apart, stuffing it in his mouth. His belly began to distend.
"Here, have some beer to wash it down." A frothy mug appeared on the table. Tony chugged.
"Have some more steak." Another strip of meat was plopped onto his plate. It was so delicious, Tony couldn't help himself. He tore into the meat like Wolf, savoring each bite. Meat juice ran down his cheeks. He unlatched his belt, letting his belly distend.
Vinka watched with desire, rubbing her hands.
The more Tony ate, the more he felt hungry. And he continued to eat, his plate refilling with meats and sausages. Desserts appeared now. Cakes and pies and cookies. Tony's eyes widened – he stuffed his face.
His belly was now distended unnaturally. He was gaining weight by the second. And he couldn't stop eating.
He looked down now as his belly was pressing against the edge of the table. He stopped. "Uh … I don't think I want anymore …"
"Don't be silly," Vinka said. "Eat."
"I -."
"Eat." It wasn't a friendly suggestion. It was a command.
Tony was compelled. He couldn't stop himself. He continued to eat. And his belly continued to grow. His arms and legs were swelling – his fingers were like sausages themselves. He wanted to stop. He tried to force himself. But his body was on automatic pilot. He couldn't stop. He continued to gorge himself.
"That's right," Vinka chuckled. "Eat up, little piggie. Make yourself nice and plump."
Tony stared in horror as Vinka's attractive features melted away. Her true form was now standing in front him – an old hag with long grey hair and a crooked, long nose with warts. She cackled menacingly, rubbing her hands, licking her lips. A witch!
Tony noticed that the fires in the oven were growing fiercer. The story of Hansel and Gretel ran through his mind.
And he knew that the witch standing before him intended to gorge herself – on him!
And yet, try as he might to stop, Tony merely sat there and continued eating, his body swelling by the second …