Chapter Seven - Lilligrotto
The sun had disappeared beneath the tops of the trees by the time the small party of unusual companions arrived at their destination. Already it was difficult to discern their surroundings amongst the grays and shadows that slid down the steep hills to wrap silvery fingers between the rocks and trees of the valley. Aacrum leaned forward and whispered into the hind's velvety soft ear. Coming to a halt, the deer knelt as the pixies slid from her back. Aacrum removed the ropes holding Sherlock and Molly's possessions. Receiving pats of thanks from her passengers, the hind nuzzled Aacrum, then sprang away to blend into the gloom in a matter of moments. Molly, now awake and feeling more like her usual self, stood beside Sherlock and watched in wonder. It was still hard to believe that the hind had been so comfortable in their presence. The Deep was truly a place of surprises.
Sherlock frowned slightly and faced Aacrum. "I thought you said we were going to your village? I don't see anything but rocks and trees."
Aacrum looked up and gave Sherlock a mischievous grin. He turned and pointed to a low rocky overhang a few feet away. There Sherlock saw a small hole not much taller than Aacrum.
'Well come to Lilligrotto," he said proudly. As he spoke, several dozen pixies rushed out of the overhanging rocks that sheltered the entrance to the pixie realm. Torches were lit and placed in holders concealed about the opening. The crowd grew and began chattering excitedly and pointing at the large strangers in their midst. Aacrum held up a hand and frowned until everyone grew quiet.
"We have guests!" he announced rather importantly. "They have very graciously shared their names!"
This lead to a raucous roar of approval from the ever increasing group gathering about them.
"This is Sherlock of Homes and Molly . . ." Aacrum looked at Molly expectantly and Molly smiled and said. "Hooper, my name is Molly Hooper."
"Molly Hooper," Aacrum continued. "Since they are to be our honored guests for a night and a day, it is only proper that we entertain them with a feast and a party that will be remembered for years to come!"
All the pixies began to jump up and down, cheering and making all sorts of noise. Sherlock looked at Molly and gave her a fatalistic shrug. There was nothing to do but to join in the festivities and hope for the best. Molly grinned back. When Sherlock had told her they were under pixie control, she had worried what that might entail, but surely a feast and a party would be harmless. She was now certain it was nothing to be alarmed about.
Pixies of all sizes and shapes gathered about them. From lean and tall (at least tall for a pixie), to short and rotund. Most of the young girls were slim and beautiful. Molly noticed more than one of them eyeing Sherlock speculatively. The young men began to gather around Molly, making her slightly nervous. Aacrum and Pyrus had not seemed to be affected by the love potion, but these men were much younger and Molly began to have uncomfortable thoughts of what this time amongst the Pixies might mean for her.
"Ah Edrin!, good, good!" Aacrum addressed an elderly pixie who had just come from the rock entrance. "Our Mage has arrived at last, we are in much need of your services Elder." Aacrum bowed respectfully to the old pixie who was carrying a small black pack very similar to Sherlock's, except it was much smaller.
Edrin walked around Sherlock and eyed him up and down. "Tall one aren't you? Even for a human!" the old one said with a grin. "I'll wager you lead the girls a merry chase! Well never you mind, our lasses know just how to please, even if it takes two of them to do it!" He cackled merrily and began to climb the rocks behind Sherlock. Soon he was high enough to stare him in the eyes. "Begging your pardon sire, 'tis a shame to bewitch a fellow wizard, but if it must be so, let it at least be enjoyable for you!"
" I'm not a wi..." Sherlock began, but the old pixie paid no attention to him, casting his hand forward and releasing tiny, shiny bits of glittering dust which enveloped Sherlock completely making him sneeze rather vigorously. Sherlock glared at the diminutive pixie, and for a while it appeared that nothing was going to happen. Then suddenly Sherlock's eyes rolled back in his head and with a loud popping sound he disappeared.
Molly screamed. Where Sherlock once stood, was only a pile of garments and his cloak. Sherlock was no where to be seen.
"What have you done with him?" Molly rushed up the elderly elf. "Bring him back! He has done no harm to you or your kind!" Molly glared into the old man's wrinkled face. "Bring him back immediately!"
'Hush, child," the mage soothed quietly. "I have done no ill, look." He pointed to the pile of clothing that had once contained Sherlock of Holmes and Molly could see that indeed there were wiggling and twitching movements beneath the material. Soon a head of black curls and small white arms and shoulders could be seen struggling to make their way clear of the now oversized garments.
"Sherlock!" Molly called as she rushed forward to help him free himself. With a grunt that was several octaves higher than normal Sherlock of Holmes cast what was once his tunic aside and stood up glaring about. Arms folded across his chest he frowned up at a huge Molly.
"This is your fault, Molly Hooper," he said through gritted teeth.
"Oh my!" Molly squeaked and hastily turned her back. Sherlock of Holmes was now the size of the surrounding pixies and he was as naked as the day he was born.
"Your turn, my dear!" the pixie mage announced and Molly found herself breathing in the glittery particles as they cascaded down over her body. The last thing she remembered was a loud popping sound.
She came to and struggled upward through what seemed like a mountain of smothering material. As her head and upper body freed itself from the clinging cloth, she gasped a deep breath of fresh air. Realizing her nakedness for the first time, she squeaked with embarrassment and quickly dove back under the white material of her knickers. She peeped out cautiously and was completely mortified to lock eyes with her still tall but definitely somewhat shorter companion. Molly's face and chest turned beet red with embarrassment. She quickly pulled her knickers up over her head. The man had no shame. Sherlock was just standing there, not even trying to cover himself!
Oh dear! Even though she now could not see him, her mind kept forming pictures of him. His image was burned into her retinas. She heard his deep snigger and her ears grew so hot she thought they would go up in smoke and steam any moment. Facing away from Sherlock, Molly lowered her cover enough to glance about. She immediately wished she had remained hidden. She was drawing a crowd. Dozens of interested young men were now gathered about her. Their ardent gazes leaving no doubt about their intent. Darn Anderson, darn the love potion, darn Sherlock of Holmes! It just wasn't fair. She had not asked for any of this! What was she to do? Her staff and sling were too large and heavy to be of any use.
Edrin clapped his hands sharply. "Beatrix! Where are the cloaks? Our guests will be getting chilled!" This brought a round of titters from all the ladies in the crowd as Beatrix, an elderly lady pixie, shuffled forth with two white robes. Molly slipped hers on gratefully. It was wonderful. The material caressed her bare skin and was as soft as rabbit fur. Sighs of disappointment from the ladies could be heard as Sherlock donned the second robe. "Really!" Molly grumbled to herself as she stood up. Pixie girls must all be hussies, she thought.
"Now back away, back away," Edrin commanded Molly and Sherlock's admirers. "There will be plenty of time to get to know our guests later. Quickly now, it is not safe outside so late in the evening, let us hurry inside before something dreadful happens."
As if on cue, the hooting of a owl could be heard overhead. Edrin ushered Sherlock and Molly quickly to the cave entrance, the others following behind, and lead them down a long, smooth and narrow tunnel lit with torches. The tunnel soon widened out and Molly could see additional tunnels branching off to the left and right. The pixies behind them jostled and shoved each other in their determination to be closest to the guests. Once or twice, Molly heard sharp words and the sounds of bodies tumbling on the floor.
Edrin, paused and shouted. "Enough! You are making enough racket to waken the trolls from their yearly hibernation! Be silent, or there will be a battle, not a feast this night!" Everyone fell silent and looked around as if they had not been involved in the hubbub. "That's better!" said Edrin, as they resumed their trek in almost complete silence.
"Trolls?" Molly asked, "there are trolls about?" Edrin nodded, and indicated a passing entrance to a passageway to his right.
"Some of these tunnels lead to the realms of trolls and goblins," he said solemnly. "But don't worry, it takes a lot to wake a troll from hibernation and the goblins are a lazy lot. There is no need to worry, my lady."
Molly shivered, suddenly wary.
"He is correct, Molly Hooper," Sherlock's deep voice vibrated next to her. Molly glanced over to the tall man walking beside her. It was the first time he had spoken to her since all this craziness had begun.
"I thought trolls were extinct," Molly said. "No one from my village has reported seeing one in several generations."
"It is true, their numbers are greatly diminished. But here in The Deep, they still have a sizable number," Edrin said. "They only bother us during the winter, which is still several weeks away."
"You need not worry about trolls," Sherlock reassured her, "they tend to sleep rather soundly."
"I'm not afraid," Molly said quickly, "just surprised." Molly realized she really wasn't afraid. A fact that both startled and relieved her.
Sherlock glanced down and stared at her a moment, then nodded his approval. "You are an interesting woman, Molly Hooper," he said.
Molly blushed at the comment. She suspected Sherlock did not compliment others easily. It was high praise indeed.
Edrin continued to lead them down through the tunnels, turning first right, then left, then right again, but always down. Molly was sure she would never be able to find her way back to the surface again. She hoped Sherlock had a better sense of direction.
The passageway began to narrow again while the ceiling began to get higher. Soon narrow ledges appeared above them while the tunnel was barely wide enough for three or four to walk abreast. Edrin began to make a soft trilling sound in his throat which was repeated by the pixies behind them. Molly looked up at Sherlock in confusion.
Sherlock pointed to the ledges. "It is a signal," he told Molly, "they are letting the guards know that all is well."
Molly watched the ledges; every now and then she caught a glimpse of armed and armored pixies. Their steely eyes carefully watching Sherlock and herself. These pixies did not smile. They wore helmets and thick leather breastplates; their bows were pulled and their arrows knocked, ready to release in a rain of death. Molly shivered. She was glad of her friendly escort
After a while the ledge disappeared and the passageway began to widen out once more. Then suddenly it opened out onto a wide terrace overlooking a huge cavern. Edrin moved to the side and pixies began hopping and jumping down the small cliff to the floor of the cavern below.
"This is Lilligrotto," Edrin said.
Lilligrotto was like nothing Molly had ever seen before. The ceiling of the massive space was covered with glowing crystals of many colors. The light they produced cast rainbow hues below. Here and there huge stalactites hung from the ceiling while their stalagmite mates reared upwards from the floor. Many of them had connected into beautiful milky white columns. It was all quite unearthly and beautiful beyond her ability to describe. Even Sherlock looked impressed.
Aacrum and Pyrus joined them as well as Twiggy and another pixie girl named Willow. As the crowds behind them dispersed into the cavern, Edrin turned to Aacrum.
"Aacrum, will you and Pyrus see that Lord Sherlock is made comfortable and offered light refreshment? I'm sure he will want to bathe and ready himself for this evenings festivities." With nods and bows the two pixies gathered Sherlock between them and lead him off to the right. "Twiggy, will you and Willow see to Lady Molly's needs?" With that Molly found herself being gently lead to the left. Molly looked over her shoulder, but Sherlock was already out of sight. She gave an irritated sigh. She didn't feel as confident without Sherlock near. She frowned, she was a woman grown, she chided herself. She certainly did not need Sherlock of Holmes to protect her. She was perfectly capable of taking care of herself, thank you very much! She followed Twiggy with Willow trailing along behind her.
They took a narrow passageway that led down to a small circular cavern. The air was filled with the slightly acrid smell of sulfur. Bubbling in the corner was a pool of warm water.
"Oh, sulfur springs!" Molly exclaimed. "I've heard of these. They are supposed to be very therapeutic." The pixie women helped her with her robe and Molly was soon up to her chin in the deliciously heated water. Twiggy and Willow joined her, and soon all three women were relaxing and feeling the tensions of the day drift away. After soaking for some time, a now very relaxed Molly was lead to rinse under a clear waterfall of fresh water. Donning her robe, she followed Twiggy to a small room containing a single bed, a gilded side chair, dresser and wardrobe. Molly sank down on the feather filled duvet and sighed in contentment.
- ɸ -
In another part of the cave system, Sherlock bathed in the flow of an icy stream. There were no warm sulfur springs in the men's quarters. Only the basic of necessities were provided. Sherlock was not overly bothered by the lack of amenities. He was used to much worse at home. He finished and waded to the bank and picked up the rough towel the men had left him. Stalking over to a small table topped with a mirror he lathered his face and picked up the razor from the stand and began to shave. Soon finished, he turned to pick up the clothing Aacrum and Pyrus had brought. The two pixie men were lounging on a low couch in the corner of the cave. Their whispers and low murmurs were just out of his hearing.
He picked up the white tunic and thrust it over his head. It was a snug fit, much tighter than the loose tops he normally wore, but it was comfortable enough. The next item was completely unfamiliar.
"What is this?" He asked as he held up a length of material in dark blue, green and yellow design.
Aacrum looked up. "It's called a kilt." he said. "You wear it wrapped about your waist." He took the kilt and demonstrated how to put it on. Sherlock frowned slightly then shrugged and donned the strange apparel. He felt a little awkward as the bottom of the material only came down to his knees. There was a long pair of hose to cover his legs almost reaching his knees which made the shortness of the skirt more acceptable. The shoes were a little tight, but the leather was soft and would stretch soon enough. The last item was a short black jacket which was to be worn over the white tunic. Sherlock was pleased to see it contained sleeves and a collar which he immediately turned upward to graze his chin. There was no mirror in the men's quarters but on the whole he felt the outfit was quite acceptable. Sherlock looked at Aacrum and cleared his throat.
"Um, I think you forgot an item of clothing." Sherlock murmured. Where are the pants?"
Aacrum and Pyrus looked at each other and laughed. Sherlock appeared rather put out, which made the pixies laugh even harder, slapping themselves and hooting their glee.
"Real men do not wear pants under their kilt," Pyrus chortled.
"Besides," Aacrum added gasping for air, "they would only get in your way tonight." Sherlock looked at them rather mystified, which sent the pixies into another rolling fit of laughter.
- ɸ -
Molly was so relaxed she almost fell asleep on the downy duvet. Twiggy answered the quiet knock at the door and opened it wide to admit an overburdened Willow who staggered inside carrying at least a dozen dresses in her arms. She was followed by several giggling girls carrying boxes and packages of all sorts and shapes.
Molly was overwhelmed, each gown was more beautiful than the one before. She finally decided on a rather modest looking blue gown with a close fitting heart shaped bodice covered in icy blue crystals. She loved the way it made her feel. The almost sheer skirts falling gracefully layer after layer over her hips and thighs ending in a lovely petal hem about her ankles. There were matching shoes covered in the same crystals as well as long gloves dyed to match in the softest leather. Molly stared at her reflection in the long mirror on the front of the wardrobe. She could hardly recognize herself. She preformed a perfect pirouette en dedans and giggled as she watched the skirts whirl outward then fall gracefully about her legs.
"I feel like a princess!" Molly exclaimed. "Thank you for allowing me to wear such a beautiful gown!"
Willow laughed merrily and guided Molly to sit in the chair now placed behind her facing the mirror. "Sit, my lady. We still must do your hair and you don't want to arrive late to the party!" Molly sat and Willow began to artfully arrange Molly's long tresses into an elaborate upswept style.
"You will certainly bewitch your young man this night," said Twiggy as she looked on with approval. "He won't be able to keep his hands off you."
"He's not my young man!" Molly spluttered with a very red face.
"But you are traveling together," Twiggy frowned, "and I saw the way he treated you after you healed the deer."
"I hardly know him, I only met him a day ago!" Molly exclaimed.
Twiggy looked at her with a thoughtful look. "Are you sure you are not attracted to each other? Sometimes it can happen very quickly."
"I'm sure," Molly said in a sad tone. "Believe me, Sherlock of Holmes has no desire to touch me."
"Well, maybe that will change," Twiggy said in a cheerful tone. "And if that doesn't happen," she added, "there are plenty of other men who will want to choose you for the coupling."
"The what?" Molly asked.
Twiggy looked at her in surprise, humans were so strange. "The coupling," she repeated. She sighed at Molly's look of confusion. "It's when a man and a woman take off their clothes and..."
"I know what coupling is!" Molly said in a panicked voice. "I just don't understand what it has to do with the party tonight."
"Don't human parties end in coupling?" It was Twiggy's turn to look confused.
"No!" Molly said emphatically, then she paused. "Well, maybe for some, but definitely not everyone at the party!"
"That must be sad for the ones left out," Willow whispered.
Molly looked into the mirror at Willow's unhappy reflection. "Well...yes," Molly admitted. "It can be sad, especially if one has feelings that are not returned, but coupling is not everything," Molly said staunchly.
"Oh, Lady Molly, humans are so odd! What else could there be?" Willow giggled, sure that Molly was jesting with her.
"Work, for one thing, or studying, learning new things. Pursuing your interests," Molly said.
Willow's response was to shake her head and giggle some more. "Oh Lady Molly, you are so funny!"
"What do you do with your time Willow?" Molly asked.
"Oh, this and that, I do hair, I fold clothes, I help wait table at feast times."
"But what do you do on your own time? What do you like to do?" Molly asked.
Willow gave her a puzzled frown, then giggled. "Well, I do enjoy the men!"
Men, plural. "How many relationships have you had?" Molly asked before she realized how nosey the question was.
Willow did not seem upset she just gave Molly a saucy look and replied. " Lots and lots! I've had seven babes!"
Seven babies! Willow did not look much older than Molly. Molly knew that not everyone's customs were the same...but seven! She looked at Willow's reflection.
"Willow, I have not seen any children since I came here. Where are they? Will I be able to meet your children at the feast?"
Willow snorted delicately. "Of course not Lady Molly. Children belong in the nursery. They do not join us in the main cavern until their fourteenth year."
"But you visit them? Tell them they are loved?" Molly asked.
"Why would I do that?" Willow asked in a puzzled voice. "Our purpose is to provide for the needs of the men and to have babes. The nursery pixies take care of the needs of the children. Why do you ask such ridiculous questions?"
"Human customs are very different," Molly said mildly, but she was secretly horrified. The women here were little more than harem concubines. "I do as I wish, go where I wish and pursue any occupation that I fancy."
Willow tittered. "Oh my dear, that sounds most unnatural!"
Molly sighed, there was no getting through to her, but Twiggy looked thoughtful.
"To be able to do as one wished would be a great thing. I have always wanted to be a hunter," Twiggy said.
"But that's what you are is it not?" Molly asked in surprise. You were in the woods with Aacrum and Pyrus."
Twiggy snorted in disgust. "Me a hunter? not likely. They allow me to go with them to cook the food and to skin and prepare the meat for transport back to Lilligrotto. I'm not allowed to pick up a weapon unless it is to pack it away. If a girl were to do those things here, she would be made fun of or banished to the nursery to wait on babes," Twiggy scowled. "There is no time to talk about this now, perhaps tomorrow, for now we must concentrate on matters at hand. Willow, that hair style will not do. Take it down."
"Why?" Molly exclaimed. I rather like it. It's fine."
"So sorry My Lady. I thought you were with Lord Sherlock. Only women who are spoken for are allowed to wear their hair so. It will look just as lovely down about your shoulders, and it will let the men know you are available for choosing."
"Molly frowned. "Don't I get a say in the matter? What if I don't want to be chosen or I dislike the one who chooses me?"
"I'm sure you will be happy with the one who chooses you. You are very lovely and a great many men will vie for the right to be yours. If you see one you particularly like it is best if you let him know with a wink and a nod. That way he will have a chance to warn others off during the party and perhaps lessen the number of fights with others who want you. It will increase the odds of him winning your hand. Besides, you don't want him to be so battered he will be of no use!" Willow tittered.
She finished combing Molly's tresses and loosely gathered the hair behind each ear and clipped in hair barrettes which matched the dress. "There My Lady, you look very lovely." Willow stood back and looked at Molly's appearance approvingly.
Molly stared at Willow. "Are you telling me that men are going to fight over me in order to decide who gets to couple with me?" She was appalled.
"Oh yes, My Lady. It's almost the best part of the party! Sometimes there are at least a dozen men that have to go to the infirmary! I once had six men fighting for me!" she crowed. Willow or Twiggy for that matter did not seem the least bit upset by the prospect of a brawl.
"I won't do it," Molly said. "I'm going to stay right here. You go without me. I am not about to allow some man I don't even know to touch me. No! No! No way!"
Twiggy was suddenly before her. She was not smiling. She grimly looked Molly in the eye. "You think to break your oath with the people of Lilligrotto? When you gave us your name you agreed to follow our wishes for a day and a night. You intend to insult us in the very midst of our home?"
Molly looked at the very angry pixie and remembered the steely eyes of the pixie guards in the passageway. This was not good. Not good at all. Molly lowered her head and spoke meekly. "No, Twiggy. I won't defy the oath. You are right. It's just all very unsettling. I'm not used to pixie ways."
It was if Molly had never said a word in disagreement. The pixie girls began to chatter and giggle explaining all the things that would happen during the feast and the party. It sounded like fun. If it wasn't for the coupling thing at the end, Molly would have looked forward to the evenings festivities.
"Come Molly, it's time to go to the main chamber. The party will start soon." Laughing and chattering as fast as their mouths would move, Twiggy and Willow lead a reluctant Molly out into the passageway to join other girls and women as they steadily walked upward to the main cavern.