Chapter Eight - Pixie Party, Part One

Molly gasped as she entered the main cavern. Changes had occurred since her first brief sight of the space. Long tables covered with snow white linens were arranged around the edge of the open floor. Each table was set with sparkling crystal goblets, golden plates and utensils. One table stood a foot or so higher than the others. Willow explained that was where the pixie queen would sit with her guests of honor.

Servants bustled to and fro, bringing out heaping platters and bowls of all sorts of delicious looking food. The center of the open floor space had been tiled with large squares of thin mica which reflected the glowing crystals on the ceiling. Huge baskets of ferns and flowers hung from the columns. Potted trees and shrubs were scattered about, creating discreet privacy screens. In one corner a cascading waterfall rushed downward to splash rainbows on the rocks below. It was all so beautiful it almost took Molly's breath away.

Everyone was gathering in the open area. Twiggy with Willow beside her began leading Molly about, introducing her. Molly was happy to chatter with the women, but something about how the men were staring at her made her a bit nervous. One or two of them mentioned they were glad her hair was down and how lovely she looked. Drat that love potion! Molly scooted closer to Twiggy and Willow.

There was no sign of Sherlock until Molly heard a flutter of giggles from the women and the crowd parted as Aacrum and Pyrus with Sherlock in their midst walked across the floor to stop in front of Molly. Sherlock was a sight to behold. Being the tallest person there, he towered head and shoulders over everyone. His freshly washed hair had lost the greasy look of Molly's ointment and was back to falling in shiny curls about his head. His black jacket was very similar to his old, much larger cloak except it was short, barely touching his waistline. What was most interesting was the skirt-like material wrapped about his waist. Molly whispered into Twiggy's ear and was told it was called a kilt. Most of the men were wearing them. Apparently it served as formal men's attire. Molly thought it looked splendid on him.

Sherlock bowed his head slightly in Molly's direction. "Hello Molly, you look . ." He paused for a second as if considering her appearance. "You look nice," he finished a little lamely.

Molly smiled, but frowned a little inside. She knew she looked much better than 'nice'. The man evidently wasn't attracted to her at all.

"Thank you, Sherlock. You look very handsome yourself," she returned.

Sherlock nodded his thanks. "Your hair is down," he said rather soberly, "you should have told them you were with me. We could have protected each other. Think it through the next time." He paused and gazed at her intently. "Unless of course you are fine with how the evening's festivities will end?"

" N-n-no, of course not!" Molly stammered. "Um, I'm afraid I wasn't aware of what was going on until it was too late."

Sherlock leaned close to her ear, but careful not to touch her. "Pretend to be attracted to me, and I will do the same to you. Perhaps it will help to distract some of your suitors. Although, I think I will still have to persuade several of them by stronger means."

"You would do this for me?" Molly asked in a surprised whisper.

"Yes," he murmured back, "plus, you will be helping me. As lovely as these ladies are, I have no desire to carouse the night away with any of them. Now bat your eyes and act as if you are enjoying my company," he imperiously demanded.

"Oh...okay." Molly smiled weakly and batted her eyes several times.

"Is that the best you can do?" He growled. "You look like you think I'm going to eat you for dinner."

" Well, you're not much better." Molly snorted. "You look nice Molly," she mimicked his greeting, emphasizing the word nice so it sounded as if he were bored.

Sherlock held out his arm to Molly. As she grasped his elbow with a gloved hand he smiled wickedly at her and murmured loud enough for the surrounding pixies to overhear. "Come my beauty, the night is young; let us enjoy the party fully instead of grumbling that you will have to share me with the others."

Molly glared at him briefly before she relaxed into her role. He wanted her to pretend how much she was attracted to him? Well she would show him that she was better at it than he.

"Oh Sherlock," she sighed, "I love it when you become all masterful with me. How can I argue with you when you are so commanding?" Molly batted her eyes and stared up adoringly as they moved off into the crowd. "Will you dance with me this night and promise to hold me close?"

For some reason Sherlock looked a little surprised. Molly watched as he swallowed. "It would be my honor my dear lady and I will be glad to hold you as close as you will permit," he said as he looked intently into her eyes.

It was Molly's turn to swallow. His words sounded so sincere and his look was so ardent she almost melted on the spot. It took her a moment before she laughed in delight and leaned her head against his shoulder.

"We seem to be drawing quite a bit of attention," Sherlock said a little dryly.

Molly lifted her head and glanced about. Sure enough at least a dozen men were glaring at Sherlock with their fists clenched.

"Oh dear! I'm so sorry," Molly said.

"Think nothing of it my dear," Sherlock said loud enough for the agitated men to hear. "It will be a privilege to fight for the right to be with you."

"Oh my lord," Molly sighed in rapture, "You are so brave! How can I but want to be with you this night with all my heart!" There, Molly thought, that will tell the pixy men whom she preferred. It didn't seem to help though. If anything the men became more agitated.

Molly was about to comment on that fact when a silvery trumpet note pealed out. The crowd turned as one and faced the raised table as the curtains behind it were drawn back.

"Behold, Queen Irgraine, holder of the golden scepter approaches!" A loud clear voice announced as the most beautiful woman Molly had ever seen stepped forward. All the pixies including Sherlock and Molly bowed and curtsied respectively before her. Once the queen was seated, everyone stood and quietly went to be seated at the long tables as well. Pyrus lead Molly and Sherlock forward to be introduced to the Queen.

"Your majesty, may I present Lord Sherlock of Holmes and Lady Molly Hooper. Sherlock bowed again while Molly sank into a deep curtsey.

"It has been some time since we have entertained anyone from the land of Holmes," the queen said with a smile. "Arise, Lord Sherlock and Lady Molly, be seated and make yourselves comfortable. Lord Sherlock, are you acquainted with a noble from your land by the name of Mycroft?"

Sherlock, who was in the process of settling into his chair, stilled then said; "Indeed your highness, Mycroft is my brother, King of Holmes."

"How splendid!" the Queen laughed, "It has been some time since I made his acquaintance! T'is most pleasant that the intervening years have blessed his ambitions thus. He was always one who had his eye for the main chance. He was a good friend and an excellent lover."

Sherlock cleared his throat. Molly could tell his surprise by the tense way he held his shoulders.

"If I may ask, your majesty, how old was my brother when you last saw him?"

The queen looked at him curiously but answered readily enough.

"Let me see," she said as she looked at Sherlock. "He was probably near your age, perhaps a few years older."

Sherlock looked puzzled for a moment then a look of realization covered his expressive face.

"Forgive me your Highness, I fear I have misspoke. You must be referring to my great, great-uncle. He was named Mycroft as well. My brother in fact was named for him. I was fortunate to have met him once as a child. He was very old and passed away before I could get to know him well."

Molly frowned, "But Sherlock, how could that be? The queen is young. She is not old enough to possibly have met a man your age who has since died of old age!" Molly suddenly realized that she had interrupted the conversation between Sherlock and the queen. "Forgive me your Highness, I am so sorry to interrupt."

"It is quite alright lovely Molly. I tend to forget how short human lives are. Barely longer than some of the beasts of the forest." She sounded sad. He was such a wonderful man; I hope his stay with us extended his lifetime a little. Visiting pixies sometimes has that result."

How old was this queen? Molly asked herself. She did not appear much older than Sherlock and herself. Evidently pixies aged differently than humans. It shed a new light on Willow and her seven babes. Molly directed her attention back to the conversation between Sherlock and Queen Irgraine.

"Indeed, I believe you may be correct your majesty." Sherlock was saying. "He was extremely old when I met him. He was older than anyone who has lived in Holmes, well past a normal lifespan. He did not become king, but he was a renowned scholar and sorcerer of elfin magic. He was much respected by our people."

"I shall light a candle in the chamber of the ancestors and mourn his passing," the queen told Sherlock as she squeezed his hand. Then she did a most curious thing. Holding her right hand so the fingers were held together in an upright position with her thumb held out at a ninety degree angle she passed her hand over Sherlock in a scanning motion.

"Yes, I thought so," she said with a smile. "You have his talents. You must be a very powerful wizard indeed."

Sherlock smiled. "I am not a wizard your majesty. Forgive me, but I am but a humble apprentice to the Sorcerer Sooran." Hearing Molly's dismayed gasp, Sherlock turned and frowned at her.

"Relax, Molly. I do not study black magic. The Sorcerers of Holmes practice only the highest quality of white magic."

He turned back to the queen. "Please forgive her your majesty. She is not from Holmes. We have only recently met and she is not familiar with the ways of white magic or the customs of Holmes."

The queen leaned across Sherlock and did the scanning motion with her hand over Molly.

"She possesses talents which are different, but equally as strong as yours," The Queen said.

Molly squeaked. "I am but a purveyor of herbs and medicines your Majesty."

"And yet you were able to heal the hind when even Aacrum had doubts of its survival. We have been watching you, young Molly. Even before you chose to come to us into the Deep. Your talents have not gone unnoticed. How is it that you were able to heal so many of the sleeping sickness?"

Molly squirmed uncomfortably, "I used simple herbal medicines, your highness, and I do not deal in black magic!"

All this was true, but Molly struggled to hold tight to the one thing she must never reveal. Molly had been cautioned by her mother from whom she received her talents to be wary of how she displayed her gift. She had lived in fear that the village people would accuse her of black magic. She had always taken care to heal using the cover of herbal remedies. That her herbs worked fast and well was the source of her reputation. If the villagers had known of her additional powers she would have been declared a witch and burned at the stake within the hour.

"Molly looked into the queens beautiful face."I only use the gift for healing your Majesty. I do no harm. Please do not punish me.

"You are safe with us young Molly. When I scanned you, I found only goodness in your heart. You are even more pure than your companion and he is good beyond any I have seen since his forbearer Mycroft."

"I would not go so far as to say I am good, your Majesty," Sherlock grumbled uncomfortably.

"Well, I meant that as a relative term," the queen laughed. "You are a man, and it is difficult for a man to be good."

If anything, Sherlock looked even more put out.

"I am keeping you from the feast! Please eat and enjoy!' The queen smiled, then turned to speak with those seated to her left. Molly and Sherlock were left to watch as a server sliced thin strips of roasted meat from a large animal Molly was quite unfamiliar with.

"Um, what kind of meat is that?" Molly timidly asked the server.

"Squirrel, my lady. Freshly caught and roasted with the special herbs her majesty enjoys."

"Oh, I like squirrel!" Molly beamed. She had forgotten about being shrunk to the size of the pixies. It was amazing how different the squirrel appeared in her present size. She gratefully accepted two slices of the meat as well as generous helpings of root vegetables and salad greens which included several different flowers. Her plate looked beautiful and mouth watering. She dug in with enthusiasm.

"This is delicious!" she exclaimed.

Sherlock picked up the small vessel containing seasoning for the greens and started to pour some on his salad when Molly's gloved had reached over and stopped him.

"It contains honey," she said.

Sherlock gave her a grateful look and set the container down. Eldrin who was seated on the other side of Sherlock gave him a curious look.

"You are not fond of honey, Lord Sherlock?" The mage inquired.

"I am allergic to it elder," Sherlock answered reluctantly. "It causes me to break out in hives."

Eldrin's eyes grew wide. He looked from Molly to Sherlock then back to Molly again.

"Even supposing that you were not aware of the fact that wizards are not susceptible to love potions, why did you use one that contains honey? It's obvious you two are meant for each other. Why would you do such a thing?"

"It, it happened before I met him, and it was an accident!" Molly wailed.

Drat that command of having to do everything the pixies wanted for a day and a half. She found herself blurting out all her secrets. Soon everyone in the cavern was aware of the fact that Molly Hooper had love potion spilled on her and that Sherlock of Holmes was allergic to the honey it contained. To Molly's and Sherlock's discomfort everyone broke out in fits of giggles and laughter that soon had them rolling in the floor and under the tables. Even Queen Irgraine was amused and intrigued.

"You have never touched?" she asked gently.

"Once." Molly admitted reluctantly. His head blew up to the size of a pig's bladder." That caused an additional fit of laughter and giggles from the crowd. As well as mischievous demands that Molly touch Sherlock. Molly reluctantly grasped his hand causing his fingers to swell and bloat. It seemed there was no end to the merriment this caused. There were hoots of laughter and suggestions of other body parts Molly should touch. Things were definitely getting out of hand.

Sherlock stoically was silent until Eldrin cleared his throat. "Well, this has been fun." He mumbled a few words under his breath as he held his hand over Sherlock's swollen hand. The swelling quickly began to disappear. "It's a shame wizards cannot work magic on themselves. Unless you find another wizard who is willing to travel with you, I'm afraid you two are doomed. Your plight has been the most entertaining story we've heard in a long time. It will provide much merriment in its retelling for years! I suppose I must now take pity on you and repay you for such a delightful tale."

Eldrin bent under the table and retrieved his black pouch. He rooted around inside it for several moments mumbling to himself, looking at objects keeping some while throwing others back into the pack. After a while he had everything he needed. He stood on the dinning table ignoring the plates and utensils, causing a crystal goblet of mushroom wine to teeter dangerously until it was rescued by a servant.

"Stand up, young Sherlock," The old man commanded.

Sherlock stood. Molly could not tell if the scowl on his face was because he was obliged to do as the elf asked or if he resented being called young.

"There is no cure for honey allergies," Sherlock told the mage. "Sooran told me that himself, and he is never wrong."

" And you believed him? I told you it is difficult for men to be entirely good." Irgraine laughed. "Sooran told you what he wanted you to believe."

"Many mages hold certain truths from their apprentices in order to keep them under control," Eldrin smiled. "Doubtless, he had his reasons to use your allergy to his advantage." The look on Sherlock's face confirmed his suspicions. "Now close your eyes and think happy thoughts!" Eldrin leaned over and whispered to Molly, "I've always wanted to say that!"

Molly giggled, causing Sherlock to frown.

"Keep those eyes shut!" ordered Eldrin as he circled Sherlock's head with his wand and muttered a spell as he blew a green vapor over Sherlock. Then the mage picked up a curious purple stone and hit Sherlock squarely between the eyes causing him to collapse to the floor.

"Oh my!" Molly cried out and immediately knelt beside her fallen comrade. "Was it necessary to hit him so hard?" She looked up at the old man and was surprised to see a look of glee on his face.

"Of course not, my dear! The rock wasn't part of the spell at all. I just feel it is necessary to keep these young whippersnappers in their place. You don't want him to get all snooty and overbearing do you? I just knocked some sense into him for you. You can thank me later," Eldrin laughed.

"Oh Sherlock!" Molly said as he groaned and sat up rubbing his forehead. "Here, let me help." Molly placed a gloved hand on the sizable lump that was growing between Sherlock's eyes. As she gently touched the bump it began to shrink smaller and soon disappeared along with the headache that had been forming.

"That's simply amazing," Eldrin said with a note of awe in his voice. "You did that wearing gloves! You shouldn't have been able to anything with gloves on. If I were two hundred years younger, I would marry you myself." He looked at Sherlock sternly. "Make sure you treat this one with respect. You don't deserve her. Now stand up, stand up."

Sherlock stood, a little shaky on his feet.

"Go ahead," Eldrin said rather impatiently, "your allergies are gone. Touch her."

Sherlock held out a hand and touched Molly's face. He pulled his hand back and looked at it. Nothing happened, no swelling appeared. Sherlock smiled and pulled Molly to her feet so that she was facing him. He took both hands and touched her face and neck. Nothing happened.

"There I told you, you are cured." Eldrin smiled. "Go ahead lad, kiss her. And do a good job of it or I will be tempted to show you how!"

Sherlock smiled down at Molly and tilted her chin so his mouth had a better angle and lowered his lips to hers.

Molly frantically tried to remind herself that he was only kissing her because a pixie had ordered him to, but soon lost herself in the kiss of a lifetime. Not that she had much experience in kissing, none at all really, but this kiss...this kiss was...magnificent. Molly was lost, she was floating, she was dying, she was...

"Ok, enough now. You can come up for air," Eldrin's voice was filled with humor.

Sherlock broke the kiss and they just stared at each other until they both heard the thunderous claps and table thumping about them. Molly turned red as a beet. Sherlock faced the assembly of pixies and took a deep bow. That caused another round of approval from the witnesses.

"Enough, enough!" Eldrin shouted over the noise. "Let us continue our feast and not neglect the spirits. I propose a toast!" Eldrin held up his crystal goblet of mushroom wine. "To Lord Sherlock and Lady Molly! May they enjoy this night and remember it fondly for the rest of their lives!"

"To Lord Sherlock and Lady Molly!" The crowd echoed and bell-like sounds of crystal goblets clanging together around the cavern filled the air.

Molly and Sherlock settled down in front of their plates as everyone seated themselves and continued the feast. Entertainers came to the middle of the room. There were acrobats and tumblers. High rope walkers and jugglers. Bear tamers and sword fighting. Molly soon forgot to be shy and began to watch. She especially loved the acrobats. The young girls seemed to fly in the air as their bodies gracefully arched upward then descended rapidly to be caught in the sturdy arms of the men. They made it look so easy.

Molly glanced over at Sherlock shyly. He was busy talking to Eldrin and vigorously waving his hands about while discussing the best way to cast a warg removal spell. Molly idly wondered what a warg was and decided she didn't want to know. It sounded disgusting.

"You must not hold it against him my dear," the Queen said to Molly. "Men are just not as romantic as women. You will be able to get his attention later this night. Let him have some time with Eldrin."

"Oh, I don't mind." Molly said truthfully. "It's just all a little much. I'm not used to this at all."

"I suspect you will grow more comfortable as the night progresses my dear. For now just sit back and relax."

- ΙΈ -

A silvery note from the horn announced that dinner was over. The entertainers disappeared behind curtains and small round tables floated out and settled on the mica floor. Molly noticed Eldrin grinning at Sherlock as they both stood facing the tables, wands in hand. It was the first time she had seen Sherlock openly using his magical powers. Molly was not sure she liked it, but she smiled back as Sherlock looked down at her. Surely he wasn't seeking her approval?

Eldrin announced in his rich booming voice. "Come, come everyone. While the servants are clearing away the remains of our feast. Let us gather our chairs and begin the party game portion of our celebration. Quickly now, find a partner and seat yourselves, no more than four couples to a table."

There was a mad rush of feet in Molly's direction, but Sherlock held out his arm and Molly took it, moving gracefully to the seating area. She didn't see the looks of frustration on the faces of the men behind her. As they arrived at their table, Molly noticed they had forgotten to bring their chairs. She turned to mention it to Sherlock and noticed two golden chairs hovering in the air behind them.

"I should have realized you wouldn't forget the chairs," Molly said in a low voice.

Sherlock smirked and said, "May I assist you with your seat my Lady?"

They sat and were soon joined by three other couples. Molly was pleased to see that Twiggy, accompanied by a rather stout balding pixy, was one of the people at her table. Servants were carrying large boxes, stopping to place something bowl shaped in the center of each table.

Eldrin clapped his hands and the noise calmed a bit. At least Molly could hear him as he began his announcement.

"Ladies and gentlemen. It is now time to begin. Our first game will be Spin the Turtle!"