And so it came to be that ten years waxed and waned, and Queen Beatrix grew sick with fear that the goblins would come for her or, worse, her daughters that she loved so well.
But the tenth year passed with little evidence that evil creatures were lying in wait to ambush the castle and steal any of the royal family. Every day the Queen waited, but every day nothing happened. And so she watched her daughters closely, but allowed them still the freedom to learn about themselves and the world around them. She taught them to value their wits and their ingenuity. She never restricted them from running about, riding horses (or goats, as was the case for Tatterhood), or doing any of the athletic things that most girls of the time were forbidden.
She encouraged Cassandra's quests for truth and knowledge, and encouraged Tatterhood in her headstrong refusal to bend to the will of others. With both of them she promoted the sense that they could rely only on themselves in this world, despite being born to a life of privilege and grace in such a lovely place. She impressed upon them the idea that life was a road, and seeing around the bend is impossible to us all, so we must rise and meet each turn with bravery and strength.
The people of the land knew Cassandra to be the very ideal of a princess- charitable, unassuming, always trying to impart to others her happiness in life itself. To a one they loved her and looked forward to a time when she would be their leader, knowing she would care for them as well as her parents- though none were anxious for Queen Beatrix and King Hal to cease their reign, the more pragmatic among them recognized that it must, one day, be so.
But Tatterhood was regarded with care and caution by the populace. None knew what she would say or do from one moment to the next, and it worries people to be in the presence of the unpredictable. She seemed uncanny, strange, and unusual, and that was just their response to her appearance! It must be said that, outside of the palace, none could seem to accept Tatterhood's propensity for wearing clothes that made her look a beggar, for refusing to do anything with her disorderly red hair which flew around and about her as she would ride through towns and country on her goat. And who had ever heard of a girl who would rather ride a goat than any of the king's glorious white stallions? Add to that the spoon and people were most disconcerted by her- they would not understand her, and their confusion regarding her was viewed, by her, as a source of endless amusement (that she took no insult at their censure was even further cause of confusion). It must be said that, outside of her own family, few took great notice of Tatterhood except to disdain her, even if that reaction were only noted within their own breasts. It would never do to openly say anything negative about a princess.
In this kingdom a young lady's coming of age happened on her thirteenth birthday, so you can only imagine the amazing celebrations which took place when the princesses achieved that landmark. Schools closed and work was cancelled for the adults. Before closing, all of the bakers in the kingdom had been happy to provide enough delicious foods and cakes and sweets and loveliness for the entire place to relax on the great day of celebration and partake, in the name of the Princesses Cassandra and Tatterhood.
The streets were strewn with banners in the signature colors of the girls- a satiny, silvery shade of pink in honor of Cassandra, a velvety forest green for Tatterhood. The bells tolled in the church towers, there were musicians on each corner, constantly playing such delightful reels and waltzes that dancing in the streets became quite the norm.
Within the palace itself, there were tables and tables of food. Such delights were not unknown in the kingdom, but to see so many in all one place was a thrill and delight to all in attendance. One table held just meats- venison, lamb, roasted and braised beef, entire suckling pigs, game of every size and shape, stewed in their own juices and seasoned to the point of introducing ecstasy to the tongue with every bite. Another table held only vegetables- raw and cooked, seasoned and plain, with any and every assortment of savory and sweet sauces to accompany them. One table contained breads- again, sweet and savory, from rye and pumpernickel to cinnamon buns, pastries of every shape and flavor, holding fruits, holding chocolates, holding sweet, sweet cheeses.
The palace itself was open to all and sundry, and guests were flitting in and out all day, wishing the sisters well, tasting a bit of the food available, and taking a turn on the dance floor. But none wished to be too greedy, so they would soon clear out and give others a chance for the same, and so it continued all day.
Sundown found the two delighted, laughing, and slightly tired sisters twirling around the floor in one another's arms. Tatterhood, of course, wore her tattered old hood and still, even while dancing, held her spoon in one hand (her goat was off to the side of the ballroom, partaking of the sweet grass which had been brought in a palette for her particular enjoyment, the king refusing to hear of even the goat being shut out of the joy of the day).
Cassandra's gown, made of palest satin, with seed pearls sewn at the pink, pink seams, was the first floor-length gown she'd been allowed. Her masses of blonde curls were piled loftily upon her head, though by then some of the curls were escaping their bonds, skimming her forehead, neck, and shoulders in a most becoming way. She felt quite grown-up with her long, long skirt, and her hair up for the first time. She could think of no felicity superior to whirling in practiced circles with her lovely and loving sister laughing into her face, sharing in the happiness that belonged to them both, as well as everyone else.
Suddenly, there was a clamor and clangor, and noise seemed to explode into the room. Panic ensued as most of the partygoers attempted to flee, and the band could not decide if they should keep playing or not, so some stopped, some fled, and some kept playing in a stalwart fashion (although, with the amount of the king's fine champagne that had flowed in their direction all day, it is possible that they were not steadfast so much as intoxicated to the point of failing to notice the commotion, or perhaps they mistook it for noise within their own head).
Tatterhood and Cassandra were quickly found amidst the melee by their parents, and taken to the side of the floor.
"They've come! They've come! They said they would and they are here now- it is the goblins! I've never told a soul, but I met them in the forest and they swore they'd have either me or my daughters for their own! I'd hoped they'd forgotten, but here they are. We must… flee? Hide? Hope they get bored soon?"
Queen Beatrix was seldom at a loss for ideas, words, or bravery, nor was King Hal, but her fear seemed to be affecting the queen, and surprise had taken the king so that all he could do was open and close his mouth in shock. Tatterhood took half an instant to accept her mother's words and settle on a plan.
"Mother, Father- take Cassandra and all of the guests you can, especially the servants, we must protect them, and go into the secret room hidden in the paneled mirror wall. Do it quickly- I will see to the goblins. Do not open the door until the noise is over and done- that is how you will know I've rousted these fools. Go now!"
And so they listened, and did. It was a well-hid door in the mirror, and none would know it were there unless told, and it was not difficult for most of the royal family and the servants still present to slip into it unseen in the confusion of the room. Tatterhood got her goat and mounted, then began to run it in circles on the dance floor, loudly singing a bawdy song.
The goblins had soared in through an open door, but now that most of the guests had escaped, the door was closed. The sun was traveling down, but it illuminated the window which faced west, which was formed of diamonds. The light shot and speckled and split and illuminated the damage wrought by the goblins. Tables of food overturned, the far wall, entirely comprised of the mirror behind which the rest of Tatterhood's family hid, was shattered in many places. Chandeliers had been struck from the ceiling, shattering and scattering their glass across the marble floors.
And still, the goblins rode about and about, looking for more that they could hurt. There were ten of them this time, and such a ruckus they made! But the Queen of Goblins was determined to make even more.
"Oh, False Queen," she cried. "Ten years ago, I let you go from our forest, and promised to return. You'll see I've kept my word! You know you shall belong to us from now on, to cook and to serve us in our house that is in the far Island of Ghouls. This is your duty and if you won't come, we'll have your children in your stead!"
At the end of this speech was when she first spied Tatterhood, riding her goat, waving her spoon, and singing in such a loud voice that it was echoing in the great, nearly empty, room. Who was this, this child- the one who did not know to fear goblins? She must be feeble-minded, the goblin thought.
"You, girl! What are you on about? Can you not see that we are attacking this place, to claim that which is ours? Why do you ride about like that, as if you did not fear us?"
Tatterhood's plan had worked well so far- the goblins were no long flying around helter-skelter, but zooming low and near to her, which was important for the next bit to work.
"I do not fear goblins! You don't smell pleasant, but aside from that, what should I fear? Why should you scare me?"
"People fear us because we have great powers! And we are fierce and ugly and might touch them and taint them with our foulness!"
"Ah, but, understand- I have great powers, myself, so I need not fear yours. And for fierceness- I have tamed a goat to let me ride her! I fear not your fierceness compared with hers. And as for being ugly- I think you're fine-looking. Such an interesting color, your skin is. And how does it glisten so, when you're not in the water? And your ears are so large and so round- I think I should like to kiss them! Might I kiss your lovely, lovely ears? Or your round, round head? I shall kiss you!"
Tatterhood had hit upon the very thing most repugnant to the goblins- worse even than lemons and the promise of a clean house. Goblins cannot abide affection, they resent touch coming to them in form that was not violent or angry, and a loving kiss was a wretched thought to them. Most of them began screaming at Tatterhood's words and they immediately flew away, trying to escape her eager, young lips.
Tatterhood nudged her goat into action and took off after the goblins as best she could, but she succeeded only in catching their queen. As if unaware of the repugnance in her arms, Tatterhood wasted no time but planted a kiss on the squirming form, squarely on the bald, green flesh between the goblins large ears.
Such a scream came forth from the queen, and it sounded so human in its agony, that Cassandra felt her spirit wrench within her. Within the room, where all the others were huddled on the far side, in the dark, she knew she had to see what was happening. She knew Tatterhood could expel the goblins if any could, but part of her feared for her safety, and she also thought she'd like to see Tatterhood's triumph for herself.
Cassandra then crept to the door, inched it open just enough to poke her fair head through and into the ballroom. She managed to see a scene such as she could not have imagined. Most of the goblins were leaving, but one had returned to help the queen, who was now screaming in the throes of death in Tatterhood's arms, and her body had begun to smoke. A moment later the flesh melted away and Tatterhood was left holding empty clothing and covered in foul slime.
In response to this, the one goblin who felt enough loyalty to the queen to return to help her gave a fell shout. The girl had murdered his queen!
At that moment, he saw Cassandra's head poking through the door. In a flash, he flew past her and was gone. Tatterhood looked over toward the noise just in time to see a most amazing thing- he had taken Cassandra's head and replaced it with that of a calf! And then, just then, he was gone with the rest of the goblins, Cassandra's head secure in his arms as they all flew back to their Island of ghouls.
Author's Note: I would, again, like to thank all of my overly kind reviewers! You are all so nice to be reading my story! I hope you keep liking it...