A Fickle Fingered Fate
Chapter 9
The Magic Of Plants
The moment the carriage door closed with a soft click, Mia lunged for her mother with a girlish squeal, the redhead giggling as she pulled her close with a tight hug. They laughed as they rocked back and forth before pulling apart, but their hands quickly took hold of each other as they sat down. Rosetta reached up, framing her daughter's face. "Just look at you, my little girl!" she gushed. "What has it been-three years since we saw each other in person?"
"You just saw me through the mirror the other day-and we call each other on holidays," said Mia, bashfully brushing a stray hair behind her ear. Rosetta turned to the tea tray, already making her a cup. "But it is really good to see you in person for a change. I'm sorry that you had to deal with all this. I would have liked our next reunion to be a more joyous one."
"You're sorry?" Rosetta scoffed, rolling her eyes as she handed Mia her cup. "Sweetie, this is hardly your fault-your worthless swine of a father is to blame." She muttered another insult under her breath, and took a harsh bite out of a cookie from the tray.
"Please don't be so angry," Mia pleaded. "He at least tried to keep me from going."
"And yet here you are, married-to a monster no less!"
"Toffee isn't all that bad, Mom. He's been kind to me. If anything he could have just killed me, or married me and had me locked in a dungeon to keep me out of his way." She took a small cake from the plate her mother offered, taking a dainty bite of lemony sponge, the pink strawberry frosting adding just the right amount of sweet.
Rosetta hummed softly in reply, sipping her tea in thought. "This isn't ideal in the least," she murmured, then looked to her child, seeing a little girl with her curls tied up in twin-tails and wiggling a loose front tooth. The image made her smile, and left a twinge of sadness. That little girl was gone, she knew that all too well, but she could never forget how precious her child was. "I'm just glad you're okay. Word of the attack came only an hour after you called me, you can just imagine what that was like."
"I'm sorry to have put you through that. I had hoped to explain things myself and try to let it sink in as softly as I could manage." Mia wiped her hand on a napkin, cleaning away to cake crumbs from her fingers with a sigh. "This is all just so...overwhelming. I don't know what to do with myself now."
The redhead softly patted her daughter's knee. "I know, sweetie. Being married so suddenly is bound to leave you in a bit of a whirlwind. Goddess knows I was rather lost when I was forced to marry abruptly. But it gets easier, you just have to stake out your place in the household and not let them put you in a box."
Mia frowned. "Stake out my place...?"
"What sort of Queen are you going to be," she explained. "Are you going to be a pretty trinket on his arm? A role model figure for your people? A hands-on lady not afraid to take charge and give orders as needed? It's all up to you what you become in this kingdom."
"That sounds a bit like what Toffee said earlier," she admitted with a slight smile. "Looks like I've got a lot of work ahead of me, learning where I fit in here."
Rosetta's hand found Mia's holding it tightly, drawing her attention to the older woman's serious expression. "Does he know?"
The pink-haired woman's grip tightened slightly as her throat went suddenly dry. "No," she whispered softly. "I haven't told him. I'm worried of what he'll think...of what he might do."
"I know, it's a scary thought," said Rosetta, setting her tea aside to cup her daughter's cheek. "But you can't possibly hide it forever. I don't know what will happen-I won't lie-but I know him discovering for himself will likely lead to trouble. We did briefly talk about this with Thomas, but now it's not a matter of 'when you're married'."
Mia sighed heavily, feeling her stomach sink. "I know, but it doesn't make it any easier. I'll tell him...soon. I just want a few days to let things settle a bit."
Rosetta smiled softly, leaning over to plant a kiss on her child's cheek. "I'm always here for you, sweetie. Don't forget that."
"I know, Mom. I'm actually glad you came. I really missed you."
O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O
Toffee glanced over the numerous crates and trunks that now filled his quarters, frowning slightly as he thought about having to go through all of them just to get them out of the way. Queen Rosetta hadn't been joking about the cargo being a bribe. Just the first trunk Mia had opened had yielded jewelry and fabrics that could have fed a large village for months.
"This is a nice color." He turned his attention back to his wife as she drew out a pale blue fabric that looked like she had cut it straight out of the afternoon sky. She held it up against her front as she turned towards him. "It would look lovely on Renata. Do you think she'd like a dress made from it? Or maybe a skirt? I'm sure there's something else in here that'd make a pretty tunic to go with it."
"Knowing her, she'd like a tunic made from it and just stick with her favorite breeches. It's hard keeping that girl in a skirt." He carefully took a handful of the fabric, testing the texture. It was like water between his fingers, gliding silkily across his skin and was light as air. "This is a magic weave, yes? It feels nice."
"And strong too. My cousin had a riding dress made from a similar weave. The only reason she no longer has it is because she outgrew it." She folded the cloth carefully, setting it aside as she knelt beside the trunk, fishing around inside with a sense of purpose.
Toffee tilted his head slightly. "Looking for something in particular?"
"Mother said there was something in here-I'd like to use it if I can find it." She lifted a stack of cloths free, setting them beside her as she went deeper in her search. "Speaking of which, she said the crate with the yellow paint on the lid was farming supplies-seeds and magic fertilizers. Maybe we could start a field or a small garden, depending on how much you'd like to grow."
The reptilian turned to search for the crate, spotting the bright yellow with ease under a chest with a gold padlock. Moving it aside, Toffee wedged his claws under the lid of the crate, the wood giving a groan of protest as he ripped off the nailed down top and peered inside. He picked up a soft leather pouch with a tag hanging from the strap. "Mewnian strawberries," he murmured. "Can't say I've ever had one."
"Really?" Mia hummed in thought as she leaned deeper into the trunk. "It seems strange to think about-somebody never having something you've had all your life."
"We truly are from different worlds, Mia," he replied, rummaging through the other seed pouches. "Mewnians brought many things with them when they founded their kingdoms, things they've guarded adamantly from monsters. To this day no monster owns their own corn."
Mia grunted softly as she struggled to lift another stack of cloths out of the trunk. "That's because corn in enchanted-oh!" She fell back, unbalanced by the weight of the fabrics, only to find something cradling her back, keeping her from cracking her head against the floor. It gently pushed her upright, staying against her shoulder as she set the fabrics on her lap.
Toffee waited until he was certain his wife had reclaimed her balance before lowering his tail. "Enchanted?"
'He's certainly strong,' she thought as she nodded. "Long ago a Queen of Mewni enchanted corn crops to only be grown from grounds treated by magic fertilizer. But once it's been planted it'll always be able to grow on the same plots of land."
Toffee glanced over the crate, frowning slightly in thought, already thinking of the best locations for new crops. "I'll need to research ideal growing conditions before we can begin planting." A soft sigh escaped him as he tried to mentally shift around his schedule to find time to look into the matter. "We might not get to plant this spring."
Mia pushed herself up onto her feet, abandoning the cloths to search inside the crate. Glancing around, she spotted what she was after and reached into the pocket of her skirt for her silk gloves. "Mother said they put this in here just for that problem." Lifting herself slightly over the rim of the crate, she leaned in and stretched out her arm as far as she could reach. Her questing fingers wiggled at the object she sought that was just out of her reach. "Almost..."
Hands wrapped around her waist, lifting her out. "You're going to fall in like that," Toffee chided teasingly as he set her down. "I'd almost think you enjoy crawling into trunks and crates. What are you after-I'll get it."
"A book-thick with a brown leather cover. It's under that fertilizer bag," she replied, pointing it out. He hoisted himself up onto the rim, swinging one leg over as he lean in, plucking the heavy tome out from its hiding place and handed it to his wife before jumping down.
The cover creaked softly as Mia opened the book, turning to the table of contents. She ran her finger over the list, looking over every crop it detailed care for. "This should cover everything in the crate and then some." Closing it, she offered it to her husband, who took it with a curious look.
"I suppose if I take dinner in my study I could chew through this in a week and have it committed to memory," he mused, flipping through the pages. "Then maybe we can be ready by the next planting season."
Mia bit her lip, hesitating. "Well, if you like, I could go through it," she offered. "I've currently got less to do, and I'm a quick reader. It would save you the trouble, and I can teach you everything I learn."
He glanced down at the book, then handed it back to her. "I look forward to my lessons, my dear. But I'm afraid that sorting through all of our gifts will have to wait for the moment. I have things I need to get through with today. If you'd like, I can send Renata to you in a little while to take you around-let you explore the castle and the lands. I'm sure your new furry friend would enjoy stretching his legs."
Mia smiled as she tucked the heavy book under her arm. "I'd love to. I'll just need to grab my riding gloves and boots."
"Then I'll inform her of your eagerness," he replied as he headed for the door. "I'll see you at dinner at the latest, but I'm always available if you need me."
She turned to watch him go, a farewell on the tip of her tongue. But for some reason, her throat suddenly refused to allow her to wish him a good day. She wanted...well, she didn't really know what she wanted. To be at ease with being familiar with her new husband? Perhaps. To really feel like a wife rather than a stranger? Certainly.
Sighing softly, she looked down at the book as she carried it over to the bed. She sat down with it in her lap, feeling unease growing in her belly as her gloved fingers flexed over the old leather, knowing partly where her apprehension stemmed from. After all, she was hiding a secret from her husband, afraid of what would come when she revealed it, and knowing it wouldn't be too far off before it was unveiled.
Slowly, she took the tip of her glove's finger between her teeth, pulling her hand free of the silk and set it aside. She took a deep breath as she held the book tight in her other hand, and placed her uncovered palm upon the cover. Her body seized, muscles locking rigidly in place as white hot magic surged through her, burning fiercely like a wildfire. She struggled to breathe as her eyes faded into a white glow, her head feeling as though it were suddenly overflowing with thoughts that were not her own.
Words, sentences, paragraphs-entire pages flashed like lightning across her mind's eye, lasting only a brief second, but searing themselves into her brain as if they were a brand. Images filled her head-seeds sprouting, growing rapidly, plants bearing vegetables and fruits, soils of different colors and minerals. Everything crashed together in a jumbled mess as it swirled within her.
She blinked.
A deep rush of air filled her burning chest. Her heart thudded hard against her ribs twice, three times, then grew calm once more. The room faded back into her sight through the veil of white that had engulfed her vision.
Slowly, she exhaled, looking down at the book still in her grasp. "Page 32, Chapter 4-choosing the perfect patch for your pretty peaches." She flipped to the page, and ran her finger over the title.
'Chapter 4, Choosing the Perfect Patch for your Pretty Peaches.'