AN~ Well, I didn't get everything I wanted to in this chapter. But I got most of it. Tomorrow maybe this plot will wrap up.
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The Winner of Last QotD: Epiphany on Toast for the repeat of the last one, and nobody for the second, because all I got was 'how can I choose?'
New QotD: If you had to choose ONE Everafter to meet, who would it be, and what would you do together? Points for originality of Everafter AND activities, because I don't want to read fifteen 'I'd meet Puck and we'd prank people all day!' entries.
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Rosiebud:So... don't send you PMs. Sah-weet! Thanks! And I know, it's a difficult question.
Agd:But... why? I'll miss you! I know you won't be reading this, but still. Bye. I hope you know that I feel betrayed that you would leave the SG fandom for Potter.
Relda and Basil floated through the enormous halls rather like a large insect might, though they had more purpose to their flight. They reached the door to the queen's audience chamber, which was solid silver (the giants' favored metal) and two stories tall in this world, putting it at about seven human stories high.
The doors stood open, and Relda and Basil slipped through silently, Basil gaping, Relda staring straight forward. She'd been here before. And even if she hadn't, she would not show awe. It was just one more sign of weakness, and the culture of the giants was not one that allowed for weakness.
"Relda." the queen of the giants said, nodding to her. A great sign of respect, from someone this great. "I was wondering when you would be here."
"Thank you for agreeing to see me, your majesty." Relda said, bowing as low as she could while sitting on a carpet.
"Shall we cease with the formalities?" The queen suggested. "We can move to my private chamber."
Relda nodded, looking slantwise at the guards along the walls. There were more than she remembered. But none of them followed as they moved behind the throne and through another door.
This room was smaller, comparatively, but still enormous. The queen sat down on a small chair with a sigh, an Relda directed the carpet to land on a nearby desk.
"Izzata queen, Granny?" Basil whispered.
Relda nodded, surprised he hadn't known; the woman had been sitting on a throne. She examined the queen more closely. The giantess wore no crown, and her clothes were made of the same rough material most giants wore, though hers were brighter colors than usual. But her face still bore the signs of power, there was a tilt to her head that said she was in charge and she knew it. Relda supposed a three-year-old wouldn't be expected to know that. The queen looked tired, though, and worried. From Relda's size and angle, the purple-gray circles under her eyes were startlingly prominent, especially on such a ruddy face.
"Who is this?" The queen asked, peering at Basil through a pair of lenses designed for encounters with humans, glasses that were around a gold chain on the queen's neck, mostly for show. Humans rarely came to visit.
"This is my grandson, Basil." Relda said. "Basil, bow to the queen of the sky."
Basil started to lean over, but the queen stopped him, shaking her head. "No formalities."
"All right then." Relda said, nodding. "Cutting to the chase: your subjects are presently destroying my town, and almost killed several of my family members. They may have killed any number of my friends. What happened to our agreement?"
"I have no control over them." The queen said, her mouth tightening. "When the beans drew us here, I gave strict orders not to move, but they ignored me. The pull of the earth and freedom was too strong, now that there is no giant killer to be afraid of."
Relda sighed. "My sons have Excalibur and the Vorpal blade, and will stop at nothing to keep their families safe. They don't have the Giant's Blade, but there will be two Giant Killers again soon, in everything but name, if your subjects don't return."
The queen drew a breath, blowing Relda's hat almost off her head.
"I'm sorry," Relda said, "but that's the way it is. And there's nothing I can do about it. My sons are grown men, ones who are completely within their rights to protect their home. It follows the agreement."
"Yes, I know." The queen nodded, defeated. "There is nothing I can do. No way I can save my people. And can you blame them? Most of them remember a time when we had the run of the earth, when we ruled it. And now we're trapped here in the sky by insects. If the opportunity comes, of course they'll leave."
Relda nodded. "I understand. But our agreement was that any giant who set foot on the ground without proper permission was within our bounds, and if he proved dangerous, he was allowed to be removed. Forcibly, if necessary. And every giant down there is proving dangerous."
"The agreement is understood." The queen said stiffly. "I will alert my remaining subjects. Anyone who attempts to leave will be detained in any way necessary."
Relda twitched her lips. "Very well. If a special force were to be sent out from your end in an attempt to remove those below without casualties, it would be permitted without breaching the agreement."
The queen nodded. "I will arrange that."
"Have we reached an understanding, then?" Relda asked.
"We have." The queen said. "I appreciate you coming to discuss this with me."
Relda nodded. "Of course. It's only common courtesy among protectresses."
The queen nodded, too. "Will you see yourself out?"
"Yes, thank you." Relda said. "It has been... nice to see you again. I wish it were on more pleasant terms."
"Yes, well." The giant queen shrugged. "Friendship between our species is close to impossible, presently. We're simply too large to live in your world. I wish my other subjects understood. Goodbye, Relda."
"Goodbye." Relda said, then, "Carpet, up!" It rose, and she said, "Take us home."
Daphne looked up from her sword, running her thumb over the jewel on the hilt and told Art, "It looks like we're stuck here for the next couple days. Mom and a few people are going around trying to rescue people, but since we're safe, we're low on the list, and they couldn't get close enough to get us out without putting us in danger. I had to make a really long confusing path to get out, just in case someone wanted to get in."
"All right." Art sighed, biting his lip.
"What?" Daphne asked, half teasing, half hurt, "Anyone would think you didn't want to spend all this time with me!"
"It's not that, Daphne." Art said, sighing again.
"Then what is it?" Daphne asked.
"I'm sick of berries." Art said. "Also I smell and my clothes are still wet and filthy and itchy, and I'm cold."
"I didn't think fairies got cold." Daphne said, confused. Sure, all those things were wrong for her, too, but she wasn't being all... reclusive.
"I didn't, either." Art made a face.
"I'm sorry." Daphne said.
"For what?" Art asked.
"Well, we don't really have any firewood 'cause I kind of made everything around here alive." Daphne said. "I'm sorry. And I can't really give us anything other than berries, unless there's an apple tree nearby or something. Do you want me to try?"
Art shook his head. "There's nothing for you to apologize for, Daphne. You've been amazing. It's all me. I'm the one who should be apologizing."
"I get it." Daphne shrugged. "It's hard, being cooped up in here for so long."
Art nodded tightly, turning away. He said nothing more for a long while.
Veronica tapped her fingers impatiently. "Really, Billy?" She snapped. "I want to go get my girls!"
Charming, who had been taking them through the town (which he knew most of the secret spaces of by heart) all day, shook his head. "We have a responsibility, Veronica. Both your daughters are in a known location and safe. I have hundreds of other Everafters to locate, ones nobody has heard from. Priorities, woman!"
"But Sabrina could be useful!" Veronica protested. "I know Relda's house and the Golden Egg have protections, but you have nothing that will stand against giants at your fort! Sabrina could fix that!"
"Veronica, there is a perfectly good reason I haven't had Sabrina protect the fort, which you'd know if you were thinking straight!" Charming snapped. "There are plenty of Everafters at the fort with special skills who are now prepared and can protect the fort. Arthur has the Giant Killer's sword. Any giant who goes near the fort will be disposed of in short order."
They'd picked Arthur up earlier that day, as well as Mr. Clay, Jane and Tiger Lily, Robin Hood (who had come under much duress) and most of his Merry Men, several princesses, and a handful of fairies. The Sevens were still missing, and though they'd found Mordred, he had decided to search for his mother instead of returning to safety. Nobody had argued, Mordred could take care of himself. It was almost nightfall, and Veronica wanted to go get her children. Charming was adamant that they were going to go through the town in a pattern, and until they reached the girls' section of the pattern, they were going to search out and rescue other people.
"He has a point, Veronica." Briar pointed out.
"Oh, sure, you say that!" Veronica snapped. "Your daughter's right there!"
She pointed at Red, who cowered, half hiding behind the door to Briar's bedroom.
Briar glared at Veronica, throwing her hands into the air. "Fine!" She snapped. "Be unreasonable! But Sabrina and Daphne are fine, and we can't get to them right now anyway, even if Billy wanted to!"
Veronica gaped at Briar, her mouth working while she glared, lost for words.
Charming blinked. "Well." He said. "It looks like it's not just Henry the girl gets her temper from."
Red stepped forward tentatively and wrapped her arms around Veronica. After a few seconds, the woman relented and returned the hug.
"I'm sorry." She told Briar. "I'm just worried, that's all. And tired."
"I know," Briar said, "but that's no reason to snap at us."
"We're all tired and worried." Charming pointed out.
"Snow's fine." Veronica said, waving his concern away.
"And how do you know that?" Charming asked, bristling.
"Because she's right there." Red answered for her, pointing out the window.
Snow, wet hair plastered to her forehead, was hurrying through the sloppy mud of the abandoned quarry the Chicken House was positioned in, not running because that was just stupid, her saw and axe slung in an 'x' across her back, her grin visible even from the house, which was still standing, just in case. Or maybe because it didn't like mud.
"Snow!" Charming cried, relief evident in his voice.
The house crouched down, still a few inches off the mud, and Snow clambered into the house, collapsing on one of the kitchen chairs, her face red, still smiling.
"Well, I'm glad you had a good day." Veronica muttered.
"Ignore her." Briar advised, handing Snow a plate she'd saved her from dinner. "She's just grumpy. How did it go, Snow?"
"I cut down forty-two of the things!" Snow proclaimed. "Thanks." She added, as Red slipped her a glass of water.
As Snow gulped down the contents of her glass, Veronica muttered, "Well, that's wonderful. We're down forty-two out of three hundred, with more every day."
"Veronica." Briar said warningly.
"Sorry." Veronica said, genuinely. "I just... Well, if we can't go get my kids, can I at least do something tomorrow? I'm going to go insane if I have to stay up here. Probably take you guys with me."
"I don't doubt it." Briar muttered. Louder, she said, "Fine with me. Maybe with more people you can make more headway."
"Might need it." Snow added. "There aren't any really close to here."
"Maybe I should go, too." Charming suggested. "If you need more help."
Briar shook her head and said, "No. We need you here because you're the only one who understands your 'pattern', and I don't want to miss anywhere. I'd go, but we also need someone here that can talk to people."
Veronica laughed, the first time that day. "Yeah, you're the only one today who's really been good for that."
"Maybe..." Red suggested, then paused. "Maybe if you talked to Sabrina and Daphne you'd feel better."
Veronica nodded. "I'll go do that." She said, heading out.
As she left, she distinctly heard Briar mutter, "Thank goodness."
"What was that about?" Puck asked Sabrina, finishing his breakfast. "I heard Daphne shouting at you."
Sabrina sighed again and shook her head, dropping her sword on the ground and wishing Daphne hadn't cut out on her seconds ago. "Art... Did something, a while ago, and it was... bad. Really bad. And he knows it, and he's acting awkward around Daphne 'cause of it. And she knew something was up, and he lied and told her I didn't want him to talk to her, so she got mad at me when I wouldn't tell her."
"What did he do?" Puck asked, bewildered. Sabrina understood. Art was the last person anyone would expect to do something like that.
Sabrina shook her head. "I can't tell you." She said.
"Why not?" Puck complained.
"It's not my business." Sabrina said. "And it's not yours."
"What do you mean it's not our business?" Puck demanded. "He's one of my best friends, and you were there!"
Sabrina shook her head again, adamant. "If he wanted you to know, he'd tell you. I mean, the fact that he's not telling Daphne is heinous, but there's really nothing I can do about it." She paused, figuring Puck deserved the whole truth, and said, "Besides, if I told anyone, it would get out, and Daphne would hear about it, and she'd assume I was just being a jerk. And then she'd be mad at me for what he did."
Puck grinned. "I knew you couldn't be keeping it a secret just because of privacy!"
Sabrina sighed. "Your faith in me is astounding."
Puck leaned in to her a bit and said, "Hey, I didn't mean it like that. I just mean that... well, you're always in everybody's business! Why should this be any different?"
"Thanks, Puck." Sabrina rolled her eyes.
"I'm just saying-" Puck stopped. "I think I'm going to be quiet now." He said.
"Smartest thing you've done all morning." Sabrina quipped.
"You love me and my stupidity." Puck grinned, lying back on the ground, his arms above his head.
"Well, when you're stupid, it makes me look better." Sabrina agreed.
"Hey!" Puck complained, sitting up, offended.
Sabrina grinned at him to show she was mostly kidding, enjoying just being there with him. She laid down next to him, her damp dress smelly around her, deciding that she wasn't going to worry about anything until they got to go home. Her family was safe, she was stuck here with Puck, their boundaries were set up, and she could just be with him, with no secrets and no hiding. If she could have taken a shower and changed, she'd be totally enjoying herself.
Puck laid back down, too, a goofy smile on his face, and slipped his hand in hers, which she'd left sticking out a bit in case he wanted to do just that.
Sabrina suddenly wanted to tell him how much he meant to her, how important he was, how amazing, but she was afraid of giving him a bigger head, or saying the wrong thing, or just sounding stupid (besides, since when did they compliment each other?), so she settled for scooting closer and leaning against him.
Puck pulled her even closer with his far arm, wrapping it around her and leaving it there. Her head was resting on his shoulder, she was lying practically on her side, their clasped hands between them, and she slipped her arm around him, too, and they just laid there for a while, ignoring the sticks that were supposed to be set up to help them dry their clothes, and their food, and the world, just being with each other.
Four days of cold wet trouble had passed, and Daphne was getting stir-crazy. She'd refused to talk to Sabrina, even though her sister kept trying, but she'd spoken with Granny and her mom a lot, and found out that Relda had talked to the queen of the Giants (Daphne was so very jealous of Basil right then), and the giants were doing a pretty good job of not rounding themselves up, even though they were trying. Most of what they were doing was making more of a mess. Every now and again another giant would agree to go back up, but not very often, and the giants who wanted to go back up had branded themselves with bright blue shoes, so that the little people didn't kill them when they tried to convince others to follow them.
Veronica and Snow had cut down about three hundred beanstalks all together, but more just kept coming. The town had been about halfway emptied of refugees (the half she wasn't in, unfortunately), and most of her friends had been accounted for. Bella had told her that Peter had run off in search of Wendy, who was still missing, along with Mustardseed, Renee, Peaseblossom, and Will's family. Will had been found, but he'd run off to find his father and sister.
And there was nothing for her to do.
Art had gone for a walk on the winding path through the trees, maybe because he'd gotten sick of the awkward silence between them. Daphne wondered if it was something she'd done, making him act like this. He said it wasn't, but still. She decided she'd make it up to him, when he got back. Show him how much she appreciated him. After all, she didn't have that many opportunities to make new friends. She had to take good care of the ones she had.
Making it up to him included not tracking him through the woods as he hiked, so he surprised her when he came back, and she jumped a bit before she turned and wrapped her arms around him, squeezing tightly, her face pressed against the weak side of his chest.
"What was that for?" Art asked, sounding genuinely surprised.
Daphne shrugged, not letting go of him. "I just... I'm glad you're here. And all right. I don't think I could stand it, if I lost anyone else. Not after Tim..." She sniffed.
Art pushed her away, suddenly, snapping, "I can't stand it!"
"What do you mean?" Daphne asked, bewildered, tears starting to well up in her eyes.
"I've been trying to- but it's just so hard, and being with you all the time- I just can't stand it anymore!"
Daphne whimpered. What had she done?
Art took a deep breath, then exploded with, "I killed Tim, okay, Daphne? It's my fault he's dead."