Disclaimer: I do not own The 10th Kingdom. This is merely a fanfiction.
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~0~
Lights dotted the fields of beyond the seven jeweled hills of the Fourth Kingdom. Virginia sat in a cart with Tony, Prince, Blabberwort, Bluebell and Acorn. They were a part of a small caravan of travelers. In the front, leading the pack, was the carriage carrying Cinderella and Mother Holle.
At first Virginia thought the lights in the distance were fireflies. But as they grew nearer, she realized – "torches!" Indeed, torches and bonfires glowed in the evening fields. She could now make out tents and people. It was a bustling crowd.
Acorn grinned as he slid a pipe between his teeth. "Welcome, fair Virginia, to the Resistance's hideout."
"I didn't expect so many people …"
"Aye" Acorn nodded. "Not everyone in the Nine Realm was taken in by Wallace. And when Ol' Mother 'Olle got Cinderella onboard, many loyalists to the true House of White couldn't resist."
The caravan reached the perimeters of the Resistance's campsite. Cinderella's carriage was checked by guards to make sure it wasn't someone impersonating her – and then the caravan was given the signal to proceed. They rode through the dusty streets of the Resistance camp. Soldiers from the other kingdoms were practicing fencing. Others tended to their fires, cooked salted meats and laughed drunkenly.
Tony raised an eyebrow. "This isn't exactly what I'd call a Resistance. Half these men aren't even soldiers! Farmers! Shepherds!"
"Aye," Acorn agreed. "We're takin' whoever we can get. And we had an influx of new recruits over the past few days. Since your ill-fated troll invasion …" his voice trailed off as Blabberwort stared him down, eyes narrowed. "Well, in any event recruitment's up," he continued. He blew a smoke circle with his pipe. "Even if some o' them aren't quite up to snuff, if you know what I mean."
Tony looked and saw a longhaired man without a shirt step out from a tent and stretch. He was ripped. His muscles bulged and flexed as he posed in the evening sun. "He looks like he can handle himself," Tony remarked. The giant man took a step forward on his bare feet. He suddenly yelped in pain. He looked down at his foot … he had stepped on a tiny pebble. He screamed and fell to the ground, crying hysterically, holding his sore toe. Several scullery maids crowded him and covered him with fur blankets, shushing him.
Acorn took another drag on his pipe. "Looks can be deceiving, eh?"
Virginia surveyed their surroundings as the cart passed numerous tents. The field was wide and open – but surrounded by hills on the sides. She realized finally that the open plains were in a valley. And there – atop the furthest hill from them – were old stone ruins. An old foundation was laid there, and crumbling statues and pillars saturated the ground. She felt as though a voice was calling out to her. "Virginia …" She had a sudden vision of a woman in a black hood and death shroud weeping, calling out in pain and grief.
Tony shook her back to the present moment. "Hey – you okay?"
"Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine." Virginia continued to stare at the ruins in the distance.
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The caravan came to a stop outside of a larger tent. The head coach opened its doors and two royal footmen assisted Cinderalla out and into the tent, followed by her stepsisters. When they tried to assist Mother Holle, she waved waved off. "Bah, I don't need help, my balance is as good as it ever was!" The old woman turned to look at Virginia's carriage. She smiled a toothy grin and motioned to her with a gnarled finger, before she hobbled into the tent, leaning on her walking stick.
"Guess we should follow her inside," Virginia shrugged.
Acorn pocketed his pipe and hopped out of the cart. His eyes lit up when he saw a third footman approach and bow humbly. "Clayface!"
Tony stopped as he halfway out of the cart. "Clayface? Oh no …"
Clayface shook Acorn's hand. "It's good to see you again, my old friend. And Antony – my other best friend." He awkwardly lumbered forward and gripped Tony in a surprisingly strong hug that nearly splintered his back. Tony groaned as he held his spine, now limping on with the group. "I was right when I carved that memento – The Four That Would Save the Nine Kingdoms." He turned his sleepy eyes to Tony. "Have you kept the carving?"
Tony rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. "I uh … I'm sorry, Clay, I seem to have misplaced it."
"Pity. Perhaps I'll make another one for you when this is all done. Have you selected your tents yet?"
Acorn grinned. "They only just got 'ere."
"You can bunk with me in my tent, then," Clayface nodded. "Just like old times in the Snow White Memorial Prison. Me and my two best friends."
Acorn truly smiled for real this time, and even Tony managed a bright twinkle in his eye. The goblin truly did consider them both his best friends now.
"Dad –" Virginia urged. "We're expected." She motioned for the largest tent.
Clayface nodded in understanding. "We'll catch up later, Tony – over a mug or two of beanstalk juice. You up for some grog now, Acorn?"
"You bet!" the Dwarf answered, grinning toothily. "I could use something to unwind after a long ride with Ol' Tony over there."
The goblin and dwarf wandered off into the camp together. Tony turned and followed Virginia and Prince to the entrance of the large tent. The flap was guarded by two soldiers who opened it. However, when Blabberwort and Bluebell went to enter, they were stopped.
"Our apologies," the one soldier insisted. "No trolls beyond this point."
"How typical," Blabberwort snarled.
"I'll vouch for them," Virginia replied. "They've been loyal so far – they helped my Dad escape from the Shoemachers. And they were of assistance to in our … well, our attempts to storm Snow White's Palace and capture Wallace. They paid a heavy price for our help." Her eyes met Blabberwort's and the troll nodded in a way that said they understood each other.
The guard shook his head. "The Troll Nation has ever been our enemy. I'll have to clear -."
Mother Holle's voice croaked from inside. "If the girlie says they're clear, they're clear. Yer holdin' everyone up, ya' lump!"
The guard sighed and reluctantly opened the flap. "They're waiting for you inside …"
Virginia bowed respectfully and entered, followed by Prince and Tony. Blabberwort and Bluebell stuck their noses high in the air as they passed. The guard sighed. "I hate this job."
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~0~
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Inside the tent was a giant table with a map of the Nine Kingdoms. Various small war figurines littered the map. Cinderella was sitting on a throne, attended to by her stepsisters and footmen. Several soldiers stood at attention. One, dressed all in green, was tapping his arms in impatience. "Finally we can start," the Green Knight said in an irritated voice.
"Start what?" Virginia asked.
"The briefing of course!" He turned his helmeted head to Cinderella. "You haven't told her of the briefing?"
"Please," Cinderella acknowledged. "We're here now. Tell us – what's the status?"
The Green Knight leaned over the war map. "Recruitment's up. Got a couple hundred more volunteers arrive today. Not enough food to go around and there's been thefts and infighting among the Resistance."
"Not good," Cinderella replied. "We've got to get everybody on the same page."
The Green Knight pushed several pawns on the map forward. "The Lord Protector has been strengthening his grip these past few days. He's increasing the number of garrisons across all the main highways and he's now moving to stop all shipping among the port towns. He's effectively locked all the ports down, so no more smuggling supplies. Your little 'troll invasion' seems to have roused his paranoia. He's already purged half the Royal Guards and his own inner cabinet."
Virginia made eye contact with Blabberwort at the mention of the troll invasion, and then quickly looked away in shame.
The Green Knight moved several rooks in place on the map. "That's not the worst of it. He's mobilizing his forces – he's started a military draft and he's built up an army. Not for defense – for attack." He peered at Cinderella through the crack of his helmet. "He knows we're here – and the army he's built is from across all Nine Kingdoms. No force on earth can stand against it. We're outnumbered – we don't have enough men."
Cinderella stared at the map. "Can we order an evacuation? How long will it take to mobilize?"
"A day at least. More likely two."
"And when will his forces be here?"
"By tomorrow."
Cinderella's eyes jerked up to him. "That's not enough time!"
"Can we formalize a surrender?" one of the Knight's assistants asked. "Maybe he will show us mercy -."
"He'll show no mercy," Blabberwort spat.
"And what does a troll know of this?" the Green Knight retorted with venom.
"How about I show you?" Blabbewort marched up to him, her fists balled. They stared at each other – electricity practically shot between their eyes.
Virginia forced herself between them. "She's right," she told the knight. "He slaughtered her brother. He took noprisoners. He's not likely to show anyone of us mercy."
"And who are you?" he demanded.
"This is Virginia Lewis," Cinderella answered. "Savior of the Nine Realms. You owe her the utmost respect."
The Green Knight bowed his head. "Forgive me, Miss Lewis. I -."
Virginia walked around the tent now, addressing everyone inside. "I've faced Wallace several times already. He will not show mercy. He was once known as Kay – the boy once taken by the original Snow Queen."
The soldiers in the hut muttered to themselves.
Virginia kept speaking, making eye contact with all of them. "He murdered Gerda, her fiancé – the whole damn wedding party – for simply saying 'no' to him. He raised up DeConte as his puppet. Every move DeConte made – every conscription order – of children, even – were done on Wallace's orders. DeConte was not acting of his own accord, though he thought he was. Wallace betrayed me in Sleeping Beauty's Tower. He tried to kill me there. He convinced Wolf that he had killed me, so that he sold his soul to the new Snow Queen. His minions slaughtered Leone Hightail, who had sworn with his life to protect my Son. His minions took my Son to the Snow Queen – a newborn baby! An innocent!" Her eyes scanned the room. She paused again and took a breath, holding back her tears at the thought of Fen. "Wallace raised up an inquisition across all Nine Kingdoms. He slaughtered all of the trolls who couldn't escape – Blabberwort and Bluebell lost their brother! And he launched a vicious purge of his own war cabinet!" She paused for effect, clearing her throat. "He will not come to negotiate a peace. There will be no negotiations. Wallace will come to slaughter us – crush us under foot without mercy. Every. Last. One of us."
"Then what option do we have?" an old advisor asked. "Please Miss Lewis – tell us what to do!"
Virginia realized all eyes were on her. She was truly their last hope, all of their hopes placed squarely on her. The pressure made her sick. But she held up her head with dignity, hiding her own terror. "We fight!" she proclaimed. "We make our stand here!"
"They outnumber us ten to one," the Green Knight reminded her. "Not with thousands of more men could we hope to -."
"Then we die here," Virginia answered. "Those are our options."
The Green Knight slammed his hand on the table. "I will not sacrifice -."
"They will all be slaughtered anyway," Cinderella said quietly. "Miss Lewis is right. We cannot mobilize in time before Wallace's army arrives. We fight. Or we die. Those are our options."
The Green Knight nodded respectfully to Cinderella, before he stormed out of the tent.
Virginia eyed everyone else who was there. Their gazes were fixed solely on her. She nodded, accepting the inevitable crown of leadership that was forced on her against her will. "This is where we make our final stand. If we fall here … everything is lost …"
She turned and walked out of the tent.
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Virginia was sitting outside of a tent prepared for her, cooking up bacon for herself and Prince. The retriever sat at her side, licking his chops. She tossed him a slice and he gobbled it up. She sighed. "Wolf loved bacon too … and I'm sure Fen would as well …" Prince whined and placed his paw on her thigh. She smiled down at him, stroking behind his ears. "I know, boy. I miss them too."
Tony appeared at their campfire holding a mug. "You know, this beanstalk juice does grow on you." He took a deep sip and sighed in contentment. A green moustache covered his upper lip. "So – Admiral Ackbar in there didn't seem too pleased with the plan to fight."
Virginia shrugged. "He's afraid – they all are. Dad – I don't think we can win. I've failed everyone. I thought we could stop Wallace but … I failed all Nine Kingdoms. I failed Fen. And I failed Wolf." She held back her tears. "Just as I failed Mom."
Tony sat down on the log next to her. His shoulders slumped. "No. No, you didn't. You've led us all bravely."
"To our doom," she muttered.
"We're going to find some way to turn this around. We always do. You don't give yourself enough credit. You saw what happened in there – they all had their eyes on you! You're a true leader! Like your mother! Like I never could be."
"And if we lose?"
"Then we lose knowing we did everything we could to stop Wallace and the Snow Queen. And we'll lose free."
Virginia stared as the flames crackled. She allowed her father's words to wash over her. When she lifted her eyes again, they fell on those ruins on the hill in the distance.
A shadow fell over them. "A moment with the lass, eh you big lump?" Mother Holle leaned on her staff.
Tony waved her away as he stood up. "Yeah, yeah, just no more toads." He looked down at Virginia. "We'll talk later. A butcher was chopping up what I think was roast boar – at least, I hope it was roast boar. I'm gonna get a slice. C'mon Prince." The dog was up on all fours and bounded after Tony into the heart of the camp.
Mother Holle sidled up to Virginia, sitting down next to her on the log. She took the handle of the skillet and gave the bacon a few shakes. "Tha' lump never did learn how to mind the bacon," she grinned.
"You led us here," Virginia said. "You say the future isn't set. Is there hope? Can we stop them?"
Mother Holle deftly picked up a slice of bacon and nibbled on the end. "Could use some more salt …"
"Mother Holle … please …"
The old woman's shoulders slumped. "There is always hope … just dimmed at times."
"I've trusted you so far," Virginia replied. "I guess I have to continue to trust you …"
"Beh, I didn't ask for your trust. But thank ya' all the same. But your trust is misguided. Ol Mother Holle isn't who ya' should be puttin' all yer hopes and dreams in, lass."
"Then who?"
"Yourself."
Virginia stopped. Her greatest weakness – her constant doubting of her abilities. Her eyes moved back to the ruins in the distance. She pointed. "What are those ruins?"
"Eh?" Mother Holle nibbled on the bacon. "Oh, the ruins. An ol chapel … a graveyard … left unattended, a darn shame."
"Who's buried there?" Virginia asked.
"Lots o' people, the same as any graveyard. But … one grave remains above all … one that mysteriously was neverruined … the grave of Mournin' Aggie …"
"Who?" Virginia's curiosity was peaked and she was interested in anything that would take her mind off the events of tomorrow. But at the mention of the name 'Mourning Aggie' – visions ran through Virginia's head of a crying woman shrouded in a black hood. A bed deep in a grave, covered in water …
Mother Holle cleared her throat. "There was once a young mother who had a very sick child. She looked after him – day in and day out. Finally, she couldn't keep 'er eyes open anymore. She nodded off, she did. In that moment, Death saw his chance and snatched the child away. Aggie went on a long journey to find Death, to reclaim 'er son."
"Did she find him?" Virginia asked.
"Aye," Mother Holle replied solemnly. "And she realized that the boy's fate was better that he remained dead … leave it at that, love. They say the graveyard is haunted by her mourning spirit …" She pointed the end of her walking stick at the cemetery. "And into it you must go – if you hope to stop this war once and for all."
"Into the cemetery?" She shuddered.
"Alone."
"Alone?" Virginia bit her lip. "What will I find?"
"Something that will help you see …"
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The light of the moon was Virginia's sole guide as she walked outside of the Resistance camp. Most of the bonfires and torches had gone out and most of the camp had settled into a restless sleep. Virginia walked, her long purple jacket on, her hands in her jeans pockets. She noticed how chilly the cold air was.
The dirt road led to the hill. As she ascended it, she noticed the trees were becoming thinner and leafless … dead. The ruins of the chapel lay amid the top of the hill with crumbling walls. The outsides of the foundation was lined with crumbling headstones.
She reached the hilltop and stood in the center of the cemetery. She was alone. She turned and looked at the camp in the distance; she sighed. Her breath was cold. When she turned her head, that's when she noticed the black shape.
Virginia jumped and nearly tumbled backward down the hill. But she noticed that the shape wasn't moving. She walked through the ruins of the chapel – she suddenly noticed her sneakers were wet. She looked down – a waterbed filled the chapel. A running stream was cutting through the hill and the foundations of the chapel were overflowed. Moss and barnacles covered the structures which were eroding away with each night that passed.
She continued on towards the black shape. She reached it and stared up. It was a statue. A statue of a woman – the same crying woman she had seen visions of earlier in the day. The statue was shrouded in a black hood and was holding a child in her arms. The eyes of the statue were wide with grief and her mouth was open as if crying out to the heavens.
The statue of Mourning Aggie was before her.
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A twig snapped behind her. Virginia spun around.
Nothing.
Trying to keep her wits about her, Virginia began walking around the statue. As she did, she noticed the eyes seemed to follow her. "A trick of the moonlight," she told herself. "That's all …"
She could hear running water beneath the statue. She listened, following the sounds of the stream along the hilltop, running away from the chapel. She walked past the statue, following the sounds of the brook.
Behind her, the statue turned its head.
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Virginia reached the edge of the hilltop and thus the edge of the cemetery. She could no longer hear the sound of water. "Okay Mother Holle, you told me to come here? Could you at least have told me what I'm supposed to be looking for?"
She turned around – Mourning Aggie was no longer there!
"Okay, I'm officially creeped out now!"
She rushed over to the spot where the statue once stood. There was hole where the statue was. In the hole was a stream running several feet underground. And in the stream, several feet below where the statue once stood – something shimmered in the water. Virginia cocked her head.
The Statue of Mourning Aggie was right behind her!
Virginia whirled around and stared into the eyes of the statue. She screamed, lost her balance, and fell backwards into the open grave and stream below.
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"Wake up, my beautiful little girl!"
Virginia's eyes fluttered open. She was in her bedroom, seven years old, in New York City. The voice that called out to her was melodious and loving.
"Mom?"
Christine White sat on her daughter's bed. She was draped in furs. "Do you like my latest acquisition?! Your father barely scraped enough together to get it for our anniversary, but he managed, that dear man!"
"It's beautiful, Mommy!"
"Oh, but not as beautiful as you, dear! Touch it, feel how soft!"
Virginia reached forward and stroked her mother's arm. Christine's arm suddenly lashed out, jokingly, grabbing Virginia tight in her arms and snuggling her up to her chest. She draped the furs around her daughter and rocked her. Virginia enjoyed the feeling of the furs, and the warmth of her mother. Christine rested her cheek on her daughter's head and hummed to her. Virginia felt such love … she knew this memory would be burned into her mind forever.
"I will always be there for you, Virginia. A mother never forgets her child. No matter what happens – Mommy will always love you and be there for you. No matter what …"
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Virginia sputtered. She floundered in the underground brook when she realized the water was only knee deep. She looked up and saw the opening of the grave – but no sign of Mourning Aggie. She looked down into the water at the shimmering object that had caught her attention.
It was shimmering – because it was reflecting.
Virginia narrowed her eyes. It can't be!
A mirror was lying underwater beneath the grave of Mourning Aggie!
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It was indeed a traveling mirror. Virginia bent down, gripped the wooden sides and pulled with all her might. The mirror was covered in mud and barnacles. The words from Gustalv the Talking Mirror in the First Kingdom rang through her mind.
~0~
Mirror Two is on a bed, With barnacles upon his head.
~0~
Of course! They had assumed that the bed the Second Mirror was resting on was a seabed! But it was here – a grave! An eternal bed! And the barnacles … barnacles grew in shallow water, upon crumbling and deteriorating structures! This was it! The Second Traveling Mirror!
"Find what you are looking for among the dead?"
Virginia looked up to see Mother Holle smiling down at her and offering her a rope.
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Virginia sat in the cemetery with Mother Holle. The mirror was still in the grave, albeit standing upright. "How did you know?" she asked the old woman.
Mother Holle stared up at the moon. "It was buried … with me …"
Virginia's head jerked in her direction. "Come again?"
"I sought my son, all those years ago when that blasted Death took 'im. Never got over it. Died, mourning for 'im. I am Mournin' Aggie. But I vowed in death – if I could help it, I would never let another child die. A price was paid for my soul to carry on in this world … to be a wetnurse for Kings and Queens. Aye, and to be a refuge for lost children. And now, lass, there is a child left in need of you."
Virginia turned to the sky. "Fen …" Tears filled the corners of her eyes.
Mother Holle pointed her walking stick down at the grave. "That mirror – a traveling mirror I'm sure you know – you can use it. The Devil's Mirror is linked to all traveling mirrors ..."
"I can use the Mirror to go … to her," Virginia realized.
"Don't lose Fen. Do what it takes to get 'im back."
Virginia turned back to the camp. "I want to go now! But I'm needed here."
Mother Holle puffed on her pipe. "Aye. The final battle is upon us. Make your plans with the soldiers. Be a support for the men here and do what you can to prepare them for the battle. Then waste no more time! Go through that mirror tomorrow and rescue your son! And with luck – his may not be the only soul you can save …"
"Wolf," Virginia nodded.
"You've got that tear from Gerda still, do you?" Virginia reached into her pocket and produced the vial containing Gerda's last tear. Mother Holle nodded. "Use it wisely – it be the last one, it is."
"How will I –"
"You will know."
The two stared in silence for a moment. Virginia turned to her. "Thank you. For everything."
"Don't be thanking me just yet," Mother Holle nodded. "It ain't over 'till it's over. Tomorrow – you will face the Snow Queen once and for all. And if you fail … your failure will only herald the darkness to come … a thousand years of shadow will cover this realm … and yours …"
