Once Upon a Walker
Chapter 7
Beth held on for dear life as the world around her passed by in a blur. Her hair whipped around her face. And the only sound she could hear was the vibrating buzz of Cornelious's gossamer wings. Her stomach lurched as he descended to the ground, lowering her gently to her feet. When she finally got her bearings, Beth gaped at the beautiful scenery. Everywhere she looked, there were colorful flowers. And beyond the white brick pathway she was standing on was a castle that looked like it had been plucked straight from the pages of Henry's book. She had to blink a few times before she believed that what she was seeing was actually real.
The castle was made of white and silver stone. In places the stone was covered in flowering vines. The roof tiles were pink to match the large door and the other small accents on the structure. The tallest turret had a flag on top of it, waving in the warm spring breeze.
Cornelious offered Beth his arm. And she didn't hesitate to take it, threading her slim arm through his and letting him lead her towards his castle. As they approached the large pink door, Beth noticed there was a guard on each side. Both of them were fairies, though they looked slightly more insect-like than her prince, with long pointed ears that flanked their narrow faces. They were dressed in armor that looked more ornate and decorative than practical. Both men bowed, their wings flat against their backs as they greeted their prince with the proper decorum.
"Your highness," they said as they lowered their heads. Beth expected them to have some reaction to her presence at the Prince's side. But other than a curious glance from the guard on her right, they didn't seem concerned with her.
As they entered a large ballroom, Beth received more openly curious stares. The place was full of fairies, each of them more beautiful than the last. While the men were clothed similarly to Cornelious in long belted tunics and tight fitted pants, the women Beth saw inside the castle were all dressed in formal gowns. And she glanced down at herself, suddenly feeling self conscious about her attire. Beth was not only wearing ripped jeans and a tank top, her clothes weren't even clean. She ran her hand over her hair, trying to smooth down the wild curls she was sure had escaped her ponytail during the flight.
A woman in a dress far more opulent than the rest of the fairies rushed across the room. From the color of her hair and the resemblance in their features, Beth guessed the woman was Cornelious's mother. Which made her queen of the fairies. She leaned in, pressing a quick kiss to her son's cheek before she turned her attention to Beth. The woman reached for Beth's hands, clasping them in hers.
"May I introduce my mother," Cornelious said, "...Queen Tabitha." The woman dismissed him with a wave of her hand, letting go of Beth's hand for only a brief moment. Beth felt the woman's eyes roaming over her.
"My dear," Tabitha said, her voice filled with much more caring and concern than Beth expected. "You look like you've been through quite an ordeal." Beth wasn't sure if an 'ordeal' was how she would describe a year of living on the road and running from the dead. But she had certainly been through something. Beth nodded her head, grateful for the woman's seemingly genuine concern. "Why don't you come with me? You can get yourself cleaned up and I'll arrange some clean clothes for you. And maybe something to eat as well?" Beth glanced at her prince, who gave her an encouraging nod.
"Thank you," Beth said, turning her attention back to the queen. "That's very kind of you."
Beth cast one more longing glance back over her shoulder at the handsome prince. Then she let his mother lead her away. Once they were out of the main ballroom, Beth was turned over to a team of the queen's attendants. She looked around the palace in wonder as they led her into the biggest bathroom she'd ever seen. A warm bath was run for her, the water scented with flower petals and expensive oils. She was given a fancy glass of pale pink liquid. The drink wasn't familiar to her. But it was delicious. And from the way her body began to relax when she finished drinking it, Beth guessed it had some sort of sedative or calming effects. She settled back into the warm water as the women gently groomed her. It felt a little strange to be naked in front of several strange women. But she found herself enjoying the pampering she was receiving nonetheless. Her hands and feet were massaged with scented oils. The women removed the hair from her legs and underarms. And even from her more intimate area, which Beth would have objected to if she wasn't so relaxed from the drink they fed her. They washed her hair and coated it in rose scented oil. When they were finished, Beth was allowed to linger in the bath as long as she liked.
When she rose from the water, the women immediately moved in, providing her with soft silky towels to dry her body with. She was encouraged towards a comfortable chair and offered more of the pink drink. Beth shook her head this time, unsure of the effects that another glass would have on her. Nothing but lotion and a bit of cream rouge was applied to her face. But her hair was gently tamed into soft waves, the front pinned back loosely away from her face. Her finger and toenails were painted a soft pale pink. Once they were done making her look the best she'd ever looked in her life, they helped Beth into a long sheer gown that buttoned up the front. It was the same pale pink as her nails and looked more like a fancy nightgown than a dress. Beth was relieved when she was then given a lacy robe to wear over it. She wasn't sure who she would be expected to meet now that she was clean and properly groomed. And she certainly didn't want to meet anyone with her nipples plainly visible through her dress. There was a large mirror on the wall in the fancy dressing room where the ladies led her. And Beth approached it, taking in her own appearance. She admired her reflection. Not only was she clean, which she hadn't been in as long as she could remember, she looked every bit like a real fairy princess. Her face was rounder and less angular than the fairies she'd seen. And she was obviously missing the wings. But other than that, she was overjoyed with how she looked. She certainly didn't look like a south georgia farm girl anymore, that was certain.
"You're perfect."
Beth turned towards the voice, her face lighting up when she saw that her prince was back. He also appeared to have bathed and changed. And he was wearing much less clothing than when Beth saw him last. His muscular chest and chiseled abs were on full display. And the small pair of loose fitting shorts he had on gave her a full view of his muscular thighs. He flitted across the room, pulling her into his arms and kissing her deeply. Beth felt her small breasts pressing against his bare chest through the thin fabric of her gown. And the feeling frightened her a little. She tensed up, stepping back and putting a little space between their bodies. She was nervous that her prince might be mad at her for refusing his advances. But he simply gave her a more chaste kiss and took her by the hand, leading her out onto the balcony.
Outside, there was a table and two chairs. On the table, a small feast was laid out. Beth wasn't sure what some of the items were. But everything looked so delicious, she wasn't even sure where to start. Everything was bite sized and arranged to look like a tiny piece of art. Prince Cornelious pulled her chair out for her, encouraging her to take a seat in front of the table. The way he was smiling at her made her nervous. And when a steward appeared to offer her another flute of the pink drink she'd had earlier, Beth took it, eager to feel less nervous for her first dinner with the future love of her life. And less nervous to ask him for what she was sure might amount to a pretty large favor.
"Something wrong, my love?," Cornelious asked, noticing the nervous look on her face that was still lingering despite her having consumed the calming drink he had his servants bring up for her. Beth nodded.
"I lost my friends in that cornfield," she admitted. "I'm worried about them."
Cornelious lifted Beth's hand, placing a soft lingering kiss on the back of her palm. Then he assured her that his soldiers had already picked up her 'companion' from the area near the giant toadstools. Beth assumed he meant Merle, though she thought it was a little odd he didn't use the man's name. But it still eased Beth's mind to know that at least Merle was safe. Cornelious explained that with the information her 'companion' provided, he already sent his soldiers out looking for the rest of her friends. He assured her that they would find them soon. And then he and his kingdom would be happy to provide them with whatever assistance they needed to complete their quest.
"Thank you," Beth said. She was starting to feel the effects of her second drink. "That's so kind of you." Feeling less nervous, she nibbled at one of the tiny hors d'orderves as she let her eyes linger on the man at her side. He was more than just handsome, he was beautiful as well. If she had to imagine her dream prince, Cornelious would be it. From the tops of his broad shoulders all the way down to his muscular calves, he was total perfection.
When Beth was done nibbling on the decorative snack food, Cornelious offered her his hand. She took it, allowing him to lead her further down the balcony and into a second set of doors. Beth balked a little when she realized that he was leading her into his bedroom. She was relaxed and filled with the euphoric sensation the drink had given her. But she still wasn't sure if she was ready to get into bed with a man she'd only met a few hours before.
"What's wrong my love?," he asked, pulling her against him and peppering her face with soft kisses.
"I …uh," Beth stammered. It was hard to think with how close he was holding her and the drink fogging up her mind. "I thought we would wait until we were married," she finally said, glancing towards the bed. Beth was saving herself for her husband. When she dreamed of finding her prince, she just assumed he would be doing the same for her, his future wife.
Cornelious laughed, a soft musical noise that filled her with happiness. Then he pulled her closer and pressed his lips to hers, kissing her deeply before he spoke.
"My love," he crooned, stroking his hand over her long blonde waves. "It will take my mother the better part of a year to plan a royal wedding. Surely you don't want to wait that long…" Cornelious leaned in, kissing a hot trail down the cords of Beth's neck as he pushed her robe open. "I've been waiting my whole life to find you," he said, his hands slipping inside the robe to circle her slim waist. "...and I want the rest of my life to start tonight, don't you?"
Beth hesitated for another moment. But in the end, her resistance faltered and she allowed her handsome prince to lift her gently into his arms and carry her to bed. For all that she'd made it up to be in her mind, the act itself was over quickly. And she fell asleep with her head resting on Cornelious's broad chest, dreaming of her future as a fairy princess. The bed was soft and piled with silky pillows and blankets. Beth slept better than she had in years.
When she woke, Beth was alone and the early morning sunlight was filtering in through the sheer curtains that hung in front of the open balcony doors. She felt a little pang of sadness. After her first time, she'd always imagined that she would wake up in her husband's arms. Beth reminded herself that Cornelious was a prince. He probably had more important things to do than lie around in bed with her all day. And they had their whole lives to wake up together.
Beth was still clothed in the nightgown her attendants had dressed her in the day before. She buttoned up the front and stretched her shoulders out. A strange shuffling noise caught her attention and Beth gasped when she realized she wasn't alone in the room. A strange hooded figure was standing in the corner, hidden slightly behind the open balcony door.
"Can I help you," Beth asked, clutching the blanket against her chest.
"Yes," the figure said. "Yes, you can." Beth scooted further back into the pillows. The voice coming from under the hood was that of a young woman. But as the figure moved closer, Beth could see its fingers were long and gnarled, like ancient tree roots that finished in long pointed claw-like nails. The woman slowly advanced on Beth, her back stooped into a hump under the layers of sheer dark cloth. When the woman began climbing up onto the bed, Beth found her voice, screaming for help and for her prince. But the woman simply laughed, the wretched cackle echoing off the walls and filling the room. When she was almost close enough to touch Beth, the old crow lifted up her veil, revealing her dried apple face. The lines were deep and her skin was dry and cracking. Bright blue eyes sparkled deep within the baggy folds of skin. She opened her mouth, revealing a deep cavernous hole inside her. Beth fought back against the crone's grip on her arms. But the old woman was stronger than she looked. Her mouth widened unnaturally. She let out a loud inhuman wail. And then she leaned in and began to suck. Beth screamed, the pain coursing through every pore on her body as the crone began literally sucking her life from her young supple body. Then suddenly Beth heard the sound of loud popping gunfire. The woman's chest exploded outward, splashing Beth's face and chest with blood that looked to black and dark to be real.
Beth gasped for air, shoving the woman away from her. Like a walker, the three bullets the woman took to the chest had not completely stopped her. Beth glanced toward the balcony, feeling relief flood her body when she saw Merle and David standing there. Merle still had his gun trained on the crone. And David was advancing on the witch with his sword. In one smooth swing, he decapitated her, sending her wrinkled apple of a head rolling to the floor.
"Time ta go," Merle hollered, grabbing Beth and pulling her forcefully from the bed. "Where's yer danggone clothes?," he asked, already stripping his shirt off.
"I don't know," Beth said, threading her arms through the sleeves and fastening enough of the buttons to keep the shirt closed. She hurried out onto the balcony where Merle was already halfway over the railing, gripping the thick knotted rope they'd used to climb up the castle wall.
"You next," David instructed. Beth nodded. But she was having a terrible time even getting over the railing with her long silky nightgown tangled around her legs. David motioned for her to move closer to him. Then he grabbed up the long fabric and sliced through it with his sword, freeing her legs so she could climb. Beth felt like she was climbing forever, the thick rope cutting into her newly softened palms. Just when she thought she couldn't hold on any longer, she felt Merle grip her by the waist and lower her to the ground.
"What in the hibbidy is this?," Merle asked, gesturing to the two oversized insects Mary Margaret had waiting near the bottom of the rope. "I thought you were goin' to the stables to find us a ride."
"This is what was in the stables," she countered. Mary Margaret was also surprised to find giant horse sized bumble bees instead of actual horses in the fairy stables. But at this point, anything that got them out of here and away from the fairy veil was fine with her. The large buzzing insects were saddled like horses. And they could fly. Which was a distinct advantage over a traditional horse.
Merle watched with some trepidation as David jumped down from the rope and headed towards the first bumble bee, swinging his leg over and letting his wife climb on behind him. The large bee rumbled, taking off like a rocket once David gripped the antenna and twisted. Merle finally shrugged and climbed onto the back of the large insect. Beth eased herself up behind him, gripping him tightly around the waist and tucking her body close to his.
"Hold onto yer bible girly," Merle teased as he reached to grab the antenna, "...'cause here we go."
** this story is cross posted to AO3 with inspiration photos and graphics at the beginning of each chapter