Chapter 9:

"Make way peasants for your Prince!" shouted the village guards. Timothy and his two companions walked along the dirt path to the castle gates. Everyone was very surprised to see the Prince. It was said that he had fled from his guards and ran into the forest with some woman, many thought he was never to return. Most almost envied him; he had gotten away from this horrid place while they could not? Some were even more surprised to see the Prince's company; a young maiden and a young mage.

Austinned leaned forward to whisper to Timothy, "If they stare long enough there jaw might fall off. See the impression you make? It's a bad one." Timothy frowned and Ilitis giggled.

A little girl ran out from the crowd and pulled at Ilitis's dress. Ilitis bent down to speak with her, "Hello little one, what have you got there?" The little girl handed her a flower, a simple blossom. "Thank you," said Ilitis. The little girl slowly reached out and put her arms around Ilitis's neck and began to cry. Ilitis hugged her tightly and stood with the child in her arms.

Everyone was watching her. Timothy looked stunned and Austinned groaned, "Ilitis, no. No, you can't get all cuddly with every little cute thing that you see, I won't let you keep it, no. What in your right mind thinks that-" Ilitis walked past him not saying a word while holding the child and Timothy followed smiling. Austinned growled and pushed past a guard to walk behind Timothy.

The two gigantic doors that led to the inside of the castle were pulled open. Timothy and the guards straitened and a person began to run toward them. It was not the King however; it was the Queen. When she reached Timothy she flung her arms around him, "My son, where have you been? I've been so worried." She kissed him on the cheek.

She noticed the guards and signaled them to go inside. She gestured to Ilitis and Austinned, "Who are your friends Timothy?"

Timothy bowed, "I'm sorry Mother but I would like to introduce them only once, so let us wait till we get settled inside." The Queen nodded and led them through the doors.

The main hall was poorly lit. Some members of the court stood off to the side and watched the proceedings. One could tell that the entire room was made of opal (including the floors) and the ceiling was made of golden angels; it was a beautiful setting. It was hard to see the expression of the King that sat up on his throne. The Queen climbed hurriedly up the seven steps and sat on her throne. The king held up his hand for silence and his subjects grew quiet immediately. He lowered his hand at stared at the company standing before him.

"My son Timothy, I see you have returned. I thought you had fallen dead." The King's voice was horrible, as was his looks. He had black matted hair and his nose was slightly bent and his eyes were a piercing dull gray. He wore a black rode and had many rings on all his fingers.

The Queen shifted in her seat but said nothing.

"Aren't you going to speak to your father, Prince of the Northern Kingdom?"

"To your greatest grief, I did not fall dead father," spat Timothy.

The king nodded slowly, "We shall discuss our personal matters later this evening; meanwhile introduce your friends to your mother and I."

Timothy gestured to Austinned, "This is Austinned. He is a mage, a powerful one. I have asked for his help in claiming what is rightfully mine, and you know well what that is father."

The king waved a hand, "He is no threat, and I said we shall discuss personal matters later. Now, the woman and child?"

Timothy put a hand on Ilitis's shoulder, "This is Ilitis, a traveling gypsy. The child is in her care."

Ilitis gently pulled the child off her and had her stand at her side. The child clung to Ilitis's arm and kept wiping tears off her face. The king stared at Ilitis, "You are stunning young gypsy. Tell me, what are your uses?"

Ilitis stared at the floor, "I used to be a maid. I am good at cooking, cleaning, and sewing, your majesty."

The king frowned, "You are a gypsy, are you not good at singing and dancing?"

Ilitis nodded, "Yes, your majesty. I did not think you cared about that, forgive me."

The king waved his hand again, "Tonight you shall sing for myself, my lady, and the court at dinner. Do you require anything to practice?"

"Not for myself, but I would like to wash the child and give her clean clothes your majesty," said Ilitis.

The king nodded, "I will give you what you ask, and a room as well. Timothy, your mage friend will be in your charge, find him a room and put him in the service of the Dark Witch; she needs a helper in her workroom."

The king looked at the Queen, "Isn't it interesting that I am letting two people stay in my castle when they want to kill me?" The King stared laughing and the Queen smiled resentfully.

One of the doors to the hall opened and a blur of skirts came rushing toward Timothy, "Brother! I've missed you so, you were not here to hear of my adventures, or my lessons, or my new clothes I bought, or my-"

"Daughter!" the king bellowed, "We are in the middle of a discussion. Can you not see that? Go play with something shiny for a while, will you? Your brother will be with you later; run along Princess Esmolinde."

She looked hurt by the words and she sulked off and back out the door she came from. Timothy glared at the king and a moment of fury passed between them both. Timothy grabbed Austinned's arm and pulled him towards one of the many doors and they left in Timothy's great hurry.

Ilitis bowed to the King and Queen and followed a maid that beckoned her down a hall. When they reached the room the maid left and Ilitis sat the child on the giant double bed.

"Well, they give good rooms to a low class gypsy like me. Now little one, can I have a name? I do not want to be calling you 'little one' forever."

The child mumbled something. Ilitis leaned forward, "What was that?"

The child spoke up, "My name's Emily!"

Ilitis patted Emily on head, "I'm glad you told me. How old are you?"

"Seven," came the child's response. Ilitis nodded and sat down next to her, "Why did you attach yourself to me in the road?"

"I want you to be my momma, you look like a good momma. So can you be mine?" asked Emily.

Ilitis signed, "I'm too young to be a mother. Listen Emily, I cannot take care of you, it is dangerous here in the castle."

Tears stared to well up in the child's eyes and Ilitis flung her arms around her, "Please don't cry! You are young and I do not want you to get hurt."

Emily smiled, "I could help comb your hair and help you dress. I would make a good daughter."

Then Ilitis thought of something, "Where are your real parents?"

Emily scowled, "They died when I was four, I've been living with my grandmother, but she passed away a week ago. I've been looking for new parents for a long time." Emily put her arms around Ilitis's waist, "And now I've found you!" She buried her face into Ilitis's torso. Ilitis didn't know what to do, "I can't through her out in the village, she would die; but I can't keep her either, but she's so sweet!" Ilitis returned the hug, "We'll give this relationship a try."

A while later the castle clock sounded the chime for dinner. The king and Queen, Prince and Princess, and the noble court sat at a long shaped table. Plates were presented in front of them of astounding dishes and the King clapped his hands, "Timothy! Where is your mage friend? Not being mischievous I hope? And where is the singing and dancing?"

The orchestra quickly started up, playing a waltz. A pair of doors to the left opened and Ilitis in a gleaming blue gown she had gotten from the Princess, walked in. However, not alone, Austinned was leading her and he was dressed to his finest. He had gotten his outfit from Timothy; it was a fine dark purple ensemble, complete with a black hat and cape.

The King nodded, "I see, there is the mage. The gypsy's dancing partner? Hm, I did not know that mage's knew how to dance."

"It is a matter of what kind of person you are, not your class," said the Queen softly.

The king squeezed her arm, not at all nicely, "I'm sure you know what kind of person you, Maytha. I found out for myself when you had a child that was not mine."

The Queen gently tugged her arm away, "I found out what kind of person you were too; and all to late."

The king's eyes shook with fury, but he did not strike her. Instead he spoke to the two on the dance floor, "Gypsy, I want a peaceful song and a dance of romance, I've had a long day."

Ilitis and Austinned bowed and formed position. Austinned placed his right hand in the curve of Ilitis back and Ilitis positioned her body in front of him, head held high and one hand in Austinneds' and the other on his shoulder. The waltz started up and Ilitis began to hum, it was light and soft as a breeze. Austinned twirled her around the dance floor, humming also; his voice was strong, sounding of the deepest oceans. Ilitis came to a halt in the dance, she was facing Austinned and she brought a hand up and touched his cheek, and her voice grew louder, "Be at peace my darling, I do not know if we can escape."

Austinned began the dance again for a moment and then paused, "I can not live without you my darling, we will live in the clouds if we can not escape." Then both sang together, there voice's chimed like bells, "With or with out, we will be together, all at peace. If I love you, and you love me, then were is the hurt in our harmony?"

Austinned led Ilitis around in a last spin and stood in the closing step. He sang softly, "My dear I do not fear, if this is the end, then let us remember."

Ilitis sung, and her voice echoed in the hall, "Remember our days, the time we have spent, and together is this peaceful land."

Austinned sang the last verse, "Sadly enough our end has come, now we must pass, of the day at dawn, remember our love, and do not forget, I know that our wondrous dance will not regret."

The orchestra's sound faded and the court's people were wiping their eyes with their handkerchiefs. The king stood and clapped, "Marvelous! What a touching song, full of meaning. Are you two truly in love?"

Austinned flushed, "No, your majesty, we are not. We are just good friends."

"I'm sure," said the king. "What did you think Timothy, Esmolinde?"

Timothy had Emily on his lap, she was smiling and she clapped her hands, "I thought it was great!" Timothy beamed at her. "I thought they both sang superbly."

Esmolinde flashed her long lashes at Austinned, "You dance divine, your singing was breathtaking, and your outfit is very nice. Your fascinating."

Austinned smiled warily, "Thank you your highness."

After talking about the performance for a while the king dismissed his subjects, the Queen, his children, as well as Ilitis and Emily. Austinned cautiously followed the King down a hall until they stopped at a door that was made of old wood.

"This is the Dark Witch's room. You will take orders from her and obey what she tells you. She does not like to come out of here, but in her looking glass she did see the dance at dinner. She holds two prisoner's captive, but you already know that don't you?"

"A mage can't know everything," said Austinned. If this were a trick to get something out of him, he would have none of it.

"Ha! A mage indeed. You are a special mage; others I have brought down here quiver and twitch at just the thought of the Dark Witch beyond this door. But you do not."

"I don't know her, what have I got to fear?" asked Austinned.

The king threw open the door and pushed Austinned inside, "Meet your maker!" And the door slammed shut.