“Stand still, child.” She pointed her long fingers at me and began chanting strange words. Her entire body shook, and I was afraid such an old body as hers couldn’t take the tremors. I half-expected her to collapse, lifeless, at any second.
“What are you doing?” I squeaked, inching away from her and nearly tripping on the hem of my gown.
The witch stopped chanting, and her eyelids flew open. “You’ve got to be kidding me, Ellie! I was nearly done. Don’t you dare interrupt me, or I won’t help you.”
I bit my tongue to keep quiet, but more because I was scared of her than wanting her help. She began wiggling her fingers at me again and muttering the words. Was it a different language? From ancient times, perhaps? From the Lurid Kingdom? Magic words?
As she chanted, my entire body began to glow a brilliant gold. The space around me sparkled from the intense light, and I gasped from fright. My skin tingled, and I felt things beginning to change: my dress, the shoes on my feet, my hair… I squeezed my eyes shut and willed the strange sensation to be over.
“There.”
I threw my eyes open and stared at the witch. “What did you do?”
She folded her arms and stuck out her bottom lip in a pout. “That’s not a very grateful attitude.”
I rushed over to the mirror in the powder room and trembled two steps backward from the sight. My face was done up with a subtle, pink rouge, and something black lined my eyelids atop a sparkling blue powder of some sort. My hair towered above my head in soft, beautiful curls, and the rest poured down my back like a waterfall. Scattered around the locks were sparkling, silver jewels that looked… well, magical. And my dress… The gown had a brilliant shine to it that wasn’t there before, and a sheer fabric wrapped around my bodice like a miniature cloak. The skirt flowed out from my hips much larger than it had before, but I was amazed by how light the gown still felt. I didn’t have to be told to know this was the most beautiful I had ever looked.
I crept forward on the balls of my feet to study myself more, but the movement proved difficult. I hurriedly lifted my skirts and found a pair of light blue slippers, matching my dress. They followed the angle of my feet as if custom made for them, and the material was transparent, almost as if they were made of…
“Are these glass?” I whispered in awe. “They’re so comfortable!”
“I’m not one to settle for the ordinary. Especially when it comes to shoes.”
My door slammed open against the wall and revealed an enthusiastic Harry trotting in wearing a tan doublet and matching trousers that had seen better days— and they were a tad too big on him.
“Ellie, are you read—”
He halted midstep, staring at Bavmorda. He still hadn’t noticed my new look, but seeing a strange, scary-looking, old woman standing in my room would trump most other surprises.
“Who are you?” he demanded after recovering from his initial shock.
Bavmorda was unfazed by the way he rushed to her side and towered over her in a threatening stance.
“I’m a friend of Ellie’s.”
Harry relaxed. “Oh.” And then, as if just noticing I stood there, he nearly stumbled at the sight of me. “What happened to you?”
“I fixed her. Her hair was bleh, her shoes were wretched, and the dress was a little too plain.”
Harry once again towered over the witch, trying to intimidate her, but she didn’t flinch.
“Hey, I bought that dress for her! And she didn’t need fixing! She was perfect. She’s always perfect!”
I found myself smiling at his defense for me, and Bavmorda seemed to find it amusing.
“I didn’t know how much you cared for her, Harry. You’re right, she is beautiful on her own, but we don’t want her to not fit in at a fancy ball, do we? Although…” Bavmorda paused, studying me up and down. “Now she’s absolutely breathtaking— she might stick out anyway.”
Harry’s own gaze didn’t leave me as he studied my dress and face along with Bavmorda.
“How did you do it? And so quickly? I was just in here, like, ten minutes ago. And wait, how did you know my name? Did Ellie tell you?”
Bavmorda’s shoulders slumped over, and she ran a hand over her wrinkled face. “Ellie, you explain it to him. I have some stuff to do for you out in the back. Meet me there within five minutes.”
The witch stepped away, muttering something strange about “stupid mortals” and “pumpkins.”
Harry rushed over to me and grabbed my hands into his. “What is going on?”
“It’s okay. I don’t think she’s here to hurt us. I’ve run into her a couple times before.”
“Ellie, that’s not really an answer.”
I squeezed his hands. “Don’t get scared, okay?”
Harry leaned back on his heels warily, but his lack of reply encouraged me to continue.
“Her name is Bavmorda, and she’s a witch.”
The color quickly drained from his face, and he became paralyzed where he stood. His grip on my hands grew tighter. I winced at the feeling of his nails digging into my flesh.
“Harry.” I tried to pull my hands away. “You’re hurting me.”
“Witches don’t exist!” he exclaimed, dropping my hands.
“Actually, they do.” I spun around, showcasing the magical additions to my ensemble. “How do you think she did all of this?”
Harry placed a hand over his mouth and stared me down for what seemed to be an eternity. I wrung my hands together as he stared at me, not sure what to say next.
“Why? Why would she help you?”
That was an excellent question. One I hadn’t asked myself until Harry mentioned it… What was so special about me that a powerful witch felt inclined to help me? Telling me Lucinda wasn’t my mother, helping me find Harry, and now preparing me for the ball? What if she had some underlying, evil plan? My breathing started growing ragged, and I clenched my hands into fists.
Noticing my sudden panic, Harry leaned in close and wrapped me in his arms. I pressed my cheek into his chest and closed my eyes. He always knew how to calm my thoughts. We swayed back and forth in our embrace, and I felt his strong hand reach up into my hair.
“You do look beautiful, Ellie.”
I bit my lip. Those five words were enough to make me swoon. And then Harry’s hand moved from my hair to my cheek. As our eyes met, he pulled me closer into his chest, and I could hear the beating of his heart. The look in his bright eyes presented a yearning I had never seen there before as he moved them down to my lips. I caught my breath, moving in closer as he did so.
A sharp clearing of a throat made us jump apart. I wiped my hands clumsily along my gown, and Harry ran his fingers through his hair.
“I said within five minutes! Come on!” Bavmorda blustered.
I wasn’t sure what to make of the kiss Harry and I nearly shared, altogether avoiding his eye contact as I followed Bavmorda through the hallways and to the back door. Half of me couldn’t believe that it had actually happened… Well, almost happened.
Most people were already at the ball or turning in for the night, so we didn’t see anyone on the way. Bavmorda pushed the swinging back door with more strength than I’d assumed she had, and Harry and I had to nearly sprint through to avoid getting smacked by it on our way out. The back door led to a dark alleyway that smelled of rotten food and waste. It was the place Chef Ruth directed me to throw out rotten food or other bits of trash. I stepped carefully in my gorgeous, glass slippers to avoid anything that might dirty them. Bavmorda seemed to have no issue as she led us down the alley and to the light of the street lamps in the main city.
I gasped when she stopped and gestured to a magnificent carriage directly before us. I lifted my skirts and ran around its circumference, studying the magnificent gold that covered the entire vehicle, and the white wheels encased in a sparkling illusion of vines. Tied to the front were two, gorgeous black stallions standing at perfect attention.
“Where’d yo
u find these horses?” I breathed, rushing over to stroke the taller one on his nose. He whinnied in pleasure.
“Just a couple rats running around wanting something to do.”
I gasped, retracting my hand. Was she kidding? She had to be kidding. I shrugged to myself, then continued my examination of the beautiful carriage and noticed something particularly unique about it. I stepped backward to study its shape and nearly laughed from amusement.
“It looks like a giant pumpkin!”
The witch gave a little shimmy with her shoulders and winked. “Like I said, I’m not one for the ordinary. I enchanted a pumpkin just for your purposes, dear.”
“Bavhooda?”
“Bavmorda,” the witch snapped frustratedly at Harry. He still lurked in the darkness of the alleyway, arms folded and scowling.
“What do you want from us?”
The witch strolled over to the young man, arms clasped behind her back and grinning. “You’re scared of me.”
She cackled.
Harry seemed to waver under her stares, but he shook his head and stood up even taller. “Why are you helping Ellie? Is there something you want from her?”
I looked back and forth from the two, also curious to hear what her answer might be. Bavmorda licked her cracked lips and revealed her less-than-toothy grin, warranting Harry to merely scowl even deeper than before.
“Can I tell you a secret?” she whispered.
That sparked my interest, and I could tell it did Harry’s too as he raised a questioning eyebrow.
“I’m supposed to use my magic to help people.” She shot an appreciative look in my direction. “People who deserve it.”
Harry tapped his fingers on his arms and pursed his lips into a line. “Say I believe you, and we decide to use this… pumpkin. Who’s going to drive it? You?”
Bavmorda wiggled her eyebrows at Harry. “I have someone in mind.”
Chapter 14
“Are you sure this is going to work?”
Prince Gerald sat at his writing desk and ran his finger over the aconite flower in his palm. The dark purple of the petals contrasted greatly with his pale hand. As he stared at it, he felt like plant was reciting faint whisperings of death and suffering. He dropped it quickly onto the desk and looked away.
“Of course it will!” Clarence hissed behind him. “You’re not starting to have second thoughts, are you?”
“Of course not!” Gerald snapped back, but his hands were beginning to sweat. “I just don’t want to get caught.”
“You won’t. Just squeeze the juices into their drinks when they’re not looking. There will be so many people at the ball, the King and Queen’s assassin could be anyone! And no one will suspect you of all people.” Gerald turned to look at his tutor just in time to see the old man rub his hands together in excitement. “It’s the perfect plan!”
Gerald moved his head back to look at the poisonous berries. He'd never been fond of his parents, disagreeing with them on everything from how to spend his time to their policies. King Thomas and Queen Catherine were too soft to be the monarchs anymore. They were lax when it came to taxes, were terrible at enacting necessary laws… And the Prince, ever since he could remember, blamed his parents for his sister’s disappearance.
Gerald knew, without a doubt, that he could rule Greriveth better than his parents ever had, but he never thought he would resort to killing them…
“Is this really the only way?”
Clarence palmed himself in the forehead and groaned. “So, you are having second thoughts.”
Gerald didn’t answer.
The old man lightly touched the Prince’s shoulder. Gerald turned to face his former tutor.
“Your Highness, sometimes sacrifices need to be made for the greater good. Even if you do marry, you still won’t be King until both of your parents are gone.”
He was right. Clarence was always right. But thinking about being the hand to murder the King and Queen made his stomach churn. Prince Gerald had never killed anyone. He fought in a lot of bouts when he joined in the royal guard’s training on some days, and even competed in the few tournaments Greriveth held some years, but killing did not make the list.
Staring once more at the flower, Gerald’s hands twitched uncontrollably until he reached over, scooped up the aconite, then placed it into Clarence’s grip. The old man pursed his lips and slowly closed his yellowing fingers around them.
“Are you backing out?”
“No. It needs to be done, but I think you should do it. Not me.”
“A good ruler takes action, Your Highness.”
“A good ruler also knows when and to whom he assigns his dirty work.”
Clarence’s lips twitched into a smile, and he touched a finger to his nose. “You’re a smart one, Your Highness.”
Prince Gerald puffed out his chest and winked. “Of course. You taught me.”
Clarence chuckled and slid the flower into a pocket inside his dress jacket. He then moved his eyes up and down, studying the Prince.
“You’re not even dressed! You do know the ball is about to start, and it was specifically set up for you to be there!”
Gerald glanced down at the loose trousers and white tunic he had trained in that morning— a few bouts were always able to keep his mind off of things. He wasn’t the best swordsman, but he was better than some, which presented him with victories every once in a while.
“Fine. I’ll get dressed.” He moved to start getting ready but hesitated. “When will you do it?”
Clarence’s dark eyes twinkled mischievously. “At the feast, of course. When else?”
Chapter 15
Riding inside the pumpkin carriage felt a lot smoother than I thought it would be. But then again, it was a pumpkin magically turned into a carriage. I chided myself for being surprised by anything at this point.
I rode alone in the back, surrounded by a mountain of blue from my large skirts and slowly sinking into the incredibly soft, golden pillows on my seat. Harry sat outside, at the front, driving the carriage. Bavmorda had told him her plan all along was to use him as a footman, and she gave him a list of responsibilities, warning him to mess them up at his own peril: One, drive me to and from the ball. Two, stay with carriage while I enjoyed myself and to make sure nothing happened to it. And three, make sure we left and returned to the inn before midnight. Well before midnight is what she emphasized.
I felt the curfew was ridiculous, but Bavmorda assured us that we didn’t want to be at the castle when the clock struck twelve. I had no choice but to believe her. Besides, just a few days ago, I was under the impression I wouldn’t get a chance to go at all.
As I sat by myself, however, I felt my hands grow clammy at the thought of entering the castle and party without Harry by my side. His presence around all those people was going to be the only thing aiding me in not panicking and leaving the party. And now, somehow, I was to handle it all by myself. It was bound to go awry.
The carriage lurched to a halt, and I struggled to stabilize myself from the abruptness. It seemed Harry wasn’t too experienced with driving a carriage.
“We’re here!” His voice was muffled due to the glass of the carriage windows, but I heard him all the same.
I pushed at the door until it clicked open and nearly tumbled out onto the cobblestones. Harry gasped, leapt off the driver’s seat, and rushed to my side.
“Ellie! I was coming to help you out!”
I shrugged and laughed at myself, taking his hand to help me regain my balance. I opened my mouth to assure him I was alright but was quickly interrupted by the sight before me.
“Oh, my goodness,” I whispered in awe.
The castle was massive, made out of a deep, black stone and dotted with half a dozen towers. I couldn’t even see as far as the castle went. It was as if the building occupied its own continent! I moved my eyes to the moat circling around it and marveled at the dancing flames of the candles that floated within the water
s on little boats. It was just what I imagined it to be and more.
There was still a good walk to the entrance from where we stood, but I could see the thick line of people milling about at the front and trying to push their way into the line inside.
Harry whistled. “Never actually been this close before.”
I didn’t answer and moved my hands up to my pounding heart.
“You’d better get going,” he said with a little nudge in my back. “Just three hours ‘til midnight.”
I gave a little nod but didn’t realize my feet remained planted where I stood.
“Ellie.” Harry chuckled. “Go.”
Shaking myself out of my reverie, I turned to him with my bottom lip out in a pout. “Didn’t you want to go?”
He shrugged and flashed me a crooked smile. “I was really only going for your sake. The real question is, are you going to be alright?”
I took a deep breath and rolled my shoulders back. “I’m determined to be.” And I meant it. I wasn’t going to mess up my only chance to attend a royal ball.
I turned on my heel to leave but was quickly stopped by Harry grabbing my hand. He squeezed it gently but didn’t meet my gaze as I looked back at him.
“Be safe,” he whispered. “Please.”
I nearly fainted when I saw the ballroom. Even after beholding the size of the castle’s exterior, my mind still couldn’t comprehend the enormity of the room before me. Maroon tapestries and ribbons adorned every inch of the walls, and dozens of golden candelabras and candlesticks provided a festive light, and the people… every lady from young to old wore the most elegant silks and brilliant colors. Some wore towering wigs, and some were dressed up with enormous feathers on their heads. The men were just as dressed up, and I giggled at the few I noticed with bits of makeup on.
The cheerful music played lightly but still was loud enough to reach where I stood— frozen in the massive doorway, afraid to enter. What was I thinking, wanting to attend the ball? There was no way I could avoid conversations with the guests, and even if I did, I was bound to receive a great deal of judgemental stares and possibly some off-handed, less than friendly quips.
Pumpkins and Princesses (The Tales and Princesses Series Book 3) Page 8