later, on the battlements of the besieged castle of marchenton.
The third day! Phillip suddenly realized as he fought back against another Wonderland soldier, felling the attacker from the castle’s ramparts. The sun was bright in the cold morning sky. “Ella can be awakened now! After sunset on the third day, the fairy said,” Phillip shouted above the loud exchange of metal on metal and the shouts of battle. “That’s today!”
It was crowded on the wall as servants in pieced armor and weapons fought alongside the remaining soldiers of the castle, with Snow White’s dwarves darting about in the battle as well. Snow White looked at her brother and shook her head.
“But she said after sunset, Phillip!” Snow answered. “I think it’s supposed to be tonight, Isn’t it? It doesn’t matter. There’s no time for that! We need you on the wall, Phillip. We’ve got to hold Wonderland back as long as we can. We need to give the rest of the castle as much time to evacuate.” She shouted over the din of the battle. Turning quickly behind her, Snow White, her voice strained and hoarse from constantly shouting, yelled out another command, “Arrows!” She waved her arm in an arc, signaling to the readied archers. Instantly a cloud of deadly arrows launched from the row of archers behind her, sailing over the wall, they found plenty of targets among the throng of Wonderland’s army below. “First volley archers reload at the wall,” General White shouted again. “Target the nearest catapults on the field. Take down anything that moves. Ready second volley!”
“That’s just it!” Phillip continued as he moved along with his sister as she went along the castle’s wall, barking orders. “We’ll never hold Wonderland off if we don’t have something more than swords and arrows. Maybe with all of the magic involved, waking her up can help us. I’m the only one that can do it! I’m going! Maybe seeing the princess back… I mean, the queen; it will rally the troops!”
“I get your intentions,” Snow White answered as she signaled another deadly volley of arrows. “But most people in the castle won’t be inspired by seeing Queen Cinder walking about, even if she is back to her princess-ness, Phillip. I don’t think it’s a good idea,” Snow White shouted back, and then huddled in with other soldiers, using a long pole to push back on an invading scaling ladder, which cracked in two under the strain and fell away. The soldiers on the wall cheered and Snow White slapped them on their shoulders for their effort. In this desperate fight, Snow White knew every victory big or small in scale was important.
“At least to wake her up and get her out to safety then?” He pleaded. “I’m the only one that can do that.”
Dendroba made his way through the crowd of soldiers on the wall, converging with Snow White and Prince Phillip.
“There’s movement along the east and west walls- they are trying to surround the castle on all sides, but it’s being handled for now. I only see one active trebuchet on their end. Several siege towers though, but we should be able to handle that. We’ve doubled the fletching stations for arrows. They have gryphons attempting to fly over but we’ve pushed them back with a strong show from the archers. The dwarves have our trebuchet repaired and loaded,” Dendroba said in a quick report. “We don’t have a lot of ammunition unless we start tearing down our own walls, but those dwarves of yours are pretty handy.”
“Still that’s some good news,” Snow White offered and gave Dendroba a smile, “tell them to start launching as quickly as they can.”
Dendroba pushed to the wood railing and signaled down to the dwarves in the courtyard that had gathered by the trebuchet. The dwarves gave a wave back and with a pull on a makeshift lever, the wooden trebuchet creaked and the powerful counterweight swung down launching a large pile of broken stone into the air. Everyone on the wall watched as the broken stone landed squarely against one of the farther Wonderland siege towers. Shaped like a Knight from a game of chess the large tower took a direct hit that gouged a devastating hole from top to bottom, along the tower’s side. The strike was a lucky first launch for the dwarves but it had crippled the advancing tower for good. Cheers went up around the castle. Snow White looked back at Dendroba; the two generals exchanged a knowing glance. The damage against Wonderland’s army from their trebuchet attack wasn’t going to be considerable but at least it had been effectual. The cheering from the castle was loud and a sense of renewed energy quickly over took the besieged castle defenders. Shouts from the soldiers and staff grew into a chanting of “Re-load! Re-load! Re-load!” as the dwarven crew began to reset the trebuchet for another volley.
“Swords and soldiers doesn’t win wars, morale does,” Snow White said.
“Fear of an army at your door has worked pretty well up to this point,” Dendroba answered. “Either way it’s enough to keep them fighting a little longer.”
Snow White shouted over to her brother, Phillip. “Alright, go!” she nodded at him, “but hurry back, Phillip. Maybe we can turn this tide, at least enough to get your princess to safety.”
Not wasting another moment, Phillip darted down the walkway, disappearing within the crowd.
Snow White looked at Dendroba. “Care to join me in the battle, General?”
“Side by side for once?” Dendroba smirked, “with pleasure!”
***
in the skies far above the battlefield.
The great dragons pulled their wings close and lowered their scaled heads, arcing serpentine as they pulled the chariot along and started to descend, diving down through the cloud layer. The strain on the magical chariot was great as they rocketed downward. Everyone in the chariot held tight, despite the magical protections. Moving with such speed through the clouds was surreal for the children of Aurora, surrounded by clouds it was impossible to gauge how fast they were dropping, save for the incredible howling wind they felt.
“Are we close?” asked Morning loudly above the winds.
“I think so.” She replied, trying to not let on how terrified she was.
When we get to the castle,” Fae Gaia shouted over the roar of the wind, “I have a very special mission for you both. I need you to take the satchel with the water and give it to a young girl named Patience; she lives there in the castle. You need to find her quickly, and make sure she gets it. Day, you’ll need to explain to her how it works. Tell her it’s from Fae Gaia.”
“Finally a real adventure!” Day shouted in response. “Do I get a sword?”
“No” Ella’s mother replied.
It seemed to take a long time, but then rather suddenly the dragon-drawn chariot broke from the clouds, diving down underneath into clear sky. They were still high above the ground but they could see the battlefield down below. A mass of men, the huge Wonderland army, ran about. Plumes of smoke dotted the fields from scattered fires.
The dragons continued rushing downward with great speed as they pulled the chariot along, dropped low in a sweeping arc, the beasts skimmed above Wonderland’s army as they made their way for the castle, they sought to inflict damage on the attacking army and for the moment, they had the element of surprise. They cut in mid ranks far towards the back of the army, coming in from behind they headed toward the front line cutting a swath of destruction as they made their way towards Castle Marchen.
The dragons spread gouts of fire down upon the enemy ranks, men screamed and scattered as everything in the dragons’ path was engulfed in rolls of fire. As they flew fiercely towards the castle walls, the dragons would reach out with their forearms and their great claws, tearing asunder anything in reach, shredding the great chess shaped siege towers and raining debris and death unto the surrounding army.
Day and Morning peeked out from within the safety of the fiery chariot, wide-eyed at the spectacle and their vantage point of the dragon’s mayhem. Both children swearing they could see the great beasts enjoying the chance to inflict mass carnage.
Wonderland’s army did not expect a dragon attack. However their forces were quick to retaliate after the initial surprise attack as the dragons flew over en route to the castle, archers
on the ground and surviving siege towers that were moving along through the back ranks took aim at the beasts sending a cloud of arrows up; instinctively the dragons pushed fast to gain speed so they could glide as they pulled their great wings inwards to protect them.
“Stay down! “ Fae Gaia yelled as she covered the children in the chariot. Loud metallic thuds and clangs were heard as enemy arrows struck the bottom of the chariot. The scaled underbellies of the dragons were covered in black arrows, lodged into the thick protected skin, but it was more of a nuisance to the dragons; the largest dragon brushing them off with a sweep of his scaly arm, as they prepared for one last destructive blast of fire.
As the chariot flew towards the Marchen castle walls, Day and Morning could see soldiers on the walls cheering and waving at their arrival. Flying over the walls the children waved at the soldiers, they could hear hollers and cheers from the castle defenders and they shouted at them. The dragons slowed and lowered themselves, once they were safely within the confines of the castle, landing safely in the castle’s common area near the lone trebuchet.
A crowd gathered, excited, curious but still fearful at the arrival of the dragons; keeping their distance, murmuring in an excited and trepid babble, unsure whether the beasts that had inflicted terrible damage on their foes, would now turn on them as well.
General White and General Dendroba quickly made their way through to the front of the crowd. The weary denizens of the sieged castle looked and collectively gaped in revered awe, as they saw a God Mother Fairy step from the fiery chariot. Day and Morning followed close behind.
“I see you brought us some reinforcements, mother,” General Dendroba said, gesturing to the dragons.
“With your permission, my son, General White; I shall let them continue with what they do best,” Fae Gaia replied.
“By all means, we can use all the help we can get,” said General White. “It’s good to see a God Mother Fairy again.”
Day and Morning were quick to remove the harnesses from two of the larger dragons. The great beasts immediately lifted back into the air.
“You have served well, now go and do honor to your reputation, o' dragons,” shouted Day waving the beasts onward.
The two dragons gave short roars and leapt into the air, with a few strokes from their mighty wings, they were up over the castle walls, heading back to wreck more havoc on the attacking army.
“I will not be staying long, just to drop off the children, Day and his sister Morning. They are very special and dear to the Fae, but have chosen to stay here.”
“Now is not the best time to be looking after children,” Dendroba shook his head, “much too dangerous.”
“But we are hundreds of years old!” Morning protested. “We only look like children.”
“I told you they wouldn’t understand,” Day muttered to his sister.
“I have spoken with the Queen of Fayres,” Fae Gaia continued. “The news is grim; the treaty of Fae Wonderland will not be honored by the Fae. They prefer to no longer be involved in the matters of humans, it seems. The Fae will not send help, aside from the dragons which, to be honest, I stole.”
Suddenly Fae Gaia swooned; she reached her arm out for balance as she quickly recovered. Dendroba was quick to help steady the former God Mother Fairy.
“Thank you, dear, boy.” Fae Gaia said.
“Are you hurt?” Snow White asked, noting that her balance was off and the nervous tone in her voice.
“I am no longer the Fae Gaia,” she whispered somewhat embarrassed. Her voice was shaky and unsure. “The God Mother Fairy has been removed from me. I know, I still look like her but now, I am just…on borrowed time. What’s left of Fae Gaia’s magic is the only thing keeping me alive I’m afraid. And I fear that magic is fading quickly.”
“You are still the Fae Gaia to everyone here,” Snow White offered with a reassuring whisper. “Even to me,” she admitted.
“Thank you,” Fae Gaia replied. “If I may, I’d like to see my daughter one last time, if possible.”
“Phillip has gone to see if he can wake her up from your—Fae Gaia’s spell. Your daughter still lies in the glass coffin…” Snow White said, gazing upward the raven haired general pointed to a balcony in one of the high towers. “There I think.”
Fae Gaia acknowledged the general’s direction as she quickly mounted the strong back of the remaining dragon.
“It’s been three days, hasn’t it?” Snow White asked. “As of sunset yesterday?”
“One thing I learned from the fairies is that magic relies on many variables,” Ella’s mother replied.
“Like love,” Snow White responded. “It’s the biggest variable there is. The one component you left out of that spell.”
“Love is magic, and magic isn’t an exact science. That’s why they call it magic,” Ella’s mother gave Snow White a reassuring smile. Then she addressed Day and Morning one last time. “Children of Aurora don’t forget your mission. I’m counting on you.”
In response, Morning held up the satchel. “Already got it,” she answered.
“It’s a very different world here then what you’ve known back in Matakin,” Fae Gaia cautioned. “Don’t rely solely on all of those years of knowledge you’ve gathered. Out here there are no more fairies and the real world is a dangerous place.”
She looked back at Dendroba, a moment of sadness shifted to resolution and fear shifted to courage. “My time is short now, with much to do. As much as a Fairy Godmother is known for granted wishes, my wish too, has been granted—to see my children one last time, how they’ve grown and to be there one final time to help them. What more can a mother wish for than to be so very proud of her children?”
She gave a warm smile at Dendroba, the shine of tears on her wet cheek. “Your father would have been proud of his son, too.”
Then with a crack of the reins, the dragon lifted off, its great leathery wings pulled them upwards, heading towards the tower balcony.
With out saying a word, Snow stood behind Dendroba offering a comforting hand on his broad shoulder. In return Dendroba reached up with his right hand and for a brief moment held her hand.
Morning politely cleared her throat to interrupt.
“Can someone tell where a girl named Patience is? We have a gift for her.” Day asked.
***
Wonderland’s Army.
“Gryphons twenty to opponent’s dragons three. Take them down!” Alice ordered.
“There were not supposed to be dragons,” she said aloud to herself. Alice could not recall a time when the Wonderland army had ever come up against dragons. This was getting out of hand, she thought. This was not supposed to happen this way. But she could not deny the thrill of challenge that came from such an unexpected show of force.
Twenty gryphons, outfitted with metal plating and leather armor, their steely sharp bird-like eyes shadowed by their metal helmets, hovered eagerly for a moment giving proud screeches, and then bolted skyward.
The leader of the gryphons yelled to the rest as they broke off into two groups “Go for the wings, and the eyes, alternate within your group, distract, confuse and attack.”
Gryphons were smaller and weaker than the dragons, but they had an advantage in numbers and were generally considered far more agile. They rushed towards the two oncoming dragons which glided above the battleground. The dragons strafed the Wonderland army unleashing deadly blasts of fire. The great beasts used their powerful wings to generate wind gusts that pelted the enemy soldiers with stinging sand and dirt, blinding them and in some cases blowing them off their feet with ferocious winds. The dragons attacked the siege tower structures, sometimes with a deadly rake of their claws or when opportunity arose, crushing both man and construct in their powerful jaws. Then they swiftly rose back into the air to avoid the barrage of arrows.
The gryphons flew high above and then dove silently, arcing down in formation to engage the dragons from above. The gryphons were fast and still
it took all of their efforts to catch up to the more powerful dragons, each group of gryphons swarming each dragon as a deadly battle began in the skies above. The dragons roared out in pain, arching their necks back as the gryphons slammed in them. The dragons’ wings flapped angrily, moving them aggressively about so the gryphons couldn't get at the dragon wing’s vulnerable and thin leathery membrane.
Instead, the gryphons clawed away with the talons on their eagle-like forearms, and scraped and slashed with their claws on their lion-like paws and powerful hindquarters, pecking and biting furiously with their razor sharp beaks. The dragons rolled and twisted, moving serpentine in the air, trying to shake their assailants loose.
A kick from one of the dragons landed squarely against the side of a momentarily distracted gryphon, his wing crumpled and with a screech, the gryphon faltered and fell hard disappearing amongst a sea of troops on the ground far below. The other dragon, twisting its head on its long neck caught the hind quarters of another gryphon that could not maneuver out of the way in time, the dragon’s jaws crunched down, crushing the backside of the hapless gryphon, and then spat the dying beast out, letting the lifeless body fall to the ground.
Another deadly swipe from the dragon's claws ripped the feathered wing from the socket of one of the gryphons, as several others had concentrated their attacks and continued to dog the great dragon as he flew, slashing at the leathery wings, slicing through the thin veined membranes until it could no longer maintain lift. Covered in blood from numerous cuts from the attacks of the gryphons, the dragon flapped its wings frantically as it fell through the air. Relentless, the gryphons continued their assault as they followed the fallen dragon towards the ground. It tumbled hard upon the battlefield, crushing any unfortunate Wonderland soldier who couldn't get out of the way. The momentum of the dragon carried across two uncontrolled bounces as it slammed hard against a siege tower, splintering the construct and sending debris raining down upon the nearby soldiers who could not flee in time. The dragon quickly regained its footing and though it could not fly, railed against the ground forces that mobbed it. Desperate soldiers, shooting arrows, stabbing with swords, and pikes assailed the dragon on the ground. Valiantly, the doomed dragon flailed about spouting short bursts of flame around its attackers till it could fight no more. Much like a colony of ants defending against a larger intruder, the soldiers of Wonderland overpowered the beast until it finally succumbed to its many wounds.
Shards Of The Glass Slipper: Queen Alice Page 28