Mother Knows Best: A Tale of the Old Witch

by Serena Valentino

  She hadn’t bothered using the flower. There were deep lines around her eyes, and her hair was starting to turn silver. It was a blessing Mrs. Tiddlebottom was farsighted. She often remarked that Gothel had become a soft blur, though she still managed to bustle around the kitchen and tend to her duties. But Gothel could see herself clearly in her bedroom mirror and had come to the conclusion that she had to have been asleep for a very long time in the dead woods. Long enough for the entire landscape to change. Long enough for the frightening tales of the queen of the dead to vanish and no longer inspire fear or respect. Long enough for Gothel to age considerably without the help of the flower. And she was thankful.

  The older she was, the sooner she would die.

  Soon I will be done with this world I despise and mistrust. Soon my light will vanish like my sisters’.

  “Stop this nonsense!” said Lucinda, swooping into Gothel’s garden like a wild harpy. “I won’t have any such thoughts flooding your head!”

  “What?” said Gothel, looking at Lucinda with surprise.

  “No! We can’t have our little witch contemplating such foolishness!” said Martha, joining her sister, hovering over Gothel.

  “Yes, what would your sisters do if you left them?” said Ruby, also appearing out of nowhere.

  Gothel stared at the odd sisters, wondering if they were real. They don’t quite fit in this setting, she thought. Then again, neither did she.

  “Oh, I assure you we are real,” said Lucinda, laughing. “We are very real indeed!”

  “I can’t believe you’re actually here!” said Gothel, not trusting her senses.

  “Why do you look so old? Where is the flower? Why haven’t you been using it?” asked Lucinda.

  “You haven’t lost it, have you?” asked Ruby.

  “No, it’s still hidden among the yellow wildflowers, out there somewhere.” She motioned to the field of wildflowers.

  “Are you sure?” asked Ruby, fretting and trying to spot it among all the other yellow flowers.

  “Yes, of course I am. Why? Do you want to take that from me as well?”

  “What are you talking about? We’re here to help you, Gothel!” said Lucinda, clearly hurt by Gothel’s words.

  “You’re here to help me? Really? After all this time? Now that I’m ready to die? I don’t want to live in this world! I don’t want to suffer in it alone. I can’t have my sisters back, and I will never have my mother’s magic! There’s nothing to live for!”

  “Gothel! Get up at once and come with us to the field! You will use the flower’s magic to make yourself young again! And we will find a way to bring your sisters back! I promised we would help you, and we will! We have been fighting for our own sister’s life!”

  “I don’t believe you!”

  “Don’t you? Would you believe me if I told you we put our lives at risk and scoured the ruins of your home in the dead woods to find your mother’s blood?” asked Lucinda, her hand on her hip.

  “You did?”

  “Yes, Gothel. You know we love you. Look,” said Lucinda, holding a small glass vial of blood in the palm of her hand.

  “This isn’t my mother’s blood. This isn’t the right bottle.”

  “The original was broken. Most of it was spilled on the floor of the vault. I salvaged what I could and brought it straight to you. You have been on our minds all these years, Gothel. I’m sorry time moved slowly for you in this place. I’m sorry you let yourself wither away, but time works differently for us. We don’t know why. Now please, take this blood, Gothel. Be the witch you’re meant to be!”

  “Will it work?”

  “There’s only one way to find out.”

  Gothel woke up in an endless sea of yellow wildflowers with the odd sisters looking down on her with their giant bulging bug eyes and goofy birdlike expressions. She hadn’t noticed when they were talking earlier, but they somehow still managed to look young after all those years. Sure, they looked older than when they were girls together, but they looked so much younger than they actually were. She wondered if anyone would have guessed all of them were hundreds of years old.

  “You’re looking quite young again yourself,” said Lucinda, reading Gothel’s mind and offering her hand to help Gothel to her feet.

  “Our time in the dead woods together as girls feels like a lifetime ago,” said Martha.

  “Many lifetimes, actually,” said Ruby.

  “It feels like yesterday to me,” said Gothel.

  “And yet since you’ve moved into this house, time seems to move slowly for you,” said Lucinda.

  “Come on, let’s go into our house. It’s closer. You passed out after you drank your mother’s blood,” said Martha.

  “What house?” Gothel looked around, trying to find the house. The last time the odd sisters had visited, they spoke of the mysterious house, but she had been too exhausted to remark that she didn’t know what they were talking about. This time it just seemed ridiculous, like everything else. Lost sisters. Dragon-fairy witches. Invisible houses. She was at her wit’s end with the sisters.

  “Calm yourself, Gothel! Really, now. Such uncharitable thoughts,” said Ruby.

  “Our house is right there,” said Lucinda, pointing at it as if Gothel were clearly out of her mind.

  “I don’t see a house, Lucinda. You are always talking about a house, but I’ve never seen it.”

  The odd sisters had worried looks on their faces.

  “What? What is it?”

  “We’re not sure,” said Lucinda. “Come with us.”

  They took Gothel by the hand and led her to their house, which was only a few feet away.

  From her pocket Lucinda took a pouch that contained a powder the color of sapphires. “Here, put your hand out.” Lucinda poured a bit of powder onto Gothel’s hand. “Now blow, in that direction.”

  When Gothel blew the powder into the air, the house started to materialize before her eyes. She couldn’t help gasping at having the front door right before her nose. “Can anyone else see this house?”

  The odd sisters laughed. “No, just us, and any other witches that may happen by. But I think Jacob chose this place for its lack of magical beings. I don’t think we have to worry about any unwanted visitors knocking on our door.”

  Gothel seemed to be taking something in. “So I’m not magical, am I?” she said as they walked into the odd sisters’ house. To the right was the living room, with a large fireplace flanked by two enormous black onyx ravens, and to the left was a cozy sunlit kitchen with a black-and-white checkered floor and a large round window.

  The odd sisters gave her a sad look. “You still have the power of the rapunzel flower,” said Lucinda. They could see the endless wildflower field from the window. “Jacob chose a good hiding place for it here. I doubt anyone would find it even if they came looking for it.”

  “Anyone can use the power of the rapunzel flower! I’m not a witch! I’m not magical!”

  “Maybe the blood just needs time to take effect,” said Ruby.

  “Yes, Gothel, try not to worry! You’re a witch in your heart!” said Martha.

  “But I’m not! I’m not a witch! I’m not even queen of my lands! I have no lands. I have no sisters! I have nothing!”

  “You have us!” said Lucinda. She turned to Ruby and asked, “Will you make us some tea, dear? Gothel is very upset.”

  “Yes! Of course!” said Ruby, rushing to the stove to put on the kettle and knocking a cake tin that was sitting on the counter onto the floor, making a terrible clamor. “Don’t worry! The cake is fine!”

  “Oh good! I was really looking forward to having some cake!” said Martha.

  Gothel shot them the evil eye. “Never mind the cake!” she snapped.

  “Well, it really is very good cake. It’s our friend’s special walnut cake. She baked it for us!” said Martha.

  Lucinda gave her sisters a look. “Stop talking about the cake, you’re driving Gothel mad with all this cake talk!�
�� Then she took Gothel’s hand in hers and said, “Don’t you worry, Gothel! We consider you a sister. You know we do! It’s not your fault you were denied your inheritance. It’s not your fault your ancestors didn’t pass down their powers and knowledge.”

  “Do you really think of me as a sister?” asked Gothel.

  “We do!” said Martha, looking at her sisters for reassurance. “Don’t we, Ruby?”

  “Yes! Of course we do!” said Ruby as she was nervously fumbling for a cup for Gothel’s tea.

  “Do you think there is some kind of spell you could do? Something that would really make us sisters? Something that would let me share your powers?” asked Gothel. She could only imagine how she looked to the sisters. Sad and pathetic. Pleading. She hated herself for even asking them.

  The sisters looked at each other nervously. “Oh, Gothel, I wish we could, but I’m afraid it’s impossible,” they all said together.

  “I see!” she said, getting up from her seat and going to leave.

  “No, really, Gothel! We just did a very powerful spell to bring our sister back! If we give too much of ourselves away, then we won’t have—”

  “Wait? Where did you get that spell?” asked Gothel.

  “What do you mean?” asked Lucinda, trying to sound innocent, though thoroughly unconvincing.

  “You know exactly what I mean! You got it from one of my mother’s books, didn’t you?”

  “Yes, it’s a variation of one of your mother’s spells. I think you might find it very interesting, Gothel. If you would sit down and calm yourself, I will tell you about it. It concerns you, actually. I found it when we were looking for something to help your sisters when we were in the dead woods. Your mother—”

  “I can’t believe this! I may not be magical, but I’m not stupid! You didn’t go to the dead woods to help me! You wanted my mother’s magic!”

  “Gothel, please calm down! I’m getting the tea! Every conversation is better over tea!” said Ruby, still fumbling in the cupboards for the teacups.

  “And cake, don’t forget the cake!” called Martha.

  “Yes, cake! Let’s slice the cake,” said Ruby, clapping her hands, clearly very excited about the cake.

  “Sisters, please! Stop with the cake!” said Lucinda. Then, patting Gothel’s hand, she said, “Gothel, listen to me. We told you we wanted access to your mother’s books. We never kept that from you. What is this all about?”

  “Did you even give me my mother’s blood?” Gothel’s entire face changed. She seemed more like a woman who should be the queen of the dead than the odd sisters had ever expected. A queen without her lands.

  “What?” asked Lucinda, taking her hand off Gothel’s like it hurt her to touch it.

  “You heard me! Was that actually my mother’s blood you gave me? Jacob warned me you would destroy the dead woods! He told me you would take everything from me!”

  “Of course that was your mother’s blood!” said Ruby, becoming hurt and angry.

  But Gothel wasn’t listening. “What really happened to the rest of my mother’s blood? Did you take it? What am I thinking? Of course you did! How else would you have the power to bring your sister back?”

  “Gothel, that is enough! After everything we have done for you! This is how you treat us?” said Lucinda.

  Ruby rushed over to Gothel, her hands trembling. “Gothel, here, take this.” Ruby handed her a cup of tea. “You really need to calm down. You’re starting to upset Lucinda! And look at Martha, she’s ripping her dress!”

  “I’m not ripping my dress! You were just ripping yours!” said Martha, her eyes wild.

  Gothel saw there was dirt caked under Ruby’s nails when she handed Gothel her tea. “Ruby! What’s that?” She tried to snatch Ruby’s hand, but Ruby pulled it away too quickly.

  “What’s what?” asked Ruby, quickly putting her hands inside the pockets of her skirt.

  “On your hands! What’s that on your hands?” Gothel demanded.

  “Oh! I don’t know.” She shoved her hands deeper into her pockets. “What’s wrong with you, Gothel? You’re acting deranged!” Ruby said, backing away from Gothel. “I think it’s time we cut the cake!”

  “Take your hands out of your pockets right now! I want to see them!” said Gothel, raising her voice and advancing on Ruby, causing her to back away again and knock into the kitchen counter.

  “No!” screamed Ruby. “I won’t! Stay away from me, Gothel!” Ruby started to panic. “Lucinda, Lucinda, calm her down! Get her away from me!” Ruby ran to the big round window and covered her ears. “Get her away from me! Get her away from me!” She said it again and again, but Gothel didn’t let Ruby’s fit distract her.

  “Let me see your hands!” Gothel insisted.

  Ruby nervously looked from Gothel to Lucinda to Martha. “Gothel, calm down right now or Lucinda will put you to sleep, I’m warning you!”

  “Show me your hands!” screamed Gothel. Her face was contorted with rage, frightening Martha, who was laughing nervously and trying her best to make light of the situation. Lucinda just stared at Gothel with a mixture of horror, resentment, and heartbreak on her face.

  “Stop it, Gothel! You’re ruining everything! How are we supposed to have cake and tea with you acting so hysterical?” asked Martha.

  Lucinda smiled. “Go ahead, Ruby, show her,” she said in a very serious matter-of-fact tone, causing all the women in the room to stop their theatrics and turn their attention to her. “Don’t be nervous, dear. Gothel can’t hurt you,” she said reassuringly. “After all, Gothel isn’t even a witch.”

  Ruby and Martha gasped—and Gothel looked as if she had been smacked in the face. She was hurt by hearing Lucinda say that aloud. She had known it was true. She had known it in her heart, but to hear Lucinda say it like that, with so much malice, made it seem real for the first time.

  Gothel stood there, just looking at them. Really looking at them for the first time since they had come back. Sometimes we create images of the people we love and hate in our minds, and those images override what we see with our eyes, even when they are right in front of us. Even if we’ve imagined them to be monsters, to see them as they truly are with our eyes and our hearts is sometimes shocking. Gothel was seeing the odd sisters differently, more clearly. She was seeing them for who they were on that day, not as the young girls she carried in her memories. Or the villains she had made them to be while they were away. She was seeing who they were in that moment, and she found they were much changed. Even though they were not old and withered, time had marred them in other ways. Time had changed their spirit. There was something sinister about them. Something wicked she hadn’t seen in them when they were younger. And if she had seen that wickedness back then, it had been only a spark. A potential for evil, but not evil itself. Now that evil was blazing like a fire within them.

  It was almost as if they weren’t the sisters she had known when they were all young together. And they weren’t entirely. Something was wrong. Something was different, perhaps missing. She couldn’t quite place it.

  “Gothel, please stop this nonsense!” said Lucinda.

  “Oh please! I know why you’re here! For the flower! Now tell me the truth, did you take it?” asked Gothel.

  “Yes! We took it!” screamed Martha. “We’re sorry! We had to! It’s not what you think, Gothel! It really isn’t!”

  “We made sure you used it before we took it, though, didn’t we, Gothel? Now calm down and I’ll bring you some cake!” said Ruby, ripping at the lace on her dress and scattering it on the black-and-white checkered kitchen tiles.

  “How could you do this to me? All of this has been lies from the start, hasn’t it? You never cared about me or my sisters!” Gothel’s face was full of rage; she was like a wild beast ready to rip out the odd sisters’ throats.

  “No! If you would just listen to us, you’d understand! We shared with a friend the spell we used to get Circe back. She is like a daughter to us, and something wen
t horribly wrong. She isn’t the fairy-witch she used to be, and it’s our fault! We need the flower to help her heal!” said Martha, backing away from Gothel in fear.

  “More lies!” screamed Gothel.

  “No! We love you! We do! We were going to just borrow the flower to try to help Maleficent, and then we were going to bring it back. I promise!” said Ruby, reaching into a nearby cabinet. “Look! We put it in a special pot so it wouldn’t wither. And we enchanted the soil. We won’t hurt the flower, we promise!” Ruby showed Gothel the flower. “Look! We took every precaution. We know how much the flower means to you. We would never do anything to hurt it or you!”

  “Why didn’t you just ask me for the flower? Why try to steal it?” asked Gothel.

  Ruby and Martha were pacing around the room, fretting and ripping at their dresses and tearing the feathers out of their hair. “We don’t know! We don’t know! Oh, Gothel, we are so sorry!”

  “Sisters, be quiet!” yelled Lucinda. “Look at you! You look dreadful! Stop that at once! I won’t have you begging this sorry excuse for a witch for forgiveness!”

  “Why do you really need the flower? Please tell me!” said Gothel, crying.

  “Please, Gothel, stop your crying at once! We’re telling you the truth. We need it for our friend,” said Lucinda, who looked extremely vexed at being surrounded by hysterical women.

  “But what about me? I’m your friend! You say I’m like a sister, yet my actual sisters have been dead for hundreds of years and you’ve done nothing to help me bring them back! They’re lying in the cellar with what’s left of my family’s legacy as I molder away in this prison of a house! I feel like Jacob must have felt while waiting for my mother to summon him. That’s what I do, wait for you to come and swoop in and tell me everything will be okay, and it never is!”

  “Gothel, you could have pored over your mother’s books and found a way to wield her magic! All the answers are in those books you have stashed away in your library. If you really wanted to save your sisters, you would have found a way! You could have learned the spells, and you could have found a witch to teach you. But you never did. It’s your fault, not ours!” said Lucinda.