FIVE

The remainder of the day I spent in my room reading my books. The Goblin King had vanished soon after our return to the castle, his expression troubled, and I had not seen him since. But my heart was troubled as well, for his sake, and I wished I had something—some words of comfort, perhaps—to offer him.

"I wish I knew how to help him," I told Shadow, who hovered over me sympathetically. "Someone so beautiful should not be cursed with such a black soul. Perhaps I’ll be able to change him." Shadow seemed to be almost… surprised at my words? As much as I was, at least.

What are you thinking? I asked myself fiercely. He is your captor for pity’s sake! He is not your friend so don’t go feeling sorry for him! I made myself remember how he had heartlessly torn me away from my family over a simple flower. It helped me to dislike him, somewhat, but not as much as I wished to.

The clock on the mantle suddenly chimed six times, and I remembered that I was to dine with the Goblin King in the Great Hall. He would be angry that I was late, so I hurried to the Hall, finding it easily (for once), and was quite out of breath by the time I got there. "Forgive me," I gasped. "Time slipped away, and I near forgot…"

I did not finish my sentence, for I had just realized that the Hall was empty. There was a long, oak-wood table in the center of the Hall set only for one. Feeling a little foolish, I settled myself in the chair that pulled itself out, my eyes taking in the rows of food spread before me. "I truly hope you don’t expect me to eat all this on my own! I’m beginning to feel as if I’m being fattened up for somebody’s dinner myself," I told the air around me, and a few of the platters—very few—miraculously vanished.

The Hall was very well lit, with late sunlight streaming in through the wide-open windows. Only one wall, the wall with the portrait, seemed eternally cloaked in shadow. Yet I could feel the beast’s painted eyes burning into me as I ate, and the Goblin King’s contemplating gaze beside it. Presently, I became aware of another gaze, and lifted my head to see the real Goblin King standing at the outer door. The warm breeze blew his cloak about him like a cloud and lifted his glowing hair. He had dressed in gold and black, and a slender band of gold set with oval gems like glowing embers circled his proud brow.

He came to me silently and sat in a chair at my right, watching me eat. He took nothing for himself, only drinking some sweet-scented brew (which smelled a great deal like the silver blossoms) from a silver goblet, and he said nothing. I was quite uncomfortable, feeling the need to break the overwhelming silence, so I found myself asking, "What is the name of those silver flowers you prize so much?"

I bit my tongue and waited for his reaction. It was a moment in coming as he tipped the remainder of his drink into his mouth and set the cup gently onto the table. "They are called Aurelia’s Blossoms," he replied softly, staring into the empty cup with a trance-like gaze. "She was said to be quite the most beautiful lady one has ever laid eyes upon."

"Was she…a great love of yours?" I asked timidly, wanting to bite off my own tongue as soon as the words were out, but wanting to know nevertheless.

He gave a bark of laughter. "She was alive long before I came into existence," he replied wryly. "She was the first Queen of my people, the mother of all those born of magic, some have claimed. The flowers were created due to a great sacrifice on her part."

"What happened?" I asked, now completely fascinated in spite of myself.

The Goblin King straightened, smiling slightly as he turned his golden eyes to me. "One day a traitor appeared among my people; one who had made a pact with the Shadow Realm to help destroy the kingdom in exchange for great power. All alone, Aurelia stood before the traitor and his evil minions and fought them in a great battle. She destroyed them all, but only at the cost of her life, for she used up every bit of her power to do so. But as she faded from existence, a beautiful, silver flower bloomed where her body had rested and quickly spread throughout the kingdom, blooming upon every plant and tree. Because of this, Aurelia has never truly died, and she will always be remembered."

I was enchanted by this story. It was exactly the kind of story Mama had so loved and had made me love so much. But the fact that it wasn’t just a story, but a part of the Goblin King’s past, made it all the more fascinating. We fell into silence again as I continued to eat, feeling his gaze never leaving my face. He seemed to be seriously contemplating something, but I wasn’t brave enough to ask what it might be.

At last I managed to finish my meal—quite a feat when one has that feral, burning gaze fixed on them the entire time! I had just taken the last swallow of my milk when the Goblin King suddenly spoke.

"Gabriella, will you marry me?"

He might have been asking me about the weather for all the concern his voice held, but it took me several moments before I was able to stop choking enough to reply.

"I…you…um…could you repeat the question?"

All right, so perhaps I was not the most articulate when it came to answering sudden proposals. This was hardly my fault, since I had never been proposed to before, and he was the last person I would have expected it from!

The Goblin King seemed to sense my confusion--not that it was any trouble for him to do so with me sputtering like a drowning fish! He smiled at me gently and repeated the question softly, almost tenderly. This time I had an answer ready for him.

"No! Absolutely not! Are you mad? Whatever gave you the idea that I would marry you?" I cried indignantly.

The Goblin King looked as though I had struck him, and I felt immediate regret at my harsh words. "I have only just met you," I continued gently, "and with the circumstances being what they are, it would most certainly not be proper. You are my captor, and I do not love you. In truth, I barely like you."

"But you could learn, couldn’t you? You have a good heart, I can tell. If you could but learn to look past my ugliness, to my heart," he replied softly, "maybe then I could learn to love as well, as you say I should. I would make you happier than you could ever imagine."

"What?" I stared at him in surprise, for some of his words had struck me. "Ugliness? What are you talking about? You used that word this morning, as well. What ugliness do you speak of?" I asked, quite confused. Could it be possible that this incredible man sitting before me thought himself some sort of monster?

He was staring at me now, and he looked angry, though I knew not why. "You mock me with your words," he growled.

"Mock you? How do you mean? Do you mean to say that you’re ugly? However could you think that?" I asked, growing even more confused, as much at his sudden change of mood as his words. He had just proposed to me, for pity’s sake! And now he looked as though he would have liked to strike me down! Quite frankly, I was beginning to think that I would never understand men!

"Enough!" he roared, leaping to his feet, and I shrank back in my chair in spite of myself. "I’ll not listen to your words any longer! What dimwit do you take me for that you think to make me believe that I am anything other than what I am? I will not stand for it! Not in my own castle!"

Now I felt anger, and hurt, as I tried to hold back a traitorous tear. "I’m sorry," I replied stiffly. "I had no idea that my speaking the truth would insult you so. From now on, I’ll say nothing at all of it." The tear was sitting at the corner of my eye, just waiting for its chance to escape. "I don’t appreciate being called a liar, however."

The Goblin King looked astonished, and slightly guilty. "I did not mean to speak harshly," he said awkwardly. "It’s growing late. I’ll take my leave of you now." He turned and started toward the glass doors, pausing slightly and glancing over his shoulder. "Are you certain you’ll not change your mind?" he asked me in a low, hopeless voice, and I swallowed hard.

"No," I replied firmly. "I will not marry you."

"Very well," he nearly whispered, turning again. "I will ask again tomorrow." And before I could reply, he left the Hall with a flourish of his cloak. A single, silver blossom lay at the place where he had been, and I picked it up and inhaled its sweet fragrance, holding it close to my heart.

* * * * *

Time passed in the castle, but I could not tell how much. The days were long and slow, and I spent most of them wandering in the gardens or reading from my books. I saw the Goblin King often during my walks, wandering aimlessly through his flowers. As much as possible I avoided him, unless he happened to see me. Then, having been raised with excellent manners, I would politely bid him good day, and if he requested that I walk with him, I found myself not having the heart to turn him down.

He seemed so lonely to me. My heart went out to him, and I had to remind myself often that I wasn’t supposed to care. Some days it was easier to hate him than others, for we fought like cats and dogs! The arguments were about silly little things like misplaced books. But for some reason, those silly little things always became huge quarrels, most of which ended with him storming out of the room in a fury, and myself pacing my bedchambers for the rest of the day, too upset to do anything else.

It was then that I would most long for home and the comfort of Willow’s sweet voice or her lap to cry on, or for Father or Journey to tell me a joke or story to make me laugh. Eventually, the Goblin King would come to my chambers, looking contrite, and would apologize for his uncouth behavior and beg my forgiveness. I always tried to be unforgiving and to stay angry, but he would look at me so sadly as he left that I never had the heart to turn him away, so I always forgave him. I tried to tell myself he was merely manipulating me, but for some reason it never seemed to make a difference.

I ate dinner with him every evening, although I was the one who ate while he merely watched, and every evening he would ask me that same question. Every evening I would give him that same answer, although it made me uncomfortable to see the pain in his eyes after each rejection. I urged him to stop asking what he already knew the answer to be, but he merely looked at me and replied that he would keep asking until one day my answer would be yes. Then I would hate myself for causing him such pain, and I would hate him for causing me such guilt about it!

Eventually, I realized that I was coming to care for the Goblin King, even though I tried to convince myself otherwise. He was extraordinarily kind, despite his vicious temper. He still frightened me, especially after one of our arguments when he sometimes seemed inclined to kill me then and there—especially when my own temper won out over my common sense and I scolded him like an errant child. But he seemed to regret my fright, and would often take himself off to some other part of his garden to brood, leaving me alone. There was a darkness about him that was frightening, especially when dusk neared, and yet—perhaps because he was my only substantial companion in the entire castle and I was lonely—I found myself looking forward to my meetings with him, even at dinner.

At night when the beast raged, and those cries drove me to bury my head under the down-filled pillows until I nearly suffocated, I often wondered what the Goblin King was doing. Did he have trouble sleeping, as I did, listening to that unearthly wailing? Did he cower in his room, or did he face the beast? If he were able to control it, surely he would do so, for my sake. So perhaps the beast was as much a danger to him as it was to me? It was too confusing to think about, so I would try my hardest not to, but there was a large part of me that was curious about both the Goblin King and the beast. Perhaps too curious, for I began to wonder what might happen if I ventured out of my room at night, despite the Goblin King’s warning.

* * * * *

Curiosity and boredom, I’m afraid, are a very potent mix, and I had plenty of each to spare, especially at night when I couldn’t sleep. So one night I sent Shadow off on an errand to fetch me a certain book I claimed to have left on the terrace. I didn’t care to lie to my strange servant, for it was very loyal to me to the point of becoming an annoyance, but I needed it gone so that I could slip from my room in secret.

So, dressed in a long, gray velvet cloak, I slowly opened my door and crept into the darkened hall. Instantly, a candle flared to life beside my head, and I quickly snuffed it out, my heart pounding. "Are you insane?" I hissed. "Don’t you dare light up! I’ve no wish to be caught by the beast nor the Goblin King!" There was a phantom sense of sheepishness from the enchanted castle, and I passed quickly down the halls, keeping as close to the shadows as I could. The beast wailed, and I hugged the wall for long moments afterward. He was very close to me, and I half expected to see him come leaping down the hall at me with claws and teeth bared. But it remained empty.

In time I ended up at the Great Hall. It was eerie, bathed all in silvery moonlight that streamed in through the glass doors, casting glowing patches on the floor which made the shadows appear even darker. I was about to step into the room when a low sound caught my attention--a kind of moan that caused my breath to freeze in my throat. It was then I saw a figure, standing before that portrait I so disliked, head bowed low as though it was…weeping!

It was not the beast who stood there. It was the Goblin King, and I nearly ran from the Hall in a panic, lest he see me. I didn’t want to think of what he might do if he caught me there. However, something stilled me, and it was then that I realized that those low moans were coming from him. I crept closer, my cursed curiosity getting the better of me, as usual. I felt pity stirring in my breast. Such torment! What was wrong with him? Was he ill? Or hurt? For a moment I considered going to him, to try to comfort him. But what could I say?

I had little time to ponder my thoughts, for at that moment the Goblin King’s head suddenly snapped up, his entire body going tense and alert. He seemed to sniff the air, and suddenly he turned on me with his teeth bared in a snarl and his amber eyes glowing with hellish light, staring straight into my own.

I yelped in spite of myself and he snarled in response, taking a step toward me. Though I longed to run, I did not dare turn my back on him. He was stalking me now, slowly, carefully, as though I were nothing more than a deer, and he like the beast in the painting. His hands and face, I noticed with sudden horror, were smeared with blood! In one hand was clenched the remains of some forest animal, and I covered my mouth as the bile rose to my throat. What manner of creature was he? It looked as though he had torn the thing apart with his bare hands!

"Stop!" I cried, holding my hands before me and slowly backing away. "Please! Don’t you know me? I’m Gabriella."

Something flickered in his eyes, and he slowed his advance. "G-Gabriella?" he rasped, his voice little more than a growl.

"Yes," I replied softly, carefully. "That’s right. Do you know me now? Will you hurt me still?"

He blinked, as though just waking from a dream. Or a nightmare. "Gabriella! What are you doing?" he growled at me, and his voice was clearer now, though there was a deep kind of purr behind it. "I’ve warned you, and yet you still disobey me?" He was furious, and I was frightened all over again.

"I’m sorry," I gasped. "I couldn’t sleep tonight, so I thought I would walk for a bit to clear my head. I saw no harm in it!"

"Leave me!" he snapped, his voice like thunder, and I knew better than to disobey. I whirled and ran from the Hall. "Lead me to my room!" I cried to the castle, and as soon as the words were spoken I was in the hallway that led to my door. The heavy door opened too slowly, and I shoved it as hard as I could and slammed it behind me with a loud crash in my haste to be gone from the Goblin King. Shadow was there, and I got the distinct impression that it was scolding me, silent though it was. I ignored it and threw myself across the bed, burying my face in the soft pillows and sobbing in a way that I’d not cried in a long time.

* * * * *

I must have fallen asleep, for when I raised my head again the dawn had passed and world glowed outside my windows. I bathed and dressed more out of habit than anything else and went through my day as I normally did, and I did not see the Goblin King all that day. Not even at dinner.

I was not certain whether to be glad or unhappy about that.

That evening, as I readied myself for bed, the mournful cries started again. I had still not seen the creature that made them. Was there truly a beast that lurked the castle, like the one in the painting? The Goblin King was the only other being, besides myself, I had yet seen. But what if there is no beast, after all? I asked myself. What if it’s the Goblin King himself that makes those unearthly cries? The thought made me shudder, and I closed the drapes to muffle the sounds, and asked Shadow to put a very small bit of the sleeping root in my tea to help me sleep. I went to bed and pulled the covers over my head, and was not even tempted to leave my room that night.