SIX

I dreamed I was home again, surrounded by my family, and even Mama was there, as lovely as ever. We picnicked in a wide, beautiful meadow filled with daisies. Willow and Journey chased butterflies, and Father played his violin as Mama and I danced among the flowers and laughed.

But the meadow changed. The daisies melted away, their petals turning silver and their stems paling from green to white until we danced not in a meadow of daisies, but of Aurelia’s Blossoms. Willow and Journey had vanished, as had Father, though his fiddle still played on. The song had changed to a beautiful melody as haunting as death. I turned in alarm to Mama, but she, too, was changing. She grew taller, thinner, and her yellow hair deepened into a deep, tawny, golden-red. Her soft brown eyes burned with fierce light. Their pupils became dark and mysterious, ringed with bright amber, and her lovely face sharpened and changed until it held the frightening, mystical beauty of the Goblin King’s face.

He stood there, gazing straight into my eyes. Then he took me into his arms, and I realized that my common skirts had turned into an exquisite gown of shimmering white tulle and satin. He was dressed in white as bright as sun-lit snow, and as he pulled me into a waltz I realized that we had somehow ended up in the Great Hall, which was lit bright as day and draped with golden streamers. There were others there, dressed as finely as us…but their faces! All of them had the faces of beasts! Wolves and lions, boars and bears, and many others--all of them danced around me and leered at me. I felt my heart pounding with fear.

Then I met the Goblin King’s eyes, and my fear vanished in the gentleness of his gaze. It did not seem to burn so much now, but instead filled me with a peace that I’d not felt in a very long time. We danced forever, and when the music finally ended he let me go and bowed to me as I curtsied to him as properly as I knew how. Then he took my face in his hands and leaned toward me, and I knew he was going to kiss me. To my surprise, I wanted him to, and my eyes closed as I waited for his kiss. I felt the softest touch of velvet against my lips as a deep thrill ran through me, but then I opened my eyes to look at him, and saw with horror that he had changed. His head had turned into that of a snarling beast, like the one in the portrait, and I flung myself away from him in terror as his claws raked my skin. He growled at me, his eyes burning into my own as he stalked me…

I awoke with a scream, feeling the hot tears fill my eyes and soak into the pillows. I started to call for Mama to comfort me like she always did when I had a nightmare, but then I remembered that she was gone, and so was the rest of my family. I was not at home, but in an enchanted castle ruled by a beautiful, monstrous king. The loneliness I felt increased so much that it left me feeling ill, and I could not bring myself to leave my bed. Shadow hovered over me, as if to coax me to rise, but I merely turned away. It left me to myself, though I could feel its concern like a tangible thing.

* * * * *

The day passed by. Eventually, I made myself bathe and eat breakfast, though I wasn’t hungry. I spent the entire day in my room, with the drapes pulled shut and the candles darkened. I didn’t care to feel the sun today, for sunlight would not satisfy the depression I felt. So I had no idea of how much time had passed until I glanced at the clock on the mantle and saw, to my surprise, that it was six thirty. I had not even heard it chiming, and I had missed dinner with the Goblin King. He would probably not be happy about it, but in truth I no longer cared.

There was a slight sound at my door, and I knew without looking that the Goblin King was there. He was less than pleased from the dark expression on his face when I looked at him. "You weren’t at dinner tonight," he said in a low voice.

"You weren’t there last night, so I guess it makes us even," I replied wearily. "I wasn’t hungry. Let me be."

The Goblin King came forward to stand at the chair where I rested, and his expression was one of concern. His voice was soft when he spoke. "Gabriella, are you well?" he asked.

"No," I replied sharply. "I’m not well. I am dying of loneliness trapped in this dark castle, with nothing but shadows for company."

"I am here," he replied carefully.

"That is not much of an improvement!"

He looked as though I had struck him, and I immediately felt sorry for my harsh words, even though I tried not to be. "Are you not happy here with me?" he whispered. "I’ve given you everything you could possibly desire."

"No, you haven’t," I replied, and was mortified to feel tears rising to my eyes. I tried to hide them, but he noticed anyway.

"Gabriella! What has happened?" he asked softly. "What do you wish? I’ll give it, if I can."

After a moment of hesitation, I whispered, "I want to see my family. I wish to go home."

He stood above me, unmoving, his face lost of all expression. "This I cannot do," he replied, and his voice was hard. I turned away, and this time my tears escaped. He knelt beside me and wiped them from my eyes with a gentle hand. "Please," he murmured. "Don’t cry. It hurts me to see you so unhappy." Indeed, his own eyes had filled with pain, and his face looked drawn. "I cannot let you go. Don’t you understand? I cannot!"

"Then we have nothing more to say to each other," I replied coldly, and turned away, brushing his hand from my shoulder. But when he lowered his head and turned away as though to hide tears of his own, I felt contrite at my hurtful words. I didn’t care to see anyone suffer--even him, for he was my only friend here. "I’m sorry," I told him softly. "I feel the need for some fresh air. Perhaps some sunshine will lighten my mood. Walk with me. Please?"

He turned back again, his face now composed, and regarded me for a long moment. I was suddenly reminded of my dream. More so, of the beautiful, gentle kiss he had given that had felt so real. I fought down the blush that I was sure was rising to my face, and allowed him to help me to my feet. It was only a dream, I reminded myself harshly. A nightmare. Nothing more. Shadow wrapped a cloak about me, and the Goblin King walked with me to the gardens.

"Come with me," he told me after a few minutes of silent walking. "I have something I wish to show you." He led me through the gardens, down into a part I had not been in before which extended into the Enchanted Forest surrounding the castle. It was cool in this part of the grounds, and I was glad for the cloak. After a short walk on a wide, cobblestone path, we came upon a most beautiful sight. It was a small pool of water of a deep, azure hue, surrounded by roses, lilies, and of course Aurelia’s Blossoms. There was a small, crystal waterfall pouring down into it. Despite the flow of water, however, the surface of the pool was as smooth as glass.

"This is the Image Pool," the Goblin King told me in answer to my questioning glance. "If you tell it what you wish to see, it will show you. Use it to find out about your family. It is the only thing I have to offer you."

I stared into the pool, and its surface did, indeed, reflect my own image as clearly as a mirror. "Why have you never shown this to me before?" I whispered, and my image held a look of betrayal on its face.

"I thought it would hurt you to see your family," he replied. "I didn’t mean to keep secrets from you. Forgive me."

I didn’t reply for a moment. "You…only did what you thought was best for me," I said finally. "It’s…all right."

The Goblin King looked relieved. "Tell it what you wish to see," he replied, and I gazed again into the pool.

"I wish to see my family," I requested softly, and the water seemed to ripple and break apart. When it again came together I felt astonished to see an image other than my own in the still water. "It’s my father’s bedroom!" I cried. "Why is it so dark?"

There were two figures kneeling at the bed, on which rested a third figure, nearly smothered in bedding. My heart leaped in alarm at the sight as I wondered what was happening. One of the figures moved into the flickering light of the candles, and I saw that it was Journey. Beautiful little Journey! Then I froze in shock as I suddenly realized that Journey no longer was a little five-year-old girl. She had grown! She looked, as far as I could see in the dim light, to be nearly ten years old. "What has happened to her?" I cried. "How has she grown so in such a short time?" I turned accusing eyes to the Goblin King, who gazed back at me steadily. "Well? Answer me!" I demanded.

"Time passes differently here in the castle," he replied gently. "It follows no natural laws. At some stages it passes swiftly and at others, more often than not, it does not seem to pass at all. While it has only seemed mere months since you came here, in their world years have passed."

"What?"

I nearly shrieked the question, so shocked was I. Years passing in the blink of an eye? It wasn’t possible! And yet, there was Journey, clearly not the same child I remembered. "Why have you never told me this?" I cried, glaring at the Goblin King. "If any more time had passed, I may not have even had a family anymore! And my father…"

I broke off, a dread feeling passing over me as a vague suspicion as to who might be in the bed entered my mind. I glanced back into the pool again. Sure enough, it was my father who lay in that bed. I could barely breathe as I leaned closer for a better look, nearly falling into the pool in my impatience. Only the Goblin King’s quick reflexes saved me from a dunking as he pulled me back to a safer distance.

My father had aged considerably. His hair, which had once held the luster of a raven’s wing, with only a touch of silver at his temples, was now as gray as my own, shining silver in the candlelight. His skin was drawn and pale, his eyes sunken, and his frame skeletal. He looked like a man who had crossed Death and won, but not without serious consequences. In fact, it looked very much like Death was coming back for a rematch, and this time my father would not escape so easily.

Suddenly, he started to shake in a terrible fit of coughing, and something gleamed redly on his lips. I realized it was blood, and I knew then that he was dying; he needed me, and I was not there for him. Willow was there, leaning forward, and I saw that she, too, had aged. She was as lovely as always, though her face held new lines as she carefully held a cup of water to my father’s lips. He settled back again, his head tossing from side to side in a fit of delirium.

The image began to fade suddenly, and I cried out and reached into the pool in an attempt to hold it. But my action merely caused it to break apart more quickly, and when the water grew still again, my own homely face was there, wet with tears. I turned on the Goblin King and grabbed the front of his shirt. "My father is dying, and he needs me," I told him, feeling anger and panic rising within me. "I must go to him!"

He appeared startled at my sudden boldness, looking down at me uncertainly, but he didn’t answer. Thinking perhaps that he had not understood, I added, more forcefully, "You must let me go. Please!" An edge of hysteria had crept into my voice, but I couldn’t seem to help it. Every moment counted in this cursed castle. Even a second might be too late for my father. But the Goblin King merely turned his face away in silence, and I knew that he had, indeed, understood. Suddenly furious, I beat his chest with my fists. "If my father dies, I’ll hate you for the rest of my life!" I screamed. "If you won’t let me go I’ll run away! I won’t stay here another moment!"

I had hoped that a threat like that would move him; he knew that I took keeping my promises very seriously. But he merely took my hands and forced them down to my sides, his expression as unmoving as stone, and turned and began to walk away. I stared after him, so furious and afraid that I thought I might pass out. He was just leaving me? He didn’t believe me?! Well, I would show him!

Turning abruptly, I ran from the gardens and through the ruined city, tripping over my long skirts in my haste. There had to be a path somewhere that led out of the Goblin King’s domain, but as I searched for it, the woods began to close around me. The trees and bushes seemed covered in sharp thorns, so that I was poked and scratched no matter which way I turned…except for one, and that way led back to the castle. And now I knew why he had been so uncaring about my threat. It was because I couldn’t leave, no matter how much I threatened. No matter which direction I took, the enchantment made sure that the forest blocked the way.

Still, I kept on trying, until I became so scratched and pricked that I began to feel very much like a pincushion. Finally, exhausted and bruised and bloodied from the cuts on my arms and face, I returned slowly to the castle, utterly defeated. It had grown full dark, and once I thought I saw the Goblin King watching me from a dark cover of trees, but he didn’t come after me and I wouldn’t have cared even if he had. My heart no longer wished to live, not with the knowledge that my father was dying. If the only way I could see him again was to die along with him, then so be it.