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Part 14
“Are you sure you don’t want to go with us?” Buffy questioned her red-haired friend.
“Yes. I’m perfectly safe here. Just like I have been for the past few weeks. You said it yourself. The Queen thinks me dead, so what danger could befall me?”
“I know, but I just have a feeling that something horrible is going to happen today.”
“The worst thing that could happen is that the prince will decide to actively court me and come by here.”
“Why is that such a bad thing? He’s not as awful as you would like to make him be.”
“I know. But it’s easier to dislike someone who isn’t as perfect as you make him seem.”
“But why dislike him at all?”
“Because… well, just because. Now go to the castle. I’ll be fine, and I’ll see you when you get back.”
“Alright, but this discussion is far from over.”
“Fine. Okay? Now go!”
“I’m going. Now don’t let anyone in the house. No matter what.”
“Yes, mother.” Willow mocked the blonde.
“Kids! I don’t know what’s wrong with these kids today.” Buffy left Willow at the door to the cottage in the woods and ran to join the others, who were already well on their way.
As the blonde’s figure disappeared over the horizon, Willow turned to her garden. Autumn had arrived, and her humble vegetable garden had thrived. There would be a bountiful harvest this year, but only if she gathered the results of her labor before the frost set in. She knelt by the first patch of tilled earth and began pulling carrots from the ground. She finished the carrots and had begun digging for potatoes when she heard someone calling.
“Miss! Miss! You there, in the garden.” She turned and saw a tall, thin girl about her own age walking quickly up the path to the front door. She stood and closed the distance between herself and this stranger. “Thank goodness you finally answered. I thought I’d never find someone to help me. You will help me, won’t you?”
“I… I’ll do my best. What is it that you need?”
“I… we’re on our way to the castle, my mistress and I. She’s with the rest of the caravan, back there.” The girl pointed down the road behind them. “We seem to have lost our way, though. Could you give us directions to Sunnydale?”
“Certainly. You are just within the borders of the kingdom now.”
“Oh, good. I was so afraid that we’d gone the wrong way at the last pass. Thank you so much.” A breeze began to blow around them, tousling Willow’s flaming locks. “Now could you tell me how to get to the palace?”
“Of course. It’s…” The wind started to pick up and blew the red strands into Willow’s face, causing her to pause in her explanation. “Excuse me. As I was saying, the palace is just down this road. Keep going straight, and you’ll be there in no time.”
“Thank you again. My goodness, the wind certainly does blow strongly here. How can you see with your hair flying like that?”
“It’s not as easy as it seems.”
“Here. As a gift on behalf of my mistress, please take these combs. They should make things easier for you. See, I have another pair for myself.”
“Thank you, but I couldn’t.”
“I insist. You seem to have quite a bit of gardening to do still, and it would be easier if you had your hair back, would it not?”
“Yes, but…”
“Take them. Or at least borrow them until we return. We shall have to pass your way on our way home.”
Willow smiled at the girl’s eagerness to please. “All right. But only until you return.”
“Great! Here, let me help you.” The girl pressed the comb through the princess’ hair, scratching her scalp in the process.
“Ouch!” Willow exclaimed before swaying dizzily as the poison on the comb took affect. She fell to the ground, and as her eyes closed to unconsciousness, she saw the girl transform into the stately Queen Sheila.
“Let’s see your friends rescue you this time, my
dear,” she whispered and then disappeared.
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