Chapter 6: The Scroll
~Lightning and the Mane 7 were waking up to their third day of captivity, determined to form an escape plan.~
"Right," said Twilight. "First of all, what do we need?"
"Snacks!" Pinkie replied promptly.
Rainbow sighed. "All you ever think about is your stomach."
"She's right, though," said Sunset. "We better start collecting some today. I think we'll have to find water as we go because we've nothing to carry it in. What else do we need?"
"Some way of getting out of here without being noticed," Rainbow offered.
"How about hiding in one of the wagons?" Fluttershy suggested.
"No, too obvious," Lightning replied. "Anyway, they're driven by those Zards. We wouldn't get far."
"Even if we get away from here, we've still got to get off the island. How are we goin' to do that?" Applejack asked.
"I think we've got two choices," the tech girl, Twilight answered. "Either we find a boat and row across to the mainland…"
"Or we stow away on the King's Wolf." Sunset finished her sentence.
"We would also need to get down to the harbour without being seen." Rarity pointed.
"Or getting caught by those wolves," Fluttershy added with a shudder.
~The others agreed wholeheartedly, but before they could say more the guard came to escort them to the kitchens. On their arrival they found the place very busy. The Zards were obviously preparing for a big feast and were hurrying backwards and forwards with pots and pans and platters of food. This resulted in nobody being much concerned about the girls. They were simply sent into a side room filled with sacks of potatoes and ordered to keep peeling until told to stop. It was while pulling the second sack from the pile that Pinkie Pie made her discovery. Set into the floor was an iron ring. She bent down and gave it a tug. To her delight a small trapdoor swung open revealing a cellar beneath. The girls crowded round and peered into the gloom. The floor was only about two metres below and Lightning barely hesitated.~
"Watch the door, girls. I'm going down." she said.
"I'll come too," Twilight volunteered.
"Alright, darlings, but mind how you go." Rarity answered. "And look out for rats."
"How are ya gonna get outta there again?" Applejack asked.
Lightning thought for a moment. "Push a sack of potatoes down and I reckon we can reach if we stand on it."
~Applejack nodded, and the two girls heaved a sack through the trapdoor. It fell with a dull thump. With that, Lightning and Twilight swung themselves over the side and stopped to the floor beneath. They disappeared from their friends' sight but was back again half a minute later looking glum.~
"Not much luck," Lightning said.
Twilight nodded. "It's only a storage cellar. We can't find any other exit." She clambered onto the sack and reached up for Applejack to haul her out.
"Pity there's not a secret tunnel like I read about in books." said Lightning as she climbed out.
"Hmm," Twilight looked about the storeroom. "But, it's given me an idea. Look, grab some empty sacks and see what you can find. Don't forget Renesmee as well. We'll start by hiding it down there. And now, listen…" She unfolded a daring plan to her Rainbooms.
~Much to her surprise, Princess Renesmee was allowed to breakfast alone. In fact, it was not until mid-morning that Ingeus entered the room and found her sitting by the window. She felt him approach, but didn't turn to look at him.~
"So what are you going to offer me today?" she asked, with a sigh.
Ingeus smiled as he replied, "On the contrary. I have changed my mind. I no longer wish to buy the marble."
The princess turned to shoot him a surprised glance, then said warily, "Huh? What do you mean?" To her annoyance she couldn't avoid the feeling that she was in danger of losing a bargain.
The goblin ambled across to the fire and stood with his back towards it, facing her. "You appear surprised," he said, "Yet should you be? Do you not call yourself a princess? Well, I shall allow you to be one. No longer shall I seek to bribe you into selling me the Sodal Marble. Instead, I wish to propose…a partnership. Perhaps even- one day- a marriage."
She stared at him incredulously. "A…a...partnership? Marriage? You have to be joking. How on earth could I ever love someone as revolting as you? Never in a thousand years!"
Ingeus seemed unaffected by her scorn. He came closer. "They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder," he murmured in a sofer tone. "You describe me as revolting, but could it perhaps be that your eyes deceive you?" He stared straight into her eyes. As he did so, he removed something from his pocket. "Look!" he said gently.
~Between his bony finger and thumb he held a small glowing glass ball which he slowly circled between his face and hers. The princess felt her head begin to spin and everything became fuzzy. Then her eyes cleared. She gave a start. Before he stood a handsome young man, suave, smiling and clothed in blue. Of Ingeus there was no sign.~
"Wh-Who are you?" she stammered. "What's happened?"
"I am Ingeus." replied the stranger. The voice was unaltered.
"But you can't be!" Renesmee protested, now utterly confused.
"Did I not say it may have been your eyes that were deceived? Only now are you seeing truly. Before this moment, you were blinded to the truth by your own twisted thoughts. I am indeed Ingeus, and this is how I can appear to you forever."
~The princess sat back weakly in her chair. She didn't know what to say. She rubbed her eyes in disbelief but still the handsome man remained. He spoke again, and the voice was undeniably Ingeus'.~
"Freedom and wealth are yours, Renesmee, but what are they without someone to share them with?" He reached out a hand towards her. "You are growing up before my eyes. Now I wish to invite you to unite with me. Let us build a great kingdom together."
~His eyes were appealing, his voice gently persuasive. Spellbound, Princess Renesmee felt strangely and suddenly quite grown up. An enticing vision of a new life with the now charming Ingeus flooded her imagination. Her distrust faded further as he continued.~
"Just imagine how happy we will be, sharing all my wealth and the power of your Sodal Marble. You as my princess and I as your prince."
Renesmee tried to pull herself together and remember that this was a goblin speaking, but the magic was powerful. "Yet you still want me to give you the Sodal Marble?" she queried.
He drew back in mock horror. "Dear princess, I shall never demand such a thing of you again. All I ask is to gaze upon it from time to time. Should you ever permit me to borrow it, that would bring me great joy. But I would not force you to do so." He gazed earnestly into her eyes. "Say you will stay. Share my wealth. Be my princess."
"B-b-but…" She groped for a reply in the face of his charm. "I-I'm already a princess in my own country." she stammered. "Surely I should return to my home?"
He smiled reassuringly. "Why should you want to do that? After all, didn't you run away to seek adventure? Now you have found it. Why go back?"
"I don't know why I ran away," she replied slowly. "I'm very confused about all that." She looked at him weakly. "I-I must think about what you say."
"Of course, my dear," Ingeus replied. "I shall leave you now to consider my offer." He turned to the door and Renesmee had to stop herself from begging him not to go. "By the way," he said from the doorway. "tonight I have a pleasant surprise for you. Dress well for an occasion." With that he was gone, leaving behind one very confused princess.
~The guards were so lax because of their extra work that during early afternoon, Rarity found time to slip upstairs to the courtyard. It was there that she spotted Princess Renesmee wandering in her direction looking lost in thought. With a couple of quick glances to check that the coast was clear, Rarity sneaked behind one of the stone columns and in a loud whisper called to the princess.~
"Renesmee! Darling!" The princess gave a start and glanced around. "Over here!" Rarity whispered. "To your left. Just act natural and sit on the wall." Princess Renesmee followed the voice and obeyed, looking straight ahead. "It's me- Rarity! Are you alright, darling?"
She nodded, saying, "Yes, but you're taking an awful risk speaking to me. I daren't stay here long."
"I know." said Rarity urgently. "But listen, the girls and I have got an escape plan and you'll have to get ready for it. We're going to do it tomorrow. Can you come here in the morning?" Renesmee gave a tiny nod. "Good!" Rarity continued. "Wear something for travelling in. And make it stylish! I'd better get back before I'm missed."
The princess hesitated. "I don't know whether I want to escape," she said dejectedly.
Unable to see the confused look on her face, Rarity imagined the princess was simply scared. "Don't be afraid," she said. "We'll get away with it, you'll see. Just be here tomorrow. If you can't, we'll wait until another day, but we'll rescue you somehow."
~With that, she darted back to the kitchens, leaving Princess Renesmee even more confused and unhappy.~
~Dalton and the three sprites travelled steadily southwest across the plains. Soon, they left the Great Forest and the River Dustle far behind. Like all small creatures, Fumble, Mumble and Grumble were larger than life. They had little difficulty keeping up with Dalton's powerful strides, but even so, they were relieved when the first day's march ended.~
"Ow, my poor feet ache," groaned Fumble. He tried to rub his left foot but fell over and, in his usual clumsy way, he hit his wing. "Ouch!" he cried. "That hurt!"
"Cor sad us," said Mumble, who was notorious for never speaking clearly. "Yah shed lock a four year bait."
~Grumble muttered something rude about sprites having two left feet and tongues with knots in them. The other two jumped on him and bundled him in the dusty dirt, much to Dalton's amusement.~
"Ah, well, maybe you're not so tired, after all. Perhaps we should carry on for another hour or two?" he suggested.
~Dalton scanned the late afternoon scene. Far to the east, the direction from which they had come, he could see a pink haze, behind which lay the Great Forest of Caisar. He turned to face south. The air carried a faint tang of the sea. But the view ahead was lost in blue haze. To the north and west, however, it was dark. The sun had dropped behind the mountains, casting a cool shadow over the landscape.~
"Scarwood," Dalton muttered. "We shall not be venturing there tonight, that's for sure. Let's make camp right here."
~Wrapped in his cloak, he gazed across the rolling moorland. The moon had not yet risen and the stars shone like diamond dust, their magical light kissing the crest of the dark and distant hills with silver. Further away lay the huggebulk of the southern mountains, and their snow-capped peaks were tinged s blue as the stars themselves. Dalton wondered where his sister might be under this vast sky. Had his mother been right to urge him in this direction? He hoped so, but he had no way of knowing for sure. He sighed and glanced over to the sleeping sprites. It was time to get some sleep himself. Ust as his eyes were closing he fancied he saw a flash of light on the mountains. For a while, he strained his eyes at the dark mass, but then sleep overtook him and he watched no more. Thought he did not knowit, the light flashed again while he slept...and again...~
~The surprise that Ingeus had promised took place that evening when Princess Renesmee was ushered into a great hall. She found it filled with Zards dressed in their best uniforms. The girls were there too, as was Captain Sirt and, of course, Ingeus himself. To Renesmee, Ingeus still appeared handsome, thought to everyone else he was nothing but an ugly goblin. The princess' heartbeat quickened as he approached.~
"Renesmee, you look wonderful!" Ingeus exclaimed as he reached her. "Allow me, please, to explain all this," He gestured around the room, "I have laid on a party for you, to make up for the one you missed on your birthday. I do hope you will enjoy it."
~He turned to the assembled company and gave a signal, at which the Zards gave three cheers and raised their glasses in her honour. Princess Renesmee didn't know what to say and she reddened with embarrassment. Ingeus took her arm and escorted her to a table overflowing with fine food. Musicians began to play and the festing began. Only the Rainbooms looked miserable.~
"What's wrong with Renesmee?" whispered Rainbow Dash. "Why is she looking happy with that disgusting slime-ball?"
"I don't know," replied Rarity. "I just simply can't understand how she couldn't let him touch her. I'd hate it! Ugh!"
"Look, she's joking with him!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed. "And...and she's showing him the marble!"
"Oh, please don't let her give it to him," cried Fluttershy, hopping from one foot to the other in exasperation.
"She's been entranced," said Lightning grimly, as the memory of her previous experience with Hexia the Crone flooded into her mind. "Come on. We've got to interrupt this." The girls wove their way across to the couple. "Hello, Renesmee," said Lightning loudly. "Happy late birthday. Though it can hardly be happy when we're all kept prisoners here, can it?"
The princess looked irritated at her interruption. "I think it is very kind of Ingeus to do this for me. And actually I'm quite enjoying myself," she said primly. "At least, I was until just now."
Ingeus smiled into her eyes. "I don't think Lightning Star understands, do you? That is the problem with these commoners."
"I think I understand very well," Lightning exploded. "You've got Renesmee under a spell, you...you…"
A flicker of emotion flashed across the goblin's face but he remained smiling. "I do not wish to be rude in the presence of the princess, but it does seem you lack the party spirit, young lady. I think you should depart." He motioned to a nearby Zard. "These commoners are leaving us. Will you kindly escort them to their quarters?"
~A pang of conscience struck Princess Renesmee and for a brief moment she knew the truth. In that instant, she recalled Rarity's words and resolved to meet the others on the following day. But Ingeus' spell was powerful, and she had grown so weak that she could find nothing to say. The girls looked back at her with despair as they were led away.~
"I have a present for you," Ingeus announced as soon as the girls were out of sight. With great charm, he presented her with a large, gift wrapped parcel. "Happy birthday, Renesmee," he whispered, and he kissed her gently on the cheek.
~She opened the parcel with eager fingers, tearing off the silver wrapping to reveal to her sparkling eyes the golden puppets she had wanted so badly the day before. Delighted with the present, she thanked the goblin and thought no more about her friends for the rest of the evening. That night, Princess Renesmee dreamed again, and in her dreams she heard the jabbering voices growing louder and louder. Then she saw accusing fingers wagging at her. The voices nagged on and on and she began to recognise those of her nanny, her teachers and her parents. Their angry faces appeared and it seemed to the princess that all they had ever done was scold her. She pressed her hands to her ears and squeezed her eyes shut tight. All she wanted was to be free of the, and have her own life. Beckoning in the dark was Ingeus, tall and mainly. She found herself running in slow motion towards him, about to fall into his outstretched arms. While she slept, Ingeus had a visitor. It was Crow. He landed upon the table and let fall from his beak a rolled parchment scroll tied with red ribbon.~
"This, master, is all you require," he cawed.
Ingeus took the scroll and unfurled it. "Excellent, excellent," he muttered as his greedy green eyes scanned the contents. "The Sodal Marble is within our grasp."
~Princess Renesmee woke up thinking about the escape plan. Then she remembered Ingeus' offer of fame and fortune. In the cold light of day, she wondered what to do- and what to wear. Should she dress to please Ingeus, or clothe herself for a possible escape? In the end, she compromised, combining an elegant white blouse with a leather jerkin, trousers and boots. She barely registered Ingeus when he walked in. What caught her attention at once was the large black bird he had with him. She leapt to her feet.~
"Crow!" she cried. "Where have you been? What are you doing here?"
"Good morning, mistress." he cawed in response.
Something about the way Crow cocked his head towards Ingeus, and the way Ingeus responded, made Renesmee narrow her eyes suspiciously. Then it dawned on her. "It was you!" she exclaimed furiously to Crow. "You led me into this trap. You horrible traitor! And I trusted you!"
For a moment, Renesmee was beside herself with rage and the bird cowered behind Ingeus, fearing she might tear him wing from wing. Ingeus raised a hand. He spoke gently. "My dear Renesmee, believe me it was necessary. If there had been another way less distressing to you, we would have used it."
"Don't try to get round me like that," she yelled. "I see it all clearly now. Crow was working for you! He was your tool to get me here and persuade me to part with my Sodal Marble. Well, that's that. I shall never give it to you. Do you hear? Never! And I can see you for what you are, you ugly, fat goblin!"
~Sharp pains stabbed her mind at that moment. She sat down clutching her head and burst into tears. Ingeus and Crow waited until her sobbing subsided.~
The bird spoke. "Mistress, what you say is only part of the truth. If I had not acted as I did, something awful would have remained hidden from you. When you found out, it would have been too late."
"What Crow says is correct," Ingeus explained. "When I offered to purchase the Sodal Marble, it was because I already knew it was worthless to you. Yet I felt pity and love for you, and I desired to share my wealth and to reign with you because…" he paused, "because otherwise you would have nothing."
"What do you mean? I don't know what you're talking about," she snivelled. "I have plenty of things at home."
The goblin shook his head with pity, then lifted her chin and looked her straight in the eye. "You have no idea, have you? The truth is, Renesmee, you were not born a princess at all."
~A stunned silence greeted his words. Renesmee's mind whirled. This was the last thing she had expected to hear.~
"You're lying," she eventually whispered, though without much conviction.
"Unfortunately not." Ingeus replied solemnly. He drew from his robe the rolled parchment that Crow had brought him, and laid it on the table before her. "Read this for yourself."
~Hesitantly, she unrolled it and read: 'In the seven-hundredth year from the foundation of Asteral, a girl-child of unknown name and parentage is hereby adopted by their royal persons, King Aron and Queen Teris of the Western Lands, resident in the royal city of Asteral. The child will be henceforth as Renesmee, that is, Star-born.' It was signed by the Clerk to the royal court and had the official seal. There was no doubt that it was genuine. The information hit the princess like a thunderbolt. She dropped the scroll and stared blankly at the table as her world fell apart. She was not really a princess at all. She was a nobody. For all these years she had been made to live a lie.~
Ingeus was speaking again. "You understand now that the Sodal Marble cannot make you a princess when you are not. What value is a Sodal Marble to one who is not really a Star-born?"
"What can I do?" groaned the princess in despair. "I have no name of my own. No real parents. I've lost everything. Oh, why did you have to tell me this?"
"All is not lost," replied Ingeus. "For have I not said you can choose to be a princess? I offer you the opportunity to do that. You may not have been born a princess, but you have shown the qualities of a ruler. By running away from home you have chosen your own pathway and fate has led you to me. I can still give you wealth and power. You have earned this. You need no Sodal Marble. By all means, let us put its powers to other uses, but don't let the marble bind you to a false past any longer."
"You can have it, for all I care," she said sadly. "What's the point of keeping it?"
~Her words were like music to Ingeus' ears. His greedy eyes lit up and he rubbed his spiny fingers together in eager anticipation. His hands stretched towards her neck.~
"Do you really mean it?" he breathed.
~But the evil in Ingeus had gone a little too far. Princess Renesmee glanced up just as his hands reached for the silver chain, and in that fraction of a second she saw the true depths of his greed. His eyes, hard and cruel, were filled only with intense craving. They frightened her and she drew back with a shudder.~
"I-I...do, but not quite at this moment," she stammered. "I need a little time to think, to be alone. This has been a great shock to me."
The goblin quickly hid his disappointment. "But of course," he shrugged. "Though let it be too long. I would like you to enjoy your privileges as my princess as soon as possible."
I'll take a walk now if you don't mind." she replied, rising shakily to her feet. Ingeus and Crow watched as she left the room.
"Do not worry, Master." said Crow. "There is no fight left in her. What will you do with her once the Sodal Marble is yours?"
"I have not decided," the goblin replied. "I may have her killed, or she may be useful to me in some way. We shall see. Either way, it will not be long now."