Chapter 61 A Serious Visit

Maid Heather told Thomas that she had heard of a certain place in the Magic Kingdom that held several marriage possibilities for Maid Patty - all merchant men. She suggested she ought to accompany her, that the shy maid may feel more comfortable. Thomas had heaved that sigh of his. But he had agreed to take the 2 maids. Thomas found the cottage Heather had hinted at. Soon he had settled himself inside it, paying his attentions on a little cat. The wise men have such soft hearts, it was no wonder.

Maid Patty had followed Thomas inside. She had noticed most of the Merchant men were outside....and this seemed the best way to avoid them. Maid Heather found herself outside, dining with the household alone. "So pleased you and your friends could join us Maid Heather."

"Thank you. Please, tell me again the names of all who live here. There are so many of you, I'm having trouble remembering." "I am Snow White." "Named for her lovely skin, white as the snow," one of the old men piped up. "And the 7 dwarves I live with are Grouchy, Active, Lazy, Shy, Playful, Outgoing and Serious." "And are you all at home today?" "Oh yes. Though some of the dwarves are busy fishing, or somewhere about the cottage." Maid Heather had been in the cottage. She'd gone in briefly with Thomas and Patty. If any dwarves were in the cottage they were upstairs. And surely they had heard her voice when she had said she would just be outside. Heather couldn't see Serious anywhere about - not at the table, not fishing... He must be upstairs, avoiding her. She wiped away a tear. If she could not marry him, she had hoped she could see him, talk to him... Maid Heather played at chess alone, hoping a certain dwarf would make excuse to join her. He never did. When Thomas bade Snow White and the dwarves farewell from all of them, Heather hurried ahead. The silent tears spilled down her cheeks, hidden by the darkness.

Chapter 60 The Wild Queen

Patches Loch of the Grunwald gypsies wandered through the Wild Kingdom. The Gypsy Queen had told an interesting tale of this kingdom she had heard from the ship. He wanted to see for himself if there be truth to the tale. Mostly, he missed traveling about. It didn't seem quite right for gypsies to settle in one place.
Behold, what is that in the distance?

This is the right place...but it can't be. Indeed, it is.

"Welcome weary traveler. I am Queen Nala Swinger. Pleased to have you in my kingdom." A caress of his hand and a swish of her tail accompanied her words.

"I am pleased to meet you Your Majesty." Patches shook the Queens hand firmly, but spoke gently. "I am Patches Loch of the Grunwald gypsies, who I long to get back to. It's never easy on a man to be away from his wife long. I best be on my way."

"Your wife? I do hope you will bring her with you, should you come this way again."

"Thank you Your Majesty."

Patches shivered. He walked quickly away, eager to get home to his wife and gypsies.

Chapter 59 Of Fires and Families

"My name is Lord Sven Lionheart, and my wife is Lady Brooke. We're from the Grunwald Kingdom."

Lady Brooke barely noticed the messy haired tribal peasant. Her eyes were drawn to a scarecrow...that was at that moment walking down the street.
"Name Ug. Name Ug Neanderthal. Wife name small nose."
Was she dreaming? Had she been drinking? She did not think she had, but how could this be? Brooke wanted her husband by her side, to have his manly reassurance.

The Neanderthal was turning toward her. Lady Brooke smiled.

As soon as it was polite to discreetly do so, Brooke's eyes sought out the scarecrow. He wasn't by the road anymore.
Her husband was leaving her be. She'd rather have him by her side at the moment. As it was it did give her the opportunity to slowly turn about.
There he is, the scarecrow.

Is he eating? And is that food not spoiled? What am I thinking. What does it matter if a scarecrow eats spoiled food? Brooke casually walked away. She walked over to get a look at the table from the other side. But he wasn't at the table. He approached her...or maybe happened to be walking past. "Good day My Lady."

For a moment Brooke was silent. Then she realized the voice came from the scarecrow.

"Good day." She managed. The scarecrow continued walking past. Brooke did not follow.

Brooke sought out her husband.

"Sven?" she asked lightly. He turned. "I wish to go home."

Sven gave her a hug.

"I should stay longer Brooke. Are you comfortable going home on your own? Or would you like to stay with me here?"

Brooke wasn't comfortable with either choice. But telling him so would need further explanation. Further explanation might require telling about the animal people. And then? Make him afraid to leave her a moment alone? Make him worry when he does?

Brooke put on her lady smile.

"I will see you at home My Husband."

Sven forced himself to not follow his wife. After watching her walk away he set to fishing to destract himself. Before long a woman on horseback approached. He greeted her warmly.

"That is a fine bow miss."

She held it up for his inspection. Sven had trouble keeping his eyes on the bow. He could now see she was not a woman on horseback...but a woman with a horses back...and hooves and wait. What is that?

Sven ran past the horsewoman.

"Fire!" Sven shouted.

Ug ran out from behind a blanket naked and in a panic. No sooner had Ug begun putting out the fire his wife came up behind him.

"Get back woman!" Ug roared.

For a moment Sven worried of his wife.

Then he realized his wife had gone home and was safe.

As Ug put out the last of the fire Sven thought of how it must be to come so close to losing a wife. Small nose had been quite close to the fire.

"Now that your family is safe I'll take my leave. May you and your family be well Ug."

"Thank you. You family be well."

Later that night after Sven left there was another fire, this one far greater. Ug died putting out the fire. His wife Small Nose was badly burned and died a day later. The Neanderthals left no children.

Chapter 58 Challenge 2 Fishing for a Wife

Buddha was very tired. He scratched his butt and headed for a hut and went to sleep.
A short while later he was called to the next challenge, fishing.
Buddha rolled out of bed, not bothering to dress.

"With my underwear I'll win a wife." Buddha announced to the other men. The men went on fishing silently. Buddha realized his mistake. He'd embarassed these poor men. They couldn't possibly compete.

After catching a fish, Buddha decided to go back to bed. He had no reason to prove himself fishing, for how could a lady resist a man such as himself?

"The cooking fires here get out of hand far too easily." Cupid comment to the other men.

The Witch Doctor left in silence. It is uncertain if it was due to all the fish he caught or Cupid's comment. No one mentioned it.

"A wise analysis Cupid." Old Joseph finally said. "It is no wonder the Lady Ebony wishes to have a husband adept at putting one out."

"I too am concerned." Allen said softly.

"Well, I've had all the fishing I can handle for a night. Good night wisemen." Cupid left with the courtesy of a nobleman. "And with this large fish, I too must retire. I leave the rest of the fish to you Allen."

"Good night Joseph." Allen continued fishing, not noticing the hour until the sun showed a hint of coming over the horizon. He caught more fish than any of the other men. He did this not to win Ebony, but to be certain she had plenty of food for her baby, regardless of who she chose to marry.

The men all slept late.

Lady Ebony examined the fish each man caught, doing her best to assess their skill. One man clearly fell short. She had a servant prepare a good meal, both to reward the men for their fishing and to soften the blow for the man she would send home. She imagined it would be difficult to tell him so.

Not having a large table, Ebony had the meal were served in separate huts. Old Joseph dined alone. Allen, Cupid and the Witch Doctor dined quietly together, perhaps due to fatigue, perhaps because they may be next to go home. Or perhaps it was due to the comment about tribal cooking fires that may or may not have offende the Witch Doctor.

"Lady Ebony, you are so honored to eat with me." Buddha announced confidently as he swaggered into the room. Ebony was not certain if he was joking.

Ebony nodded her head and focused on her food. Her baby made her quite hungry.

Before too long Buddha disrupted her meal in a way she found most disgusting.

Perhaps this would not be so hard afterall.

"Buddha, your fishing skills lack. For this you will not be my husband. Have a safe trip home."

After the meal Buddha followed Ebony out of the hut. Then he left, thinking of how he was simply too much man for the Lady Ebony.

Ebony tended to her orchard, not thinking of Buddha at all.

Chapter 57 Moore Love

Lord Scott Moore hurried inside to get a table while the coachman helped his wife step down. He knew how she hated to wait.

"Scott, will you play a game of chess with me after dinner?"

"Winner picks where our first child is conceived?"

Her silence told him how foolish he was to suggest it. "Very well My Lord." Lord Moore couldn't imagine a better wife. After the meal Agatha led the way to the chess board. Scott smiled. This would be fun.

They began the game in silence. He was proud of his wife for this silence. He knew she was concentrating on the game. He always did think his wife smarter than other women. He didn't think he would mind a bit if she won. But when she left her king open like that, he simply could not resist. "I do believe I've won, My Lady." He placed his winning piece unable to hide his delight. Agatha looked less than pleased. Scott was so delighted he barely noticed. He had also learned Agatha would be over herself faster if he pretended not to notice her annoyance. As they stepped outside she asked in an uncharacteristically timid voice, "Where are we going?"

He stopped and turned. Softly he took her hand in his.

"Somewhere private."

Scott led his wife to an empty stable with clean hay. She gasped a little as he took her into his arms. Scott stroked her hair and kissed her cheek. Then they danced, soft and slow. He kept her dancing late into the night, then led her to a clean pile of hay in the early morning.