Chapter 25 Dark Elf

Lady Sylvia had been most eager to join her husband to venture to other lands. She had looked hungrily at each port only to be denied. Sometimes her husband told her it was too dangerous for a lady, even a pirate's wife. Sometimes he told her the 2 of them had better things to do, and would sneak her away somewhere private. She knew he wanted to protect her. She wasn't sure if it was from bodily harm or the eager eyes of foreign men. She felt she had nothing to fear if he accompanied her, and little to fear if he didn't. What man would dare strike a lady? Now they are at a Magic Kingdom of all things. Sylvia resolved to not ask this time. She playfully announced to her dear pirate of a man that she would be venturing off the ship this afternoon - alone. Of course he had laughed, thinking it a good joke. She let that be. When she came up missing, he would know what she had done. Now she need not fear the ship leave without her. Lady Sylvia walked quickly, driven by curiosity. She wanted to see as much as she could before her husband found her missing and caught up with her. Escaping for the whole afternoon seemed too much to hope for. She didn't plan to stop at any one place. This bit of caution she hoped would appease her husband later. Sylvia was absorbed in her surroundings, her eyes taking in the trees and homes. She was therefore quite surprised when a man blocked her path.

What little the man wore had holes. His hair was a mess. And he was very dirty. "What be you needing from the likes of me?" He asked this question in such a way that Sylvia wasn't certain if he was being friendly or threatening.

Sylvia bubbled nervously, "I am Lady Sylvia of Grunwald. I am with a party from Grunwald. We came on a ship..."

The dark man just briefly had gazed past her. She was quite obviously alone.

Sylvia was just noticing the man had pointed ears when he suddenly drew closer, baring his teeth like a wild thing. "And I am a dark elf. Most call me the Goblin, but that is not my name." He did not offer his name and Sylvia did not ask it.

He lunged at Sylvia, stopping just short of touching her. "I am most pleased to meet you," he sneered. "You are a pretty young thing aren't you? Pity."

He raised both his arms. To hold her or strike her she knew not which.

Sylvia gasped. She turned away as she took a step back. The dark elf laughed. Sylvia didn't know what to do. Her husband had been right. She wished now she had listened to him. She wished she was safe aboard the ship. She wished he was with her right now. A somewhat gruff voice spoke from behind her. "Goblin! It smells like the fish is done." The Goblin finished his laugh then turned as if he had planned to. He went over a bridge, presumably to his fish. The man's voice gentled then.

"I see you have met the dark elf. I trust you came out unscathed?" Lady Sylvia turned toward an unusual man. It wasn't just that his clothes were different. His skin is paler than Sylvia's white skin, and his hair of deepest black. It was a striking combination.

"Yes...thank you." Sylvia remembered her manners and politely introduced herself.

"I am Lord Smeagol Dwarf."

Sylvia found this a bit odd. It wasn't just that she had thought dwarves were only stories. It was also that she had thought dwarves were small little men. She would later compare notes with her friend the Gypsy Queen, who would tell her the White dwarves are also not short, but they are not pale as Smeagol is.

As a small thank you, Lady Sylvia taught Lord Smeagol her husband's pirate game. As she brought out the little leather ball and explained how to play her nerves steadied. She quite forgot herself, playing into the early evening before saying her goodbyes.

Sylvia had a feeling she had something to do with her husband's influence when it was announced they were headed for home. Sylvia knew she ought to feel bad. Instead she only felt relieved.

Chapter 24 Snow White

The old gypsy woman had not yet had her fill of this Magic Kingdom. The following day she happened upon a cottage. A strikingly beautiful woman welcomed her. "Welcome Good Woman. I am the Lady Snow White." Her voice fell upon the woman as softly as the snow she was named for.

"I am a Gypsy Queen out wandering."

"You are very welcome here. Please stay as long as you please. Please excuse me for not introducing you to the 7 kindly dwarves. I must get back to my work. You're sure to run into some of them. Their names are Grouchy, Active, Sloppy, Playful, Serious, Lazy and Outgoing."
"Aren't you too fine a lady to be working?"
Snow White chuckled softly, but not unkindly.

"Someone must look after the dear old men!" With that she wandered off to do her chores.

The old gypsy woman spent a good part of the day fishing. For company she had one of the dwarves who said very litte. She guessed he was Grouchy. In addition another guest joined them. An unusual woman by the name of Ehwah. Ehwah wears very little clothing, has a long tail and is a vibrant blue.

Late in the evening Snow White blackened some of the fish the dwarves caught and served it up for supper. She called dwarf and guest alike to join her as they wished.

The old gypsy surveyed the scene. She wasn't sure what was most beautiful in the moonlight: the garden, Snow White in her evening dress, or the 7 old men.

Chapter 23 The Legend Completes

Queen Gypsy volunteered to visit the next kingdom. After the Wild Kingdom, the men were secretly glad to not venture out. The old gypsy had a feeling deep in her bones about this place. Now that she arrived she wasn't so sure.

The house before her is large, pink and beautiful...but also ordinary. The gypsy stood puzzling over the mystery. She had that feeling on the ship, she had never been wrong about that feeling before...

"Welcome Madam."

Her feeling had been right afterall. Before this beautiful creature she felt like a giddy young girl.

"I am honored to meet you." She shook his hand, then surprised herself by softly sighing, "an angel..."

"I am quited alive m'lady. I am Cupid." "That's even better! I am Queen of the Gypsies of the Kingdom of Grunwald."

"Did you leave your kingdom in search of Cupid?" "Good King Lovejoy left in search of other kingdoms to see how the world fared from the Plague." "King Lovejoy? I'd love to meet a royal family with such a name. Has he any princesses?" "Not yet. We haven't found any children in any of the kingdoms. We haven't found illness either. Children will likely follow soon." "A few families have chilren here in the Magic Kingdom." "I had a feeling about this place. Does this mean the legend comes true?" "Aged Queen meet winged man? Are you sure you qualify?"

A giggle escaped the queen.

"Should we tell them?"

"M'lady, do you not know the rest of the legend?"

"The first part is about a man freeing up the orient, which has already occurred during our trip. The other part is more interesting. As it has passed to me, it goes as follows: An aged queen will meet a winged man and the world will change forever. Does this mean you will sweep me off my feet?"

The old gypsy woman spoke the last sentence with flirtation, but not with expectation. In her wisdom she knew better than to think the legend would be so small.

Cupid smiled wickedly and shook his finger at her, but answered seriously.

"The way the world changes is that time changes. In some ways it passes more quickly. It takes even a child an hour or less to travel between kingdoms. It seems ordinary to everyone, going unnoticed. Those who know the legend forget it. It is not reversible."

"Have we brought doom upon the people?"

"Let us hope we have brought peace."

"I think the plague brought peace."

"It will not be doom to the people. It will seem as if it always was."

"Cupid, is time not as it always was?"

"Of course it is."

For already they had begun to forget that time had ever been different.

Chapter 22 Where the Wild Things Are

The Grunwald party traveled on using the directions of Pirate Jack Roberts. He explained that there may be another kingdom according to a legend the tribal people told him.
Allen the Wise Man was sent to greet the king, if there is one. From the ship it looked mainly jungle and forest. Allen wandered through wood and jungle. When he came across the genie, he thought it likely he had arrived.

"Genie, have you seen any people? A castle perhaps?

"This is where the wild things are. The king and queen live here. Look more closely. The castle is a treehouse."
Allen turned to view the treehouse, but saw little more than the steps. For how could eyes possibly seek out buildings with the sight before him?
"I am King Louie Swinger, king of the wild things."

It talked! The monkey...monkey as big as a man...stared him in the face and spoke...
He noticed the genie in the background. The genie seemed to find the scene rather ordinary. This kept Allen from panic.
"Good day Your Majesty," Allen managed to get out before hurrying away.

Lord Robert Locksley followed the path Allen the Wise Man had just come from. The old man was babbling about seeing the blue genie, again, and then a man sized monkey that spoke to him.

Poor old man. He must not have had enough water on this trip. Maybe the kind old man had been giving away his share of food. Perhaps the heat is getting to him.

Then Lord Robert stopped in his tracks. It's true. It's all true. Sky blue genie and giant monkey man....

Chapter 21 How to Eat a Banana

King Lovejoy's seasickness had subsided just enough for him to venture onto land. What he wanted to know, is how can a seasick man not have his land legs? He was not at his best when he came across a native man. "I am Rohan. You don't look well-"

"Is that the way you address a king in this land? Have you no respect? I am King of Grunwald."

Rohan was taken clearly taken aback.

"Forgive me. I only wished to offer you this banana. I thought you were sick." "I am sorry. I am not feeling well. What is a banana? Is that a medicine?"

"It is a food. Bananas are good not only for food, but for after stomache illness." Rohan handed the king a banana.

"There is a banana tree behind you."

King Lovejoy looked at the peculiar tree behind him. Then he raised the long yellow food to his lips.

"No! It needs to be peeled. Let me demonstrate." Rohan took the banana back and opened it. "I don't eat the seed at the bottom either."

"This is quite good. It's the first thing I've eaten on this voyage that hasn't made me feel ill....but I have been feeling better today."

"Bananas are good to eat when you're feeling a little better. Would you like some seeds to take with you to your country?"

"I think this trip is well worth being seasick if it means bringing bananas to my country; thank you."

Wanting to have peace with this king, Rohan promised not only to gather banana seeds, but also plenty of seeds from any food bearing plants the king lacked. The tribe had more than they could use. He hoped they could spare enough for the king to share the seeds throughout his kingdom.

Chapter 20 The Pirate Meets a Brute

Pirate Jack had so far been rather bored with the "adventure". At last they had arrived somewhere interesting!

Pirate Jack came upon a hut type dwelling that looked promising.

He was soon greeted by a native by the name of Rip Brute. "Rip Brute, I am Pirate Jack Roberts. What do you do around here for fun?"

"Come. We will play at hunting darts."

It wasn't long before other members of the tribe stopped by, likely to see this foreign man. Gubon Bushman, a very dark skinned man, was fascinated with Pirate Jack's skin. He listened eagerly about the Kingdom of Grunwald, with inhabitants as pale as the pirate's. Pirate Jack settled down to an evening meal with 3 of the tribemen: Brute, Bushman, and a man by the name of Brawn Hunter. "I am with a party from the Kingdom of Grunwald. Our good King Lovejoy wishes us to seek out people. It seems many have perished during the Plague. It seems that those in Europe that could, traveled to Grunwald to live...perhaps everyone...perhaps there are some to sickly who shall die."

The men listened quietly as the pirate went on.

"We have found 2 kingdoms of people in the desert and a hidden kingdom of people in the orient." He looked at the tribal men expectantly.

"Now that we are here, many think this is all the people of the world." The other men shifted their gazes to their food.

"I think if anyone would know of another kingdom, if there are anymore. It would be the men before me." The men grew more quiet. Jack Roberts placed his silence as wisely as he had placed his words. Finally Brute addressed Hunter.

"The legend of pale people of the water house tribe is true. This man he comes with people on a house on the water. He has seen many other people. The other legend may be true as well."

"Perhaps we should tell him where." Pirate Jack listened eagerly as the tribal men told him where the wild things are.

Chapter 19 Bones and Feathers

The travelers arrived at yet another kingdom. Allen the Wiseman was sent out to greet the leader, be he King, Sultan, Emperor or Pharoh. He was pondering this amazing journey. He certainly hadn't expected to meet a genie couple. The different cultures he had encountered would be amazing enough.

Perhaps if Allen hadn't been focusing inward he would have noticed the Genie sooner.

He awaited before the same "castle" Allen had been approaching.
This kingdom is very different than the others. He saw many huts. Even this "castle" is a series of huts. Perhaps these materials are easier to come by than stone. Or are these people so primitive they don't know how to build with stone?

Clearly the people are different as well. The man before the Genie wears hardly any clothing. He must be a peasant, too poor to afford better.

Allen was most relieved he had kept his thoughts to himself when the man introduced himself as Chief Fossa. Allen gathered this is another king. He called his people a tribe. Allen was uncertain if this was simply the word to use in this kingdom, or if these people are very primitive indeed.
While at first he observed the mans lack of clothing, he now observed what he did wear. He is adorned with bones, shells, jewelry, and a large hat with horns. His face is also painted in a complicated way.

Another member of Chief Fossa's tribe approaches. Allen observes this woman dresses in cloth and feathers.

The woman introduced herself as Queen Tikki.
While the woman was not dressed in silk, gold, or fine jewels, she did look finely dressed in her flowers, shells and feathers.

It turns out the Chief had a few other visitors.
"You must be from the Orient. I met your Emperor there. I am Allen, one of the wisemen of the Kingdom of Grunwald." "I am Confucius. You are Allen, that reopened our kingdom to the world."

"I simply walked in. Could not any other man do the same?"

"No, it had to be you."

"I am no great man."

"The great man is he who has not lost his child's heart." "I am not a perfect man. I try to act wisely, but I do not always succeed." Allen was thinking of the viking's wife. He still wondered if he had hurt her feelings.

“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”

"And does this apply to the ladies?"

"Knowledge is not knowledge until it's applied."