In Exchange for Magic

"Oh my God..." I managed to wheeze. "Oh my God."

I was hiding behind a tapestry.

That's right. Not two seconds into the Palace and I was already hiding.

I didn't just hide there because I thought the view would be nice. Oh no, there was a reason. And the reason was a petite kitchen-main with raven black hair and a giggly disposition.

I'd gotten in through the kitchen okay, and I was just about to enter into the main hallway when I heard someone approaching. I peeked around the corner to see a slim fairy, humming tunelessly as she tied her apron strings around her neck. Her glittering wings shone pale and pink, and she tucked her long black hair up into a floppy hat.

My breath hammered in my throat and I ran back in to the kitchen, aiming to launch myself right out the door. But, in a split second decision that proved to be quite stupid, I reasoned that she was probably just passing through... And I hid.

I thought that she'd walk right by the kitchen. Or, at the most, stop in for a small snack before hurrying on her way. But no! It never works out quite that well.

Turns out, she works in the kitchen, and she wasn't on her break... She was just beginning her shift! And I'd picked the tapestry that was directly across the hall from the kitchen doorway. If she looked up, she'd see my feet poking out from the bottom of the woven picture of a group of Pixies terrorizing a very grumpy looking Elf.

It figures that this would happen to me.

So I had two options: 1. To make a run for it, or 2. To stay behind the musty tapestry until the girl left.

Neither seemed like much fun. With choice number one, I'd be risking getting seen and, thus, killed in a slow and painful manner. With choice number two, I'd most likely be standing behind the cloth for a few hours... And, quite frankly, it smelled a bit like an attic.

But, fortunately, being immersed in a smelly tapestry won't get you killed. I chose choice number two.

The first hour had come to an end, and the second was just beginning when I started to lose my focus. I began to contemplate escape...

And, just when I thought I couldn't take it any more, I was saved.

Well... Sort of.

I heard the kitchen door burst open. If I tilted my head at the right angle, I could see through the side of the tapestry and into the kitchen. And Ez was standing in the doorway.

I sucked in my breath.

He was stupid! He was so stupid! Why in the world would Ez try to get into the castle? He knows what's at stake! I could have groaned in frustration.

"Oh!" the black-haired girl cried in surprise. "What are you doing?"

Ez looked shocked. When I'd gone in, there hadn't been a kitchen-maid, and he sure as hell wasn't expecting one. Luckily, Ez is sharp. He thought up a good lie right on the spot.

"I... I want to take a tour of the Palace!" he proclaimed.

From the body language the girl was using, I could tell that she immediately took a liking to Ez. And why not? He can be charming when the need presents itself.

"Well, hon, you're going to have to go around to the front," she said, and batted her wings flirtatiously. "You can sign up for a tour at the main desk. I think the next one starts soon, but if you hurry-"
"No, no, no," Ez sighed. "I want to take a personal tour. You know... The special stuff that they won't show you on the company tours."
She laughed airily. "Well, that's too bad, isn't it? I'm not allowed to let you in."

I saw Ez step into the kitchen and close the door behind him.

"Well, that's too bad, isn't it?" he teased. "Because I'm already in, aren't I?"
She giggled. "I suppose you are... I'm Alana."
Ez bent at the waist and took Alana's hand in his.

"The name's Bond," he said suavely, kissing the fairy girl's fingertips. "James Bond."

I sighed. I really need to stop telling Ez about pop culture. It's going to his head.

"Well, James Bond," Alana cooed. "There is an admission fee to get into the Palace."
"And that would be?" Ez asked, but he already knew the answer.
"Can't you guess?"
"I think I can," he mumbled and gave a small chuckle. "You know, I had a dream about this..."
Alana reached up and lightly touched the pointed tips of Ez's ears.
"And your eyes are even bluer in person," Ez finished.

And then Alana reached out, grasped the neck of Ez's shirt, and kissed him firmly on the mouth. He dipped her at the waist and wound his fingers into her hair. Alana giggled and pushed him away.

"Be on your way, Mr. Bond," she told him. "And, uh... If anyone asks..."
"You didn't let me in," he agreed, winking at her.

I rolled my eyes.

As Ez walked by, I decided to play a little prank on him.

"Having fun?" I hissed.
He cried out and spun around, searching for the origin of the small voice. He turned to see if it had been Alana, but she was in the back, getting something out of the freezer.

I emerged from the tapestry and crossed my arms in front of my chest.

"Rose?" Ez asked in disbelief.
"The one and only."
"How did you... Why are you... Why aren't you in the Library?"
"Never mind that," I told him, waving it off with my hand. "Can you please explain to me what the hell just happened."
He chuckled. "Jealous?"
"No!" I snorted and rolled my eyes.
"Hey, it's not my fault that you fail to see that I'm a very charming guy!"
"And it's also not my fault that you go around kissing random girls every five seconds!"
"What?" Ez shouted, laughing. "That was one random girl... And it lasted longer than five seconds!"

I punched his shoulder and grabbed the sleeve of his elf shirt, dragging him down the hallway.

"I hope you know what kind of danger you've just brought upon yourself!" I scolded. "What were you thinking, coming into the Palace? I told you I had it covered!"
Ez shook my hand off of his sleeve. "I know... But I just got really worried. I was giving myself an ulcer out there! I figured it was better to die with you, than to sit out there all day, wondering how you were."
"You are such a loser."

He shrugged. "Well, at least with me here we're making some progress!"
"Hey! I made progress, too!"
"Yeah, you progressed inside the door. You also progressed three feet away, behind a tapestry. Then, you progressed approximately zero feet as you stayed behind said tapestry for an entire hour!"

I huffed. "Well... When the King walks in and sees you, don't ask me to read your will."
He chuckled and patted my cheek. "I like you, Rose Collins!"
I slapped his hand away. "Yeah, and you also liked Atlanta, or Albana, or whatever her name was in there!"
"Alana," he corrected.
I shot him a look.
"Don't worry," he encouraged playfully. "You're a much better kisser!"
I gasped and tugged hard on his ear.

"Ow!" he yelped. "Watch the elf-y appendages, will ya?"
"Sure, James Bond!" I teased. "Just as soon as you turn into Sean Connery!"
"Who?"
"Never mind."

Ez shook his head and, with the squabble behind us, we set out towards the direct center of the Palace... The almighty Library.