Little Red Cinderella and the Three Beanstalks

CHAPTER 25

Previously...

"It gets pretty cold at night, but morning is already on it's way, so it shouldn't be too bad. I'll see you in the morning." Hans said, and without waiting for a reply, he left the room, shutting the door behind him.

Jack, Ezu, and I stood in the middle of the room, all looking at one another.

"Well, I guess it's pretty obvious that Rikki gets the bed." Jack said, glancing at Ezu.

"Of course," Ezu replied, matter of factly. I shrugged. I didn't have enough energy to argue with their sexist opinions. And besides, that bed did look awfully comfortable after a long day trekking through the forest...

I walked over to the bed and crawled in, pulling the itchy wool blanket up to my chin. I watched with mild, sleepy amusement as Ezu and Jack argued over their own sleeping arrangement, before my eyes blinked shut for a final time, and I didn't open them again until the next morning.
*********************************************************************************

I was hovering in a stage halfway between sleep and consciousness, vague images of small mammals that were trying to be full fledged dreams running around my head, when a sudden, horrible noise shook me from my daze.

I shot up in bed, immediately getting tangled up in my blanket. I looked wildly around trying to find whatever giant, evil monster had snuck into my room and started giving birth. I few seconds of panicked searching proved what I would have realized had I not been suffering from a mild heart attack. There was no monster giving birth, and the horribly frightening sound had come from none others than one of the boys, as horrible noises usually do.

I heaved a sigh of relief, only mildly annoyed their snores had woken me up so early. And it certainly was early. The sunlight streaming through the little window above me was pale and weak, and didn't reach farther than the bed. I guessed it was around 6ish. I yawned, and swung my legs out of bed, and stood up.

And nearly tripped over Jack and Ezu's sprawling bodies. I shook my head with shame. I almost remembered something about them fighting over the single blanket last night before I fell asleep.

Apparently they had made a compromise.

Jack and Ezu were cuddled up to each other, limbs twisted in disarray, mouths open, snoring faintly. It truly was a sight to behold.

I threw their bags at their heads.

'Oi, lovebirds! Wake up!" I called, prodding them with my foot for good measure.

Ezu grunted and rolled over, covering his face with his arm. Jack failed to respond at all.

"Come on! You guys woke me up, it's only fair I return the favor. We have to get going." I told them, rummaging threw my own bag. I pulled out a clean shirt and a strip of ribbon.

"For Heaven's sake, don't you have an off switch?" Ezu groaned, sitting up and blinking groggily in the early light. I threw him a dirty look as I struggled out of my filthy shirt, and pulled the clean one over my head.

"Or how about one that didn't clash with ours?" Jack's muffled voice added from the depth of his pillow. "The minute the sun goes down, you're out like a light, but when good, decent folk are still fast asleep, you decide it's about high time we get to work."

"I thought farmers had to wake up before the sun even comes up so they aren't slaving in the hot sun all day?" I pointed out, tying up my hair with the ribbon and shoving the rest of my stuff back into my bag.

"Do we look like farmers to you?" Ezu demanded, throwing his pillow at me. I caught it and threw it back. Unfortunately he avoided it easily, even half asleep.

"No. But you DO look like a couple of whiny teenage girls. Now get up, we have a princess to save." I stopped over them and pulled their blanket away, tossing it onto the bed I had slept in. Jack and Ezu groaned simultaneously.

"Rikki, you're a witch." Ezu snapped, snatching his bag and pulling out a change of clothes of his own.

"Think of all the favors we can have free of charge if we save a princess!" I reminded them. "Heck, we'll probably be knighted or something!"

"Knighted. Right." Ezu scoffed, pulling on a clean shirt. He rummaged around in his back until he pulled out a large, balled up handkerchief. He unwrapped it, revealing it's contents to be a half a loaf of bread and a few apples. He tore off a piece of the bread and grabbed an apple and tossed them at me, and passed a second share to Jack.

I took a bite of the bread and grimaced. It was stale, but better than nothing. I chewed in silence, sitting on the bed and watching Jack and Ezu pack up. That is, until Ezu decided to do what he does the best-- make my life very uncomfortable.

"...I had the most bizarre dream." He said slowly, staring down at the stray boot he had been about to put into his bag. "I can't quite remember... it seemed more like a memory than a dream..." He trailed off pensively. I gave up on the bread and took a bite of the apple.

"Can't you remember anything about it?" I asked through a mouthful of apple juices.

"I... I don't know. But it was weird. I think I was walking through the forest, only I wasn't really walking. I was gliding or something. Or... was I being carried?" Ezu glanced up at the ceiling, trying to focus. "But anyways, someone was talking. I don't know what they were saying, it was too... muffled. And then, I saw you, Rikki."

"Me?" I said, only mildly interested as I tried to eat around the squishy part of my apple.

"Yeah. The light was hitting you at a weird angle... you didn't even really look like you. And then..." Ezu's frown deepened. "And then I think we kissed."

I choked on my apple.

Violently.

My eyes filled up with water and I hacked and gagged until Jack leaped up and smacked my square in my back, and the little bite of apple I had taken flew out of my throat and landed halfway across the room. As I gasped for air and tears streamed down my face, my brain was working overtime.

A memory, he said it was like. In the forest... being carried... the light hitting me at just just an angle...

He remembered. He remembered the time in the forest when he got sick, and, while delirious, planted a wet one right on my lips. He freaking REMEMBERED. What was I going to do? That was awkward enough the first time, when he was barely conscious!

"Lord Rikki, you don't need to freak out like that." Ezu said giving me a funny look. "It was just a dream. I didn't tell you, but I've also have had a dream where I killed you and fed you to wolves. Just a silly dream. You don't need to get so worked up."

I nodded, still unable to being myself to talk, though I was getting in control of my lungs again. Just a dream. He thought it was just a dream. I could play this off. He never needed to know about that moment in the woods.

"Wait what?" I suddenly exclaimed, realizing what he had just said. "You dreamed you killed me and fed my body to wolves?" I demanded.

"Oh, yeah. Though I can't say you didn't have it coming." Ezu replied with a shrug as he stood up, slinging his bag over his shoulder. Now come on. I want to catch Hans before we leave to thank him properly." Ezu strode out the door into the living room, beckoning Jack and I to follow.

I watched him disappear as I caught the last of my breath, more than a little confused. Ezu didn't seem at all perturbed that be had both dreamed of kissing me AND killing me, on two separate occasions. Apparently he didn't put much stock into the nighttime wanderings of his consciousness-- though I certainly wasn't complaining. I just hoped he didn't turn out to be a prophet or oracle or something and we missed a vital clue because Ezu didn't care about his dreams.

But I suppose it was too late to be worried about that. I sighed resignedly and followed Ezu into the living room, Jack close on my heels.

Ezu was speaking with Hans when we entered. Hans apparently WAS a farmer (or something along those lines anyways), because he was already awake, dressed, and covered in dirt.

"And thanks again, Hans. I know it was last second, but we really appreciate it." Ezu was saying. Hans shook his hand and sighed resignedly.

"And you're sure you'll be fine? King Francis's kingdom isn't far, but the road is perilous. You don't know what could be lurking in the woods." Hans warned solemnly.

"I'm sure we'll be fine. We've had some experience with dealing with the woods, and anything she throws at us. Thanks, old pal. I owe you one." Ezu said. Hans gave him a crooked smile.

"Me and everyone else. Good luck, friend. And watch your backs." Hans advised. Ezu gave him one last clap on the back, and turned to join Jack and I, who were standing at the front door.

"Hans knows where the kingdom is. At least, we're pretty sure it's the right kingdom. It won't take too long to get there, but like Hans said, it isn't going to be easy." Ezu informed us as he neared. "We'd better get going now, and not waste any time. The later in the day it gets, the more dangerous the forest becomes." Ezu turned around to face Hans a final time, his hand on the door handle.

"So long, Hans. I hope I see you again soon."

"Good bye, Ezu, and friends," Hans said with a wave. Ezu opened the front door, and we were out, taking the first step on what I was sure was going to be a very long, very insane, adventure.