Part 32 In which others share Marlot’s interests

It took less than half the time on the broomstick than it had taken them to walk to the village. She usually tried not to travel so quickly, flying did require quite a bit of magic, especially when the witch was already under a great deal of stress and the faster one flew the more magic it took, not to mention Marlot wasn’t the only one on the broomstick.

As the village came into view Marlot heard someone scream, when she got closer some of them actually started throwing things at her. She increased her altitude until she was out of their range but didn’t slow down until she got to the general store where her and Jack had gone on their first visit. Jack jumped off the broom as soon as they were close to the ground while Marlot all but flew it through the store’s front door.

Samuel stood behind the counter wearing an expression that said, witches flew through his front door every day and that he was not going to be bothered by it. In front of him was a small pile of oddly colored beans. He smiled at the little witch and said, “Greetings Miss Marlot, welcome back. And Master Jack, how good to see you again so soon.”

“Please,” Marlot gasped, bending over almost double and leaned on the broomstick like a cane for support, “you haven’t sold any of that stuff Jack sold you yesterday have you?”

“As a matter of fact I haven’t. I was just examining these beans he brought to determine exactly what they are. Are you quite alright my dear?” concern was etched on his face under his smile.

“They are magic beans sir.” She gasped feeling faint. The flight and her nerves had taken a bigger toll than she had expected.

Jack wrapped an arm around her waist to support her then looked at Samuel, “You know, from the story of Jack and the bean stock.” Marlot glanced up at her golem, who looked as fresh as he had when they left the cabin, with the exception of his spiky green hair sticking up a bit more than usual.

Samuel brought a stool over from behind the counter and Jack steered her to it. “Please sit Miss Marlot, you look a little worse for wear, I might have just the thing to help with your hair, I take it you left in quite a hurry and forgot your hat.” He winked at her and made his way to the back of the shop.

Marlot now faced the door where a crowd of people had gathered watching her and looking frightened. One familiar face separated from the group and pushed her way into the general store. “Miss Marlot, Master Jack, what are you doing back here so soon, and where is your new dress.” The little seamstress broke away from the gathered mob and smiled at her friends.

“It’s in the bag Rosalie, but I’m afraid we might not be able to keep it.”

“Why ever not?” she asked looking put out.

Samuel came back at that moment pushing a cup of water into Marlot’s hand and a comb into the other. “Yours I believe.” He said with a smile.

Marlot squeaked and dropped both the cup and the comb which clattered to the shop floor, the contents of the cup soaking her robes. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make a mess, but that comb is poisonous.”

She looked up when she heard angry muttering coming from the mob still gathered around the doorway.

“I knew she was up to no good.”

“That which was always out to get us.”

“You think she poisoned it herself and sent her apprentice to deceive us?”

“She seems harmless.”

“Enough!” Samuel yelled over the voices, “I believe Miss Marlot had her reasons for coming here, and a reasonable explanation why her young friend sold me a poisoned comb. If you don’t mind I would like to hear her side of things instead of your gossiping.”

“I never meant any harm you know.” Marlot muttered to her lap, “I like fairy tales. I have actually seen some of them happen, or known people who have. So I started collecting the books, reading the different versions that people tell, and fantasizing about my own happy ever after.” She blushed, “Then I started to collect the objects from those stories, in this case, the wine cup from The Twelve Dancing Princesses, Sweetheart Roland’s seven-league boots and apron, an invisibility cloak and inexhaustible wine bottle from The Raven, the magic beans Jack used to grow a bean stalk, and finally the lace and comb used against Snow White by the evil Queen. All of these objects, and many more, have been hidden safely away in my cabin for many years, never used against anyone or at all since I have had them. Jack didn’t know what it was he had, please don’t blame him, it’s my fault they were in his room, and my fault he didn’t know what they were.” The store was silent as everyone strained to hear her, voice weak from exhaustion.

Samuel laid a hand on her shoulder but spoke to the crowd. “You see, she is harmless, and as I suspect, only trying to protect us. Master Jack did not know what it was he had, it was Miss Marlot, who it seems, risked herself to come here and warn us of the dangers we now face. It appears that most of these objects are quite useful if you know what they are and use them properly, if it is quite alright with you Miss Marlot, I shall like to keep them here in the shop, you never know when you may need to travel seven-leagues in a hurry and I’m sure our tavern could use an inexhaustible bottle of wine.”

“Did you say you had Snow White’s lace?”

Marlot looked up at Rosalie in wonder. “Y-yes.”

“It isn’t harmful is it?”

“Not on its own, it was the Queen’s attempt to make them too tight that made them dangerous, not the lace itself.”

“Wonderful! May I see it Master Samuel, I believe I have the perfect dress to use it with.”

Marlot watched as the villagers not only accepted her story, but actually seemed excited about the objects from the fairy stories they had grown up hearing about. They even asked Marlot about other objects, such as Cinderella’s slippers, the golden ball that had once belonged to a princess who had to kiss a frog, and the silver, gold, and diamond twigs from The Twelve Dancing Princesses. Other witches were interesting in the objects for their magical properties but they could care less about mundane objects the villagers were now asking about. It wasn’t long until Rosalie drug them away from the villagers and back to her little shop where she described what she was going to do with her new lace and insisted on helping Marlot put on her birthday present.

Part 19 In which things aren’t as bad as they seem

Marlot and Jack were lead to separate rooms for their baths, she had never been so happy to be clean, the towels and robes were far nicer than she had expected. On her way back to their room she almost ran into Jack, he was standing in the middle of the hall, the robe wrapped tightly around him but for some reason he was still dripping wet.

“Oh Jack, you look like you did when you came out of the cauldron.” Marlot pulled the towel off her head, allowing her damp black curly hair to fall down her back as she set to work drying off her golem’s face and hair. “Did you enjoy your bath?”

“It was like being in the cauldron again, very wet, but it was much more comfortable.”

They were laughing when one of the maids found them, “miss, there is someone here to see you, she is waiting for you in your room.”

Marlot adjusted the towel so it covered his hair and forehead and smiled at her giggling golem, “are we ready to face someone else today?” His brown eyes were shinning with delight.

“Miss, the girl says that she knows you.”

“Could it be Lilly, I told her we were coming here today?”

“She said she doesn’t like town, they aren’t very nice to her either,” Jack said grinning at the witch.

“Thank you,” Marlot said to the maid, who curtsied then hurried off down the hall.

“I wonder who that man was Lilly wanted the love potion for?” Marlot pushed open the door to their room to see not to see her friend but the girl from the tailor shop sitting on the bed looking very nervous, next to her was a pile of clothes.

“Miss Marlot, Master Jack, I b-brought you something.” She held up the stake of clothing, “it’s to say s-sorry for the way my brother acted, I wish he hadn’t b-been so cruel.”

Marlot stared in wonder at the clothes which included two full outfits for Jack. “These are beautiful, thank you so much. Oh Jack you will look so handsome in these.” the witch handed him an orange tunic and brown breaches, the linen undershirt was extremely well made and Marlot was sure it would withstand any kind of torture Jack could possibly put it through.

While the golem changed behind a screen in the room the girl scuffed her boot on the floor. “I brought s-something for you too Miss Marlot, I made them myself b-but I’m afraid they aren’t as nice as your robes.” Folded neatly on the bed were a white linen shift, a full black skirt, and a dark violet bodice. “I b-believe that the bodice will match your eyes, I th-thought your eyes were black at first but I n-noticed just a touch of violet while we were picking out Master Jack’s clothes and I instantly thought of th-this.”

“It’s beautiful,” Marlot whispered, her fingers tracing the simple embroidery on the hems, “I can’t accept this.”

“P-please Miss Marlot, we aren’t all li-like my brother, we lived in a different v-village when we were very young and his f-friend was kidnapped by their local witch, that is why he acted the way he did, it-it’s nothing against you personally.”

Marlot put her hands on the stuttering girl’s shoulders, “I’m sorry, that isn’t what I meant. These fabrics, and the clothing is just so beautiful, please let me pay you for them, I don’t blame you for anything that happened today and I don’t want you to get into trouble.”

“I want you to have them, and Master Jack too.” She beamed at the compliment, and her voice had a bit more confidence in it. Just then Jack walked out from behind the screen.

“I can’t figure out these laces Marlot.” His long fingers were tangled in the thick cord strung through the bottom holes of the tunic, and the V of the shirt’s neckline exposed part of his thin tanned chest.

“Well Jack, I know now that black is not your color dear, it just made you looked washed out. You are a handsome golem I must give you that.” The girl on the bed was blushing as Jack flashed his lopsided smile at her. He fidgeted the whole time while Marlot laced up the tunic which was just a little big on him. “There you go my little scarecrow, all set.”

“Thank you Marlot,” Jack strutted around the room, the robes had made him look pale but they had also hidden the fact that he was so thin, something not so easily disguised while wearing breaches and a tunic.

“Remind me to feed you more darling, you’re as thing as a twig.”

Jack giggled then sat on the bed next to their benefactor. Marlot heard him as he whisper a little to loudly in the girl’s ear “she forgets that I am a twig.” His new friend blushed even more if that was possible and giggled.

“Are you really?” the girl asked. Marlot was watching them in the full length mirror on the wall, the girls eyes were huge as she looked at Jack in surprise.

“Yep, and clay.” He grinned at her.

Marlot rolled her eyes then took her own new clothes behind the screen. The shift and skirt were easy enough to manage but the bodice tied on the sides and the back with a thick black ribbon. “L-let me help you with that.” The girl took the ribbons from Marlot and tightly laced her in. “There a perfect fit.” It was Marlot’s turn to blush now. It had been years since she had worn anything other than her robes and fashions had changed a lot in a hundred years. The girl fussed with the shift and skirt for a moment trying to get them to lie properly. Finally she was satisfied and admired her handy work with a grin. Marlot nervously stepped out from behind the screen.

“What do you think Jack.” She blushed, fidgeting in the well fitted clothing.

Jack’s lopsided smile was all for her now. “Marlot?!”

“Don’t sound so surprised, I can look nice too occasionally.”

“I think you should more often.”

Looking in the mirror she noticed that the rest of her face had turned as red as her broken nose while she attempted to do something with her curling black hair. She used a spell to dry it faster as she ran her fingers through it and another to hold the curls in place, it worked far better than pins that would pull and poke her all night but it wouldn’t last for nearly as long. “Will you join us for dinner miss…?”

“Rosalie. Thank you but no, I need to get home. I hope you like your new things and that you come back.” She smiled and curtsied, then shut the door behind her before Marlot or Jack could say thank you, or good bye.

“What a strange girl, but nice. I like her.”

“Me too Marlot, I feel so fancy.”

“You are fancy Jack.” She reached up, trying to do something with the green hair that fell into her golem’s beautiful brown eyes. “Shall we go then?”

Arm in arm the pair made their way down the stairs to the dining room where they were met by a rather unwelcome sight.

Part 16 In which being a witch can be dangerous

Jack carried the empty baskets, “Where are we going next Marlot?”

“I think the tailor would be best, that way we can get your clothes, then maybe some more books before we go home.”

“More fairy tales? Oh thank you Marlot!” He hugged her, with baskets and all right in the middle of the street, almost tripping them both.

“You’re welcome Jack, now let go.”

The laughed their way into the tailor’s shop, Jack struggling to get the baskets through the door to the small over packed shop and eventually Marlot suggested that he leave them outside.

“Can I help you?” A girl asked timidly from behind the counter.

Marlot laid the bag of silver coins on the counter, “I would like to buy some clothes for him, my…apprentice needs something to wear other than those robes,” she leaned forward as though telling the girl a secret, “he is kind of clumsy.” Marlot smiled at the girl, who seemed to lighten up a little and returned Marlot’s smile with a little one of her own.

“I’m sure we can find something. What exactly did you have in mind?”

The girl took Jack’s measurements and then led Marlot over to a table that held shirts, tunics, and breaches that might fit him.

“Marlot, Marlot, Marlot! Look at this!” the witch turned around to see Jack wearing a bonnet and she bent over with laughter.

“Jack, that is for girls, you can’t wear it.”

“But why not, it’s pretty.”

“Yes it is very pretty, but,” she pulled it off of his head “It covers up your equally pretty green hair.”

“I thought you didn’t like my hair.”

“Dear, there is precious little not to like about you, now come here, I want you to try something on.” She took his hand and started to lead him back over to the timid girl but her arm jerked when he didn’t move. “Jack, why aren’t you coming?” she had meant it when she had told him that he wasn’t her servant but he had never actually defied her before. Marlot turned around to see a very large man grasping Jack’s upper arm rather tightly and she heard her golem whimper slightly. “What is the meaning of this?” she glared at the man who was studying Jack very closely.

“I know you aren’t human witch, but what is this creature?”

“He is my apprentice sir, and I ask that you release him.”

“Green hair isn’t natural in these parts hag, what is he really.”

“Don’t talk to Marlot like that; she is too young to be a hag.”

“Thank you Jack, but stay out of this. Sir, all you need to know is that he is under my care and that I ask that you release him at once.”

“You made him didn’t you? Isn’t that illegal to create life?”

“Women have children every day sir; I don’t see anyone trying to take their children away.”

“So you admit, you created this creature. I have been watching both of you since you arrived. You on one hand have been acting as an unwanted witch should, but your pet here, he has been acting like he has never seen a village before, or a little girl’s bonnet.” The man held the offending garment in his other hand and looked at it in disgust.

“He didn’t have any brothers or sisters, and led a very sheltered life.”

“For what, the past few weeks. I know everyone who comes and goes through this general area, and I’m sure I would have heard of a green haired man.”

“What do you want with us?”

“I want you to be punished for your crimes.” Marlot was grabbed from behind by two men who must have been standing just outside the door. She knew better than to expose her back to danger, something every witch must learn, but Jack had made her feel so comfortable and safe, that even when faced with such a situation she hadn’t been as careful as she usually would.

“Let go of me!” Marlot and Jack were dragged out of the shop, her short legs barely touching the ground as the large men practically carried her outside. “Jack! Jack, get away from them, run!”

“Not now missy, be quite.” One of the men shook her roughly.

“Marlot, what is going on?” the golem asked from somewhere behind her.

“Jack, please,” Marlot felt the tears running down her checks before she even realized she was crying, “Run, get away from them and RUN!” Marlot was lifted off of her feet by the man from the tailor shop, his face inches from her own. She turned her head away to see Jack held from behind by a different man and one behind her was tying her hands together.

“You won’t get away this time little witch.”

“Please just let him go, he hasn’t done anything wrong!” Marlot struggled in the man’s arms but it did little good, she was like a twig in his giant hands. She heard Jack sobbing behind her.

Once her hands were tied she was sat back on her feet, she could just see Jack through her tears and they stared at each other like they would never see the other one again.