Beauty and the Scarecrow

Chapter Nine: Days in the Sun

In another part of the forest, Henry was still trying to lead Jester and Oscar to the castle. But Henry couldn't remember which way he had gone the first time. Hearing the wolves howl in the distance, Henry was certain he was going the right way.

"No! I'm sure this is the way," Henry said, confident, "Do you hear those wolves? That means we're getting very close to the castle."

"Look, enough is enough," Jester said, really starting to believe that everything Henry has been saying was complete nonsense, "We have to turn back."

Henry stopped their wagon when he was sure they came across the tree which had been struck by lightning. But it had fixed itself somehow. Henry still believed that they were going the right way. Seeing that Henry might just be crazy, Oscar asked Jester if he really wanted to marry into Maddie's family. But, alas, Henry was trying to remember what happened the night he met the Scarecrow and tried to point them in the direction of where the castle may be. But Jester had enough by this point.

"I am done playing this game of yours," Jester said stepping off the wagon, "Where is Maddie?"

"The Scarecrow took her and she..."

"There are no such things as Scarecrows," Jester interrupted Henry, "Or talking teacups. Or magic! But there are wolves, frostbite, and starvation!"

Seeing that Jester was looking his cool, Oscar stood up, getting Jester to calm down. Jester took a deep breath and turned back to Henry with a smile.

"So, why don't we just turn around? Go back to Villeneuve," Jester suggested, "I'm sure Maddie is at home, cooking up a lovely dinner."

"If you think I've made all this up then why did you offer to help?"

"Because I want to marry your daughter!" Henry looked at Jester, surprised at his confession, "Now, let's go home."

"Maddie is not at home. She is with the..."

Jester took Henry by the collar, "You say Scarecrow one more time, I will feed you to the wolves!"

Oscar left the wagon, taking Jester off of Henry. Oscar got Jester to calm down, making him think back to the war with all the blood, explosions, and the widows. This calmed Jester down and he turned back to Henry.

"Henry! Please, forgive me, old bean," Jester apologised, "That's no way to talk to my future father-in-law, now, is it?"

"Future father-in-law?" Henry asked.

"Yeah!"

"You will never marry my daughter."

Enraged by this, Jester punched Henry, knocking him out. Oscar saw that coming from a mile away. Not wanting him to interfere further, Jester tied Henry up, placing him near a tree. Since Henry wouldn't give Jester his blessing to marry Maddie, he was leaving her father to the wolves, hoping that they would finish the job. With no father around, Maddie would only have Jester left to take care of her.

Oscar was starting to think that this whole plan of Jester's was a bit extreme, even asking if he would consider a much less gruesome alternative. But Jester just asked if he was coming back to the village with him. Oscar just joined Jester back onto the wagon, leaving Henry to the wolves. Meanwhile, back at the castle, Maddie was trying to treat Fiyero's wounds. But he wasn't taking it well. Just as Maddie dabbed a wet cloth onto one of his wounds, he yelled out in pain.

"That hurts!" Fiyero told her.

"If you held still, it wouldn't hurt as much," Maddie argued.

"Well, if you hadn't run away, none of this would have happened!"