Thunderbolt of Laurels

Chapter 17- Stolen Shoes

My father let us use the royal horses to get back to the dwarves home. We ride mostly in silence, recollecting what just happened. I didn't even need to put up an argument, or a fight. . . Did that really happen?
"Did that really happen?" Merlin asks as if reading my thoughts.
"It did. . ."
He smiles widely. "You won't resent me because you were stripped of your royal status right?"
I shake my head. "Of course not. That's not what's important to me. I can still help my people in other ways. That's what's important to me, and of course you. I'd give up my title in a heartbeat and I'd do it again."
His smile stays plastered in his face. "Well I'd do the same, as cheesy as that sounds." I chuckle nervously. He picks it up. "What is it?"
"Something doesn't feel right."

As we reach our destination, Pino, Noki, Kio, Merlin and I put the horses in the stable where Chonkers is and head inside. When I open the door, the rest of the F7 are scrambling around in a hurry. "Woah woah! What's going on?" Merlin asks.
"Red Shoes. She was taken!" Arthur exclaims.
"Taken? By who?" I ask.
"A witch!"
"What?! Where did they go?"
"Um. . .we don't know," Hans says.
"You don't know? We have to find her!"
"I can do it," Merlin says.
"How?"
"Does anyone have anything of hers?"
"She dropped this handkerchief," Arthur says and hands it to Merlin.
"Why do you have this?" I ask.
"You know, momento."
"Okay everyone quiet down please, I need to concentrate," Merlin says.
 Merlin takes one of his cards and and conjures up his power. He aims the small bolt of lightning onto the handkerchief; the room illuminates blue. A bolt shoots out fast. "Open the door!" he yells. Jack opens the door and the bolt travels outside. "We have to follow that," he says out of breath.
"I didn't know you could do that," Jack says.
"I've only ever done it once. It takes a lot of energy. I wouldn't be able to to do it if I was still short and green, so thank Alaura for that," he teases. Everyone looks at me. I blow a kiss and head to a panting Merlin. 
"You okay mate?" Arthur asks.
He nods. "Go follow it. There are horses in the stable. I'll catch up." The six of them run out of the house. Jack looks back. "Are you coming Alaura?"
"Yeah I'm just going to stay with Merlin." He nods and then follows the rest. "Are you alright?"
"I'm okay." He takes a deep breath. "Okay, lets catch up."
"Are you sure? If that took a lot of your energy then stay here and rest a few more minutes."
"Okay."
I get up and get him a piece of cake that Hans left behind. "Here. Take this. It's energy." He smiles and takes it.
"Thank you." He eats it quickly and bolts back onto his feet. "Alright, I'm okay for real now." I get up and offer my hand. He takes it and gets up.
"Let's take Chonkers. We'll catch up to them with him."

"Alright Chonkers, lets see how fast you can go," Merlin says as he gets on him. I get up too. I still have my bow with me, it hasn't left my side since the attack. I have to be ready for anything now. Plus, Red's capturers probably won't go down without a fight.
I wrap my arms around Merlin and we take off, following the lightning streak. Chonkers hops fast which is pretty impressive for a wooden bunny.
We catch up to the boys on the horses. "That's King White's castle," Hans points out as we stop to observe where the blue bolt leads to.
"Why would Red be here?" I ask.
"Maybe she knows the family, after all she is a princess."
"Who isn't a princess in this island?" I say. We get off the horses, and Chonkers, and watch the bolt go over the gate walls. "I'm sure they'll forgive us if we break down the door." Merlin shrugs and gives the command to the dwarves to knock it down. All together, they charge at the gate which breaks off its hinges and falls. The lightning bolt ends right at the entrance. The rest is up to us.
"Let's go."
 We head in together, watching each others backs for anything out of the ordinary. The castle is empty. No servants, maids, butlers, guards or anything. No king, no princess. "Doesn't King White have a daughter as well?" Merlin asks.
"Yes, Snow White. She's the best. I met her once at a ball, I hope she's okay. Something is definitely off."
"I think we should split up. We'll cover more ground," Hans suggests. And we do. We head off in different directions. I head to the top floor of the castle, sneaking and tip toeing around. I find nothing, just rooms full of things, not people.
 
Murmurs. I hear something, people talking it sounds like. I follow the sound trying not to step on any creaky floor boards, finally reaching the room where the sound becomes the most clear. It's muffled but audible.
"What do we do then, I can't pry them off her!" a female voice exclaims.
"No, but if you give her this apple she'll turn into a tree and bear the shoes which you can take," a male voice says.
"I don't want to poison her, she'll die!" Die?
"It's the only way, Regina. Your power is getting weaker and you are not looking all that great right now. Just look at yourself." He starts laughs and the female grumbles.
"Fine. I'll be back." The sound of heels hitting the floor scurry away. "This is on you not me," she calls out. The foot steps get further and further away, no, closer. And closer. A hand grabs my shoulder.

I grab their wrist and throw them over me, sending them landing on their back. "Ouch, Alaura it's me," Merlin wheezes.
"Oh, I'm sorry! I heard voices and foot steps. You freaked me out!"
"I called your name a few times."
"Oh, I didn't hear you."
"I figured. So, you heard voices? What did they say?"
"They're going to give a poison apple to some girl for shoes. I'm thinking it's Red Shoes, but it could be Snow White. I'm not sure."
"Guess we're going to have to see for ourselves." He starts opening the door and I stop him.
"What about the others? We may not be able to do this alone!"
"They'll come. Trust me, they have a knack for knowing where the fight is. Come on." I sigh and follow him in.
"There was a male and a female. I only heard one pair of footsteps walk away, heels. So I think the guy is still—"
"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" the male voice echoes. I look around but see no figure.
"Where are you?" I ask.
"I'm right here."
"Where?"
"No, you're looking for the wrong thing. In the mirror." I look at the mirror attached to an overgrown tree.
"You're a mirror?"
"Strange," Merlin says.
"What? You've never seen a talking mirror before?"
"Uh, no."
"Oh. Well you've come for the girl in red shoes am I right? I'm afraid you're too late."
"You're going to turn her into a tree!"
"How did you know that?"
"I heard."
"Oh well, yes. And Regina will be the most beautiful woman in the land and Snow White will be no more."
"Snow White?" Merlin asks.
"She's in trouble too! We have to help them both. So where's Red Shoes?"
"Huh?" I load my bow with my arrow.
"Tell me where Red Shoes is, now!"
"I just did."
"No you didn't," Merlin counters.
"Yeah I did. Red Shoes is snow white."