Times of Glory 11: Bonded Hearts and Their Red Queen

Times of Glory 11: Bonded Hearts and Their Red Queen

11. Bonded Hearts and their Red Queen

Fire will rampage about through the land

Go quickly now, our dear pied Piper Pan!

Speak to the Queen on this solemn beseech

Perhaps she will give a slight ear to your speech

The Piper and the Queen

Queen, oh Queen! Great Queen Glory, be kind!

For I’ve an anxiety upon my mind!

Allow me, I prithee, to care for the young!

And take them away 'fore catastrophe come!

Queen Glory agreed quick enough to be odd:

"Go get the children who still live in Near.

But for this small errand, do something for me:

When you bring them back, you’ll leave six of them here."

Piper scowled. "I need to know – what will you do?

Shall you now steal their young and sacred hearts too!?"

Glory grinned. "No, just some experiments.

And my specialty is to make enhancements.

So if you choose wisely, how grand they could be!

Should all turn out nicely – just trust them to me.

And to sweeten your cute little deal – I won't tax.

Just live in Chesmoor Meadow – Drink Tea, play, relax."

Piper was wary

But he would agree –

And so to the Kingdom of Nearby went he.

He called to the children

A tune with his flute

"Come, little children!" Toot-tootle-toot!

The Six from Near

Piper asked the children: “Who would like to be enhanced?”

Six were quite easy to find who'd jump upon the chance.

Leave six children here for me – we have made our accord

Come now, children, let me see… Ha! Now, I won't be bored!

I will have Timmy and Tommy and Johnny

And I will have those three behind them

So tell me now, children, if you could be better,

What potions you'd like, and I'll find them

Potion one is for the boy who wants to be a Sparrow

He will flit and he will fly and he will shoot an arrow

Potion two is for the girl whose grace becomes a Dove

She will live a life of light and she will fall in love

Potion three is for the child who will be a Lark

Documenting anything, recording like a clerk

Potion four is for the high-nosed boy who’s like a fool

He is strong and he is dull and he becomes a Bull

Potion five is for the child who won’t work a day

Somehow he’s become a Dog that only likes to play

But Potion six…

What shall I mix…?

Timmy, Little Timmy – Why is one leg so small?

It is hard of growing, but one day I will be tall!

Timmy, Little Timmy – How you hobble to and fro…

Shut your mouth! Just wait and see how strongly I will grow!

And would you like to become strong?

But how I like you cute…

I know! You’ll gain strength and

You’ll be adorable, to boot!

Now Timmy is the strongest child; Glory finds it funny

He shall never be called "weak;" the Queen's cute little Bunny

The Seven of Chesmoor Meadow

Children of Chesmoor Meadow

Will laugh and play their games

War and peace, gem and fleece

They treat them all the same

Six of them like siblings

Often beckoned by the Queen

But in the night, they all take flight

To a cabin yet unseen

Robin! Counted in our ranks!

The Crescent Moon is setting pranks!

And Dove has finally left her door –

So come and play with us once more!

Dove, you say? Well what a day!

Alright, alright. I’ll come and play.

Dopey

Robin loved the children so

Playing in Chesmoor Meadow

Sometimes he’d see Polly there

And have to tell them to play fair

Lest with Polly they’d not share

Polly, go away and mope!

We all think that you're a dope!

Go back to your mommy's side

Or did you come to boost your pride?

Happy

If Timmy wasn't on an errand

He would reprimand the children

But if Robin wasn't there

They would still pull Polly's hair

Timmy, such an errand boy!

You are just the Red Queen's toy!

Happy grin upon your face

Just ‘cause she gave you a place!

Robin Reflects

Robin had been hearing this, of late

Oh, what a turn in Golden Glory's fate…

For where there once was "Gold," now the people said:

"It seems the 'Glory' of our Queen is Red!"

Oh my sister, 'Blood-Red Queen'

How long, now then, has it been…?

Ever since our brother died,

Hatred hasn't left your side.

… if only I could save her soul,

but she refuses to be whole…

Sleepy and Doc

In between his contemplations

Robin loved to wander

When he chanced upon the Dog

He had to stop and ponder

"Johnny? What are you doing here?

Were you not to gather wood?"

The Dog replied, "The day's so clear~

I wouldn't do it if I could."

Robin frowned. "It's almost dark.

And what will you tell the Lark?"

Johnny gave a sigh and yawned.

"Guess I'll slumber here 'til dawn."

Sneezy

"Sparrow! Sparrow! Come with me."

"Robin? Yes! I'll come with thee!"

"Let us go and hunt some game

To see how great your shot became"

"My shot is great, as is my aim!

A mighty hunter I shall be!

Because I go a-huntin' game

With Robin here to teach me!

Too bad I don’t do well with trees –

Sometimes I miss because I sneeze…"

Bashful

"Dove, dear Dove, soft-spoken one…

Will you fetch the shots we’ve done?"

"Yes, for Robin, of course I do not mind

For who is like Robin, so gentle and kind!"

Grumpy

"Hey Dog, wake up," said Tommy. "The Queen has called for you.

Johnny sighed, "Whatever, Bull. There's something I must do."

"And you'll defy the Queen to do it?"

"If I must, I do not care.

"What is it that you need to do?

"I keep hearing a voice somewhere…

A woman, calling for her sheep."

"… You sure that you aren't still asleep?"

The Children and the Cheshire Cat

If all she does is joke and play, the Cheshire Cat will be

A very wild child to you and funnest friend to me!

Tommy went back to the cabin

Where he saw the kids and Robin

Sitting with the Cheshire Cat

All stitching her a White-Rose hat

But Tommy did not like her grin

To tear the hat, he marched right in

"Bully, get away from that!"

"But it's making fun of me!

Just look at the grin on this Cat!"

"Whatever, Bull! You hate everything."

Cheshire Cat, Cheshire Cat, playing your pranks

Bringing your caretakers trouble for thanks

Yet they are but children, and you entertain

So they do not mind it if you are a bit insane

And of course you’re happy to get shelter from the rain.

Graceful Robin

Robin had been banished to leave from his sister's side

Even yet, kind Robin loved her still.

Glory sent assassins, as his life she’d not abide–

And now our dearest Robin is their kill.

But Robin won’t be cast aside, because he is the people’s pride.

Robin was hidden by those in the towns

For all had agreed on his grace

And each child loved to go playing with him,

And all the ladies loved his face

So who can kill Robin, a friend to the masses,

Who hides himself well from impending assassins

And who would kill Robin, the love of the people

Who fights the good fight and then prays at the steeple

Determined Jill

When the Cat fell down a hole, and out a well she came

She was saved then by a Rat who bound her by her name

Now he holds her with his sword, until she swear upon her word

That she does owe the Rat her life!

… but strong will won’t be tamed.

"Cat!? You! You are the one!" said Thief. "Who stole my life!

And yet here now I saved you from that Jaberwocky's claws!”

"Why,” said Jill, “do you believe I’ve done this thing to you?"

"You’re the Cat of the late Queen – I'm certain this is true!

And now I'm hunted, every day, to dodge his wretched jaws!

You helped the Queen to make this thing that causes me such strife!"

Jill eyed the Rat, her glare stone cold

"Yea even if that sword you hold,

I will not help you rid of it

For by your hands it's in a fit.

Now. What is it you did to Lucy Snow!?"

"Surely," lied the Thief, "I do not know."

Vengeance Desired

Yet without the Red Queen's Mirror, Jill would not escape from here

And so she stayed there with the Rat, until a night had passed

Awoken by a hissing mew, sword knew what Thief wished to do

Up in the trees, a Cheshire Cat… And Thief would slay her fast.

His eyes flared hot, his rage it burned. "I’ll kill her here and now!"

But Jill beheld the broken girl, and realized who she was.

"What has happened! Lucy Snow – it's you! It is you! This I know!"

But the Cresent Moon Cat grinned, and merely cleaned her paws.

Then cast a jeer to Hunter Thief

Or at least this was his belief.

As Thief drew near to Cheshire Cat

The Jaberwock, with eyes of flame

Came whiffling through the tulgy wood

And burbled as it came!

One Two! One Two! And through and through!

His vorpal sword went snickersnack!

Severed its head, and left it dead

Then quickly he turned back-!

But the Crescent-grinning child

Had run off into the wild

Jill’s Wrath!

Jill's anger rose inside her

She pinned him to a tree!

"Tell me, Thief! What did you do

To Snow that That was she!?"

Thief took his vorpal sword in hand

And brought it to her neck

"I may choose to run you through -

Best keep yourself in check.

The only reason you're alive

Is that I'd like your power

To lift this curse upon me, but

I could rid of you this hour.

For there are others, I am sure

Who, for this curse, would have a cure."

Jill released him from her grip, but not so from her hate –

She would hear his tale and know why Snow met such a fate.

He told to her his story. Though he tried to fault the Flame,

She knew 'twas him who did the deed, and he the one to blame.

"You will not escape this creature -

Not until her death,

Or you return the heart you stole, while leaving her with breath.

But I should kill you where you stand-"

Said Thief, "Try it, if you can."

Then from the woods came Piper Pan

Who said, "That also was my plan -

To fell the brother who lied to me, and sought to murder Snow -

But I still wish to let him live, even his life, so low…

You, Cat, say he'll be set free, if we give back her heart?

He was my brother… i recall… I’d rather we not part."

Jill eyed the young Piper, in his checkered clothes -

"For you, I will help him. For you... and for Snow."

A Plan in the Cabin

Children of Chesmoor Meadow

Will laugh and play their games

War and peace, gems and fleece

They treat them all the same

Six of them are different

Often beckoned by the Queen

But in the night, they all take flight

To a cabin yet unseen

Jill followed Piper away to the cabin

Hid from the Queen's searching eyes

Piper informed her that most of the children

Would return home later that night.

But for now, they could talk, and could structure their plans

Thief was sat by the table where they both tied his hands.

Jill turned to the Rat. "So? Give back her heart!"

Thief said to the Cat, "Well… That isn't my art.

Where I excel is to steal the hearts out."

"Then," said the Piper, "go do just that, you lout.

Steal the heart back from the Queen's treasure chest

Then hand it to us and we will do the rest."

The Children and Robin Return

Children of Chesmoor Meadow

They found a Cheshire Cat

They made for her a White Rose Hat

And loved her very dear

She is a rather oddly fellow

Cunning as can be

Yet living very solemnly

Distant even when here.

The children returned to the cabin that night

Along with the Robin, which wasn’t so rare.

He'd promised young Timmy to stitch up his sleeve

And the small quiet Dove that he'd fix up her hair.

"Robin!" said Jill. "Oh! Is that really you?

We’re meeting again at long last!"

Robin beamed brightly upon her sight

And soon they both happily laughed.

"It is so nice to see you. And healthy," said Robin

Jill nodded, "And likewise to you!"

Then she glanced to the Thief, who was grumbling something,

"Well," she said, "but is it true...

that Queen Glory is now after you?"

Robin, sitting in a chair – to fix the sweet Dove's silky hair -

Nodded at Jill's solemn words. "But I am still her brother…

I’m searching yet to find a way… to restore light into her Day -

To lift the curse that hate has brought, so we can find each other.”

Jill smiled soft, "Then may it be. Though I do not love Glory,

I will pray your fortune well, upon the turning of the Bell.

But Robin, we shall very soon...

Take back the heart of Cresent Moon."

A Bit of Fun

Distant, Robin sighed. "… My sister…"

And Jill saw how much he missed her.

So she looked for a distraction

For his mind to find attraction.

"Timmy!" she said happily. “How strong you have become!"

Timmy grinned. "About that day before – I'd had to run.

I've been working for the Queen, and was already late..."

"It's fine," said Jill. "Don’t mind it. And besides, your help was great.

And your strength is frightening, but wouldn't it be int'resting

To put your arm-strength to the test, and see if that Rat you can best?"

Thief would not back from a challenge by a smallish boy

And so he got caught up within the Cat's delightful ploy

The children cheered for Timmy, and Robin laughed along

For the Thief could not believe how Timmy was so strong!

Jill watched the two wrestle, her lips a sly grin,

Then went to sit next to her dear friend, Robin.

"I look around and see some friends – you, Timmy, and Tommy...

But odd I think that I do not see lazy Blueboy Johnny.

Where be Johnny?"

"Johnny is not here

He walks about the hills to find

Some voice he claims to hear."

Timmy won! The children cheered! And mockery they sang!

Then on the sill danced Cheshire Cat, her smile quite untamed.

The Thief glared hard, but he’d been forced to give and keep his word

And so he grumbled, crossed his arms, and reached not for his sword.

We’ll stay at the cabin for this one night

Then off to the palace to win our fight…