The Witch Queen part 12

The Fall of Queen Morticia

                                   

          In the chamber Queen Morticia was preparing her ritual, placing various ingredients into her cauldron. Anakin was crying because he was scared of his surroundings. The queen ignored his crying.  “Cry your last tears,” Queen Morticia said to Anakin “because you will never cry again after I’ve completed this ritual. You have been a real nuisance to me ever since you were born, but you won’t be anymore”. She placed a strand of Anakin’s hair into her cauldron and the cauldron started to smoke. “The potion is ready, and after I’ve destroyed the armies outside it will be your turn to die little baby”. “The one who will be destroyed here is you Morticia!” shouted a voice.

          The voice came from Shaula; she and Kira had just entered the chamber. Queen Morticia was surprised that Shaula and Kira had entered her castle and her chamber, but she simply smiled. “Well, well, well I welcome you back to the castle Shaula,” she said, sarcastically, “and I also welcome you too little half-witch”. “At least I came back here for a right reason,” said Shaula, crossly, “Morticia ever since you became queen thirty years ago you have tried to claim all of Middle Earth as your own. In doing so you have ruined the lives of humans and creatures alike, how do you explain yourself?” Queen Morticia huffed “I already told you this when I became queen,” she said “it is my destiny to become queen of all Middle Earth, and no one not even you has the power to stop me”. Shaula and Kira looked on crossly. “If you think we are going to let you continue hurting others and ruling with darkness then you’re wrong you evil old witch!” shouted Kira. “Yeah witch!” shouted Klunk. Queen Morticia raised her hands to start to use magic. “You have all been real nuisances to me,” she said “trying to hide the baby from me so I will dispose of all of you too”. She fired a stream of magic towards Kira and the brownies and fairies, but Shaula protected them by counter attacking the queen’s magic with her own magic. Kira used her own magic to knock over Queen Morticia’s cauldron and ruin the ritual. “Ahh you little brat!” shouted Morticia. She was furious with what Kira did and was about to attack her, but Shaula interrupted her. “Your fight is with me Morticia!” she shouted. She and Queen Morticia got ready to fight each other. “Come on Kira, we have to get Anakin out of here now” said Benny, reminding her of Shaula’s plan. Kira understood, seeing this was no place for a baby. While Queen Morticia kept her attention on Shaula, Kira quickly ran to Anakin who was still crying and picked him up. “It’s alright Anakin I’m here now” she said, hugging him. Anakin started to calm down after seeing Kira. “Okay let’s go” said Benny. Kira was worried to leave Shaula fight Morticia alone, but the brownies and fairies reassured her that Shaula would be alright since she was strong and they had to hurry now. Kira did as she was told and started to run towards the door of the chamber with Anakin in her arms. Queen Morticia noticed Kira with the baby and wanted to stop her, but Shaula stopped and reminded her that she was her opponent. So Kira and the fairies and brownies got out of the chamber with Anakin safely.

          Queen Morticia and Shaula got ready to fight. “Pity I didn’t destroy you when I turned you into a crane” said Queen Morticia. “I was blind for not realizing till too late that you would rule Ranbaraz with evilness” said Shaula. Queen Morticia smirked. “I take it you remember what I said to you on that day?” she asked. “Yes I do,” answered Shaula “I especially remember you saying that you didn’t want to rule the same way your parents did, when I told you they would have been disappointed with what you had become”. “I did tell you;” said Queen Morticia “I told you directly I didn’t want to be the same as my parents”.

          The truth was Morticia never wanted to become like her parents and had never respected them. To her, being a good natured ruler was pathetic and weak; therefore she declared her parents were weak because of their good and wise nature. “My father could have gained more with all the power he had, but no, he had to be all peaceful and all that other nonsense” said Queen Morticia. “Being good and wise is what made your father a great ruler,” said Shaula “whereas your cruelty and greed has made you a terrible ruler”. “Why thank you and I have Clavius to thank for that” said Queen Morticia. “Because you took his book after he died?” said Shaula. “There is that,” answered Queen Morticia “but it’s also because Clavius showed me in person what it was like to have dark magic”. “What?!” shouted Shaula. “Oh didn’t I tell you this?” said Queen Morticia “It must have slipped my mind”.   

          The queen revealed that sometime before her father defeated Clavius she visited him in secret. While they met Clavius showed off his dark magic to her and she fell in love with his dark magic at once. “Meeting him was how I learnt about his book and how to use dark magic”. Shaula was surprised with what the queen had just told her. “You are a real traitor,” she said “not only to your kingdom but to your parents too”. “Enough of this” said Queen Morticia, who was now getting impatient, “I want to get that brat back and you are still in my way”. The queen fired some magic, but Shaula countered it with her magic. The fight between the two was on.

          While Shaula and Queen Morticia were fighting, Kira and the brownies and fairies had run far away from the secret chamber with Anakin. They stopped so Kira could catch her breath. “I don’t know about all of you but it was scary in there” panted Klunk. “I never want to see an evil witch’s chamber ever again” said Skyler. Kira cuddled Anakin, happy that he was okay. “I’m sorry that you went through something so scary Anakin, but you’re safe now” she said, giving him a kiss on the head. Anakin had calmed down from his crying because he was happy to be with Kira again. “Thank goodness we got him back at last” said Flora. “Yes and not a moment too soon,” said Skylar “I dread to think what that evil witch would have done to him if we had arrived too late”. The fairies and brownies were happy to see Anakin again. “Oh I do hope Shaula will be alright fighting that queen” said Kira, fearing for her life. “I wouldn’t worry Kira,” said Klunk “the queen wasn’t able to kill her before, so I’m sure she won’t be able to do it again”. That did make Kira feel a bit better but not a lot. “Come on everyone;” said Benny “Shaula told us to go and find a safe place to hide”. “But where can we go?” asked Skylar “we don’t know our way around this castle and we don’t have any maps of it”. “Where’s a guide when you need one?” said Klunk.

          Suddenly a figure ran towards Kira; it was Bridget. “You must come with me” said Bridget. “Who are you?” asked Kira, nervously. “My name is Bridget and I work at this castle,” said Bridget “I am here to take you to safety”. “Hold on, why should we trust someone who works in this castle?” asked Benny. He didn’t think it was a good idea to trust anyone who worked for the queen. “I am not your enemy you must believe me;” said Bridget “all of us servants of this castle are not loyal to the queen and we have heard about your desire to defeat her. We wish to help you in any way we can”. Kira stared at Bridget, feeling uncertain. “Okay show us to safety please” she said at last. “Kira” said Benny, in shock. “We have no time to be doubtful Benny,” said Kira “we have to get going before that evil queen comes after us. Lead the way Bridget”. “Come this way” said Bridget. She started to run down a corridor and Kira followed with Anakin and the brownies and the fairies.

          Back in the chamber Queen Morticia and Shaula were firing magic at each other. “I see that your magic hasn’t weakened after all these years” said Queen Morticia. “Just because I had been a crane all this time, that does not mean I have lost my magic now” said Shaula. They threw magic at each other like crazy; it wasn’t a pretty sight. “You should give up on trying to fight me,” said Queen Morticia “your magic is no match for my dark magic”. “Clavius said the same thing when I faced him along with your father,” said Shaula “but the forces of good were still able to defeat him and the forces of good will defeat you too”.

          It was at this time that the evil queen was starting to get impatient and wanted to finish the battle. She cast some magic on the floor and the floor trembled like a small earthquake. Shaula got distracted, trying not to lose her footing. This was the queen’s chance. “Stupefyus, Petrifyous, Paralysisus!” she said. The spell hit Shaula before she even got the chance to do anything and it paralyzed her.         

          With Shaula paralyzed, Queen Morticia was free to go after Kira and Anakin. “Now I wonder where that half-witch may have gone?” she asked herself “there is no way she would be outside where that battle is going on, so she must still be inside my castle. Question is where?” She had a quick think for a second. “Of course, the only place they could have gone would be the second secret underground chamber that my father built. Ha, if they think they will be safe in that chamber, they are wrong”. Queen Morticia walked over to a book stand, where a black and reddish-brown coloured book lay. This book was the spell book which Clavius sold his soul to obtain before the queen sold her soul to claim it herself. “That little half-witch will see what real magic is like” said Queen Morticia. She turned to Shaula. “I’ll finish you off after I deal with that little witch and the baby”. Shaula looked on helplessly as Queen Morticia walked out of the chamber to go after Kira and Anakin.

          By now Bridget had led Kira to a far side of the castle on the ground floor. “Where are we going?” asked Kira. “There’s another secret underground chamber near here that the last king built for any emergencies,” answered Bridget “the queen’s chief advisor Egbert showed me where it was once. And he asked me to take you there so you could keep the baby safe in there”. “But if the queen’s father built it then the queen knows about it too,” said Benny “and it will make it obvious to her that we will be there when she comes looking for us”. “Well it’s better than nothing,” said Kira “and if Queen Morticia does find us in there I will just have to fight her myself. Remember I’ve got the sword and dagger on me”. “And we will help you fight her too Kira” said Skylar. “You’re right we will” said Flora. “Don’t leave me out either” said Klunk. Benny saw he couldn’t argue anymore with this, so he just agreed to fight too.

          Soon they came to a corridor with another dead end. Bridget pulled back a chandelier on a left wall and then the wall on the right opened up, revealing a flight of stairs. “Go down those stairs and down there you will find a door to the chamber” said Bridget. She pulled out a key from her pocket. “This is the key to the door down there. Use it to lock the door behind you when you go through it”. “Thank you Bridget,” said Kira, taking the key, “you better get out of here now before the queen realizes you’re helping us”. Kira knew that Bridget would be killed if Queen Morticia found out about her betrayal. “Good luck” said Bridget, and off she ran to find somewhere safe for herself. “Okay let’s go” Kira said to the brownies and fairies. Kira started to walk down the stairs, with the wall closing behind her. “This castle is full of surprises” said Flora, who saw the wall close. “Yes well now is not the time to be surprised” said Skylar.

          Kira walked down the stairs till she got to the door. She placed the key into the door’s lock and unlocked it. “Here we go” she said, entering the chamber and locked the door again. The chamber was big and dark inside, with no windows. Full of old chairs, old beds and cushions, an old book shelf with some books and old broken barrels that would have been used to store food and water in. There was even dust and cobwebs in the chamber “I don’t think anyone has been in here for years” said Skylar, noticing how dirty it was in the chamber. “Well the queen wouldn’t need to use this chamber for safety because she’s the danger around here” said Klunk. “You’re right about that” agreed Benny. “Hey what’s that over there?” asked Flora.

          What Flora saw was an ancient stone slab against a wall, with a round stone slab in front of it. “What do you suppose this is?” asked Benny. “It was probably used for praying,” said Kira “sometimes shelters have little shrines or something that people keep there to pray for safety”. “Hey I see something on the slab” said Flora. Flora flew up to where she saw a mark on the slab that was covered by dust. Flora used her wings to blow away the dust and she revealed the mark to the others. “Hey that mark looks like Anakin’s birth mark” said Klunk. He was right because the mark on the slab was the shape of a crown exactly like Anakin’s birth mark. “What do you suppose this means Kira?” said Benny, in confusion. “I don’t know” said Kira.

          Suddenly the door was burst open and the fairies and brownies screamed while Kira gasped; Queen Morticia had arrived. “I thought I would find you here” she said. Seeing Queen Morticia made Kira and the brownies and fairies fear what had become of Shaula since she didn’t defeat her; was she alive or not? Kira placed Anakin on the round stone slab and bravely took out the silver sword from the baldric. The fairies and brownies stayed with Anakin. “Oh a silver sword;” said Queen Morticia “haven’t seen one of those ever since I destroyed my father’s silver sword thirty years ago”. “Really?” said Kira “well this sword is going to destroy you like your father’s sword destroyed Clavius. I’ve heard everything about that evil wizard Clavius and how your father killed him when he tried to take over the kingdom. I also heard you sold your soul to claim his magic for your own. So now you will suffer the same fate as Clavius”. Queen Morticia laughed. “You actually think that you, a half-witch, can defeat me?” she said “that Shaula wasn’t able to defeat me, so how can you defeat me?” Kira frowned angrily and held onto the sword tightly. “How about this?” said Queen Morticia “why don’t you just hand the baby over to me and that way you and your little friends will not be hurt?” “Sorry your majesty,” said Kira, sarcastically, “but I will not take orders from an evil queen like you”. “Hmm,” said Queen Morticia “that sounded familiar. Oh yes I remember; a lot of people from the past have told me the same thing, including those who I wanted as my guard or other servant, and I had them all die because of that. And now you will die for saying it young half-witch”. “The one who will die here is you!” shouted Kira.

          Queen Morticia started to fire her magic, but Kira used the sword to deflect the magic. Kira learnt how to use a sword thanks to Balim. In the past Balim taught her how to fight with a big stick, just in case she needed protection when it was time for her to leave the dwarf village. Using the sword was like using a big stick, only a bit bigger and heavier, but it didn’t put Kira off from using it. Kira wasn’t going to let herself get defeated by the evil queen. Queen Morticia continued to fire magic, while Kira used the sword to defend herself and used her own magic to fight back.

          Anakin started crying again because of all the scary noises going on. “Oh there, there sweetie,” said Skylar, placing a hand on his face, “it’s okay”. Flora helped to try calming the baby down too. “I don’t like this,” said Klunk, watching the fight, “we have to do something to help Kira otherwise she will be killed. She isn’t strong enough to defeat the queen herself”. “Yes, but what can we do?” agreed Benny. “Oh I wish Queen Faylinn was here to help us” said Flora. “Me too” said Skylar.

          It was very difficult for Kira to fight against Queen Morticia’s magic, even with the silver sword; the queen’s magic proved to be too great to fight against. And Kira’s magic could not do a thing to the queen, not even a small scratch. There was worse to come. Queen Morticia used her magic to make the floor tremble like she did when she fought Shaula and it made Kira drop the silver sword and fall onto the floor. “I will deal with that silver sword later,” said Queen Morticia “but I shall deal with you first. You have been in my way ever since I found out from my well that you had been hiding the baby from me. And now you will never get in my way again”. She got ready to kill Kira with her magic, while Kira hopelessly braced herself. “Nooo!!!” shouted the brownies and fairies together; they didn’t want Kira to die.

          Before Queen Morticia did anything, she was interrupted by a bright light. The bright light was coming from the mark on the ancient stone slab. The birth mark on Anakin’s arm started to glow and so did Anakin. Then he was lifted up in the air like magic. “What is going on here?!” demanded Queen Morticia. She got her answer soon enough; Anakin magically transformed from a baby into a handsome young man. “I don’t believe it!” gasped Benny. The brownies and fairies had never seen anything like this before.

          Anakin was now a young man of twenty five and looked very different than he was as a baby. He was a tall and strong looking man. His brown hair reached his neck and he had a little beard and moustache on his face. The clothes he was now wearing were a long dark brown noble tunic, with a brown shirt underneath and leather brown cuff bracelets on each arm, dark brown trousers, brown boots and a long dark brown cape. He looked exactly like a prince.

          Everyone was shocked with what just happened to Anakin especially Queen Morticia; the prophecy didn’t mention anything about this. Kira quickly came back to her senses, got up from the floor and picked up the sword, and then she ran over to Anakin. “Anakin are you alright?” she asked him. “I am now Kira” said Anakin; he remembered her name because of all the times he was with her as a baby. Kira couldn’t stop noticing how handsome Anakin had become.

          Queen Morticia interrupted the two. “So you grew up quick did you little prince?” she said “hmph no matter. That will not stop me from killing you here and now”. She fired some of her magic towards Kira and Anakin, but Anakin grabbed the sword from Kira and used it to deflect the attack. Despite never having held a sword before, Anakin already knew how to hold and use the sword. It seemed the magical transformation gave him wisdom, strength and skills. “Anakin” said Kira. Anakin raised an arm towards Kira, telling her it will be okay. He turned to the queen. “Queen Morticia,” said Anakin “your evilness has gone on long enough. I will fulfil my destiny by destroying you and bring peace back to Middle-Earth”. Queen Morticia chuckled. “We shall see about that” she said. She screamed and fired her magic again. Kira got out of the way while Anakin began fighting back with the sword. “You will not take my crown brat!” shouted Queen Morticia “I will continue my reign forever!” The fight between magic and sword went on.           

          Kira, the fairies and the brownies looked on in fear. “This is bad” feared Klunk. “Anakin won’t be able to win like this” said Benny. The fairies flew over to Kira and asked her what they should do to help Anakin. Kira hesitated for a second, but then she saw the book that Queen Morticia was holding in her left arm. “We need to get that book the queen is holding;” said Kira “Shaula told me we need to destroy it to destroy the queen. Skylar, Flora I need you to try to get that book out of her left arm”. “Leave it to us” said Skylar. While Queen Morticia was busy throwing magic at Anakin, Skylar and Flora bravely flew over to Queen Morticia to try and get the book out of her arm. “Charge!” shouted Skylar. She and Flora charged straight towards Queen Morticia’s left arm and with using all their strength they knocked the book out of her left arm. “Ah!” screamed Queen Morticia “you will pay for that you little pests!” Kira quickly fired magic at Queen Morticia to stop her from doing anything to the fairies. Anakin charged towards her, but she got out of the way to start fighting him again.

          Unfortunately for Queen Morticia she left her book on the floor unguarded. This was the perfect chance for Kira to get the book. She ran over to the book and picked it up, and took out the silver dagger from the baldric. As Queen Morticia was firing magic at Anakin again, Kira called out. “Hey your majesty!” she shouted “we didn’t just have a sword made from the special silver”. She revealed the silver dagger. It was a shock to the queen when she saw it, as well as seeing Kira with her book. “Give me my book!” she commanded, running over towards Kira. Kira quickly stabbed the book with the dagger. Queen Morticia started to scream with agony. Because she had sold her own soul to obtain Clavius’s magic, having the book stabbed by the silver dagger was like having her own heart stabbed. “This is for all the people who are dead because of you!” shouted Kira “including Anakin’s parents and my father!” Queen Morticia tried to walk to Kira to get her book, but Kira threw it towards Anakin. Anakin understood the situation at once and he sliced the book in half with the silver sword. Queen Morticia screamed and then she started to evaporate into black smoke. Because Kira and Anakin had destroyed the book, they had now destroyed her. Everyone watched as Queen Morticia completely evaporated into smoke until she was no longer there. The evil queen was dead at last.

          “Hoorayyy!!!” cheered Klunk “the wicked queen is dead!” The fairies and brownies started to dance with joy for the victory. Kira was happy the queen was dead too. She walked over to Anakin. “Anakin” she said; she was still surprised to see him as an adult and not a baby anymore. Anakin smiled and he pulled Kira into a hug while dropping the silver sword onto the floor. “Kira” he said. Kira returned the hug; it felt nice hugging the adult Anakin like it was nice hugging the baby Anakin.

          At that moment Shaula entered the chamber; the paralysis spell that Queen Morticia placed on her broke after she died. “Everyone here” she said, worried if anyone was hurt or dead. She saw the book all cut up and she saw Kira with a man standing next to her. “Where’s Anakin?” asked Shaula. “I am Anakin” said Anakin. “You won’t believe this,” said Skylar “but Anakin quickly turned from a baby into an adult when his birth mark glowed like the mark on the stone slab”. Anakin revealed his birth mark which proved to Shaula that he was the baby. Shaula understood what had happened and laughed for joy. “Well done all of you!” she said. She hugged Kira, Anakin, the brownies and the fairies in happiness. “It’s a pity you missed it all Shaula;” said Benny “that queen disappeared into smoke after Kira and Shaula destroyed the book”. “That’s exactly what happened to Clavius after the previous king destroyed him with the silver sword,” said Shaula “now Morticia will be joining him in hell where they both belong.

          “Please excuse me Shaula,” said Kira “but I suggest we stop that battle outside now, and let everyone know, including Morticia’s remaining guards, that the evil queen is dead”. “I couldn’t agree more Kira” said Shaula. She picked up the pieces of the book while Anakin picked up the silver sword. “Let’s go everyone” said Shaula. She walked out of the chamber and Kira, Anakin and the fairies and brownies followed her.