Marmalade’s Love Potion

When Penelope’s breathing had settled, Marmalade drew them both to their feet and draped her cloak around Penelope’s bare shoulders. “Come with me,” the witch commanded. Her voice was calm, yet brooked no argument. With sluggish movements, Penelope brushed the last of the moss to the forest floor, kicked the thorns from her boots, and tugged the cloak tight around her. Together they turned from the shadowy paths of the Darkwood, emerging into the dawn rising through the Faewood’s boughs. Here, the deep well of…Continue Reading “Ch 18 – A Gown of Flowers & Starlight – Part 4” →

Penelope sat quietly in bed in that hour before dawn listening to the hushed rustle of wind through the Faewood’s canopies.  She had long spent her tears and was contemplating the day ahead, the same anxieties circling her mind over and again. As she listened to the crickets chirping in the darkness beyond her window, her frayed attention drifted towards the forest. Even here, she could feel the distant hum of the Darkwood’s anguish, as though it were reaching out for her, beseeching her. Yet…Continue Reading “Ch 18 – A Gown of Flowers & Starlight – Part 3” →

The days after passed quickly. There was so much to prepare for the upcoming ball that, during the daylight hours, Penelope found little time to dwell on misery or mortification. She lost herself in the tactility of dressmaking for long hours each day. Early mornings found her pinning patterns by the wan blue light streaming through the windows of her workspace. Afternoons found her threading sleeves to carefully crafted bodices, or trimming yards of silk for flowing skirts. Familiar calluses formed on her fingers as…Continue Reading “Ch 18 – A Gown of Flowers & Starlight – Part 2” →

Penelope rolled over as the silver light of morning pierced the window, groaning loudly into her pillow. “I think our princess has awoken.” Sister Rosin’s chuckle carried from across the landing and through the wood of Penelope’s door. Penelope kicked her feet against her mattress in childish pique, feeling absolutely mortified by the revelation of last night’s conversation. All the pieces had been there, in hindsight… How could she have missed that Steph was a prince? Rolling out of bed with a grumble, Penelope stuffed…Continue Reading “Ch 18 – A Gown of Flowers & Starlight – Part 1” →

Sister Heely emerged from her workshop as Penelope stepped back inside. She felt a little haunted by Steph’s last glance back at her, before the cart had rounded the bend. Yearning, regret, something of shame. Penelope had felt a wild urge to chase after the cart and hold Steph tight until he smiled. Heaving a sigh, Penelope peeled off her coat and hung it by the door. The house felt too quiet, too still, with just herself and Sister Heely there. Penelope already missed the…Continue Reading “Ch 17 – Returning Home – Part 3” →

Penelope spent the afternoon sharing her gown designs with the Sisters. Sister Rosin bounded about, making a show of her usual humour, teasing Steph about his pumpkin dress when he joined them sometime later. Everyone laughed, giving good-natured input while Penelope sketched in their suggestions. Yet, the atmosphere felt strained. The laughter was a little forced, smiles a little too wide. Penelope noticed as the Sisters held hands a little more tightly than usual. By nightfall, Penelope had finished the sketches for the Sisters’ gowns,…Continue Reading “Ch 17 – Returning Home – Part 2” →

The next morning, Marmalade departed with Marmot in tow. Penelope had been sad to see her go, though the witch had offered reassurance before leaving. “I have no doubt we will cross paths again, and soon, Penelope of Starwood. But for now I must go and tend to matters of urgency.” Marmalade had pressed her lips to Penelope’s cheek, lifted Marmot to do the same, and then had glided away into the snowy woods. Penelope sighed and rubbed at the wet smear left by Marmot’s…Continue Reading “Ch 17 – Returning Home – Part 1” →

“I’m not sure I want to go to the Ball,” Penelope announced as they sat down for tea by the fire. The Sisters exchanged cautious glances while Marmalade tipped her head in thought, continuing to stroke Marmot’s fur with a shoe brush. Steph looked away into the fire as he eased himself into an armchair. Sister Heely set her cup and saucer on the table with a clink. “We’ll support you, gem, whatever you decide. But…” Sister Heely drew in a breath and glanced at…Continue Reading “Ch 16 – An Unexpected Letter” →

A day later, Penelope overheard an argument between the Sisters. Marmalade had taken Marmot on a venture to the Faewood. Steph was dozing by the fire, and Penelope had crept up the stairs to fetch a sketchbook from her room, intending to draw designs for their ball gowns. Keeping her footsteps light so as to avoid disturbing Steph with the creaking of wood, she paused on the landing when she heard sharp voices carry through from the Sisters’ bedroom. “—don’t like it, Heels. The whole…Continue Reading “Ch 15 – Recovery – Part 2” →

The way home was short and direct. The path opened easily, unspooling like ribbon. The trees thinned and the canopy lightened. They passed the threshold of twisted, blackened trees into the more familiar thickets of Faewood far sooner than expected. As they left the shadows of the Darkwood behind, Penelope felt the sharp, aching grasp of the forest’s grief falling away. Penelope felt the barest sense of squeezing, pulling, folding in the forest around them, and then they were tipping out of the woods towards…Continue Reading “Ch 15 – Recovery – Part 1” →

“No!” Penelope cried. Sister Rosin dashed forward, dagger drawn. She sawed at the brambles, though more came flying at them, threading the air to form a living cage, pulsing with menace. The forest grew darker, the air cold and thick. The scents of ice and bitter fruits gathered on the stirring breeze, stinging the back of Penelope’s tongue. Time seemed to slow as Steph fell to his knees with a grunt. Penelope rushed forward, kneeling on numb legs as her fingers fumbled against the vine…Continue Reading “Ch 14 – Barbs & Wrath” →

This was not the way home. Penelope frowned as the canopy above grew thicker and darker. Gnarled branches twisted overhead as the trail grew invisible. Soon the group was scrambling over snaking roots and rocky crevices, taking care not to crush glowing mushrooms underfoot, wary of poison. “If I didn’t know any better,” Marmalade mused from the rear of the party, “I’d say we were in the Darkwood. But we shouldn’t have travelled near far enough north for that.” “I’ve only been into deepest Darkwood…Continue Reading “Ch 13 – The Rangers of Grimwood” →

As the group left the clearing and strode deeper into the forest, Sister Rosin shared a bag of roasted nuts and dried fruits. They munched on these and Penelope tossed the nut shells high above her, which were caught by swooping rain wrens. Steph and Penelope made a game to see how many wrens they could lure from their hidden hollows, trailing tiny sparking storm clouds. Marmot crunched berries, nuts, and shells indiscriminately, leaving a trail of debris in his wake. When they came upon…Continue Reading “Ch 12 – Ghosts & Feathers – Part 2” →

Having chosen to stay behind and work on her tinctures, Sister Heely waved from the back porch as Penelope set off for the forest, followed by Sister Rosin, Steph, and Marmalade, with Marmot scampering along behind them. Penelope skipped along in glee, tugging on the straps of her pack as she strode. As they crossed the threshold of the cottage garden into the first copse of dense woods, Penelope felt a fleeting ripple through her chest. A wintery brush of something in her mind that…Continue Reading “Ch 12 – Ghosts & Feathers – Part 1” →

Later that evening, Penelope had been relieved to near-tears to see the bags she had left behind on the Grimwood docks, which Steph had returned to the Sisters. Penelope had squealed in delight and given Steph a bone-crunching hug, which he’d endured with grace and flushed cheeks until Sister Heely had coughed and muttered something about propriety. “Like you’re one to talk about propriety,” Sister Rosin had accused with a smug smirk. “Remember that one time when—” “Anyone for more tea?” Sister Heely had asked,…Continue Reading “Ch 11 – Repercussions – Part 3” →

After Marmalade and Steph had stepped out into the garden and vanished beyond the treeline in quest of feverthistle—Steph dressed in borrowed coat and winter gloves—Penelope and the sisters settled by the fire with hot mugs of cocoa. Having opted to stay behind where there was the promise of treats, Marmot was curled up by Penelope’s feet crunching on walnuts. There was a terse silence where no-one knew quite what to say, the quiet punctuated by the occasional spark and crackle from the hearth. “So,”…Continue Reading “Ch 11 – Repercussions – Part 2” →

Penelope opened her eyes to the chill light of mid-afternoon. She sat up, struggling against the weight of several layered blankets, to find herself on the lounge in the sitting room. She groaned as the movement caused a sharp ache behind her eyes, a pain she’d not felt since Sister Rosin had once allowed Penelope to indulge as much mead as she had wanted. Once had been more than enough for that particular lesson. Penelope stumbled down the hall into the bathing room. Swallowing down…Continue Reading “Ch 11 – Repercussions – Part 1” →