Chapter 6 ~ Bargains Stricken…
Killik stood in the shadows and watched the human glancing about himself nervously as he sat on the sofa. After several minutes, he stepped into the firelight. "Please partake of the meal. You must be weary after so long a journey, Mr. Williams."
Robert Williams jumped at the sound of the soft almost ethereal voice coming from somewhere behind him. "Wh..wha…what? Who's there?"
"Forgive me for startling you, my good man." The King's Chief Steward came around the large chair and sank into it. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am the King's Chief Steward. My Liege is indisposed this evening and has asked that I see to your comforts. Please," he gestured to the covered tray on the table. "Partake of the repast I have seen laid for you. I assure you, there is no need to worry for your safety."
"But I have no way to pay for your kindness." Robert rose hastily. "Forgive me! I must get home to my family."
Killik rose. "While I do understand your concern, it would be in both your best interest and theirs for you to stay the night." He led the way to a large window. Pulling back the heavy curtain, he showed the snow swirling in a heavy blanket from the darkening sky. In the morning, our guards will take you back to the road and you will be shown the way home. For now, eat and rest."
Robert sighed, resigned. "Very well. I thank you for your hospitality."
"Come, my friend, it is good to have a friendly face in the castle after so long."
Robert sank onto the sofa again and as the lid was removed from the tray, his stomach grumbled. "It would appear that I am indeed hungry. Thank you."
"Nonsense. It is the least we can do. Do you mind some conversation while you dine?"
The tired merchant tucked into the meal, but shook his head. "No, sir, I don't mind. What would you like to talk about?"
"Tell me of yourself."
"Me, milord? I am a simple merchant. I have a wife, a grown daughter, a young son, and another child on the way."
"So you have a large family?"
"Sometimes I think it is too large." Robert sighed. "My oldest girl should be married by now, but…"
"But?"
"I don't know…. It just seems as if no suitors will seek her hand. It isn't that she is an ugly child. She is quite pretty. She has a lovely disposition, and she is quite capable when it comes to taking care of the house and a family. I don't understand it myself." He drank from the goblet of mead.
"She sounds like a paragon of virtue, this daughter of yours."
Yawning, the merchant set down the goblet and wiped his lips on a napkin. "My Sarah is a beauty with a kind and gentle heart. I wish she could find the happiness she seeks. Her stepmother, my wife, and she do not get along. It makes my Sarah miserable." He yawned hugely. "Forgive me, milord."
"Of course. Think nothing of it." Killik waived his hand and the tray disappeared. "Come, let me show you to a room where you might be comfortable for the night."
Robert nodded and allowed himself to be guided from the room. When he was tucked up safely in the bed, he quickly fell into a pleasant dream-filled slumber.
Killik reverted to his goblin form and went about the remainder of his planning. Making sure that all was in readiness for when the man arose, he finally sought his own bed in the early hours of the morning.
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The morning dawned bright and beautiful. Robert Williams rose and dressed preparing to trudge home in the snow. Looking out the window, he was astounded to see clear grounds, not an ounce of snow in sight. "What the devil?" Hurriedly retrieving his belongings, he accidentally missed a leather thong with a polished stone that he always wore. The necklace had been a gift from Sarah for Michaelmas two years earlier. Rushing down the halls, he burst through the doors into the bright sunlit courtyard where his horse waited for him, fully rested and ready. Leading the horse away, he was struck by the heady scent of roses in full bloom.
Wouldn't Sarah love a delicate bloom such as this? Such a pretty trifle… surely no one would miss just one…
The voice sounded in his head, lulling him, guiding his steps. Dropping his horse's reigns he stumbled towards a large garden that appeared to be slumbering for the fall. Moving down the paths like a marionette, he stopped before a single rose bush that held several large blooms in different shades. Oblivious to the thorns, Robert reached out and picked a blood-red bloom from the bush.
In a swirl of glitter and black cape the Goblin King appeared behind him. "Thief! After I shared my hospitality with you for the night, this is how you repay me? Stealing one of the Goblin King's roses is punishable by death!"
Robert cradled the delicate blossom as if it were a fragile thing and fell to his knees before the enraged King. "Please, your Majesty! I beg of you, spare my life! I have a wife and children to provide for! Please," he offered up the flower. "I did not mean any harm! I would never steal from you, oh mighty King! What may I give to repay your hospitality and the gift of this lovely rose for my beautiful daughter?"
"A gift for your daughter, you say?"
"Yes, Majesty! My Sarah… my oldest child… she never asks for anything. I would repay your kindness however you ask, if only you would allow me to give her this rose."
The King tapped his chin as if in thought. "For stealing the King's rose, you have a choice… You will return here in three days to pay the price for your insolence yourself, or I will come and collect the payment of my choice." With that the King disappeared.
Robert Williams found himself and his horse on the snowy road at the end of the lane leading to his home. Kicking his horse into a gallop, he rode the remainder of the distance in minutes. Dismounting, he led the horse to the stable. "I will be back in a short time to take care of you, Goliath." Turning for the house, he sighed and turned back to the horse for his saddlebags. Careful not to crush the rose he still held, he trudged through the snow to the front door.
Sarah opened the door. "Daddy! Come inside and warm yourself by the fire! I will take care of Goliath."
"No, daughter. I will take care of Goliath in a moment. For now, you must sit down. I have things to speak with you and your mother about."
Sarah's face fell. "Karen and I are not speaking, Daddy."
"Now what happened?"
The girl unwrapped her shawl, and showed him her neck. "I am afraid I yelled at her after she ripped a cloak that a kind stranger gave me, from my neck yesterday. I took her breakfast this morning in her sitting room. She hasn't spoken to me all day. I tried to apologize to her, but she dismissed me after giving me a list of my chores. They are lengthy. I don't have time to sit down with you until suppertime, I'm afraid."
Robert Williams growled and rose from his seat by the fire. "This is unacceptable! She is your mother! She has no right to harm you like this! I want a full explanation for what happened!"
Sarah shook her head. "No. It isn't worth it, Daddy. Better to simply let it go. How was your trip? Did you get what you expected for the goods you sold this time?"
He sighed and sank back into the chair. I must get my daughter out of this house… and away from Karen. "Not really. It was better than I hoped, but not nearly as much as I had wished for. I did find this for you, though." He pulled the rose from inside his cloak and handed it to her.
Sarah took the perfect rose and brought it to her nose, inhaling its magic fragrance. "It's beautiful, Daddy! You really shouldn't have!" She lowered it when she saw sadness in his gaze. "Daddy, where did you get this rose? They don't bloom this time of year."
He gave her a wistful smile. "It is from the Goblin King's garden, my dear."
She blanched. "What? What did you say?"
"The rose is from the Goblin King's garden. I have to go back to him in three days as payment for the rose." He looked up at her, a sad sort of hope in his eyes. You are honorable, my girl… can I goad you into doing what I know you must in order to get you free of your stepmother? "I know that I'm leaving things in capable hands Sarah. You are a bright girl. You'll find a suitor… someone who will help take over the farm and Karen… she doesn't need…"
Sarah stomped her foot. "No! Absolutely not! You will not finish that sentence! I may not like her… I may think she is selfish and spoiled, but she, Toby, and the new baby need you." Her eyes filled with tears as she looked at the rose in her hands. "I cannot allow you to pay the price for this gorgeous gift. No…" Racing out of the room, she ignored Karen standing outside the kitchen doorway.
"Sarah, no!" Robert rose to follow her.
Karen stepped into his path. "My love, you're home! I'm so glad to see you! You have no idea how…Oh!" She winced and doubled over in pain. "Oh God! The Baby!"
Robert caught his wife as she collapsed. "Sarah! Fetch the healer! The baby is coming now!"
Sarah flew down the stairs and ushered her father into a room next to the kitchen. "In here, Father. Lay her on the bed. I've been preparing for days. We do not have time to get the healer. Do not worry, I know what to do."
"You?"
"Yes, Father. I have delivered many of the calves and foals of the neighboring farms, and our own sheep. It is not as difficult as you might think. Now, go into the kitchen and get the large basin I put by the sink. Then bring me the kettle I keep by the fire there. It is hot and full of water, so be careful. Use a towel to carry it… and then bring me the knife on the table. I will need something to cut the cord with, and the ball of twine."
He stared at his daughter as if he didn't know her. "I…um…"
Karen let out a loud wail.
"We don't have time to waste. Daddy, if you love this new child, you must do as I say and not ask questions till later. Just trust me."