Page 82 of Enchanted By a Pirate
"Chris?"
The captain stepped up next to her. He stared at the inside of the bowl in disbelief. "Is that fairy dust?"
A cold voice came from behind them, "No, it's definitely not!"
They didn't need to turn around to know who was behind them. Yet they did so anyway, with incredible slowness, as if by doing so they could undo the fact that they had been caught. Itwas the Snow Queen. Her eyes were filled with anger, her hands raised to cast a spell.
Strangely, Anna felt no fear. Just anger — pure anger. She couldn't contain herself any longer. It no longer made any sense. The most powerful woman in the land stood before them, blocking the only existing exit. There was no way for them to escape. Her fate was sealed, and at least now she could find out the truth. "It was you! It's your fault the fairies are dying!"
"It's certainly not my fault, you stupid fairy." With a flick of her wrist, the fur cloaks crumbled into dust so that they stood before her as who they were. "I knew you weren't who you said you were. But a fairy and a pirate? What did you think you were doing sneaking into my private quarters and approaching my magic?"
Chris raised his hand threateningly, as if he wanted to tip the bowl over. "Why did you do it? Just to see your kingdom prosper? Taking Ani from me and turning the world upside-down just so yours could be the most powerful of the four realms?"
"What are you accusing me of, pirate?" A ball of ice formed around the pool, making it impossible for them to reach the magic or knock over the basin.
The captain was unimpressed by her power. He drew his saber and stood protectively in front of Anna. "You shut down the source of fairy dust and caused the fairies to die."
Her thin lips almost became lines as she pressed them together tightly. "Why would I do something so vile?"
Anna listened. Chris wanted to speak again, but she motioned for him to wait. She decided to lay all their cards on the table. "I lost my memory and was in a distant land that had no magic for years. Someone banished me there."
"And you think I did that? Again, I ask you why would I do something so vile?"
"Tell us!" the captain demanded. "Since Ani disappeared, the country's prosperity has been in free fall, and only your realm has miraculously made it to the top of the economic pyramid. Purely coincidental?"
"Certainly not a coincidence, pirate. But tell me, should I stand idly by while my people starve to death?"
"In the past, you didn't care about the interests of your subjects either."
"I would have, but no one asked me. After all, I am the queen. I certainly don't run after the farmers to ask if I can help. No, anyone who needs my support must ask for it. And as your realms descended into chaos, my subjects finally took the step and begged their queen for help."
Anna couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Is that true?"
"I am the most powerful woman in the country. I don't need to lie, little fairy."
"Then who was it? Someone started this."
"I can't tell you that. However, you have committed a serious crime."
The captain once again stood protectively in front of Anna, but she pushed him aside and bowed to the powerful sorceress. "Snow Queen, excuse our baseless accusation. My family is dying and I don't know how to stop the tragedy."
"That is your reason, but what is yours, pirate?"
Chris still didn't seem convinced of her innocence. "Someone banished Ani for years and then brought her back. That person must be held responsible. Only then will she no longer be in danger!"
"I see what you need. It is certainly is not a spell for a fallow field. If you had been forthcoming with your true intercession straight away, you would be further ahead than you are now. But, because I care, I want to grant you your wish, fairy, and give you what you need to save your family."
Anna listened in disbelief. "You'll do that?"
The Snow Queen nodded graciously. Again, she took a snowflake from her dress and blew on it. Without taking her eyes off Chris and his saber, she handed Anna the ice flower. "It began at the source of the fairy dust and there it will end. Close your eyes, fairy, and you will learn everything."
Anna's pulse quickened. She squeezed her eyes shut excitedly as a spell overcame her. Her hair swirled and her heart pounded as she hugged the ice flower to her. As she waited for the magic to reveal everything to her, she heard the Snow Queen's cold voice again.
"She lost her memories and is innocent. But you, pirate, are not."
What did that mean? What was the Snow Queen referring to?
"What are you doing? Where are you sending Ani?" Chris snapped.
