Chapter 6: Timothy

The carriage carrying Timothy and Queen Emily rolled along.

Timothy sat across from the queen and stared out the window. Queen Emily polished her nails, making them glow attractively.

'Well there goes my chance of peace and freedom,' Timothy thought. 'My mother is a stubborn woman, which is a good thing and a bad thing. When it comes to queen duties and real work, she is bad at it. Really bad. But when it comes to social gatherings, beauty shops, and knowledge on how to cross-dress her sons, she is unmatched.'

Queen Emily giggled as she painted her nails.

'At times she may come off as an irresponsible mother, but there is no one in the kingdom who knows me better. Which is terrible. Having a mom who reads your thoughts is way better than having a mom who knows you based on instinct.'

Queen Emily looked at Timothy. "Hm? What are you looking at?"

"Nothing really."

She pouted for a moment, then smiled cunningly. "Or could it be you are trying to advance from a virgin to a man by scouting the forests for naked women?"

Timothy was shocked. "Huh? What are you even saying?" 'This is what I was talking about. If she could read my mind, she wouldn't say things like this...'

Queen Emily said dramatically, "Ooh, my son is growing so fast. What shall we ever do if he has children too early?"

"Hey! Stop daydreaming about things that won't happen!"

She quickly sat next to him. "Ooh, are you trying to say that you will not attempt to have children?"

Timothy was flustered. "Don't you think that conversation is a bit too personal?"

"Oh? How so? Because I just asked if you will have children."

"That is personal."

"Hm? I just need to know if you will be having- or is this one of those things I keep hearing about where our children get to know each other too early?"

"I don't know anyone like that. I will reassure you that I proudly fear all females."

"Huh? Hey! How was that reassuring for a mother?" She pinched his cheek.

"Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow! Stop! Mercy, mercy, Mom!"

"Oh, I don't think so."

Queen Emily pinched Timothy for a long time until she finally let him go.

Timothy panted. "Ow, that hurt, Mom."

"Yes, I know. Now that I have disciplined you, I expect to have three times as many grandchildren as you wanted."

"And I didn't want?" He smiled nervously.

She glared at him. "You really want to know my answer?"

Timothy shivered. "Never mind, Mother. I will do as you say."

"That's good to hear."

Timothy looked out the window again.

"I know you are worried about Kyle, but he can manage on his own," Queen Emily said. "After all, we did leave him at the palace where Sophie is, so he should be fine."

Timothy closed his eyes and sighed. "You caught me, and you are right. There is no use worrying about Kyle when he has all this under control."

"Yeah, and that's the reason your mother dragged you out here." She turned to him. "I love you, just the way you are."

Timothy looked at his mom. "Mom?"

"You are special, Timothy. The crystal that you always see at the bottom of the lake in the kingdom. I really think it is lovely."

Timothy was shocked. "What? Wait... how do you know all this?"

"Huh? I thought you already knew that Martin is my eyes and ears when it comes to you."

'Hm, that old timer. Doesn't he have better things to do than watch me?'

"Now, now, don't be like that. I just wanted him to make sure you were safe until the age of sixteen."

"Sixteen? With your attitude towards me, I thought you were going to keep watch on me until I became old and crumbly."

Queen Emily chuckled. "It seems you know your mother well."

Timothy stared at her. "Hmm."

"Okay, okay. I promise to stop watching you once you have turned eighteen. Happy?"

"And what about those spells?"

Queen Emily acted clueless. "Which spells? Whatever do you mean?"

Timothy clicked his tongue. "Tsk. Fine, I guess you can have your way until I am twenty years old."

"You really mean that?"

"Yes, I do."

Queen Emily hugged Timothy. "Oh, my boy. Such an amazing boy." She laughed.

"Hey, you are squeezing me too much. I won't be able to reach sixteen if you intend to kill me."

"Oh, how I love my boy."

"Mom?!"

The carriage stopped abruptly.

"Have we arrived already?" Queen Emily asked.

Outside, Captain Martin had pulled hard on the reins. A few feet ahead, a carriage was broken down in the middle of the road, one wheel shattered and the body tilted into the ditch. There were no horses and no driver in sight.

'Strange,' Captain Martin thought. 'A broken carriage here? With no one around?'

His hand slowly moved toward his sword.

Then a knock came at the door.

"Your Majesty, it is I, Martin," Captain Martin said, his voice tight.

"Yes, Martin?"

"We have an issue in front of us."

"Issue? What is it about that you want me to set foot out of the carriage?"

"My lady, just trust me."

"Fine, as you wish." She opened the door and saw Captain Martin held captive with a blade to his neck. "Huh?"

"I am very sorry, Your Majesty," Captain Martin said.

Queen Emily inhaled and shook her head. "Not a problem. You can be the sacrificial lamb."

"Huh?"

Timothy got up. "Mother, what's happening?" He saw the situation. "Captain Martin? And a bandit?" He looked at his mother and coughed. "Mother, I believe this is a sign that Captain Martin wasn't meant for us..."

"What?"

Queen Emily chuckled. "Dear son, you are always good when it comes to critical judgment. Now, Martin, be a good boy and remain here." She tried to close the door, but a foot blocked it. "Huh?"

A soft, mature female voice came through. The Queen of the Beast Folk, Kelana, stood next to the door with her arms folded.

"I see you have not changed a single bit," Kelana said.

Queen Emily looked shakily to her right. "Oh, is... that... is that really you, Kelana?"

"Hm?" Kelana glanced at her.

"So is that how it is? Hmm, I must say it's too soon."

"Mom, what's happening?" Timothy glanced at the Queen of the Beast Folk and was petrified. "It's a... it's a wild animal woman."

Kelana kicked the carriage out of frustration. "Tsk! Now listen, you damn brat, I don't know which backwater kingdom you came from and I don't care. Treat your elders with respect."

"Elders?" Timothy looked at Emily. "Mom?"

"I know, sweetie, but let's just leave it as is."

"That's enough talk. Now we would like to ride your carriage back to the Elven Kingdom," Kelana said.

"Mom, we can't go ba-"

A blade threatened to slit Timothy's throat from behind.

Timothy turned slowly. "Excuse me, but your sword is aiming at the wrong person." He looked at a knight in light armor, like some kind of freelance adventurer.

"I don't think so," the knight growled.

'Oh, help me, it growled.'

"What was that?" Kelana asked.

Queen Emily slapped his cheeks together. "Wake up, dear son. This is not a dream."

"Huh?"

"Right?"

Timothy looked around carefully. "You are the queen of the beast folk?"

"It's about time you noticed."

Timothy fainted out of fear. His body thudded.

"Eh, dear son?" Queen Emily said.

"Looks like he's out like a light. Anyway, if you don't mind, I will let myself in." Kelana entered the carriage and sat.

"Well... make yourself comfortable in here."

"Hmm, sure. Alice? Carry that bag of meat in here."

Alice, the knight who had threatened Timothy with her blade, said, "Yes, ma'am."

"Please be careful with him," Queen Emily said.

Alice lifted him and helped him sit inside.

"Mark?" Kelana said.

"Yes, Your Majesty?"

"Take the reins from that sorry excuse for a knight and use the detour to get us to the town now."

"As you wish." Mark closed the door.

Queen Emily pouted as she sat down. "How rude of you to call him useless."

"Is that a problem?"

"No, your description just fell a few points short. He is indeed useless, but I believe utterly useless works for me."

"You are an odd queen." Kelana smiled.

"I could say the same for you."

"Not bad for a queen. Well, hold on to your makeup while we get to your destination in a flash."

"What? It's still a day's trip to get there."

Kelana chuckled. "Just sit down and relax. Watch the professionals at work. Mark! Get moving."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Mark pulled out a magic stone from his pocket. "Onward to my destination. Hear me now, great being of teleportation, travel us to the town nearby." He threw the stone as it glowed and turned into a black hole that sucked them into it.

The view shifted to the gates of a town where two knights played cards together. After a pause, the portal opened and the carriage came through.

"Whoa, that portal came out of nowhere," Knight One said.

"Be on your guard!" Knight Two said.

The dust settled.

Captain Martin said, "Lower your weapons, men. I have the queen and the prince from the central kingdom."

"That voice? Is that you, Martin?" Knight One asked.

Coughing, Captain Martin said, "Yes, it is I."

"Forgive us, sir. We didn't know that you could use magic stones to travel," Knight Two said.

"Oh, no, we received some help on that part." Martin walked to them. "But I want to know, how did you know that it was a magical stone that was used to activate the magic?"

"It's because we usually have a lot of cases that deal with-" Knight One noticed Queen Kelana patting Queen Emily's back. "Watch out, Captain! Demons!" He unsheathed his sword.

Kelana calmly turned around. "Hm?"

"Calm yourselves, men. She is with us," Captain Martin said.

"Huh? You don't make sense," Knight Two said.

"At ease, men. They helped us."

"I forgot. Alice and Mark?" Kelana said.

"I have the boy," Alice said.

"The lodging process has been secured," Mark said.

"Okay. You, the captain of the central kingdom? Once you have finished, you shall find us at the moonlit inn. There we can rest."

"Okay, I will clear things up here."

"Can you manage to walk?" Kelana asked Queen Emily.

Coughing and covering her mouth, Queen Emily said, "I can try."

"Sorry. If I had known earlier that you get bad motion sickness from teleportation, I would have insisted on another method."

"No, it's okay for me."

Kelana helped Emily stand. "Let me help you walk there."

"Oh, no, I can't make you carry me like this. It would be embarrassing."

"Please, it's the least I can do. Alice, make sure to carry that boy very carefully."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Alice dragged Timothy.

"Hmm? Alice?"

"Oh, my bad. He just seems to be the type to be dragged like a bag of meat."

Kelana growled. "Behave."

Alice sighed. "Right, Your Majesty." She carried Timothy.

"We shall stay the night and then you can do what you want. Hereafter, we can go back to the kingdom together," Kelana said to Queen Emily.

"Sure, no problem."

"Good."

'Kyle, it looks like we might arrive a bit late,' Queen Emily thought.

Later that night in the Elven Kingdom, King Dave stared out the windows. Footsteps approached him slowly.

He turned to the light next to him. "Hm? Sylvia?"

"Yes, your one and only," Queen Sylvia said.

"Is this about dinner?"

"Yes, it is. We are waiting for you."

"Okay, shall we then?"

"Yes, right this way."

King Dave and Queen Sylvia walked side by side.

"Forgive us if you might be a bit lonely with your wife here," Queen Sylvia said.

"That is not a problem. She might not be here until late tomorrow."

"Oh, really? Where could she have gone?"

"She wanted to get herself some perfume, in the town a day's trip from here."

"Oh, will she be safe? I only ask because that town is strange at times."

"There is no need for panic. I have a feelinThe carriage carrying Timothy and Queen Emily rolled along.

Timothy sat across from the queen and stared out the window. Queen Emily polished her nails, making them glow attractively.

'Well there goes my chance of peace and freedom,' Timothy thought. 'My mother is a stubborn woman, which is a good thing and a bad thing. When it comes to queen duties and real work, she is bad at it. Really bad. But when it comes to social gatherings, beauty shops, and knowledge on how to cross-dress her sons, she is unmatched.'

Queen Emily giggled as she painted her nails.

'At times she may come off as an irresponsible mother, but there is no one in the kingdom who knows me better. Which is terrible. Having a mom who reads your thoughts is way better than having a mom who knows you based on instinct.'

Queen Emily looked at Timothy. "Hm? What are you looking at?"

"Nothing really."

She pouted for a moment, then smiled cunningly. "Or could it be you are trying to advance from a virgin to a man by scouting the forests for naked women?"

Timothy was shocked. "Huh? What are you even saying?" 'This is what I was talking about. If she could read my mind, she wouldn't say things like this...'

Queen Emily said dramatically, "Ooh, my son is growing so fast. What shall we ever do if he has children too early?"

"Hey! Stop daydreaming about things that won't happen!"

She quickly sat next to him. "Ooh, are you trying to say that you will not attempt to have children?"

Timothy was flustered. "Don't you think that conversation is a bit too personal?"

"Oh? How so? Because I just asked if you will have children."

"That is personal."

"Hm? I just need to know if you will be having- or is this one of those things I keep hearing about where our children get to know each other too early?"

"I don't know anyone like that. I will reassure you that I proudly fear all females."

"Huh? Hey! How was that reassuring for a mother?" She pinched his cheek.

"Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow! Stop! Mercy, mercy, Mom!"

"Oh, I don't think so."

Queen Emily pinched Timothy for a long time until she finally let him go.

Timothy panted. "Ow, that hurt, Mom."

"Yes, I know. Now that I have disciplined you, I expect to have three times as many grandchildren as you wanted."

"And I didn't want?" He smiled nervously.

She glared at him. "You really want to know my answer?"

Timothy shivered. "Never mind, Mother. I will do as you say."

"That's good to hear."

Timothy looked out the window again.

"I know you are worried about Kyle, but he can manage on his own," Queen Emily said. "After all, we did leave him at the palace where Sophie is, so he should be fine."

Timothy closed his eyes and sighed. "You caught me, and you are right. There is no use worrying about Kyle when he has all this under control."

"Yeah, and that's the reason your mother dragged you out here." She turned to him. "I love you, just the way you are."

Timothy looked at his mom. "Mom?"

"You are special, Timothy. The crystal that you always see at the bottom of the lake in the kingdom. I really think it is lovely."

Timothy was shocked. "What? Wait... how do you know all this?"

"Huh? I thought you already knew that Martin is my eyes and ears when it comes to you."

'Hm, that old timer. Doesn't he have better things to do than watch me?'

"Now, now, don't be like that. I just wanted him to make sure you were safe until the age of sixteen."

"Sixteen? With your attitude towards me, I thought you were going to keep watch on me until I became old and crumbly."

Queen Emily chuckled. "It seems you know your mother well."

Timothy stared at her. "Hmm."

"Okay, okay. I promise to stop watching you once you have turned eighteen. Happy?"

"And what about those spells?"

Queen Emily acted clueless. "Which spells? Whatever do you mean?"

Timothy clicked his tongue. "Tsk. Fine, I guess you can have your way until I am twenty years old."

"You really mean that?"

"Yes, I do."

Queen Emily hugged Timothy. "Oh, my boy. Such an amazing boy." She laughed.

"Hey, you are squeezing me too much. I won't be able to reach sixteen if you intend to kill me."

"Oh, how I love my boy."

"Mom?!"

The carriage stopped abruptly.

"Have we arrived already?" Queen Emily asked.

Outside, Captain Martin had pulled hard on the reins. A few feet ahead, a carriage was broken down in the middle of the road, one wheel shattered and the body tilted into the ditch. There were no horses and no driver in sight.

'Strange,' Captain Martin thought. 'A broken carriage here? With no one around?'

His hand slowly moved toward his sword.

Then a knock came at the door.

"Your Majesty, it is I, Martin," Captain Martin said, his voice tight.

"Yes, Martin?"

"We have an issue in front of us."

"Issue? What is it about that you want me to set foot out of the carriage?"

"My lady, just trust me."

"Fine, as you wish." She opened the door and saw Captain Martin held captive with a blade to his neck. "Huh?"

"I am very sorry, Your Majesty," Captain Martin said.

Queen Emily inhaled and shook her head. "Not a problem. You can be the sacrificial lamb."

"Huh?"

Timothy got up. "Mother, what's happening?" He saw the situation. "Captain Martin? And a bandit?" He looked at his mother and coughed. "Mother, I believe this is a sign that Captain Martin wasn't meant for us..."

"What?"

Queen Emily chuckled. "Dear son, you are always good when it comes to critical judgment. Now, Martin, be a good boy and remain here." She tried to close the door, but a foot blocked it. "Huh?"

A soft, mature female voice came through. The Queen of the Beast Folk, Kelana, stood next to the door with her arms folded.

"I see you have not changed a single bit," Kelana said.

Queen Emily looked shakily to her right. "Oh, is... that... is that really you, Kelana?"

"Hm?" Kelana glanced at her.

"So is that how it is? Hmm, I must say it's too soon."

"Mom, what's happening?" Timothy glanced at the Queen of the Beast Folk and was petrified. "It's a... it's a wild animal woman."

Kelana kicked the carriage out of frustration. "Tsk! Now listen, you damn brat, I don't know which backwater kingdom you came from and I don't care. Treat your elders with respect."

"Elders?" Timothy looked at Emily. "Mom?"

"I know, sweetie, but let's just leave it as is."

"That's enough talk. Now we would like to ride your carriage back to the Elven Kingdom," Kelana said.

"Mom, we can't go ba-"

A blade threatened to slit Timothy's throat from behind.

Timothy turned slowly. "Excuse me, but your sword is aiming at the wrong person." He looked at a knight in light armor, like some kind of freelance adventurer.

"I don't think so," the knight growled.

'Oh, help me, it growled.'

"What was that?" Kelana asked.

Queen Emily slapped his cheeks together. "Wake up, dear son. This is not a dream."

"Huh?"

"Right?"

Timothy looked around carefully. "You are the queen of the beast folk?"

"It's about time you noticed."

Timothy fainted out of fear. His body thudded.

"Eh, dear son?" Queen Emily said.

"Looks like he's out like a light. Anyway, if you don't mind, I will let myself in." Kelana entered the carriage and sat.

"Well... make yourself comfortable in here."

"Hmm, sure. Alice? Carry that bag of meat in here."

Alice, the knight who had threatened Timothy with her blade, said, "Yes, ma'am."

"Please be careful with him," Queen Emily said.

Alice lifted him and helped him sit inside.

"Mark?" Kelana said.

"Yes, Your Majesty?"

"Take the reins from that sorry excuse for a knight and use the detour to get us to the town now."

"As you wish." Mark closed the door.

Queen Emily pouted as she sat down. "How rude of you to call him useless."

"Is that a problem?"

"No, your description just fell a few points short. He is indeed useless, but I believe utterly useless works for me."

"You are an odd queen." Kelana smiled.

"I could say the same for you."

"Not bad for a queen. Well, hold on to your makeup while we get to your destination in a flash."

"What? It's still a day's trip to get there."

Kelana chuckled. "Just sit down and relax. Watch the professionals at work. Mark! Get moving."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Mark pulled out a magic stone from his pocket. "Onward to my destination. Hear me now, great being of teleportation, travel us to the town nearby." He threw the stone as it glowed and turned into a black hole that sucked them into it.

The view shifted to the gates of a town where two knights played cards together. After a pause, the portal opened and the carriage came through.

"Whoa, that portal came out of nowhere," Knight One said.

"Be on your guard!" Knight Two said.

The dust settled.

Captain Martin said, "Lower your weapons, men. I have the queen and the prince from the central kingdom."

"That voice? Is that you, Martin?" Knight One asked.

Coughing, Captain Martin said, "Yes, it is I."

"Forgive us, sir. We didn't know that you could use magic stones to travel," Knight Two said.

"Oh, no, we received some help on that part." Martin walked to them. "But I want to know, how did you know that it was a magical stone that was used to activate the magic?"

"It's because we usually have a lot of cases that deal with-" Knight One noticed Queen Kelana patting Queen Emily's back. "Watch out, Captain! Demons!" He unsheathed his sword.

Kelana calmly turned around. "Hm?"

"Calm yourselves, men. She is with us," Captain Martin said.

"Huh? You don't make sense," Knight Two said.

"At ease, men. They helped us."

"I forgot. Alice and Mark?" Kelana said.

"I have the boy," Alice said.

"The lodging process has been secured," Mark said.

"Okay. You, the captain of the central kingdom? Once you have finished, you shall find us at the moonlit inn. There we can rest."

"Okay, I will clear things up here."

"Can you manage to walk?" Kelana asked Queen Emily.

Coughing and covering her mouth, Queen Emily said, "I can try."

"Sorry. If I had known earlier that you get bad motion sickness from teleportation, I would have insisted on another method."

"No, it's okay for me."

Kelana helped Emily stand. "Let me help you walk there."

"Oh, no, I can't make you carry me like this. It would be embarrassing."

"Please, it's the least I can do. Alice, make sure to carry that boy very carefully."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Alice dragged Timothy.

"Hmm? Alice?"

"Oh, my bad. He just seems to be the type to be dragged like a bag of meat."

Kelana growled. "Behave."

Alice sighed. "Right, Your Majesty." She carried Timothy.

"We shall stay the night and then you can do what you want. Hereafter, we can go back to the kingdom together," Kelana said to Queen Emily.

"Sure, no problem."

"Good."

'Kyle, it looks like we might arrive a bit late,' Queen Emily thought.

Later that night in the Elven Kingdom, King Dave stared out the windows. Footsteps approached him slowly.

He turned to the light next to him. "Hm? Sylvia?"

"Yes, your one and only," Queen Sylvia said.

"Is this about dinner?"

"Yes, it is. We are waiting for you."

"Okay, shall we then?"

"Yes, right this way."

King Dave and Queen Sylvia walked side by side.

"Forgive us if you might be a bit lonely with your wife here," Queen Sylvia said.

"That is not a problem. She might not be here until late tomorrow."

"Oh, really? Where could she have gone?"

"She wanted to get herself some perfume, in the town a day's trip from here."

"Oh, will she be safe? I only ask because that town is strange at times."

"There is no need for panic. I have a feeling she is with Queen Kelana."

"Kelana? I would be scared of her. She has her own way of socializing."

"That goes for my wife and Timothy too. They should fit well with the people they are with."

'Whatever he is thinking about cannot be good. I should watch his wife and other son properly,' Queen Sylvia thought.

g she is with Queen Kelana."

"Kelana? I would be scared of her. She has her own way of socializing."

"That goes for my wife and Timothy too. They should fit well with the people they are with."

'Whatever he is thinking about cannot be good. I should watch his wife and other son properly,' Queen Sylvia thought.