Page 14 of Bewitched

“I won’t argue with that,” said Rapunzel. “However, I can’t let you go alone, Sister. I am coming with you.”

“Wait, please don’t leave,” said Rhys, holding up his hand. “I will go with Zann and Darium to find the dragon. It will be better that way. The women will all stay here where they are safe.”

“Me? Hunt down a dragon?” Darium’s brows dipped. “I never agreed to such nonsense. I’m on my honeymoon, in case anyone has forgotten.”

“Mayhap this is just a waste of time,” stated Zann. “After all, we don’t even know where to look for it.”

“I know someone who can help,” said Alaina.

“Who, Mother?” asked Darium. “Can you just ask the wind where the dragon is?”

“I can try, but it’ll do no good if we still can’t open the portal. I know someone who will be more beneficial in this matter.” She looked over at the door. “Elric, please come inside the cottage.”

“Elric? Oh, nay. Please, anyone but that irritating elf,” groaned Darium, with his hand covering his face.

Medea jumped when a blur whizzed past her. Then she realized it was a little man, moving so fast that she couldn’t even see him until he stopped.

“Are you Elric?” she asked, looking at the man who was so small he was more the size of a child even though he seemed old enough to be her father.

“Mayhap I am, and mayhap I’m not,” came his reply. The little man crossed his arms over his chest. “Who’s asking?”

“Elric is a sage, Medea,” explained Alaina.

“And an elf,” mumbled Darium. “A pesky one, at that.”

“Hush, Sin Eater,” snapped the elf. “If you want me to tell you how to open the portal, you’ll be nice to me.”

“Can you do that?” asked Rhys. “Do you really know how to find and open the portal?”

“I’m a sage, aren’t I?” The elf seemed so insulted by Rhys’ questions.

“Can you help us find the dragon first?” asked Medea. “My sister Rapunzel and I cannot go back through the portal without it.”

“I don’t know. Mayhap.” The elf looked Medea up and down, wrinkling his nose.

“What’s the matter, Elric?” asked Rhys.

“There’s something about this one.” He nodded at Medea with his head. “Something I don’t like at all.”

Medea’s eyes went from the elf to the elemental and then over to Rhys. She tried her hardest to keep her emotions at bay, but she didn’t like that they saw something in her that they didn’t trust. She didn’t know exactly what fueled her dark side, but she noticed it happened more so when she got angry or when she was truly bored. Therefore, she took a deep breath and tried to relax. She faked a smile and tried to think of happy things. Things that had no place where dark magic existed. It didn’t work.

“Please,” said Rapunzel, stepping in front of Elric. “Where can we find the dragon?”

“What have you got to trade me for my information?”

The stupid elf truly was stubborn. Media didn’t like him in the least. She felt her anger growing again, and she could no longer hold it back.

“Tell us!” she shouted, using her powers to flip the man over without even touching him. He caught himself in midair, and zipped behind Alaina, peeking out from behind her.

“Well, after that, I’m not telling you anything, Witch,” said the little man.

“Medea, stop it,” said Rapunzel. She pulled off her wedding ring and held it out in her open palm. “Here. I’ll trade you my ring if you’ll give us the information of where to find the dragon and how to get back home.”

“Sister, no,” said Medea. “That is your wedding ring.”

“I know, but we need to get back home.” Rapunzel looked so sad as she held the ring out to Elric.

“Paaaalease,” said the elf, sounding extremely insulted. “I don’t want your jewelry. It means nothing to me.”