seventeen

Golden’s keen eye spotted a few more things to pick up as she flew to the castle. If she had not been so excited about her plan, she would have spent a little more time being amazed at the castle when they arrived there. It was unlike anything she’d ever seen—even Queen Mab’s palace on Sheepskerry was nothing compared to this! The castle was made of stone, not twigs and leaves, and it was as high as a boulder. Turrets and towers rose from its walls. A drawbridge was let down as the fairies entered. Trumpeter swans paddled in the moat. And the place was lit from top to bottom with firefly lanterns on the outside and beeswax candles on the inside. What a marvel!

“Shall we wait together till we’re called into the ballroom, Goldie?” asked Fawn Deere. She was very loyal under the circumstances. For what fairy princess would want to enter a party with a witch?

“No, Fawn, I’m fine,” said Goldie. “I’m just going to make a stop in the fairy powder room and fix my face.”

Fawn kissed Goldie on the cheek. “You’re very brave, Golden Bell.”

“Not so very brave—but I do have some excellent ideas,” said Goldie, and she flew off down the long hall to find the fairy powder room. She hoped it would be empty.

It was.

Golden looked at her reflection in the mirror. “I was a fantastic witch,” she said to herself. “But now I’m going to be—”

“Oh, Goldie! What are you going to be?” Avery burst through the door. “It’s too late to change your costume!”

“Avery! What are you doing here?”

“I told Queen Titania I would work at the party,” said Avery, “because I wanted to be here with you!”

Goldie rushed over and hugged her dear new friend. “I’m so glad you’re here, Avery,” she said. “You can hold my hand as I make myself into a princess!”

“But how will you do that when you’re a witch?” asked Avery.

Golden was pulling the warts off her nose. “Ouch!” she exclaimed. Then she grinned. “Not every princess has to be a pink princess,” she said. “I’m going to this fancy-dress party as the Princess of the Night.” She scrubbed the green face paint off, and her rosy cheeks shone with excitement. “Just you watch me!”

Then she emptied her pockets. Out fell the vine leaves, the delicate Queen Anne’s lace, and some gorgeous dark feathers. She flipped her cape inside out and threaded the ruby leaves through the purple lace. She twisted the baby’s breath around the vine leaves to make a crown. She shook the cobwebs off her wings. They seemed to sparkle all on their own.

“The striped stockings, Goldie!” cried Avery. “They have to go!”

Goldie whipped them off. Then she looked at her scuffed slippers. She tied Fawn’s white roses on them; the evening dew made them shine.

“Is that it?” asked Goldie. “Am I ready to go?”

“You’ve forgotten to get rid of your witch’s hair!” cried Avery, laughing. “Even a princess of the night brushes her hair!”

Goldie shook her head and started to untangle the mess she’d made of her long, golden hair. She combed out the snarls and brushed her hair till it shone. Then Avery placed the crown on her head.

“Now,” said Avery, “you are beautiful. Stay still for one minute and I’ll sketch a portrait!” Avery took a pencil and a tiny sketchpad from her pocket and with a few swift lines she drew a lovely likeness of her new friend.

“Oh!” cried Goldie. “It’s beautiful!”

Just then the queen’s trumpeter swans sounded their fanfare.

“It’s time for the costume judging!” said Avery. “Hurry! This is it!”

Goldie gave Avery a quick hug; then the two fairies flew back toward the Great Hall. All the other fairies were gathered behind a curtain, waiting to be called by Queen Titania. One by one they flew into the hall to meet with the queen.

Goldie drew the curtain aside just a little so she could see what was going on. Amanda Townley was breathtakingly beautiful in a knee-length ballerina skirt and a diamond tiara. Claudine was even more elegant in a glorious ball gown with a deep-rose-colored bow. Fawn and the other fairies were gorgeous too, even if it was a little hard to tell them apart.

“I don’t mind who wins or loses now,” said Goldie to herself. “I’m just proud to have done my best.” She lifted her chin and waited for her name to be called. Her wings were quivering, but even Goldie couldn’t tell whether they trembled from excitement or fear.