The Book-Seller

“I know you’re there, Snicket.”

The hobgoblin peeped around the old oak tree. “What? Hmm… what?”

Hattie stopped walking and turned to look at him. “You may as well come out.”

Snicket sidled out from his hiding place and looked around, feigning surprise. “Oh, Hattie. Didn’t see you there,” he said, pretending.

Hattie raised her eyebrows and put her hand on her hip. “Really? You’ve been following me since the market.”

Snicket looked down at the ground, kicking his feet in the dust.

She sighed. “What is it you want this time?” Hattie put down her pile of books and sat on a fallen tree branch, arranging her long skirts around her knees. “Come on. You may as well tell me.”

Snicket’s response came as a garbled mess.“CanIcomewithyou?”

“What?” She asked, a hint of humour in her voice.

“With you.” Snicket removed his little green hat and wrung it in his gnarly fingers. “Can I come?” His wrinkled face looked up at her, hopefully.

Hattie sighed again. “Oh, Snicket. You know you’re not supposed to.” She looked at the little goblin sadly. “Not after what happened last time.”

“But it wasn’t my fault, Hattie! I did clear my voice…” he pleaded.

“You snuck up behind the Crown Prince and tripped him over, Snicket! He fell right into a crowd of dignitaries! Incredibly important dignitaries, I might add!”

He looked down at his feet again. “But Snicket didn’t mean to,” he sniffed.

Hattie looked over at the little creature and felt sorry for him. He was looking quite… pathetic. But then he had been away from the Summerlands for longer than was probably good for him. “I suppose I could take you…”

Snicket looked up, excitedly.

“But I will need you to promise to be on your best behaviour, Snicket.” Hattie wagged a finger at him. “I’d need to have your word.”

The hobgoblin paled to a lighter shade of green. He gulped. “My word?”

Hattie nodded. “That’s my condition.”

“Well, I mean, I suppose I could do something like that,” replied Snicket, searching for a way to get what he wanted without promising anything.

“No, Snicket,” said Hattie, firmly. “Your word.”

Beaten, Snicked groaned. “Fine. Best behaviour. You have my word.”

Hattie nodded once and stood up again, picking up her parcel of books. She returned to face the forest and set off with a purposeful stride.

Happy now, Snicket trotted alongside her as he put his little cap back on, covering up the few wisps of white hair that grew haphazardly from the top of his head. “Whatcha got this time, Hattie? What’s in the books?”

She looked down at the little creature and couldn’t resist a smile. He was a lovable rogue, despite his mischievous nature. “Tales, Snicket. Stories and tales from the World of Men.”

“Anything good? Anything Snicket would like?”

Hattie laughed. “I’d forgotten how much you like stories.”

“Will you read me one? When we get home?” His little face was eager.

“Yes, yes. Of course. But you really should learn to read yourself, you know. Then you could read all the tales you like.”

Snicket scoffed. “Stories should be told, not read. Everyone knows that, Hattie.”

Hattie rolled her eyes at the stubbornness of goblins and shook her head. “Fine. But I’m not staying long, Snicket. The librarian has asked me to return as soon as possible. His bookshelves are a little empty.”

Snicket slipped his little hand into Hattie’s and she looked down at him, surprised. It was unusual for hobgoblins to show affection.

“Snicket stay with Hattie? I can help. I can carry things.”

“But I’m backwards and forwards a lot, Snicket. I thought you wanted to go home?”

“But if I’m with you, I can be home. Sometimes. And sometimes here.”

“You like it here that much?”

Snicket nodded. “I like the food.”

“Honestly!” She laughed, looking down at his little round tummy. “I should have known.”

“You live in both places. Snicket can too.”

“Well, let’s see how it goes on this visit before I make any promises. And I’m a bit different, Snicket, you know that. I can’t stay long in either world.”

He nodded. “Human mother, Fae father, Snicket knows.”

They walked together in companionable silence until they reached the Fairy Ring in the clearing. At the edge, Hattie stopped.

“Here we are. Ready, Snicket?”

The hobgoblin nodded, a little grin on his face. “Home-time.”

The pair stepped into the ring and stepped out again in the Summerlands, the only sign they had traveled anywhere at all being the violet sky above their heads. Hattie breathed in the scent of her sometimes-home.

“I have to drop these at the palace library, Snicket. Shall you come with me?”

The little hobgoblin nodded and bounced a little on his toes. “Maybe I can see the Prince? Say that Snicket is sorry?”

“You’re full of surprises today! I think that’s a fine idea.”

The palace wasn’t far past the edge of the forest and before long, Hattie and Snicket were headed through the palace gates. The guards smiled at Hattie as she passed, but Snicket’s welcome was less favourable, and as they approached the library, they were stopped.

“Lady Harriet? As welcome as you are, I’m not sure the Prince will be so glad to see him.” The guard looked pointedly at the hobgoblin. Snicket had the decency to look sheepish as he hid behind Hattie’s skirts.

Hattie smiled at the guard reassuringly. “It’s okay, Linden. He’s given me his word.”

The guard nodded. “Even so, keep an eye on him, my Lady, for all our benefit!”

“I will.”

The guard opened the door to the library and Hattie and Snicket stepped into the sunlit room. The Crown Prince was standing in the window. On hearing the door, he turned and bowed as Hattie dropped into a formal curtsy. “My Prince.”

“Lady Harriet.”

Formalities over, the Prince opened his arms and Hattie rushed into them. “Oh, it’s so good to see you, Darren. I feel like I’ve been away an age!”

The Prince held her at arm’s length. “Let’s have a look at you.” He picked a twig from her wild, red hair and raised an eyebrow.

“Oops!”

A movement behind Hattie alerted Darren to Snicket’s presence, despite the little hobgoblin doing his best to become invisible.

The Prince froze. “Hattie, why is … that… here?”

Hattie turned. “He’s promised, Darren. Please forgive him. It’s not good for him to be out of the Summerlands.”

The Prince sighed. “Fine. Just for you though, Hattie. Come, Snicket, let me see you.”

The little hobgoblin shuffled out of the refuge of Hattie’s skirts, removing his cap once again. “Snicket is sorry, Prince Darren. May Snicket come home?”

Darren locked eyes with Hattie. Please, she mouthed.

The Prince relented, his kind heart winning out. “Oh, I suppose so. But behave yourself, Snicket. This is your last chance.” He fixed Snicket with a meaningful stare.

Hattie’s eyes twinkled. “Thank you, Crown Prince.”

Darren waved his hand. “We don’t need those formalities, Hattie. Now come and sit down and tell me where you have been. You,” he pointed to Snicket. “Stay close. I don’t want you … wandering.”

They moved to the armchairs by the fireplace, with Snicket hovering behind Hattie, amusing himself by looking through some books. There was a small fire burning in the grate and Hattie stretched her legs out, enjoying the warmth. “I am truly glad to be home, Darren. I’ve been all over! There are so many new authors, and I’ve been collecting as many books as I can. You know how much your Courtiers like new things to read.”

“And you know you don’t have to do this, Hattie. You’re my best friend. You don’t have to … work.” He said the word as though it was distasteful.

Hattie groaned. “We’ve been over this a dozen times, Darren. What would I do if I didn’t work? I can’t stay in the Summerlands anymore than I can stay in the World of Men. I could fill my time here well enough, but what about when I’m over there? What would I do then?”

Darren looked down, shyly. “You know you could always accept my offer, Hattie. Marry me, and you won’t have to worry. Our bond would keep you here.”

Hattie took hold of his hands. “We don’t know that, Darren. And… I’m not… ready. To be a Princess, I mean. All the fuss and the bother, not owning my life. I’m sorry, I really am.” She smiled at him, sadly.

“I know,” Darren said, softly.

Suddenly, there was a loud crash, and they both turned around quickly, the mood having been entirely ruined.

“Snicket! For the love of Titania, what have you done now?” Darren stood.

“It just fell! Snicket swears!” He was standing, wide-eyed, in a pile of broken glass, having just knocked over a small table that had once held a vase full of flowers. He looked… damp. And guilty.

“Hattie… get him out of here, before I do or say something I might regret,” said Darren, in his most commanding ‘heir-to-the-throne’ voice.

Hattie took one look at Darren and knew he was serious. She stood and quickly shooed the naughty hobgoblin out of the library, keeping him in front of her where she could see him. “What did I say?” she hissed at him. “Best behaviour!”

“Snicket’s sorry, Hattie.” He pulled at her skirts and looked up at her, forlorn. “Are you mad?”

Hattie looked at him and sighed. She could never stay cross with him for long. “No, it’s okay. But I think you had better lay low for a while. And stay out of the sight of Prince Darren!”

Snicket smiled a secret smile as he trotted through the palace at her side. Hattie would not marry the Prince, oh no. Not if he had anything to do with it.