[i]Collab between Optimist and Silver Carrot[/i]

Thomas grabbed onto the collar of Goldilock''s blouse, to keep from falling, and kept his eyes out for the red headed woman and his friends. He was not sure how he had been able to travel from the morning at the Fairy Queen's castle, to the evening at this town. He assumed that there must be a great deal of distance between them, for that to be possible. "So, if you don't mind me asking, what business brings you here? I am here as a part of a quest of sorts, to fight evil in the land. I know it is a bit of a vague goal, but we mean it seriously enough."

"That's a noble ideal," the woman remarked, red lips curling into a half smile again. "Alas, my motivation is simple coin. I'm looking for a red haired woman. The person I work for wants to find her. It's as simple as that...more or less..."

Thomas understood her motivations perfectly. He was in this quest first for the travel, and then because of his loyalty to his friend Charming. He was not, by nature, a crusader. "Ah, that is as good a motivation as any. I myself have had simliar motives for most of my life, since I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth, Miss Gloria."

The woman's smile grew until it looked genuine. "That makes two of us. I didn't exactly have a poor childhood in a poor family, but I have had to work for everything I own today." 

Thomas's view of her smile, was like a vast field of white teeth. Everything was big to him, when he was in his natural state. He felt relaxed with Gloria. She seemed a sensible enough lass, unlike some at court he had met. Without meaning to, he started to feel a bit sleepy. "Well, I do understand that, though I was actually born to very poor parents. As it is, my life is has been easy the past few years, as the court dwarf for the Fairy Queen." He realized he was sharing a bit to much about himself with a stranger, but what was said was said.

The woman looked down at Thomas, fully deviating her eyes from the road in front of her for the first time since he changed. "You're the court dwarf for the Fairy Queen?!" She looked around, before lowering her voice. Luckily she didn't draw too much attention to them. She turned back to Thomas, talking in a hushed whisper "I had no idea was in the company of someone with ties to royalty! Are you a Lord or something?"

Thomas laughed, "Hardly, more of a curiosity and a jester, all rolled into one. She dresses me up for her own entertainment and parades me in front of the important folk she invites to her table." He did not think it wise to mention that she was also his god-mother. That would really be putting on airs. "So, I take it that you are not a princess in disguise then? I have met enough of them."

The woman's smile was almost pulled into a grimace. "I can't stand being the centre of attention. I would hate that. You're a lot braver than me in that regard." She mused. Secretly, she was a little bit put off by the treatment of this nice man as some mere amusement. It was almost worse that he didn't mind it. She tried to take her mind off it by answering his next question. "No, I'm not a Princess in disguise. Nothing could be further from the truth," she responded, with an enigmatic air to her sentence.

Thomas thought he sounded odd, as she spoke that last, but did not pry. As it was, he was was enjoying being in her company and being out of the eyes of the court. In fact, he was feeling a bit sleepy. He curled up against her neck and started to drift off without meaning too. "Well, that's good. Princesses are generally annoying, as a rule." Soon he was snoring, in a soft little sound.

"Based on my experiences, I'm inclined to agree with you," she said, before hearing him snore. This brought a smile to her face. She didn't want him to fall off her shoulder, so she moved him up to the brim of her hat. That's when she saw the horses blocking the exits, and her 'boss' with them. She heard what he shouted. She was safe, she wouldn't be killed unless she did something stupid. The others wouldn't. Thomas wouldn't. She had to escape. It was a strange position she was in now, with plans to betray the orders of this powerful Goat, just so she could serve the other order from this powerful Goat. Then again, following one of those orders results in her getting paid, and following the other might result in her companion getting an awful lot smaller, under a cloven hoof. She'd take her chances.

She started walking to the docks. That goat had all the roads covered. The only other way out was by sea, and Goldilocks had her purse to hand.

Thomas was blisstfully unaware of the peril he was in. He was of dreaming a fat little wife, in a little cottage, and tiny children. As it was, it was a dream that was unlikely to come true, seeing as he did not even know of the existance of Thumbelina. Still, it was a pleasant enough fiction.

In his dream, he was named mayor of a small town, and grew fat and old, as he watched his children grow up. He and his wife grew gray in hair, and infirm of limb, but were still very much in love. When he woke, the dream would pain him, for it was never to be. Such happiness was not for the likes of him.

When Goldilocks got to the docks, she saw several goats stopping the ships. A single bead of sweat rooled down her face as she tried to remain calm and collected. She swiftly changed direction, and burst straight into a nearby inn, where she caught her breath for a few soconds before straightening her hat, dusting off her dress and approaching the innkeeper.

"I'd like a room, please."

[b]"Ma'am, I'm afraid that with the goats..."[/b]

A fat purse full of coins landed in the table with a meaty jingle. Goldilocks smiled. The inkeeper thought for a few seconds, then handed her a key.

[b]"Room 26. Please don't attract any attention."[/b]