Aslan’s Princess quickly counted up the tea cups: six. Was that the same as last end of WriMo post? She couldn’t remember. She had been so worn it was ridiculous. Of course this year came with its own challenges, but at least she wasn’t quite so ragged.
“We’re here!”
Princess turned to see Bella and Ringorn heading to the sitting area. She was pleased her semi-genderbent, semi-original characters were such fast friends. “So happy to see you again,” Princess greeted.
Bella scowled at her, lightly scolding, “Did you really need to leave me with Tauriel in that state?”
Princess held up her hands in surrendered defense. “I was trying to get you further along before November struck, honest.”
“At least your story is finally starting to move along,” Ringorn pointed out. “I’ve hardly moved at all.”
“And I promise to return to you eventually,” Princess promised. “I just committed to a couple series first.”
“And as soon as one reaches completion, I’m sure she’ll return to you,” a new voice said.
“Khaleel! Welcome.”
The former genie, based on Disney’s live action Aladdin smiled as he nodded in greeting. He quickly held up his hands when both women turned warning eyes on him. “I’m not saying anything more.”
“Yeah, you better not,” Bella said, hopping into a soft chair. The brown-haired, brown-eyed hobbit grabbed a teacake and munched furiously on it.
“At least you are being shared on the site,” Ringorn said, lightly rolling her silver-grey eyes.
“Please, no fighting of any kind,” Princess pleaded. “There is plenty of unrest out in the real world. I don’t need it here.”
“Sorry, Princess,” Khaleel said.
“Forgiven,” Princess said. “It would appear that our guests of honor are late.”
“Who is it this year?” Ringorn asked, pouring her tea before sitting down.
“A detective duo that actually tried to steal Muse and Inspiration from you,” Princess answered. “Ah, and here they come.”
Two modern, British gentlemen approached. The taller, dark-haired man looked about with a clinical disinterest, while the shorter, brown-haired man was more wary.
“Mr. Holmes, Dr. Watson, welcome,” Princess greeted.
“Bilbo?!” Bella gasped, staring at John Watson.
“Uh, what? Sorry?” he spluttered.
“A case of mistaken identity,” Sherlock Holmes deduced. “In the media sources this young woman uses as her inspiration, the same actor who portrays you also portrays one Bilbo Baggins. Just as this former genie was inspired by the performance of Will Smith.”
Ringorn remained still before venturing. “Anything to say about me or more directly to Bella?”
“You are the female version of one Aragorn son of Arathorn,” Sherlock said. “The vaguest resemblance to one Viggo Mortensen, possibly his most recognized role, at least as far as our young author is concerned. Much the same way Miss Baggins holds a family resemblance to you.”
“Please, be seated,” Princess said, offering cups of tea to Sherlock and John. “Two sugars and plain.”
“Ta,” John said, settling into a chair, a moment before Sherlock.
“Cream again, Khaleel?” Princess asked.
“Yes, please,” the former genie answered.
Princess prepared Bella’s tea in a slightly larger cup with sugar and cream, making sure to also load a snack plate with her favorite tea things. She had to apologize somehow. “So,” she said, finally fixing her own cup with some sugar, “who would like to share where they’re at in their stories?”
“Let’s have the first success share,” Ringorn said.
Khaleel smiled. “Princess finished our story a few months ago, and she is currently publishing it on Fanfiction.net. In fact, the chapter she is planning to publish this Monday is the chapter she reached last year’s goal with.”
“We’re trapped in Thranduil’s palace,” Bella groused. “Princess did start publishing my story with the understanding that it would be uploaded in three part segments. That last chapter left us atop the Carrock where the great Eagles dropped us off after rescuing us from Azog.” She scowled. “I just wish she wouldn’t have left me in the pits of misery with the worst curse of women tearing through me.”
“At least you’re not alone,” Ringorn said. “Didn’t you tell me you were bonding with Kili’s One, Tauriel?”
The hobbit huffed a breath. “True. She could have dropped me just a couple scenes before when I was at the absolute lowest.”
“What about you, Ringorn?” Khaleel asked.
“Still in the Mellon Chronicles timeline,” Ringorn answered. “I might have progressed a story or two, but not by much.”
“So, pseudo-brother,” Bella said, “where are you and your friend?”
“Uh, we were just pulled out of Baskerville,” John answered, turning to Sherlock. “In your words, ‘to slay the ghost.’”
“And I have absolutely no context,” Ringorn proclaimed.
“Understandable,” Princess said, “since their fandom rarely crosses with fantasy of any kind. However, my version is a slight exception.”
“Because you put us within Kingdom Hearts about a year ago,” Sherlock said.
“Precisely,” Princess said. “And John also became a Christian. It took a while before I realized that this could potentially change a lot of the Baskerville story and so I started making plans to write it. It wasn’t until September that I really decided to use it for my NaNoWriMo project.” She chuckled. “I was actually nervous for a while there.”
“Oh?” John asked. “How come?”
“This this is my first NaNo project that wasn’t set in some fantasy genre,” Princess answered. “My first two projects were set in Middle Earth. Last year, I went to the deserts of Agrabah/Arabian Nights. Both with highly magical themes or at least a definite fantasy elements. The Sherlock Holmes niche is almost strictly realism, typically set in either Victorian London or Modern London. Yes, my Sherlock universe also holds keyblades, but they would be taking a backseat to the contemporary mystery and Christian/religious overtones. Two genres I hadn’t really tackled too much before if at all.”
“You’ve been doing a passable job,” Sherlock said.
“‘Passable’?” John repeated, staring at his friend incredulously. “This young woman has spent the past month typing her brains out trying to beat an insane goal! Quite possibly tackling concepts and ideas that she’s positive her readers will criticize her for, and you’re calling it ‘passable’?!”
“Here.” Ringorn held out a relaxing herb. “While I thank you for standing up for Princess, I believe it’s clear that you are still riding on high tension from some recent event.”
John sighed, accepting it. “Thank you.”
Ringorn nodded. “Chew some of it, even let it steep in your tea a bit.”
“So,” Khaleel said, “the winning word count?”
Princess smiled. “50,264 words and counting,” she said. “I still have a couple more days and I want to see how close I can be to finishing the story itself. I currently don’t have the DVD for reference anymore, but I believe I could be within the final half-hour of the episode or less.”
“It’s always remarkable how much they manage to pack into those final twenty or so minutes,” Khaleel said.
“Precisely,” Princess said. “So I know that the answer to the mystery is just a scene or two away, then the final confrontation before the final still relevant scene takes place.”
“Still relevant?” John asked.
“The episode ends with Moriarty,” Princess said, “cementing the fact that the psychopath is obsessed with Sherlock.”
“Hm, not really canon for your version of events,” Sherlock said.
John elbowed him. “Don’t spoil it for any of her readers.”
“I’m not,” Sherlock protested.
“Guesstimate for words needed to finish this particular story?” Ringorn asked.
“Possibly another 10,000, maybe 20,” Princess answered. “I do have some extra content that I’d like to add to the end.” She smiled secretly. “I also have a little surprise for a fellow Sherlock fan tucked in.”
Bella perked up while Ringorn released a light squeal and Khaleel leaned forward with interest.
“I can’t tell you right now,” Princess said laughing. “I don’t know if she follows my blog or not. I won’t risk her finding out about it ahead of time.”
“Well then, wrap this up so you can tell us,” Bella said.
“I suppose we best be going,” Sherlock said, standing. “We need to see Dr. Stapleton about a microscope so I can analyze this sugar.”
“Sugar?” John asked. “You—” He started laughing. “You gave me a disgustingly sweet cup of coffee so you could drug me?”
“It’s the only thing that makes sense,” Sherlock defended himself. “It is the only thing that could have caused me to see the hound while you didn’t. Now, come along, John. The game is on!”
John shook his head as Sherlock swept away. Standing he said to Princess, “Thanks for the tea. Be sure to take care of yourself, okay.”
“Will do, John,” Princess promised. “Anything for our readers?”
“Eat, exercise, sleep, and be healthy,” John said.
“Very appropriate,” Khaleel said. “Bright wishes!”
“Stay safe,” Ringorn said.
“Happy Thanksgiving!” Bella called.
“Hope to see you around again,” Princess said. She then pulled the curtain back.
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