The Frog Collector

Chapter One Part 2/5

After a while the sounds became rare, the princess could only hear the faint chirping of a bird, the rustling of leaves on the trees, and the croaking of a frog. Suddenly she saw a house among the trees, and around it a large garden with many flowers. Then the princess awoke from her thoughts and didn't recognize where she was.

"I have walked too much!", she exclaimed. "Is there someone in that house who can help me?".

She decided to go to that place. Behind her, a frog followed her croaking nonstop. When she arrived, the princess saw a big, beautiful house that didn't even look like it belonged in the forest. She went to the door that was open and said:

"Hello!".

There was no answer. The girl noticed that the windows were also open and the house looked abandoned, so she went inside. As she admired the huge room, it felt wrong for her to walk into someone else's house like that. Furthermore she had already gone too far, so she decided to go back. However, a young girl entered the room quickly and was so startled by the princess's presence that she fell to the floor, knocking over the plates she was holding.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you", the princess lamented, and quickly went to help the young girl.

The girl said nothing, would not get up from the floor, and was so horrified to see her that the princess felt bad to be there.

"I would just like to...", the princess started to speak, but was interrupted by a shout from another woman who had also arrived in the room:

"Emily, stop being stup...".

The voice stopped abruptly and the princess watched an elderly woman who looked like the other's grandmother enter the room and look as amazed as the young woman on the floor.

"H... hello, dear, H... how did you get in here?", asked the old woman in a friendly tone.

"The door was open... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you! I just wanted to know if anyone saw a young man pass by here, but it's getting late, I have to get back", answered the princess fearfully, still looking at the girl on the floor.

"It's okay, you're not bothering! And don't mind Emily, she is always clumsy. I did see a young man around here, but it was yesterday. I helped him find flowers for someone. He was dressed in shining armor".

"That's him! He's always wearing armor. So it was you who helped him..." Those were beautiful flowers. He told me that someone helped him find those beautiful flowers. Thank you very much then", said the calmer princess.

"It was nothing, dear", said the woman helping Emily, who looked even more shocked, to get up from the floor. Emily quickly began to clean up the damage she had done by falling.

"Sit down, have some tea", invited the old woman.

"I won't stay long. I'm sorry", said the princess, who was a bit uncomfortable with the delay in her seat.

"Everything is fine, but may I ask what happened to the boy?", asked the woman.

"It's just that he didn't show up today where we agreed, but I guess I was just rushed. I should have waited longer", reported the princess.

"I just hope it's not a disappearing magic", said the woman thoughtfully.

"A what?", asked the girl without understanding.

"Disappearing Magic. Never heard of it?", said the woman amazed.

"No, what is it?", asked the curious girl.

"Has it really been that long?", said the old woman to herself. Then she turned to the princess, "I'll show you!".

To be continued...