The Frog Collector

Chapter Thirteen Part 1/3

"Father... Father", said the princess tearfully.

The king, who still with the sword stuck in him, could barely express himself:

"My little...".

James couldn't take his eyes off his sword, wanting to pull it out, but he knew that would make it worse. Emily was kneeling next to the princess consoling her.

"Forgive me for getting angry with you, father", the princess told him. "After you told me the whole story about Mom, I was very angry with you".

"Today is... a day of many forgiveness...", said the king. "But... it's never too much to forgive! Don't worry... about that".

James knelt down as well and embraced the princess. They both knew it was the king's last moments.

The king continued with the listeners' full attention:

"I have one... last wish. Be a... wise queen... like your mother was!"

Agatha cried even more and replied:

"I will be, because I learned from a wise king".

And then the king was gone.

***

"Mom, why did things have to end this way?", said Lilian with a sad face looking at the body on the floor and continued: "The king's agreement was the best thing that ever happened to us. He could have killed us back then if he had wanted to, but he decided to give us a chance".

"No...", replied the witch faintly to Lilian's surprise and continued: "Isra... was the best thing that ever happened to me". Then Mirian sighed for the last time.

Lilian lamented her mother's demise, got up and went to the group that was gathered around the king.

***

The king was dead. Agatha stayed a long time crying in James' arms.

"So he ate a flower and thus lost his powers", said Emily. "He was the one who tore this house apart by magic after all. Mirian realized this and used magic against him".

"I don't understand why", questioned the prince.

"We have fallen into many traps since we entered here. Surely he believed that Mirian had prepared something to deal with his and the princess's power, and since she could get us out of here if he lost his power, he decided to sacrifice it by destroying the house and putting an end to the possible traps. Since the soldiers and I fainted, we were running out of time", answered Lilian.

The rest of the soldiers who were carrying the bodies of the five arrived and Michael, who was among them, wept at the sight of the king.

"Where is that woman?", asked Agatha angrily.

"She's dead", answered Lilian, showing her the witch's body in the distance. "It's over! This time it's true!"

The princess stopped for a moment.

"Let's get out of here", she said, wiping his tears.

The princess led everyone out of the invisible dome and they headed toward the palace. Michael carried the king's body and the rest of the army carried the five soldiers' bodies.

Inside the invisible dome only Mirian's body remained.

To be continued...