The Bravest Princess

by E. D. Baker

  Annie sighed. She was tired of wondering if every woman she met might be a witch. And she was tired of worrying that she might actually find the witch who wanted to kill her and not have any defense against whatever she tried to do. It occurred to her that she’d been foolish to follow anyone to an isolated coop, but after meeting the girl, she really didn’t think she was a witch. She doubted very much that the witch would actually do any real labor, or dress in such obviously uncomfortable clothes.

  “I just want to touch your hand, and then I’ll leave you alone,” said Annie.

  “Why? What will that do? I know people have been going to see you, but nobody says why, at least not when I’ve been around.”

  “I’m just trying to make sure that everyone is who they say they are.”

  “And what if I don’t want you to touch me?” asked the girl.

  Annie blinked. No one had refused her touch before, and she certainly didn’t want to force the girl. “I just want to touch your hand,” said Annie. “I’m not going to hurt you!”

  “What exactly are you looking for?”

  “Oh, for goodness’ sake!” Annie said. “I want to make sure you aren’t a witch pretending to be someone who is supposed to live here.”

  “Is that all! Well, in that case, here,” the girl said, thrusting her hand toward Annie.

  The moment the girl was close enough for Annie to get a good look at her, it became obvious that she was no ordinary scullery maid. Although her furs were filthy and smelled horrible, her face and hands were smeared with dried dirt, and her hair was an uncombed, unwashed rat’s nest, Annie could tell that under it all she was undeniably beautiful. Touching her hand diminished her beauty, but not by much. “You’re a princess, aren’t you!” exclaimed Annie. “What on earth are you doing here?”

  Snatching her hand back, the girl tucked it behind her. “Why would you say such a ridiculous thing? Look at me! How could I possibly be a princess?”

  “You’re dressed like that because you don’t want people to know who you are!” Annie exclaimed. “That’s some disguise, although I can’t imagine why anyone would go to such lengths. Don’t worry,” she said, seeing how fearful the girl had become. “Your secret is safe with me!”

  “How can you tell?” asked the girl. “No one else has ever looked past the dirt or the furs.”

  “I suppose it’s because I’m used to looking for the real person behind the magic, or mud, for that matter,” said Annie. “Why are you here, dressed like this?”

  “I’m hiding from my father,” the girl replied. “He’s a king across the sea, but even here he has friends who would be happy to return me to him. I left the kingdom a few months ago when I turned sixteen, the day after he announced that he was going to make me marry his best friend, a cruel, old man with a shriveled heart and no hair except for the tufts in his ears. I left as soon as I knew and hid in a ship that brought me to Gulleer. I made this disguise and came here by foot after I saw one of my father’s friends near the docks. Did you mean it when you said that you wouldn’t tell?”

  “I promise!” said Annie. “But Snow White and her father would help you if they only knew.”

  “Then others would find out, word would spread, and my father would come after me!” the girl cried.

  “No one needs to know who you really are, but you should at least come up with a name that people can call you. I was told that everyone here refers to you as Hey You! Can’t you think of another name?”

  “I’ve always liked the name Lilah,” she said.

  “I like that!” said Annie. “I’m Annie, by the way.”

  “Princess Annabelle, you mean,” said Lilah. “Everyone in the castle knows who you are. You’re engaged to that handsome Prince Liam.”

  “I am,” Annie said with a smile. “Speaking of Liam, I’d better get back. He’ll be looking for me soon. I’m glad I got to meet you, Lilah. If I can help you in any way, let me know.”

  “I will,” Lilah said. “And thank you!”

  As Annie left the chicken coop, she was thinking about what she could do to help the unfortunate princess and didn’t notice the crows until the sky overhead blackened and the first of the birds descended on her. When one flew at her head, she threw up her arm, forgetting that she was still holding the broom. The crow veered away, but others came at her to beat their wings in her face, reaching with their gripping, tearing claws and snapping beaks.

  Annie screamed and flailed at the crows with the broom, ducking her head when they got too close. She was fighting them off when Lilah appeared, tossing her stinky, dirt-encrusted cape over Annie’s head.

  “Run!” Lilah shouted. “There’s a door over here!”

  With Lilah guiding her, Annie ran to the closest door. Lilah flung it open, and they both dashed inside, slamming the door in the faces of more than a dozen crows. As the crows screeched their displeasure, Annie turned to Lilah. “Thank you so much for helping me! I’d still be out there trying to get away if you hadn’t come to my rescue.”

  “I’m glad I could help!” said Lilah. “That could have been really nasty.”

  After handing the broom to Lilah, Annie pulled off the cape and handed her that as well. “Ouch!” Annie said when the cape touched one of the scrapes on her wrists. “I don’t understand. The crows didn’t bother me at all yesterday, but today they’re awful. I wonder why?”

  “I’ve never seen birds act like that,” said Lilah. “Did you do something to make them angry?”

  “No, although it seems that the witch who controls them doesn’t like me one bit. I need to go now. Thanks again for helping me.”

  “That’s quite all right,” said Lilah.

  Annie examined the cuts and scrapes on her hands and wrists on the way back to her chamber. Her hair was a tangled mess when she brushed it back from her face, and she knew she smelled, both from wearing the cape and from contact with the crows. When she saw a footman on her way down the corridor, she sent for bathwater, and asked him to hurry.

  Opening the door to her chamber, Annie paused for a moment at the threshold. Something was wrong, but she wasn’t sure what it might be. The room was on the west side of the castle and wouldn’t benefit from direct sunlight until later in the day. There was light from the windows, of course, but the room was still gloomy with deep shadows in the corners and above the bed’s high canopy. There was a musky smell, though, one that hadn’t been there before, as if some great mangy beast had taken up residence under her bed.

  “What is that?” Annie murmured as she stepped into the room and closed the door behind her. She was still trying to place the smell when something moved on top of the canopy. Annie glanced up and was startled to find crows perched there, watching her. A tiny skittering sound drew her gaze to the wardrobe placed against the back wall. Two crows were perched there as well. When she heard a sound behind her, she spun on her heel and found a row of crows atop the doorframe only a few feet away.

  The room was silent until a crow near one of the windows cried, “Caw!”

  Suddenly, the air outside her windows filled with crows. They poured through the openings like a flood of black water. Annie stood, frozen for a heartbeat, then flung herself at the door, wrenching it open even as the crows that had been perched on the doorframe flew at her. One beat its wings in her face, but like the crow at the tower where they’d left Granny Bentbone, the moment it touched her, the witch’s control over it vanished, leaving the bird confused. Annie screamed, as much in surprise as in fear, and the crow flew out the window. There were others to take its place, however, and a whole stream of crows followed her into the corridor.

  Annie slammed the door, but crows were already there, tearing at her arms with their beaks and claws as she tried to protect her face and eyes. Each time a crow touched her, it left the fray, flapping aimlessly around the corridor as if it wasn’t sure why it was there. Finally there was only one crow left. Ignoring the searing pain as it ripped at her arms with i
ts claws, Annie grabbed it by a wing and whirled, smashing the bird against the wall. The black form slid to the floor, limp, while the other crows flew down the corridor to the nearest window. The birds inside her room hurled themselves against the stout wooden door with enough force to shake it.

  Within moments the corridor was filled with running guards and people from the rooms near hers, summoned by her screams. Maitland, whose room was only a few doors away, tore past them all. “Annie! What happened? Your arms …”

  “I’ll be all right,” Annie said, although she was shaking and suddenly felt cold and clammy. Blood dripped down her arm when she pointed at her door. “My room is filled with crows. That one attacked me.” When she pointed at the crow on the floor, the people standing near it stepped back.

  “Let me see that,” Maitland said, taking a clean handkerchief from his pocket and wrapping it around Annie’s wrist where the bleeding was the worst. “You!” he barked at one of the guards. “Take Princess Annabelle to Princess Snow White’s chamber, and then fetch the royal physician. You and you, come with me,” he said, pointing at other guards. “And you, lend me your sword.”

  The first guard was already helping Annie down the corridor when Maitland and the two men ran into Annie’s chamber. They fought the crows back as they entered the room, then the door shut, muffling the sounds.

  When Snow White opened her door, the overpowering scent of flowers wafted into the corridor. The princess looked surprised to see Annie with a guard, but the moment she saw her friend’s wounds she pulled her into the room and sent the guard after the physician. Annie swallowed hard. The chamber was filled with bouquets of wildflowers as well as flowers from the castle’s own garden. Her stomach was queasy, and the smell was only making it worse.

  “Here, sit down,” said Snow White. “You look as if you’re going to fall over.”

  She was heading toward the window seat when Annie shook her head and said, “Not there. Not by the window. I don’t want the crows to see me!”

  “All right,” Snow White said, taking her to the chair by the table instead. “Can I get you something to drink?’

  Annie shook her head. “I couldn’t. My stomach is upset.”

  Snow White frowned, concern written on her face. She touched Annie’s cheek and her frown deepened. “Maybe you should lie down.”

  “I couldn’t,” said Annie. “I’ll bleed all over your lovely covers.”

  “Don’t you worry about that!” Snow White exclaimed. “Friends are more important than covers. I lived with seven dwarves long enough to know a bit about medicine. Working in a mine is a dangerous business, and one or another of them was always getting hurt. I could treat this myself if I was at the cottage with my herbs handy, but we’ll have to wait until the physician comes now. I’ve never met him, but any healer worth his salt will have what I need. Lie down on the bed while I get some clean cloths. We can do that much for the bleeding at least. This should work,” she said, taking a fine soft shift from a trunk and ripping it into pieces. Annie cried out in protest when she saw what her friend had done.

  Snow White brought a bowl of clean water and one of the strips of cloth to Annie’s side and began to clean her wounds. When Annie drew back, Snow White began to talk in a cheerful voice as if to distract her. “Did I tell you what my suitors have been up to? They’ve all been bringing me flowers. Digby brings me bouquets that look just like the ones the head gardener normally sends to my room every morning. Nasheen drops off one perfect blossom from the castle garden, while Emilio collects flowers from the swamp just past the village. Milo makes wreaths for my hair. He ties the stems together with the most intricate knots. They’re really quite lovely.”

  “Ouch!” cried Annie as Snow White cleaned one of the deeper wounds. “Go on!” she said through gritted teeth. “What else have they done?”

  Snow White continued to talk as she fetched the other scraps of fabric. “Let’s see … Nasheen took me riding this morning. He gave me a few pointers, then rode off at a gallop. I couldn’t keep up, and when he disappeared and didn’t come back, I waited for a while. I finally returned to the castle without him. The mare he gave me is very nice, although I don’t think much of Nasheen as a riding instructor.”

  Annie laughed, but it turned into a groan when Snow White began to wrap a bandage around her wrist.

  “Tandry brought me a sack with a dead rabbit in it,” Snow White hurried to say when Annie grimaced at the pain. “He said he would get me one every day if I liked. I thanked him and asked him to take the rest to the kitchen.”

  “Tandry doesn’t seem to know much about choosing gifts for a lady,” said Annie.

  “Ah, but then there’s Andreas. He tried to serenade me last night, but he picked the wrong window and sang to an elderly noblewoman instead. She told me this morning that she thinks she’s in love.”

  Annie was laughing again when there was a knock on the door, and Snow White called out, “What is it?”

  “Flowers for you, Your Highness,” said the voice. “They’re from Prince Tandry this time.”

  “Give them to someone else!” called Snow White. “I have too many in here as it is. And let it be known that I don’t want to be disturbed for the rest of the day.” Snow White glanced at Annie’s face. Pressing her palm to Annie’s forehead, she clucked her tongue and said, “You’re too pale, and your skin is cool and damp. Lie still while I raise your feet.” She shoved a pillow under Annie’s legs.

  “I don’t want—” Annie began.

  “And this blanket should keep you warm.”

  “But I—” Annie protested.

  The door slammed open and suddenly Liam was there. “I heard you were hurt, Annie. What happened?”

  Annie sat up suddenly, which made her head spin. “I’m all right. Just a few cuts—”

  “If only I had some yarrow!” said Snow White. “Where is that physician?”

  Liam sat down beside Annie. “He’s coming. I saw him in the corridor just now.”

  “I should always keep my herbs at hand. Perhaps I’ll start an herb garden here,” Snow White said to herself.

  “Where’s my patient?” the physician demanded as he bustled into the room. He was an older man with a round belly and a round face, and he exuded confidence as he stopped in front of Annie. A young man scurried in behind him, carrying a large leather bag. “Now, what have we here?” the physician said.

  “Do you have yarrow with you?” Snow White asked him.

  “I’m not an herbalist, Your Highness. I practice only the most modern medicine. Unwrap those bandages, young man, and let me take a look. My, those are deep. Well, these bandages will do. We’ll just wrap them up again, and … Boy, where are my leeches?” he said, turning to his helper.

  “Why do you need leeches?” asked Liam. “She’s already bleeding!”

  “Remove the bad humors, young man,” said the physician. “Always a good idea!”

  Snow White stepped between Annie and the royal physician. “You are not using leeches on her! You’re finished here. Out! Out right now! Guard, make sure this man leaves,” she told the guard who had brought the physician. “Annie, I’m going to go look for yarrow, and I’ll … wait a moment! I might already have some!” she said when her eyes landed on a bouquet of wildflowers.

  The physician stared at Snow White openmouthed as she hurried across the room. “Well, I never!” he said, shoving the jar of leeches back in his leather sack. “King Archibald will hear about this!”

  “And from more than one person,” said Liam, taking Annie’s hand in his. “Don’t worry, that man isn’t coming anywhere near you.”

  Only moments after the physician stormed out, Snow White stood up from where she was bent over the bouquet, waving some white blossoms in the air. “This should do the trick,” she said. Taking a clean goblet from the table, she tore up some of the yarrow leaves and mashed them into a paste. After removing the bandages, she spread the paste on the still-bleeding w
ounds. Within minutes, the bleeding stopped.

  “Leeches!” she muttered under her breath. “I’m going to plant a big herb garden.”

  “Thank you, Snow White,” said Annie. “It already hurts less.”

  Liam leaned down to kiss Annie’s forehead. “Good! I was going to ask if you wanted to come with me now, but I think you should stay here and rest.”

  “Oh no!” Annie said. “You can’t look for the witch by yourself. What if she tries to use magic on you?”

  “We’ll just have to be faster than she is,” Liam replied.

  “I don’t like this one bit! If you go without me and you meet the witch, she’ll have gotten exactly what she wanted! I won’t be there to protect you, and she could turn you into a snail or something. Snow White, you have to help me convince him!”

  “Annie is right,” said Snow White. “I’m sure the witch would love to get rid of you. If you aren’t around, Annie will be vulnerable to whatever the witch has planned. It’s still early. Can’t you wait until Annie has rested for a bit? I can give her some tincture of valerian to help her take a nap. I might have a bloom or two, and if I don’t, I’m sure I can find some growing near the castle.”

  Liam reached down to brush a loose tendril from Annie’s cheek. “I’ll wait, but if you aren’t up to it later, I’ll have to go without you.”

  “I’ll be ready,” said Annie. “You’ll see.”

  Chapter 16

  “We found you a new room,” Liam told Annie as she tidied her hair. She felt much better after her nap and was glad Snow White had persuaded Liam to wait.

  “Was my old room in such terrible shape?” she asked.

  “Yes, it was. Plus Maitland and I didn’t want you where the crows could find you again. Your new room is smaller, and we’ve covered the window with a tapestry so the crows can’t look in and see you.”

  “If I’m in the only room with the window covered, won’t the witches suspect something?”