by Becky Biggs
“That yer friend?” Mavis asked, approaching the group. She still didn’t sound friendly, but at least she seemed a bit less likely to snap.
“Yes,” Emerald whispered. “She was crushed by the dragon.”
“If Harry’s here, he can probably help,” Mavis said matter-of-factly. “He’s good at that stuff.”
Emerald looked up at her in hope and gratitude. Mavis simply sniffed and looked away.
“Emerald, it will be okay,” Porter said softly to Emerald, putting his hand over hers.
“How are you doing?” Emerald looked up at him, realizing she hadn’t checked on him yet.
“I have a few bruises and my head is still a little woozy, but I’ll be okay. I just need to lay off the tallyweed in the future.” He smiled at Emerald. She smiled back. She couldn’t believe how many times she’d come close to losing Porter in the last few weeks. And yet here he was still at her side and supporting her once again. If it was anyone else, she was sure they would have run away by now. He was a true hero in her book. She resolved to protect him and their friendship with all her might from here on out.
After what seemed like an eternity, the two centaurs returned to the throne room holding up a very weak Harry. Though the chaos had died down, none of the creatures had left the room. They were milling around, looking worriedly at Emerald and her little group. The crowd made way for the centaurs, though, as the creatures gently escorted Harry to Emerald. Clearly his time in the dungeon hadn’t been easy. He looked weary and hungry, but otherwise uninjured.
“Oh, Harry!” both Elyria and Mavis said at the same time. He looked at them both and then back at the floor, ashamed.
“Yah clod!” Mavis said, but she gave her son a big hug.
“Maybe this time yah’ll have learned yer lesson.”
“Yes, Mother,” he said dryly. “Good to see yah too.”
“Harry,” Elyria said more sternly. “Harry, you’ve created quite a mess with your stone.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Harry said, this time sounding properly abashed. “Ah’m sorry.”
“Fortunately, this young lady saved the day.” Elyria gestured grandly to Emerald. Harry’s eyes went wide when he saw the young woman standing before him.
“Thank you, Miss, uh—”
“Princess Emerald,” Elyria interrupted, giving Harry a stern look. “My goddaughter.”
“Princess Emerald,” he repeated in amazement, dropping to his knees.
“Rise, please, Harry.” Emerald took his rough hands in hers and pulled him up. “Maybe you can save the day too. Your mother said you might be able to help my friend. She was crushed by the dragon.”
Emerald stepped out of the way so Harry could see Maple. He stood but continued to make a couple of small bows as he walked past Emerald. He knelt when he reached Maple and put a hand on her forehead, touched her mouth, and then softly patted down the rest of her body. His forehead was furled in concentration.
“Yes, perhaps. It’s bad, but just maybe,” he muttered. “Her heart still beats. Very faint. But it beats.”
“Please, oh please do something,” Emerald pleaded.
“Ah, well, Ah might be able . . . Ah would need a unicorn, though.” Harry muttered to himself.
“Bia!” Emerald called as she stood and looked around for the unicorn, hoping she was still there.
“At your service,” Bia’s smooth voice came from the front of the room.
The crowds parted, leaving room for Bia to make her way to the little group. Even the creatures of Eseland, who were no strangers to unicorns, bowed reverently out of her way. Emerald could hear her father gasp and caught a ripple of excited, hushed chatter erupt from his knights. As many magical creatures as they’d seen since Medina started taking in refugees, there hadn’t been a single unicorn. The pure majesty of a unicorn was enough to make any man or woman fall to his or her knees in gratitude for seeing such a wondrous sight.
“Oh, excellent. We might just have a chance,” Harry said as Bia came to a stop next to him. “Ah need one of yer tears. She needs to drink it.”
Bia nodded and bent over Maple’s face as Harry gently opened the imp’s mouth. A single silver tear fell from the unicorn’s eye into Maple’s mouth. Emerald watched in fascination.
“Unicorn tears have healing powers,” explained Harry. He then put one hand on Maple’s forehead and the other on his heart. Closing his eyes, Harry began to chant in a language Emerald didn’t recognize. She saw beads of sweat form at his forehead as he chanted. It seemed like he went on for hours, but the entire room stayed silent and focused on Harry as he fought for Maple’s life.
“Now what?” Emerald asked, when he finally finished, looking eagerly at Maple for any sign of life.
“Now, we wait,” Harry said. “The unicorn’s tear and my spell for life should give her a fighting chance. She needs to rest. But she shouldn’t be moved far. Is there somewhere we can take her?”
“Please, you can have one of the rooms in our castle.” The prince Raina was supposed to marry suddenly materialized next to Emerald’s small gang. He bowed. “Guillaume Joseph Matthew Winchester the Third, at your service.”
“Thank you, Prince Gee—” Emerald started, but the prince interrupted her.
“Just Guy is fine,” he said, gallantly. “My family—my kingdom—and I are forever in your debt. If there’s anything we can do.”
“Just the room is fine for now,” Emerald responded, smiling at him.
“Indeed,” Prince Guy said. “Please, follow me.”
Emerald nodded at her friends and Porter gently took Maple from Raina’s arms. He followed the prince. Emerald and Filari helped Raina up and together they walked behind Porter. Emerald’s godmother, Harry, and King Argos made up the rear of their little procession. The room was filled with a reverent silence as Emerald and her friends left. Emerald could feel all eyes on her. She was trying with all her might to keep her head up and not break down into worried sobs.
All they could do was wait.
Chapter Twenty-Two
GET BETTER MAPLE
It had been a full week since Emerald faced the dragon and Maple still had not opened her eyes. Emerald hadn’t left her side. Prince Guy had given them the best room in the castle and Emerald slept on a tufted velvet chaise next to the carved wooden canopy bed in which Maple rested. Her friends, godmother, and father all came in from time to time and encouraged her to take a break for a meal or to at least step out for some air, but Emerald refused. She wouldn’t leave her best friend.
“Maple, please don’t leave me,” Emerald murmured as she stroked the imp’s pale face. “I can’t live without you again.”
A knock on the door startled her.
“Enter,” she called, wiping her eyes on her sleeve. Her godmother had finally convinced her to change and she was now wearing a simple blue cotton gown borrowed from one of the castle maids.
Harry stepped into the room and closed the door. He walked over to the bed and looked thoughtfully down at Maple. He touched her head and felt at her wrist for a pulse. He then pushed the heavy down comforter back and gently moved her legs.
“She seems to be healing well, physically,” Harry said, scrunching up his wrinkled face in concentration. “Perhaps the trauma was too much for her mind. Ah’ll come back in a bit. Bring my blossom elixir and memory smoke again.”
Harry had been working around the clock to try and heal Maple. He refused to give up. Emerald was forever grateful to him and felt he was more than making up for his mistakes with the stone.
“Would ya like a sleeping potion?” Harry asked, peering worriedly at Emerald’s worn face. “Looks like ya could use a little rest.”
“No. Thank you, Harry. I’ll rest when . . .” Emerald’s voice trailed off and she gestured toward Maple. Harry nodded understandingly and made his way back to the door. He turned before leaving as if to say something, but instead just smiled encouragingly at Emerald and stepped quietly out into the ha
ll.
A few hours later, Emerald was awoken by another rap on the door. She jolted upright and wiped a small trail of saliva from her cheek. She couldn’t believe she’d fallen asleep. She looked quickly at Maple but was relieved to see her friend was still breathing. She even seemed to have a little more color in her cheeks.
“Come in,” Emerald called. The door opened and Raina walked in uncertainly. She hadn’t been by since Maple was brought to the room. Emerald supposed she felt guilty for what her father had done and for Maple’s injury.
“Hello, um, I just wanted to check on Maple,” Raina said timidly as she approached the bed. “Is she getting better?”
“She seems to be, but she hasn’t woken up yet.”
“Oh.” Raina fell silent for a bit, looking down at Maple. Emerald eventually noticed Raina was biting her bottom lip to keep from crying. Instantly she felt bad. Maple was still here, but Raina had lost her father. No matter how evil he was, losing him couldn’t be easy for her.
“How are you?” Emerald asked Raina gently.
“Me? I, um, I’m . . . okay . . .” Raina choked before bursting into tears. “Sorry, I wasn’t going to do this. Cry, I mean.”
“It’s okay,” Emerald said, rising from the bed and walking around to Raina. She put her arms awkwardly around the young woman who had almost become her stepdaughter.
“I just wish I could go back,” Raina sniffed, her sobs slowing a bit. “I wish I could stop him. Stop all of this before it started. He deserved it. But I do miss him. He was . . . he loved me.”
“Your father?” Emerald asked, immediately regretting her obvious question.
“Yes, him.” Raina looked up at Emerald with watery blue eyes. “And also, there’s Prince Guy. He’s been really sweet. I think I like him. But I’m afraid if his people see him with me they won’t trust him.”
Emerald nodded. “Perhaps take it slow. Do some small things to help the creatures of Eseland rebuild their lives. Take them food or help replant the area around the castle that was destroyed by vines. Let them see you aren’t your father.”
“Prince Guy says the same thing,” Raina agreed, though her eyes still looked worried. “I know I can’t go back. I just hope I can move forward.”
“You can.” Emerald smiled encouragingly. “And I’ll help you too. I’ll publicly declare and demonstrate our friendship.”
“Oh, thank you, Emerald!” Raina threw her arms around the princess. “I know I don’t deserve your kindness. I’m so sorry for the way I treated you.”
“Well, we all do things we sometimes regret.”
“Regret! Yes, I was supposed to tell you. Your mother is here to see you.” Raina exclaimed. Emerald’s eyes flew open in surprise. She’d been through a lot in the past couple of weeks, but she didn’t know if she had the strength to see her mother yet.
“Should I send her in?” Raina asked, searching Emerald’s face.
Emerald paused and then nodded. “Yes, of course. Please send her in.”
After one more quick hug, Raina scuttled out of the room. Emerald waited with pounding heart for her mother to come in. She didn’t want to leave Maple, but she also didn’t know if her reunion with her mother was something that should play out in front of her injured friend. Before she could make a decision about staying or leaving, the door opened once again and her mother stepped in.
Emerald and her mother stared at each other uncertainly for a moment, but then a wave of relief crossed Queen Willow’s face. She rushed over to Emerald and gathered her up in her arms. “Emerald, my daughter, I’m so happy to see you,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. “When you ran off, I felt so guilty. I knew I’d pushed you too far. And when we got the invitation saying you were marrying King Spruce, I was so scared. I was so frightened that you were gone forever.”
“I’m sorry, Mama. I really didn’t mean to make you worry. I just couldn’t face marrying Prince Eustace.”
“I know, my darling,” her mother responded. “I was so caught up in trying to make your life perfect that I didn’t take the time to consider what you really needed—understanding. And acceptance. You are not me. You are not my mother. You are you and you are special.”
“Thank you, Mama,” Emerald said, hugging her mother again. “I shouldn’t have run away. That wasn’t very brave of me. I’ve learned it’s not just enough to be physically strong. I also have to be strong in my beliefs.”
“I think we’ve both learned a thing or two these past few weeks,” Emerald’s mother said, smiling.
“You did almost get your way, though,” Emerald said.
“What do you mean?” her mother asked, cocking an eyebrow.
“Well, I almost married a king. And I would have had a daughter right away,” Emerald said, trying to keep a straight face.
Her mother’s face went pale. “He was definitely not who I had in mind for your husband,” Queen Willow said weakly.
“Well, the wedding fell through. He didn’t even make it to the feast. I guess you could say he became the feast,” Emerald said, bursting out laughing. Queen Willow joined in. The two of them couldn’t stop laughing, but it was more from relief than hilarity.
“If that’s your idea of a wedding, Emerald, please don’t invite me to the next one,” a small voice, punctuated by the sound of munching, squeaked behind Emerald.
“Maple!”
Chapter Twenty-Three
HAPPILY EVER AFTER . . .
UNTIL THE NEXT ADVENTURE
A crowd gathered to see Emerald and her family off on their return journey home. The air was filled with music and laughter. As the dust settled from the traumatic rise and fall of King Spruce, the creatures of Eseland moved from shock into celebration. A few days after Maple awoke, Prince Guy and his family, who were restored from being frozen in stone, hosted a ball to honor Emerald for saving the kingdom. Nearly a week later, the festive atmosphere still filled the land.
“It is with great sadness that we bid farewell to the great Princess Emerald and her friends and family,” proclaimed Prince Guy to the gathered crowds at the moment of Emerald and her entourage’s departure. “But we have made a bond for life. If ever Medina should need our help, we will be there. And I believe Medina will do the same for us.”
Emerald smiled and nodded. Her parents nodded as well. Prince Guy bowed deeply and a cheer went up from the crowd. Raina ran over to Emerald and flung her arms around her new friend.
“I’ll hope you’ll include me in that bond for life,” Raina whispered in Emerald’s ear. Emerald hugged her tightly and whispered back, “I will.” The girls grinned at each other after they pulled away. Raina bounded back to stand near Prince Guy. It seemed things were going well between the two of them.
“May I help you onto your horse?” Porter stepped next to Emerald and held out a hand to her. He had fully recovered in the days after the wedding fiasco. They both flushed a bit as their eyes met. King Argos and Queen Willow both noticed the look that passed between them and exchanged their own, interested look. Perhaps something more than just a friendship was brewing here.
“Thank you,” Emerald said softly as Porter boosted her up onto her horse. She was glad that not only had her parents welcomed Porter back to the castle with open arms, they had also asked him to more formally continue Emerald’s archery, sword fighting, and horseback lessons. It looked like the two of them would be spending a lot more time together. Emerald smiled happily to herself.
“You know, I just realized that Porter is very handsome,” Maple whispered slyly to Emerald after Porter boosted her up behind the princess.
“Oh hush.” Emerald flushed, gripping the reins and trying to fight the instinct to steal another glance at Porter.
“I’m just saying,” Maple responded innocently as she wrapped her arms around Emerald’s waist. “I think he thinks you are quite pretty too.”
“Maple!” Emerald exclaimed. Her face and neck were now as red as her hair. Maple laughed. Emeral
d couldn’t be too upset at the little imp. It was good to hear her laughing again.
A trumpet sounded and Emerald and her party were off. Emerald touched the cord around her neck attached to the pouch holding her guiding stone. It had been recovered from the evil king’s cottage. She was grateful to have it back. She wouldn’t need it on this journey, but it gave her a sense of comfort. She needed that right now. Emerald was a little nervous about her return to Medina. So much had changed since she left. Not only was she filled with a new confidence and inner strength, her parents had also agreed to postpone her search for a fiancé. She was going to be allowed to do things her way. Of course, some people (namely her grandmother) weren’t going to be happy, but her parents now recognized that Emerald had to form her own path to become the queen she was meant to be.
Emerald could hear Maple humming happily behind her. Whatever happened next, Emerald knew she was surrounded by friends and family who loved and supported her.
***
To Emerald’s happy surprise, she was welcomed back in Medina with almost as much fanfare as she’d received before she left Eseland. Highly exaggerated stories were already flying around about Emerald’s adventure and she was greeted by stares of awe and admiration whenever she went out.
“I heard you battled two dragons,” Maple said with a giggle as she watched Porter critique Emerald’s grip on her bow and arrow one afternoon a few days after their return.
“And I heard King Spruce cast a love spell on you, but you were too strong and broke his heart instead.” Porter grinned at her.
“Oh, shush, you two. I’m just glad the whole thing is over.”
“Me too,” Porter agreed.
“Me three,” Maple piped up, not wanting to be left out. She popped a bit of muffin in her mouth. “You know, there aren’t much better bakers in the world than those in Medina. I think we should stick around here for a while.”
Emerald smiled fondly at her friend. She was happy to be home. Her adventure had stretched her emotionally and physically, making her equally more grateful for her life in Medina as well as more confident in the person she was becoming. It was fun to reminisce about the things she and her friends had seen and done, but it would be a lie to say she wasn’t glad it was over.