The Frog Collector

The princess was having different feelings as she walked to her room. She was angry with the king for having hidden that story for so long, she missed her mother and was sad to have lost her like that, but she was also happy for her bravery in facing Isra and also for knowing a little more about her.

Turning into a hallway, the girl came across Michael who could not look her in the eye.

“My father told me everything, Michael. I’m going to bed now, tell the guards not to bother me at any time”, said the princess with sadly.

“I’m sorry, Your Highness. I had to speak”, he said gloomily.

The princess didn’t answer and went to her dormitory, told the guards at the entrance to her chamber that Michael was calling them, and they came out. The girl changed her robes quickly, waited a while, left the room before the guards returned, and, checking that there was no one lurking about, managed to leave the palace without anyone seeing her. The princess started to take the same route as the day before to go to the forest, but this time she saw that there were several soldiers around. So she made a huge turn to lose them and headed towards Mirian.

***

“Ohiah Wobh Gyon…“, said the witch who was sitting outside her house in the forest. “I’m sure that’s the princess, Emily. I didn’t know that she also couldn’t be affected by magic like the king. How lucky I was when she came through these walls. I’ll be out of here soon”, the woman said to Emily, who was tending to her bruised face.

Mirian looked at the frog in Emily’s hands and said in a mocking tone:

“Obviously I have this young man to thank as well for coming to these parts to look for a flower. It’s a pity that he asked me too many questions. If the princess tries anything against me, I have her beloved with me. Which gives me a huge advantage”.

Suddenly in the distance, the two saw the princess appear on a different side from where she had left the day before.

“Oh… That was quicker than I thought. Go to your garden and don’t show up here looking like that”, shouted the old woman, rising from her chair.

Emily stood watching the princess with narrowed eyes and delaying as long as possible to go to the garden.

“Go!”, Mirian vociferated.

Emily left. Then the princess arrived at the house and met the smiling old woman who was waiting for her.

“What is it, dear? Have you been crying?”, asked the woman, seeing the princess with red eyes.

“Sorry ma’am, but that flower no longer exists in the kingdom”, said the girl.

The witch didn’t look surprised and this made the princess stunned. The woman just sank into thoughts: “I thought the king was bluffing when he was trying to get me out of here. No one would be crazy to end a power like that, but he did... But I know there is a place that has these flowers...”

The princess interrupted:

“Is there nothing else you can do to help me find my beloved?”

“Hm… there is another witch in this kingdom that I think still keeps the flowers. But she is an old enemy of mine. I didn’t want you to go there, but there seems to be no other way”, said the old woman.

“Where is this witch?”, asked the princess, getting excited.

“She lived to the northwest in a wooden house when I was arrested here. It was the only house in the place, easy to find. But it’s been a long time and I’m not sure if the woman is still there. It is about an hour’s walk to get there”.

“I will look for her, wherever she is”, said the princess with determination.

Mirian nodded.

“I have to be quick… I’m going”, said the princess.

“Alright. Just remember, dear, that other witch is very bad. She has a powerful magic of persuasion. You have to be very careful. Don’t start talking to her because otherwise she will magically lure you in and kill you. Take the flowers without her seeing you”

The princess was apprehensive, but said:

“I’m going to make it”.

So Agatha set off to the northwest and as she was leaving, she thought she had been rude for not asking or remembering Emily. However, she saw the girl in the distance in the garden at the back of the house. Because of the speed with which she was leaving, Agatha could not see clearly, but it seemed to her that the girl picked a dark flower from the ground and kept it in her clothes.