I want to tell you a story that seems to never really ever end. The story about the princess and the frog. It's not the normal story, it's more of a realistic tale. Slimy frog and a princess with a father that wanted only the best for his daughter, always. She grew up fast and was always taught to mind her manners and watch her tongue. She wanted to be free, and one day she found her chance at freedom, but rather than seeing it for what it was she rather hastily looked it over with disgust. Warts and slime, he didn't have much to prove for himself. They met on a sunny day in the woods. He was tall and slender like a green been, and she wanted nothing to do with him. As fate would have it, they bickered and fought but their paths kept meeting that day and they eventually traveled together through the forest. When reaching the deepest darkest part he drew his sword and the princess laughed in mockery. A slender boy with a sword no bigger than him? How did he even carry it around without falling over it constantly? But he held his temper and stayed in front to protect the princess.
The sky grew darker as they walked farther. Strange noises began to arise from around them, and the princess grew scared. She would never admit being scared, but she wished she had gone another path or not went out at all. They were lost, cold, and now venturing in the dark with a sword, noises, and a boy as skinny as a rail for protection. Alas, the noises grew louder behind them. The boy put out his arm to pass by the princess to stand between her and the beast. Their hearts were pounding and breath became harder to breathe. Now they were sensitive to ever sound around them, feeling caged and exposed. A figure appeared from the brush a yard away, but it was only a dark form. The young lad yelled to the figure to present itself before him, but it nearly stood and stared without a flinch.
The two travelers were not much apart in age, but they were from two completely different ways of life. He worked in the mines with his father and brothers. Soot under his finger nails, filth in his hair, and the sweat that lined his back brought on the illusion of slime oozing from his pores. The princess had been brought up without work, without much that she didn't need or ask for. She wasn't a greedy princess, she knew when to ask and when not to ask for things. Her father, the king, was a very humble man and loved his people, but never was afraid to say no. In all actuality their families neither loathed nor adored each other. They had never met, but today seemed to have other plans in store for their future.
Grabbing a match from her small pocket, the princess grabbed a branch with leaves and lit it on fire. The boy became alarmed at the fire and began to raise his voice when he began slowly understanding her reasons. Without a word he moved forward with her close behind to light their path towards the beast that had been staring at them. A frog. A loud screeching frog at that, but it was merely a frog. The extra shadow giving it height was an illusion from some bushes, but now that they knew what it was they felt safe enough to travel on. Making camp here wasn't going to be an option until they could find a clearing. A field, a barn, anything that wasn't the hundred acre woods of horror. The burning sprig was nearly out by the time of arrival to a large open field. They made camp, or what they though could be declared as camp, and rested. Each one watch for an hour for any unwanted company as their ancestors had taught them. Slowly neither were at watch after the moon rose to the middle of the sky, and they drew close for warmth.
The boy woke first, and what he saw when he woke surprised him. Laying close was the princess. Her long locks of hair softly cuddling around her head acting as a pillow. Her soft face, the face that looked much different than when she was awake. She was beautiful. Surprisingly. Very beautiful. He caught himself in mid reach to stroke the hair from her cheek, and shook his head. What a fool, he thought. Moving away from her to the other side of the fire he lay down again and pretend to sleep as to not wake her or allow her knowledge of their sleeping closely. When she woke she rose to her feet in seconds. Looking around dazed an slightly confused she looked around at the ground and then at him. Good, she thought, he kept his distance.
Morning broke into the sky in a bright ray of colors. They had already set off on their journey again. This time it wouldn't take another day to reach their destination. The village was just beyond the hills ahead. They arrived at the outer gates of the village and she stopped him. He looked at her, she caught this new look and it burned in her mind. She thought he must be sick, or just tired and not thinking correctly. She explained to him why no one could know of their journey together, and he agreed. They went their separate ways each to their own homes. One to a castle that looked over all the land, and the other to a small village cottage that only had the view of mud and poverty.
But they never forgot.
The sword. The frog. The moon.
He worked and thought of the way she slept, her face, and her beauty.
She went to her lessons and wondered what that look in his eye really meant.
They could feel it. In their souls. Fate.
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