Part III

Antoine sat in the library. He had spent his day planning another ball with the princess. His wife loved parties and seemed to want to throw as many as possible. Antoine didn't know why. He didn't feel like celebrating.

"You must cheer up." She had told him. "People may start to wonder."

Wonder? He thought. What? He couldn't help his regretful demeanor. Some things were just uncontrollable. He doubted the princess would be happy if he suddenly up and left.

The twelve dresses the princess had had made for the mermaid had been delivered that morning. The princess had asked him why he hadn't stayed as she went through them. The little dresses made the prince extra sad. They reminded him of his loss. It was a loss the princess didn't seem to share though he thought she was fond of the little mermaid.

He sighed and looked up at the large portrait of a distinguished gentleman that stood above the fireplace. "Did I do the right thing? Wasn't it the correct thing to have the witch return her to her family?" he wasn't sure why he was talking to a painting. He didn't even know of whom the portrait was of. He just needed someone to talk to. Someone who would listen. Oh, but what he'd give for an answer to his question.

"Pardon me, prince?" A head of one of his servants popped in the door.

"Yes?" He turned to face the boy.

"The Duchess is here to see you."

"Duchess?" Questioned the prince. "What duchess?"

"She didn't give a name. She just requested to see you immediately."

The prince paused to think for a moment. Duchess? He knew several duchesses, but all of which would gladly give their names when calling upon him he was sure. Who was this mysterious woman who had come calling on him?

"Sir?"

"Tell her I'll be with her shortly. Show her to the parlor."

"Yes, your highness." The boy nodded and soon exited the room.

Antoine soon followed. Duchess? Antoine was curious to see who it really was.

* * *

Jim set up camp, just outside of town. He decided it would be best for him to visit the castle the following day. He had been riding most of the present daylight hours and knew it would be considered rude if he were to call upon the prince and princess so late.

The waiting though, didn't suit him very well. He had never been very patient. He walked over to his saddle and removed an apple for his supper and another for Samuel. The horse greedily gobbled up the treat and Jim walked back over to the fire to eat his.

He ate the food slowly and thoughtfully, thinking back on his first encounter with the mysterious girl. She had been in prison at the kingdom he lived in. She had seemed so oblivious to everything. He remembered the way she looked at the apple when he had clumsily dropped his basket. There was such an aura of mystery that surrounded that girl. It was fascinating.

Samuel suddenly snorted and Jim sprung up from his place and pulled out his sword. Bushes rustled and he looked frantically around him for the being that had spooked his horse.

A young woman approached him. "Pardon me? I didn't mean to upset your horse, but I have seemed to have lost my way..." She didn't seem frightened by his sword and this puzzled him.

"Well, where is it that you are trying to get?" He was suspicious of the girl and didn't sheath his sword.

"I'm not entirely sure. You see. I'm looking for my aunt."

"Your aunt?"

The girl nodded.

Jim wasn't sure to think.

"Are there any towns nearby?" She asked him.

"Yes. There's one about a quarter mile from here."

"What's it called?"

"I don't know."

"I see."

This girl was mysterious. Jim wondered about that. How could it be that he was on a quest to find a mysterious girl and then that he suddenly happened upon one? It seemed too ironic to be real and he suspected danger.

"Look, I don't know who you are, but it isn't a very good idea to go wandering around in the dark."

The girl sat upon a tree stump. "Oh, I'm sorry. How rude of me to not introduce myself. I'm Adelle."

He raised an eyebrow and continued to look at her strangely. Adelle? The name didn't ring a bell. He wondered who she was and where she had come from.

"Um… may I ask for your name?" Adelle looked at him with curious cerulean eyes.

"Um… er… it's Jim."

Adelle nodded.

It is here Jim finally returned his sword to its sheath. Though strange, Adelle seemed harmless enough. He decided to be hospitable and offered her an apple.

"No, thank you." She said. "I'm not very hungry."

"Well, then is there anything else I can help you with?"

She shook her head and rose from the stump. "Thank you for your help, but I think that I will travel into town now and find a hotel to put me up for the night." She paused at the edge of his campsite and turned around. "Which way is town again?"

"A quarter of a mile east." He pointed to make sure she didn't get confused.

"Oh, my yes. Thank you." He watched as she walked off.

Strange. Very strange indeed. He quietly finished his apple and waited until the fire burnt out before grabbing a blanket and curling up in the dirt to fall asleep. He awoke early the next morning to find both his horse and most of his belongings gone. He had only one guess of who had taken them. Adelle.