Chapter Six

My Barefooted Cupid

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I was unaware of how long I traveled as I was forced to rest every now and then – apparently frogs tire easily and my legs burned in protest with every half mile. It was extremely tedious. I lost track of the days that passed by, concerning myself only with the distance I put between me and my ex-parents.

When I finally felt like I could go on no longer, my feet carried me to a pond lined with cattails and long, green grasses. The water was warm and clearer than I've ever seen in a pond. It was perfect. The area was quiet and it seemed as though I was the pond's only inhabitant with the exception of a few small fish, but they weren't very much company so they might as well have been nonexistent.

After a couple days rest, I ventured out to explore my surroundings. There was a giant mass of vines not too far away that caught my attention when I arrived, and I was curious to what it might actually be. As I drew closer, I realized that the vines outlined what appeared to be a huge house, or rather, a palace. It seemed to be abandoned for many years and stayed uninhabited for five more years beyond that.

Five years. That is how long since I've discovered my little pond. Those few fish became quite a few more, swimming lazily about without a purpose. At least, that's how I view their tedious efforts to make a difference in the world. But enough about them. The real excitement is the moment I awoke this morning. I was shocked to discover half of the vines gone from the palace walls. There were also servants outside, tidying up the weed-ravaged gardens and beating the many dusty rugs and furniture from inside the filthy palace. But what would one expect after being abandoned for so many years?

Anyway, these activities were making me antsy, since I haven't seen people in over five years. Why, one would ask? Well, I suppose that I just grew sick of people, and I gave up. I know, I know; it isn't really what one likes to hear, but I guess I felt that my ever finding a princess to fall in love with a frog and then actually kiss one was too farfetched to try and live out. It's really quite depressing now that I think about it, but one can always blame my parents. I know I did.

Once the palace began to look more like a palace, I noticed that the family began to move in. I couldn't really see them, of course, because my pond was in the back of the palace and, usually, people from a high status used the front door rather than the back. What I did note was the behavior of the servants. Before, they were carefree and did what they wanted when they wanted, but now, their expressions were more submissive and their actions limited.

Almost a week had passed and the excitement I had felt dissipated some, since none had bothered to visit my pond. I felt secluded, though people were only yards away. I thought about checking the palace out myself, but I never went through with it. I had too many bad reactions with what form I was and the fact that I could speak. I finally decided to ignore my new neighbors, since they took no notice of me and my beautiful pond, which I figured would in any case attract someone.

A full two weeks passed by and I was growing ever impatient. My curiosity was getting the better of me, as I wished every so often for at least one person to come and visit, even for only a few minutes. I also wanted to know who exactly occupied the palace. Was it nobility or royalty? And if it was royalty, perhaps a princess was near by . . .

Then, it happened. I was sitting on a lily pad watching the clouds go by (yes, that's how bored I was, okay?) and I heard a door slam. I looked to the palace to find a girl walking toward my pond! She looked to be a little younger than I was, my guess would be around 18 or 19, and wore a simple dress without any shoes. Her light brown hair was in one long braid, which ended at her lower back. When she came to my pond, she sat down bringing her knees to her chest. I watched her from my place on the lily pad. She gazed blankly into the water for a little while before the girl put her face in her arms and began to sob, making her whole body tremble.

Unable to stop myself, I asked as gently as I could, "Why are you crying?" My voice was deeper than I remembered, making me question if it was actually mine. She looked up and around, her eyes finally resting on me. They were quite stunning, her eyes. Her tears made them shine, bringing out their bright, blue-green color. Suddenly, her eyebrows met in confusion.

"Did a frog just talk to me?" she muttered to herself. Then she laughed and added, "Don't be ridiculous, Lia. Frog's can't talk. Oh my God, stop talking to yourself."

I laughed quietly to myself. "Actually," I said. "I asked you a question." Her eyes grew wide and her mouth opened slightly as though about to scream. "Please don't."

After a few moments, the shock on her face seemed to disappear a little. She wiped the tears from her eyes and said, "Don't what?"

"Scream. I know my talking is difficult to grasp, but if it helps, I'm not really a frog."

"I wasn't going to scream," she replied testily. "Having a frog talk is quite unexpected, but honestly, who would scream?"

"You'd be surprised."

"Seriously?" she asked, amused. I nodded. "Wow. I bet they were all women, too, huh?"

"Umm…" I thought back. "There was this old couple, but for the most part, yeah. They were all girls."

"Figures," she scoffed. "Some people. . . . So, what happened to you, anyway?" she asked.

"I was transformed by a witch."

"Why? What did you do to her?"

"I didn't do anything. My father did." She gave me a curious look. "It's kind of a long story." She shrugged her shoulders.

"I don't have anywhere I need to be."

"Well, okay."

I was only going to tell her the basics but then ended up telling her everything that happened to me from being turned into a frog until now. She was really easy to talk to. Plus, I haven't had a conversation with anyone in over five years, so I was enjoying it. When I finished, she was looking at me with a mixture of expressions. It was really quite amazing how many I found, but the one that showed through the most was one of concern, which pleased me.

"Wait, your father wouldn't do anything to help you?" she asked. I shook my head. "That's horrible! It was kind of his fault that this happened to you in the first place. I mean, if he didn't banish her, she wouldn't have any reason to seek revenge."

"Yes, but my mother did forbid anyone from going into the forest. I always thought it was because of the rumors of horrible creatures that resided in the forest, but it turns out, it was because of the witch."

"I can't believe they just disowned you like that. No wonder you're miles away from them. I don't know what I'd do if my parents even thought about disowning me."

"Yeah. I still can't believe it myself. I mean, I was the Crown Prince." Skepticism flashed in her face, and she bit her bottom lip. My guess was to keep herself from laughing, because her eyes were full of amusement.

"I'm sorry. You were what?"

"The Crown Prince," I repeated seriously. "Didn't I mention that?" She shook her head. "Oh. Well, I was."

"So, you're a prince?" she asked, her voice hinted with cynicism. I frowned at her.

"Yes."

"Okay."

"Why is that so hard to believe?" I snapped.

"Come on, who's ever heard of a frog prince?"

Hmm… She actually has a good point.

"All right, fine. But I really am." She looked pensive.

"I was a little confused as to why it has to be a princess to break your enchantment, but your being a prince does make that a little clearer. Plus, your parents having the authority to banish witches and forbid people from doing something is more believable if they were royalty. . . . I guess I'll trust that you're telling the truth."

"Thank you. . . . I'm Philip, by the way."

"Lia."

"So, uh, Lia, why were you crying earlier?"

"Oh, that. It was nothing. A bit silly, really."

"Come on, I told you my story. Please?"

"Well, I just had a fight with my mother about nothing important. She doesn't like the way I dress or act because of who I—"

Suddenly, a woman with long auburn tresses dressed in a soft green, expensive-looking gown walked toward us. Lia was mumbling something, but I wasn't really paying attention. As the woman drew nearer, I noticed she had gorgeous blue eyes and soft pink lips. She looked like an angel from heaven.

"Wow," I said breathlessly. "Lia, who is that?" Lia glanced over her shoulder.

"Oh. That's Rosalyn," she said. Then she added, "Were you even listening to me earlier?"

"Rosalyn," I repeated.

"Obviously not."

"Is she nobility or royalty?" I asked with eager anticipation.

"She's a princess. Why?"

"Lia, you have to help me to get her to break my spell."

"Her? Philip, are you sure you want her? She's very . . . well, let's just say that she thinks very highly of herself."

"Really? She seems so . . . wonderful. Don't you think so?"

"Yeah, sure. You'd better be quiet. She's almost here and I'm pretty sure she's going to be one of those girls who scream when hearing a talking frog." I nodded my head. I didn't think I could say anything with the princess that close to me, anyway.

"Lia, there you are. Why are you out here?" Rosalyn asked. Her voice seemed unearthly, and it sent my heart into a wild frenzy.

"Just thinking," was Lia's simple reply.

"Well, I need your help with something. Meet me in my room."

"All right, I'll be there in a minute."

"Sooner," she stated, then turned on her heel and headed back to the palace. "Lia?" she called over her shoulder.

"I'm right behind you," Lia answered with a hint of irritation. Rosalyn walked with such grace that it almost looked as though she glided.

"Philip!" Lia shouted, her voice piercing into my thoughts. I looked at the girl, whose expression showed utmost annoyance.

"What? Why are you yelling?"

"I called your name three times now."

"Oh. Well, I was" – My eyes focused on Rosalyn once more before she disappeared into the palace – "distracted."

"Yeah, I can see that," she said, her tone indifferent.

"What were you saying?"

"I was telling you that I had better go."

"Yeah, okay. Will you come back? I would like to go over how you can help me win over Rosalyn." She looked at me. Her expression was unreadable.

"That's the only reason?" she asked.

"No." I paused for a second, thinking of what she probably wanted to hear. "And I like talking to you." She bit her bottom lip again. Although, this time I think it was in thought. "Please?" I begged.

"Maybe I'll come tomorrow."

"Yes!"

"I said maybe," she stated firmly, as she got up to leave.

"Okay," I said, and grinned broadly to myself, somehow knowing that she would. Things were finally looking up for me.