Yes, go chapter two!
Disclaimer: Yes, I've decided to rewrite this story again. No, I'm not crazy, and yes, this is the revised version right here. Hm? Oh, no, I don't claim to have any rights or ownership of the Enchanted Forest or its respective characters. Yes, I will take claim to original characters, being Medea, Jerald, and Herald.
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Chapter Two: In which Cimorene arrives and Mendanbar learns about a spell.
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Cimorene slowed her horse down to a stop as her eyes settled upon the kingdom of her youth. "There it is," Sighing, she leaned over to her saddlebag, pulled out a thin circlet and placed it upon her head. "This is the first time I've been in Linderwall since I ran away…" Cimorene said softly, and encouraged the horse to begin walking. Her eyes fell to her hand, and her wedding ring caught her attention. "But it's different this time."
She entered the kingdom without trouble, and her eyes settled upon the stronghold. But first, she would have to get through the town; the bustling of the people proved to be her only obstacle. Her eyes fell upon the citizens of Linderwall as she advanced slowly through the town square. Cimorene was confused. Not only was her father very…traditional about his role, but he was also kind and fair to his people. Everything was normal. She was sure her father's court would have commenced some day of grieving, or some other ridiculous thing like that.
"Princess!" Someone shouted above the murmured voices of the crowd. It sounded so familiar that Cimorene pulled back on the reigns to stop and see who it was. She hopped down from the saddle and walked her horse over to the side of the road. "Princess!" There it was again. Her eyes searched the crowd for the owner of that voice. Sudden recognition shot through her mind.
"Herald?" Cimorene asked, and smiled when two large arms pulled her close into a hug. Usually she would see her large friend coming, but it was amazing how fast one could move when motivated. She returned his hug and grinned. "It's so good to see you again my friend."
The man pulled back and held her at arms length. "Aye Princess, it's been too long." He was a large but lean man, with dark orange hair that had been cut close against his head. His short beard was cut in the same fashion, which gave him an intimidating appearance. His gentle emerald eyes betrayed any belief of hostility, and evidently contradicted everything he was supposed to be. "Too long indeed! You're a Queen now!" His eyes lit up with laughter, for he was glad that she took charge of her own life.
"And are you still a chef in my father's kitchen?" Cimorene asked, wondering how he fared.
"Nope, Princess! Got promoted! I am now the Head Chef, a sort of… Chief Cook, if you will,"
Cimorene laughed, "I know exactly what you mean."
"A fire-witch in a kitchen, it was only a matter of time, you know." Herald smiled as he rubbed his head.
Cimorene smiled, "Of course," Herald was the one who had taught Cimorene her few, but valuable, cooking lessons when she was younger. Herald was also the only other one in the castle that knew true magic; the Court Magician totaled the tally up to be two.
"Heh, it's been awfully quiet without you around the castle. To be honest though Princess, the knights miss the challenge. The fencing lessons kept them on their toes in times of peace." He smiled, but then another thought interrupted him. "Say, that's right, what brings you back 'ere? Don't tell me you're already bored!" Herald questioned, his curiosity getting the best of him.
"Heavens no Herald. Life back home is as interesting as it can get. I've never been happier," Cimorene gave a sad smile, and then looked up at her friend, "It's just that I've been summoned here. How is my father, Herald?" She asked, and eagerly awaited his answer.
"He's as healthy as a horse, Princess. Uh, if you'll excuse the expression."
Cimorene smiled, "No, no, Herald. That's exactly what I wanted to hear!" She stepped forward and hugged him again, "Forgive me, but I must answer my summon."
Herald nodded in understanding, and smiled. "Farewell Princess. Don't be getting' into any more trouble now, you hear?"
Cimorene laughed as she looked down at him from her saddle. "Wouldn't dream of it." She turned and began to make her way to the center of her parents' domain once again with renewed excitement. A note said one thing and a trustworthy source said the other? What was going on?
Herald smiled and shook his head. Yeah right. Trouble followed that girl as if it were her shadow. Shrugging with a grin, he turned and began to shop for the castles rations once again.
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"Willin, I need something to do before I go mad." Mendanbar exasperatedly sighed as he sat behind his battered desk. Quickly he realized the opportunity for an insult, and he looked up toward the gargoyle. "And don't start." He said firmly, which effectively closed the gargoyle's mouth. Mendanbar's small smirk of temporary triumph vanished as he turned to Willin again. "Willin. Wizards. Nightshades. Little dark elves with pointy hats? Please, you must have a scroll full of issues for me, right?" His voice was on the verge of being desperate. Willin shook his head and Mendanbar groaned and lowered his head so that his forehead was pressed up against the surface of the desk. "…Nothing."
"Well, I wouldn't say that. Toss me a mirror and I can show you a huge problem. I mean, look at yourself." The gargoyle teased smugly with a smirk.
Mendanbar's head shot up and he threw a glare at the wooden menace that would never fail to poke fun at him. "If I wanted advice from a block of wood, I would go outside and chat with the trees."
The gargoyle responded intelligently by sticking his tongue out at the troubled king.
"Er…speaking of…um, trees your Majesty, perhaps you should take a small break and go for a walk?" Willin spoke up nervously, not knowing what else to tell him.
Mendanbar stopped his glaring contest with the gargoyle and turned to Willin. "Really?" He asked as he began to stand up.
Willin nodded enthusiastically, and Mendanbar smiled and walked toward the door. "Maybe it'll do me good. Thanks Willin." He said and closed the door behind him.
"The sooner Queenie gets back, the saner he will be." The gargoyle spoke up again. Willin blinked at the … unorthodox nickname for their queen, but nodded in agreement just the same.
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Mendanbar decided to go the Green Glass Pool to think. The rare reprieve of remaining in that study all day by the very person who demanded he be there made anyone want to question what was going on. He sat down and leaned back against the cool hard surface of a towering tree. He sighed, and closed his eyes he as tried to relax. But try as he might, this nagging feeling wouldn't leave him. He hadn't noticed it before, but now…
"Something doesn't feel right." He said thoughtfully, his eyes still closed as he spoke.
"And it isn't." A voice said in agreement. Mendanbar's eyes opened and he barely bit back a yelp of surprise. Stormy silver eyes searched the surrounding, but found no other living creature except for a small toad.
"You know, it isn't very polite to ignore someone when he's talking to you." The toad said indignantly.
"I apologize," Mendanbar said defensively as he now looked at the toad, he should have known better. Nothing was what it seemed to be in the Enchanted Forest. If a toad was able to speak, then there was no force holding it back from doing so. "But I didn't mean…"
"Quite alright, quite alright." The toad interrupted as he jumped from the spot beside Mendanbar and onto his knee. Mendanbar was expecting him to say something else, to elaborate on his confirmed thought before; but he didn't. Mendanbar succeeded in looking thoroughly confused.
"My good…" Mendanbar began, and hesitated on what to address the small toad before he quickly recovered. "…Sir. I believe you said that something wasn't right. Am I correct?"
The toad looked at him again, his attention beforehand having been distracted. "You are correct, indeed." Again, the two fell into a small silence before Mendanbar's impatience got the best of him.
"Mm, do you mind elaborating, just a bit?" He asked, trying his best to suppress the urge to move his knee; the toad's current resting place.
"Only if you can live with the fact that you're a bit slow." The toad replied, and before Mendanbar opened his mouth to retaliate, the small amphibian spoke up again. "You must listen though, and I'm not about to repeat it. Something is brewing, something big. A transformation spell."
Mendanbar listened and considered the warning carefully, but he couldn't decipher anything dangerous in the message. "Could you tell me, sir, why-"
"It's source, its control source, it's evil." The toad interrupted, before hopping off of the startled king's knee.
"What? Evil?" The thought of Zemenar and Antorell immediately came to mind. Was it the wizards? "How… how can you be so sure?" The king asked as his eyes found the toad upon the forest ground once again.
"I used to be a magician," He said offhandedly, "But now, as you can plainly see, I'm not. And that, my good fellow, is how I can tell you what I sense. Mm, it's curious though…"
Mendanbar had been listening intently, and encouraged him to continue.
"Well, the source, it's…mm." He paused for a moment, "The magic is disguising it from human sense, magically gifted or not. But I'm no longer a human."
"I see. Well, that is rather curious indeed. Thank you for the information."
The small toad emitted a noise, one that sufficed as a good-natured response.
"You said you weren't always a toad, would you like to return to your old self? I am grateful, and would like to return the favor."
"No thank you. I prefer the life of a toad to one of a human. Good day." And with that, he hopped away to leave Mendanbar alone once again. A hand went up to pinch the bridge of his nose in an attempt to ward off an incoming headache.
'A dark transformation spell... And someone doesn't want anyone to know about it. With everyone being so inactive as they are…this can't be good.' Mendanbar thought quietly to himself, lest some other creature decided to sneak up on him to comment. The young king looked down and shook his head; it had become another habit to twist the ring on his left hand in circles as a form of nervousness. He sighed, 'I can't do anything about the spell now. Even I know it takes time, and I simply can't go investigating. I hope it doesn't have anything to do with you, Cimorene…'