Chapter twelve: In a tricky situation

In front of her mirror, in her cabinet, Princess Langwidere was trying a new head. This one had long curled brown hair, big blue eyes and freckles. It gave her a mischievous air.

A wheeler cleared his throat.

-Your majesty?

Princess Langwidere didn't hear him. She had selected another head, with black shiny hair, black almond-shaped eyes and a pretty little red patches on the cheeks. This head looked particularly dreamy.

The wheeler cleared his throat again.

-Your Majesty? I've got something to tell you.

-What? The Princess asked with impatience. "I'm very busy."

-I don't put it in doubt, but it's really important. It's about your daughter… the princess Evy.

Langwidere sighed. Had she knew how constraining children were!

-Well, tell me what she did.

-She had been kidnapped by our neighbor, the Nome King.

-So, ask him to release her.

-Hmm… apparently, your daughter had been caught inside his palace. It was a real intrusion; the Nome King wants to condemn her.

Princess Langwidere went back to her mirror and stared at her reflection. The anger hadn't made her ugly.

-Let Princess Evy be condemned. It would be a good occasion for her to learn that a princess can't do anything she wants.

She looked back at the wheeler.

-After that, she'll come back to Ev.

-Your majesty… it's not so simple. The Nome King wants to sentence her to death.

-What?! Princess Langwidere cried.

Why everything was so complicated with children? She was having a great time, putting new heads on, and this stupid little Evy had spoiled everything! Finally, it wasn't a good idea to adopt this little orphan.

-The Nome King wants Princess Evy's life.

-I understood it, Langwidere answered curtly. "I meant: what could we do?"

-Go to the underground palace and asked the Nome King to give us princess Evy back. I think negotiations are the only solution.

-Alright. Find quickly an ambassador and send him to the underground palace, Langwidere said, going back to her cabinet.

-In my mind, Your Lordship, the Nome King would be more touch if you ask for princess Evy's mercy in person.

Princess Langwidere shivered.

-You want ME to crawl in a disgusting gallery? NO WAY! She shouted.

The wheeler curled up.

-It was just a suggestion, your majesty, he moaned.

-An ambassador would stand in for me as well, Langwidere decided. "Now, leave me alone."

-At your service, your majesty. What shall I tell to the journalists?

-The journalists? Which journalists?

-The journalists who are investigating on princess Evy's kidnapping. They are waiting in front of the castle. Shall I tell them you decided to send an ambassador to negotiate with the Nome King?

It was a real dilemma for Princess Langwidere. She disliked politic, and the idea of being forced to have a meeting with another ruler repulsed her. On top of that, the Nome King and his henchmen didn't show any interest for fashion. To the other hand, if Ev's people know she had let her adoptive daughter in an underground dungeon, she would lose all her credibility. Finally, her love for her image prevailed.

-No. Tell them I'm personally going to the Nome King's palace. I will plead for my daughter's pardon.

-How could we get out? Strawberry Shortcake asked for the tenth time.

-I don't know, the Berrykin said sharply. "But I hope you know this is your fault."

-I know. Strawberry sighted sadly.

Since they had been caught by the Nome King's henchman, they were all locked in a slummy cell and they had any idea of what would happen to them. They hadn't been mistreated, but they had no comfort: they slept on dirty straw mattress, their cell was faintly lighted and the food they were given was barely enough (Billina laid one egg per day, but they couldn't eat them raw. For the moment, they had three ones.). The little hen complained about her lot of life all day long, the Berrykin was more laconic than ever, Glinda and Strawberry Shortcake tried to hide their anxiousity, and Tik-Tok didn't feel anything, because he was a clockwork figure.

-I can try to force the door open, purpose Tik-Tok.

-Don't do it, Glinda advised. "You would get hurt".

-Automatons like me never get hurt, Tik-Tok simply answered, and he threw himself against the railings, producing a horrible metallic sound.

Strawberry Shortcake and Glinda cried.

-Please, Tik-Tok! Stop it!

But Tik-Tok didn't listen at them. He carried on, hitting and hitting the door again, making long black stripes on his shoulders, his arms and his belly. Not only he didn't manage to open the door, but also he coaxed a guard.

-Silence! He shouted.

-Please, sir, Strawberry cried. What will happen to us?

-For intruders, the sentence is the death.

Strawberry Shortcake cried, Glinda shivered, Billina sobbed even more, Tik-Tok and the Berrykin stayed quiet.

-It can't be possible! Strawberry shouted.

-Yes, it is. But… you could be pardoned if you manage to solve the King's enigma.

-An enigma? Strawberry Shortcake asked curiously.

She loved puzzles, Glinda was clever and the Berrykin was wise, although his bad manners. It would be a pleasure cruise!

-Yes. But it doesn't worth to let you take it, the guard said, leaving the dungeon.

-Wait a minute! Strawberry cried. "We all want to take the enigma."

The guard slowly turned down.

-Nobody had solve it yet… but why not?

-So, you are the valorous prisoners who want to take my riddle? The Nome King ironically asked.

He was man-like, but his skin was like stone and he was much taller than a normal human. He seemed very old.

-Yes.

-You know that if you fail, you'll be my slaves forever?

-Yes.

-So, follow me.

The Nome King leaded them to another dungeon, in a dark corridor.

-It's here, he said. "You told my guard you wanted to rescue the Royal Family of Ev? You can do that. I locked the whole family behind one of these doors. If you choose the right door, you'll be all free. Otherwise…"

-Yes, we know it, Strawberry Shortcake answered nervously.

It wasn't really a riddle! It was a game of chance. The three doors were absolutely identical. She had to point a door out, but which one? She had only one chance out of three to win, but she couldn't take the liberty of losing. The Berrykin was right, everything was her fault. She had the responsibility of her friends' fate. She glanced at Glinda, who looked as confused as her. Billina was pecking, here and there, in the corridor, very calmly. It was odd. Since that moment, she had moaned all the time! Then, Billina stopped pecking. She started to scratch the floor. She glanced at Strawberry with insistence. She was next to the left door.

-The Royal Family of Ev is behind the left door, Strawberry Shortcake said proudly.

The Nome King, who had been very calm, gripped his fists and screamed:

-NO! NO! NO! YOU COULDN'T…

But he was interrupted by another voice.

-Oh, Evy. I've find you, at least.

To be continued…