Jagger led James over to a small box that had been hidden in the room since the whole adventure had started. "Good boy, Jag!" James said as he picked it up. However, as soon as he opened it to see what was in there, his dizziness and headache returned, and became so bad that he actually cried out, "Mom! Dad!"
Roland and Miranda sprinted over and steadied him when they saw him stumble as he tried to right himself. "I'll get that, James; you sit down," Roland said as he took the box from him and Miranda guided him to his throne.
"Everything's going to be all right, James," Miranda said soothingly as James squeezed his eyes shut and leaned against her.
"Let's stay out of their way, Jagger," Sofia said as she led Jagger away.
"I'm sorry, Sofia, I'm just trying to help!" Jagger's whimpering was almost as bad as James'.
"It's not your fault, Jagger; even though James was told to rest, he's trying to do everything he can to help Amber," Sofia assured him.
Meanwhile, Miranda kept a firm hold on James' shoulder as she helped him sit down. "Just sit down for a few minutes. You're going to be all right, James," she murmured, holding him like she had the last time he had a terrible nightmare.
"I've never been this dizzy before," James gasped, trembling as he sat down, holding onto her arm for dear life.
Suddenly, they heard a new voice. "James, Queen Miranda, I've got something that might help. I've sung this to my sister Reina whenever she got sick," James looked up, and saw Penny by his side, and Miss Elodie next to her, having guided her over.
"What's your idea, Penny?" Miss Elodie asked.
Penny smiled and began to sing. Be optimistic!
Don't you be a grumpy
When the road gets bumpy
Just smile
(Smile and be happy!)
Miranda smiled as she recognized the song. This was one she used to sing to Sofia when she was younger.
Your troubles can't be
As bad as all that
When you're sad as all that
No one loves you
She joined in, Be optimistic!
Don't you be a mourner
Brighten up that corner
And smile
Penny sang back, Don't wear a long face
It's never in style
Be optimistic
And smile!
Even Sofia joined in when she recognized the song, Be optimistic!
Don't you be a grumpy
When the road gets bumpy
Just smile
(Smile and be happy!)
Miss Elodie also joined in, having sung this song as a child, Your troubles can't be
As bad as all that
When you're sad as all that
No one loves you
Miranda joined in again, Be optimistic!
Don't you be a mourner
Brighten up that corner
And smile
They finished the song together, Don't wear a long face
It's never in style
Be optimistic
And smile!
James breathed a huge sigh of relief as he listened to the song and he started to feel a little better. He remembered this as one of his mother's favorite songs to sing when he or Amber were sad or scared about something. He looked up when he saw Amber next to him, with Sir Finnegan beside her.
"I heard you cry out, Little Prince," Sir Finnegan said as he knelt next to him. "Are you all right?"
"I think so. I just got really dizzy, and having a bad headache doesn't help either," James nodded, but quickly realized his mistake as he felt the room spin. He started to reach for the potion bottle again, but decided against it, thinking that if it made him that dizzy when it wore off, it wouldn't be a good idea to take more. He still thought he'd bring that up with Candice and see what she said about it.
Beside him, as if she heard his thoughts, Miranda nodded in agreement and let him lean on her shoulder. She agreed that Candice's intentions had been good, but he shouldn't take something if it didn't agree with him.
"What happened, Andrew?" Amber asked, taking his hand. "Is there anything I can do to help?"
"I'm okay now, Julie; Amanda, Elisa, and my friend Anne just helped me out with a song. You know music makes everything better," James assured her, leaning against Miranda. He noticed that Penny looked embarrassed about her middle name being used, but she knew why it had to be like that.
When he saw that James was going to be all right, and smiling as he recognized another of Melinda's favorite songs, Roland turned to Jagger. "Okay, boy, before all this excitement happened, you looked like you found something," He followed the dog over to the box and picked it up. He got a strange look on his face when he opened it and saw what was resting inside.
"What is it, Rollie?" Miranda asked, seeing Roland grip the box tightly.
Instead of answering her right away, Roland turned to Baileywick, who was just coming in to see how everyone was doing. "Baileywick," Roland ordered, but keeping his voice down so Amber wouldn't hear him, "Send for King Magnus and his sorcerer at once. There's something here that they need to see."
"Yes, your Majesty," Baileywick agreed, but he looked surprised. Roland rarely ever had King Magnus summoned. In fact, the last time Magnus had been in Enchancia Castle, James had had to sing with his door closed for a week so Roland could have some quiet time, and this was only for a casual visit from the king of Rudistan. He also hid a sigh of relief that Amber hadn't heard him call the captain of the guards 'Your Majesty'; he looked over at Amber, but she was paying more attention to James and hadn't heard him. He stole a look at Roland, and saw the same relief on his face.
"Why do you need to see King Magnus?" Miranda asked.
"I think I know who the person is who did this to Amber," Roland replied, frowning at the box.
"Who is it?" Sofia asked.
They were approached by James, who was leaning on Miss Elodie's shoulder, and was being steadied by Miranda. "I think it's that Slickwell guy you told us about. You know, King Magnus said he was fired as his royal steward after he tried to steal Baileywick's job," he started. "I wasn't with you when he was doing all that stuff at the Jubilee, but I saw him as he was kicked off the royal schooner."
"And look at your notes," Roland picked up James' notebook. "I saw you writing some random words down before all this started, and Franciskus L. Wilde has several letters that coincide with the name Slickwell."
"Brilliant logic, Dad! I knew that was an anagram of some kind!" James grinned.
In a short time, King Magnus and his royal sorcerer Greylock arrived at the castle. Greylock smiled at Lucinda, Dorrie and Candice when they came down to the throne room; he was familiar with their magical talents, but he frowned at James. According to Magnus' daughter Princess Aileen, another student in the creative writing class, he'd been included in one of James' stories that Lucinda had brought to life, but hadn't played much of a role. But he agreed that now wasn't the time to dwell on that. After he and James agreed to a truce, and the possibility of having a larger role in a new Andrew Harmon mystery, Greylock turned to the group.
"Your Majesties, you were right about this tiara being dangerous," he started. "Fortunately, I've got a counterspell for it. All I need is some help gathering the ingredients."
"Tell us what to do, Greylock," Dorrie spoke up, Candice and Lucinda nodding at her side.
"Very well, ladies," Greylock smiled. He let them lead the way back to Sofia and Lucinda's workshop. "Let's go; we've got work to do."
Author's Notes
Thanks to Niagara14301 for helping with some details on this chapter.
Thanks also to theblindwriter95 for helping with some details on this chapter, and suggesting the song Penny, Miranda, Sofia, and Miss Elodie sang, Be Optimistic, from the Shirley Temple movie Little Miss Broadway.
Greylock and King Magnus were both featured in Baileywhoops. Greylock also played a small role in chapter 5 of my story The Enchancian Canine Caper as a "hired goon".
James' description of what Slickwell did was from Baileywhoops.
Princess Aileen is from Niagara14301's Dorrie Book 1.
In chapter 6 of my story The Day the Music Died, Miranda helped calm James down whenever he had nightmares.
In chapter 9 of my story The Secret Love Song, James said that he'd only sing with his door closed whenever Roland needed to concentrate on royal business or if he needed quiet.
James' knowledge of anagrams and codes is used in several of his stories, and plays a big part in my story A Puzzling Mystery Weekend.
What can Greylock do to help Candice, Lucinda, and Dorrie? And what did Roland find that made him react like that? (Curse you, cliffhangers!)