Chapter 21

After a while of pacing back and forth, messing up my hair, and a lot of talking to myself, I decided to go get some water from a nearby river/pond; and maybe, just maybe, if I could I'd look around for that bee again. Minerva was curled up under the tree looking comfortable and actually had a smile on her face. I took this as a good sign and set off with the canteens.

There was a lot of animal noise around the pool and gurgling water, which kind of set me on the edge. It not like I was scared or anything, it's just I wasn't use to so much non- human noise other than horses and my sister's shrill shriek. Also Minerva's freak out made me slightly more wary.

So you can imagine my complete shock when,as I bent at the water's edge, a croaking voice sounded right in my ear.

"Good morning."

I yelped in surprise and leaped back, my hand on mysword as I scanned the area quickly. But there was nothing but forest and the humid air heavy among the reeds.

"My, my but you are jumpy, probably even more than me."

A forced chortle came from below in the grass. It sounded as if the speaker had a bad cough, or just naturally croaked.

Wait, if it naturally croaked...

I bent down again just as a plain, green frog jumped onto the log beside me. It blinked it's big eyes and seemed to hicup.

"Did you just talk?" I asked, feeling very stupid.

"Yes," it said as plain as day and blinked again.

My eyes widened, and I blinked back in surprise. "Oh. I see... then, are you...a normal frog?" That sounded lame.

The frog's mouth split into an unnormal frog smile. "I am a princess!" it, er, she stated loudly. "If you kiss me I will become a lovely princess and you will be rich as my husband!"

She continued to smile at me, trying, I guess, to look enticing. It certainly wasn't about to work for me. I thought a moment then suddenly picked up the frog princess and stuffed her in my pocket; and then reached for the second canteen.

The frog squirmed to the opening in the pocket, croaking angrily. "Hey!" she yelled as loud as she could. "Why didn't you kiss me! I'm telling the truth! And I don't have any warts, I'm a frog."

"I believe you, your highness," I said dipping the canteen in the water. "But I'd rather have a talking frog than a princess any day."

"Nonesense," she huffed. "You're just a weasly farm boy. I could make you rich and famous. We could be a fairy tale!"

"No thanks. I'm already caught up in one."

"Really? Does it include a princess?"

I hesitated. "Yes it does. In fact the princess is the evil one in the story, one of the main reasons I don't want to kiss you. Also, I've always been taught to save my kisses for my wife, and I don't plan to marry a frog who called me a farm boy."

"But I'll be a beautiful girl!" protested the frog, she used the term 'girl' seeing I didn't like princesses. "And you are a farmboy. At least you look like one." She jumped out of my pocket to get a better look at the clothing I always wore with Conrad, which had been neatly covered with sweat, dirt and blood.

"Besides," she said using a different tactic, "I know what you are doing."

"Whatever."

"I do," she blinked for emphasis. "You are getting honey for your honey."

I scrunched my face in confusion. "Say what?"

She actually rolled her eyes at me and said slowly and distinctively, "You are looking for the sweet stuff bees make to give, as a gift, to your sweetheart."

"My sweet heart? I don't have one."

"Then whose the girl curled up under the tree you were just pacing around a few minutes ago? And who has just had a total freak out. I saw how tenderly and lovingly you laid her under that tree!"

She had seen all that? What was this freak frog princess doing, stalking me?

"She's not my sweetheart, I swear," I said. "You saw it all wrong. She's my sister."

"Sure...I totally believe you."

I knew she wouldn't take, so I said, "All right, she's just someone I'm traveling with who has apparently been under a lot of...stress. You saw it all wrong. I don't feel anything for her, except pity."

She glared at me for a second then shrugged and said, "You were still going to get honey."

"I've changed my mind. I'm going back to the horses."

"You've got to take me with you!"

"Are you kidding me!"

"I thought you wanted a talking frog."

"I was kidding."

"Oh, look whose kidding now!" She blinked at me curiously and asked, "If you aren't a farm boy what are you?"

Why was she trying to change the subject? "You don't need to know that."

"I know. I was just hoping you'd tell me sooner than when I'd figure it out. Are you a Prince?"

"Y...no, no, no I'm not."

"I thought you were," she said matter- of- factly, completely ignoring the no's. "What are you the Prince of? I must know what I'll sooner or later being ruling over."

I glowered at her.

"Come on, you know you'll want to marry me eventually, even though you do like that girl."

"Nothing you say is true, frog princess, and you are really getting on my nerves, but to satisfy your curiousity, I am the Prince ofAdelfos."

"The whole kingdom!" for once she sounded surprised.

"Yes, the whole darn kingdom." I sat glumly on the log and stared at the pond, the forest, and even glanced back at Minerva. The frog was quiet, too quiet. I looked down at her and saw her face was filled with... was it sadness? Something about her look made me remember something.

Attentively I asked, "Who were you the princess of?"

Immediately her fire came back in her eyes as she glared at me. "I am still the princess of...of Osmond," she answered reluctantly.

"Osmond!" I cried. "Why then you must be Princess Rose! You...you're my cousin."

Oh, how sickening. I mean she was an ugly frog now and she had proposed to me, twice.

She nodded sadly. "Yes, I am Rose. Does that surprise you or what."

"Acutally it doesn't. I mean you were always known for your croaky voice, especially in the mornings."

Before she could even feel offended something else caught her eye. She narrowed her large eyes and gave a loud croak, looking behind me. I turned and saw Minerva walking slowly towards me. She looked a little embarrassed, even self- concious as she averted her eyes. There was no sign of what she had experienced in her face; she was looking just as pretty as when I had first seen her.

After I stared at her a couple more seconds she said, "Who are you talking to, Lance?"

I immediately tore my eyes away and looked at Rose who was already croaking away.

"Me. He's talking to me, a green wartless frog. I'm really his cousin, Rose, princess of Osmond, but you needn't know that, since I can see you are just a farm girl Lance has fallen for. What's your name?"

My eyes widened at Rose's words and against my will, I felt my cheeks heat up, but it was more from anger than any embarrassment I felt. I opened my mouth to protest that I had indeed not fallen for her, but Minerva answered first.

"Minerva." She looked curiously at me for a split second while Rose chattered on.

"Well, Minerva, I feel very sorry for you. Was it your idea or his idea to travel together?" she didn't wait for a reply. "Don't you think Lancelot of Adelfos is such a pain in the neck?"

How'd she know my real name? No one but my parents know that.

"He is for me, because he can't see what's he thinking, or feeling, isn't that right, Lance? You are just too darn stubborn to admit to anything, including the fact that you have indeed fallen for this girl. Now, just to prove that I, a little frog, am right, I will show you something."

She hopped from the log and made her way through the grass. Before following her, I turned to Minerva apologetically. "I'm sorry she's acting this way, don't believe a word she says. I've just met the...the princess and I have told her anything of the sort."

To my surprise Minerva looked...sad? Disapointed? But it was only the briefest of instants then she smiled lopsidedly and said, "She does seem rather mischeivious."

"Come on you two!" shouted Rose, somewhere ahead of us. "You guys are slower than ants!"

"Ants?" I said, after coming to her side, being careful not to step on her. "Aren't they always scurrying around in a fast way?"

Rose huffed. "You're silly. They may look like they are always running around and being busy, but when you compare their scurrying with my jumping, I am way faster. That's one thing cool about being a frog, I can jump around people quickly and hide. I can listen in on other people's conversations and learn a lot about them. I've seen people from all over the place with really interesting stories. Some stories I believe and some I don't. Like yours. I didn't believe you for a second when you said Minnie here was your sister. That was actually rather lame, Lance. But I totally believed you when you told me a princess was the evil, bad guy in your fairy tale, because princesses stink. I use to stink, but now I'm cool."

She suddenly stopped her blabbering and slowed her already slow hops. I noticed a change in the air, not a large change, but still a change. It felt the same now as when a gypsy once came to the castle and performed. It was a dreamy, eerie feeling. It made you want to sleep and dance at the same time. Mother told us later that it was the feeling of magic, good magic to be exact, but I still looked around warily, so did Minerva and Rose.

Further ahead I saw a pool of water lined with a low tiled wall. It was around this that the silence and magic feeling mostly reigned. Rose hopped up to it and sat on the wall but she careful not to look into the pool. I noticed this and stopped a few feet before it. Minerva also stopped, quivering slightly as she looked at the pool, as if she recognized it.

Why is it she knew so many things, but I didn't? I felt so dumb.

Rose cleared her throat and lifted a...a frog hand in reverance andsaid solemnly and dreamily, "This is the reason so many young lovers come to my forest, and why I can over hear so many conversations." She blinked her eyes slowly and sighed,"This is the Pool of Love."

I winced and made a face. Why was she so dramatic about such a silly thing?

"Is that all it is?" I huffed and immediately the magic eerie feeling left, making us all feel more comfortable. But Rose glowered at me nonetheless in a most un-princess-like way. I reminded myself she was a princess looking around for a poor guy to kiss her. Obviously she worshiped this mud hole.

"This is a very powerful pool, for your imformation, Mr. Prince of Adelfos," she growled.

"Don't call me that," I sighed rolling my eyes. "That is one of the many reasons I left the castle, you know."

"No, I don't know," said Rose scowling and looking at me curiously.

I wasn't about to explain.

She went back to her dramatic pose. "If you were to look into this pool, you would see standing beside you, your future companion. The pool has never lied. Would you like to look?"

"If I do I'll see my future wife?"

"Didn't I just say that?" said Rose sounding annoyed.

"I just wanted to make sure. Because now, no, I most certainly don't want to look into that pool."

"Chicken."

I shrugged. "I don't see it that way. I'm just not foolish. I'll let my future come to me, I won't go looking for it, that can cause some troubles."

Truth was, I really was a chicken. I was afraid that if I looked into the pool I would see the dreaded Anastasia standing beside me with an irratated glower on her gorgeous features. Or maybe I'd see some random pheasant girl with overly red cheeks and thick braids. That would mean I would never go back to being a Prince. I wouldn't have been able to take it if I knew my fate, because maybe I would want to change it, and I wouldn't be able to.

Rose didn't push. She turned her big frog eyes on Minerva and said a little bit too sweetly, "How about you? Wouldn't you like to see your Prince Charming?"

"No," she murmured her eyes never leaving the pool. She turned away and looked down at the ground, "I'm afraid there won't be one at all."

Rose scoffed at that remark, and I did too, almost.

"Won't be one! Why, darling you're as pretty as they get. You probably won't even need a dowry. Lucky is the man who gets you." She purposefully and knowingly winked at me. I scowled and rolled my eyes.

"Don't worry there'll be someone, there always is."

"But they are not always the right one," Minerva insisted.

Rose shrugged. "So. You have to take the chance."

"Did you?" I asked mockingly. "Did you see your Prince Charming? Is that why you were badgering me about marrying you? Did you see me in that pool next to your green face?"

"Actually I did."

My eyes widened and I took a step back. That was not the answer I was expecting.

"What...! Are you...? How...?"

Rose blinked, but continued to stare at me.

Minerva suddenly giggled.

Giggled. She actually giggled like... like one of those princesses I meet. That surprised me doubly, and I just gaped at the two girls. Minerva's giggle turned into a real laugh.

She was laughing at me. Why?

Rose blinked again, and I saw the tiniest of smiles playing at her frog lips.

Oh...I opened my mouth to respond as my breath let out slowly. Then I just shook my head as my cheeks burned with embarrassment.

That's when Rose burst out laughing too. I stuck my hands in my pockets with a sheepish grin and couldn't help but know that this is what Conrad felt when I teased him.

"Don't scare me like that, cousin," I said to a gloating Rose.

"You totally fell for that, Lance," said Minerva, her eyes shining.

"Yeah, wellshe sounded pretty serious."

"You should have seen your face," chortled Rose. "The last time I had such a good laugh was yesterday when a cute young man heard me and jumped out of his skin. He got totally creeped out when I proposed to him. Poor kid, it took him a while to figure out who was talking. He was really cute, but unfortunately I could tell he too was already twitter paited. But he was too scared to look in the pool. Like you. He kind of looked like Minerva, really cute guy."

For some reason that reminded me of Conrad. It had to be Conrad, it sounded just like him. I cleared my throat nervously and asked, "What was his name?"