Chapter 18
It was the beginning of the third month since the usual time of the Great Freeze. Princess Gwenalot had noticed a few Fraggle families on edge. Maybe it was the unseasonal weather, she mused to herself. She gathered some mushrooms one morning and Sir Blunderbrain appeared and snuck some from the pile she was accumulating behind her.
"Hey!" she shouted with mock anger.
He smiled. "Admit it, fair maiden. You are just as bored as I."
"Does it show?"
He nodded. "There is talk of disappearing Fraggles. I wanted to know if --."
"I have to watch the Great Cave and the Tunnels, Sir Knight," Princess Gwenalot informed him bluntly. She stood and gave him a sword.
He looked at it questioningly.
"I have another in my cave," said the Princess. "Take it. Find out what happened to those missing Fraggles."
He bowed deeply. "I will only use this sword to protect the lives of Fraggles everywhere, milady."
He left and Princess Gwenalot finished gathering mushrooms. She soon discovered the worried Fraggles huddling in the middle of the Great Cave and gave them the mushrooms. She told them she had sent the brave Sir Blunderbrain to locate their loved ones. They thanked her and smiled wearily. After all, they had all the confidence they needed, since Sir Blunderbrain was known to have successfully protected the Princess from evil and stopped the genie from continuing his hunt of all Fraggle-kind.
Three days later, Princess Gwenalot heard a celebration in the Great Cave. She rushed and saw several Fraggles, looking exhausted and ragged. They were being congratulated by their now excited relatives and friends.
"What's going on?"
"They've returned!" the Fraggles shouted with glee.
One of the weary Fraggles kneeled in front of the Princess and hung his head, his tail drooping. "Milady, we ran from a terrible beast with blue scales and a long thick tail and sharp teeth. We ran until we found a long tunnel. Suddenly, the tunnel's wall opened and we were all sucked inside, never to see light again."
"You're free now, that's the important thing," Princess Gwenalot told them, smiling. "Did you see Sir Blunderbrain?"
They stared at the ground. The whole cave took on a somber tone.
"Milady, he fought the tunnel bravely. He … he will … not … be returning to us, milady."