Okay everybody, I know it took a long time but our lovely finally meets our prince. The romantic ball will be rolling in the next chapters. Thanks to those that reviewed.

Wendell was pacing again. He put ten years of distress on his study floor in only ten minutes. Thomas had explained Empath Healing. According to Thomas, an Empath Healer would be able to tune into how the patient felt. They would then use those feelings in conjunction with medicines to heal whatever sickness ailed the patient. Dr. Whitman seemed skeptical. Wendell would have been too, but he couldn't rule anything out. After all he had seen a lot of magic in his day. He had been turned into a dog, a gold dog, then back into a dog by a magic well, then finally back into himself. How could he deem anything impossible?

A knock at the door jostled him from his thoughts.

"Knock knock. Any kings in here?" came a familiar voice.

"Anthony?" Wendell asked shocked. Anthony had been traveling throughout the kingdom for some time. He was touring palace properties. Wendell wanted to give him a place of his own.

It was indeed Anthony. He swaggered into Wendell's study, like only Anthony would do. Wendell was absurdly happy to see him.

"Anthony! When did you get back? Did you find a property to your liking?" the young king asked as he embraced his friend.

Anthony put his hand up.

"Well I only just got back, and let me say the mood in this palace is… well it's a major bummer," he said in his joking tone, "Did someone die?"

"Not yet," Wendell said sadly. He knew that Anthony was joking but he was hitting pretty close to home.

"Sit down Anthony. This is a long story," Wendell sighed. As he told the story, his proposed betrothal, the visit, the fall, he saw Anthony's face become serious.

"They wanted you to marry an 11 year old girl?" he said clearly shocked.

"Anthony that's not the worst part," Wendell said sadly, "that 11 year old girl is a very powerful political figure and she could die in my kingdom,".

"Geez Wendell did you mean to sound like an unfeeling jerk when you said that? Because if you did then good job," Anthony said. Well that made feel horrible. Of course he didn't want to be mean. He didn't want to be heartless. And he knew Anthony was right.

"Hey hey, never mind. What's being done?" Anthony asked. He saw the look on Wendell's face and saw that he was hurt. Wendell told Anthony what Dr. Whitman said and the alternative medicine they were going to try.

"Hm, sounds New Age-y," Anthony said almost to himself. He knew that Wendell wouldn't know about the fads and movements from the "10th Kingdom".

"So where is this Medicine Man?" Anthony asked.

"He and his apprentice should be arriving any moment now. I had Thomas himself go retrieve them," Wendell replied. He sounded like he was reassuring himself.

"Have you eaten anything Prince?" Anthony asked using the old nickname. Wendell actually couldn't remember that he had.

"That's what I thought," Anthony said in an uncharacteristically fatherly tone. He rang the bell and a butler jumped to the door.

"Bring the King and I some lunch. Something nice and meaty for me, whatever for the King," he commanded. Wendell heard Anthony's order and smiled. 'Whatever for the King'. That was Anthony. And it was refreshing.

Their lunch arrived half an hour later. Of course it was a delicious meal, though Wendell didn't eat that much. It didn't go to waste. Anthony finished off Wendell's meal after finishing his own. Just as Anthony was licking the roast beef off of his fingers a servant knocked. It was Thomas.

"Majesty, Master Anthony," he added upon seeing Anthony, "the Healer is in the hall,".

"Well time to meet our savior" Wendell thought.

"Very well then Thomas. We will be there directly," he said regally. He walked as quickly as he could into the hall without losing his grace. He was a little bit surprised at what he saw.

"Your Majesty the Healer Mistress Yaga and her apprentice Rose," Thomas said.

He had expected to see a wispy old man. Maybe carrying a staff. He guessed he was expecting a wizard. What he saw instead was a sturdy old woman. She didn't look wispy at all. As a matter of fact she was a little intimidating.

But it was the apprentice who surprised him the most. The word 'apprentice' brought to mind a picture of a scrawny boy with a bowl cut tripping over luggage. Instead the apprentice was… beautiful. She had a peaches and cream complexion and golden hair put up loosely. Her eyes were dark green, like the emeralds in his treasury. Those eyes were set in a round face above a petit nose which led down to full pink lips. Then there were the curves. The girl was all bust and hips. She wasn't tall but she wasn't short. He knew he was blushing. Of course knowing that he was blushing made him blush even more. He saw that the girl was blushing too. He wondered if he had been staring. He bowed his head formally to hide his face and stop his staring. The women curtsied.

"Ladies. We are happy you have arrived. I trust Thomas has explained the situation to you?" Wendell said formally.

"Indeed he has Your Highness. I must admit that the situation sounds urgent. I would like to get started right away if that is satisfactory," Mistress Yaga said. Wendell could tell that this woman was no-nonsense. He liked that, especially in a woman who was about to engage in mystic healing.

"Excellent. Let us go to the Duchess' chambers," Wendell replied. He couldn't help but feel that Mistress Yaga would be calling the shots. She even walked next to Wendell instead of behind him as was customary. So Wendell was flanked by Anthony and Mistress Yaga. Rose though did walk behind them. Anthony soon fell behind. Wendell was quite sure it was to flirt with Rose.

Soon they reached the third floor of the right wing where the Duchess' chambers were. Mistress Yaga seemed to know exactly which room was Olga's. It was clear that she wanted to go in, but she knew that it was improper.

"Er, um Thomas open the door for Mistress Yaga," Wendell commanded. The door was opened and Thomas showed the healer in.

The Prince and Princess were in chairs pulled to the side of the little Duchess' bed. Her mother was holding her hand. It broke Wendell's heart. He prayed with all his being that this healing would work.