The Toad: Part Two, The King

“Wow,” Laddie said.

Bethy seemed to shake out of her remembering, “Pardon?”

Laddie sat on top of her feet now and he stared into the fire. “Was that the prince in the swamp?”

Bethy smiled, “You know better than that, Laddie. In a story all is known in due time, be patient.”

Laddie let out an exasperate groan, but did not interrupt further.

“Now, where was I? Ah yes…”

 

The King

 

                In the light of day the princess’ fear was gone, as she assured herself that all the night’s escapades had been a long and terrible dream. After eating the breakfast set out for her, she went down to take court with her father. She drifted in as the king was listening to a report on the crops on some such Baron’s land, and the yields of such and such field over another such and such crop. She tried to contain her exasperations as she saw that her betrothed sat next to the king smiling dumbly as usual. She could not explain her dislike of him, she just felt it most whole heartedly.

                The princess took her seat next to the king without even a glance at the prince seated opposite her. She could make out of the corner of her eye the shape of the prince trying to get her attention but she did not look, not wanting to encourage him. Her father bid good day to the Baron, and thanked him for the report on his lands. Before another land holder could interrupt, the king leaned to have a brief word, as most of his words were these days, with his daughter.

                “You do not look well, my daughter,” he whispered, “Is something the matter?”

                “Nothing is the matter, my lord. I simply did not sleep well.”

                The princess was curt. She started blindly out onto the court when she spoke with her father. The king did not care to fight with her ice demeanor, and so he persuaded the conversation no further.

                “Very well,” he sighed as he righted himself.

                There was a time when the king and princess would have long conversations on any subject. They would have heated debates, or discussions of literature and art. Anymore they spoke rarely, and when they did it was only in a most formal and cold manner. They king was too weary from his queens death to be at constant odds with his daughter and so he practically ignored her. The princess was too bitter to be understanding of her father’s weariness and so she avoided him when she could.

                An Earl of some little plot was talking about cattle when the prince appeared next to the princess. She could see he was standing at her side, but she did not acknowledge him. He stood a good long while very close to her before leaning in to speak.

                “Good morning, good lady,” he whispered in her ear.

                She set her jaw against her repulsion. His voice was buttery and sweet. It wrapped about her head and only made her anger grow. She could feel his blue eyes boring into her, but she would not look at him. across his left eye was a long dark scar from one of the jousts he had competed in, it was not the wound that repulsed her so, but his pride in it. He would gloat about his victories in battle, against terrible beasts, in tournament, his arrogance was maddening. Other than this one blemish the prince was quite handsome, and well mannered, but she could not stand him all the same. His very presence infuriated her, and he just refused to see it.

                “I was most pleased that you decided to come to court today. I might not have seen you otherwise.”

                “To think, I would have missed you,” she nearly hissed.

                “I leave back to my father’s kingdom at mid-day to make the last arrangements for our wedding.”

                He pulled his fingers through the golden hair that lay upon her shoulder. Her nails dug into the arms of her throne as she tried to contain her annoyance. She ground her teeth as she felt his face brush against her ear. He had not won her. He had no right to touch her, certainly not here in full view of the court, betrothed or not.

                “I was hoping I could have a kiss to carry with me before I went,” he said letting his hand brush against her cheek.

                She pulled away faster then she had intended, but his boldness shocked and infuriated her. What gave him the right? He had not asked if she loved him, she had never agreed to marry him. Her father had told her that she would marry this cretin, this lecher, this damned fool. She wanted no part of him, or this terrible betrothal. Tears welled up in her eyes, and her face flushed. No one cared that she suffered. No one cared what she wanted.

                The Earl was still discussing his herds when the hall’s doors flew open. The Earl was stifled into silence by the rush of wind that blew in. Everyone in the court turned to look at the form that filled the open doorway. One of the courtiers let out a scream, another fainted and the king rose to get a better view of the commotion. In strode a figure shrouded in black. Head to toe he was wrapped in layer upon layer of black; black tunic, black under clothes, heavy black leather gloves, even a wide brimmed black feathered hat. The only part of him that showed through his many coverings was his bright orange eyes with the black slits through the center.

                The princess looked on in horror as the creature walked forward and stood before the king. He removed his hat to reveal his warty, green head as he bowed to the lord king. It was the low flourished bow of a courtier and the king watched with intrigue as the misshapen creature righted.

                “What business have you here, Sir?”

                The creature replaced his hat. “I am called Toad, lord king, and I have come to collect a debt owed me.”

                Some of the courtiers let out sporadic little laughs. But the princess grew pale, as she watched the toad’s eyes flash briefly towards her. It took all her ill not to scream at the sight of the nightmare creature. Her hands began to shake as she tightened her grip against the arms of her throne.

                The king was no fool. He knew a cursed man when he saw one. He had known his share of sorcery in his time, and knew it best not to fool with such magic.

                So in all seriousness he replied, “Sir Toad, if any here owes you a debt you have my promise that it will be paid in full whatever it should be. Seek them out and they shall be at your mercy, sir.”

                “I have your word as king, my Lord?”

                “My oath, Sir, as a God fearing man and king of this fair land.”

                “Then you majesty,” The princess watched with terror as the gloved hand rose, “I was made a promise by she there.”

                His gaze fell squarely on her and her skin turned to ash as his point centered over her heart. The court looked on in shock at the princess as the king turned on his daughter. She did not look at him, because she could not escape the orange eyes. They petrified her and she could not move.

                “She has promised me whatever my heart desires.”

                The king looked down on his daughter in disgust, “Is this true.”

                The princess could not move to answer. She could hardly breathe. The king took hold of her arm and pulled her to him. He gave her a shake.

“Is this true, daughter?!” the king demanded. He shook her roughly again.

She could not lie, she could not think, she could do nothing.

She let out a cry as the king shook her once more. “Yes! Yes, it’s true.”

The princess fell against her father’s lap weeping. The tears flowed from her like a drenching rain. The king pushed her away and she collapsed to the floor. She sobbed but the king had no pity to offer her. The court stood in silence as the princess wept on.

“What do you desire of the princess, Sir Toad.”

The Toad looked at the girl crumpled at the feet of the king, “My Lord, I ask for only one night to share the foot from you daughters plate, to rest my head on her pillow, and in the morning light a single kiss from her lips. I ask for this and nothing more, and my debt will be settled.”

“You shall have all that you desire then, Sir Toad.”

The king called for his ministers to make the arrangements. The court was dismissed and the Toad was given a room to rest out the day, all the while the princess wept upon the floor. The king stepped around his daughters heaving form without looking back. The prince stood in stunned silence looking from the Toad to the princess and back again.

The Toad stepped gingerly up the dais towards the weeping girl. He knelt down before and rested a gloved hand gently upon her back in an attempt to comfort her.

“Worry not fair princess, after the morning, you shall never see the likes of me again.”

The princess leapt off the floor and ran from the hall without looking at the Toad. She disappeared out the doors and the Toad and prince were left watching after her.