There’s comes a time in some Princess’s life when words are not enough.
“If you can explain why you’re in love, then you have a problem” said the frog Princess’ Father.
(Read the previous story of the Princess is the Frog here)
She looked at the man who was about to marry the love of his life, and, with total and utter astoundment, started to cry. She could not stop the tears from flowing, and her voice from laughing, and her smile to extend beyond her ears. A cry of pure happiness that seemed communicative as her Fairy Step-mother followed in her footsteps.
It was the happiest day of our Frog Princess’ life, she did not know two people who deserved happiness as much as these two did. A love so pure and flaws that seemed to fit so perfectly with one another. Two pieces of a puzzle, different each, but not complete without the other.
It was such a glorious day that the little rain on the Horse Kingdom did not erase a single smile. Especially not the Frog Princess’. Because on top of being a witness to this extraordinary event, she had gained two exceptional brothers and a loud and caring family.
In the back of her mind though, was the other King.
He had sent her throngs and throngs of letters, some to which she replied, but now, she was in all honesty, quite a bit exasperated. He wanted to be here, to observe this uncanny event, she knew this, he knew this, but he was not ready to admit this to himself, she thought.
She was surprised because she had never asked him to come, but he had mentioned it more than once during their previous meetings. So when she officially gave him an invitation, thinking this was what he was waiting for, he took half a second to answer and tentatively tried the word: “no”. She thought he was just shy and might have regretted his answer so, she asked again. And got the same hesitant answer. It seemed to her that once again, the eyes and the words of the King were not in accordance. And the Princess did not understand such miscommunication between the two. After all, they shared the same human. But oh well, this time, she did not want to care.
But of course she did. Care.
Perhaps he may have understood that for he travelled to the Horse Kingdom to pay his respect to her parents but a few days later. The Princess’ Father and her Fairy Stepmother were delighted to welcome this King again, after all, they had known him before the Princess had and they doted on him still. During luncheon, the King asked for details of the ceremony. Everybody spoke of their lovely experience of the day until he turned to the Princess and asked her what speech she had made.
She remembered the speech well. Because it was the second time in her life she had seen her father shed a tear. She had not a clue the words she had said were to have such an impact on her father and step-mother. See, it was mainly improvised, she had wanted to be spontaneous and feel things deeply instead of writing them down in advance. Just as she writes, she did not know what the next sentence was going to be. But here is approximately what she said unto the crowd and now to the King:
“I am often asked how and why it is that I enjoy the company of my step-mother. I know it is not of custom, but here is what I answer the ones who care enough to ask: I grew up, just like most people my age, with tellings of love stories that have endings. Most stories we tell young people even today hardly involve sentiments and feelings and cares for one another at all! And so I grew up thinking my stories would inevitably have endings, and that was just the way life was. There the Princess paused and looked at her Fairy step-mother with a slight smile: some people like endings more than others…, she added. But then one day, just as my brother described it right before me, I met this Fairy, and seeing my father standing next to her, together, it seemed so… Obvious. So clear, so inevitable that these two should be anything but apart.
And well, since then, I believe. In… Love.”
As she was repeating this to the King, her eyes had drifted down, looking at the ground, half shy. She barely dared to glance back at him when she was done, perhaps slightly scared of what she would see in his eyes at this time, or worse what her interpretation of what that look might be.
On the Horse Kingdom’s grounds there was a clearing. In ancient times that clearing had been used by druids for their gatherings. It was an enchanted place where the Princess and the King had taken a stroll together once when they had first met.
They resolved in walking back there one more time. As soon as they were out of sight, the King fiercely kissed and embraced the Princess. She giggled and blushed, feeling like she was but a teenager again. And once they reached the enchanted clearing, they remained entwined, talking, sharing, forgetting about time.
To the Princess, it felt as if Time did stop there for a second.
She was certain it had been so when the King voiced his cares for her for the first time. But he said it with such seriousness, such solemnity, she could only but kiss him in return to turn those clasped lips into a smile.
I do not know how it is possible that time seems, at the same time, so still and yet so short. The sun was quickly setting, and the Princess was sad because it meant the King was to leave soon. But an un-ordinary night this proved to be as shooting stars strayed the summer darkness. The Princess looked up, and saw many a one briefly illuminating this enchanting sky. “Make a wish! Make a wish!” said the Fairy-step mother. The Princess took a deep breath, and tried to listen to her heart’s desires.
But….
Strangely….
Nothing came.
She tried to rummage through it. But still, there was nothing to be found. And so, eventually, she gave up. Realizing that, maybe, there was not a thing in the world that could make her life better in this moment.
And so she never made a wish.
