5

Robert and Prince Nicholas

Our curious Robert was certainly having a time of his own in the woods. After the adults had started chattering away he had taken that opportune moment to sneak off on a quest of his own. Someone just needed to talk to Prince Nicholas. He seemed to be what this whole ordeal revolved around anyway. Sometimes grownups beat around the bush too long.

So Robert set out to confront the Prince and (hopefully) convince him that he and his family were not sent by the witch. Somehow, deep down, Robert knew that they were sent here to help Nicholas. He wasn’t quite sure how they were to help, but maybe this Great Protector everyone was talking about knew. Robert just wished he could find out who exactly that was. Maybe the Prince would know him.

It seemed as though the young boy had been walking for miles and miles. Everything looked the same. The woods were quite flat and the trees were so tall and close together they created almost a canopy that blocked out the threatening sky. There was also no fog this time, which helped tremendously.

After about an hour and a half his stomach grumbled and he remembered he had forgotten to bring food. This was not very smart of him, but Robert wasn’t used to having adventures like these and was quite accustomed to getting his three square meals a day provided by his Aunt.

Just when he was about to give up he came to the edge of the woods. He could see the dark sky clearly now, as well as the most beautiful lake he had ever laid eyes on. The water seemed to glitter even in the semi-darkness. There was a rather large boulder sitting by the edge of the lake and on it he saw a figure that seemed to be sharpening the end of an arrow. Lying on the ground underneath him looked like… yes it was! It was a wolf.

“Jorath…” Robert whispered softly and he noticed the animal raise its head and stare directly at him. Robert was frightened at first, but the animals eyes were drawing him in. He relaxed his tense muscles and held out his hand as if beckoning a dog closer. The wolf walked towards him confidently and when he was within touching distance Robert softly brushed the top of its head.

The wolf moved closer and it began to feel like the wolf was comforting him instead of the other way around. Jorath was a light grey color and his eyes were so blue it seemed as though they could pierce your very soul. He remembered his Aunt saying something along those lines and he had to agree with her.

When Robert looked up to the man, who he assumed must be Prince Nicholas, he was staring back at him. Jorath jogged away from them both and the air was completely silent. Robert grew nervous under the strangers’ scrutiny and began to move closer. He tried to think of something to say, but he could come up with nothing.

“Who are you?” The Prince asked. He was not accustomed to getting so many visitors in these woods. In the past two days he had seen more than he had in the last two years.

“My name is Robert, Sir.” He replied politely. The Prince jumped down off the rock and walked closer towards him. “I believe you met my Aunt just yesterday.”

This seemed to surprise him. “You mean to tell me that you are in relation to the woman from the woods?”

Robert nodded his head. “I am. I wanted to assure you we are not spies for anything evil. We are not even sure how we came to be here. And I really must protest of your treatment of my Aunt. She is nothing if not honest and should be treated with the utmost respect.” Robert half expected the Prince to laugh at him. After all, he was only a child and he was addressing someone of royal blood.

But in fact the Prince did the exact opposite. He reached out his hand to shake it with Robert’s. “You are truly a noble young man. Please forgive me of my ignorance. My only excuse is that I have not had much contact with other persons for quite some time now. But even that is no excuse for the way I treated your Aunt.”

Robert shook his hand as firmly as he could. “No worries, but I do hope you will make an apology to her yourself.”

“I shall do it if I meet her again.” He promised and shook his head thoughtfully. “You must forgive me. I am Nicholas of Carenoe. And where is that you hail from Robert?”

“London, Sir.” Robert could tell the Prince had never heard of such a place and seemed confused. “I am not from Carenoe. I am from… a different world. Very different actually.”

Nicholas seemed to ponder this and that is when Jorath came walking up to them. Robert looked down and saw that the wolf had brought two rather large apples in his mouth. He was pressing his snout against Robert’s hand and the boy took them gratefully.

“Thank you, Jorath.” Nicholas said sincerely.

Robert offered one apple to the Prince and saw him flinch as if the gesture inflicted him physical pain. “Is there something wrong?”
Nicholas turned away, almost as if he were ashamed and walked over to lean against one of the trees. “I cannot eat.”

Robert thought back to when his Aunt was telling him the story and he felt foolish for what he had done. It was because of the curse. He was denied appetite and hunger as well as all the simple pleasures of life. He contemplated whether or not to eat his own apple and the Prince seemed to notice this.

“I assure you it does not bother me if you eat, my friend. Please go ahead.”

Robert, needing no further encouragement and feeling rather elated at being called the Prince’s friend, bit right into the apple. When sweetness hit his tongue he swore it was the juiciest apple he had ever eaten. It was so good, in fact, that he ate both apples Jorath brought him. By the time he was done his stomach was full and he felt much better.

They sat in silence a few moments and Robert took the time to observe the Prince. He was quite tall, but not as tall as Hutch. He seemed to be around his Aunt’s age or maybe a little older. He had short dark hair with matching dark eyes. He seemed to have an air of sadness all around him. It made everything inside him want to help ease that sadness. Even if it was only just a little.

“I believe we were sent here to help you.” Robert stated firmly.

“Help me?” The Prince repeated, as if not understanding.

“Break the curse.” Robert clarified. “You know, fulfill the Prophecy of Old.”

Nicholas raised an eyebrow. “How do you know about all that?”

“Hutch told us all about it. I had already heard of your plight with the curse and all before. But I never knew anything of a Great Protector or prophecy until I came here.”

The Prince did not reply and only looked out onto the lake. Robert wondered if he had upset him, but the noble only seemed to be thinking. He had a far off look in his eyes. Robert thought this was a good time to ask who the Great Protector was.

Nicholas definitely seemed to know. His eyes lit up for a moment, just a brief moment mind you, but then slowly faded back to the sadness. “He is ruler over all things.”

“But… I thought that was you.”

Nicholas shook his head. “No, I am merely a ghost now. The Great remains forever.”

Robert sighed. “I don’t understand. If the Great Protector is so powerful, then why doesn’t he get rid of the Queen?”

“Sometimes I wish he would.” Nicholas said. “But there are many things of which we do not understand about Him. But He knows all and therefore we must trust that He knows best. He has never been wrong before.”

“I still don’t understand why He would leave you like this, though.” Robert argued. “It does not seem fair at all.”

Nicholas glanced briefly at Jorath then back to the ground. “What I am was brought on by my own selfish desires. No one is to blame but me. Only I must carry the burden of shame.”

They both fell silent once more and Robert then heard something in the distance. It sounded like voices. They sounded like they were getting closer and closer. The Prince seemed to hear them as well and immediately jumped to his feet. Robert scrambled up and walked a few paces deeper into the wood.

Someone was calling his name.