“Please, Lucy, do not leave after lights out!” Sonoma called.

“Be quiet, Sonoma! I promised Prince that I would meet him at moonrise.”

“This is all nonsense. What lyrical croaks did he whisper in your ear to behave this way? … I am accompanying you to the pond, Lucy.”

“I do not care. If it were only you, I will never care.” Sonoma sighed.

The only sounds were the pitter-patter of Lucy’s leather and cotton slippers and swish of Lucy’s nightdress against the stone floor. The moon had risen only an hour earlier so if she left now her promise would still be kept. As Lucy slipped out the side door to the forest the moonlight illuminated her white-colored olive skin. When the cold touched her cheeks, they turned pink, as well as her fingertips. She looked like a doll.

Sonoma’s feet were smaller and lighter than Lucy’s were. Her skin was more perfect and smooth than Lucy’s, too. While Lucy had golden wavy locks of silky hair, Sonoma had soft black tendrils that seemed to be glossed with liquefied moonlight. Lucy’s eyes were a dull gray, while Sonoma’s were a dark maroon, accenting her beautiful brown skin. The very feelings of being with Sonoma in genuine moonlight made Lucy feel small and insignificant. We are two opposites of the scale, Lucy thought, but she has the beauty that Olivia, also, has.

“Tell me, what in the world ever made you do this? What compelled you to make such a nonsensical promise with Prince?” Sonoma whispered. Even her voice was soft and silkier than Lucy’s was!

“Prince offered to talk to me.”

Sonoma almost laughed. “What kind of offer is that? He is a frog, Lucy. Frogs can’t talk.”

Lucy swiveled around to face Sonoma, a deathly glare in her eyes. “He is not a lame frog. He is also a prince, of what caliber is to be decided on a later date. You must accept this, Sonoma.”

Sonoma’s body went rigid and she watched helplessly as Lucy walked into the forest and out of sight. She choose to not follow Lucy and instead let her leave. She choose to think that Lucy would be safe as long as she were with Prince; Sonoma had faith in Prince to keep Lucy safe.

In the morning, when the sun rose, the first thing Sonoma did was check on Lucy in her chambers. Thankfully, she was within the warm covers of cotton, silk, and wool sheets and blankets. Sonoma heaved a light sigh before leaving Lucy’s chambers.

“Olivia, will you celebrate Ra Memphis’ birthday with Prince Jeanne or your family?” King James asked kindly. Olivia set her fingers on her bottom lip and rubbed for a few seconds before sighing and resting her hands in her lap.

“I suppose I will go away with Jeanne for a few days.” Then she rose. “I will pack. Excuse me,” she said, her voice smooth, and left the dining hall.

“James, have you seen Lucy?” Queen Barbara asked. King James gave Queen Barbara an evil glare.

“Why do I have to bother with that ungrateful child?” he shouted and left the table. Barbara sighed and rested her head on the marble table.

“She’s been absent all morning. I hope she’s alright… that child.”

“Lucy! Open the door this instant!” Sonoma shouted.

“Don’t come in, I’m sick! You and all the guards back!” Sonoma groaned and sat in front of the door.

“Hey, missy! All the guards left already. They said you were the most stubborn princess in history. That’s going quite far, you know, considering Princess Maybelle was pretty bad.” Suddenly, the hard wooden door opened and Lucy pulled Sonoma inside before slamming the door shut. “Lucy!”

“Shh, Sonoma. Be quiet. My ears ring from all the shouting we exchanged,” Lucy said quietly and climbed into her bed of blankets. Sonoma followed and sat on the edge of the bed.

“What happened last night?” Lucy winced.

“I…” Sonoma scowled.

“What is it? Did you two kiss? Already? Even though he’s not your betrothed! How could you, my lady?” Lucy almost laughed.

“No, no. You are jumping to conclusions, Sonoma! We did nothing noteworthy, is all. We talked, stargazed, and then…”

“What then? …wait, he talked with you?” It amazed Sonoma when Lucy nodded her head. “What did he speak of? How did he sound?”

“He sounded… like a frog,” Lucy replied flatly and laid back on her giant fluffy pillows. Sonoma sighed and laid back on Lucy’s blanket covered legs.

“What happened?”

“Erm… Do I really have to tell you about it?” Sonoma looked at Lucy to see she was looking at her. Sonoma nodded and Lucy breathed deeply before explaining her story. “Well, he told me he could only talk in moonlight, and only about certain topics, so I willingly talked to him about the topics he was allowed to talk about--”

“What were they?”

“Literature, art, nature, and my own well being.”

“How minimal…”

“Anyway, after we talked…” Sonoma sat up and bore into Lucy, making her go rigid. “After we talked… I felt sleepy and accidentally ate bugs and dirt.” Lucy said those last few words so fast it took Sonoma a few seconds to understand what she had just said. And then she burst out laughing. Lucy frowned.

There was a knocking at the door. Sonoma paused her laughing, yet still giggling, and went to answer. “Who is it?” she called.

“It is Olivia. How is my sister? She’s been absent all morning.” Sonoma looked behind her to Lucy, who was in fear of her beloved sister seeing her like this.

“Do I let her in?” Sonoma whispered. Lucy shook her head frantically and Sonoma nodded. “I’m sorry, Lady Olivia, but my lady Lucille is not feeling her best. She wishes to stay in her chambers for the rest of the day.”

“That is alright. As expected from her. Tell her I’ll send the castle doctor and herbologist as soon as possible,” Olivia said and then left down the spiral stairs. Sonoma left the door.

“My lady, Lady Olivia says she is telling the castle doctor and herbologist to visit you as soon as possible. It should be alright to tell them what you ate, right? Bugs and dirt are not uncommon things to eat when one is delirious with sleep.”

A very unladylike grunt came from Lucy’s chest and she crossed her arms. “My stomach tumbles and turns for something warm. Can you quickly make me some white tea before the doctor and herbologist get here? I do not want to get out of bed again to answer the door.”

“Yes, my lady.” Sonoma bows before she turns and leaves. When she returns, the castle doctor and herbologist follow after her.

“My goodness, Princess, you know very well how evil dirt and bugs are to consume! Even when you are drowsy, you should not have eaten any,” the doctor said as he bent over Lucy to feel her forehead and then her cheek. “A slight fever. Are you cold?”

“A slight chill.”

“Rosemary, get some Adelaphin for the fever. Heat it in some milk before bringing it up here,” the doctor said and the herbologist left in a limped run.

“Doctor Gregory, Sonoma told you about last night?” He nodded. “What did she tell?”

“You went out for a stroll and ate dirt and bugs because of the sleep in your eyes.” Lucy sighed and Sonoma almost laughed. “Honestly, I don’t know how you made it back to your room so well. Did Sonoma help you?”

“No, she did not. I, myself, am surprised, too, at how I made it back.” Doctor Gregory looked around Lucy’s chambers, inspecting it thoroughly. Lucy frowned. “Is there something wrong, Doctor Gregory?”

“No, no,” he said and shook his head along with his hand, “there is nothing wrong. I was making sure of it.”

“Okay, then.” Rosemary came through the wooden door.

“Ah, Rosemary, glad to have you back. Do you have the herb medicine?” Rosemary nodded and Doctor Gregory stepped aside so she could administer the herbal concoction. “Please rest, Princess, and by tomorrow morning you should be back to your top condition.” He chuckled at the princess before leaving, Rosemary following after him.

Sonoma came to sit next to Lucy on her bed as she sat up. “I’m going to see Prince.” Sonoma gently pushed Lucy down to her pillows.

“Listen to Gregory at least once, will you? Doctors are always right.”

“Always? What about the time thirty years ago when Doctor Patrick caused Priestess Livana’s ulcer infection?” Sonoma scowled. “Well?”

“That I cannot comment on, my lady, but I know for sure that the doctor, this time, is right.” She began to rub Lucy’s upper arm. “Go to sleep,” she said and stood suddenly. “I will go see Prince today and tell him of your illness. If he is who you think he is then he will understand and be patient for your well return.” Sonoma tucked Lucy in the heavy covers and closed the window shut.

“Sonoma, keep the window open a little bit, please?”

“As you wish.” The window opened again. “Have a pleasant sleep, Lucy. I wish you in whole wellness,” Sonoma said and left the chambers.

Lucy turned to her side and snuggled into the warmth her blankets and sheets gave her. She was happy and grateful for all the good things in her life. Whatever more could she have?

A prince. No, she already has a prince. A frog prince he may be, but still a prince nonetheless.