The Dog Princess: A Tom Holland Fairy Tale

Passion in the Passages

"Well this is charming." Zendaya muttered as the bunch trudged through the never-ending passage. Tom had taken the lead, holding up the lantern they were using in the barn. Harrison was the caboose, making sure Zendaya was protected from any imaginary shadow demons. Zendaya cringed with every step, thinking if the dirt and grime collecting on the bottom of her shoes. She tried her best to tread lightly, but she often couldn't keep up with Tom and Harrison kept inching closer despite his efforts to slow down for her.

"We should be almost there, right Tom?" Harrison asked.

"I think so. One more right turn should do it." Tom replied, staying quiet and alert.

"Is this how you both get around? You walk through here everyday?" Zendaya asked, feeling pity for their shoes as well.

Harrison gleefully answered. "Yup! This is the life, ain't it Tommy boy?"

"Every man's dream." Tom chuckled. The group finally turned right, leading them to the other side of the Corridor's rooms.

Zendaya, despite knowing where they were going, was surprised and little alarmed by how the passage worked. "This is eerie. Anyone could be on the other side of my door and I wouldn't even know it."

Harrison laughed. "It's more common than you think. Some even say the prince comes here."

"What?" Zendaya was shocked. "I don't believe it!"

Tom let out an exasperated sigh. "Me neither. Some servants claim to have seen him spying on the princesses, but I don't think he could stand being in here. This place is too below him—anyway I believe this is it. You said you were the the third on the right—"

"Yes. That's me." She smiled, elated to get out of that creepy tunnel.

Tom carefully pushed on the door, staying as quiet as he could. As soon as the door was cracked, he heard a familiar bounding coming their way. Soon there was a nose, and then a paw, and then he pushed the door a little further to reveal a happier-than-ever blue staffy.

"Oh Tess! I'm so glad you're safe." Tom beamed as he took her in his arms. Rosemary couldn't contain her excitement, jumping all over him and giving him all of the affection that she could.

Zendaya stifled a laugh. "You're so darling together."

"She's my girl." Tom gave her head a scratch as she melted into his touch. His girl.

"Would you like to come inside for a while? I'd hate to send you back out into that dreadful passage straightaway—"

"We'd love to, but we mustn't risk it. If we were found—" Tom started.

"I see." Zendaya's face fell, disappointed that they couldn't stay, as she was enjoying their company. She almost envied Rosemary for being able to spend more time with them. "Well goodnight. Be safe."

"We will." Harrison replied as he flashed her a goofy grin before turning around towards the dark path ahead of them. Rosemary gave her a small bark of acknowledgement, and Zendaya mouthed to her that she'd keep her door cracked so she could return to the Corridor once she changed back.

The men headed toward their room, and once they made it there they began to get comfortable. Rosemary tried her best to avert her eyes once again, but ended up giving into temptation as soon as Tom ripped his shirt off. She was mesmerized, but then the horribly bandaged scrape caught her eye. She suddenly felt so guilty; her love was literally hurting him. She was the cause of this, and could very well be the cause of his ultimate undoing. She could say she understood his fear, but she could never fully grasp it. She couldn't fathom the prince killing him, although he's proven to her twice now that he can and he would. Tom would be better off without her interfering and putting him in danger, she thought, but as soon as she did he took off his bandage and looked at his wound in the mirror, and he smiled.