Little Red Riding Wolf (Book 1 of Red Shoes and the 7 Dwarfs the Series)

Chapter 20

Red
Red took a deep breath and put on her best attempt at a smile. "Sorry for that," she said. "After talking with my associate here, I want to also ask if you would like to work together on your quest?"

"You guys want to help me catch a fae?" The prince asked, looking as if she said something insane.

Normally, she would agree with him and choose to do it on her own. However, Arthur insisted that they bring him along and he did have few good ideas about having more helping hands. Mainly because they haven't caught the a single fae.

"Yes," Arthur answered for her. "You haven't had much luck on your own and three heads are better than one after all."

"Four," said Red, indicating Davey who was watching all this from her basket.

"Right, four heads are better than-"

"Don't forget about me," Reggie cut in. "I promised to stay and watch out for the girl you know."

"Fine, five heads are better than one," said Arthur, looking a little annoyed from the constant interruptions.

"That, and we are also trying to meet the Fairy Queen too," said Red.

"What?" He asked in disbelief. "Why do you guys want to see the Fairy Queen for? Don't tell me you have a lost sibling and hope she might know where they are too?"

"Well no," she said hesitantly. "I'm an only child and actually a friend of mine is under a bad curse and since the Fairy Queen cast it, only she can remove it. So we came here to catch a fae and have them take us to her and ask her, and since we are also having no luck in that we could all work together."

"Wait, your friend got cursed by a fairy? Not just any fairy but the Queen herself? That's impossible, for everyone knows Fairies don't curse humans intentionally. Except as punishment for a wrong done to them, which hasn't happened since Princess Briar's christening."

I wouldn't be too sure of that, she thought to herself as she briefed a glance at Arthur, who was looking a little nervous.

Turning back to Phillip she said, "Actually, my friend is under a curse that was placed on her family starting with her Great-great-great-great Grandfather. It was he who angered the Fairy Queen and got himself and all his descendants into this horrible curse in the first place."

"Ok, then why do you think that helping me, when I am also having no luck either in the catching department?"

"Um, well," she said, unsure what to say.

Thankfully, Arthur spoke up for her.

"You have more experience in setting traps," he said. "That and Red here has been in this forest plenty of times and knows her way around these parts. So if we combine these we might both get what we want. What do you say?"

Red looked at Phillip, who pondered for a bit.

After a while he finally answered with a "no," which Red knew what was going to be the answer.

Arthur, however, was surprised at this. "What, why?" He asked.

"Nothing personal, but I am on a mission to find my brother, and I am fine on my own. I don't need help from a young woman (despite being pretty), an odd dwarf, a bunny, and a familiar. So if you don't have anything else to say I will go and continue on my goal. Farewell." He went to get his trap and horse.

Despite being relieved Red was also nervous. Without the extra help, they might never be able to make it to the Fairy Queen, and she would say goodbye to any chance of getting rid of her curse.