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

Chapter 21

Arthur

"Alright we alone except for the horse," said Phillip once Arthur was sure they were out of earshot of the others. He had stern look on his face a sad he firmly gripped Axle's rein, as of worried the horse would run off. Even though that wasn't possible since the creature's real owner was around. "Now tell me where my brother is, dwarf."

Arthur sighed. Normally, telling anyone about his curse was the last thing he would do. However, hated the thought of his brother going off on his own and getting his own was even worse. So if this was the only chance to keep him in sight, that was what he would do.

"Alright," he said. "I will tell you but you might not believe it."

"That depends on what you have to say," saiid Phillip.

"Ok," he said slowly. "Your brother is right here. In fact, he is standing in right front of you."

Normally, Arthur could just makeup a story as usual, but this was his little brother, who once looked up to him and he was close to. No, he had to tell the truth this time.

"Wow," Phillip said in disbelief. "You're right. I don't believe it. For I can clearly see in front of me is prankster dwarf. Seriously, tell me where he is."

  "It is the truth," said Arthur. "He really is in front of you because I am him."

"You expect me to believe that?," said Phillip with a glare. "I may be 15 but I am not dumb. Now for the last time, tell me the truth."

"And I'm telling you it is the truth. You have to believe me."

"Ok, fine then," said Phillip with a huff, and crossed his arms. "If you are really my brother, then tell me something that only he would know." He gave a smug look, daring Arthur to prove it.

Arthur thought hard for a second until he came up with an answer, once that was sure to prove his identity.

It was when he was 13 and his brother was seven. Phillip was secretly playing ball in the castle, after he was told not to lots of times, accidentally broke a priceless antique vase given to their mother by the King of Bardoviy. When their confronted them, and because he did not want his little brother to get in trouble, he lied to his parents and said that he was the one who did it.

He was grounded for a two weeks but he would have done it again for Phillip. After he scolded him and made sure he would never play ball inside again, the two promised that they would keep the secret till their death.

"When we were kids you secretly played ball castle one time after you told not to. This led you to accidentally break mom's Baedoviy vase and took the fall for you. After that, we swore on our lives that we would never tell another living on pain of death."

Phillip's smug face immediately turned to shock upon hearing that. "What?!" That's impossible! You can't possibly know that unless..."

He then turned to Arthur, staring at him as of seeing him for the first time. "Arthur, is it really you?"

"You better believe it little brother," said Arthur, relieved.

"Big brother," Phillip said with a smile, pulled him into a bear hug. "I can't believe I finally found you! After all this time!"

"Can't... breathe," he wheezed, struggling against his brother's hard grip on his weaker form.

"Oh I'm sorry," Phillip said in realization, immediately letting go and gently putting him down. "It's just, I haven't seen you in nearly two years and was beginning to think that you were gone forever."

"Yeah, I get that," he said, rubbing his aching arms.

"At least now I know why no one has been able to find you," said Phillip looking him up in down, his smile becoming a frown. "Where have you been all this time and where are the others. More importantly, why are you now a green dwarf? Wait, please don't tell me you are under a curse