A Princess Named Harry

Chapter 52

Caroline was proficient in Harry's care. "There you go," she said triumphantly as she picked up the first-aid box. "Wait here, and I'll bring in some sweets with Mary."
Mary was Caroline's attending maid.

After she left, Harry and Varian stayed together in her room quietly. She had been wondering if she should ask him the question that had been on her mind for a while.

"Nathaniel had very strong magic, didn't he?" she asked. That was not her question.

"Yeah, he did," Varian answered.

Harry looked down and took a deep breath. "There's hardly any books about magic here, but back at that little cottage, you said there was a lot of stuff about it, so maybe-"

"Don't even think about going back to that place."

Harry closed her mouth and looked down. "It's too dangerous," Varian warned. "You can't go back there, understand?"

Harry nodded and replied, "Yeah."

"Good."

She did understand, but Varian was soon called away on business, her mother was still not back with the food yet, and she was bored. She knew the way, not to mention she was skilled in using a sword, so she thought it would be fine to go even if she was by herself.

Harry would've changed out of her rugged clothes, but since she wasn't planning on meeting anyone in the house, she didn't bother to.

She hurried and snuck outside. She was certain that she could find the way to the house. She looked down at the cliff, making sure to make it down safely this time. Once down, she headed in the direction of the house. It was quite lonely considering the last time she was there. However lonely, it only took her a few minutes to find it again.

She knocked on the door first, just in case there was someone there. Of course, she didn't get a reply, so she went on in. The house was lit better on the count of it still being early in the day, but it was still a little dark.

Harry saw the same things as Varian did when he had entered the house. She read through all of the documents. She ended up disappointed when she read through their contents.

She circled around the house making sure to put everything back exactly as it was, and started to leave when she suddenly tripped over a rug. She fell flat on her face and quickly scrambled to fix it back. That was when she noticed it, a trap door that had been hidden underneath the rug.

She opened the door and looked down at it. It was very dark, and she would have to borrow a candle. After lighting one, she headed down the stairs. Each one was creakier than the next. When she reached the last step, she was shocked to find a workshop.

There were tons of books and beakers, a big pot that was steaming under a fire, and potions were bubbling and brewing. It became obvious that someone had been there very recently.

Harry could sense the danger and knew that she should leave immediately, but she didn't want to go without taking a book. She felt like if she left empty-handed, then her trip would have been for nothing.

She quickly rummaged through the books. Out of the many books, only two interested her. One was about every type of magic, and the second was a sort of fairy tale-styled book about a sort of fairy tale-styled kingdom.

She didn't want to take two books. Although she had found the book she had been looking for, the other was just too interesting for her to leave behind. As she was debating about which one to take, someone began to come down the stairs. She was too absorbed in her thoughts to hear it.

"Well, well, I was certain that I shut the trap door."

Harry suddenly froze. She could hear someone getting closer and closer. She looked around for somewhere to hide, but there was none. The place was too bare and small for her to be able to completely hide herself.

"I was right; a little mouse did sneak in."

Harry turned around, and her eyes met with the person. It was an old man. He had long white hair that matched his long white beard. He looked very old and very wise. He was just barely taller than Harry.

"Ah, hello there," he spoke in an old kind voice. "I was out getting more ingredients for my potion." His eyes studied Harry. "What are you doing?" Harry bowed and replied, "Hello . . . I . . . I was just looking at your books."

He eyed the books. "The History of Everything Magic and The Tale of the Dark Kingdom?" The man got off the stairs and moved past Harry over to the large pot.

"Both are good books."

"A-are they?"

Harry put them down. She was worried that she looked like a book thief to the man. "I'm sorry, I was going to return them after I read them. I . . . I didn't think anyone lived here."

He chuckled, "My house does look abandoned, doesn't it?"

Harry watched him toss some herbs into the pot and stir it with a very large ladle.

"It's fine by me if you take the books with you."

She looked down at the ground and asked nervously, "Are you mad?"

"Of course not!" laughed the man. "It's an honor to have the second princess visit my shabby little home."

Harry flinched and quickly looked up at the man. "You know me?"

"How could I not?" he asked as he moved over to the table. He put his satchel down and took out more herbs. Instead of throwing them in the pot, he began to grind them up. Harry watched him with curious eyes. "The prophecy told me Your Highness was coming, and the prophecy is never wrong."

"The prophecy?" Harry asked. "Mister, do you have magic?"

The man laughed again, "Yeah, sort of. Also, Your Highness can call me Joseph."

"Is that alright?"

"Yes, rather, I'd be sad if you didn't."

Harry smiled, "Then, please call me Harry, Mister Joseph."

Joseph gave a silent nod in response.

Harry looked around at all of his equipment. "Is what you're brewing related to the prophecy?"

"No, it's just a simple potion."

"What is the prophecy?" she asked. She instantly realized it was a bad question. "I'm sorry for asking so suddenly; if you can't tell me, it's fine."

Joseph shook his head. "No, it's alright; it's time for me to tell someone about it, and who better to tell than the princess?"

Harry got closer to him to watch him work; it was all new and exciting to her.

"The princess should be able to keep everyone safe."

"Keep everyone safe?" She could feel her excitement slowly depleting. "What will happen?" she asked nervously. Part of her didn't want to know the answer.

Joseph sighed, "Years ago, a prophecy was written, and somehow I was the only one who could make sense of it."

He turned to Harry with an expression that was different from the ones he had been making before. Until now, he had been smiling, but now he was solemn. He grabbed ahold of Harry's shoulders and said very frantically, "Listen to me, Harry, listen carefully."

Harry did not say anything she simply nodded and listened quietly for his next words. She didn't know that at the time, his words would slowly bring ruin to her peaceful life little by little.

"Be wary, Princess; I fear that a war is coming."

                            End of book one