The Princess and The Reluctant Knight

Episode 31

Back in the Not So Enchanted Forest, while King Dave pondered his new resolve, Queen Elana led the way, with her gait gracefully balancing determination and the desire to sit down and wish for a cup of tea.

Brittany and Jeanette treated the path as their stage, leaping from stone to stone like the moss beneath were hot coals.

Sir Alvin and Sir Simon strode behind them with a seriousness that could only be described as over-the-top. Their armor crinkled with every step, drowning out the natural serenity of the woodlands.

Amidst the clanking and the rustling of royal attire, a large shadow descended upon them, causing all to duck in alarm.

But alas! A small creature with smallish wings swooped down, circling the entourage with the curiosity of a cat that had just spotted a plump goldfish.

Sir Alvin drew his sword with a flourish that would have surprised even the most ostentatious peacock. "Stand back, fair maidens!" he bellowed, his voice a mix of bravado and a slight quiver.

Princess Jeanette, her eyes wide with recognition, lunged forward with an outstretched hand faster than Sir Alvin's blade could slip from his grasp and almost slice off a toe.

"Wait!" she cried. "Mother, do you recognize our winged friend?"

"Friend?" Sir Simon echoed, skepticism dripping from every syllable as he eyed the beast. "That creature looks about as friendly as a porcupine in a ballroom."

The creature looked at Jeanette, its eyes shining like tiny drops of water on a spider's web. Without a word, they seemed to remember the first time they met, when the creature's wings had taken her breath away. The shimmering wings were thin and almost see-through before the creature tucked them against its back, trembling a little with every scared heartbeat.

Queen Elana regarded the scene. "Jeanette, my dear, perhaps you could enlighten us before Sir Alvin attempts to make kebabs from the creature."

Jeanette smiled. "This is the creature I freed from the Goblin's net last fortnight. It seems our paths were meant to cross again."

Alvin picked his sword from the dirt. "You mean to say this... this airborne thing is... is an ally?"

The creature fluttered closer, its wings emitting a sound like muffled laughter. It circled above Jeanette's head, a halo of feathers and fondness.

Brittany moved in closer, very curious. "But why has it come back? There must be a reason, something more than just saying thanks."

Jeanette nodded, then locked gazes with the creature. "It is trying to tell us something. I can feel it."

The queen stepped forward. "Then let us uncover its message. Jeanette, can you interpret its intent?"

Jeanette closed her eyes in concentration. After a long pause, Jeanette's eyes fluttered open. "It speaks of a disturbance in the forest," she said. "A darkness that creeps and a light that falters."

Simon, who had remained as silent as the 'h' in 'ghost,' finally spoke up. "And I suppose we are to be the brave souls who investigate this cryptic calamity?"

Queen Elana nodded, her resolve as unshakable as the roots of the ancient oaks surrounding them. "Indeed. This forest may not be enchanted, but it is our realm, and we shall not allow it to succumb to shadow."

Alvin stepped forward. "Lead the way, Your Majesty. Our blades and our bravery are at your service."

Princess Brittany chuckled and said, "Let us not forget snacks. Adventures require sustenance, and I refuse to face the unknown on an empty stomach."