The Frog Prince and His Servant (Completed)

Chapter V

HENRY'S POV

The King was beyond furious, the moment he heard the prince is missing, he sent guards out in search of him. He even had his horse readied for him to lead a group of his best men. I wished to go out and be able to help look for him, but when I try to bring it up with the king during his frenzy, he pushed me away saying I would just slow them down. Like hell was I going to stay in the castle while my master, my best friend is missing. I clench my fists, I'm his personal servant, I should have gone with him but no, he wanted to prove himself to the King. Well, look at what happened. I swear, my prince you better turn out to be alright or so help me. 

I stop and cleared my head, it's too early to be thinking anything rash. He'll be fine I'm sure. Back to the task at hand, I waited for the king and his men to leave and quickly packed some food, water, and two small torches into a bag. I made sure no one saw me as I sneak out of the castle, knowing that they would stop me where I stood and give me chores to do. As I walk away I weighed my options. The king and his men will be searching the town and the area around it so it would be pointless for me to search the same place. There are also the different roads he could have taken if he were coming back and lost his horse there. There was only one road where snakes reside in and maybe frightened a horse to the point my prince lost control of its reigns. Another road where bandits hide from view awaiting helpless travelers, they probably recognized him as the Prince of Grimm and took him for ransom. So many possibilities, where should I decide to look first? 

As if to answer my question, a resounding howl echoes from Grimm forest. I don't know what it was, but for some reason, I felt that howl was telling me to start my search there. Of course, the path through the forest is that fastest way back to the castle and any creature in there would surely scare off the horse. I lit a torch and made my way into the dark forest. 

For hours I look behind fallen trees, huge boulders, and I even called out for him despite the creatures I may attract. Right now, I didn't care. My need to find him is becoming more and more urgent. 

"Oh, my prince, where could you be?" I questioned  and again it was answered by a howl.

I decided instead of blindly searching, I will follow the sound of the howl. Crazy, I know but I just have this feeling in my gut that I will find my prince by first finding the howling wolf.

JONAH'S POV

"You leave him alone, Witch! You have me what more do you need?"

"Hm, well he seems set on finding you. So, he must know you on a personal level but judging from his clothes he's nothing but a servant. Dear Prince, who are you to him? A question I don't need you to answer, for I already know it, but do you?"

"Who am I to him? I am his master and he is my personal servant."

"No, no, prince. That is not the right answer. Hmm, change of plans, it'll be more fun this way. Yes it will be." She chuckles to herself. 

"Don't you dare touch Henry or I'll-"

"What? What will you do? Please, enlighten me  because as of now I see you as a small bug waiting to be crushed and disposed of."

"Tch." I look away with nothing to respond with.

"Exactly. Now listen to me, I have something to explain to you. I've come up with a very fun game and you have to play otherwise I will kill you and your servant boy. You don't want that do you?"

My eyebrows furrowed and my fists clench so hard, my nails dug into my skin. 

"What do I have to do?" I ask lowly.

Her lips curved into a devious smile as she leans close to me, whispering the details and rules of the game as if it were a secret and we were in the middle of a crowd.

"I don't understand, why would you want-"

"Sh, let me finish. If you win, you will live a happy life with the one you love. If you loose, your life is mine to use how I want."

"Answer me this, why would you want to play this game, if you could easily get what you want. You have me already so why?"

"It's more fun with stakes on the line and, I don't know. That servant interests me. I remember him from the first time he was here five years ago. He was able to survive as a boy in the dangerous forest of Grimm while anyone else would have died. Anyways, let the game begin!"

I gulp nervously, I hope I can pull this off. 

Word Count: 854