The Forest Princess

The Grandparents

The winter ended sooner than expected. Peregrin had fully recovered from his illness, and Larimar felt as if a huge weight had lifted from her shoulders. She knew that the seven years would soon be up. However, she hadn't been sure whether her task was fulfilled until Tilia came home the day after that dreadful snowstorm.

When the girl told them what had happened at the Ice Palace, Larimar wanted to know the Ice King's story in every detail. She kept asking questions until she finally understood her part in the destiny of both countries.

Both children recovered well from their ordeal in the Ice Kingdom. Carnelian started to ask questions about his grandparents. He wanted to know where they lived and when they would come to visit. The grandparents of his friends were living mostly in the village. Only his best friend had grandparents who lived far away. They had come to visit recently, and that had awakened the interest in the boy.

"They will come to visit very soon," Larimar assured her son. "And we will go and visit them too. Maybe we will even stay with them for a while."

"For a long time," said Carnelian.

"Yes," his mother replied. "We'll stay with them for a long time."

Peregrin looked at her. Larimar shrugged her shoulders and pulled a face. She had no idea where those words had come from. Later that day she took out her smartbox and looked into the polished black stone. She saw her parents sitting at the breakfast table.

"Maybe we have been too harsh on her, Obs," said Queen Ruby.

"It wasn't my decision, Rubs." King Obsidian defended himself.

"I know, dear," Queen Ruby replied. Then she added, "maybe we shouldn't have given her that forest name..."

"What forest name?" the king asked between two mouthfuls of omelette on toast.

"Silvana," said the queen.

"Oh Ruby," the king sighed. "We've been over this so many times. It's too late now anyway. Can we please give it a rest?

"I'm sorry, dear," said the queen. "I just miss them terribly."

"I know," said the king and took his wife's hand. "I miss her too."

He looked at her intrigued and added, "Who else are you missing?"

"Our grandson, of course," said the queen and winked at the servant who had come in to clear the empty plates off the breakfast table.

King Obsidian looked at the queen, then he looked at the servant. "Does anyone ever tell me anything in this palace?" he asked.

"Congratulations, grandpa!" Queen Ruby said and laughed. "It's a boy. His name is Carnelian Obsidian Peregrin of Jasper."

Larimar held the black and silver box to her heart. If there had been any doubts left, now she knew for sure that the spell had been broken. She had fulfilled her special task and the last few months of the seventh year would fly past.

A few weeks later, Peregrin was out working in the woods, Tilia had gone to the village to visit a friend, Larimar was preparing lunch, and Carnelian was playing with some wooden blocks on the kitchen floor when there was a knock on the door.

Carnelian ran to open the door. He saw a strange older couple standing outside. They handed him a package wrapped in shiny green paper with a golden ribbon.

"Who is it, darling?" Larimar asked.

"It's a grandma and a grandpa!" the boy shouted to his mother.

Larimar went to wash her hands and was drying them on her apron before she went to the door.

"Mum! Dad!" she cried and flung her arms around her parents.

King Obsidian and Queen Ruby stayed for lunch. After the meal, Carnelian took his grandmother outside and showed her the forest garden. The king spoke with Larimar and Peregrin about the end of the seven-year period and what that might mean for their future. He confirmed that her special task was fulfilled and told his daughter how proud he was of her. They spoke about many other things until Queen Ruby came back in with her grandson and a basket filled with fruit and flowers.

It was agreed that Larimar, Peregrin, Tilia and Carnelian would come to the Palace of Jasper in the autumn and stay for the winter.

"Carnelian says, I can take these home," Queen Ruby beamed and held up the basket.

"Of course you can!" Larimar laughed and gave her mother a big hug.

When Tilia came home in the evening she found Carnelian playing on the floor with a shiny toy carriage and four toy horses.

"Where's that from?" she wanted to know.

"Grandma and grandpa," Carnelian announced proudly.

Larimar gave her daughter a hug and whispered something into her ear. Tilia ran to her room. After a short moment, everyone could hear a loud shriek, and Carnelian ran upstairs to have a look.

Peregrin took Larimar's head and pulled her close to his heart. "I'm so proud of you too," he said and ran his fingers through her hair.

"Mum, dad, look!" Tilia shouted from the top of the stairs. She was wearing a pair of golden slippers and a long silk dress, sky blue, strewn with little white flowers and sparkling beads around the edges.

"Our princess," said Larimar with a proud smile.

"Our two princesses," said Peregrin and put one arm around Tilia's shoulder and the other around his wife.

"My princess!" Carnelian laughed and hugged his sister's legs.