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From Elfwood by Brittany R. Griffin

The griffin landed outside of the forest and bowed to the gypsy before returning to the sky.  The Queen and the Princess watched it fly away, wondering why the griffin could not take them further.

“She has babies to tend to,” Sari stated as if reading their thoughts.  “One must always take care of their babies. Isn’t that right, your majesty?”

“Of course,” the Queen stated, her courage growing at once.

The Queen took her daughter’s hand and followed Sari into the forest.  It was too dark to see very far, but they could easily follow the bright skirts of Sari.  She bobbed and she weaved around the trees and some stumps.  Bats flew above their heads and the eyes of curious wolves could be seen in the distance.  None of these creatures tried to attack them and the Princess believed it had something to do with the gypsy.

Eventually, they arrived at a bridge that crossed over a raging river.  Sari turned to the Princess and held out her hand.

“May I please have the leg bone?” she asked with a smile.

“Yes,” the Princess replied.  She handed the leg bone of a cow to the gypsy, who took it with a glowing blue hand.

With leg bone in hand, Sari marched onto the bridge and made a small bleat.  The ground shook as the mighty troll stepped out from below and pulled himself onto the bridge.  The Queen screamed and fell back, her rump striking the mud.  The wart-covered troll ignored her and crouched down to inspect the small gypsy.

“You no goat. Why on bridge?” he asked in a voice loud and gruff.

“I must cross and it would be rude to do so without paying your toll,” Sari pleasantly said while holding out the bone.  “I give you a juicy leg bone in exchange for safe passage.”

“I want meat. You are meat,” the troll said as he licked his lips.

“This is an appetizer. The main course is over there,” Sari stated. She gestured toward the Princess and the Queen, who turned red in the face.  “I need to cross and these are my gifts to you great troll.”

The Princess was about to yell when Sari playfully winked at her and tossed the bone to the troll.  It was eaten at once by the disgusting troll, who happily crunched on the tasty bone.  A blue spark erupted in his mouth and he yawned while his eyes began to close.  The troll fell asleep and tumbled off the bridge where the river whisked him away.

“You tricked him,” the Princess whispered as she approached Sari.

“I’m a gypsy, your highness.  We trick and we prank, but we are always loyal to our friends,” Sari proudly declared.  She looked back at the Queen, who was still stuck in the mud. “You should go help your mother.  Daughters need to help their mothers if they are ever in trouble.”

The Princess agreed and pulled her mom from the mud.  They raced across the bridge as the sound of horses could be heard from the forest.  The evil King was right on their heels with ten of his men.  He followed them into the mountain pass where small stones rolled from the cliffs above their heads.  He chased them around boulders and through caves until they felt he would never let them go.

“May I have the wooden whistle?” Sari asked as they reached the end of the mountain pass.  “Keep running when I stop.”

The Princess handed Sari the whistle and ran faster when she saw the galloping knights coming around a bend in the road.  Sari played the whistle with a powerful song that shook and shivered the mountain.  Boulders fell from the highest cliffs and trapped the evil King and his men between them.

“Your path ahead is clear,” Sari said with her smile. “May I have the hook and twine to catch my reward?”

“You will not come with us?” the Queen delicately asked.

Sari took the last tool from the Princess’s hand and bowed to the Queen.  “Your majesty, you only needed me to get you this far.  Depend on each other and you will make it the rest of the way.  The border of Shayde is over that hill and he can’t follow you there.”

“Thank you,” the Queen said with a bow.

“What is your reward?” the Princess asked.

“I saw something shiny in the mountain pass that caught my eye,” Sari answered. Her smile widens further and she climbs up the rocks.  “I suggest you leave before he finds his way through.  Good luck to both of you.  Maybe Shayde will be safe for you one day.”

The Princess and the Queen hurried off to the hill.  They made it to the neighboring kingdom of Rodillen where their family ruled.  Both mother and daughter found strength in each other from that day forth.  Not just being scared with each other, but being brave together.

What of Sari you may ask?  The shiny object that caught her eye was none other than the crown of Shayde.  She snatched it from the evil King’s head and returned to claim the throne for herself.  There is even word that she has a talented court jester . . . who used to be a king.