You Got a Light?

To afraid to face the darkness as a skinny helpless princess, Rosella crawled back out into the swamp and
decided to take a longer look around. Certainly there was something here that would help her find her way
through the treacherous cave. But there was no way around it. She was going to have to deal with that cobra
if she was to safely search this swamp.

Feeling quite certain that approaching the dangerous looking cobra would mean certain doom, Rosella
decided to take a more effective route, albeit a bit more childish. Bending down, she cupped her hands and
dipped them into the murky waters. Eying the snake mischievously, she splashed a wave of water toward the
unsuspecting serpent. This tactic seemed to work just wonderfully. The cobra did not like it one bit, and
slithered away as fast as it could.

Rosella smiled at her accomplishment, but then perked her ears when she heard what sounded like a tiny
gargle and cough coming from near the snake’s nest. Creeping closer, she saw a faint glow emanating from
tall grass. “Hello?” asked the princess mustering up a little bit of courage as she edged ever closer, arching
her neck to see. The question was answered with a sneeze. Rosella’s curiosity took over completely and she
crept dangerously close, standing atop the glowing patch of grass. There at the princess’s feet was what
appeared to be a tiny fairy, and she didn’t look happy. For all her glowing beauty, she was wiping swamp
water from her face, no thanks to Rosella! “Oh dear! I’m so sorry!” apologized the embarrassed princess.

“Here, let me help you,” said Rosella, offering the hem of her long red skirt. The fairy took hold of it in a tiny
fist, and used it to wipe clean. Rosella had secretly hoped she wouldn’t have. But as lovely as her dress
was, it was her fault the fairy got soaked. It only seemed fair.

“I AM a princess,” said Rosella, squaring her jaw, and placing her hands on her hips, “and I’ve been to
Tamir before. And, well, not to brag, but, I helped save this land,” she added with a bit of sass.

Not to be outwitted by a smart mouth bratty princess, the fairy was quick point out, “then you’re also aware
that you are dressed completely inappropriately for the dangers of Tamir?” The fairy in turn put her hands on
her own hips, tiny jaw squared.

“Oh, well,” Rosella felt her fair cheeks flush as she realized the haste in which she did jump through the
portal. She had neglected to even think that it might not be wise to travel to Tamir in such formal dainty
clothing. “Well, Genesta was able to change my clothes last time,” defended the proud princess.

The fairy’s mood became somber sensing their bickering introduction had run its course. She fluttered her
butterfly wings, and floated up into Rosella’s slender hands to tell the brave young princess what indeed had
happened in Tamir.

“A short while ago, you had valiantly freed our land from the clutches of the evil witch, Lolotte, saved
Genesta’s life by returning her magic amulet, and broke the curse on Edgar, returning him to his noble human
form. Genesta thanked you for your courage and sent returned you home to save your own dying father.
Tamir was thought to be a safe place with Lolotte dead. With Genesta’s health back in full form, we fairies
went about our gardening and cleaning, so full of joy. We had planned a grand celebration on the island,
decorating the castle, and baking all matter of sweets. The business of the festivities kept everyone so busy,
we hardly noticed that nobody had seen or heard from Edgar since his marriage proposal to you.”

“He had returned to the mainland of Tamir, and to the castle, we assume to finish putting things in order as
was needed after Lolotte’s evil rule. None of us suspected what was to come,” the fairies delicate voice
trailed off.

The fairy silenced her with a solemn look. “My poor Rosella. You truly are a naïve sheltered young lady.
What you don’t understand, what none of us predicted, was how it was that Edgar would take your rejection
of his love.”

“Rejection!? How could I marry him!? I’m 17, I don’t know him, I know nothing!” blurted the princess
rapidly, wiping away at tears forming in the corners of her overwhelmed eyes.

Allowing Rosella her tirade, the fairy continued. “Edgar returned to the castle devastated by the rejection in
his heart.” Rosella wanted to scream again by the look in her eyes, but bit her ruby lips and allowed the fairy
her tale. But that was not his only surprise. Instead of returning to find the wicked corpse of Lolotte in her
wretched bed, he found her not dead. For the arrow of love that should have slain her, by some cruel turn of
fate did not. She was mortally wounded, but she willed herself to survive. There he found the pathetic
Lolotte lying in her bed, weak and needy. But he himself was weak and needy in the heart, and she could see
this in her wicked red eyes. Lolotte cooed and comforted her poor Edgar, lulling him into sedation. She
convinced him to nurse her back to health while she continually reminded him of the harlot that was Rosella.”

“After several weeks, Lolotte had her strength back, and had filled Edgar’s head with so many lies, and heart
full equal doubt, he had reverted back to the despicable green creature he once was under her care. With her
ghoulish minions, and a bitter Edgar at her side, Lolotte launched an attack on Genesta’s island. They
stormed the castle, and took her captive, along with the fairies unfortunate enough to be on the island at the
time. I had the strange circumstance of being on the mainland collecting flowers to plant in our garden at the
time of the attack. The remaining fairies and I believe that Lolotte has taken our sisters back to her evil
fortress for an unknown purpose. We can only assume that Genesta’s very life is in grave peril. That is why
we contacted you. You Rosella of Daventry are our only hope. The very fate of Tamir rests upon your
shoulders.”

“Inside this leather sleeve is a key to the graveyard crypt. There you will find Cupid’s bow. Lolotte had it
removed there, under the ghastly watch of the mummy. You must retrieve the bow and slay the evil witch in
order to save Genesta and all of us from certain doom.”

Rosella closed her hands around the leather sleeve, feeling the skeleton key inside with a shiver. “Now that
we got that out of the way. We need to travel through the troll’s cave in order to reach Tamir, and it might be
wise for us to find your shoes, princess, unless of course, those are ‘support hose’ you’re wearing” said the
fairy nodding to her stocking feet, with a wink, sarcasm reactivated. Rosella looked down, cheeks on fire,
wiggling her toes, she nodded in agreement.

“I think they’re over there,” she indicated out into the center of the swamp water. The fairy, fluttered safely
over the quagmire scooping up the lovely black heels from an untimely end, and returned them to a very happy
Rosella whom eagerly slipped them back on her feet.