answer correctly, you will be allowed to proceed to the next platform. If you answer incorrectly, you will have to return to the previous point and your way back will be even more challenging. Any questions?”
“I’d ask do we have to, but I don’t think I’d like the response,” Kaelen told the others. He had been paired with Leticia again. It made sense since they were the only two without their own partner, but it was frustrating since he didn’t really know anything about her.
“We’ll muddle through somehow,” she replied with a smile.
Before anyone else could speak, the light in the room dimmed dramatically and there was a sudden sound of growth and movement. Soon the only bright places were the entrances to the course. Above each entrance was a number. “I can only assume that the number is what year we are,” Lucian observed. “May as well get started.” He offered Moira his arm and together they walked under the entrance. Shadows danced about the course from flickering torches. The once lifeless gym seemed to be crawling with vines, plants and the sounds of scampering animals.
“I have to say,” Moira whispered, holding more tightly to Lucian’s arm, “they certainly make you feel like you’ve been transported elsewhere. This is creepy.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll keep you safe,” he promised.
“You better,” she teased. “I think allowing your princess to get into danger is frowned upon.”
Lucian led her by the hand over a vine-encrusted beam. “Careful that you don’t slip.”
They reached a break and found themselves facing Vulcan. “Lucian and Moira, you’re the first to reach me. My question is for Lucian. Are you ready?”
Lucian nodded, but didn’t speak. He was beginning to feel nervous.
“Where is your princess from?” Vulcan asked.
“Lictthane.”
Vulcan stood aside and they realized he had been standing before a narrow passageway leading deeper into the jungle-like maze. “Proceed.”
“Is that it?”
“We don’t start you on the hard questions, Lucian. But if you wish something more challenging, I’m sure I could oblige.”
“No, that’s alright,” he replied. He walked slightly ahead of Moira, keeping hold of her hand in his as they went under a canopy of vines. The air became damp and close as they continued on through the course. The torches seemed to be placed farther and farther apart, leaving large areas of darkness.
“I always wanted to go with Uncle Sebastian on one of his adventures,” she whimpered. “It used to make me so angry that he’d never let me go. Now I’m glad he never took me.”
Lucian turned to look at his princess. Moira’s face was pale and her eyes shone with unshed tears as they darted around her. “Here, we’ll stop a moment. It’ll be okay,” he said. He led her to a large stone that she could sit on. “I’m sure you’ll feel better if you just rest a moment.”
“I feel fine,” she said stubbornly. “I’m just…”
“Scared?” he finished for her. She didn’t answer but he could tell he was right. “There’s nothing wrong with being afraid.”
A wild scream caused Moira to leap out of her spot and into Lucian’s arms. “What was that?” she asked, quivering as she clung to him.
“I don’t know,” he replied. “The fairies would never put you into any real danger.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m positive. Come on, I think I see another platform that way. We’ll answer our next question and be that much closer to leaving.”
“Okay,” she whimpered. She stayed close to Lucian, clinging to his arm as they walked. Lucian stopped suddenly and she asked, “What is it?”
He pointed. Ahead of them was what appeared to be a stream; only it wasn’t clean and clear like ones Lucian was used to. This one was covered in slime and he couldn’t tell looking how deep it was. He let go of Moira’s hand. “Stay here a moment.” She nodded and he looked around for a moment to see if he could find some way of crossing without getting into the water. There didn’t appear to be any sort of bridge. There also weren’t any vines hanging across. He took a tentative step into the murky water. It wasn’t so deep after all. He took another step and found that it was the same as the step before. If he carried Moira, than he’d be the only one to get dirty.
“Maybe we missed a turn,” she suggested.
“I don’t think so. I think we have to cross, but I’m going to have to carry you,” he said.
“You most certainly will not. I am perfectly capable of walking on my own thank you very much.”
“It’s filthy in there. Do you really want to ruin that dress?”
“No, but I don’t want you carrying me either.”
“Well, we only have three choices: I carry you, you stay here, or you ruin the dress. If you stay here, we never get out. If you ruin your dress, than you’ll be mad at me and the fairies would have a field day over it. I don’t even want to imagine what they’d let the witches do to me,” he pointed out. “But if I carry you over, we get out of here, you don’t get dirty and the fairies don’t have me turned into a bug. It’s not that far. It’ll be so quick you’ll barely notice.”
Moira looked thoughtful for a moment. “Fine, if you must; but you better be quick about it.”
“We’ll be at the other side in no time at all,” he promised. He scooped Moira up into his arms. It wasn’t quite as easy as he had imagined it to be. Trying to get into a good position was awkward. It didn’t help that he needed to put her down a couple of times to make sure he had her skirt about her in such a way that it wouldn’t drag along in the muck.
“Just how soon will we be across this?” she asked as Lucian took a step in.
“Before you know it,” he replied with as much of a grin as he could manage. He could feel the swampy ooze filtering into his shoes as he walked farther into the mess. To his chagrin, the platform seemed to be getting farther away rather than getting closer. It was several minutes before they were even halfway across the slime. He was surprised that they hadn’t seen other people about.
“I thought you said this would take no time at all,” she groaned after another few minutes.
Lucian grit his teeth. “It’s not as quick as I thought.” The water had slowly risen from his ankles to halfway to his knees. Trying not to let Moira see him panic he asked, “About how much further do you think we have?”
She looked ahead. She could see the platform and a pale aqua fairy standing on it. “Maybe a couple hundred feet?”
“Good. I’m starting to get tired.”
“I could walk on my own.”
“No.” He was fairly sure something had slithered past him, but he wasn’t about to say that to his nervous princess. “I’m fine and I really don’t want you to ruin that dress. It’s my favorite color.”
“If you insist.” As they got closer and closer to the platform, they could see the fairy watching for them. “What would you bet that she’s going to tell us that there was a bridge?” she asked in a whisper as they got to the platform.
“Knowing my luck I just missed seeing it.”
“Actually, Prince Lucian, you didn’t miss anything,” the fairy said with a smile. “You were meant to wallow through. However, I must congratulate you on not dirtying Moira’s gown. You would have lost points had she gotten dirty.”
“Wait, we’re getting points for this?” Moira asked.
“Yes, didn’t they tell you?” When neither responded she shrugged, “This question is for Moira. What is your prince’s favorite color.”
Moira blanched. “I, um, I…” She looked over at Lucian who was trying to point at her skirt without being too obvious. She looked down at herself. “Yellow?”
“Very good,” the fairy said with a smile. “You may proceed. But before you go, I’ll clean up those trousers for you.” She waved her wand and instantly Lucian’s pants were as clean as they had been before entering the maze.
“Thanks.” He led Moira on to the next part of th
e maze.
They continued through the dense jungle-like maze, deeper and deeper as they stopped at platforms answering question after question until they reached a platform with both Calista and Melantha standing. “You’ve made it through. Now the final test.”
Moira and Lucian glanced at each other nervously. “Alright.”
“Lucian, if you could describe your princess with only one sentence and without commenting on her beauty, how would you describe Moira?” Calista asked.
“Can I have a moment?” he asked.
“Take as long as you need,” she replied.
Lucian thought for a while. There were many ways he could describe Moira, but which would he choose if he had only one sentence to do it in? “Moira is,” he began and then paused. He glanced at Moira. An encouraging smile brightened on her face. “Moira is a talented and loving young woman who inspires me to be my best.”
“Well spoken,” Calista stated with a smile.
Melantha nodded. “Moira, given one sentence, how would you describe Lucian?”
“Lucian is the very embodiment of Prince Charming in manner, action and word,” she replied, barely pausing to think it over.
“You have both done well. You may now exit the course and retire to the dining hall where luncheon is waiting for you. Here is your final score,” Melantha said, handing Moira a small slip of blue paper.
The two walked out of the maze and headed hand-in-hand towards the dining hall. Moira looked at the slip. “According to this, there were ten platforms and each platform was worth ten points. Then going through