The Horns of Kern

  *

  Norman tried to sleep but ‘Prince Nightmare’ kept creeping into her mind. She finally got out of bed, feeling more exhausted than when she had gone to lie down. She found herself going down to the kitchen. With all of the guests, it was of no surprise to find the kitchen as busy as a beehive. The young woman was turning around to leave when she heard a familiar voice.

  “Norman, Norman wait up!” Her friend Meg flew up to Norman and they tearfully hugged each other. “Oh, let me look at you. You haven’t changed a bit. You still are as beautiful as ever!”

  “You have not changed either. You still have a way of making me blush. When did you arrive?” Norman could not believe her eyes.

  “I arrived today. I traveled with Encumbra’s royal family. The king and queen seem quite nice, however the prince seems very strange.”

  “I just broke away from him earlier in the day. He asked me to sit and talk. He scares me. He was talking about an accident that his father had while hunting.” Norman got cut short by Meg’s interjection.

  “Yes, the king said that it almost felt like he was pushed. He said the wind was high that day and a gust had probably caught him off guard. Windermere was sitting across from him and I swear I saw him sneer at his father. Mother told me about your last encounter with one of the princes, umm…Elliot, I believe she said.” She peered at Norman in disbelief and shook her head.

  “Yes, he is definitely not a prime candidate for marriage.” Norman shook her head in disbelief, too. Two out of the five princes were definitely out of the question as partners.

  “Meg, would you like to come and see my gown for the ball?” Norman excitedly offered.

  “I would love to.” Meg smiled. “Mother told me that one of the trolls from Awll did most of the stitchery and that it is extraordinary.”

  The two friends mounted the stairs to the great hall together, talking and laughing as they went. Just as they entered the hall, they met Queen Clivia.

  Norman paused and offered a ‘good afternoon’ to the queen. “Meg, I would like to introduce to you Queen Clivia of Highland. This is my best friend, Meg O’Brien.”

  Meg curtsied. “I am pleased to meet you, Your Highness.”

  Queen Clivia glanced at Meg with disdain. “Surely, Princess, you should learn to pick your friends better. You should not be seen with a mere commoner. Oh, and by the way, dear, you really should do something different with your hair. The way you wear it makes you look mousy.” With that said, Queen Clivia walked away.

  “What a wonderful mother-in-law she will make you, Norman.” Meg hissed through clenched teeth.

  Norman was fuming. “My parents taught me never to wish ill upon anyone, but with her I just may make an exception!” Norman looked at Meg and they both broke into laughter.

  “You will have to excuse my mother. She seems to have misplaced her broomstick.” Prince Thaddeus appeared behind the two ladies and they turned with a start. “Oh, I am sorry if I surprised you. I know how rude and obnoxious my mother is. Actually, this is one of her better days.”

  Norman looked at Thaddeus and smiled. “Prince Thaddeus, I would like you to meet my friend, Meg O’Brien. Meg, this is Prince Thaddeus of Highland.”

  Meg curtsied. “Nice to meet you, Your Highness.”

  “Please drop the highness and prince stuff. My friends call me ‘Teddy’. I really must apologize for my mother’s sharp tongue.” Teddy looked at both ladies and a perfect smile appeared on his face. “By the way, Lady Meg, I overheard my mother’s comment about your hair. The truth is that your hair is radiant and it accentuates your delicate facial features.”

  Meg put her hands to her face and smiled at the prince. “Thank you, Teddy.”

  “Teddy, would you mind if I ask you a question?” Norman queried.

  “You just did and I didn’t seem to mind that one...” Teddy flashed another brilliant smile.

  “You are so different from your parents, from what I know of them...” Norman did not have a chance to finish.

  The Prince interrupted her. “I wasn’t raised at Highland by my mother or father. I was raised by father’s sister, Aunt Celia, at Cogswhile Palace. She is the one I think of as my real mother. She is a wonderful, caring person who, by fate, could not have children of her own. My mother, Clivia, detests children and could not wait to rid herself of me. She did not even want to name me. The midwives rushed me off for fear that she would harm me. My real father was her husband, King Bentley. Unfortunately, he is no longer with us. He passed on two years ago after a bat bit him. In just a matter of a few weeks, he went mad. Then he died a terrible death, which he did not deserve.” Thaddeus choked up at the last part. “I am sorry. I did not mean to burden you with my sorrows at a time of celebration.”

  Norman found herself compelled to give Teddy a hug. “I am sorry for your sorrows, too.”

  Meg watched and smiled. “Teddy, we were on our way up to see Norman’s gown for the ball. Would you care to join us?”

  “Thank you, but no. I am following mother around the castle, doing damage control. She brings a dark storm cloud everywhere she goes. I am positive that she has rained on someone else by now. It has been lovely to talk to both of you, and it was a pleasure to meet you, Lady Meg. By your leave...” Thaddeus turned and walked in the direction his mother had disappeared.

  “Well, what do you think of that?” Meg looked at Norman incredulously. “He can’t be that nice, can he?”

  Norman was dumb-struck as well. “If you had told me that Thaddeus was Queen Clivia’s offspring, I would have said ‘impossible!’ Now that I know it is true, if someone told me that fairies really existed, I would believe them.”

  Norman and Meg continued their walk up to Norman’s bedchamber. As they approached her door, they spied a small table beside it. On the table was a paper rose lying upon a piece of parchment.

  Norman picked up the rose to examine it. The rose appeared to be made out of lace. Her gift giver had intricately cut a design in each petal. “It is beautiful!” Norman smiled. She picked up the piece of parchment and found a note. ‘The beauty of a delicate flower wanes in comparison to yours.’ The note was unsigned. “Who wrote this..?” Norman looked at Meg as if in shock.

  “That flower took a lot of time and patience. You have met all of the princes. Which one do you think made it for you?”

  Norman did not have a clue as to who her admirer was, but she had her suspicions. She slipped the paper rose into her coiffed hair. “I think it might be Prince Xavier. He knows that I like roses.”

  “Let’s go see your dress.” Meg went to open the door when a page came up to them and said that she had a visitor. “Well, I guess we had better go see who your visitor is.” The two ladies walked down the hall only to encounter Prince Windermere. He seemed to materialize from the gloomy shadows.

  “Hello, ladies. You appear to be in a hurry. Is there anything wrong?” Windermere’s steel-blue eyes looked stormy and dark.

  Norman shuddered. She did not like the feeling she had when she was around the prince. “We were going down to the entry. I was told by the page that I have a visitor. So, if you will please excuse us, we should be on our way.”

  “But of course. I am sorry that I held you up.” Windermere’s voice seemed to drip with venom.

  “Thank you for being so understanding, Windermere. We shall get a chance to speak at dinnertime.” Just the thought of having to have any type of conversation with the prince made Norman feel ill. She tried to smile. Once again the young ladies were on their way.

  They were coming down the stairs when Norman saw her visitor. She smiled and waved. It was Gertrude. They walked up to him. “Hello, Gertrude. What brings you up to the castle today?”

  “I have to talk to your father about something, and I came to give you this.” Gertrude held out a beautifully carved box inlaid with different types of wood. The top of the box was adorned with a fully opened rose that held an amber gemstone
in its middle. “I know that it is not your birthday yet, but I wanted you to have this for the ball.”

  Norman took the box from Gertrude. “Oh, I am sorry. I forgot to introduce you both. Gertrude, this is my friend, Meg O’Brien. Meg, this is my friend Gertrude of Tinker Hollow.”

  Gertrude took Meg’s hand and planted a kiss on it. “It is so nice to meet you, Meg. Norman and I have only known each other for a short time. You are as beautiful as the princess. I like your red hair.”

  Meg blushed. “Thank you, Sir Troll, for the compliments. Please forgive me if I seem a little surprised, but you are the first troll that I have ever met.”

  “I hope that meeting me will not give you bad dreams.” Gertrude smiled a wide grin.

  Meg blushed harder and her face almost grew as red as her hair. “No, I do not find you offensive.”

  Norman looked at the box in her hands. “Shall I open the box now, Gertrude?”

  “If you don’t open it, I shall be angry.” Gertrude put on a mock sneer and snarled. The three of them laughed. Norman went over to nearby bench and sat down. Her hands trembled as she undid the box’s latch. Opening the lid, she let out a gasp and tears started to run down her face. The sight of the other half of the gift took her breath away.

  “Do you like it, my friend?” Gertrude inquired.

  Meg was flabbergasted by the sight of the box’s contents. “Norman, that is so beautiful!” Norman reached into the box and brought forth its hidden treasure. A necklace strung with hundreds of shimmering crystals in a rainbow of colors draped over her fingers. The crystals were separated by fresh-water pearls. Each strand was attached to a cameo aligned in the center, set with diamonds and sapphires. The cameo, itself, was intricately carved in minute detail, depicting a likeness of Norman. She reached over and hugged Gertrude.

  “You did not open the entire gift, my Princess.” Gertrude took one of his fingers and pressed a small button on the back of the cameo. The front popped open to reveal a mother of pearl interior with a small inscription. Norman could not see what it said as her eyes were filled with tears.

  Meg took the exquisite piece of jewelry from Norman. “The inscription reads: ‘Happy Forever from your friend forever, Gertrude’.” Meg’s eyes welled up with tears. Then looking at Gertrude, she put her hands on her hips. “Now how do you think this is going to make my gift look?”

  Gertrude stared at her with a puzzled expression on his face. “I am sure your gift will be cherished as much as I hope mine will be cherished.”

  Norman reached over and hugged Gertrude once again. “Thank you so much! The necklace matches my dress perfectly. How did you know what colors to choose?”

  “I have very good connections with people in high places.” Gertrude smiled. “I really do have to find your father now as I have found out something that he should know.”

  “What is it Gertrude? Can you tell me?” Norman scrunched up her face.

  “I am afraid not. I believe the fewer people who have this knowledge, the safer everyone will be. Please excuse me while I talk to the page.” Gertrude arose from where he had been sitting and found the page. The two disappeared into the great hall.

  Norman and Meg sat together on the bench. Meg looked at the necklace still in her hands. “How did you meet Gertrude, Norman?”

  “We met in the rose garden by the south side of the castle. He was gathering rose nectar for his mother. He startled me. I fainted. We became friends. It was as simple as that.”

  “Where did he buy such a beautiful necklace?” Meg was still awe-struck by the jewelry’s artistic quality.

  Norman looked at Meg. “Gertrude made the necklace himself. I will show you another gift that he fashioned for me. Would you like to come up to my bedchamber and get ready for the ball with me?” She was hoping Meg would say ‘yes’.

  “Of course. I would like that a lot. Let’s go see your dress.”

  “Yes, let’s go see my dress.” The two ladies made their way to Norman’s bedchamber once again. They arrived at the door to her room to find the door cracked open. “That is odd. I do not remember leaving the door open.”

  “Is something wrong, Princess?” Prince Edwin came up behind the ladies. His eyes fell on Meg. “I did not know that you had such a beautiful sister, Norman.”

  Meg blushed. “I am Norman’s friend, Meg O’Brien, sir, and you?”

  “I am infatuated with all of the beautiful ladies in this kingdom.” Edwin picked up Meg’s hand and planted a kiss on it. “Maybe I will be so lucky to be able to dance with each of you fair damsels at the ball.” An impish smile illuminated Edwin’s lean face and accented his handsome features even more.

  “Meg, this is Prince Edwin of Cole, a rakish young man who likes to flirt with the ladies.” Norman’s voice took on a flirting quality. She glanced down at her hand resting on the knob to her bedchamber door. The smile on Norman’s face faded as she took her hand away.

  Edwin picked up on her fear. “Are you all right, Princess? I am sorry if I have caused you any distress.”

  “I do not remember leaving my door ajar when I left to go downstairs a while ago.” She looked at Edwin and then to Meg.

  “Please allow me.” Edwin pushed the door open quickly making it slam against the next wall. “I do not believe anyone is behind the door, at least.” He walked into the room cautiously and started checking the room for an intruder. “I believe it to be safe to come in, Norman and Meg.”

  Norman was holding Meg’s hand as they entered. “Are you sure that no one is in the room, Edwin?”

  “I am quite positive, my Lady. I even checked within your wardrobe to see if someone was hiding among your clothing.”

  Norman looked over to her bed and let out a gasp. Her complexion waxed ashen. On her pillow was another paper rose exactly like the one she and Meg had found earlier. She reached over and picked up the second rose. It was identical to the first. “Please do not take offense to this, Edwin. Did you make these roses for me?”

  “I assure you I did not make those roses. I have trouble dressing myself properly, let alone creating something so delicate. My mother tells me that I am a handsome, clumsy ox.” He smiled wanly. “I do suggest that you ask your father to have someone watch your door as this person seems quite bold.”

  Norman’s thoughts immediately turned to Windermere. “Yes, Edwin I believe you are right. I think I would sleep a lot better knowing that someone was watching over me.”

  “Well, now that you are safely in your room, I shall take my leave. The witch of Cole wants me downstairs early so she can tell me where to sit so that I make her look good.” Edwin smiled, bowed, turned and left, closing the door behind him.

  Meg held her hand over her heart. “He is so-o-o-o handsome and charming!” she giggled.

  Norman giggled right along with her. “I think I could take a plunge into those liquid blue eyes of his.” Norman walked over to her armoire and pulled out her ball gown.

  “Oh, Norman! Oh, Norman, it is absolutely divine!” Suddenly Meg’s mouth drooped into a pout. “I do not have a chance with the men with you in that gown. You don’t suppose that you could wear something a little more dowdy, do you?” She looked at Norman, pleading.

  “I am sorry my dear friend, but all is fair in love and war.” Norman smiled brightly.

  “Then war it is! Wait ‘til you see what I am wearing. The dress will make you green with envy.” Meg responded quickly.

  “We really must go down and get ready for dinner. Will you please join us? I’ll even let you sit next to Windermere. Really, I shouldn’t make light of the situation. I will ask father for a guard at my door.”