by E. D. Baker
“Good!” said Liam. “Then take my hand so we can get started. Annie, are you ready?” Liam asked, looking past the prince to where Annie stood, openmouthed.
Annie closed her mouth with a snap. “Yes, as soon as your brother gets in line. Clarence, are you coming?” Annie called. “We’re about to start.”
“He’s coming,” growled Beldegard. “Even if I have to carry him in myself.”
Annie waited while Clarence joined the line. She noticed that her touch changed Digby the most. As the only one she was touching directly, he was the only one who seemed to get the full effect of her non-magic. The appearance of the other princes seemed to change by varying degrees according to how close they were to her, with the ones farther away changing the least and Beldegard not changing at all. Annie wondered if the same would hold true for how well her touch kept them awake. Well, she thought, if the others fall asleep, I’ll just have to bring them back here, then take them in one at a time.
With Annie leading the way, the line of princes approached the roses. She heard the faint sound of the wind chimes even before she reached the flower wall. Upon reaching the front edge of the rose wall, Annie laid her free hand gently on one of the blossoms. As if stricken with blight, the rose withered and the plant shriveled down to the ground. The roses behind it shrank back as she took one step, then another, touching a rose here and another there. She could hear the princes whispering to each other behind her; it was evident from the strain in their voices that they were afraid.
They were nearly halfway through when Annie glanced back. The roses behind them were growing again only yards from where Beldegard followed Clarence, nudging him even though the prince had nowhere to go but forward.
Their progress was slow, and it took them almost an hour to reach the drawbridge where the roses formed a solid mass, climbing from the wooden floor to the bottom of the open grate nearly a body length higher than Annie could reach. With each step she took, a swath of roses shrank back, although the taller princes still had to duck under the hanging flowers.
They had reached the last of the roses when Annie paused to look behind her once more. To her relief, all of the princes looked wide awake. “You mustn’t let go, even though you may be tempted,” she told the princes. “We have to walk through the keep and up to the top floor. We’ll move faster now, so hold on tight.”
They continued on, crossing the courtyard in an awkward single file, and were approaching the stairs when there was a loud grunt and a thud from the back of the line. Annie turned to see Clarence beside Emilio instead of behind him. Beldegard was a few paces back, lying asleep on the ground with his nose resting on his paws.
“It looks like we have to go back,” Annie said. “We’re not leaving anyone behind.”
All the princes groaned as she started back the way they had come.
“But why?” said Clarence. “He’s just a bear.”
“Would you like it if we left you behind?” Annie snapped. “You could stay here with them.” She pointed at two guards who had fallen asleep leaning against a wall, neither of whom looked comfortable.
Clarence glanced at the angry faces of the other princes and turned pale. “No,” he said so softly that Annie could barely hear him.
“Then stay together and don’t let go, no matter whom you’re touching.”
As the line doubled back on itself, Annie noticed that Clarence avoided meeting anyone’s eyes. He was quieter now and didn’t hesitate touching Beldegard when he was close enough. The bear prince lurched to his feet, grumbling and shaking his mighty head as he lumbered after Clarence.
Once they were inside the castle, they saw sleeping people everywhere. Maids and courtiers were sprawled asleep in the halls. Pages snored softly over the boxes they had been carrying. A cat lay twitching in its sleep only feet from the sleeping mouse it had been chasing.
They climbed the stairs, quiet now as the overwhelming silence of the castle weighed down on them. Up one flight, then another, until they reached the floor where the princess Gwendolyn had her room. Once Annie crossed the threshold, the princes crowded in behind her to stare wide-eyed at the sleeping beauty.
It was Emilio who finally broke the silence, saying, “They were right. She’s the most beautiful princess in all the kingdoms.”
“And she’s going to be my bride,” said Digby, pushing Annie while dragging Liam and the rest of the princes behind him as he strode toward the bed. He was smiling when he bent down and planted a big sloppy kiss on Gwendolyn’s lips. After waiting a moment, he kissed her again, harder.
When nothing happened and it looked like he was about to try again, Annie said, “That’s enough. You need to stop now.”
“Just one more kiss,” Digby said, leaning over the princess again.
Liam tried to pull Digby away by the hand he held. When the prince refused to move, Liam looked back at Annie. “How much force do you want me to use?”
“None,” she said as she let go of Digby’s hand and stepped back.
All the princes closed their eyes and were asleep in an instant. Some collapsed to the floor as if made of melting ice, while the others fell against the bed, which helped to prop them up. Annie stepped around Digby and pulled on his sleeve, removing his hand from Liam’s. When she took Liam’s hand in hers, he and all the princes behind him woke.
“I should have made myself clear,” she told the princes as they got to their feet. “If you kiss her and nothing happens, your turn is up. Please step aside then so someone else can try.”
Annie and Liam moved out of the way as Andreas approached Gwendolyn. The kiss he pressed on her lips was both tender and sweet. He was obviously disappointed when nothing happened. “I suppose I could hold another contest,” he said as he stepped back.
“You’ll find the right girl someday,” Annie said. She was disappointed, too. He would have made a pretty good brother-in-law.
Annie kept hold of Liam’s hand as the other princes rearranged themselves in the line. Cozwald was the third prince to try. His kiss was so passionate that Annie had to turn away. When Gwendolyn didn’t respond, Cozwald sighed and moved to stand beside Andreas. Annie had been full of anticipation just minutes before but was now starting to get nervous.
She didn’t know Emilio very well, but he seemed like a nice enough person, although his experience as a frog had left him a little odd. If Gwennie married him, she’d have two stepchildren. Annie hoped that his kiss worked.
Emilio’s kiss was so fast that Annie almost didn’t see it. When nothing happened, he sighed and said, “Somehow, I’m not surprised.” Running his hand along the linked arms so he didn’t lose touch, Emilio stepped to the back of the line.
Annie didn’t know what to do. Clarence was next, and she’d never expected him to be her sister’s true love. They’d brought him this far only to keep him from causing trouble. If he kissed Gwennie and she actually woke up…
“It’s about time!” Clarence said as the line of princes shuffled forward and he reached the side of the bed. “You should have let me go first and save all of them the trouble.” He glanced at the other princes and shook his head. “None of them stood a chance.” Turning to Gwendolyn, he bent over her and pressed a forceful kiss on her lips. Annie almost missed it when he pinched her sister’s cheek.
“Stop that!” she said, and slapped him. “Get away from her or I’ll—”
“You’ll what? You wanted me to wake her didn’t you?”
“Not like that! You’re as awful as your brother said!”
“So that’s it. You want Liam to wake her. My little brother...”
Annie reached out, jerked Liam’s hand from his brother’s grasp and slapped it onto Beldegard’s back, keeping the bear prince and the rest of the princes who were still holding hands awake. Yes, she wanted Gwennie to wake up, but Liam couldn’t be her sister’s true love, could he? It had never occurred to her to ask him if he wanted to kiss Gwennie, nor had he ever offered. But what i
f he was supposed to be with Annie’s sister? Annie’s heart might break, but at least the kingdom would be back to normal. Either way, it wasn’t her choice to make, and if he didn’t suggest it...
Clarence crumpled to the floor, asleep. Prince Cozwald sputtered as the bear prince sidled closer to the bed. Although Beldegard still looked quite bearlike, moving toward Annie at the head of the line had made his eyes become more human and his ears inch down his skull. “Are you going to let that beast kiss your sister?” asked Cozwald.
“I’m a prince, too,” Beldegard said, sounding indignant. “But I wouldn’t feel right kissing a girl who might not want me to, considering what I look like now. I think he should have a chance instead.” Swinging his great head around, he shoved Liam toward the bed. “You’re a prince, aren’t you? Go ahead. Kiss her.”
“I really don’t think...,” Liam began, but then he glanced at Annie’s face and he nodded. “If it’s what Annie needs to bring her family back, I’d be happy to help.”
“Are you sure?” asked Annie.
“If I don’t, we’ll always wonder, won’t we?”
Beldegard rose up on his hind legs to better see Gwendolyn. “She sure is pretty,” he said, and sank down on all fours with an oof.
“You know this doesn’t change how I feel about you?” Liam said to Annie. “I love you and I always will.” Then, before she could respond, he bent down and gave her sister a quick kiss on the lips.
Annie held her breath. She desperately wanted her sister to wake, but not now, not with a kiss from this man!
“I’m so sorry, Annie,” Liam said, stepping away from the bed.
At first Annie didn’t know why he was apologizing, but when Gwennie didn’t move, she realized that it really was over. Nothing had worked. Nothing was going to bring her family back to her. Annie stepped to the side of the bed and gazed down at the flawless alabaster skin of her sister. Tears welled in her eyes as she thought about how her entire family was doomed to sleep for a hundred years. She would find other princes and bring them back here, but if it hadn’t worked yet, who was to say that it ever would?
Annie’s tears plopped on Gwendolyn’s cheek and trickled down as if she herself were crying. Liam rubbed the back of Annie’s neck, a small but welcome comfort. She leaned against him. Having someone with her who cared meant so very much.
“What’s wrong with her?” the bear prince said, peering at Gwendolyn. “Is she crying? Nobody should cry in their sleep! Here, let me...” With one big shlup of his tongue, Beldegard licked the tears off Gwendolyn’s face.
“It’s all right,” said Annie. “She isn’t...”
“Annie, is that you?” Gwendolyn’s eyelids fluttered. Beldegard’s head was still only inches from hers when she opened her eyes. Her shrill shriek broke the silence of the castle. The sleepers stirred as if dreaming, but no one else came fully awake.
“Gwennie?” said Annie. “You woke up! Is it possible that Beldegard’s kiss was enough?”
“If you can call that a kiss,” said Liam.
Color flooded Gwendolyn’s cheeks as she tried to squirm across the bed and away from the looming bear’s head. “Get that beast away from me!” she shouted as Beldegard watched her with soulful eyes.
“He’s not a beast!” said Annie. “He’s your true love. Beldegard is the one who woke you with a kiss. Don’t you see, Gwennie, he’s an enchanted prince. His kiss wouldn’t have worked if he was just a bear.”
“But he’s so hairy!” said her sister.
“Give me a minute and I’ll prove it to you,” Annie said, and moved past Liam to lay her hand on the bear prince’s head. Gwendolyn watched, fascinated, as the bear’s features slowly melted away into those of a handsome young man.
“His name is Beldegard. He’s heir to the throne of the kingdom of Montrose.”
“An evil dwarf who wanted my treasure turned me into a bear. I’ll remain a bear as long as the dwarf lives. I’ve been looking for him everywhere and—”
“Sorry to interrupt, but there’s something we have to do,” said Liam as he used his free hand to reach into his knapsack and pull out a glass bottle. “I don’t have a cup, so you’re going to have to drink right out of the bottle.”
“Is this really the best time?” Gwendolyn asked, looking from Liam to her sister. “Who is he, anyway?” she asked, gesturing to Liam. “He looks familiar.”
“He’s Prince Liam,” said Annie. “He used to work here as a guard. Never mind. I’ll explain it all to you later. It’s a very long story. Right now you have to drink this or you’ll fall asleep again and stay that way for a hundred years.”
Gwendolyn shuddered and reached for the bottle. “We wouldn’t want that, now would we?” She took a long drink and handed the bottle to Beldegard. “Your turn,” she said, even as she managed to look shy.
“Does he need to drink, too?” Liam asked Annie.
“I don’t think it would hurt,” she said, and shrugged.
A soft breeze lifted the tendrils of hair that curled around Annie’s face. The sound of tinkling wind chimes that had been constant since the curse took hold stopped suddenly, making her look up. She noticed that the air looked brighter and no longer smelled stale. Sleepy voices spoke in the next room. Someone laughed in the hallway and a great weight lifted from Annie’s heart. Everyone was waking up. Her family was going to be all right.
“I thought I heard you in here,” her mother said from the doorway. “How are my girls?”
“We’re fine, Mother!” Gwendolyn called out. “Come meet the love of my life. His name is Beldegard and he’s an enchanted prince.”
“Really?” said the queen as she entered the room. “I’d love to meet him, but first I have to thank Annabelle. Believe it or not, I do remember talking to you while everyone slept,” she told Annie. “I don’t know how you ended up with this young man instead of Digby, but I’m grateful that you found the right one. Thank you, my darling.” And then the queen did something that she hadn’t done since the day the fairy Moonbeam cast her spell. She hugged her daughter Annabelle.
“Pardon me,” said Prince Cozwald, “but I think it’s time we were going.”
“And who, pray tell, are you?” asked the queen, turning to face the princes.
“They’re the other candidates who were kind enough to try to help us,” said Annie.
“Then you are all invited to stay and help us celebrate our awakening. Ah, there’s Digby. It’s too bad it didn’t work out for you and Gwendolyn.”
“It’s your loss,” Digby said. “I’m going home. By your leave, Your Majesty.” Turning abruptly, Digby stomped out the door.
“Where’s Clarence?” Annie asked, looking around the room.
“He must have left already,” said Liam. “Don’t worry, there’s not much he can do now.”
“Mother,” Gwendolyn said. “This is Beldegard. I promised him that I would help him find the nasty dwarf who stole his treasure.”
“He’ll have all the resources of our kingdom to help him, my dear,” said the queen. “After all, he is my future son-in-law.”
“We need to talk,” Liam said, taking Annie by the arm.
Annie nodded, then turned to her mother and bowed. “May we have your leave to go?”
“Of course, my dear,” the queen replied, smiling at her younger daughter. “Now Gwendolyn, we should start planning your wedding right away.”
Annie wasn’t thinking about the bear prince when she left the room, but she knew when he turned back into a bear because she heard her mother cry out, “Oh my, Gwendolyn, your Beldegard really is an enchanted prince!”
Liam’s eyes were dancing when he leaned down to Annie and said, “Should we get out of here before they can call you back?”
“Yes, please!” said Annie, and they dashed through the hall, smiling and waving at all the people who tried to stop them to talk. They didn’t slow down until they were in the courtyard, where Captain Sterling was overseeing the guar
ds stripping the remains of the now withered roses from the portcullis. A fire had been built to burn the thorny rosebushes in the middle of the courtyard, and the flames were already high. Because the heavy iron gate couldn’t be lowered until the roses were removed, half a dozen guards were keeping watch as well.
“Excuse me,” Liam told Annie, “the captain is here. I should tell him what’s been going on.”
Annie watched as he crossed the courtyard to the drawbridge. In her eyes Liam was the handsomest man she’d ever known, even handsomer than any prince made so by magic. She loved the way his entire face lit up when he looked at her and the sound of his voice when he said her name. She loved the warmth of his hand when he held hers and the strength of his arms when he’d helped her down from the tower or off the back of a horse. Liam was everything she thought she’d never have and would see only from a distance.
Annie sighed. Here she was, being as silly as Gwendolyn had been when she mooned over Digby. Liam was still talking to the captain when Annie gathered her skirts in her hands and climbed the stairs to the parapet. Watching the bustle of the courtyard was something she had thought about for days and she couldn’t wait to do it now. She had reached the top and was turning to wave to Liam when movement in the woods closest to the castle caught her eye. A group of people was coming out of the forest leading a wagon. It was so much like the last time she stood watching a wagon approach the castle from the woods that she wasn’t surprised to see it was the same one with the very same markings.
“Liam!” she called over her shoulder. “I think you should see this. Captain Sterling, if you would kindly join me up here as well?”
An old woman was driving the wagon. A cloth had been thrown over the back, covering the cart’s contents. Although the men who accompanied the cart were dressed like ordinary farmers, they carried themselves with the straight backs and precise movements of soldiers.
