“But it might be important,” said Jaminta, with a frown. “We’ve used jewels to help us with rescues before.”
“Please don’t start arguing,” pleaded Clarabel. “Let’s just think about Minky.”
Freya put one hand on the tree trunk. “I think I should try to climb up,” she said, with a tremble in her voice. “I’m smaller than you, Lulu, so maybe I won’t shake the tree so much.”
Lulu nodded. “You are a bit smaller than me, and Minky won’t be so frightened if it’s you.”
“Be careful!” said Clarabel. “The whole tree will be slippery because of all the snow.”
Freya smiled weakly and lifted her foot up onto the lowest branch. The tree wobbled a little, but she found the next foothold and continued. Minky peered down, her whiskers quivering.
Freya reached for the next branch and the next. Her arms began to ache. This was even harder than she’d expected it to be.
She paused for a second, resting her cheek against the rough tree trunk.
Snap! The sound made her gasp. She tilted backward to look at Minky’s branch. It was still there! She sighed with relief and looked down at the other princesses.
“You’re doing great! Keep going!” called Clarabel.
But Freya didn’t hear Clarabel’s words. Her heart was thumping as she looked at the ground. It was so far away! How would she ever get down again?
She shut her eyes for a second and took a deep breath. She shouldn’t look down anymore. It was just making her nervous.
She opened her eyes and stretched out for the next branch, but as she tried to pull herself up she felt something tugging on her neck. The blue ribbon that held her snow jewel was caught on a twig. As she moved, the ribbon broke and the snow quartz fell.
“Oh, no! My necklace fell off!” she called down to the others, remembering not to look at the ground.
“Don’t worry, we’ll find it!” called Emily.
Freya wasn’t sure how they were going to spot a white jewel in the middle of all that snow. But she had to concentrate on reaching Minky. She was just about to continue climbing when Lulu shouted.
At the same moment, the branch Freya was standing on snapped. She slipped and tumbled down, just managing to catch ahold of a lower branch to save herself. The tree shook and Minky meowed pitifully.
“Freya! Are you OK?” Clarabel helped her climb off the bottom branch and onto the ground again.
Freya stood in the snow, her legs trembling. “I guess that branch wasn’t very strong!” she said shakily. “Thanks for helping me, Clarabel.”
She looked over at the others. Why were they staring at a patch of snow?
“Freya, come and look at this!” Lulu motioned her over. “See what your jewel is doing.”
Freya moved closer. There was a gap in the snow and her jewel lay right in the middle. As she watched, the snow around the quartz melted, making the hole wider and deeper. Grass showed through at the bottom.
“What’s happening?” Freya picked up the snow quartz. It felt warm in her hand.
“Freya, do you have the letter your mother left you?” asked Jaminta urgently.
Freya held up the snow jewel, which caught the sunlight and gleamed. “Yes. I always keep it in my pocket.”
“Can I see it?” asked Jaminta.
Freya nodded and fumbled in her pants pocket. She brought out a piece of paper, crinkled with age, and unfolded it.
“‘It will protect you from ice and snow,’” murmured Clarabel. “What does that mean?”
“I’ve never really been sure,” said Freya.
“It melted this snow,” said Emily excitedly. “So maybe it can melt all ice and snow!”
Jaminta nodded. “I think this jewel is extremely magical.”
“But how will that help us save Minky?” wondered Clarabel.
Freya frowned, then her face brightened. “What about that boat? If the jewel melts the ice then we can take it out on the river. That way we can get closer to Minky!” She pointed at the little rowboat that lay a few yards away on the riverbank.
“Great idea!” said Lulu. “Try touching the river ice with the snow jewel. Let’s see if it works.”
The branch creaked, and Minky gave a long and mournful yowl.
“We’d better hurry!” said Clarabel. “I don’t think Minky’s branch will hold much longer.”
Freya crouched down on the edge of the bank and held the snow jewel above the river. Gently, she lowered the rough-shaped quartz until it brushed against the ice. The jewel filled with a fierce brightness, whiter than any snow.
The princesses held their breath.
Little by little, the ice turned to water. A small blue puddle formed all around the place where the snow jewel touched the river. It grew bigger and bigger as the ice melted into nothing.
“That’s amazing!” said Emily.
“I didn’t know my jewel could do that,” whispered Freya. “It really is magic.”
Freya held the sparkling jewel steady against the frozen river. The ice retreated even farther, turning the river a watery blue.
“Let’s get the boat ready!” said Emily.
Emily, Clarabel, Lulu, and Jaminta ran over to the rowboat and lifted it up. They carried it back across the snow, staggering under its bulky weight.
The wind blew against the bare branches of Minky’s tree, and the kitten meowed louder and louder.
Freya jumped up and tucked the snow quartz into her pocket. How much longer would that tree branch hold?
“Let’s get this boat into the water!” Lulu shouted. “Ready, set, go!”
The boat landed in the river with a splash, and Lulu launched herself in after it. Clarabel held on to the side of the boat to let Freya, Emily, and Jaminta climb in. Then she pushed the boat away from the bank as hard as she could.
“Thanks, Clarabel!” called Freya.
Lulu and Jaminta grabbed an oar each from the bottom of the boat and paddled hard. They rowed toward the place where Minky’s branch hung over the freezing cold water.
The kitten peered down at them. Her branch wobbled and she scrabbled to hold on with her tiny claws.
“We need to get closer!” said Emily.
Lulu and Jaminta rowed faster and faster.
“Hold on, Minky,” said Freya. “We’re almost there.”
But Minky had no more strength left in her paws. She slipped and fell. Freya held out her hands and Minky landed softly in her arms just as the rowboat glided underneath the tree.
Freya hugged her tight. “Minky! I’ve got you at last! You feel so cold!”
The kitten’s black-and-white fur was freezing cold from crouching on the snowy branch, and ice crystals hung on the end of her whiskers.
Jaminta and Lulu rowed back toward the riverbank. The ice had melted all the way across, and a whole stretch of river water sparkled in the winter sun.
The boat reached the shore, and Freya handed Minky to Clarabel, who took off her coat and wrapped the tiny kitten up in it.
“Is she all right?” asked Emily.
Freya bit her lip. “She could get very sick if we don’t warm her up fast enough.” She stroked Minky’s fur, feeling the icy patches on her head and tummy. She rubbed them gently with Clarabel’s coat, but more ice kept forming. The kitten suddenly seemed very small and thin.
“Try the snow jewel again!” said Jaminta eagerly. “It’s supposed to protect against ice and snow. Maybe it will work on Minky.”
So Clarabel held Minky still while Freya touched her fur with the snow quartz. The patches of ice melted away, leaving the kitten’s fur soft and dry beneath.
“Oh, that’s better!” said Freya. “Feel her fur now; she’s as warm as a blanket!”
The princesses crowded around Minky, scratching her ears and her fluffy belly.
“You’re right, she feels beautifully warm and soft now!” cried Lulu.
“Minky, you scared us all!” said Emily, stroking the kitten’s little pink
Minky pricked up her ears and her blue eyes shone.
“Let’s take her back to the castle and sit by the fire,” said Clarabel. “Then we can make sure that she’s completely warmed up.”
The princesses began the long walk past the ice rink and up the hill. They were very tired now and were glad when they reached the castle door. Checking that no one was watching, they hurried upstairs with Minky.
Lulu went in search of Greta, who agreed to light a fire in Freya’s bedroom fireplace.
“I bet you’ve been running around in the cold and doing all kinds of foolish things,” Greta scolded as she got the flames going.
“Minky got stuck in a tree,” said Freya meekly. “We had to help her.”
“Well, you’ve probably caught a cold now,” said Greta, shaking her head. “You’d better have something hot to drink.” Greta hurried away to the kitchen to retrieve some hot chocolate.
Minky yawned widely, showing her tiny white teeth and pink tongue. Then she curled up in Freya’s arms and went to sleep. Her white tummy rose and fell peacefully.
“What a happy end to the day.” Lulu yawned. “I wish it was nighttime. I don’t think I can stay awake through another banquet.”
“I don’t think I can, either!” Jaminta turned to Freya. “What a surprise that your snow quartz turned out to be such a magical jewel!”
Freya smiled and threaded the white stone back onto its blue ribbon. “It’s even more special to me now. My mom must have known I would need its help one day, and she was right!”
Just then, Greta came back with five mugs of hot chocolate, five plates, and a large round cherry cake.
“What a lovely cake!” said Emily. “You’re very nice to us, Greta!”
“Humph! Just don’t tell the cook I gave it to you,” said Greta. “And no more chasing after animals in the snow! Although you are sweet girls to worry so much about a little creature.” Greta tickled Minky under the chin.
Freya twisted a blond braid around one finger. “Greta? Have you seen my dad since this morning?”
“Yes, I saw him just now,” replied Greta. “He sent for you, as a matter of fact. You’re to go and see him in the library right now.”
“Do you think he’ll be mad at you, Freya?” asked Clarabel, wide-eyed.
Freya made a face. “Probably! But I have to try and make him understand. The kittens are so important to me. I had to make sure they were safe.” She kissed Minky’s soft black-and-white fur.
Freya walked down the corridor with Minky still fast asleep in her arms. Now and then the kitten let out a tiny murmuring meow, as if she was having happy dreams of chasing mice.
Freya stopped outside a door with a large golden doorknob and bit her lip. All she could do was explain what had happened and hope her dad would understand. She knocked softly on the door and went in.
Her dad was sitting in a green leather armchair, reading a book. His golden crown was perched lopsidedly on top of his head. Behind him, shelves full of books stretched across the wall.
King Eric closed his book with a snap and frowned at her. “Freya, what on earth is going on? I thought I told you that the kittens should stay in the garden shed from now on.”
Freya took a step toward him. “But when we went to see them, we saw a big hole in the roof and the snow was coming in. We couldn’t leave the kittens there. It was freezing!”
King Eric’s frown deepened. “So you brought them back inside. Is that why one of them was running around the Great Hall this morning? It was very embarrassing having to chase her in front of our guests.”
Minky woke up and pricked up her ears. With a little shake of her head, she jumped down from Freya’s arms and padded over to King Eric. The king drew in his robes and tutted sharply. Minky leapt up onto his lap, turned around three times, and then settled down and purred.
King Eric stared at the bundle of black-and-white fur on his lap in complete surprise. Freya pressed her lips together, trying not to laugh.
Almost without meaning to, King Eric brought his hand up and scratched Minky gently between the ears.
“Well, Freya,” he said gruffly. “I have decided that the garden shed is a totally unsuitable place for such young animals. The mother cat and her kittens must stay in the laundry room from now on.”
“Thanks, Dad!” Freya beamed.
“And as for spending your time running around with these other princesses,” King Eric continued, “I’ve made a decision about that, too.”
“Oh, Dad!” cried Freya. “I love being with the other princesses. They’re so much fun! I wish I could see them all the time.”
“Well, I have some good news for you, then,” said her dad. “I’ve been talking to the other kings and queens and they’ve told me about a Royal Academy for Princesses that’s just right for girls your age. How would you like to go?”
“A princess school!” Freya gasped. “I’d love to!”
The king smiled at her, his eyes twinkling.
Minky stirred and let out a long meow, as if she was asking a question.
Freya’s happy face clouded over. “Oh, dear! I’ll miss you so much, Minky!”
“Actually, she can go, too,” said King Eric. “The academy lets each princess bring a pet, as long as it isn’t something too difficult to take care of.”
“Really?” squealed Freya. “That’s fantastic!”
“Now you must go and get ready for the banquet,” said the king. “Take this kitten with you.” He gave Minky one final stroke before handing her back.
Freya rushed back down the hallway. She felt like she was running on air. Soon she would be going to the Royal Academy for Princesses, and Minky would be coming, too!
When she opened the door, she found her bedroom empty. The other girls had probably gone to get dressed for the banquet, she thought. Putting Minky on her bed, she hurried to the wardrobe and pulled out a long, pale blue dress that floated down to her ankles. She put it on and added her snowflake tiara. Then she looked in the mirror.
She noticed how her snow quartz glittered on the end of its long ribbon.
It was strange to think that the jewel had always been there looking out for her, just as her mom had meant it to.
“Thanks, Mom,” Freya whispered, and for a moment the gem seemed to glow a little brighter.
There was a knock at the door and Emily, Clarabel, Lulu, and Jaminta came in. Their dresses rustled as they moved. Emily wore a pink dress with red velvet flowers, Clarabel’s dress was dark blue, and Jaminta’s was made from smooth green silk. Lulu came in last, wearing a yellow dress dotted with sequins.
“I wish we didn’t have to go home tomorrow,” said Clarabel, smiling at Freya. “I like Northernland — especially the sledding!”
“I’d better give you this ring back.” Freya slid the sapphire ring off her finger and handed it to Clarabel. “I’m going away to the Royal Academy for Princesses soon, so I don’t think I’ll be able to use it.”
“That’s funny!” Clarabel smiled at her. “I’m going to the academy, too. My mom’s just told me that I’m starting right after the holidays.”
“That’s where I’m going, too!” Lulu grinned. “My mom says I’m exactly the right age to join.”
“Me, too!” said Jaminta. “That’s really strange! How about you, Emily?”
“Yes, I’m going, too,” replied Emily. “I’m really excited!”
“Then we’ll all be together!” said Clarabel, squeezing Freya’s hand.
Jaminta sat down heavily on the bed. “But what will we do about being Rescue Princesses? Once we’re busy at the Royal Academy, we won’t be able to leave school to perform rescues all the time. Who will help animals in trouble?”
There was silence while all the princesses thought about this.
“I think,” said Emily slowly, “before we go, we should teach some other girls how to be Rescue Princesses.”
Clarabel nodded. “That way someone can still be around to help animals in danger.”
“But not just any princesses. They have to be brave and kind,” said Jaminta.
“And want to learn acrobatics,” added Lulu.
“Do we know any other princesses like that?” asked Jaminta doubtfully.
There was a swift knock and Emily’s sister, Lottie, poked her head around the door. She was wearing a crimson dress. A crown dotted with rubies perched on top of her tight red curls.
“King Eric says you have to hurry up. They want to start the banquet.” Lottie stared at them, her green eyes wide. “What are you all doing, anyway?”
“Don’t start asking millions of questions!” cried Emily. “It’s a secret!”
“Fine, then! But I’m going to find out one day. Just you wait!” Lottie gave them a determined look before she closed the door.
Freya looked thoughtful. “Maybe you should try telling Lottie about all of this. She might like to have some adventures.”
“You mean tell her our secret?” said Emily, surprised. “But she’s just my annoying sister.”
A floorboard creaked outside in the hallway.
“I think you should tell her, too,” said Clarabel, and the others nodded.
“After all, every girl deserves the chance to be a Rescue Princess,” said Freya.
The door burst open and Lottie fixed her bright green eyes on Freya. “What’s a Rescue Princess?” she asked.
Princess Lottie spun around the bedroom as fast as she could, her red dress swirling. She turned around and around, until she got so dizzy that she collapsed, laughing, on top of the velvet blanket.
“Stop it, Lottie!” exclaimed Princess Emily. “You’re squishing all the things I was just about to pack.”
Lottie yanked a pile of creased clothes out from underneath her. Then she bounced up to peer into the enormous suitcase that lay next to her on the bed. It was full of dresses, tiaras, and a hairbrush with a diamond-studded handle.
“You can’t fit anything else in there anyway,” she said bluntly. “How much stuff do you need at your Royal School Thingy?”
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