Beauties and the Frogs, Part 3

“Are you sure this is the way Father Luke said to go, Mother?” Rey gazed at the shadowy path and shivered, pulling her cloak further around her.

“This is exactly the way he said to go.” Leia shivered. The early spring day had turned chilly. The blustery wind sent black tree limbs clacking into each other and dead leaves skittering around their horses' feet. “We should be there any minute.”

Jessika was pale under her navy velvet coat, an old one of Uncle Luke's that she'd made over for herself. “We really need to find shelter for the night.” She winced as thunder was heard in the distance. “It sounds like it may storm soon.”

“Wait, Mother.” Rey pulled up by a wide lake. “Isn't that the house Uncle Luke mentioned?” A streak of lightning showed the outlines of a decayed old mansion. It might have been beautiful, once upon a time. Now the jagged towers with their broken shingles stabbed the blood-red sky as branches scraped against cracked windows.

“Charming place.” Kaydel wrinkled her nose. “Looks like a rest home for old ghouls.”

“Hey.” Leia turned her horse to the voice whispering from a spidery bush. A brown webbed hand beckoned from the leaves. “Are you the daughters of the bearded gentleman who lost the rose?”

“I'm their mother, Leia. These are my daughters.” Leia dismounted her horse, giving the hand a strange look. “You can come out now. We know what you are. My brother, Sir Luke Skywalker, told us.”

The girls gasped as a light emerged from the indigo shadows. The soft gold glow was in a lantern that dangled from a thick, moss-brown webbed hand. “I'm sorry, Miss Leia,” the creature croaked softly. “I didn't want to frighten you. We're...well, we're a bit off-putting if you're not used to us.”

Rey stepped up to the creature as it stumbled out of the bushes. “Come into the light.”

“All right, but don't say I didn't warn you.” Kaydel screamed, Jessika let out a shocked yelp, and even Leia drew a breath. It was a giant brown toad, a great broad-shouldered creature with thick dun-colored skin heavy with warts and black slime around the top of his head. He easily held the lamp in his webbed fingers and walked on his long legs. “I'm not very pretty.”

“No,” Rey said quickly. “You're...you're unique.”

Maybe she was mistaken, but he seemed to turn pink around the edges of his lips. “Thank you, miss.”

“I'm Rey.” She took his other hand. “These are my sisters, Kaydel and Jessika.”

They all jumped as another peal of thunder rolled through the sky. “I think we'd better get inside.” Leia took her horse. “Unlike you, our skin is not waterproof.”

“My master wanted me to bring you to the house.” He gently tugged Rey down the path as fat drops began to fall on their noses. “My brothers are preparing your rooms now.”

“We're not going to stay in the dungeons and live on bread and water?” Jessika asked with a small smile.

“Oh no!” The toad held Rey's hand harder as lightning flashed over the house. “You're our guests. We want you to be happy here.”

“Well, we'll be happier if we're dry.” Leia took Rey's horse. “Where's the stables?”

“My brother Poe will handle the horses. He's good with animals.” The toad smiled at Rey, who blushed. She thought he had a very kind smile, for a toad.

“I'll help him.” Jessika took the horses' reigns. “Is he as...uh, unique...as you?”

“We all are. We...well, you'll see, miss.” He looked over his shoulder at the others. “The stable is down by the largest of the old oak trees. My brother will meet you there. The rest of you, come with me.”

“By the way, sir,” Leia began, “what should we call you?”

“Finn. My name is Finn.” He gave them an elegant bow as he opened the door for them. “After you, ladies.”

“My goodness!” Kaydel laughed as she passed him. “How chivalrous!”

Leia gave him a smile of her own. “You're very polite, for a toad-man.”

“Thank you, Miss Leia.” Finn lead them into a shabby living room, filled with worn, dusty furniture strewn with cobwebs. “Follow me. I'll take you to your rooms.”

Leia lifted her skirts as they walked up the splintered wooden steps. The old staircase creaked with every movement. “You mentioned a 'master.' I assume he's the head of the household. Why doesn't he hire a frog maid, or at least do some cleaning? Our home isn't in the best of shape either, but it's at least clean.”

“We do what we can, Miss Leia, but this is a very old house. The Master spends most of his time in his rooms.” The lantern light flickered, the shadows making soft gray circles out of Finn's rounded mouth and bulging brown eyes. “Nothing we've done can make him happy. He's blames himself for...well, for everything.”

“I'd suspected there was some black magic at play.” Leia watched the creature as it continued up the stairs. “I can feel it. There's something...some dark magic that covers you, like a cloak. I don't think you're a toad, but it's making it hard to see what you are.”

“No, miss. I wasn't born like this.” The frog-youth turned his eyes away. “Please don't ask me any more questions. You just...you have to stay here. That's all.”

“We were only expecting one of you, not four.” Finn stopped at the first door. “We didn't know about the other three until later. My brother Snap is finishing the other ladies' rooms. You'll all stay in this one tonight. We'll get cots or mattresses for the other girls.”

Leia gasped as they entered. The room was enormous, much cleaner than the rest of the house. The bed, with its faded lavender French canopy, took up most of the back wall. The black lacquered furniture, while still old and warped, had at least been polished to a hard shine. The threadbare Oriental carpets had been aired; the chandelier dusted until it sparkled.

“It's a lovely room, Finn,” Leia said with a smile. She ran a finger along the woodwork on the window sash. “At least one of you is a decent housekeeper.”

“That's my brother Snap. He likes to keep busy.” Finn opened the closet. “We found these dresses in the attic, and there's fabric up there to make more, if any of you sew.”

“Oh!” Kaydel leaped at a blue silk dress with the high, stiff lace collar of a few decades ago. “It looks like something from a fairy tale! I could do so much with this! Maybe add some lace trim, or bows on the skirt. We'd really look like princesses!”

Rey peered beyond her. “Maybe we could make over one of the tea gowns into a gardening outfit.”

“Do whatever you like.” Finn grinned at her enthusiasm. “The dresses were abandoned with the house. I'm sure their former owner would love to see them used again.”

Leia chuckled as the two girls leaned further into the wardrobe. “That will keep them occupied for about ten minutes.” She stopped the toad-youth before he could hurry out the door. “I want you to tell me more about your master. It seems rather rude of him to not greet us.”

“He's...he's shy,” Finn croaked quickly. “He'll join us at dinner. It's at 7, by the way. We don't usually do a formal meal here, but since this is your first night, he thought you'd like something special.”

The older woman smiled warmly. “I'm looking forward to meeting him.”

“Uh, yeah.” Finn ducked out of the room, leaving the women to dress for dinner. He hurried down the stairs and across the hall, to another, wider set of steps. The West Wing was the older part of the house. The boys had rooms on the second floor, but the Master occupied the tower suite.

Finn climbed the long flight of narrow steps, then knocked on the door. “Master?”

“Yeah, kid?” a gruff voice croaked.

“The ladies have arrived.” Finn shivered at the shadowy hall, with its creaky steps and peeling wallpaper. “I got three of them settled in. The fourth is helping Poe with the horses.” He took a breath, then went on. “The mother was asking about you. She said you were rude not come see them.” The frog lowered his croak. “She's kind of right, you know. You can't hide from her forever, especially if you want to lift this curse.”

“I can do what I want, kid.” Finn winced at the sound of breaking pottery. “I'll be at dinner. Don't ask me before that.”

“All right, Master.” Finn sighed as he returned downstairs. He knew the Master blamed himself for what had befallen him, but brooding like this wasn't going to do anyone any good. Miss Leia seemed really interested in him, too. If he wanted her and her daughters to free them, he was going to have to show himself, no matter what he looked like. After all, Finn and Poe had. The girls had screamed, but they hadn't run away, and Miss Leia didn't even do that.

These were the ones. Finn could feel it in his bones. He just wished the Master would believe it.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Finn came for the women exactly at 6. Leia had managed to get all of the girls dressed by then. Jessika had come upstairs chattering about the stables and the horses there and the creature who tended to their animals. “It was a frog, Mother,” she insisted. “A big, green frog who walked on two legs, like the fellow who lead us here. He had smoother skin than the other guy, sort of a black-green color. I thought the warts almost looked like they were curling. He had the best manners, too. He kissed my hand the moment he saw me.” She wiped it on the back of her skirt. “Even if he did leave a trail of slime.”

“That's my brother, Poe.” Finn chuckled as they followed him down the creaking old stairs. “Well, he's not my real brother, but we're as close as brothers. He's my best friend. He's the best horseman...well, horse-frog...in the kingdom. He can make them do anything. You should see him fix our machines, too.” They jumped as a big cuckoo clock on the wall in the living room tooted the hour. “He fixed that himself.”

“Really?” Jessika went to inspect the works, turning it over in her hands. “It's really ingenious. I love the little frogs that come out instead of the bird.”

Leia took the clock from her daughter and returned it to the wall. “You can look at it later, dear.” She pulled her daughter along, then turned to Finn. “Tell me more about this master of yours. You really didn't talk about him much before.”

“There's not much to tell. He's really kind of quiet,” Finn rambled. “He doesn't talk much. He's not real smart. Not since...well, he isn't. But he's a good man. Good to us. Mostly keeps to himself. Snap and Poe and I sometimes take the horses out to hunt for good flies. We can get him to come on his good days. He and Chewbacca make things in his room. There are some days, though, where he hides and won't come out at all or talk to anyone, except for Chewbacca.”

Rey raised her eyebrows. “Chewbacca?”

“He's the master's servant. Nice guy. Very different from us.” Finn finally brought them to a long, polished dining room. “Here's the ladies, Master,” Finn stammered quickly. “Sorry we took so long.”

“You should be.” The toad who croaked at them at the end of the table was the ugliest creature Leia had ever laid eyes on. “My servant has finished dinner, and the soup is about to get cold.” He towered over Finn, standing twice as tall as him on his thick webbed feet. Rows of sharp spines stood out on his green-gray skin between warts and bumps. Slime dripped thickly over his chin and head and off his grotesquely protruding mouth, which was twisted into a grimace of disapproval. Two large spikes protruded from the top of his rounded head like horns. His gruff voice sounded like a cross between a croak and a deep growl.

Leia managed not to wince at his appearance. Rey elbowed Kaydel before she could scream again and glared at Jess when she made a face. The mother curtsied before her in her gown of deep purple velvet. “You must be the Master. My daughters and I thank you for our room and hope that the others will be ready soon.”

As she looked up, she happened to get a glimpse of the Master's eyes. They were...not a toad's eyes at all. To her surprise, while as large as an amphibian's, they were hazel rather than gold, with golden flecks that danced in the light. They were really more like a human's eyes than a toad's. She'd seen those eyes before, but she couldn't remember where for the life of her.

Those eyes were as hard as the mossy stones on the lake. “I asked for one of you, Your Majesty. Not all of you. I wasn't expecting a full party.”

“Your friend asked for my daughter, or my brother would remain a prisoner.” Her dark eyes bored straight into his. “I'm not letting my children go off alone. I'll be a prisoner in my brother's place.”

“You're not a prisoner. Not today, anyway.” The Master pulled out a chair for Leia. “You're all our guests. Just...not used to surprises here.”

Two other frogs instantly leaped from their chairs. One was smaller, a bright green fellow with curling black warts on his head and wide brown eyes that flashed flirtatiously when he helped Jessika into her seat. The other was plump and hearty, a darker green with bands of brown around his head and under his lips. Kaydel giggled as he helped her into her seat, amusing her by making faces for her benefit.

A towering, fur-covered creature pulled out the Master's chair. All four of the women stared at him. They'd never seen anything like him. He was covered in thick chestnut fur, from his crown to his big feet. He was twice the size of even the Master. He ably served the women a hearty stew made of vegetables and quail.

“I'm sorry if the food isn't what you're used to.” The Master's wide lips went down. “We usually eat flies or other pond insects, or broth and nuts in the winter. We only have a very small garden and what my servant can catch on the grounds.”

“Oh no,” Jessika protested, “this is fine. In fact, this is great!”

Rey nodded, her mouth full. “It's much better than what we've been getting at home.”

“I'm...I'm so glad.” The Master frowned. “I'm an ugly, dumb toad. I mostly stay in the tower. You girls will probably find the boys more to your liking. You can spend time with them, or in our music rooms, or the garden.”

Leia took his webbed hand, being careful of the spines. “You're not stupid. You shouldn't talk about yourself that way.” She gave him a small smile. “Maybe you're not the world's greatest housekeeper, but you do take care of these young...er, frogs. As for ugly,” the queen shook her head, “you're more...interesting...than ugly.”

The bright green frog looked up from his broth. “We keep telling him that, but the sp...” Finn gave him a look and nudged him.

Rey's eyes lit up like jewels. “You have a garden?”

“Outside, in the back.” The Master managed a shrug.

“Can I see it tomorrow?” The dark-haired girl beamed. “I miss our garden at home. The violets should be coming up now, and the asparagus.”

“Sure. Couldn't hurt.” The Master nodded. “You probably know more about it than we do. Finn can show you where the gardening tools are.”

“I heard 'music room.'” Kaydel grinned between bites of soup. “I can sing, dance, and play the piano a little.”

“The music room is on the first floor, first door on your right after you come in.” The Master's wide hazel eyes fell on the plump frog. “Snap will show you where.”

“I already know about the stables.” Jessika's eyes fell on the bright green frog. “And I met Poe earlier. We were going for ride tomorrow morning, and then wash the horses.”

Poe gave her the most dashing smile a frog could manage. “I'm looking forward to it, my lovely young horsewoman.”

The Master couldn't quite meet Leia's eyes. “There's a library downstairs, overlookin' the garden, if you wanna read anythin'. Or you could join the kids. Or go out for a walk on the grounds, as long as you don't leave 'em.”

Leia smiled at him between sips of stew. “I would love it if you'd join me in the library. It would be nice to have someone to discuss great literature and politics with. Luke's not much interested in either, and the girls read different books than I do.”

“I don't know how good I'd be at it,” the Master began cautiously. “I don't read often, and I have no mind for politics.” The furry servant nudged him between spines, and the frog-youths all gave him hopeful looks. “But anythin' is better than sittin' upstairs. I can try, but I don't know how interestin' a conversation with a toad would be.”

“I'm not talking with a toad.” The older woman patted his warty hand between spikes. “I'm talking with a person.” The frogs and girls all grinned as the horned toad turned as red as the broth in the stew.

~*~*~*~*~*~

When the women came back upstairs, there was a fourth cot in the bedroom, near the window, and lacy linen night shifts and thick knitted blankets for all. After much debate, it was agreed that Leia would sleep in the bed, while the other three took the cots. “You're the oldest, Mother.” Jessika fluffed her pillow. “It's only fair.”

There was silence for a few minutes, as the quartet settled down in their new sleeping arrangements. “Mother,” Rey started softly, “there's something wrong here. Seriously wrong.”

“No, what makes you think that?” Kaydel rolled her eyes. “There's only four giant frogs and a walking carpet downstairs and a grouchy lizard who looks like a mobile pincusion hiding in the tower. And did we mention they all walk and talk and make stew like humans?”

“Kay, enough.” Leia sighed. “We've had a long day. Why don't we all get some sleep? We'll discuss this in the morning.” She put out the candles in the chandelier and the one next to her bed. “Good night, ladies!

As soon as she heard the chorus of “Good night, Mother!” Leia's head dropped onto the pillow. The faded lavender sheets were a soft, buttery satin that felt wonderful against her skin. She tried to concentrate and figure out where she'd seen that horned toad's eyes before, but it was no use. She fell into dreams just moments later.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Leia's feet tread on a long, cobblestone path leading through the most beautiful rose garden she had ever seen. Rose bushes lined the walkway, their soft yellow and pink petals giving the warm night air a spicy scent. The moon shown over a gate and a thick archway of blood-red roses that lead to the wall of an elegant country manor house. It looked almost like the house they were currently living in, but better-kept and much cleaner.

“Mother!” Her daughters hurried after her. Rey's grin nearly split her face. “Look at these gowns!” She turned around, showing off her yellow brocade with the gold roses and soft ribbons and her topaz tiara. “They're like a dream come true!”

Kaydel patted the blue velvet bow on her stomacher. The blue velvet and lace skirt billowed around her ankles. A sapphire tiara sparkled in her golden hair. “I don't know what's going on, but someone has exquisite taste. These are the latest fashion from Paris.”

“Mother looks the best.” Jessika tugged at the wide lace sleeves on her pink satin gown with the gold braid trim and white ruffles on the skirt. A tiara of diamonds was nestled in her sleek black locks.

Leia hadn't had the chance to look at herself until now. Her silk gown was a deep purple, almost the same color as the spring night, with a heavy brocade skirt. Lavender bows on the stomacher and the lace trimmed overskirt gave her a youthful hair. Their hair was swept up with the same roses as in the garden and jewels that sparkled in the moonlight. A diamond and amethyst tiara sparkled in her silver hair. Her fingers stroked the matching necklace, with its interwoven flower pattern.

She was about to ask the girls if they'd seen anyone else when the sound of footsteps on a broken twig startled her. “Stay behind me, girls.” Leia managed to get all three behind her as four long shadows fell over the stone path.

“I'm sorry, Your Majesty.” A handsome youth stepped out from behind the white rose arbor. “We didn't mean to startle you.” He had deeply tanned skin, glossy dark curls, and soft, sensuous pink lips. He wore a fine suit of navy blue and yellow velvet, with gleaming brass buttons. His curls framed a golden crown. “My name is Prince Poe of Yavin, Your Majesty.”

“I am Prince Finn of Bespin.” The dark-skinned youth in the red velvet coat bowed, his silver crown as bright as his gentle brown eyes.

The third youth's bow was more like a bob. His gold coat and trousers strained at his rather rotund frame. “And I'm Prince Temmin of Wexley.”

A fourth figure remained in the shadows, his face partially obscured. The moon showed a black and silver brocade suit, silk jabot, and massive silver crown fit for a king, with locks the color of moonlight worn longer than the fashion. Leia went up to him curiously. “And what's your name, sir? Pardon me, but I think we may have met before.”

The man's face fell. He shook his head and turned helplessly to the youths. Poe patted his shoulder and turned to Leia. “I'm sorry, Your Majesty, but I'm afraid our guardian is mute. When we're here, we do the speaking for him.”

Bands of moonlight lit up hazel eyes and a familiar lazy smirk as he bent over to kiss her hand. She curtsied for him. “At least your inability to talk hasn't effected your manners.”

“We must make a request of you, Your Majesty,” Prince Poe continued. “We are being held prisoner in this home. Only your four can set us free.”

“Where?” Rey pushed in front, taking Finn's hand. “And who did it? Those frog-things in the manor?”

Kaydel frowned. “But they seem so nice!”

“Don't be deceived by appearances.” Poe's eyes slid towards Jessika, who was already looking him over. “We're under a terrible curse. You can only break it if you see through the darkness.”

“Yeah, don't let the disguises fool you.” Temmin grinned. “We're normally better-looking than this”

“I knew it!” Rey made a face. “There is black magic in this place. It's crawling with it!”

“How can we break the curse?” Leia took the king's hand. “Please, one of you must tell us. Why would the frogs hold you hostage? Kaydel's right. They've been nothing but kind to us.” The king was hesitant. He longed to embrace this violet beauty, but the curse kept him confined to the shadows. He settled for gently rubbing her hand and gazing into those fathomless doe eyes.

“We can't stay here much longer.” Finn looked over his shoulder. “They'll be here any minute!”

The king nodded. “No, you can't leave now! You must tell us where to find you!” Leia leaned closer to him, squinting up into those bright, ever-changing orbs. “You know, maybe I'm just getting old, but you are so familiar! We've met somewhere before. I just can't...remember where..”

The king lifted her chin, his leather-gloved hand pressing against her soft porcelain cheek. Two tears rolled down his lined face, shining like stars in the waning moonlight. “My god,” she gasped, “has someone hurt you? You poor man. We'll do whatever we can to help you. I swear it.”

He was about to kiss her when a red bolt of lightning threw them apart. Leia landed hard on the ground. The king stumbled back into the shadows, landing in the arms of a hulking beast with devil's wings and the sharp claws and blood-stained teeth of a demon. Demons emerged from every shadow, grabbing the struggling youths from behind. Rey leaped onto the one that held Finn, but he flung her off his back and into a tree. She hit the trunk and fell to the ground unconscious. Jessika fought another demon, while a third chased a screaming Kaydel around a bush filled with roses.

“Oh no, you don't. Not tonight.” A ghoulish figure in a heavy cloak waved a long staff topped with a glowing blood-red jewel. Vines and roots burst from the ground and snaked down from the bushes to wrap around the men's arms and legs. “We don't want the game to be too easy. These wenches need more of a challenge.”

“Never!” Leia grabbed the creature's arm. “Unhand him! You're a black magician. A sorcerer. I've read about you before. I won't let you harm these men any further!”

The wicked man laughed in her face. “You, a mere woman? What can you do?”

“I know a little magic of my own.” Leia shot out her hand, calling a long garland of roses to wrap around him tightly.

The sorcerer only laughed. The red light writhed around the garland, causing it to crumble and wither. “What adorable parlor tricks, Your Majesty. Now, you'll taste the full brunt of my power!”

The girls screamed as a jagged red lightning bolt sizzled over Leia, flinging her to the ground. The young people all let out shrieks of horror. The three girls ran to her side. The boys were about to join them, but the demon-devils dragged them back and shoved them off towards the house. The king opened his mouth to let out an angry shout, but no sound emerged. He thrashed wildly in his woody bonds.

“You're coming with me, Your so-called Majesty.” The sorcerer's smile was taunting. “Your Majesty indeed! You'll never be a king again. I've seen to that. You and those pretty youths you tend to will become mindless servants once this year is out.”

He gave Leia one last, searing look. “Leave this place, Queen Leia. These men belong to me now. You and those bratty little wenches of yours will never break the curse.” He swung his cape over him and the helpless monarch, making them both vanish.

“Mother!” Rey shook at her. “Mother, please wake up! Mother! Mother, please!”

~*~*~*~*~*~

“Mother!” Leia finally cracked open one eye. The girls stood around her bed in their night shifts and caps, all looking worried. Rey shook her shoulder. “Mother,” she fretted, “are you all right?”

“You were having a nightmare,” Kaydel added. “You woke up screaming.”

Jessika made a face. “And woke us up.”

“I'm sorry, girls.” Leia managed to pull herself into a sitting position as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Bright light streamed through the pale curtains on the windows. Sunshine illumiated the room, making it a bit less spooky than the night before. “I didn't sleep well. I had the worst nightmare. There were these gentlemen, all well-dressed. One of them couldn't speak. He kept hiding in the shadows. I wish he hadn't. He was so familiar...”

“And there were three handsome boys,” Kaydel added with a grin. “They were all princes in fancy clothes.”

“And a nasty black magician.” Rey made a face. “He shot you with the dark arts lightning before we could stop him, and I was knocked into a tree trunk.”

Jessika tapped the side of her chin. “They mentioned something about a curse, and them being prisoners in the house...”

Kaydel frowned. “We all had the same dreams?”

Rey nodded. “Looks like it. It seemed so real!”

“I think it may have been.” Leia threw the bedclothes aside. “Ladies, we need to talk to those frogs, including that 'master' of theirs. I think they're the key to solving this mystery.”

“Mother,” Rey said softly as they went to the wardrobe, “the evil sorcerer...I swear he reminded me of Snoke.”

“Me too. It wouldn't surprise me if he had a hand in this.” The queen pulled out a simple blue and tan-striped morning dress. “We'll discuss it further at breakfast.”