Chapter 3: Making New Friends

Friar Tub spit out his food and jumped up with a shout! "It wasn't me! I didn't wake you up! It was Billy!"

But Maid Madelyn yelled at them before anyone else could speak. "None of you woke me up this time! I just heard this little girl crying for help and came out to see what was going on. You four were being rude, not even listening to her so I shot the arrow to get your attention! I think we should listen to her! It sounds important. Now are you slobs going to listen to her, or am I going to have to make a “ricochet rump” shot with an arrow or two?"

They all dropped their weapons and immediately returned to the camp fire hanging their heads liked scolded puppies. Maid Madelyn put out the fire on her arrow and jumped down next to the Princess.

“Are you alright?” she asked.

Nataleigh nodded with a sniffle.

“You’ll have to forgive those boys. They can be a bit jumpy at times. But there’s no excuse for them treatin’ a lady like that, even if she is large.” Madelyn stuttered. “I mean, um, not that you’re, uh, large like Friar Tub. I mean, um, tall that’s all.”

“That’s ok.” Nataleigh assured her. “I know I must look a bit frightful being so tall. It’s just that I’m not a dwarf. I’m a human from the Crystal Castle on Ivory mountain.”

Maid Madelyn looked puzzled. “A human? Is that the same as a giant?”

“No, no!” Nataleigh explained. “My dad isn’t quite as tall as a giant, and I won’t get that big either. We’re just like you, only we have longer legs and arms that make us stand taller.”

“I’ve never seen one like you before.” Madelyn said. “But I have heard of the Crystal Castle. I always thought it was just a legend.”

“My father hid it among the clouds long ago for our safety.” Nataleigh continued. “He built it so that my brother, Nathan, and I would have a safe place to play. He gave us a special mirror that allows us to watch your world without being in danger and we’re not supposed to leave the castle for anything, but I had to this time!”

“Yes. You spoke about warning King Balderdash about some terrible danger!” Maid Madelyn remembered. “What is it? You must come down and tell all of us. They will behave now, I promise you.”

She took Nataleigh by the arm and led her to the edge of the wooden platform that they stood on. Then she placed a vine rope in her hand and instructed her to place her feet in the loop at the bottom. The princess then followed the woodland maiden’s lead as she stepped off the platform and was slowly lowered to the ground by Tiny Bud who held the other end on the ground below.
Madelyn was right when she had promised that the men would behave now. Tiny Bud took her hand and helped her loosen her foot from the rope and then they all sat like perfect gentlemen as she began to tell them the danger she saw in her mirror earlier that morning.