Page 68 of The Broken Mirror
Except that doesn’t actually get them any closer. Gretel thinks. She’s only ever seen two spells broken in her life, and they both had very specific ways by which to break. May as well try both those methods, right?
“Do you have star flowers on the castle property by any chance?”
An hour later, Gretel and Alistair have realized the answer to that question is no, there are no star flowers. They might be something specific to Snow Country. However, there isan abundance of bleeding heart flowers, which Gretel feels could be a great fit. Bonus: They only need to make one frog-sized shirt rather than seven large swan-sized shirts. They don’t even have to dry the flowers!
Alistair and Gretel bring the tiny bleeding heart shirt up to Hortense’s room. Hortense has placed Charlie on her bed. She doesn’t want him transforming into a human while sitting on her shoulder, after all. They fit the little garment over Charlie’s tiny frog body.
Three… two… one…
Nothing. Nothing happens. No transformation, no hint of a breaking curse.
“You’re sure this worked last time?” Charlie says. “I’m not feeling anything.”
Trying hard not to be deterred, Gretel thinks of the other curse whose breaking they witnessed. “So… what about true love’s kiss?” she asks.
“We already tried that,” Hortense says glumly. “I’ve kissed those froggy lips so many times, I’m starting to taste flies.”
Gretel thinks and thinks. Who else could be a true love’s kiss? Maybe it could be between two bystanders. But the only bystanders here are herself and…
Alistair?!
Gretel laughs out loud, and everyone looks at her, likewhat?
She has never, never once considered Alistair to be hertrue love. Her truefriendlove, sure, but she’s not certain that counts. But is it worth a try?
“This might sound crazy,” Gretel says to Alistair, “and to be up front, I’m not suggesting I’m romantically into you, dude…”
Alistair suddenly starts to sweat.
“But,” Gretel continues, “I do love you! As a friend,” she clarifies.
“Oh thank goodness! I don’t love you either! I mean not inthatway! Only as a friend,” he echoes, wiping his brow.
“But maybe we could still give it a try? For Charlie,” Gretel says. “And, again, not romantic!”
Alistair is still incredibly flustered. Gretel’s not thrilled with the concept, either. But she can’t think of what other solution there might be at the moment. So, okay.
They stand facing each other. Should she close her eyes? No, that’s weird. That’s too romantic. But isn’t keeping them open creepy? She purses her lips a little; so does he. They lean forward and Gretel plants a peck on his cheek.
Nothing.
Charlie’s still a frog.
“Oh well,” says Alistair, looking relieved it’s over. “At least we tried.”
Gretel laughs.
“Hello!” a bright voice calls from the doorway. Alistair and Gretel jump away from each other. “Sorry, am I interrupting?” It’s a boy their age. He’s carrying a tea tray.
“No, come in, John. Come hang out!” Hortense says. “This is John, everyone. He’s a page at the castle and also my friend.”
“I brought some tea for you all,” John says, “and I hope you don’t mind, but I overheard a little of your conversation about the curse.”
Figures. Gretel can be pretty loud when working out a problem.
“I think I may know how to help,” John says. Sitting down on the sofa that faces Hortense’s bed, John begins to explain. “What I’m about to tell you is very, very secret information. And I know it might be silly of me to tell the future king and queen of Eastphalia this, but, Hortense, you’ve been a very kind princess. So I hope I can trust you.”
“Of course you can, John! I’d never do anything to put you in harm’s way,” Hortense says, patting his hand.
