More Forest Fables
More Forest Guardian, the original verse was created by abstract_whisk with the far from boring Boring Forest, my fanfic creation Hapless Knight was set in the neighbouring Sinister Forest and can be found HERE.
This story revisit's Forest Guardian Warrick and his houseguest Prince Clifford the handsome ninny. Hope you like.
Munches the cookies from saskia399 who says I'm bribable!?!?!?!?!
Title : Fortuitous Knight
Wordcount : 833 ((I fail at drabbles)and one-shots!)
Warrick stomped happily through his forest. Witch Melinda was boiling up a nice batch of gumbo and there’d be tasty eating later in the week. The tall twisting trees were obscuring the sky, darkening the path to night time hues and rendering unearthed roots lethal to the unwary traveller. Warrick skipped over obstacles with a cheery whistle, this was what a forest should be.
His mood lowered as he reached his swamp. Sludge bubbled rhythmically and a frog croaked from the reeds. Shallow pools were filled with frogspawn and Warrick threatened to kiss the stately toad that puffed it’s chest to burp at him. Suspicious traces of something unnamed were everywhere.
Flowers bloomed amongst the vicious thorns of the carnivorous briar. He’d caught the forest’s resident Ogre building a ramshackle stone bridge where the stream was scarce an inch deep, all in hope of luring a crusty Troll. There were Lilies floating in the swamp. Last visit to the Pixie Spa had been educational and more than a little embarrassing.
Something was about.
Stepping neatly along the narrow path to his cottage, ignoring the red Roses that now interspersed the black, Warrick stopped to admire the latest decoration. A young Prince was bound in winding weeds. Golden hair flashing as he fought to escape not realising his struggles only further trapped him. Warrick gave his best most charming smile. His royal guest was rather a pretty specimen, a distinct improvement on the spotty oaf that came before, with luck this one would meet Princess Veronica’s approval. It was about time he got a more amenable lodger in the North Tower. Preferably someone without the predisposition for pink and feathers.
‘Are you going to help me?’
Warrick stood awhile admiring the view. ‘No, I don’t think so’ he gave a pleasant enough smile that the Prince smiled back before registering his answer and cursing. Warrick had an added spring to his step as he moved away to buff clean his boots on Pampas and open the door to his cottage.
An infernal Bluebird sparked up a song on sighting him and Warrick glowered, fuming to notice it had gained a mate, a duet of chirping delights. He snarled his most ferocious Forest Guardian glare at them, the one he practiced in the bathing pond. They sang on undeterred and Warrick muttered at them as he absently moved their feed out of reach of a carnvourous vine.
Clifford, the giant ninny, fourth in line to some blighted throne, was in the kitchen. Warrick crunched through a blackened slice of what had once been bread and considered the man. Handsome with a blinding smile. The luckless Prince outside dreamt of such musculature. Such standing.
‘My briars are flowering’
‘That’s nice dear heart’
‘This is the Sinister Forest, the briars are not supposed to flower’
‘I’m sure they’re very sinister flowers, my love’
‘They’re bright yellow’
‘That’s…’ exhibiting some previously unaccounted wisdom Clifford refrained from comment. Just possibly he was a salvageable ninny. Though Warrick did detect a smile.
‘There’s a Prince in the Bind Weed again’
‘Another Barbarian?’
‘No, this one is rather pretty’ Warrick crunched toast, watching as the stove flared and lunch started to smell singed. Royal couples oft got distracted running kingdoms and apparently neglected to teach their brats to bake.
‘Did you free him?’ Clifford’s voice was terse, Warrick wiped burnt crumbs from his lips.
‘Nah, leave him figure it out, you got out after a single day’
‘Last one took a week’
‘Might have tried harder if you’d not insisted we feed him’ On reflection, eyeing the food being plated up, that might not have been fully accurate.
Clifford shrugged off his shirt in the heat of the room and Warrick was reminded why he liked having the man around.
‘That bluebird is mated’
‘I saw you move their feed’
‘…’ Warrick broke eye contact and got busy eating. It wasn’t bad, whatever it was.
‘My parents have sent summons’ Clifford told him without inflection, as if Warrick hadn’t sensed the royal messenger trampling through the forest. He may or may not have led him on a few false trails before guiding him to his goal. ‘They wish me to visit’
‘When do you leave?’ Warrick asked his mug as he took a bolstering glug.
‘I told them I was needed here’ for once Clifford sounded unsure.
‘You did?’
‘Well, if Veronica goes you’ll need to get a new tenant, Lanwing’s eggs are due to hatch and who knows what damage fledgling Dragons can do to a forest.’
‘Who knows’ Warrick intoned.
‘So you need me here’
‘I do’
Clifford dropped a bowl at Warrick’s agreement and the Forest Guardian tried a tentative smile that he’d not had chance to practice. When Clifford returned it, the trap snapped shut. Warrick pounced into strong royal arms and gloried in a heated kiss.
The something in the air was Love. Living in the Sinister Spring Forest was not going to be without compensation.
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