Archive of Our Own

Oh, welcome, my dears. Please have a seat. Are you comfortable? Would you like some tea before we begin?

Is everyone ready? Oh, yes, of course you can have some cookies. Take as many as you like.

Now that we are all settled, I will begin our story for today.

Once upon a time, in a faraway land, lived a tall man who lived a small life in a small village. But the man, or Jared as he was called, dreamt of a life filled with adventure. He dreamt of going on dangerous journeys across land and water, of encountering dragons and trolls and witches and faeries.

His mother chided him because his head was too often in the clouds. His father tried to show Jared the beauty of a simple life—hard work, a family, a hearth and a home. Everyone in the village did their best to convince Jared that adventures were for knights and princes and noblemen, for those with pockets lined with gold, and not for plain village folk such as them.

Despite their words, Jared still longed for adventure. And as he grew (and grew and grew) his longing grew with him.

One ordinary day, a day just like the day before which had been exactly the same as the day before that one, Jared was once again daydreaming about a life of adventure, a life far away from the quiet little village that had been his home for nineteen years.

“You could come with me,” Jared said to his best friend, Chad. “We could go on an adventure, just the two of us.”

They were in the stables. The villagers had few horses–there was not much need for them since most that lived there never traveled past the walls that guarded the village. But the few horses that belonged to the village were kept here, in the stables that Jared’s father owned. Jared was tending to a horse while Chad was hiding from his mother, the town baker who had a list of chores for Chad to attend to.

“And be eaten by wolves?” Chad replied. “No thank you. I am happy where I am, and you should be too.”

“I don’t think there is much chance of wolves eating us,” Jared said, but he was not certain of this. He had never ventured outside the village’s walls so he did not know what dangers might await him.

Chad and Jared were full grown men. Soon they would be expected to wed and have families of their own. Chad already had eyes on several of the village’s maidens, including the comely daughter of the miller. But due to Chad’s well-earned reputation for mischief, and the fact that he had yet to learn a trade, none of the maidens had eyes for Chad.

Jared’s eyes were still fixed on the clouds.

Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of Wren, Jared’s sister.

“Father says you are to clean all the stalls right away,” Wren said, her eyes glittering with excitement. “There is a lord on his way to the village. The King’s cousin thrice removed. He is scouring the land to find someone suitable to wed. His page just announced his upcoming arrival.”

Chester was a small, nondescript village in the middle of a vast expanse of nothingness. The last time anyone of any significance had visited the village had been two score earlier, before Jared was even born, when the King’s Minister of Arms had come to the village in search of men to join the King’s army. He had left empty-handed, and no one except tradesmen and an occasional troupe of performers had visited the village of Chester since.

“I must go now. I am to wear my best dress and Mother is going to put ribbons in my hair. If I catch the Lord’s eye, I could be a Lady, can you imagine?”

And with that, Wren ran back out of the stables.

“I don’t suppose you would want to assist me with the mucking?” Jared asked as he entered the first stall with his trusty shovel in hand.

“I have always said you were the brightest lad in the village,” Chad replied. “Your supposition is correct. Plus, all this hiding from my mother has tired me greatly.”

Chad stood at the large open door of the stable and reported on all the frenzied goings-on in the village. The stables were located near the village center, so Chad could see much of the action from where he was standing.

“All the villagers are gathering near the statue; I suppose that is where the lord is to make his appearance. You’d think the King himself was coming. Oh, look, there is Marie standing there wearing her finest dress. Just this week she told me she had no interest in being wed, and there she is preening as much as any bird ever has. Oh, there is my mother, she is pulling a wagon filled with baked goods and she is searching for someone, probably me.”

Chad quickly slipped inside the stable, out of sight from his questing mother.

“You could help her,” Jared said, beginning work on the third stall. “It’s not every day she has the opportunity to sell her goods to a lord.”

“She won’t be selling anything, she will be giving it all away and she can do that quite nicely by herself,” Chad replied. He sat down on a fresh pile of hay that Jared had just laid in a stall. “I don’t see why there’s all this fuss for a lord anyway. He’s probably old, like the weaver who is at least four score if he’s a day. He probably has a hunchback and teeth as black as coal. I bet his nose is—”

“Go on, I do want to hear about my nose.”

Jared stepped out of the stall. Standing in the wide door of the stable was a handsome man, perhaps a few years older than Jared, wearing very fine clothes and looking at Chad in amusement. When the man’s eyes turned toward Jared, they lingered there, looking at Jared for a very long moment.

“I was told someone could see to our horses, I am assuming that person is you,” the man said to Jared. “I’m Stephen, Lord of Amell. I am very pleased to make your acquaintance.”

“I’m Jared,” Jared responded. “And the rude fellow over there is my friend Chad. He means you no harm.”

“Jared. That is a lovely name. Is there a quiet place where I might have a private word with you? I am sure Chad can take care of my horse.”

Jared had no idea why Lord Stephen would want to speak to him, but he knew that there was no horse that was safe in Chad’s hands. “Chad, would you please escort Lord Stephen of Amell to my parent’s cottage? It will take me but a moment to care for your horses, Lord Stephen, and then it will be my honor to meet with you.”

Lord Stephen smiled and then, to Jared’s astonishment, he bowed to Jared. Jared, unaccustomed to titled folk, attempted to bow back, but judging by Lord Stephen’s amused expression his bow looked as awkward as it felt.

All the villagers watched in varying degrees of curiosity as Chad led Lord Stephen to Jared’s parent’s cottage. Jared retrieved the three horses from the Lord’s guards and led them into the stable to care for them.

By the time Jared arrived back at his parent’s cottage, the guards were standing on either side of the door. Inside the cottage, Jared’s mother and father, Wren, and Chad were gathered around the family table. Sitting where his father normally sat was Lord Stephen. Standing behind him was Lord Stephen’s page.

“Jared, you are to be wed to Lord Stephen!” Wren declared, running up to hug Jared.

“I am to what?” Jared asked confusedly.

“Can I come visit? You are to live in a castle, can you imagine? Do you think you can find me a lord to marry as well? What should I wear to your wedding?”

“I am to what?” Jared asked again, still confused.

“Only if you wish it,” Lord Stephen said. “There will be a period of courtship first, of course. As you are aware, I have been looking far and wide for someone worthy of standing by my side. I knew from the first moment I laid eyes on you that, despite your lowly station, you are the one that I have been seeking.”

“But I do not love you,” Jared said, quite reasonably. “I do not even know you, nor you me.”

“That is no matter,” Lord Stephen replied with an airy wave of his hand. “I have much to offer you. I live in a fine castle and have many tenants on my lands. You and your parents will never want for anything again. I have been too long away from my duties and must now return to my castle. It is my wish that you accompany me on my journey. If you require a chaperone, your friend Chad can accompany us, or anyone else of your choosing.”

“I like it here, I do not intend to leave,” Chad said.

“There are many beautiful women that live in my village,” Lord Stephen replied. “And sadly, there is a shortage of men as most men of a certain age have joined the King’s army. I think you will find if you accompany us that you will not want for female companionship.”

“I’m going with you,” Chad said to Jared. “I wouldn’t abandon my best friend in his time of need. I will take great pride in ensuring your virtue remains intact.”

“And what if after the courtship I still do not wish to wed?” Jared asked.

“Then we will shake hands and you may return to the village,” Lord Stephen replied with generosity befitting his station. “But I am very hopeful that I will convince you to stay.”

They continued to talk through the simple meal that Jared’s mother provided for them. When Jared refused to live with Lord Stephen in the castle before the wedding, because such a thing seemed very unseemly, Lord Stephen offered Jared and Chad a vacant cottage near the castle. It was preposterous of course, unheard of; one simply did not walk away from one’s life to journey with a stranger, no matter how high their birth.

But it was a chance at an adventure. Perhaps Jared’s only chance. And perhaps Lord Stephen was right. Maybe Jared could learn to love him.

And perhaps, far better than the prospect of falling in love, Jared could see a dragon.

“Are there any dragons on your lands?” Jared asked.

“Just beyond my lands, there is a ruin of a castle. It is rumored that they kept dragons there, and that one comes to visit the ruins from time to time. Many of my villagers have reported seeing a dragon flying high above the clouds,” Lord Stephen said. The page looked shocked at this declaration, his eyes wide with surprise, but perhaps the lad was merely the kind of person who was easily surprised.

It was of no matter–the chance of seeing a dragon, no matter how slim, was far better than no chance at all. So Jared gathered his few belongings in a knapsack, kissed his mother goodbye as all good sons should, and before the night fell, he had left his village for the first time in his nineteen years.

The journey took a fortnight, and for the most part, Jared found it disappointing. Jared encountered nary a dragon or a creature of any kind except for the occasional rabbit or deer. The small group of men crossed many bridges, yet they did not meet even one troll. They traveled through many villages and met many fine folk who were generous with their food and drink, but none of them appeared to be a witch or fae. They did pass by a waterfall so wondrous that it took Jared’s breath away, and passed through trees that were so tall they almost reached the clouds, but these joys were fleeting.

Jared still hungered for adventure and the journey had done little to sate his appetite.

They were almost at Lord Stephen’s village when they stopped by a large pond so that the horses could rest and drink. The rest of the men broke their fast with bread and cheese and low-hanging fruit from a nearby tree while Jared tended to the horses by the pond. He was petting his horse Dell, a goodbye gift from his father, when this most astounding encounter took place.

“I do not wish to be trampled on so kindly watch where you are stepping.”

Jared looked around him. Not Chad nor Lord Stephen nor any of his men were nearby.

“Also, you are far too tall, and I must insist that you become a more dignified size if we are to make proper introductions.”

“I am quite certain that I am exactly as tall as I should be,” Jared replied most reasonably.

There was a loud harrumph and Jared looked down toward his feet. There, looking up at him, was a green frog with huge green eyes.

Surely, thought Jared, it was not the frog who spoke to him. Jared had heard of many wondrous things. He’d even heard tell of a bird with bright green feathers that could curse as well as any sailor. Not that Jared had ever met a sailor nor heard anyone save Chad utter a curse word. But never had Jared heard of a frog that could talk.

“But you are a frog,” Jared said. “And yet you spoke to me.”

“Yes, I can talk. I am a talking frog. Now, stop gawking and do something.”

“What am I to do?” Jared asked.

“It’s fortunate you are a comely, if overly tall lad, otherwise with wits such as you possess your prospects would be few.”

Jared could see the frog’s lips moving. He was really talking to Jared. At least, Jared was fairly certain that it was a he. He had not had any experience with frogs that could talk, but this frog sounded like a he.

The frog sighed and then croaked, “You may be dim-witted, but I suppose you will have to do. You may kiss me now.”

“I beg your pardon.” This request seemed very forward, even for a talking frog.

“No need to beg my pardon, just get on with the kissing.”

Jared picked up the frog. He looked like an ordinary frog, except for how green his eyes were. And of course, the talking. “Why would I want to kiss you?”

“Because then I will turn into a prince and I will be honor-bound to take you to wed,” the frog said. “Now, commence with the kissing.”

“What sort of prince turns himself into a frog?” Jared asked.

And then, my gentle readers, to Jared’s astonishment, the frog rolled his eyes. Jared was holding a talking frog who could sigh and roll its eyes. It was quite the most extraordinary thing Jared had ever seen.

“I am Prince Jensen from the country of Ackland. I was turned into a frog by a witch, who then brought me to this barren wasteland. The spell can only be broken by a kiss. Now, stop asking impertinent questions and kiss me.”

“I’ve never kissed anyone before,” Jared mused. “I am not certain my first kiss should be with a frog.”

“As a prince, I demand that you kiss me,” Jensen replied with as haughty an air as a frog could manage.

“You are not my prince. In fact, I do not know for certain that you are a prince at all. You don’t act princely, in fact, you seem sort of a rude fellow. However, you are amusing, and I think will keep you. I think you will fit right nicely into my pocket.”

“No, wait. I am a prince. I live in a castle, and you can live in a castle too if you kiss me. You can have servants and riches beyond what you can imagine, and even clothes that fit and are far more seemly than the ones you are wearing.”

“I think I would rather have a talking frog than a maybe prince,” Jared declared quite rightly, and he placed Jensen carefully in the pocket of his cloak.

“Who are you talking to?” Lord Stephen asked as he neared where Jared was standing. His men were gathering the horses and preparing to ride once more.

“My frog,” Jared replied. “He’s a bit rude, but he’s cute and I’ve decided to keep him.”

Lord Stephen looked confused about this declaration, but politely offered his hand to Jared. “Come, it’s time to be on our way. We will arrive at my village by nightfall.”

Jensen was squirming in Jared’s pocket, but Jared supposed he would settle in time. He did not take Lord Stephen’s proffered hand, but followed him back to where Chad was waiting.

By nightfall they did indeed reach Lord Stephen’s village, Amell. Lord Stephen bade Jared a fond good night and promised to come courting on the morrow. Chad and Jared retired to their cottage, which was tidy and stocked with all the provisions they would require.

Chad was weary from the journey and shortly retired to bed. Jared took Jensen from his pocket.

“It’s about time,” Jensen said grumpily. “I have been jostled around quite severely and am very cross with you. However, I will still allow you to kiss me.”

“Tempting as the offer is, I will decline it still,” Jared replied with a yawn. “I am off to bed, if I were you, I would not wander too far afield. I believe there are very large dogs that roam this village, and you would make a tasty snack for one of them.”

When Jared awakened the next morning, the frog was asleep on the pillow next to his. Jensen was very comely, Jared thought, for a frog, with smooth green skin with tiny darker speckles on it. He even had little eyelashes, which Jared thought was unusual for a frog.

Chad left the cottage to stroll around the village to see which maidens might perhaps catch his eye. Jared sat on the grass in front of the cottage. After once again trying to convince Jared to kiss him, Jensen wandered off in search of food. Jared would have liked to have kept the frog close, but as it so happens Jensen had teeth that were tiny and very sharp, and Jared was quickly persuaded to let the frog wander at will.

Jared searched the sky in vain for any sign of a dragon until Jensen returned from his morning repast.

“I think you should be aware that not only am I a prince, but a very handsome one at that. In my country, there have been odes written of my beauty,” Jensen said.

His little chest was puffed out, which Jared found very cute.

“I can write odes too,” Jared said. He laid down on his stomach so that he was facing the frog. He began to sing, although I feel I should warn my readers that his singing was as loud as it was off-key. “Jensen is the prettiest frog that I have ever seen. He is small but mighty—that is, mightily green.”

“I beg you to stop,” Jensen said. “I have no hands for which to cover my ears.”

“Might I inquire as to what is going on?”

Jared looked up into the confused eyes of Lord Stephen’s. Jared sat up and tried to adopt an air of respectability, failing miserably. His tousled hair and the grass that covered his clothes may have contributed to that failure.

“I was singing to my frog,” Jared explained matter-of-factly.

“I see,” Lord Stephen said with the air of someone who does not at all see, but is unfailingly polite as all lords should be. “I thought I might interest you in a walk, that is if your chaperone is available.”

“Chad is on his own walk, but he should be back soon,” Jared said. He patted the ground beside him. “Sit here and we can wait together for him.”

As you and I are aware, but Jared in his naivety was not, lords and ladies do not make a practice of sitting on the grass. Which, I am sure we can all agree, is kind of a pity because there is little in life as pleasant as lying on the ground and watching the clouds dance overhead.

But Lord Stephen, as has been established, was a polite lord and quite taken with Jared, so he delicately, as befitting his station, sat himself on the ground.

“This is quite delightful,” Lord Stephen said to Jared. “As, of course, are you.”

Jensen snorted and then croaked loudly, and Jared had to cover his mouth with his hand to hide his smile.

“How do you like the village of Amell so far?” Lord Stephen asked.

It was a bigger village than Chester. And whereas Chester had walls, Amell was guarded by the castle on the hill. But a village is a village and villages held little interest for Jared.

“It’s quite nice,” Jared replied. Jensen croaked.

“Wait until you see the inside of the castle,” Lord Stephen said with a good deal of pride. “I am having a feast in your honor three days hence. It will be my pleasure to show you around the castle.”

Lord Stephen placed his hand beside Jared’s on the grass. Although it was quite forward of a man of his stature, one of his fingers grazed Jared’s thumb.

Jensen croaked loudly and made a large hop, landing on Lord Stephen’s hand. Lord Stephen shouted and tried to shake Jensen off, flapping his hand madly. As Jared watched, helpless with laughter, Jensen hopped right on top of Lord Stephen’s head, and there he sat.

Lord Stephen yelled for his page, who came dutifully but was unwilling to touch the frog. “They cause warts, your lordship,” the page said.

This is not true, as I am sure you are aware, dear readers, and Jensen was greatly offended, so he harrumphed quite loudly. The page backed away while Lord Stephen again ordered him to remove the frog forthwith. Jared took pity on them both, picking up Jensen and placing him back down on the grass.

“Behave,” Jared admonished the frog. The frog croaked unrepentedly.

“I must take my leave,” Lord Stephen declared. “There are some duties I must attend to immediately. But I will be back in three days to accompany you to the feast.”

Lord Stephen stood up quickly, never taking his eyes off Jensen as he backed away from them. Mere moments later, Lord Stephen was riding very quickly back to the castle, the page walking slowly in his wake, turning now and then to look in Jensen’s direction as if making certain he wasn’t being chased by the frog.

“That was very unprincely of you,” Jared said to Jensen.

“It’s not my fault that his hair is so slick I mistook it for a lily pad,” Jensen replied haughtily. “He is rather small for a lord, is he not? Of course, in my country we are very selective of who we name as lords. This country apparently does not have such standards.”

“You do not have to be jealous; I have no intention of kissing Lord Stephen either,” Jared said, patting Jensen on his head.

“Me? Jealous of a man that is very short and lives in a hovel? I think not,” Jensen responded.

Jared lifted Jensen from the ground and pointed up the hill in front of them. “He lives in a castle.”

Jensen stuck his frog-nose into the air. “Something that small and homely could hardly be called a castle.”

The next few days were spent in Jensen’s company, and they were by far the most enjoyable days Jared had ever spent. While Jensen was snobbish and continually demanded to be kissed, he was also very entertaining. He told Jared stories of his country and of the fae that have lived there since the long-ago. Jensen told Jared in confidence that it was rumored that Jensen’s father’s father was in fact part fae. Ackland sounded beautiful, and Jared decided should he ever go on his adventure, he would make certain to visit there and hopefully make a fae’s acquaintance.

Jared saw Chad only very late at night, when he arrived back to the cottage so weary he was barely able to stand. Chad had received five proposals of marriage, and many offers of a kind that made Jared blush and Chad strut around like a peacock showing his fine feathers. Jared had never seen Chad happier.

The night before the feast, Jared was sitting in bed reading a book while Jensen was laying on a pillow, watching Jared read.

“I’m bored,” Jensen said. “You should take off your clothes.”

“You are very forward for a frog,” Jared replied, as he continued on reading.

“I am naked; therefore, you should be too. I am only saying this in the spirit of fairness,” Jensen responded.

“I can buy you a little hat if you’d like,” Jared said. “A little green hat to sit on your little green head. Oh, it should have a little green feather on top too.”

“I feel compelled to remind you that I have access to dungeons,” Jensen replied. “I am a prince, remember. Now you can proceed with taking off your clothes. Your tunic first, if you please.”

“I am not taking my clothes off for a frog who I haven’t even kissed.” Jared closed his book because obviously Jensen wasn’t going to let him read it.

“We can correct that right now.” Jensen pursed his little frog lips, hopping closer to Jared.

“You never told me what you did to earn the witch cursing you. Also, did she wear a big black hat? I have heard witches have big black hats. I think a big black pointed hat would be kind of nice. I think I would look quite comely in one.”

“You are very strange, in case no one has ever informed you of this,” Jensen said, unpursing his lips.

“At least I am not a frog that talks,” Jared replied. “Now, answer my question if you please, why did the witch curse you?””

“First of all, witches do not wear big pointy black hats because they have more sense than you have. They look just the same as you and me, they just have the gift of magic. And it wasn’t a curse. A Baron was visiting my parents, and as it turns out, his daughter had the gift of magic. One night we were sitting in the garden, and she informed me that my destiny did not lie in the kingdom of my birth. And then she turned me into a frog. If I was to be turned into something, I would have much preferred to be given a choice. I would have chosen something more dignified, like an owl perhaps. Be that as it may, she told me that I could only be turned back into a prince when I was kissed. And then she left me where you found me on the journey back to her country.”

“Maybe your destiny is to be a talking frog,” Jared said.

“I think maybe I am beginning to discover what my destiny is,” Jensen replied. “And it is not to be a talking frog. However, that is a discussion for another day. I am feeling weary. Perhaps you would like to kiss me goodnight?”

Jared laughed and kissed Jensen on the top of his head. “There, now sweet dreams, my prince.”

Jared had almost fallen asleep before he realized he called Jensen his prince. Perhaps he might reconsider kissing Jensen. Although, he supposed, once he kissed him, Jensen would no longer fit in his pocket. Or be quite so green. If in fact he turned into a prince.

The night of the feast arrived. Jared had never been to a castle, or a high society event and he had no idea what was expected of him. Jared did not have fine clothes, but he made do with what he had. Jensen suggested that perhaps he should get a big black pointy hat to wear to complete his outfit, but Jared thought maybe he was joking.

“Stop fussing,” Jensen said. “You look fine, better than that ruffian deserves anyhow. I do not know why I cannot accompany you to this feast.”

“Because I do not trust you to behave yourself,” Jared replied.

“I am a prince, my behavior is beyond approach,” Jensen said, with a delicate sniff. Well, as delicate as a frog could sniff. “You can slip me in your pocket. No one will even know I’m there.”

“You hate being in my pocket.” There was a knock on the door. “That is Lord Stephen. I will return later tonight, in the meantime do try to stay out of mischief.”

“I am a prince, I do not partake in mischief,” Jensen said, and he hopped to the window. “I see that Lord Stephen is just as plain as I remember him. I do believe his nose has gotten longer though.”

Jared perhaps should have known right then that the night was going to end in disaster.

At the feast, Jared was introduced to Lords and Ladies and Dukes and Duchesses and the second cousin of the Prince of something-or-another. They all looked the same–haughty and overly-dressed, and they all talked in bored tones about whatever event of the season that they had attended the week before.

Jared thought longingly of the cottage and of Jensen, who might at times be haughty but was never boring.

The feast itself was a test of Jared’s patience, and Jared had never been blessed with an overabundance of patience. There was course after course after course and they were served more glasses of wine than Jared could count. Lord Stephen, as it turned out, did not hold his liquor well. Jared had to remove Lord Stephen’s hand from his knee three times.

Jared very much wanted to go back to the cottage and his frog.

They were on course eight—or was it nine?—when Lord Stephen once again placed his hand on Jared’s knee. Jared once again discreetly removed it. And that was when Lord Stephen leaned over and whispered to Jared.

“I cannot refrain any longer. Your lips are so pretty, and I must taste them.”

Jared wasn’t sure he had pretty lips, but pretty or not he had already decided on who he would be kissing, and it was not a lord who had drunk his weight in wine. Jared attempted to push Lord Stephen back in a gentlemanly fashion, and when that did not work, with a very ungentlemanly shove. Across the table, the Duchess of Wesson was openly giggling at Jared’s predicament.

“It is proper that we kiss,” Lord Stephen declared. “As you are my betrothed.”

“I am not—”

And then there was a loud croaking sound and Jensen landed right in the middle of Lord Stephen’s table. He hopped from dish to dish, as everyone seated around the table gasped in dignified dismay. Jensen finally landed on the dish of plum pudding in front of Lord Stephen, covering his clothes in purple.

“Jared is mine, you may not touch him,” Jensen announced.

Lord Stephen looked over at Jared, his eyes wide as saucers. “The frog is talking to me.”

“Yes, of course he is,” Jared replied.

“I will not sit here and be insulted by a frog.” Lord Stephen stood up. He held out his hand to Jared. “I insist that you accompany me, we will retire to the drawing room while my staff deal with this matter.”

“Jared is not going anywhere with the likes of you.” Jensen hopped from the table onto Lord Stephen’s hand and dug his little frog teeth in. Lord Stephen yelled and then used many impolite curses. The Duchess on the other side of the table was laughing so hard that tears were streaming down her face.

Jared detached Jensen and his teeth from Lord Stephen’s hand. “Bad frog.”

Jensen croaked happily.

The feast was chaos. Many of the guests were leaving, while others were openly watching what was happening. Jensen’s very long tongue licked one of the plums off of Lord Stephen’s shirt.

“Not bad,” Jensen said. “I have had better, of course.”

“I do not think it is going to work out between us,” Lord Stephen said to Jared with as much dignity as a man covered in plums and with tiny frog teeth marks on his hand could manage.

“Jared was always too good for you,” Jensen replied. “Now, Jared, carry me out of here.”

Jared was still laughing when they arrived back at the cottage.

“Well, I guess my adventure is over. It’s back to the village for me.” At that thought, Jared stopped laughing. It had been very short for an adventure, and Jared was still sad about not seeing a dragon, but at least he had met Jensen.

“It doesn’t have to be.” Jensen hopped from Jared’s hand up to his shoulder. “We could travel together, you and I, go anywhere the winds take us. We can search far and wide until we find a dragon, we can journey to the sea to and ride the backs of the sea-creatures that dwell within its waters, we can climb mountains that rise all the way to the clouds, and beyond.”

“You don’t have to pretend to want to be with me,” Jared said. “I am going to kiss you, but I release you from the promise of becoming my husband. I know you have a family to return to. I was wrong to keep you from them.”

Jensen shook his head. “I am the seventh son out of nine. My family has no need of me, there are plenty of sons to perform the royal duties. I do want to journey there and introduce you to my family and the fae. But afterwards, I can think of nothing that I would like more than to roam the world with you by my side. I would like it better if you shrunk to a more reasonable size, but you seem steadfast in your refusal to do that one small thing for me.”

“As a consolation, I could sing for you again,” Jared offered.

“Oh, by all the heavens, please don’t—”

Jared plucked Jensen from his shoulder and closed his eyes, pressing his lips against Jensen’s slimy cold ones and Ewww and then…

Oh. Ohhhhhh.

Jared opened his eyes, found that he was staring down to the same green eyes he had been looking at for days now, except now they were in the most beautiful face Jared had ever seen.

“Not through kissing yet,” Jensen said, and then pulled Jared’s head back down and kissed Jared again. Jensen was very good at kissing, and Jared was a very apt student, so the kissing went on for quite some time.

“Jared, I wasn’t sure if you were aware or not but as your chaperone, I feel I should point out that the man you are kissing is not wearing any clothes,” Chad said, coming into the cottage unexpectedly

Jared and Jensen broke apart, both of them with cheeks that we're rosy pink. Jared realized that Chad was quite correct in his declaration, as Jensen was indeed without clothes. Jared checked Jensen from head to toe at least thrice to make certain. Jensen was definitely naked.

“Is this the frog?” Chad asked.

Jared nodded. Jensen continued to stand there without clothes, and Jared was unable to look anywhere else.

“Good, I never liked that Lord Stephen. This one seems much more suited to you. The page from the castle says we have been dismissed, whatever that means, but I came to tell you that the Rose sisters have invited me to move in with them. There are five of them and one of me so that adds up perfectly.”

“Jensen and I are going to go on an adventure, you can accompany us if you wish.”

Jensen was shaking his head frantically no, but Chad just laughed. “Five sisters, Jared, I am not giving that up to be eaten by wolves. You two have fun though. And you, prince or no prince, you hurt Jared and I will track you down. I know a thing or two about baking and if you don’t want to be baked in a pie, I’d be good to Jared if I were you. Good luck with your adventure, Jared. Be sure to write.”

And then Chad grabbed his very few possessions, hugged Jared, and wandered back off into the night.

“I suppose I should find you some clothes to wear,” Jared said, admittedly very reluctantly.

“We cannot leave until tomorrow, but there is no reason we cannot begin our adventure tonight,” Jensen proposed.

“Indeed,” Jared agreed, taking Jensen by the hand and leading Jensen to the bed. “I am still not certain that it is better to have a maybe prince rather than a frog that talks, but perhaps you can persuade me.”

As Jensen proved to be very persuasive, I must direct your attention, dear readers, to the fire in the fireplace. Isn’t the fire lovely? It burns so brightly. As we continue to watch, slowly the fire begins to die out until only the embers remain…

All tales must reach their conclusion, and so dear readers, have we.

As for Jared and Jensen, they journeyed together for many years and had many fine adventures.

It goes without saying, but I will say it anyway: they lived happily ever after.