M. A. Thomas
Golden Erotic Tales Volume one
GOLDEN WHISPERS, a short retelling of the Frog Prince, Episode one of the Golden Erotic Tales Series
At twenty years old, Lela couldn’t resist falling back on childish antics. After all, she was the King’s only child and oh how he doted on her. She could go anywhere in the castle and its grounds, exploring whatever got her attention. She was boundless, often traversing the forest alone going far beyond the safety of the castle.
Yes, Lela’s father did not saddle her with rules. Even so, there was one rule he insisted she obey without faiclass="underline" never stay outside the castle after dark. This rule Lela did not mind. She was completely afraid of the dark. When she was ten years old her mother vanished one night after dinner when she decided to go for a walk. Lela didn’t know the details of her mother’s disappearance or why she had ventured out after sunset, something no one, not even her father or his men ever did.
She found solace in the forest where she felt she could dance and sing and clear her mind of any thought that reminded her of her mother. She could pretend her heart had healed and that she no longer carried the weight of loss and grief.
Today, a golden ball shining among a pile of leaves had summoned her and she had gleefully ran to it as if the very sun would cease to exist if she did not answer the ball’s call. But when she came to the ball, it began to roll away from her.
She followed it, taking light steps so as not to disturb the strange event she was witnessing. It kept going until it came to a well some thirty feet from her. She looked over her shoulder to see if anyone else was around. She didn’t want to share this experience with anyone, let alone her father’s men who would sometimes spy on her under pretense that they were hunting or scouting the land for bandits.
Holding her breath, she approached the ball. She tried to pick it up, but it was too heavy. The ball was made of gold! Lela had never seen anything like it in all the Kingdom of Barmoth. Gold had not existed in Barmoth for thousands of years. She had only read about it in books. And even she did not know the reason for its extinction.
“Bloody hell,” she whispered. “Gold.” Yes, she was convinced the ball was made of gold.
Weighing her options, she paced back and forth. She could blanket the ball with leaves and sticks and then go back to the castle to formulize a plan. No, she couldn’t risk someone else finding it.
Inhaling a long breath, she tried once again to pick it up. This time, she succeeded. But before she had a moment to enjoy her victory, the ball pulled her forward and into the well.
Lela screamed as she fell, her thoughts on what would greet her at the bottom. Death was certain. The old wells of the forest were deep and no one had ever survived a fall. The people who had inhabited the forest hundreds of years ago left behind wells which now only served as death traps for animals and careless wanderers.
Images of her mother invaded her mind and she screamed louder. If she was going to die, let it happen fast. She closed her eyes and begged the Gods to take her before she reached the bottom. Down, down she fell, the ball still in her hands.
In the next moment, she did not feel herself falling anymore. Perhaps the Gods had taken her. She opened her eyes. It was not possible! She had fallen down a well and yet here she was, unscarred at its very bottom.
She quickly looked around her. The bones of her unlucky predecessors greeted her and she resisted the urge to hurl. She looked up at the well’s opening. Although light was still shining, she knew the sun was only hours from setting.
She had never in her life been outside the castle after sunset. Leaning against a wall, she dropped to the ground. The ball, a few feet in front of her, rolled toward her.
“It’s your fault! Get away from me,” Lela said. “Help me! Please someone help me!” she yelled.
The hours passed. Lela craved her father’s comforting arms.
Suppressing tears, she raised her eyes to the well’s opening and yelled, “Help me! Is someone out there? I fell in the well!”
She sat still and listened, desperately hoping for a sign that someone had heard her plea. Dirt fell into the well. Someone was out there. Yes, someone must have heard her. Bless the Gods.
“Who’s there,” she asked, standing. “Make yourself known, I demand it.” More dirt fell. Whoever was out there was certainly enjoying throwing soil at her. “I know someone’s there!”
“And what will you give me if I help you?” a man asked.
“Let me see you. I demand it,” she said.
“You demand it? How comical that someone stuck at the bottom of a well declares a position to command anything from anyone,” the man said, laughing.
“You dare mock a princess?” Lela asked. She would have this imbecile of a man punished for his treachery.
“You’re not my princess,” he said. “I don’t owe you allegiance. Now then, let’s return to my question. What will you give me if I help you?”
Lela chewed her lip, an attempt to keep from cursing the man. Despite her fury, she was a princess and would therefore behave as one. Instead, she silently cursed herself for allowing herself to be in such a dilemma.
The sun set and darkness overtook the well. Lela was sure she would never see her father again.
“Help me, I beg you. I’ll give you whatever you want,” Lela said, crying.
“It must be very dark down there. It is up here and I have a torch. Are you scared?” the man asked.
She was more than scared. She couldn’t see anything. Something came to her mind that sent sharp pain up and down her body. Why had her father’s men not found her yet? Her father must have sent his men to look for her when she didn’t appear at the dinner table. She never missed a meal with her father.
Ever since her mother had vanished she and her father ate every meal together. Her mother had enjoyed their meals together, just the three of them laughing, joking and telling each other stories of all the adventures they would someday have as a family. Her mother was the happiest when they were together because she knew that no matter what happened in their lives, even if their entire Kingdom was suddenly swept into the sea, they loved each other deeply and their moments together would live forever. Oh how Lela missed her.
“You still there?” the man asked.
“I’m here,” Lela said, wiping her tears.
“Move to a wall. I’m throwing down a rope. Tie it around yourself and holler when you’re ready for me to pull you up.”
“Bless you,” she said.
“Save your blessings. I haven’t gotten you out yet.”
She did as the man said. In the next moment, the end of a rope hit the ground.
Wasting no time, she took steps away from the wall and felt for the rope. In shadows, she tied the rope around her waist.
“Are you ready?” the man asked.
She had a choice. Remain in the well in the company of the dead or take a chance with a stranger. She scooped down and searched for the ball. Once she had it in her arms, she exhaled and said, “I’m ready.”
The man started pulling her up. She prayed her father’s men would find her soon.
“You’re a heavy girl,” the man said. “Not surprising. You’re a princess accustomed to eating whatever you want whenever you want.”
“Pull harder,” Lela said, ignoring his comment. Her feet were only inches off the ground.
“Are you holding something? I’m sure your father will replace whatever it is you feel you can’t leave behind.” Slowly, the man pulled her higher above the ground. “Remember your words. You’ll give me whatever I want.”
“And what is it that you desire?” she asked, her stomach twisting.
“Ah…you shall know what I covet when I have succeeded in rescuing you.”
Higher she rose until she reached the well’s opening. There she was hanging in the air, feeling completely stupid. Her savior could decide to let go of her at any moment and what then? She’d fall to the ground yet again, except maybe this time she’d not survive.