Chapter 5

Maggie walked very quietly on the path through the Enchanted Forest. She had to see what was happening around her. She had to listen in case something was coming her way.

Her eyes darted from side to side as she walked along the path. She spotted fairies swinging from long willow leaves. They giggled when they saw her and waved hello. She waved back and the fairies giggled even louder.

Maggie was passing a stream when she noticed a fawn and its mother drinking at the water’s edge. She slowed to watch them and a voice called out to her. “Are you a princess in disguise by any chance?”

Maggie looked around, but didn’t see anyone. She thought she might have imagined it until the voice called, “I’m down here!”

When Maggie looked down, she saw a frog gazing up at her. She took a step closer to get a better look. Was her mind playing tricks on her? Had a frog really just waved?

“It’s rude to stare,” said the frog. “Answer my question. Are you a princess or not?”

Maggie shook her head. “No, I’m not. Why do you ask?”

The frog sighed. “I’m a prince and I need a princess to kiss me.”

“I didn’t know that frogs had princes and princesses,” said Maggie.

“They don’t,” the frog snapped. “I’m a human prince. A wicked witch turned me into a frog, and I need a human princess to kiss me so I can become my old self again.”

“I’m sorry. I’d love to help you, but I don’t know any princesses,” Maggie told him.

“Of course you don’t,” grumbled the frog. “No one who walks past here ever does.”

Maggie started walking again. She saw a gnome polishing mushroom furniture, a tree nymph stepping out of a tree, and paw prints where a wolf had passed by. She finally reached the road leading to the castle.

After Maggie had been walking down the road only a few minutes, she heard crashing in the trees behind her. She stopped to look back. The trees were shaking as something big passed by. A troll stepped onto the road, coming her way. Maggie’s heart began to beat faster. Trolls were even more dangerous than goblins! Her grandmother had told her that they were stronger and meaner and never gave up. They’d eat anything, including a bear if they could catch one. But trolls also had poor eyesight and lousy hearing. Maybe it hadn’t noticed her yet.

Maggie wondered if she should hide in the trees. She could wait for the troll to go past. But the troll spotted her. “I see food!” the troll shouted. “Stop, food!” The troll began to chase Maggie.

“I’m not your food!” Maggie shouted back. “Leave me alone!”

Maggie ran as fast as she could with her cupped hand against her chest. She didn’t want to drop the little horse.

Maggie ran until her legs grew tired. She ran until she thought she couldn’t run another step. She still could hear the troll’s big flat feet slap the ground. He was getting closer and closer.

Boy, they can run for a very long time, Maggie thought.

There had to be something else. Something that could help her. She looked up to the highest branch, hoping for an idea, when she saw a glimmer of light through the treetops.

Sunlight! Trolls couldn’t be out in the sun. Grandmother had said that it would turn them to stone.

There were so many trees in the Enchanted Forest that everything was in shade. But even a small patch of sunlight might help. All she had to do was keep going until she found one.

Maggie’s breath was raspy when she finally saw the ruins of a building in a clearing. They were the remains of a small castle, built long ago. The walls had collapsed. The stones had fallen into jumbled piles. She could see rays of sunlight streaming through gaps in the trees.

Maggie headed for the ruins. She climbed the rocks to the closest patch of sunlight. It was hard to climb using only one hand. The other hand still protected the tiny horse. She knew the troll was very strong and would catch up with her soon.

As quickly as possible, she scrambled to the top. The patch of sunlight was very small. If this didn’t work, the troll would certainly catch her. She waited as the troll clawed his way up the stones. And then he was there, drooling as he stretched his arm toward her. The moment the sunlight touched him, a flash of light nearly blinded Maggie. When she could see again, the troll was gray all over. He had turned into a solid block of stone!

Worried about the tiny horse, Maggie opened her hand a little and peeked inside. The tiny horse pawed and shook its head.

“Don’t worry, little guy. We’ll get you some help soon,” Maggie assured it.

Climbing down using one hand took longer than climbing up. Fear had made her stronger. Relief made her want to sit down and rest. Once she was on the road again, she glanced back at the ruins. The statue of a troll crowned the top now. It looked like it was reaching for something that wasn’t there.

Maggie heard the sounds of the mill long before she saw it. She knew the miller and his son. For a second, she thought about stopping to ask for help. But if she did, they would ask why she was alone and where she was going. They would take her back to her stepmother. They wouldn’t understand about helping the tiny horse. Maggie walked quickly by the mill, hoping she wouldn’t be spotted. Luckily, she didn’t see either the miller or his son.

At the top of the next hill, Maggie saw the royal castle’s tall towers. She was almost there! Now all she had to do was find the stable . . . and hope that Bob was real after all.