The next day she set off for the garden with a small package in her hands, wrapped in fine linen and tied with ribbon. Norman made her way to the bench where she had met Gertrude the previous day. She sat there for a long time, watching bees fly from flower to flower, fanciful butterflies gliding lazily over the same blooms, bluebirds diving for an insect dinner. Twice, she thought her friend was coming when the leaves rustled in the brambles, but the first was a ragged old rabbit and the next was a grey squirrel planting a treasure in the garden. Norman grew impatient and tired. She stood and walked back up to the castle. Once there, she entered into the great room where she found both of her parents.
“My dear daughter, why do you look so forlorn? It is such a beautiful day. Surely on a day like today nothing bad could happen,”commented her father. He stood up and embraced his daughter, kissing her delicately on the cheek. “Come join your mother and me for afternoon tea. We have some of your favorite cakes to make you smile, too. Is this a ‘one lump’ or ‘two lump’ day?”
Norman slid into one of the overstuffed chairs. “This is definitely a ‘two lump’ day, Father.” she mumbled.
“Dear, what do you have in the package? Is it another gift from your friend?” Her mother wondered.
Norman had forgotten about the package she was holding and set it down on the small table beside her chair. Sighing, she accepted the cup of tea from her father and gazed into the steam swirling up from the cup. “The package is a gift from me to the frog-troll. I was going to give it to him today, but he never showed up.” She sipped her tea and reached for one of the cakes.
The queen handed her a cake on a small silver dish along with a napkin. “Did your friend say that he would meet you today in the garden?” She queried.
Norman took another sip of tea to wash down the mouthful of cake. “No, but I assumed he would be. Maybe he will be there tomorrow.” Norman took another bite of cake and sat thoughtfully for a few moments.
“What is the gift that you are giving to your new friend, my dear?” Her father wanted to know.
“I don't believe he is my friend yet. He is an acquaintance. I simply thought that since he gave me such a beautiful gift that I would return the kind gesture. I am giving him a fine velvet cape that I stitched up myself with a matching cap. I was fortunate to find a hawk’s feather to adorn the cap, and I used an old brooch I no longer needed to fasten the cape.” Norman looked at both of her parents, expecting them to say something against her giving such a gift to a stranger. Her parents both smiled and nodded.
“My dear daughter, all your mother and I ask of you is to be careful...please.” The king took another cake and a sip of his tea.
“I promise, I will be careful.” Norman said with a little exasperation in her voice.