“You’re… a frog.”

“… and?” The creature said.

“A talking frog.” I stated, blinking hard enough to hopefully correct the image in front of me.

“A king too. Note the crown.” Small webbed feet tapped the thimble sized gold headwear on his head. “What are you doing in my fountain?”

My dress squelched as I sat down. “It’s nothing. I’m just a fool…”

“Nonsense. Please, do tell me. I don’t like seeing my subjects like this.” With a graceful leap, the frog king was at my side.

I breathed a laugh. “Okay. My husband cheated on me after ten years. I still have the ring, but I dropped it -“ green eyes follow my exasperated gesture at the fountain. “I know, it’s silly.”

“It’s not. I met my queen some time ago, and she lifted the curse. But when she passed from coughing sickness, I felt it wasn’t worth being human if she wasn’t there…”

There was a thin silence before the frog king stuck out his pink tongue and caught a fly.

“I get it. It’s hard to let go.”

I watched as he gently put his thimble crown to the side and then swan dived into the fountain. A few moments later his green slimy form emerged triumphant, clutching my ring.

It was cold as he gave it back to me, and I slipped it on right away. The frog king adjusted his crown.

“That’s that settled. If it’s not too forward, would you like to join me for a cup of tea? I should like to hear more about the woman who would spend two hours looking for a ring.”

I smiled. “Yes, that sounds lovely. Just let me change first, I don’t think algae is in fashion just yet!”