Part Seventeen: The Princess awakes

She woke up, confused, covered in crusted, caked blood. Staring down at her long, elegent green gown she realized that it was caked in blood as well. Her heart started racing, that’s when she saw the knife in her hand, red and dripping, she dropped it in fear. Getting up slowly from the floor she looked around to see where all this blood came from, what did she do? Did she kill someone?

Her reflection caught her in the kitchen window, and her eyes stared in wonder. Staring back at her was her sisters beautiful face, Serpentina placed her hands on the smooth white skin and gasped. She looked down and saw a rip in her dress, a giant scar slashed across her chest.

“Oh Desmerelda,” Serpentina whispered, “O what have you done?”

Alone and lost in confusion Serpentina fell to the floor and burst into a fit of tears.  Sobbing uncontrollably for a good half an hour, Serpentina got up once again and took a deep breath, gathering herself she proceeded to clean herself of her sisters blood.

As she washed herself off she realized the extent of how alone she truly was, her parents never really loved her, but were no longer around either and now she lost the only friend she ever had, the only person she ever loved, her dear sister. What was she to do now?

Anger grew inside of her, Sir Donovan caused this, they were perfectly fine before he came along. She wished he would never come back, she wished that Charmings men would find him and sentence him and send him away forever, he killed her sister as far as she was concerned. It was his fault.

Although deep down she knew this was not true, Serpentina had to blame someone. She had to be angry at someone, and Donovan was the only one, the one that caused too much pain.

Serpentina had no idea what to do now, she had never been so free before, she was always trapped inside of her sisters body, now she controlled it too. Suddenly she realized she had a lot of decisions to make. Would she continue with her sisters quest? Finding true love?

How could she do this? She did not believe in love, love caused her too much pain, when you let someone into your heart, when you give them all of you, you give them power. You give them the power to destroy you. That is what happened to her sister, she gave Donovan the power of her heart, and it destroyed her.

How could she complete this quest when she didn't believe in it? What was worse, everyday, for the rest of Serpentinas life, she would have to gaze at her sisters beautiful face in the mirror, and be reminded of the love she had lost, the love she couldn't save.

As Serpentina put on a fresh dress she heard a scream coming from downstairs….  

The dark side begins....

Part Sixteen

A month later, Sir Donovan still had not returned. Everyday Princess Desmerelda would sit by the window and stare outside in hope to see him coming back to her. Her mind started to play tricks on her, she started having the most disturbing of thoughts.  It was not enough that Princess Desmerelda had to deal with an actual ache in her chest, a physical pain that wouldn't leave her, as if a part of her was lost, lost to Sir Donovan. She sat by the window, feeling the tears of blood stream down her heart as she clutched her chest and moaned.

Where was he? Why did he just leave without at least a goodbye? What if he got caught by Charmings men? What if he decides to never return? What if he dies before she has a chance to tell him what was in her hearrt. Was this love? Was this loves pain? She though back to the poem,

“And for those unfortunate souls

Who are not meant to be

With the ones their souls are tied to

Is a pain, a crushing pain

That will start, like your heart

Expanded in your chest and erupted

And it will settle into dull thud

Resting with you, for eternity”

Was it true? Was this pain going to remain forever if Sir Donovan never returns? The Princess let her overwhelming thoughts consume her, she sat and instead of thinking about Sir Donovans return, and firmly believing that he would come back to her, she focused on her pain and convinced herself that he would never return. That she would never find a way to save her family, that her responsibilities were too difficult for her to carry out. The Princess convinced herself that the witch was wrong to assign her the task of saving her family, the witch did not know her, she was a Princess not a warrior, she could not partake in all this hurt and pain, she just wanted love and comfort.

She felt like she could wait no longer, she could not live with this pain for all eternity. Moving away from the window the Princess turned and had one last hopeful look out the window. The forest never looked so bleak as it did right then.  The grass didn't look as wilted, the trees didn't look as shadowy, the wind didn't feel as sharp and threatening, the world never looked so bleak. She closed her eyes, and felt the wind wisp around her pale white face, she was almost certain she heard a whisper, “He is not coming back.” And her heart cracked, the Princess was overwhelmed with this pain, she ran from the window.

Entering the Palace kitchen she found the nearest knife, and without a second thought, without a flicker of hope she stabbed the long, sharp blade into her chest, screaming in agony she fell to the ground and lay motionless in a pool of blood on the cold kitchen floor.

Part fifteen: Loves Pain

“Fear, builds up inside

Creates a different person

That one won’t recognize

That one becomes afraid of

Yesterday, was a journey

To whom one is today

Some steps are a pathway

While others lead to destruction

So look back, reflect

And hold on to the path

That leads to salvation

Let go of all else

Do not be afraid

Of what might be

What may never be

And of what is

Do not fight against fears

Give in to them

Challenge them

Conquer them

Let go”

The Princess read the words and the phrase, “simple but not easy,” came to her mind. Somewhere inside of her she had to find strength, a strength that she had no idea if she even possessed. But she knew that she needed it.

It was time to stop feeling sorry for herself, it was time to pick herself up and start a journey she had been procrastinating for a long time. A journey that would change the life she grew so accustomed to, but in the end she would be freeing her family, the change she sought after was for the better, so maybe it was time to stop being afraid.

Princess Desmorelda went in search of Sir Donovan to tell him she was now ready, she was now ready to seriously allow love into her heart and free her family.

“Sir Donovan!!” The Princess called out as she walked through the castle, “Sir Donovan!!”

“Princess,” a humble servant said emerging from the dining room, “Sir Donovan left.”

 The Princess gasped in complete shock,

“Where did he go?” She inquired.

“He said he had  to go in search of something, for you Princess…” replied the servant.

The Princesses eyes grew wide in shock as she moved into the dining room and sank down into a chair, she felt as if all of the energy in her body had drained out of her.  Was he really gone in search of the old witch?  What scared the Princess more than anything was that she had no idea of knowing if he was okay, if he would return to her, if Prince Charmings’ men would find him while he was out there…..

The Princess clutched her chest and moaned in pain as she felt a part of her break inside, and that is when she realized that she unknowingly gave a piece of her heart to Sir Donovan, she just hoped and prayed that he would return to her, with the piece of her heart he held kept intact.

Until then, the Princess had to live with this pain… 

Part Fourteen: Internal conflict

Part fourteen

For a few moments the Princess and Donovan just looked at each other in silence. Something great had bonded them over this last few days, but the Princess did not feel easy about it, she never felt that she needed  to be ‘saved’ from her situation.  

“You should go Donovan,” the Princess said softly her eyes falling to her lap where she fidgeted with her dress and avoided looking at him.

“What is it that you are so afraid of Princess?” Donovan asked.

“I’m NOT afraid of anything!” the Princess said defiantly, “I don’t need you to try and fix me Donovan, I don’t need to be saved, I can do this on my own.”

“I never said that you couldn’t Princess,” Donovan replied softly, “You defiantly can, but what’s the harm of taking a helping hand every once in a while.”

“People always let you down, I just can’t take that risk.”

“This is where you err Princess, if I dare say so. And yes, you are right, only you can save yourself. Because as much as I am here for you, as much as I want to help you, in the end it is only you who can open up your heart to new possibilities. It is only you who can take those risks as you say, and it’s only you that can allow true love into your heart. I cannot do those things for you. Only you can find the strength that lies inside of you,” Donovan got up to leave, leaving the Princess speechless.

Princess Desmorelda walked towards her great big mirror and pulled it out, she stared at her reflection for a while, who was this woman staring back at her, when had she become so bitter and resilient, with all that had passed in her life she always tried to maintain a positive spirit but suddenly, suddenly she felt like everything scared her. The possibility of letting all this change into her life, scared her so much. What had happened was Princess Desmorelda became comfortable, she became relaxed, until Donovan came and turned her world upside down, digging up the past, asking her questions she never dared to look at and making her realise things about herself she never saw before. And it was all rather scary.

“PPPrrrrriiinncceeesss,” Serpentina hissed from the mirror, “Whhaat do yoouuu thiiinnkk yyoou doing?”

“Don’t you start with me,” the Princess threw back tiredly, “Why can’t everyone leave me be.”

“Beecause you have a resssponsibilty, to me, to our parrrents, to yourrrselff, and oonly you caaan change thiisss.”

“That is easier said than done, dear sister,” replied the Princess.

“Nobody ever sssaid that the right thing and the easy thing werrre the sssame thing.” 

The Princess turned away from the mirror and went down to the library. 

She looked at her bookshelf, searching for something to guide her, a 

source of inspiration, the gold book caught her eye once again. She pulled 

it off the shelf and started skimming through it, reading over sonnets and poems until something caught her eye… 

Part Thirteen: Agony

“Princess!” Sir Donovan called out once again, “I found something you need to look at.”

He waited in silence, and after an awkward pause the door edged open,

“What is it?” asked the Princess meekly. Sir Donovan trust the crinkled up page in front of her,

“What is this?” he asked.

The Princess stared at the page, before taking it from his hand, she walked back into the bedroom and sat down on her enormous four poster bed.

“You really not going to let up on this are you?” She asked in exasperation.

“I see no reason why I should,” Replied Donovan.

The Princess stared at him in confusion, she saw many reasons as to why Donovan should run screaming to the hills or sit quietly until it was safe for him to leave, why would anyone want to be involved with a Princess so burdened with such complexities, this had ALWAYS been here burden to carry and she had always done it alone. But it was now clear that Donovan was not going to give up, so with half a heart she explained to him that this was in fact the address of the witch, but many years have passed and she no longer lives there.

“This really is a dead end, Donavan,” The Princess said, “I have extended every avenue of this curse, it just does not make any sense.”

“There must be something that you have missed Princess,” Said Sir Donovan.

“If you find it then you know where to find me,” Princess Desmorelda said indicating for him leave.

But instead of leaving Sir Donovan sat down at the foot of her bed, he looked up at the Princess, searching for a sign, all he saw were the walls of defense the Princess had built around her, he was determined to get pass that. No one should need to carry their burdens alone, everyone needs a hand to hold along the way. And even though Sir Donovan could not literally hold her hand, he could be by her side, till the end of this and more so if she needed him to be.

This is the thing in the world of fairy tales, one thinks it takes a special kiss to determine love, or a touch, or some sort of physical connection. They are not aware of the connection of the souls that once bonded creates a love that no outside force can break,

Love is the binding of two souls

Two halves, coming together as one

A force to be reckoned with

To grate the ebb and flow of life, together

And when these souls are forming a lasting connection, perhaps they are so unaware of it, until their love is challenged,

And beware of loves challenges

That will be presented to you

Your love will be tested, in the most gruesome manner

But the same love will guide you in the end

Then only do they truly realise what love is and how it crept into their hearts, and then will their hearts truly commit….

PArt twelve: A clue...

Princess Desmoralda locked herself away in her bedroom, afraid to step out. She began to realise that Sir Donovan was becoming too attached to her and it scared her. So use to being alone she was not use to having someone so involved in her life, someone who seemed to care so deeply for her and her burdens. But in her heart she knew eventually the burdens will get too much for him and then just like every other good thing she allowed into her life, he would abandon her.

“Princess.” Sir Donovan called out knocking softly on the Princesses door, “You need to come out at some point.”

“Go away Donovan.” The Princess called back, “This is not your problem to fix.”

“I know it’s not,” he replied, “But I would very much like to help you, I’m not going anywhere.”

“You will eventually leave,” she said, “Just like everyone else.”

“Princess, listen to me,” Donovan said firmly, “I am NOT going anywhere, I am here for you, please let me in.”

Sir Donovan listened to the silence on the other side of the door and sighed as he turned to walk away. He knew he had to give the Princess time to realise he really wasn’t going anywhere. Donovan headed for the big library, where he retrieved the gold book and looked at the poem describing what was true love. It was rather confusing, in every other love story Sir Donovan had yet to know it was true loves first kiss that released the Princess from any spells cast upon her, but in this case the Princess couldn’t be touched until she found true love.

“Love is a commitment of the heart

It is the story your heart tells you

When no one else is listening

The whispers you hear at night”

What was this commitment, what was the ultimate commitment of true love? Sir Donovan skimmed through the rest of the book, his mind in deep thought. As he put the book away he went to sit down at the Princesses big oak desk. As he sat down he noticed a scrap piece of paper wedged in between a stack of books. On it was an address and the name Beatrice scribbled, just barely legible. Could this be the address of the witch that cast the spell on Princess Desmoralda’s family?

Sir Donovan went back up to the Princesses room to get some answers, if she had this all along, why didn’t she go in search of the witch? Was there even more secrets? 

Part eleven: And so it starts....

“How do you open your heart to love?” Asked Sir Donovan, “You need to stop being afraid, let go of your fears, you are afraid of getting hurt Princess, but trust me, you are stronger then you believe.”  

“It’s so easy to a say these words, but to actually allow someone into my heart and mind would mean me breaking down the walls I created around me, it would mean giving someone the power to break me.”

“You are looking at this all wrong Princess; how you allow someone to effect you is based solely on your own reaction to the situations.  You are not allowing someone to break you, but you are allowing someone to look into your soul and love you, for who you are and not for  simply for what you look like.”

The Princess sat in silence for a few minutes, thinking about this, all the times she ever opened her heart to love, pain followed not far behind, her parents, her sister, how now would any other form of love be any different. Was she willing to risk everything to gain it all, somehow she knew the prize would be worth the risk, but was her heart strong enough to open up. It was strange however, that the Princess did not realize she was already opening up her heart to Sir Donovan, simply by trusting him with her secrets. For it is the secrets of the hearts that draw people to each other, opening up your secrets means opening up a part of your heart. And it’s giving a very special part of yourself to someone else, an act of trust, which in a way is an act of love.

Sir Donovan stood above the Princess, feeling like her sole protector, he too did not realize what was actually happening between them, but in a way he did now feel more connected to the Princess. They both now shared a part of each other they haven’t shared with anyone else. Sir Donovan felt her pain, he heard how troubled her heart was, it is a strange thing how two people can read each other’s feelings without saying a word, this was the language of the heart, the whispers of the heart, only few people can find that someone who can hear the whispers of their heart.  But the two where yet to be aware of what was happening, each focusing on the problem, while the solution was hovering right under their nose.

“What do I do know?” asked the Princess in a whisper.

“Just trust me,” said Sir Donovan, “I will ALWAYS be here to protect you Princess.”

The Princess looked into Donovan’s and the way those green eyes starred straight into her soul, she had to look away, her skin turned crimson. And suddenly she grew afraid,

“You have to leave,” She said briskly as she got up and ran out the door… 

How to save a princess Part ten: What is love?

What is Love?

Princess Desmoralda got up to leave the library and spotted Sir Donovan lingering in the shadows. Her heart beat fastened as she realized he most definitely heard her conversation with Serpentina, the look in his eyes said it all.

It was then that Desmoralda realized one of her tough decisions were made for her already. She called Sir Donovan into the library and shut the doors, “Sit down,” She instructed.

“I am going to tell you my story, it’s a story no one before you has heard,” and so Princess Desmoralda began to describe to Sir Donovan the events that led to her and her sister being combined into one being, as she told her story her eyes flashed a couple of times, but Desmoralda ignored Serpentinas calls this time.

“But when I touched you Princess…” Denovon began, “What was that all about?”

“It is said that no man can touch me until I find true love,” Princess Desmoralda began, “True love that is unlike the love found in fairy tale.”

“What is this true love?” Asked Sir Donovan, becoming more enthralled by the tales of this peculiar Princess.

“That, Sir Donovan, I have yet to discover.” Replied Desmoralda, “The closest I came to find is this poem.”

Princess Desmoralda got up and skimmed her bookshelf and retrieved a heavy gold book, she placed it down on the nearest desk and opened to a poem. 

Sir Donovan stood behind her and glanced over her shoulders as he read:

Come here, I want to tell you

I want to tell you a secret

Do you know what love is?

Because I do, I know what love is

Love, it is not a fairy tale

No, it is much more then that

Love is so real, love exists

It is so much more than just a feeling

Love is a commitment of the heart

It is the story your heart tells you

When no one else is listening

The whispers you hear at night

Love is the binding of two souls

Two halves, coming together as one

A force to be reckoned with

To grate the ebb and flow of life, together

Love is not fragile, love is strong

Love is not fickle, love is binding

Love is not an option, it is a promise

Love is not a game, it is not to be played

Love is not for the light hearted

It is not something you go looking for

Love finds you, when you are ready

It wraps itself around you

And beware of loves challenges

That will be presented to you

Your love will be tested, in the most gruesome manner

But the same love will guide you in the end

And for those unfortunate souls

Who are not meant to be

With the ones their souls are tied to

Is a pain, a crushing pain

That will start, like your heart

Expanded in your chest and erupted

And it will settle into dull thud

Resting with you, for eternity

So love is a serious affair

It is not for the faint hearted

Do not go in search of true love

If your heart can not handle loves pain

“My heart has seen so much of pain,” Princess Desmorolda said once they both read the poem, “Why would I want to go through this again.”

“It’s not about what you want Princess, it’s what you need. And like the poem says true love will find you when you are ready, why not open your heart to the possibility?” Sir Donovan suggested.

“The possibility of pain?” Asked the Princess.

“Sometimes the heart has to pain. Sacrifices need to be made for the ones you want to set free. Your entire family needs to be lifted from this curse, it is only with opening your heart and letting go of your fears that you can even begin to do this.”

“How do I even open my heart?” asked the Princess. 

How to save a princess part Nine

Part Nine

Princess Desmoralda starred defiantly at Sir Donovan, her eyes brimming with tears she refused to let escape her.

“What just happened Princess?” Sir Donovan asked in a kinder tone after seeing the agony on Desmoreldas face.

“Nothing,” said the Princess in a whisper, “Nothing happened!”

“This is definitely not nothing,” Sir Donovan said waving his slightly scorched fingers in front of her.

Princess Desmoralda sat down on the edge of the couch and stared into the fire place, this is what she was so afraid of, all of her secrets where bubbling to the surface, the last thing she needed was for Sir Donovan to go spreading to the Kingdom all the things she managed to suppress for so many years.

Sir Donovan knelt beside the couch and looked into the Princesses soft brown eyes, “You can trust me Princess,” He said comfortingly, “I would rather give my life then betray your honor, you have been so kind to me.”

The Princess looked down at him and sighed in confusion, her whole life she shouldered this immense burden on her own, and now she was given the opportunity to share her pain. In all honesty the young Princess had shouldered so much on her own all this time, it was about time someone helped her carry the baggage, but being so cautious and stubborn the Princess was use to doing things on her own. She never had help before.

Sir Donovan sat patiently, he saw the Princess was in a lot of pain, he felt for her, so young and all alone carrying secrets that where obviously too big for her. He sensed she was not yet ready to start opening up, so instead he went to get a cloth and some water and bandages, he sat besides and gently cleaned up her burn, trying not to physically touch her skin as he did so and then with her help, he bandaged up the injury and looked up at her.

“You don’t have to do this alone,” he said his voice full of concern.

The Princess looked away, overwhelmed Sir Donovans concern, “I’ve been doing it all this time, I never needed anyone before.”

“Everyone needs someone to lean on,” he said simply.

“Maybe everyone else does,  but I don’t.” she said stubbornly.

“Well, I’m here, when you feel you need to talk,” Sir Donovan said, looking one last time at the Princess before leaving her alone.

The fire crackled besides her, and the Princesses eyes flashed a glowing yellow, she pulled out a little mirror from her dress pocket and gazed as her reflection changed from her beautiful face to her sister, Serpentina.

“I told you to keep a low profile,” the Princess whispered in to the mirror.

“You should confide in him,” Serpentina hissed, “Maybe he can help us.”

“How can he help us?!”

“I don’t know, but maybe if you gave him a chance, it’s been years Desmorelda, I need to be free from this curse, and in all these years we haven’t come close to breaking this spell!”

“Don’t you think I want that too?!” Desmoralda said in fury, “Don’t you think I want to break this spell that has been holding us back our entire lives?? How do we even know if we can trust him?”

“We don’t,” said Serpentina, “But what other choice do we have…”

Desmoralda put her mirror away and sat back down by the fire wondering how her safe little world she built for herself suddenly filled with so much confusion that she now had no idea which direction to look to. But some choices were not for Desmoralda to make, for she was not aware that Sir Donovan had lingered outside the library door and heard her entire conversation… 

How to save a Princess part eight

Part eight

Been locked up in her castle for so long, Princess Desmorelda yearned often to step outside. Like every other person the Princess had big dreams, high expectations, but after seeing such darkness in her life from the age of two she realized that those dreams were meant for people who are asleep, in real life, life is hard, there are no fairy tale endings, even for a Princess.  This Princess did not wake up every morning to birds singing and chirping around her head, singing magically about what a grand day it was going to be. No, this Princess woke up every morning wanting to close her eyes and dwell just a little longer in the land of beautiful dreams where she was safe.

This morning was no different. Princess Desmorelda stretched on her bed in the morning and starred at the ceiling, she heard Sir Donovan shuffling downstairs and she sighed, she was no longer free even in her own castle. The princess knew that this world she lived in was beautiful, that there was so much out there, so much of good, but she knew that the people out there where shady, this world would be an ideal place if there were no people in it complicating life.

With a heavy heart Princess Desmoralda slumped out of bed, and went to get ready for her day before making her way downstairs. She met Sir Donovan in the Dining Hall; he stood besides the long mahogany 

dining table and smiled politely at the Princess,

“Join me for breakfast Your Highness,” he said in kind manner.

“Sure,” the Princess replied sullenly as she sat down.

They ate in silence as the Princess sulking avoided looking at Sir Donovan. Sir Donovan looked at the Princess, his curiosity growing with everyday he stayed in the castle. He barely saw the princess, she kept herself well hidden in the shadows of her magnificent castle. He couldn’t begin to understand how someone would chose to live in such isolation. He had began to observe that even though the Princess had a calm exterior, she had a fire burning inside of her, she could become dark and hostile if pushed, this was not a Princess to be messed with and definitely not a Princess for the very shallow Prince Charming. Because as beautiful as she was on the outside, Sir Donovan suspected she was so much more complicated on the inside, these complications drew him to her, his enquiring mind wanting to know exactly what lied beneath the surface of Princess Desmoralda.  He had no idea how to break the Princess, but he knew he had to be gentle about it.

That afternoon Sir Donovan caught Princess Desmoralda painting in the library. He crept up and stood behind her watching her as she blended rich colors on her canvas.  Her painting was very unusual, there was a lone girl sitting in the shadows, but her eyes, her eyes glowed bright yellow in the darkness. It was haunting. 

Princess Desmorelda felt the presence of someone behind her and she turned around, shocked to see Sir Donovan behind her, her palette fell from her hands, as she bent down to pick it up, Sir Donovan did the same and his hand touched hers. In that instant the Princesses skin burned and sizzled, leaving a big green open wound where Sir Donovan’s hand touched her.  Both of them screamed in agony as Sir Donovan retracted his hand and Desmorelda hid her burnt hand behind her back.

Sir Donovan starred at his slightly burnt fingers and then gazed at the Princess in astonishment,

“What on earth is going on?” He asked as he backed away, his eyes wide with shock.

How to save a Princess Part seven

Part seven

When one is burdened by carrying around a heavy secret in their heart, it eats them up from inside, it chews at their soul every single day and drives one to complete insanity. Imagine Princess Desmorelda kept her secret for seventeen years, and still managed to keep her head above water. But now the idea of keeping her secret from someone who lives within her castle walls began to eat at here. As she sat in that dark corner her mind drifted back to the night that changed her life, forever.

The old witch took out a little potion from inside her cloak, she murmured a spell which was inaudible to the Princesses parents, but Desmorelda heard it,

 “Teach these ungrateful parents a lesson, combine what both girls possess to one, remove the barrier that holds them back, until they learn what it is to love...”

The witch passed the goblet around telling each member of the family to take a sip, when it reached Desmorelda she glanced up at her parents anxiously,

“Go ahead dear,” urged the Queen, “Go ahead, you want what’s best for your sister don’t you?”

Timidly, Desmorelda took the last sip and her hands trembled, the goblet fell to the floor and shattered at her tiny feet.

In that instance the two girls were lifted off the floor, a cloud of grey dust whirled around them as they cried and screamed in horror.

“What’s happening?” creied the King in shock, “We asked for just the ugly one!! What are you doing??”

“Every spell has its price,” hissed the witch as she watched the girls mutually combine, Serpentinas body joined into Desmoreldas, and the little child’s eyes flashed a bright yellow as Serpentina struggled to settle in her new home.

The King and Queen stared in awe and the Queen said smugly, “Well, at least the child looks better now, that was a small price to pay.”

“O my Queen, that is not the price you pay,” the old woman gurgled.

“What do you mean?” asked the Queen in dismay. Thinking what more a price did she need to pay then having her two kids combined into one.

“Well, it is not exactly a sacrifice to have your children combined, you still have both of them, no this is not enough...” the old woman went on, “A sacrifice is when it hurts, when you give away completely something you love for something or someone you love even more, that is the ultimate sacrifice.”

The witches’ voice elevated on this last sentence and resounded around the halls, and as the words sacrifice echoed in the King and Queens ears, the dust settled around them and they started to shrink to the ground, the two Princesses still hear their cries every night in their dreams. When the dust arose, a small crystal ball was left behind, and the King and Queen where frozen inside this ball. Princess Desmorelda cried and ran towards her parents, tears streaming down her little face.

“Do not be sad little one,” said the witch as she laid an old frail hand on the little Princesses shoulder, “This spell will be lifted when you first find true love, not the fairytale kind of love my dear, but true love, and no man can lay a hand on you until you find and realise what true love is.”

The little girl remembers these words till today, even though she still had no idea what the witch meant at the time. What did she mean by true love?

How to save a Princess Part six

Part Six

In the darkest part of the castle, the quietest corner, where spider webs clung to the walls and dust covered the dingy floors, Princess Desmorelda sat, her long hair cascaded over her pale face as she sat in deep thought. She had held on to this secret for so long, there was no way she was going to let some knight take it away from her. She was no ordinary Princess and it was so much more intense then the common man could ever understand, Princess Desmoralda had to learn to tame her sister in order for the two of them to live in harmony together. It was a constant battle, every single day Princess Desmoralda had to calm and sooth the voices echoing in her head,

“I need to get out of here, we need to see the sun, I need to be free from you,” Serpentina would cry every day.

“Hush sister,” Princess Desmorelda will say, “All in due time, have patience.”

“Patience,” Serpentina would hiss, “I am in here for eighteen years. Don’t tell me to be patient.”

This is why the Princess had to tell her sister directly to stay low for a while, she could not risk Sir Denovan catching her having a conversation with herself or swallowing an evil impulse brought on by Serpentina.

How Serpentina and Princess Desmorelda became one date back to when the little Princesses were two years old. 

The twins parents were always horrified and afraid that Serpentina was so vile looking, how could a princess be so hideous, the Queen would stay awake at night crying for her daughters misfortune, no one called Serpentina Princess because they just could not associate the term would her. The little girl would stay in the shadows and hide in her room, because she could see the horror in her parents eyes every single time they saw her. The only one who ever showed any kindness was Princess Desmorelda, she would put a crown on Serpentina’s head and lovingly tell her she was a beautiful little Princess.

One day the King and Queen summoned an old witch to the castle, the lady was old and brittle, her teeth was stained and crooked, her hair was thin, silvery grey and patchy and she wore a long grey tattered cloak.

“How may I be of assistance to your highnesses,” croaked the old lady.

“We have heard of your talents,” replied the King, “We want you to make our daughter beautiful.”

The witch turned around and starred at Serpentina, her beady moving slowly up and down.

“What makes you think that she is not beautiful,” asked the old lady.

“Have you not seen here?!” Exclaimed the Queen, “The poor child…”

“I see a pure heart,” said the witch, “I see a beauty that obviously you do not.”

“Do not tell us what to see when we look at our daughter!! She is a Princess!! And this is NOT how a Princess should look!” cried the King.

“Very well your highness, but you know that my talents have repercussions…” said witch.

“Do as you must,” Dismissed the Queen with a wave of her hand completely oblivious to how this would change the destiny of her entire family…. 

How to save a Princess Part five

Standing before a full length, hand-crafted mirror, Princess Desmorelda started defiantly as a creature no one else had yet to witness, reflected back at her. 

“Well, its been a while, Priiinceeesss,” Hissed the creature, her snake like tongue slipping out between her lips as she spoke.

“We have a problem.” Said the Princess simply as she starred into the creatures small, yellow eyes that looked like tiny flames in her green, molten skin.

“I was wondering when you would realise this,” said the creature, “That boy…”

“He is barely a boy Serpentina,” declared the Princess.

“Oh! You like him don’t you,” Serpentina laughed, a full scale belly laugh, “Why that is so precious, and how on earth do you think that is going to work Princess? Do you think he would learn to love me too.”

“Don’t be absurd,” said the Princess bitterly, “I am well aware not to foolishly let any into my heart while you reside within me. I need to get rid of him, I need to get rid of all the mirrors in this Kingdom before I figure how to let him go and you… you need to keep a low profile.”

“Why would I do that Priiinceeessss? After years, I finally get to have a bit of fun!!” Serpentina hissed.

“Because if you don’t, I will not take you to see mother and fathers grave.” Replied the Princess briskly.

“And why would I want to see them?” Serpentina  asked this time looking down at the ground, a hint of sadness passed her eyes.

“You know why,” declared the Princess as she reached to put the mirror away and as she did this her beautiful hazel eyes flashed a bright yellow and a shiver ran pass her.

How to save a Princess Part four

Princess Desmorelda watched Sir Donavan as he began to explain a series of unfortunate events which led to him landing up at her castle.

“I am sure you are familiar with the infamous Prince Charmin?” Prince Donavan began, the Princesses eyes became dark and she nodded.

“Well, it all started when I helped him overcome the beautiful Snew Whites, Step mother, so that he could marry the Princess and that is when I was knighted Sir Donavan.”

“Yes, I remember that, the poor girl was only seventeen at that time...” Princess Desmorelda commented.

“Yes, what a devastating life she lived, first her evil step mother and then Prince Charmin divorcing her to marry Cindera...”

“How is dear Snew White doing?” asked Princess Desmorelda with concern.

“She fairs well, she is living with her little friends in the Forrest, locked away from the world’s eyes, much like you are.” 

“Well, good for her, what does this have to do with you landing up outside my castle?” the Princess asked.

“I’m getting there dear Princess,” Sir Donovan replied gently, “Well, after the Prince married Cindera, he discovered there was an even younger, more beautiful Princess, and so he summoned me.”

Sir Donovan paused and looked away, his fists clenched at his sides as he seethed in anger.

“Well, I think you are referring to myself?” guessed the Princess.

“Yes, yes I am,” replied Sir Donovan in a husky voice, “The Prince summoned me and asked me to assess the situation with the fair Princess locked away in the glass castle, I humbly refused to do any such thing as he has a beautiful wife and did not want to ruin yet another Princesses life. As you may guess, the Prince was not entirely happy with being told no, so he threatened to have me beheaded. I was imprisoned that night. That is the last I remember, fair maiden. The next thing I know I was dumped outside this castle with a bloody leg and nowhere to hide. I can only assume that the moment I leave this castle, Prince Charmin’s men will capture me, demand information and have me beheaded.”

The Princess starred at Sir Donovan in awe, she was not certain if he was being entirely honest with her, but she had no choice but to trust him. The manner in which he revealed his story showed her that there was truth behind his words. Now, he left the Princess in an awkward situation, for she could not risk Sir Donovan finding out her secret, but neither could she allow him to go out of her castle and face his impending death. The Princess got up and gracefully excused herself from the dinner table, without saying a word about what Sir Donovan had just revealed.

Princess Desmorelda walked up to her bedroom and closed the door shut behind her, she reached deep into her cupboard and pulled out a huge mirror that was covered in an old musky cloth. Lying this against the wall, the Princess, after many, many years, pulled the cloth off the mirror. She stood away and looked at the long, graceful mirror with its hand sculptured golden frame. With a deep sigh and a heavy heart the Princess stepped in front of the mirror and gasped as a version of herself, that no one else had ever seen reflected back at her....

How to Save a princess Part three

Princess Desmorelda stood by her long bedroom window and gazed outside, she was thinking about Sir Donovan. There was a reason that she insisted on locking herself away in her castle, she was aware that the entire town knew about her illness, but there was something more that she kept hidden. Right now she was worried that the longer Sir Donovan remained in her castle, the risk of him discovering her secret increased. And so the Princess pondered the best way to ask him to leave without arousing his suspicion.

Sir Donovan was in the great castle kitchen, cooking up a storm for the beautiful Princess. He was a master in the kitchen as he grew up in a large family and often helped his mum out in the kitchen. He made     up a feast of Roast, homemade bread and a variety of vegetables. All the while Sir Donovan was thinking about Princess Desmorelda, there was something about the Princess that showed she was carrying a heavy burden. Yes, he could forget about her and be on his way, he could continue as if he hadn't met her, but the Princess had saved him in ways she would never know. It was not safe yet for Sir Donovan to leave the castle.

That night the Princess and sir Donovan dined in her elaborate dining room. Sir Donovan insisted on serving the Princess on his own, once he served the Princess, he sat down beside her and smiled.

“This looks lovely,” the Princess said softly, “You really didn't need to do this.”

“I know,” replied Sir Donovan, “But I really wanted to thank you.”

“Well, you are most welcome.” Said the Princess with a small smile as she begun eating in silence.

Sir Donavan gazed at her in curiosity, she glanced up and caught him staring, looking irritated the Princess said, “Do you have to stare at me while I eat?”

“I’m sorry,” he said with a mischievous smile, “I did not mean to make you uncomfortable Princess, but you must know what curiosity you arouse from us mere town folk as we never see you.”

“I am well aware of that, but as you said you are a mere town folk and perhaps you are forgetting your place,” the Princess said     curtly cutting him off.

“I beg your pardon, I did not mean to insult you Princess.”

The Princess softened and relaxed a little, “No harm done,” she replied once again in a soft tone. Before Sir Donovan could probe into her business again the Princess asked him,

“So what were you doing bleeding outside my castle?”

Sir Donovan looked down at his plate and remained silent for a little while.

“Let’s just say a series of unfortunate events,” he replied in husky tone, his eyes glazed over in anger.

“Now that is an ambiguous answer,” the Princess said looking curiously at Sir Donovan, “I believe I have a right to know your story seeing you are over staying your welcome in my castle.”

Sir Donovan looked up at the Princess startled at her bluntness, “You are quite right Princess,” he said and took a deep breath before beginning to reveal how he ended up at the Princesses doorstep.

How to save a Princess PArt two

Princess Desmorelda was sitting in her library, curled up next to a blazing fire, engrossed in one of her many enchanting stories. All her kittens curled up next to her like little balls of fur around her feet. She was so lost in the world created inside of her book that for a moment she forgot about her life, she had forgotten where she was, she forgotten that she was an ill Princess and she had forgotten that she had a house guest.  This is when she heard a shuffle at the library door and a hearty,
“Well Hello there Miss.”
 As the house guest peered in from the library door.

The Princess jumped up in shock and the hem of her dress caught a light as it snagged on the fire place, the many kittens scurried and cried around her in dismay as the Princess stomped on the hem of her dress putting of the little flame. Witnessing this the man chuckled to himself at the doorway, for it was a rather comical scene. The Princess blushed and looked down at the ground in silence, unsure what to say in embarrassment.

“Sorry to startle you,” said the man, “I just came by to thank you kindly for your hospitality, my wound has been healed and I am fit to be on my way.”

The princess smiled politely and nodded. The man was curious as to whether the Princess was mute as she had not said a single word since his arrival, but then he remembered hearing her laughter when he had fell at her doorstep.

“My name is Sir Donavan,” said the man, “I thought at least you should know the name of the name of the man you had hosted before I take my leave ma’am.”
“How kind of you.” Murmured the Princess timidly.
“No, it was kind of you ma’am to assist me. You are Princess Desmorelda aren’t you?” Sir Donavan asked boldy.

“Yes, yes I am” replied the Princess. She was now beginning to wonder if this man was planning to leave her castle and how to politely take her leave, she shuffled uncomfortably and starred at the floor. The Princess was not use to having a conversation, yet alone with a stranger.

Sir Donavan grew curious of this rather timid Princess, he wondered why she was so quiet and withdrawn, why she lived all alone in this big castle and why she seemed so desperate for him to leave so she could be alone again.  He had heard many, many rumors about the Princess, rumors of her illness, he wondered if it were true, or if there was in fact more to the reason the Princess had isolated herself from the world. Sir

Donavan knew that there was much more to this little Princess than the beautiful exterior he saw. He
wondered if he would ever be able to draw her out.
“Perhaps I could cook dinner for you Ma’am, in order to thank you for your kindness?” He asked hopefully.
“That is not necessary.” Replied the Princess.
“I know it is not necessary ma’am, but I would very much like to, I’m afraid I must insist.”

The Princess squirmed uncomfortably, wondering why this man was so persistent, she looked up at him and saw him properly for the first time. He was quite tall and broad in built, he had sandy brown hair and soft, sparkling green eyes, but aside from how he looked the princess saw in his demeanor a nobility, a humbleness. He stood before her and looked so hopeful that the Princess gave in eventually.
“If you insist,” she replied meekly and sat down again with her book, turning her back and her heart away from the curious man standing at her door, refusing to leave her home.

Donovan smiled in triumph, hoping he could get to know this strange Princess a little more, before he ran out of ways to keep himself in her castle. Maybe it was more than just the Princess that kept Sir Donovan from wanting to leave the safety of the Princesses castle.

How to Save a princess Part one

PART ONE

This fairy tale begins not in a land far, far away. No, it begins in a land way above, in the land just above the thick, fluffy, snow white clouds. In this land was a spectacular palace, built with bricks of glass, the palace was so enormous, not just in width but in height as well. When the sun hit directly on this palace it glowed and sparkled in a multitude of lights, all the colours of the rainbow would sparkle and bounce of this magnificent palace. And at night, the pale glow of the moon illuminated the castle, and it looked so majestic in all its glory as the glass would have a thin glow sparkling of it, that anyone even miles away could see this palace at night, without it needing one single light, just the glory of the moon.

Now you may ask, who would live in such a majestic castle, way above up in the clouds, basking in all its glory. Well, off course it is only a Princess that could dwell in such beauty. For the mistress of this castle was none other than the fair maiden, Princess Desmorelda. And she was just as beautiful as her castle, if not more so. Princess Desmorelda was of an average height, she had long, thick brown hair that reached till her waist, her eyes were big and hazel in colour, and she had fair skin and soft pink lips. But despite possessing such beauty and living in the most magnificent palace, the Princess had a rare illness. And it was simply because of this illness that no Prince had come to win her heart. It was an illness that affected the Princesses heart, her heart was so fragile, that if anyone should hurt her, it would crack, and one crack with turn into a shutter, and then this shutter would turn into an eruption, and the princess would literally break her heart. And so to save herself and anyone else the trouble of loving someone so fragile, Princess Desmorelda had locked herself away from the world and resided in her loneliness in a big, beautiful castle.

From a tender age of twelve Princess Desmorelda chose to lock herself away in her castle, it was shortly after her parents died in a tragic boating accident. This was the first crack in Desmoreldas’ heart, so she decided to ward of the world and live in solitude. The princess was now almost twenty, she was use to being on her own, everyday she would make up new ways to entertain herself, she had a house full of little kittens who trailed along her everywhere she went. She kept very little servants so that she could keep herself busy in maintaining her beautiful palace, the Princess had very little interest in the outside world, but that was about to change.

One fine bright sunny day, the Princess was playing with her kittens and laughing in merriment as they mischievously fought each other, when she heard someone outside the palace. There was no knock on the great, big palace door, what she heard was a thud, as if someone had fell to floor, the vase next to the princess shuddered a little. Desmoreldas’ eyes grew wide with fear. She rushed to the palace doors as her trail of kittens scurried behind her. She arched the door open and peered outside, and starred in shock. There, on her front step, lay a man, a huge man, clasping his knee where blood oozed out and he murmured in pain. Desmorelda stood and starred at the man in silence, she was very afraid, as he was so big and strong and Desmorelda was all alone in her huge castle, she had no idea what to do. The man looked up and saw Desmorelda staring down at him,

“Please ma’am, I just need a place to recover my wound and I promise I will be on my way.” He said to her respectfully, wincing in pain as he spoke.

It was at this moment that Desmorelda looked into this man’s eyes directly, and despite him being so huge and overwhelming, she saw a kindness in his eyes, a softness that softened Desmoreldas’ heart towards him. And so, without saying a single word to him, Desmorelda walked back into the castle, and summoned the garden boy to assist the young man and set him up in one of the downstairs bedrooms. She instructed one of her servants to make sure he is well taken care of until he is fit to leave. She did not introduce herself to the man, she did not ask him how he was injured and she surely did not see to him herself. And so the Princess went about her days as she did before, soon forgetting about her house guest until a few days later...