Once, a very long time ago, in a wealthy kingdom, there lived a
princess. Her mother and father (the king and queen, obviously) spent most
of their time traveling, and rarely had time for their daughter. It wasn't
that they were bad people; they just loved their kingdom so much that they
often forgot about their responsibilities as parents. The neglect from her
parents made the princess think that there was something wrong with her,
which really wasn't the case. But she had no one to talk to—the servants
didn't really care enough to notice, and she had no friends, so the girl's
heart became hardened. She figured the world had turned on her, so she
decided to turn on the world.
When the girl was in her teens, she pretty much had rule of the castle, as her parents now spent most of their time visiting acquaintances in the kingdom, or going to parties and balls. She didn't really rule well, but what could you expect of a girl who had no role model, no friends, no real life? The kingdom hated being under her rule, and really hated the girl herself. The poor suffered from the girl's rule, but the kingdom wasn't damaged much overall. They continued on living okay, but they all suffered abuse from their future queen. She was irresponsible and hadn't the slightest clue as to what to do, so there were problems. She had access to all her family's riches, and spent it on whatever she wanted, and became spoiled. People began to fear her. If she became too irresponsible, it would destroy them.
~*~*~*~
"Summer! Come in here this instant!" Summer had been casually avoiding the princess and all authority figures the entire morning, hoping to be able to evade doing chores for a day (so she could sneak off to the market, where several acquaintances were expecting her presence). Unfortunately for her, Princess Annabelle had just caught her off guard, as she happened to be passing the royal chambers. She groaned and entered to the room.
"Yes, my lady?" she said innocently.
"Don't use your innocent tone with me right now. I know you've been sneaking off again. Where have you been and what have you been doing?"
"Well, Your Grace, I've been here in the palace the entire time. I was just down in the kitchens helping the scullery maids and Scarlett clean dishes."
Oh yeah, she'd been helping them alright. She'd meant well, but had ended up spilling water all over the floor, causing nearly everyone in the room to slip and fall. Eventually Scarlett (her friend the cook) had had to shoo her away.
"Yes, I bet you have," Annabelle said under her breath.
"I apologize for not being here," Summer said.
Annabelle was irritated with this girl. Summer had been known to do things, or rather, not do things, that displeased others. Plus, her day was hectic enough already, with other servants to deal with, and a party to be held that evening.
"The apology is accepted, but that does not mean you will go without punishment. I want you to go check all the guest rooms and make sure they are perfect, and tonight after the party you're going to clean the entire palace—by yourself."
~*~*~*~
Summer stormed down to the kitchen, where she knew Scarlett and Mirra (a fellow maid) would be. The minute she came in, kicking the door behind her, the two young women that Summer had come to visit knew Annabelle had done something.
"What now, Summer?" Scarlett asked casually, not bothering to look up from the potatoes she was peeling over the sink.
"Well, do you two remember when I told you that I'd promised some folks that I'd come to town today?"
"Let me guess. Princess Annabelle spoiled those plans," Mirra said nonchalantly while taking a bite off the carrot she'd been eating at the table.
"She made me clean all the guest rooms by myself and is also making me clean the entire palace after the party. All that just for avoiding her, a person I thought would be glad to be rid of me."
"Aye, but think about it. If you're not on her hands, you're on someone else's—possibly one of the party guests', and you know how worked up she is over this ball," Scarlett explained.
"True…but do you think there's any way I could still sneak out?" Summer asked mischievously.
~*~*~*~
Several hours later the princess emerged from her chambers, finally prepared for the big extravaganza. Her lemon-blonde hair was delicately swept up into a knot on top of her head, with some curls dangling down. Her beautiful white lace dress—and some very fine perfume—trailed behind her. She looked quite funny walking through the silent marble corridors in her own dainty way, wearing a grim look upon her face.
After checking that all was perfect in the palace, Annabelle went to the main hall. There she greeted all the guests whose carriages were just pulling up, pleasant and charming, unaware that a mysterious stranger in the shadows outside was observing her quite closely.
~*~*~*~
Summer had been in the kitchen, getting a mop and bucket of water, and came to the hall just as the last guest was leaving. Annabelle called out a final farewell, and then turned to her.
"It's getting late, and I'm tired right now. You're going to mop this hall tonight, within an hour. If you're not finished by then you'll have a whipping tomorrow, before you clean the rest of the palace. Now—"
Annabelle was suddenly interrupted by a loud knock from the door. She sighed crossly, thinking it was one of her guests who had left something behind.
"Go answer the door, and be quick about it," she ordered Summer, following her. Summer dashed to the door, and slowly opened it. There, on the steps, stood an old woman, a thin cloak covering her and a small, but beautiful, bouquet of wildflowers. A cold November wind blew in through the door. When the woman saw the princess observing in the background, she curtsied.
"M'lady, I am a humbled old woman with no home. 'Tis chilly outside. I need a place t' stay for the night, in exchange for this bouquet. I wouldn't be a bit o' trouble t' all. I could sleep on the floor. Please help me."
Summer turned around to see the princess's reaction. Her facial expression looked like that of a person who had rotten eggs under his/her nose.
"Why would I allow a beggar to sleep in my palace? Old hags like you aren't welcome in places of such splendor. Be gone," said Princess Annabelle disgustedly. Summer was angered by the arrogance of Annabelle, and pitied the old woman. She had once been in the same spot.
"Why not? All the servants in the palace were once just like this woman, and yet you allow us to sleep here. Why should you not allow this woman to stay here, just for a night? She said she'd sleep on the cold floor, you heard her yourself," she cried out.
"You wench! You should be grateful for all that I've given you! If you're going to be so unthankful, you can leave with that beggar!"
Summer apologized quietly, and turned to close the door. As she did so she took some coins from the pocket of her apron and handed them to the old woman.
"That's enough money to allow you a night at a nice inn, and some food. I'm sorry that I can't do any more for you."
Just as Summer was turning from the door to return to the hall, a strong wind blew it open again. The noise this created caused several servants who had been elsewhere in the palace to come rushing to the commotion to see what had happened.
There, at the door, instead of the old beggar woman, stood a beautiful enchantress. The princess took one look at her and went deathly pale. The graceful lady walked into the palace, right up to Princess Annabelle.
"My lady," she began, pronouncing the word lady as if it were a curse word, "I do believe now that what I've been told by the villagers is true. The people of your kingdom tell me that you are an irresponsible, spoiled princess, and that you care nothing about them or the land upon which you live. I decided that I would come here in disguise, and test you. If you were so cruel as to leave a poor beggar outside in the cold to die, then I would enact justice, but if you allowed the woman to sleep inside your palace, I would give you a second chance. Apparently, your people were correct, and now the damage has been done. You even threatened to send this woman out in the cold to die too. Your acts will not go unpunished.
Your beautiful palace will be covered with ivy and roses. I will place an enchantment on your land so that it shall always be summer. Your gates will be closed, and no occupant of this palace will be able to flee. Your people will desert you for a better, stronger, more responsible ruler, and you will have nothing but what is in your palace or on your grounds.
Your punishment will be this… All of the enchantments I have just mentioned shall remain on this land until a stranger comes here. In order to be relieved of your punishments, you must learn to love this stranger, to prove that there is some love in your cruel heart. Along the way, I may help you, if you acknowledge your past mistakes and try to learn from them."
Here, the enchantress ended her speech, and turned to face the rest of the people in the palace. Her eyes gazed at all of them apologetically, and she asked them to one day forgive her. Then she saw Summer, and grinned. She walked up to her, hugged her, and handed back the coins she'd given her.
"Why is thy name, my good sister?"
"Summer," she replied.
"Thank you, Summer. I shan't forget you." With those final words she smiled at everyone, and a breeze blew into the palace, swirling all about us, and all around the palace. Then she walked out the door, leaving an anxious silence behind her. Everyone had zombie-like looks on their faces, except the women and children who were crying.
When the girl was in her teens, she pretty much had rule of the castle, as her parents now spent most of their time visiting acquaintances in the kingdom, or going to parties and balls. She didn't really rule well, but what could you expect of a girl who had no role model, no friends, no real life? The kingdom hated being under her rule, and really hated the girl herself. The poor suffered from the girl's rule, but the kingdom wasn't damaged much overall. They continued on living okay, but they all suffered abuse from their future queen. She was irresponsible and hadn't the slightest clue as to what to do, so there were problems. She had access to all her family's riches, and spent it on whatever she wanted, and became spoiled. People began to fear her. If she became too irresponsible, it would destroy them.
~*~*~*~
"Summer! Come in here this instant!" Summer had been casually avoiding the princess and all authority figures the entire morning, hoping to be able to evade doing chores for a day (so she could sneak off to the market, where several acquaintances were expecting her presence). Unfortunately for her, Princess Annabelle had just caught her off guard, as she happened to be passing the royal chambers. She groaned and entered to the room.
"Yes, my lady?" she said innocently.
"Don't use your innocent tone with me right now. I know you've been sneaking off again. Where have you been and what have you been doing?"
"Well, Your Grace, I've been here in the palace the entire time. I was just down in the kitchens helping the scullery maids and Scarlett clean dishes."
Oh yeah, she'd been helping them alright. She'd meant well, but had ended up spilling water all over the floor, causing nearly everyone in the room to slip and fall. Eventually Scarlett (her friend the cook) had had to shoo her away.
"Yes, I bet you have," Annabelle said under her breath.
"I apologize for not being here," Summer said.
Annabelle was irritated with this girl. Summer had been known to do things, or rather, not do things, that displeased others. Plus, her day was hectic enough already, with other servants to deal with, and a party to be held that evening.
"The apology is accepted, but that does not mean you will go without punishment. I want you to go check all the guest rooms and make sure they are perfect, and tonight after the party you're going to clean the entire palace—by yourself."
~*~*~*~
Summer stormed down to the kitchen, where she knew Scarlett and Mirra (a fellow maid) would be. The minute she came in, kicking the door behind her, the two young women that Summer had come to visit knew Annabelle had done something.
"What now, Summer?" Scarlett asked casually, not bothering to look up from the potatoes she was peeling over the sink.
"Well, do you two remember when I told you that I'd promised some folks that I'd come to town today?"
"Let me guess. Princess Annabelle spoiled those plans," Mirra said nonchalantly while taking a bite off the carrot she'd been eating at the table.
"She made me clean all the guest rooms by myself and is also making me clean the entire palace after the party. All that just for avoiding her, a person I thought would be glad to be rid of me."
"Aye, but think about it. If you're not on her hands, you're on someone else's—possibly one of the party guests', and you know how worked up she is over this ball," Scarlett explained.
"True…but do you think there's any way I could still sneak out?" Summer asked mischievously.
~*~*~*~
Several hours later the princess emerged from her chambers, finally prepared for the big extravaganza. Her lemon-blonde hair was delicately swept up into a knot on top of her head, with some curls dangling down. Her beautiful white lace dress—and some very fine perfume—trailed behind her. She looked quite funny walking through the silent marble corridors in her own dainty way, wearing a grim look upon her face.
After checking that all was perfect in the palace, Annabelle went to the main hall. There she greeted all the guests whose carriages were just pulling up, pleasant and charming, unaware that a mysterious stranger in the shadows outside was observing her quite closely.
~*~*~*~
Summer had been in the kitchen, getting a mop and bucket of water, and came to the hall just as the last guest was leaving. Annabelle called out a final farewell, and then turned to her.
"It's getting late, and I'm tired right now. You're going to mop this hall tonight, within an hour. If you're not finished by then you'll have a whipping tomorrow, before you clean the rest of the palace. Now—"
Annabelle was suddenly interrupted by a loud knock from the door. She sighed crossly, thinking it was one of her guests who had left something behind.
"Go answer the door, and be quick about it," she ordered Summer, following her. Summer dashed to the door, and slowly opened it. There, on the steps, stood an old woman, a thin cloak covering her and a small, but beautiful, bouquet of wildflowers. A cold November wind blew in through the door. When the woman saw the princess observing in the background, she curtsied.
"M'lady, I am a humbled old woman with no home. 'Tis chilly outside. I need a place t' stay for the night, in exchange for this bouquet. I wouldn't be a bit o' trouble t' all. I could sleep on the floor. Please help me."
Summer turned around to see the princess's reaction. Her facial expression looked like that of a person who had rotten eggs under his/her nose.
"Why would I allow a beggar to sleep in my palace? Old hags like you aren't welcome in places of such splendor. Be gone," said Princess Annabelle disgustedly. Summer was angered by the arrogance of Annabelle, and pitied the old woman. She had once been in the same spot.
"Why not? All the servants in the palace were once just like this woman, and yet you allow us to sleep here. Why should you not allow this woman to stay here, just for a night? She said she'd sleep on the cold floor, you heard her yourself," she cried out.
"You wench! You should be grateful for all that I've given you! If you're going to be so unthankful, you can leave with that beggar!"
Summer apologized quietly, and turned to close the door. As she did so she took some coins from the pocket of her apron and handed them to the old woman.
"That's enough money to allow you a night at a nice inn, and some food. I'm sorry that I can't do any more for you."
Just as Summer was turning from the door to return to the hall, a strong wind blew it open again. The noise this created caused several servants who had been elsewhere in the palace to come rushing to the commotion to see what had happened.
There, at the door, instead of the old beggar woman, stood a beautiful enchantress. The princess took one look at her and went deathly pale. The graceful lady walked into the palace, right up to Princess Annabelle.
"My lady," she began, pronouncing the word lady as if it were a curse word, "I do believe now that what I've been told by the villagers is true. The people of your kingdom tell me that you are an irresponsible, spoiled princess, and that you care nothing about them or the land upon which you live. I decided that I would come here in disguise, and test you. If you were so cruel as to leave a poor beggar outside in the cold to die, then I would enact justice, but if you allowed the woman to sleep inside your palace, I would give you a second chance. Apparently, your people were correct, and now the damage has been done. You even threatened to send this woman out in the cold to die too. Your acts will not go unpunished.
Your beautiful palace will be covered with ivy and roses. I will place an enchantment on your land so that it shall always be summer. Your gates will be closed, and no occupant of this palace will be able to flee. Your people will desert you for a better, stronger, more responsible ruler, and you will have nothing but what is in your palace or on your grounds.
Your punishment will be this… All of the enchantments I have just mentioned shall remain on this land until a stranger comes here. In order to be relieved of your punishments, you must learn to love this stranger, to prove that there is some love in your cruel heart. Along the way, I may help you, if you acknowledge your past mistakes and try to learn from them."
Here, the enchantress ended her speech, and turned to face the rest of the people in the palace. Her eyes gazed at all of them apologetically, and she asked them to one day forgive her. Then she saw Summer, and grinned. She walked up to her, hugged her, and handed back the coins she'd given her.
"Why is thy name, my good sister?"
"Summer," she replied.
"Thank you, Summer. I shan't forget you." With those final words she smiled at everyone, and a breeze blew into the palace, swirling all about us, and all around the palace. Then she walked out the door, leaving an anxious silence behind her. Everyone had zombie-like looks on their faces, except the women and children who were crying.