As some of you may know,
Sew It's a Quest was originally entitled
No Longer a Dream, and was from Rosamond's POV. In this version, the prologue was my version of "Sleeping Beauty" and I just thought you guys might be interested in seeing what I wrote. Some details have changed since then, just so you're aware. Such as the names of two of the fairies. (It's Lufawna and Sayenda now, instead of Louesta and Blayenda.)
Once upon a time there lived a king. And, although he was one of the most powerful kings in the land, and his wife was among the most beautiful, they were sad, for they had no children.
When, at last, they had a daughter, it was, indeed a cause for great rejoicing. Wanting only the best for her, they invited all seven of the land’s fairies to her christening. In they came, Fallona, in red; Malina, in orange; Drayana, in yellow; Louesta, in green; Kriasta, in blue; Yifinna, in indigo; and Blayenda, in purple. They were given places of the highest honor, and golden plates and utensils.
Suddenly, after everyone was seated, the great doors at the end of the hall swung open. A gasp rippled through the assembled court. Standing there was Asista, dressed in black—the oldest of the fairies. She hadn’t been seen in years, and all, save the seven fairies who knew better, assumed that she was dead. She lifted her long, bony finger and pointed it at the king on his throne.
“Is it right?” she rasped, “Is it right, that you should invite all of the young fairies to this most joyous occasion, yet forget me, the oldest and most powerful?”
It never crossed anyone’s mind there to contradict her, for she was powerful and capable of great mischief. A seat was given her among the other fairies.
But—Alas!—they were out of golden plates and utensils. Blayenda, at whose side Asista sat, offered Asista hers, but Asista refused saying, “If silver is what they see fit to give me, then let it be silver.”
A cold chill went through the hearts of all in hearing.
When it came time for the fairies to give their gifts to the child, Blayenda hid herself behind a tapestry. Fallona offered Asista the right to bestow the first gift.
“Nay,” said Asista, “It is obvious that I am not as important as the rest of you, so I must go last.” There was nothing for it, Fellona stepped up to the cradle and touched the babe with her wand.
“My gift is beauty,” she said, “of the rarest kind.” Then she stepped back. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Fallona had a reputation of making mistakes. Rare beauty is a gift that is hard to go wrong with, and even if it does go wrong, it is rarely disastrous.
Malina stepped up, and touched the babe with her wand. “My gift is intelligence,” she said, “And a love of learning.” Then she stepped back.
Drayana stepped up and touched the babe with her wand. “My gift is dance,” she said, “She shall be the best dancer in the world.” Then she stepped back.
Louesta stepped up and touched the babe with her wand. “My gift is grace,” she said, “She will always have the most gracious manners.” Then she stepped back.
Kriasta stepped up and touched the babe with her wand. “My gift is voice,” she said, “Like that of a nightingale.” Then she stepped back.
Yifinna stepped up and touched the babe with her wand. “My gift is music,” she said, “She will be able to play perfectly any instrument she touches.” Then she stepped back.
Though it has never been sure why, Asista thought that Yifinna had given the last gift. She stepped up to the cradle and stroked the babe’s face with her bony finger. “She will, indeed be an amazing girl,” she said, “While she lives.” Fear filled the hearts of all present. “Hear my gift,” Asista continued, “Before the close of her sixteenth birthday she shall prick her finger on a spindle,” she paused to give her words extra emphasis, “and die!” She laughed an evil laugh as she disappeared in a dark cloud. Despair filled the hearts of all there.
Blayenda stepped out from her hiding place. “I have still to bestow my gift,” she said, touching the babe with her wand, “Alas, I cannot completely undo my elder’s gift, but I will do what I can. She will, indeed, prick her finger on a spindle before the close of her sixteenth birthday, but she will only seem to die. Instead she shall fall into a deep sleep and have a hundred years of sweet dreams, and at the end of it she shall be awakened by a prince.” She stepped back, and added, “It is the best I can do.” Then the seven fairies disappeared into a rainbow colored mist.
The King, as soon as the christening was over, issued an edict that no spindles or spinning wheels were to come within ten miles of the princess. This was obeyed, for although they were not given the reason for the edict, Rosamond, for that was the princess’s name, soon became beloved by all the people, and they were most willing to do anything that might add to her well-being. From her, too, was kept the secret of Asista’s curse. All she knew of Blayenda’s gift was “sweet dreams.”
Her sixteenth birth birthday was a most joyous occasion. A great ball was held all day, many of the guests were the same that had been to her christening sixteen years before. Among them were the seven fairies. However, Rosamond eventually tired of all the people and went off to be by herself.
She went into a portion of the castle that she had not yet explored. She soon found herself in a high tower room. Seated on the floor of this room was an old woman who had not learned of the edict, for she had a spindle in her hands.
“What sort of magic is that?” asked Rosamond.
“It isn’t magic, child,” said the old woman, “It is called spinning.”
“May I try?” asked Rosamond.
“Of course, dear,” said the old woman, and handed the spindle to Rosamond. No sooner did Rosamond take it than Asista’s fateful prophecy came to pass and Rosamond fell down as if dead.
The fairies were up there in a moment. They assured the old woman that Rosamond was fine. They took the girl to her own chamber and laid her on her own bed. Then they realized that, if Rosamond slept for a hundred years, when she woke up, the only one who would be familiar would be the prince. But even he wouldn’t be.
At once they put a spell on the castle that put everything to sleep. The Lords and Ladies fell asleep as they danced. Servants fell asleep as they worked. Birds ceased their singing. Fires died and fountains stopped flowing. Even the king and queen themselves fell asleep in their thrones.
Then they made a hedge to grow around the castle that would keep inquisitive people out of the it until the prince came. It also made it impossible to see, save at a great distance, and then it was only the highest turret. And so a hundred years past.
At the end of the hundred years there was a prince, named Eric. He was a daring young man and was eager to make his way in the world. He was traveling along when he noticed the castle. He asked the people in the nearby village about it and heard many stories about it. Some said that it was the home of an ogre. Others said it was a witch. Still others said that it was a witch princess whose servants were all ghosts.
One old man’s story, however, was different. He told Eric that the story that the story his grandfather had told him was that it was the home of a most beautiful princess who was under a most dreadful spell. What the spell was had been forgotten, only that it could only be broken by a prince was remembered.
Eric at once started for this castle. He drew his sword to fight his way through the brambles and such that made up the hedge, but, to his surprise, the hedge gave easily away. As he rode through it, it closed behind him.
When he got to the castle, he was struck by its utter silence. Not even the wind was blowing. Everywhere he looked, there were people and animals sleeping. There were guards beside the castle doors, but they, too, were asleep.
He walked on, and came upon the great hall. He had never seen a celebration to match the greatness of this one. And all were asleep. He walked on, seeing sleeping figures every where, and hearing only his own footsteps. What was the meaning of all this?
At last, he came to a room that held the sleeping form of the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. Her skin was like rose petals. Golden hair framed her fair face. He fell on one knee before her bed.
In that moment were the one hundred years finished. Her eyes fluttered open and said, “Is it thou, my prince? You’ve waited a long time.” Instantly the silence ended as everything in the castle awakened as well. The Eric at once asked Rosamond, for that was who the princess was, to marry him. She agreed, quite willingly. He helped her up, not even minding the fact that she was dressed like his great-grandmother.
And so the ball that had began as a celebration of her sixteenth birthday all those years before ended as an engagement ceremony. When it was over, he put her on his horse and they rode away to his castle. When they turned back for one last look, the castle had disappeared.
And they lived happily ever after.
Or did they…
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