Complete Version of "If Happily Ever After. Wasn't" . Fiction

If Happily Ever After… Wasn’t!

A Fictional Tale

Please note: All characters in the story ARE fictional and my children's names have been used to integrate them into the story. No live or real Princes or Princesses were hurt or damaged in the writing of this tale.

Have you ever wondered what happened to the princess after she met her prince? What exactly did “happily ever after mean?” Well, this is a story of “happily ever after” and it might not be what you expect!

            This is the tale of a beautiful princess and how her life changed after she met the handsome prince. Of course, they were very happy for a long time. She lived in the castle, which was a dream come true! She had every need or wish met and all   the servants waited on her day and night. She did find it odd to go from having so little, to having so much so quickly! The prince assured her that she would become used to it and learn to love their life together.

            The wedding of course had been a splendid affair with kings, queens, presidents, prime ministers and leaders from every country in attendance. Her dress had been made designed especially for her and was bejeweled with every imaginable ornament without being garish. Her friends attended her as bridesmaids and flower girls and she was thrilled to have them all be a part of such a glorious event! She was only sad that her parents were not alive to spend this time with her and see how truly happy she really was. The princess was so kind, that she had no hard feelings towards her evil stepmother or stepsisters and included them as much as possible in her new life.

            Of course after the wedding, all of the guests returned to their homelands and she and the prince went on their honeymoon. They traveled to every corner of the earth and she was sure to send postcards home from each city to let her friends know about her travels. She picked up trinkets and fabrics she knew they would enjoy when she returned home to see them again. She was so excited that she kept a journal where she wrote all that occurred, so she would not forget to tell her friends a thing! She and the prince traveled for a whole year and went to every civilized part of the world. Often they would pass small towns or villages where the people were poor and struggling but the prince always said there was no time to stop and help, as they had to be on their way. He assured her he would send a man back with food and gifts for the villagers so that this would ease their burden a bit.

            As princesses do, who are newly married, she was enthralled by everything the prince said and did and had no reason to doubt his word. She was certain that he would never harm a person or an animal and that he surely must send gifts to all the poor they passed. The princess was on her honeymoon after all she was living in a perfect world!

            After a year of travel, they made their way home. Many of the villagers came out to greet them and welcome the prince and princess back to their kingdom. Children waved and threw flowers to them, families smiled and wished them well with their future family and everywhere the princess looked she saw people.  Nowhere did she see her dear friends that she had sent postcards to.  She  wanted to visit with them and share her gifts and travels with them. Where could they be? She didn’t know, but she was rushed along to the castle with much to do and did not have long to think about it. She knew she would have time later to come and look for them.

            Upon arriving at the castle, the king and queen looked her over closely attempting to see any sign of future grandchildren, but they saw nothing that made them believe she might be with child. The king and queen immediately organized a welcome home celebration for the next day and urged the prince and princess to rest, as they must be weary from all of their travels. The princess was grateful to be at home at long last. 

The princess slept all that night and most of the next day. By the time she awoke it was time to dress for the banquet and she had no time to look for her friends. Everyone in the castle was bustling about to prepare for the feast and no one had time to help her or tell her where she might find her friends. The princess decided not to worry, the prince was sure to locate her friends as he knew how important it was to her to see them again, she was sure they would be at the party. So, she relaxed and let the maids prepare her for the night.

            As soon as the king and queen entered the great hall, the room silenced and everyone awaited the announcement from the king. The king turned and said loudly and proudly, “I welcome home my son,  The Prince and his dear bride,  The Princess! Let the celebration begin!” No sooner had the king announced their arrival, then a marching band complete in the colours of the kingdom, black and silver, came through the great hall playing beautiful, joyful music to welcome them home. After the band, came a group of young dancing school children all dressed in white. This continued on for a half hour with more and more in a swelling parade to greet the young couple. The princess was overwhelmed and tears stung her bright eyes. She looked at the prince with love and said “You are my husband and your family is now mine. Thank you, this makes my life complete!” She never knew how these words might come to haunt her.

            Months went by, the princess announced one day that she was going to have a child and expected that this child might be born in November. The kingdom was excited for the king was aging and the prince would soon take over the throne and needed to have an heir apparent. All wished that the first child would be a son to take on his father’s name and learn how to succeed his father when it was time. The princess however, hoped secretly that she would have a baby girl, to be her friend. The princess was sad as she never did find her friends again and no longer had close confidantes or anyone to confide in. She was also a little bit angry as she felt that all whom she had loved had deserted her. Now that she was a princess, no one would dare getting too close to her and her life slowly became very isolated. Therefore she prayed each day that the baby would be a girl who she could teach and play with. She knew that a boy would be taken from her by the time he was five years old to learn the ways of men and that she would not be able to have him by her side anymore.

            As summer became autumn, the princess grew heavier and heavier with child. She was no longer allowed to venture from the castle or the women’s quarters as women were not allowed to be seen when they were pregnant as it may offend some men. She had less to do to stay active and longed for the day when her child would be born. She saw less and less of her dear prince as he started to take over more and more of his father’s duties in preparation to reign over the  kingdom and allow his father to retire. Summer ended and autumn grew colder. The princess was due to have the child anytime and was not allowed to leave her inner sanctuary. The doctor was kept in the castle to assist at the birth and the princess grew very restless.

            One night, no longer able to wait, she went to see a midwife and ask her how she might bring on the birth. The midwife suggested drinking fish oil. She said that this would bring on the baby and make the baby smarter when the babe first opened its eyes. The princess snuck in a cup of fish oil and holding her nose tightly and leaning her head way back, she quickly downed the awful, slimy concoction and although she felt ill, she decided to try to sleep. Several hours later she knew the baby was coming.

            After many hours of waiting and labour, the baby was at long last born. The prince waited anxiously in another room, in another part of the castle to hear that his son had been born. The princess was exhausted and confused as to why the room was silent and all she could hear was the faint cry of her newborn child. She thought something awful must have happened, what was wrong with her baby?

        The doctor’s face was white, the room eerily quiet and then she gasped “What? What is it? Is my baby ok?” The doctor looked up at her, he handed the baby to a maid to clean up and he said, “Princess, I am very sorry to inform you that your baby….your baby….well, your ... she…is a …girl child!” The princess cried out in great relief! She was so happy, so excited and could not understand why all in the room looked so grim.

            She said, “Please! Bring my husband to me now to see our beautiful daughter!”

            The maid ran out to get the prince and to tell him that he had a daughter. When he was told, the prince raged! He was to have a son as his first-born! This was impossible! He left the castle, got on his horse and did not return for two days. The princess couldn’t understand why he wasn't with her and after a day, she was told the truth. The prince was angry and disappointed. She shuddered and thought she had heard wrong. How could he be upset when they had a beautiful perfect daughter! The princess was unable to comprehend the prince’s reaction.

            When the prince came to see the princess, he told her that the child was hers to do as she wished. She could keep it, get rid of it, whatever she wanted. The princess was stunned; she didn't understand how the prince  could not already be in love with this beautiful baby girl. 

        There was more… The prince said again, she could do what she liked with the baby, however, the child would never be acknowledged by her father. He would not accept a girl child as his firstborn and he would not allow the girl to attend the castle as a royal child.

            The princess went white, she could barely breathe and was so devastated she could not speak or cry. After a long silence the prince gave her a slight hope that this child might live better than she had. Hope that she could prevent her child from being much more than a servant. The prince stated he would give the princess one more chance to redeem herself. One more chance to present an heir to the throne, a royal son. However, if this did not happen with the birth of the second child, the princess and HER children would be banished forever!

           Needless to say the princess was beyond disenchanted, she was dumbstruck!

            There was no one the princess could talk to or share her thoughts. No one who would present her with any compassion or kindness that might change her fate. The king and queen never did come to see the girl child and the prince only came upon occasion to reinforce to the princess that she must provide him with a male child. She realized now that a although the monarchs had welcomed her, they had never really "included" her in anything and they had not become friends.

            The princess was even more alone than she had been as a child. At least when she was a child she had sisters even if they were mean and she had many friends. Even more alone, than when she slaved for her stepmother and stepsisters. She realized now that she had still never found her friends and wondered why?

         The princess had to provide all the love to her daughter, all care and  she was the only one to teach her or to laugh with her. The princess showered her child with hope, stories and love; she talked to her all the time and as a result the child was very clever.  She had no opposition so the princess was able to name the child herself. She named her daughter,  “Rachel”, as this meant beautiful one and this child was heaven sent and angelic looking. The child learned to talk at a year old, she was walking at only 10 months and she could feed herself by 18 months.  She kept her mother company all the time. Rachel didn't know that her fate lay in the hands of the child her mother was now carrying, her mother’s second child.

            The princess prayed all the time that this second child would be a male so that she could have an heir for the prince and the prince could take over the kingdom. She prayed for the sake of the child that he would be male, but secretly hoped that she would have a girl again. She didn’t want a male child that would be raised to shut off his love so quickly. A male that would be raised to believe that men had value and women were mere servants to wait on their man. She never verbalized this thought. She never even acknowledged to herself that this was what she was thinking. She knew that if she had another girl  she would be banished with her children forever in disgrace.

            The princess got larger, uncomfortable and tense and the days grew closer to the birth of the baby.  It was hard for the princess to hide her anxiety from Rachel. Rachel was excited about the baby and couldn't wait for its arrival; she had no idea what might lie in store for their family if another girl was born. The princess was a master at hiding her fears, masking the pain and pretending that all was well. It was her job as a mother to provide her daughter with unconditional love, security and a feeling of being safe. She couldn't let her know that if the baby were not a boy, they would be homeless.

            The days became shorter, Rachel had her birthday and then they started to count the hours waiting for the baby to arrive. The princess had one visit from the prince, late one night after Rachel fell asleep. He told her that if she had a boy, she would immediately move into the main castle, Rachel would be put into school and they could become a family again. If the baby were a girl, they would lose all hope of ever entering the castle again. The one hope that he gave her was, instead of being banished without a place to live, they would be locked in the highest room in the tallest tower to live out their days.

            The princess could still not believe that the man who had swept her off her feet, the man who had been in tune to every thought and the man she thought was her white knight, had turned into such a cold, calculating creature. She could only hope that no matter what happened, she would live long enough to raise her children so that they would know love, so that they would not be alone without a parent to raise them as she had been.

             She prepared her young daughter for the birth of the baby. Her daughter never asked questions about her father as she had never known him and was segregated from others. The girl did not even realize that she was missing a father,  since she had only ever known her mother. She did know that her mother was loving, fun, caring and she simply idolized her. She knew that as long as she was with her mother she would always be safe.

            Early one morning, before Rachel awoke, the princess went into labour. She called for a midwife and servant and was taken to a room to have the baby. Rachel was alone but not worried as she didn't know there might be any danger in childbirth or that they may be banished to the tower. She played with her toys and drew pictures while she waited to see her new baby sibling and her mother.

            The princess was careful to be silent,   she did not want to make any noise that might frighten her daughter. She was silent, she felt so alone, knowing that the servants would only be allowed to offer continued support if she had a boy child. She knew that if she had a girl she would be cast out with her two young children.

            After hours of labour in a virtually silent room, the midwife finally said that the baby’s head was crowning and would be born any minute. The princess could hear the breath held by all in the room as they awaited the verdict on the gender of her baby. What would happen? Would this be the boy that the prince,  the king and queen wanted to so much? Would she be happy if it was a boy and she was reinstated within the kingdom? Or would she be happier if she had a girl, a girl that she knew Rachel would love, a girl that would not be taken from her at a young age to “become a man”.

            The tension in the room could be cut with a knife. No one spoke. As the baby was born, the shoulders emerged and the remainder of the baby slid out quickly. The baby was wrapped in a blanket and as  was wiped clean…the midwife announced…"she is a girl.” 

          No sooner had the announcement been made, then everyone gasped and a servant was sent to tell the king. The princess knew now without any doubt that she was to raise her children alone. She was never going to be able to provide them with the castle, the kingdom or most of all, their father.

            As she realized this she was surrounded by a warm feeling, an embrace if you will. She knew with all certainty that she would survive. Her children would be loved and cared for and she would provide them with all the happiness they could ever know. Although they would be sent to the highest room in the tallest tower, she would be able to shield her children from hate, discrimination, gender bias and provide them with unconditional love.

            She had the ability to provide them with a safe home, food, a mother who was available to them at all times and the nurturing and care that she had missed as a child. She saw this as an opportunity rather than a hardship. The servants did not understand this and believed that the princess was suffering from delusions or weakness as they saw a smile crossed her face. When they looked at her smile she was at complete peace and had no worries. As soon as she was cleaned up she asked for the baby and had Rachel sent in to be with her.

            When Rachel entered the room she only saw her mother who was tired, but happy and she immediately fell in love with her baby sister. When the princess saw the wonder and love come across her young daughters face, she knew that they were all she needed and that she would raise them in a way that allowed them to become strong and happy women. They would not know the limitations set upon them by men and the world.

            The next day, the servants came to move the princess and her children to the tower. They brought all of their belongings, clothing and personal needs. Arrangements were made for maids to bring food, sundries and needs for the baby to the room on the level below the princess once a day. The princess could then exchange their dirty laundry, dishes and replenish for the day. As her children knew no different, she was able to turn the whole episode into an exciting adventure.

            The princess found ways to keep the children busy. She named the baby,  “Jessica” meaning “God’s grace.” As the baby grew the princess lay in bed and nursed her, while entertaining Rachel with long elaborate tales. They drew pictures to decorate the walls and created crafts that would be useful and beautiful in their new “home”.

         The baby was completely at peace since there was no discord, unhappiness or reason to worry in this environment. The children never knew this was different than how most people lived. They never missed other children because they only knew their mother. As time went on, the servants began to feel pity on the family. They would sneak in items that were not on the list. They would find beautiful fabrics to leave the princess, beads, jewels, furs and anything that would create beauty or fun in the girls’ lives.

            The servants were amazed as all they could hear come from the tower was singing, laughing and love. There did not seem to be any anger or bitterness from the princess. Surely, most people would belittle the father or make plans for escape? However, the princess never did. The children did not know to ask about a father and therefore they had no reason to wish him any ill will. The servants began to grumble and become angry with the king, queen and prince. They realized that there was no loyalty or sincerity within the monarchy if they could cast aside the princess and her children. The servants knew that if there was ever an opportunity to help the princess, they would do so.

            Days became weeks, weeks became months and months became years. The tower was watched carefully and the servants were monitored so there was no prospect to alter the routine or help the little family. The princess was grateful that the tower did not face the kingdom directly; it only faced the fields and farmlands. This prevented her children from seeing other children and wishing they were living in the village or the kingdom. The children were happy but not strong. They did not get enough sunlight and although the princess danced and kept them as active as she could, they did not get much activity to help build their bones. She began to worry more about their futures. She had protected them, kept them safe and happy but she knew that Rachel and Jessica needed more in their lives to continue to grow their minds and their bodies.

      The princess was determined and brave but even she eventually began to tire and lose her enthusiasm. The maids and servants began to find ways to "run into" the princess and see if she was ok. How could she be ok? She had spent years locked in a tower with two young, albeit precious, children. One maid in particular would "forget" an item and have to go back to the floor below the princess and children and would have an opportunity to speak with her. The princess quickly realized it was not a mistake and was so grateful to have an adult to speak with, someone who could tell her what was happening in the world. 

          At first the maid did not say much, she just asked after the children and the princess' health. She found that they were looking wan, pale and their hair was thinning. The children's eyes were sunken and they had brown hollows below their lashes. The maid was so saddened to see the despair beginning to gather in the princess' eyes. She asked if she could get them anything that might help. The princess gratefully and humbly asked for some herbs and greens, perhaps some apple cider and anything else that could be sent their way.

             One day the maid was able to find an old wise woman who the poor went to  access   herbs and potions. Of course in the castle the princess would have been seen by a physician, or at the very least a surgeon, the maid was unable to go there because the prince could not know that she was helping his family. The wise woman was a pagan and did not associate with the new church that was trying to change the country and as such she was actually more qualified in the healing arts than the new physicians. The wise woman found it ludicrous to bleed a patient to let the evil humours out. Instead she would take a history, learn what the sick had done, eaten, drank and the activity they had been involved in. She would then reach into her old burlap sack and pull out small dark worn leather bags and extract herbs or create a potion to help cure the sick.

          Upon seeing the princess and her children, (who were excited and in awe since they had never been with anyone but their mother) the wise woman immediately saw that they were failing to thrive. Their bodies were breaking down, atrophy was setting in and their internal organs were going to die if they did not receive instant treatment. The old woman called to the maid to bring a tub and lots of hot water for them to bathe. Although it was not common practice to bathe frequently and the woman did not know of hygiene, she did see the correlation between improved health when the herbs, potions and bathing were combined.

          The princess was quiet, appreciative and indebted to the wise woman and the maid. As they proceeded with treatment and care, the girls became more animated and lively. The colour in their faces rose and their eyes shone. The princess knew that confinement had been limiting and isolated, but had not realized until now, that she could not supply her girls with everything they needed. They needed air, sunshine, to be able to walk, have friends and get to know people in the world. 

            With a renewed strength and great vigor she asked the maid and wise woman to help them escape. Both women were happy and willing to help and had even begun to formulate a plan. Before proceeding with the plan they wanted to ensure that the princess was aware of how the kingdom was faring and what was happening on the "outside."

              The princess listened intently as the women began to tell a story that restored her strength and resolve to get out of the tower. In the last couple of years the prince had taken over the kingdom from his father and the king had stepped aside to allow his son to rule. The king had been a good king, even if he had let the prince lock the princess up. The king had never been cruel to the peasants or servants and had treated them well. When the prince took over he had let the kingdom know why the princess was locked up and that she would stay there with "her" children. He advised the people that if he was willing to do that to his own family, they had better be sure that their fate as serfs and workers would be equal  or worse if they didn't follow the new edicts.

                    The maid told her own story of how the prince had taken her from her family to be a maid in the castle. In return she simply received food and shelter and worked from dawn to dusk. Her family had applied to get her back but the new king  refused to hear them. This was not a single occurrence, he had gone through the kingdom and randomly selected and removed people (men, women and children) from their homes and brought them back to the castle to be slaves. There had never been any slavery in the kingdom until the prince  became king. No one knew what had occurred to put the prince in this state of mind, but now families kept their children in their homes and locked up so the prince wouldn't abduct them to become palace slaves. The countryside was in terror. 

                 The princess was shocked to learn that the maid had overheard the prince tell his mother that he had sent the princess' friends and family away and never mailed any of the postcards or gifts the princess had purchased. He realized early on in the marriage that the princess was much to generous to the needy and that he would not be able to maintain his lifestyle if they were constantly giving alms to the poor. The maid quietly and sadly told the princess that the prince had been conspiring against her right from the beginning. He had married her and loved her, but only while she served her purpose. When she failed to provide an heir he had sent her away and was beginning to worry that she and the children were never going to die. 

                 Overwhelmed and horrified the princess listened on while the maid told the story that the butler, had over heard the chambermaid, tell her mother in the kitchen, the prince was going to start to poison the food. They now knew they had to come up with a plan to get out of the tower and regain control of the kingdom. The maid and the wise woman knew some people that were ready to revolt and believed everyone would follow when the uprising began. The whole kingdom had lived through enough of the tyranny and their families were suffering from the new kings demands. 

                      The wise woman left some herbs for the little family's health and told the maid to bring the food as normal, but to switch it with food the maid had prepared herself when in the tower. They did not want to chance any further harm coming to the princess or the children. The wise woman was going to meet with her village council and they were going to find a way to help the princess escape and take back the kingdom.

            The princess was still unable to comprehend how the prince had changed so much, so quickly. Even after spending years in the castle tower alone with her children, she struggled with how she could have been such a poor judge of character. What had gone wrong? Why had he changed? How could someone who had been raised with everything, had kind and loving parents, changed into such an evil, hurtful man? There didn't seem to be an answer but she knew there had to be.

             The next time the wise woman came to see her, the princess instructed her to find the wizard and bring him to her. She had need of his wisdom and the power of his vision. The princess knew that if the escape and reclaiming of her title were not done carefully and properly that the whole kingdom would be in jeopardy. She felt enough responsibility for her own children and now had to be concerned with all of the other residents in the nearby countryside. The princess could take the 'easy' way out and just walk away with the girls, however if she made that choice the prince may rage against the innocent peasants and their families. 

            She knew that their meeting had been a chance event, in a dark crowded room at the ball. He had literally swept her off of her feet and offered her refuge and a future compared to her being enslaved by her wicked step-mother and sisters. She began to look at the whole picture. How they had met. Her emotional state at the time. How well did she really know the prince before marrying him. Her willingness to let the old life go and move forward with the new. She had tried to keep her step-mother and sisters in her life and her old friends, but had she really? Had she allowed the prince to take her power away when he kept her busy and offered to let him handle things instead of doing it herself? Was she to blame for the current state of the kingdom? Allowing herself and the children to live a fairy tale in a tower and not facing reality had she created the existing nightmare that the maid and other people were surviving in?

            No more! She made a resolution to herself to meet with the wizard AND the wise woman and come up with a plan to leave the tower, take back the kingdom and free those enslaved under the prince's power! The princess decided she could not blame herself for all that had happened since that would not move them forward and allow them to break out. She could however, accept that she had unwittingly enabled the situation and with some clever planning she would create a diversion to free the kingdom from the evil tyranny!

            Having this epiphany as to how she had arrived in this place, at this time the princess had renewed vigor and excitedly awaited the arrival of the wizard and the wise woman. The princess asked the maid how the Queen was faring? How was she coping with the changes in the monarchy? The maid said that the Queen had taken to her bed, pulled the drapes shut, wore black only and covered her head whenever faced with bad news or if she had to make a decision. The King was still alive and well, but having relinquished the crown and stepping back from command he didn't feel he could do anything. From time to time the King would haltingly advise his son against an edict but the prince never listened. The King now lost his will to even attempt.

           The princess found this news heartening. This meant the King and Queen were not on the prince's side and that she may be able to appeal to them on behalf of the realm and their beautiful grandchildren they had never met. She began plotting, anxiously waiting to hear how the council meeting went for the wise woman. The maid let it slip that the people were ready to revolt but this meant violence and the princess wanted to avoid further danger and harm to the people. She knew there was a way to resolve the situation without any bloodshed, but how?

            The wizard finally arrived. He was pleased to have been called for since his services had not been required since the prince took the throne. The wizard was very unhappy with the state of the world as they knew it and welcomed the ability to make a difference. The wizard and the princess met privately and had a long, quiet, animated conversation. The wise woman then appeared and she reported that the council had serfs and families ready to take the castle, but this is not how she wanted things to go. The wizard and the princess then let her in on the plan. The wise woman smiled and agreed to proceed with them on behalf of the townspeople.

           That night the princess hugged and kissed her daughters and told them that in the morning she would be going away, for just a little while. The girls didn't understand since they had never been apart from their mother and they feared for her safety and their loss if she didn't come back. She assured them that she would just be gone from morning before they awoke until nightfall when they prepared for bed. She would be fine, but she was going to speak to their father and grandparents. Of course this confused the children and so the princess explained briefly and simply what had transpired in her life to this point. The children cried, they couldn't completely understand, having lived in seclusion but they knew it was wrong and made their mother sad. They assured her they would be good and would be happy to play with the maid for the day. 

            At dawn the princess arose and dressed in her finest clothing. Most of what she had was still in excellent condition since she had little reason to dress in elaborate gowns and priceless jewels living in the tower. For this day though, she pulled out all the stops and once again became the beautiful, strong, brave princess of the castle. 

             She went below and met with the wise woman, wizard and upon walking outside she was met by everyone in the community of the village, the farmers and to her surprise the guards were there as well. Every single one of them, whatever their position had been adversely affected by the prince and his reign of terror. They now all stood and smiled with tears coming down their faces and thanked the princess for finally coming to their aid. 

            The princess was speechless. Her big blue eyes filled with tears of hope, gratitude and apology for having taken so long to gain the insight and courage to come out. She simply said to them all "I am grateful to have you with me. There will be no violence today. Talking shall be our only weapon. I declare to you, with my children in my heart, that things shall change this very day." With that she turned and began to walk to the castle with the hundreds following behind her.

             One would have expected a lot of noise with several hundred families, guards, and babes in arms walking the mile to the gate, however, there was nary a sound but great expectation for the future. Neighbour to neighbour they smiled at each other and squeezed hands in anticipation. Although the potential for danger was there, what with an uprising and the princess prepared to stage a coup of the castle, no one feared. They were all neighbours, friends and family this day and the guards were not prepared to  side with the prince.

             Upon reaching the castle gates, rather than have to command them be opened, they simply swung open wide and allowed everyone to enter. The princess again was surprised but knew she was doing the right thing and moved onward. She walked further and entered the castle and moved on toward the great room. She then instructed all the followers to wait, remember no violence and asked the steward to get the man she knew as the prince, but who was now the king. She asked that the old King and Queen also be brought to the hall.

           Within minutes the King and Queen were present, they looked around and instinctively knowing that life was going to change. They smiled to each other with hope and looked to the princess. She simply nodded to acknowledge them and waited for her husband to arrive.

            Upon his arrival, he was slightly disheveled having been awoken from his slumber. He was grumpy (never having been a morning person) and the sight of his wife, parents and the crowd was enough to have him call the guards to his aid. As soon as he yelled "GUARDS!" they came forward, but not to assist him, to restrain him. He now knew that he was in trouble.

              The princess spoke, calmly, clearly and in a voice loud enough for all to hear. She said, "Dear husband, I have much to say and shall only say this once. I request you remain silent and listen since the people and I have had enough of your control and your terror. When I met you, I let you sweep me off my feet. I didn't stand up for myself and let you take over everything. I lost all of my friends and family. When I bore your children, you banished me for not presenting you with a son. I must tell you now, I am glad I never had your son. To have given birth to a creature who could throw away all those who love him, I could not bear it. I have raised your children and they are bright, wonderful, girls. They are entitled to life, not slowly dying in a tower or dying quickly with poisoned food."

             At the mention of poisoned food the prince blanched and stuttered to dispute the claim. The princess raised her hand for him to stop. She then continued with her declaration to him.

             "This day, I do take the kingdom back with the support of the villagers, farmers and army. I also have the support of your parents who shall be King and Queen again so long as they return to the time of rule that treated all fairly. This day, all slaves, children, men and women shall return to their families and be reunited. You shall no longer have any power, property or ability to hurt the lives of others. I shall come to live in the castle with our children and let them attend school, know their grandparents and make friends. This is not negotiable. As you can see all stand behind me and support the changes.

                I shall appoint the wise woman to work with the physician of the castle to care for us and aid the poor. I shall reinstate the wizard who has been neglected when he could have been aiding the monarchy. You shall be resigned to the tower, to live and to discover why you have treated others so poorly. You shall only spend time with the wizard for counsel and the wise woman to maintain your health. I believe there is a reason you have been so cruel and demanding and declare that you must discover how you can live amongst the people once again. You shall never regain power of the kingdom or there shall be a true revolution that will involve bloodshed and your death. Do you understand?"

             The prince was crying now, waves of anger and remorse crossing his face. He only said a few words before he was taken away, "I always loved you. I never wanted to hurt you. The voices in my head, they hurt and I want to explode with the pain. I shall now leave you for the tower."

             The people cheered. The princess smiled, softly but not with any great glory. She knew that for now, things would improve. Families would be reunited and her children would have good lives. What next? Men ran the world and had always kept women and children down. How could she change things? She had made a start by appointing the wise woman to the castle and bringing the wizard back. She would speak to the King and Queen about her sitting in on the council and bringing some respected women forward. She would try to change having children work at such a young age and perhaps open a small school.

             But that was all another day. For now, she had to go get her children and bring them to meet their grandparents.                     The End!

I would like to thank you, the reader, for taking the time to read through this story. This is my first fictional story. I believe that in order to be interesting a story must have some relevance. I hope you found this story relevant. So, although this was set in a historical era of kingdoms and princesses, the topic matter of abuse and mental illness is something many people deal with day by day. I invite you to let me know what you think of the story and/or topic matter. Good or bad. Now go hug your child!

Sincerely, Sarah Sherman, Author