The Dog Princess: A Tom Holland Fairy Tale

The Curse

Rosemary happened to be out and about while the others were cooped up in the Lover's Corridor. It wasn't because she didn't want to socialize with the other princesses, but rather the risk was too high. One command, no matter how small and trivial, could expose everything her family had worked so painstakingly hard to hide.

Years ago, when Rosemary was only a baby, her father and mother were fighting against a peasant revolt bubbling up in their kingdom. In attempt to soothe their people, the king and queen were advised to summon peasant representatives from every part of their kingdom to come to the palace and voice their complaints. Peasants braved the journey for a chance to have a voice, but were only met with disappointment. The royals had little sympathy, and often turned away the weary travelers without a any real solution. They would soon realize their mistake, when a young woman named Elizabeth arrived at the palace one fateful day.

"Majesties," She knelt before them, her scarlet locks covering her teary face. "My name is Elizabeth, and I have come in desperation. You have heard your people's cries! Pray, tell us why you won't respond! Why won't you help us?"

King Benedict, Rosemary's father, spouted the same excuse he always did with the same dismissive sigh. "It is not the crown's concern whether or not each individual can afford to eat."

Elizabeth's face fell and her tone darkened in an instant. "You tax us relentlessly! There are shortages everywhere and everything imaginable is hard to come by! It is every bit your concern!" She hissed, rising slowly from the floor and slowing approaching the thrones.

King Benedict stood from his throne, made furious by her disrespect. "I am king! I will not be spoken to with such brazenness! Guards! Get this woman out of my sight!"

"You treat your people like dogs! You will regret this!" Elizabeth screamed as she stretched her arms out and began to float off of the ground, levitating in the air over everyone. All the guards stood stunned as her eyes turned into blinding white beams. Elizabeth violently turned toward the queen, who was holding her infant child.

"Leave my family alone, you witch!" King Benedict shouted, trying to shield his wife and daughter as she flew toward them. She slashed him out of the way, and to the queen's horror snatched up the baby. She spat a curse on the child, the eerie melody of the song haunted all who were there that day. Then the witch disappeared, and was never seen since:

"Your pride has made you turn away
Those who are most in need
So with this curse your heir will pay
My warning you must heed!

Should your daughter disobey
A request, command, or task
Gone she'll be 'til next of day
Behind a dog face mask!

If you want the curse to lift
She'll have but three day's time
To marry the first man she should kiss
Her true love sublime!

If you fail to meet this task
And wedding bells don't chime
As a human, that day's her last
And be a dog for all of time!"

Her parents spent years trying to undo the curse another way—an easier, more convenient way, to no avail. "There's no use! None of the spells, tonics, potions—nothing has worked!" Her mother cried in frustration.

"Relax, Christine, once midnight approaches she'll change back!" Her father bellowed, more concerned about other things.

"Benedict she can't live like this! How will she find a husband?"

"Like all other princesses find husbands! They obey! As long as she obeys, nothing happens. There's nothing to worry about. It's more of a blessing than a curse if you ask me—"

"And what of the kiss? Should she be foolish and fall for someone before it's time—"

"She won't. Keep her here. Don't let her go out. She can't defy us anyway. Tell her when she's old enough that she must only kiss one man—a man of our choosing. Handle it. I have duties to attend to." Rosemary's father stomped out of the room, his stoney face never looking upon the scared little puppy. He would never look at his daughter the same way again. Her mother scooped her up, looking sorrowfully into the somehow familiar puppy dog eyes. Her smooth coat gleamed in the candlelight until the hour struck twelve, and then it disappeared. A small, cold, and still frightened Rosemary clung to her mother, tearful, not knowing her mother was just as afraid as she was.