The Sleeping Beauty's Prince

Chapter Two

The day arrived. Outside the castle walls, the people were joyous. They had never been told what was to happen. For all they knew, it was their beautiful princess's seventeenth birthday. She had come of age, a thought that was enough to fill the streets with enthusiastic energy.

In stark contrast, the palace was filled with an atmosphere of fear. The servants prepared the main hall for the celebration, but it was with an edge of worry that they did so.

The king was more nervous than usual. That day he didn't even allow Claire to wear any of her pointed tiaras. What's more, her dress had a soft, round design, as if even too sharp of an angle in the cloth might prick her and set off the curse. It turned out to be too big, but it could not be fitted to her, since the maids could not be trusted near her with pins.

None of that mattered. It was a spinning wheel that was supposed to unleash the curse, and every one of them had burned.

But magic would find a way.

Prince Owen had been at the princess's side ever since she left her chambers that morning. Being together filled them with comfort and sorrow all at once.

"Did your father invite many people to the celebration?" he asked her while they walked along an open-walled corridor. The silence between them had at last driven him to try to talk.

Claire shook her head. Her hand swung aimlessly at her side. "He invited no one from outside of the castle. He didn't want them to be here when...you know..."

"Oh."

Then the silence returned.

The celebration took place before noon in order for it to be over ahead of anything that happened. Claire wished it hadn't. Although the customary entertainment was well-planned, the foods excellent, not one person in the room was in the mood to enjoy it. Most played with their meal dismally, while others forgot theirs completely to stare at the princess with a mixture of sadness and horror. It was a birthday nightmare.

Prince Owen didn't even seat himself at a table, instead standing at Claire's shoulder as she tried to eat. Although her appetite was little, she forced food into her stomach, knowing that this would be her last meal in a hundred years.

The clock in the main hall was only half an hour from noon. Claire didn't even realize she was bending her spoon in half until Owen placed a hand on her own tense one. "It's going to be fine," he whispered. "I'll protect you."

Claire nodded without speaking and turned back to her food.

A little while later, a jester walked out in front of the guests, holding three gold balls in his hands. Another entertainer struck up a tune on his lute, and the jester tossed the balls into the air one by one. As he juggled them, someone else threw more to him. There were four gold balls circling in the air. Now five, and six, and seven.

The first stroke of noon filled the hall with a sharp bell sound, sending Claire's heart lurching in fear.

Magic would find a way...

Down the table, a jumpy lady cried out and spilled her goblet on the floor. The juggler too was distracted by the clock, and stepped mid-toss into the puddle.

The gold balls flew through the air as he slipped. Most fell harmlessly to the floor. A few shot straight up, sending the people beneath them scurrying to get out of the way. One rocketed forward with incredible speed and caught Prince Owen in the side of his head.

"OWEN!" Claire screamed as he collapsed to the floor behind her.

The clock struck, the third toll.