Once upon a time there was an apple tree on top of a hill. The apple tree lived in a beautiful meadow with wildflowers always in bloom. A little ways away there was a town, this town was best known through the land as a trading centre. In this town you could find almost anything, fruit would be piled head high at the daily market, and jewels could be found woven into luxurious scarfs. Even the poorest people in the town had money to lend.
This town was home to a fair maiden and her family. Her father and mother worked as tailors, and made handsome clothes, because of this she was always well dressed. The girl's name was Felicity. She was nearing her seventeenth birthday, when her parents told her that she was to marry the son of the taxidermist. Felicity let out a cry, she knew that the taxidermist's son was a cruel as a man could get and drew happiness from catching wild animals, and taking them away from their homes. Felicity left the house in tears, she ran and ran when she stopped running she found herself in a stunning meadow. Feeling instantly calmer she walked around brushing dirt off of her dress, and looking around she saw a beautiful apple tree standing atop a little hill. Curious she walked up to the tree and picked an apple, it was the best apple she had ever tasted. Tired she sat against the tree, and fell asleep. When she woke up, she saw that a few hours had passed and headed home. Every day at nine o'clock for she walked back to the apple tree and sat against it. One day however Felicity's horse needed to be taken to the farrier so she did not walk to the tree until well past noon. When she got to the tree she sat against it as always, but this time there was someone else there, sitting against the other side of the tree. " Hello" She ventured standing up, "Hello" A kindly voice answered, Felicity walked around to the other side of the tree eager to find out who this mysterious stranger was. As she came to the other side of the tree she found a handsome young man. He was a prince of a neighboring kingdom, who had come to the lovely town to learn the noble art of sword fighting. The prince had discovered the beautiful apple tree on a horse ride through the countryside, and had come everyday since. Seeing the fair maiden he instantly felt a connection. The fair maiden blushed at who she had discovered on the other side of the tree and introduced herself. The prince then introduced himself as prince Aleksander of Travaria. Everyday at the same time Felicity went back to the apple tree and talked with the prince. After a few weeks they knew that they were in love and that they were the only ones for each other. After the prince finished learning all that he could about sword fighting, he asked Felicity's parents for her hand in marriage. Their time together had been brief, however the two ached when they were separated and thought of no one else but each other. Her parents were happier than ever at the idea that she would be marrying a prince, and at once consented, and any thought of her marrying a taxidermist whisked away. On the day that Aleksander and Felicity got married they planted a beautiful apple tree on the castle grounds. When Felicity told Aleksander of the dreadful taxidermist she was to marry, he worked with the king to outlaw the horrendous practice of taxidermy. The two continued to visit the apple tree for the rest of their lives, remembering how a similar one had led them to each other.
