Remember Me: A Nutcracker Story | ✔

VII. The Mouse's Tale

The Rat King was not lying. 

Years and years ago, he was once Prince Eric, and he was the heir to the throne of a kingdom in the North in search for his future queen. And Eric was a proud sort who never settled for anything less than the best. He was looking for someone who was unique in some way; someone who would take his breath away. Alas, long and hard he sought, but he found no princess worthy by his standards to be his queen.

One day he found himself riding through a thicket that seemed to grow denser the more he surged forward. Even when he tried to pull back, the branches and thorns caught on his clothes and his horse's reins. He was eventually pulled out of his sadle, and soon he has lost his horse. Wood and leaves tangled and obscured his vision, but he kept crawling to find whatever opening he could that he did not notice a gaping hole right in front of him.

The fall was short and not enough to injure him, but Eric was dirty and grimy from his ordeal. His skin stung from where the thorns and leaves sliced them, and curious itchy sensation crept all  over his body. 

Just then, a fair, white hand appeared in front of him, and a voice like the opening of the heavens spoke.

"Are you alright?"

Eric looked up to see the most beautiful maiden he has ever seen. Her face was fair and seemed to glow from the inside. She had lips that gleamed like rubies that were curled into an amused smile. Her eyes changed color every few moments, from baby blue to gold to silver, and to a myriad of other colors. Her fair hair fell in soft waves over her shoulders. But what impressed Eric the most were her wings: delicate and gossamer they were, and glistening with morning dew. Eric scrambled to his knees and he kept his head bowed.

"I am in the presence of a great fairy Queen," he humbly said.

The fairy laughed softly. "I'm no queen, human. My mother is still living."

Eric had the grace to blush. "My apologies, Princess. I'm afraid I've been quite ignorant."

"Your apology is accepted," replied the fairy graciously. "May I ask what you are doing in the realm of the fairies? It is most unusual for us to be found by outworlders we have not summoned."

"I was lost, Princess. I just found myself riding into this strange thicket and I've lost my horse. The next thing I knew was that I was falling, and then you've appeared before me," explained Eric.

The fairy nodded, understanding the situation. "Come, and we'll get you cleaned up and riding again. I shall arrange guards to aid your poor horse. The poor darling is distressed; I can feel it."

Eric followed the fairy Princess into the realm of the fairies, where she led him into a quaint-looking cottage. A fairy maid came to their presence and attended to Eric, and soon he was looking good as new. He was given a new cloak, and his cuts were bathed and dressed. When he was done being treated, the fairy princess led him back under the hole from which he fell.

"Thank you, Princess. I am indebted to you," he said with a bow.

"Worry not, stranger. The fairy folk are very hospitable to honest men. Climb back through this hole and you shall find that the path you traversed was not as tangled as it was when you came," she replied.

Eric bowed again. The fairy curtsied for him, and then turned away to leave.

"Wait, there's something I wish to ask of you."

The fairy turned back to him with a smile. "What is it?"

Eric hesitated for a moment, before asking: "May I ask for your name, Princess?"