The Midwinter Royal Runaway

Prologue

A woman gazed at the fire that blazed on the hearth. "Why it's dancing, isn't it?" She realized with a small jolt.

The woman watched as flames shot up and brought warmth and light to her face. It defined the wrinkles that had come with the weight of the years.

Two of the children that were in the room came up to her, startling her out of her thoughts. It was a little boy and his older sister

"Oh, could you please tell the story of the runaway princess? You do it so well!" The round-faced girl with brown pigtails enjoyed the enticing stories before bedtime, but the idea of a princess running away always startled her, making it her favorite to hear. Whoever heard of a princess running away from riches and a prince?

"If I ever had jewels and gold and a handsome prince, I would never run away" This she had declared when she first heard the story.

"Very well." Said the old lady, chuckling at the earnestness of the child. " Come now. Sit, sit." She waved the others over, and they made a circle around her.

"Everyone ready? Have all of you used the bathroom and such?"

After everyone had nodded their heads, she glanced at each one. This part was always her favorite of the night. Not the storytelling or going to bed- but seeing the excitement in the eyes of the children. Her being able to see the children's imaginations grow each night was what gave her joy. That is why that very night, she began the story once more with simple four words.

"Once upon a time."

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