Once upon a time, in a land far away lived a King and a Queen who were overjoyed with their lives. They had two beautiful daughters, a castle many envied, and good fortune to last them a lifetime.
But the Queen was still not happy.
She begged the king for another heir, a daughter to fill her void. "She will be the most beautiful maiden in the land with eyes as gentle as a stream and skin as soft as salve" the queen bragged. The king loved his wife more than anything and would do anything to please her and although they tried and tried, the Queen could not bear a child.
The Queen was so overcome with sorrow, she went to all the waters in the world; every corner and pilgrimage she vowed to, praying day and night for a beautiful daughter, but her efforts proved futile.
The queen soon came to an old abandoned shack to rest from her journey back, peering into the room, she saw an old woman spinning a wheel of thread.
"Fair maiden, why don't you come in and take rest? I will give you bread and wine for your hunger" the old woman said. The Queen was reluctant to take food from the woman but she was so famished and weary from her travels. Foolishly, she took the food and ate.
But what the Queen did not know was that the old woman was a bitter witch in disguise. The queen, lulled by the wine, told the witch of all her sorrows and desire for a daughter. Now the old witch was not too mean, and took pity at the queen. She granted the queen her request.
___
At last, the Queen proved with child and was gave birth to a daughter. who she named Anai. (A-nye) There was a very fine christening ball the day Anai turned 1. The king summoned all the Fairies he could find in the whole kingdom (they found seven), that every one of them might give her a gift, as was the custom of Fairies in those days, and that by this means the Princess might have all the perfections imaginable.
After the ceremonies of the christening were over, all the company returned to the King's palace, where was prepared a great feast for the Fairies. There was placed before every one of them a magnificent cover with a case of massive gold, wherein were a spoon, knife and fork, encrusted with pure rubies. An elegant gift from the king. But as they were all sitting down at the table, they saw come into the hall a very old Fairy whom they had not invited. The queen recognized her as the old witch but pretended to misremember their meeting, humiliated at her appearance.
Still, the King ordered her a chair, but could not furnish her with a case of gold as the others, because they had seven only made for the seven Fairies. The old Fairy assumed she was slighted and muttered some threat between her teeth.
In the meanwhile, all the Fairies began to give their gifts to the Princess. The youngest gave her for a gift, that she should be the most beautiful person in the world; the next, that she should have the wit of an angel; the third, that she should have a wonderful grace in everything she did; the fourth, that she should dance perfectly well; the fifth, that she should sing like a nightingale; and the sixth, that she should play upon all kinds of music to the utmost perfection.
The oldest fairy's turn came next and she gave to her a small golden ball.
"Oh!" The queen sighed with relief, "That is all! A small ball!"
But the witch chuckled at her serene disposition.
"This ball is cursed my queen! It must travel with her at all times. Take it off her, and she will die" the witch bragged cackling with enjoyment. This terrible gift made the whole company tremble, and everybody fell a-crying.
But little did the people know of the lies the witch told.
Princess Anai would not die if the ball was out of her reach, nor was it cursed. The old witch had cursed the princess from design. You see, when the queen came into her shed, she bragged she would do anything for another child. She would love her if ugly or beautiful, sane of mind or not.
"And you would love them either way?" the old witch asked the queen.
"YES! Yes," the queen cursed, pushing more wine between her lips. The old witch chuckled to herself and put her plan in action, making sure the queen was accountable for her words.
Author Note:
What do you think the princess's curse is? The next chapter is....idk?? I just had this idea and wrote the book so I am writing it day by day. Of course like, comment, and add it to your reading lists!
