Sleeping Beauty

Chapter One: "The Uninvited"

Once upon a time two kingdoms stood divided. On one side of the large river that divided them lived the race of mortal humans. On the other lived the fairy folk. Beings that lived longer than the race of mortals and were at home in its wild untamed landscape. For many years, the two sides fought. For the race of mortals often feared the power that the fairy folk possessed. Yet despite this, the fairy folk remained peaceful unless provoked. So, by the time that young King Stephen took the throne, a truce was arranged to end the fighting once and for all. For he believed that the fairy folk had a lot they could teach the race of mortals. If one just took the time to listen. So, on the day that his first-born son came into the world, King Stephen invited the leaders of the fairy folk to join them in celebrating new life. Not just for his kingdom but for the lasting peace he hoped to form with them. To his great surprise, there was not a single person from his kingdom that did not show up. Highborn and peasant alike attended, and it made King Stephen proud. All day long gifts were given to him in honor of his son's birth. Then as night began to fall, the three fairy leaders appeared and made their way up to King Stephen in his great hall.

Before the throne chairs sat the baby's cradle. Stepping out from among the three, a fairy woman in a long dress made from flowers in shades of soft pinks and deep reds bowed to them. Her long leafy wings folded neatly behind her as she told the King and Queen in a clear motherly tone. "Your majesties. With your permission, we would like to bless your child with a single gift. No more. No less. Special gifts that will show our humble thanks to the ending of this long war. And one day with any luck, will bring our two kingdoms even closer together." The King and Queen bowed to them respectfully before King Stephen gestured to his sleeping son. The fairy smiled warmly, approaching the baby carefully. Pulling a single rose from her flower crown, she waved her hand over it and turned it into a ball of pink light. Extending her hands over the baby, she said aloud for all to hear. "As fairy queen over all plants and its plant creatures. I, Flora, give you the gift of beauty. He will possess a beauty rare to your lands. With eyes as blue as the skies. Skin as pale as a snowdrop and hair of soil brown. The most powerful color in nature. He'll hold himself with grace and be adored wherever he goes. For like the sun, his smile will warm the hearts of those around him."

Flora eased the ball down over the baby and it popped silently to fall like sparkling pollen over him. Flora then bowed to the baby and the royals, before stepping back with the others. Beside her, the youngest of the three fairy queens, tugged on her arm and nervously whispered. "Flora...? I forgot to bring the drop of cloud rain." Flora discreetly leaned closer to her, whispering lightly. "Quickly. Go get it." The blue fairy bowed to the royals, then spun to shrink herself down to a smaller size. This allowed her to flee from the main hall faster and over the large crowds. Flora shook her head, telling the royals that gave her a concerned look. "She forgot her ingredient. She won't be long, your majesties." Nudging the other Fairy Queen forward, Flora told her promptly. "Your turn Fauna." Fauna blushed shyly but stumbled forward. Fauna's butterfly fairy wings twitched nervously behind her, but she bowed to the royals. On her head was a crown of twigs that looked like it might have been a large bird's nest at one point. She curtsied in a green dress made from shed animal furs that were woven together and accented in bright green bird feathers. Pulling a green feather from her crown, she waved her hand over it to turn it into a glowing green ball.

Carefully moving up to the baby, she extended her hands out and announced clearly for all to hear. "As fairy queen over all animals. I, Fauna, give you the gift of song. His laughter will bring joy to those around him. His words will comfort those that need to hear it. His singing will bring peace not just to others but to himself. And in man or animals, he will always find a friend. For his voice will speak to the heart of even the most solitary of beasts." Fauna's ball slowly eased down and popped into what looked like tiny shimmering feathers that drifted down over him. Upon stepping back, she bowed to the royals again. Flora shuffled her feet nervously. The King and Queen smiled, choosing to help stall a bit longer as he announced aloud. "These are such wonderful gifts. Thank you with all my heart. Seeing such generosity, I would like the three of you... Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather to be... fairy godmothers to him. Should something happen to us. I would be honored if you three took him under your wings." Flora and Fauna gasped in bewilderment, bowing yet again with the brightest of smiles to thank them. Flora was going to thank them more formally, when the heavy wooden doors to the hall burst open. The doors hit the stone walls so hard that the torches in the hall blew out from the strong gust of wind. The tapestries and banners hanging from the banisters and walls rustled as a dead silence filled the now dimly lit great hall.