Melissa Yeh and Tarah Leake

For their Honors English task, Melissa and Tarah created their own fairy tale in two versions: Melissa told it in the traditional style, and Tarah told it in a contemporary Disney fashion.

“Broken Curses,” Melissa Yeh

In a quiet kingdom just beyond the distance, there lived a princess.  She possessed all the characteristics of an ideal maiden; she was beautiful, graceful, and as delicate as a flower.  At least that is what the kingdom painted her to be.  In all reality, she was just as any other girl.  The only difference was the tragic turn in her life.  At sixteen, a dreadful curse fell upon her, a misfortune resulting in the devastation of the king and queen.  Two years.  That is what her disease entitled her to.  Fully aware of everything that had suddenly become of her life, the princess paused, furrowing her brows, closing her eyes, and then sighing deeply.  She decided she would simply accept it and make the most of it.  However, the king, queen, and the rest of the kingdom thought differently.  They became overly sensitive around the princess, putting up masks of synthetic happiness in attempt to comfort her. The entire kingdom pitied her, all except two people.  These two were her handmaid and a blacksmith’s apprentice.

Although to anyone else they were royalty, a servant, and a commoner, to themselves, they saw three of the closest friends, inseparable to all costs.  The trio shared all secrets and kept all secrets.  The friendship rooted from as young as little children to all the more closer for those last two years.  The princess’s life was beginning to close, and the other two felt it as well.  They spent their final years going the distance, ignoring forced sympathies that had become ritualistic chants lacking emotion.  They followed only the setting sun on the horizon, leaving worries and regrets in the last room.

This time they had wandered into the forest just beyond the castle walls.  The boy apprentice held a sword he had recently finished making, swinging it around as if in a dance, cutting through the wind.  The maid sat on the ground against the trunk of a tree watching the boy.  The princess perched herself above the maid on a tree branch near the edge of the cliff with a view of the whole kingdom before her.  She was staring into the afternoon sky.  The sunlight filtered through the leaves and the branches, scattering spotlights here and there.  She marveled at the warmth of the sunlight mixed with the coolness of the shade.  Silence, absolute silence between the three slowed time, the kind of silence that held comfort.

“Remember,” the princess began, still looking at the sky, “the rose cake?”

The maid glanced up, and the boy lowered his sword, both smiling.

—

A very young princess enters the scene, along with a young maid in training, both the same age.  The princess had snuck out once again, this time, climbing out of a castle window.  After running through the streets, they had stopped at the sight of an enormous rose cake.  As if in a trance they were drawn to it immediately.  The delicacy and the fragrance tempted the young girls.  The maid then shook her head, grabbing hold of the princess’s arm.  Just as they were about to leave, a boy spoke behind them.  Startled, the two girls spun around facing a boy they had never seen before.  The young maid prepared for the girls’ escape, should the boy call out. To their surprise, he waltzed up to the enormous cake, which, when compared next to each other, were about the same size.  He stood up on his tiptoes, taking out three chunks of the dessert.  He proceeded to shove one of them into his mouth, while holding the other two out to the princess and her maid.  The girls turned toward each other, hesitated for a moment, then grabbed the cake from the boy’s hand.

After a little while, the three were sitting on the floor lost in laughter and cake.  The boy asked for the names of his new friends, and when the princess told him, he nodded and continued as he had no clue the princess was right beside him.  An hour later, the baker came in with a couple and found the children asleep on the ground, curled up next to each other.  He nearly fainted from the fact the wedding cake had been half eaten, and also from the fact the very princess of the kingdom had somehow appeared in his bakery.

—

“Then the castle guards brought me in as if I was some horrendous criminal,” the boy recalled.

“You couldn’t stop crying for three hours,” the princess added in laughter.

“I had to explain everything to the king and queen for you,” the maid mentioned, shaking her head.  She stopped and leaned forward,  “Do you remember the bear?”

—

The princess at the age of twelve sat staring at the field outside the castle library distracted from the book she had in hand.  Her maid was seated across from her, focused on her story.  Out of nowhere, the boy appeared in front of them, a sly grin painted across his face.  At once the girls dropped their novels, jumping up to accompany the boy on each side.  That day they secretly went backstage of the traveling circus that had been visiting the kingdom.  They roamed through the tents meeting and casually talking to the members.  Eventually they found themselves in the area with all the animals in their cages, where no one else seemed to be around.  They stood up close to the metal bars, watching the different behaviors of the animals, completely fascinated.  Each animal seemed to amaze the three children more than the last one.  Approaching one corner, they noticed a cage was empty.  At first they joked around: the princess stood inside the cage, pretending to be an animal, until the maid noticed a sign hanging off sideways on the other side.  Peculiarly, the words had been faded and three lines were marked across the words.  It resembled a claw.  She squinted, her stomach dropping as she realized it read: bear.

The boy, who stood next to the maid, also recognized the words on the sign.  He heard a low growl behind him and saw the princess’s eyes completely widen.  Immediately he grabbed the maid’s hand and dragged her into the cage with the princess, shutting the door.  The trio backed to the far end, farthest from the large brown bear clawing at the cage.  They clung to each other, each quivering in absolute fear.

Eventually, relief flooded through them as they heard multiple voices behind the bear, luring it away from the cage.  The men that appeared, halted, shocked to see the princess and two others had been trembling in the bear cage at a circus.

—

“After that we agreed never to enter a circus again,” she noted.

All of the sudden, the princess swung forward, falling off the tree.  The boy rushed forward, just in time to break her fall; he leaned her against the tree as she had fainted.  She was sweating and feverish, though she had showed no signs of it before.  The maid dropped to her knees checking her forehead.  Looking up urgently, she felt the princess’s breath become slow and start to fade.  But the boy and the maid did not move an inch.  For this situation had happened before.  The first time, they darted back to the castle with the princess in the boy’s arms.  A few minutes later she was back to normal.  The next time they were in the library, when the princess passed out; yet before the physician even arrived, she had returned to normal.  The same happened another time, then another, then almost every week.  The trio, however, refused to acknowledge that any day now, they would lose her.  For losing her meant losing a part of them, a relationship broken and never to be repaired again.  Their souls were woven together and tightened through the fact that she was quickly going, but at the same time would completely wreck them in the process.

They waited. Five minutes went by.  Then ten went by.  The boy began pacing to and from the tree, back and forth between the sunlight.  “We should take her back to the castle,” he said restlessly.

“This happened last time,” the maid insisted, holding the princess’s hand tightly.

“I don’t think we should stay here, I mean, better safe—”

“You’re just overthinking it.”

“Perhaps you’re underestimating it.”

“Are you giving up on her, then?”  The maid stared, making direct eye contact with him.

“Giving up?” the boy frowned.

“Can’t you wait just another moment?  Or are you just waiting for the moment she finally gives?” the maid snapped.

“How could you assume that?” his voice rose in anger.  “I don’t want this any more than you do, but we can’t do anything about it and—”

“We should be trying to do something about it.  We’ve ignored it for long enough.”

“We’ve gone over this.  The princess specifically decided no one would try to look for a cure; she knew this was inevitable.”

“You would just sit there uselessly without even trying to solve the problem whatsoever?”  She got up on her feet, facing him with the princess in the grass in between them.

“You would disrespect her wishes?”

“Listen to yourself, talking as if she has already left us.”

“Yet you talk as if deaf to everything that has been going on.  It’s pointless, your words are only a maid’s speculation,” he finished, sharply.

The maid looked crestfallen.  “As if someone like the princess would acknowledge someone as lowly as a blacksmith’s apprentice.  To think that must be the only reason you’re here; if I had this curse, no one would give a second look,” her voice cracking as she felt anger and heartbreak rush through her body.

The boy raised his hand and slapped her across the face.  “You’re right,” he hissed, making direct eye contact with her.

The maid completely drowned out all other rational decisions.  Noticing the boy’s sword next to her, she snatched it up with both hands.  Only seeing red, she plunged the sword deep through the boy.  Her stomach plummeted as she looked up to see the princess’s face.  The princess’s face, stained with tears, displayed disappointment and sorrow.  Realizing what she had done, the maid let the sword fall from her hands.  She had been right; the princess’s collapse was just like any other time.  When the princess awoke to hear the argument and see the sword, she pushed herself in time to shove the boy out of the way.  The boy cried out in agony when he saw the ailing princess and what the maid had done.  The boy noticed the princess begin to fall backwards over the cliff.  In an attempt to save her, the boy grabbed her arm to pull her back.  However, it was too late, as he misjudged the distance, sending both of them over the cliff, plunging down a long drop.  The maid reached her hand out, screaming and sobbing.  Her head collapsed into her hands.  The curse had broken.

---

“The Princess and the Curse,” Tarah Leake

Once upon a time there was a beautiful kingdom called Merryland. All those in the kingdom were pleasant, kind folk. All helped one another and sought to bestow no harm. None was fairer than the young princess, Evangeline. Evangeline was anything but selfish and carried no hate in her heart. Her two closest friends were Millie, a maid of the castle, and Will, a boy apprentice. The three were the best of friends, but Will always cared for Millie in a fonder way. However, he was far too shy to mention it.

One bright day in Merryland, a sudden darkness enveloped the kingdom.  The people, frozen in fear, heard a stern voice call from the skies. A shapeless figure declared, “Within one year’s time, before the princess of your kingdom turns sixteen, she shall die at the hand of one she trusts the most.” The darkness dispersed. The frantic Merrylanders ran to the palace to seek comfort and explanation. The king assured the people the princess would be protected and never harmed. The people felt calmed, but Evangeline feared the worst.

And so, Evangeline was kept locked away in the palace for one year. She was not permitted to leave nor accept visitors. Even Millie and Will were prohibited from seeing their dear companion. Millie and Will made several attempts to sneak into the castle and see Evangeline, but time and time again they failed. After a while, Millie and Will accepted the fact they might never see Evangeline again.

Evangeline trusted no one, for the threat had made her paranoid. She refused to eat food made by any cook she knew the name of. She refused her music lessons, her father’s goodnight kisses, and her mother’s lullabies. Evangeline shut herself away from everything and everyone, for she was destined to die at the hand of someone she loved. This rejection and fear had upset not just herself, but her mother as well. The beloved Queen Elvina fell ill and tragically passed in her sorrow.

The night before Evangeline’s sixteenth birthday, Millie and Will sat in the fair forest and shared stories of their time together. The three met when they were simply toddlers running around the palace courtyard. Millie was one year older than Evangeline, but that made no difference. They spent every moment together as if they were sisters.

—

On a bright spring day, the adolescent Millie and Eve were playing when suddenly they discovered a rose cake. It was a beautiful cake made for a beautiful couple. Young Evangeline cared not to whom it belonged, rather, she went for a bite. Millie grabbed her arm and with a stern glance proclaimed, “We can’t eat this. It’s not for us!” Suddenly, a third voice was heard from behind the shadows, “Sure it is!”

“Who’s that? Who’s there?” Millie inquired. A young boy stepped into the light.

“I’m…” he paused and looked at the names on the cake, “Groom.” He finished.

“Really, you’re name is Groom?” Evangeline giggled.

“I’m Bride,” Millie began to play along, “Look here is a cake for ‘The Bride and Groom.’ That must be for us!” she declared. The three began devouring the cake, when in walked the baker and King Gregory himself. Outraged, King Gregory made the three apologize to the baker. Millie, however, had to scrub the bakery from floor to ceiling. The three were friends ever since, but Will always noticed that when they got into trouble, Millie would receive stricter punishments from the King. King Gregory never seemed to be fond of Millie, but Will figured the King wasn’t fond of either of them.

—

“Ahhhh yes,” Millie sighed. “I remember the rose cake.”

“That wasn’t even as much fun as the fair!” Will continued.

—

When Evangeline was twelve, she requested Millie, Will, and herself be allowed to attend a fair in the neighboring kingdom. King Gregory, cautiously, agreed. The three ran around, giving the nanny a frightful headache. They had sweets of all kinds and saw things they’d never seen. At one point, they found themselves by an open cage and the nanny was nowhere in sight. Evangeline stepped inside the cage and began acting like an animal. Will joined in, but Millie stood staring idly at the sign on the cage. It was old and scratched up, but she could barely make out the words, “B-Be-Bar….”

“BEAR!” Evangeline screamed. Will grabbed Millie’s arm, pulling her into the cage, and closing the door. The bear clawed at the children between the bars. Millie looked at Will in amazement and gratefulness. “Thank you,” she whispered, withholding her tears. Will smiled and Evangeline continued screaming until someone came and lured the bear away and freed the kids.

—

“I was so scared,” Millie recalled, “but somehow you made me feel safe.”

Will smiled, “That’s why we’re such good friends. We always look out for each other.”

“We can’t just sit around!” Millie exclaimed. “It is Evangeline’s birthday, and she is just as much our friend!”

“You’re right,” Will prompted. “We have to find a way into the castle to see her.”

“I think I know how…” Millie smirked.

Millie’s mother was the head maid at the castle and was a beautiful and loving person. Millie and Will had not asked for her help before because they couldn’t bear to get her in trouble, but tonight they had no such worries. Millie explained to her mother they simply had to celebrate Ev’s birthday. With a concerned smile, her mother let the friends into the castle. They entered the kitchen and Millie explained she could climb up the laundry chute into Evangeline’s bedroom. Millie’s mother warned the children to be careful, for there were extra guards, since this was the forsaken night. Millie climbed up the chute and Will followed behind.

Millie reached the top. The room was dark and she could not focus her eyes on any one thing.

“Evangeline?” she whispered quietly, “are you here?” Suddenly, a quick, piercing pain shattered through Millie’s lungs. The lights turned on and Evangeline stood holding the dagger.

Will hopped out of the chute, “Happy Bir…” he stopped staring at Millie’s body on the floor. He collapsed. “Wh…How could you do this?!” Will screamed at Evangeline. She was staring, in shock of what she’d done.

“I’m…I’m sorry…I was so worried and I heard someone coming up the chute…I didn’t think it would be you two!” Evangeline cried. King Gregory and the guards came rushing in along with the servants, led by Millie’s mother, Wendolyn. She screamed at the sight of her beloved daughter.

“You monster,” she screamed, not at Evangeline, but at King Gregory, “This is all your fault!”

Everyone turned to look at the King for a due response. “Evangeline, Will, there’s something you need to know….” Wendolyn’s voice shook while her hands curled into fists.  She explained before Evangeline had been born, the king was in love with her. When Millie was born, the king had already been engaged, so he rejected Wendolyn and his illegitimate daughter and made them servants in his own castle. The curse was meant for his daughter, the eldest heir to the throne. The kingdom assumed it was Evangeline, but by blood the curse fell to young Millie.

—

The King looked down, ashamed of his actions, and admitted Wendolyn’s story was true. The guards took King Gregory to the jailhouse, for it was a terrible crime to lie in the kingdom of Merryland. Evangeline cried while holding her sister’s hand. Will looked at Wendolyn, “Is there anything I can do?” he begged, but Wendolyn shook her head.

“True love’s kiss!” Evangeline shouted. “Will! You must. True love’s kiss breaks all curses and evil.” Will was silent with wide eyes. “Come now,” Evangeline grinned, “I’ve been friends with you for too many years not to pick up on these things. Please, Will, you are her only chance.” Will held Millie’s head and stroked her long, blonde hair. He leaned close to her young, porcelain face.

“Millie,” he whispered, gently, “Come back to me,” and with a kiss more romantic and powerful than any had seen before, Millie’s porcelain skin returned to her sun-kissed color, her cold, blue lips became pink and plump, and her green, sparkled eyes opened.

“How could I ever leave my true love and best friend?” she smiled. The whole event was explained to Millie and the kingdom. Evangeline reformed her friendship with the two, and Evangeline and Mildred co-ruled the kingdom with more grace and kindness than any other before. At age eighteen, Queen Mildred and Will wedded, demanding a rose cake with “Bride and Groom” written on it for the wedding. Merryland was at peace once more. The three companions were together at last. And all lived happily ever after.