A Fairy Tale by Polly

Fairy Tale

Once upon a time, in a faraway land, when fairies still flew about, there was a large, powerful kingdom called Fantalusia. The kingdom had many plantations and farms, and it was plentiful. The fairies that lived in the suburbs of Fantalusia planted magic herbs and rare fruit in their vineyards and gardens. Everyone around Fantalusia knew that the kingdom was beautiful, and it was known far and wide for its abundance of gold and jewels, found in its hundreds of thousands of mines. King Hendrick II of this land was kind and wise, and for this everybody in the kingdom respected him. His family was as kind as he was. His wife was Queen Marie V, and his two daughters were Annabelle, as pretty as a rose with hair as golden as sand; and Lilybelle, with her pale complexion and flowing golden hair. Some said that her voice was as sweet as the ringing of a bell.

But even the greatest kingdom has problems. A time came when a terrible plague swept through the kingdom, threatening lives. Some said that it was smallpox, some said it was scarlet fever. It seemed to be both, but at the same it seemed not to be both. Blisters broke out on people, and some went mad. Many died. Fantalusia was no longer abundant and beautiful, for the plantations and farms were not cared for. It was a place of death. On the sixth day of the sickness, a decree was read to the people by a royal messenger:

As the guardian of this nation, I herby order all persons

to remain on their farms or property. Do not visit thy

relatives and acquaintences, for this will keep the disease

from spreading farther. Therefore anyone who is caught

out-side their own farms will be taken to the castle and

thrown into the dungeon and their farms will be left to

rot unattended.

Signed King Hendrick 11

As Lilybelle slept that night, four fairies slipped through her window and looked around. They gazed at the pretty things around them. They talked to each other in fairy language, which is like you have never heard and probably will not hear in your life. The little fairies talked quietly at first, but, as children do, they grew louder. They soon woke up the princess. She opened her eyes and looked around. The fairies quickly went into hiding, but they had left magic dust around her room and on the pretty things that they had touched, which illuminated them, and Lilybelle knew that they were about. She said calmly, “ If you fairies are here, come out.” They cautiously came out of hiding.

Lilybelle was delighted at seeing real fairies. She had heard of them, but had never seen one. She introduced herself.

“I am Princess Lilybelle, daughter of King Hendrick II and Queen Marie V. Who are you?”

The fairies introduced themselves too, one by one.

“I am Rosa, the Flower Fairy,” said the first one.

“I am Martina, the Rainbow Fairy,” said the next one.

“I am Lora, the Dancing Fairy,” said the third one.

“I am Daphne, the Princess Fairy. I am the daughter of the Queen of the Fairies,” said the last, who appeared to be the youngest.

Lilybelle talked to them late into the night. Soon she remembered the sickness in the kingdom, and told the fairies about it. They said that they had come to visit her for that very reason, because they had something for her, but had forgotten. And with that they motioned to a little glass full of a magical herb’s juice on her dresser. They had put it there earlier. “This will protect you against the plague. Drink it.” And Lilybelle did as they said. She set the empty cup down. “Thank you,” she said. “Please come visit me again soon.”

The next morning the queen awoke with a high fever. Her skin burned when she was under the blankets, but when the servants removed the blankets, she was as cold as ice. She had tossed and turned the night before and had slept little, so there were dark circles under her eyes. The king called for the royal doctor, but after he sent the messenger he became dizzy and went to his room to rest. When the doctor came, he examined them both. He gravely told Lilybelle that they were both ill, and that she should stay in her room and rest so she would not get sick. But Lilybelle knew that she was invulnerable to the plague, and she cared for them herself.

Several mornings after, the king rose and felt much better. That night the queen rose also and was able to eat dinner with her family. There was much rejoicing. There was no plague in the castle anymore!

But two days later, the queen collapsed in her room. Her shocked maids moved her to the bed, and again Lilybelle helped care for her. But the morning after, the fever was worse then before. Her face was bright with fever. She cried out in her sleep, if she could even get to sleep at all. All of the people were like this before they died.

“Delirious,” the doctor said after examining her. “She is delirious. I had hoped it wouldn’t come to this, but it has. There is no telling what may happen next.”

“Is there no hope?” The look on the king’s face was desperate.

“I do not know. I will come tomorrow morning and check in on her. All we can do is wait.” And with that, he left.

But there was no need of him coming the next morning. What the king had feared happened that night. Queen Marie V died that night.

The next morning, the doctor, without knowledge of the queen’s death, came to the palace. He was surprised that no one was there to meet him. He started down the hall, but met a sad looking young duchess on the way.

“What is wrong, my dear?” he asked.

The duchess didn’t answer. She just walked on. Then the doctor realized what had happened. He looked at his bag, knowing that he did not need it now. It was too late.

A change came over the king. He no longer smiled. Lilybelle missed her mother, but she was still as kind, like her mother had been. It must have been because of the fairies’ visits, for they now came to see her often.

One evening, after a rather boring day, the fairies came to see Lilybelle, who was more than grateful to see them. They sat talking for a little while, but the head maid came in to see that the room was clean, and the fairies hid. But they had no need of hiding, for the maid looked and saw that the room appeared to be sparkling clean because of the fairy dust. The maid was pleased at the clean room, and thought that the maids had done it. She said goodnight to Lilybelle, reminding her that it was late and to get to bed, and then went to bed herself.

A month had passed and it was late August. Lilybelle often went for walks in the royal gardens, and once in a while she persuaded her friend Rilla to go with her. The summer air blew more color into Rilla’s cheeks, which was good because she had been deathly ill the month before. Soon Lilybelle invited her to come and see the fairies.

Now Rilla was surprised that fairies came to visit Lilybelle, but she was curious, and accepted the invitation. She was excited that she was going to meet real fairies, as Lilybelle had been on that first night.

That night the fairies came to see Lilybelle, and she introduced them to Rilla. The girls talked with the fairies for a while. Then Martina noticed Lilybelle’s doll house.

“Lilybelle, I noticed your doll house up on that shelf. Do you think we might stay here for the night in the doll house? It is raining outside, and you know we can’t fly in the rain.” Lilybelle agreed, and even took some blankets for the beds. But the maid came in to inspect the rooms, and found the fairies sleeping soundly in the doll house. She thought that they were just dolls. But Daphne woke up when she heard the door open, and timidly flew out. The shocked maid took all four of them out of the room, and put them in a box. For she knew that fairies could make sparkle dust, and she knew that she could make a fortune selling this, for it was very valuable and an ounce was worth a ton of gold. She knew that the amount she held was worth more than the palace. She could have absolute power now, but first the royal family had to be out of the way.

The next morning Lilybelle went straight to the doll house, and, not finding the fairies, thought that they had gone home. But they had promised to visit her that afternoon in the garden, and when they didn’t come, Lilybelle was worried. She wondered where her little friends were. Soon Lilybelle began to suspect the maid had taken them, for the maid avoided her as much as was possible and was forever running off to the parlor, for that was where they were hidden. Lilybelle followed her that evening and saw her open the box and take them out, telling them to make sparkle dust. After the maid left, Lilybelle opened the box, and lifted them out, telling them to fly home.

But the clever maid had been watching, and knew that she could easily catch the fairies and put them back, but first she had to get Lilybelle out of the way. She locked all the doors to the outside, and then went to her room to plan.

The next morning the maid suggested that Lilybelle get some fresh air. Lilybelle had been planning to go outside anyway, and readily accepted the idea. After she was gone, the maid put her plan into action. She took Lilybelle’s little sister Annabelle deep into the forest, far away, telling her to play and promising to come back for her. But the maid had no plan to do this. Annabelle was young, and was easily fooled. She played with her dolls and sang, not noticing the time. But it began to rain, and Annabelle started to cry, yelling for her sister. Lilybelle heard her, and ran far into the woods. She took Annabelle into her arms, and told her to run with her. But Lilybelle had not been in the woods before, and didn’t know her way. Soon they came to a clearing. Little cottages dotted the clearing. Lilybelle knew it was a village. A young woman noticed Lilybelle and Annabelle, and told them to come inside. She didn’t recognize the princesses, and they certainly didn’t look royal with their dripping hair and soaked dresses. They were too tired to speak, and the young woman didn’t care. She just told them to rest, and started dinner.

The next morning the young woman introduced herself as Mary Litens. Lilybelle introduced herself and her sister. She explained how they came and asked how to get back to the castle. Now Mary didn’t know the way to the castle, and neither did any of the people in her village. But her sister happened to be the greedy maid, and when she came home, Mary asked her to take the girls home. The maid agreed, but had no real intention of bringing them home. The next day she got them up early and took them outside, starting for the castle, but leading them to a faraway village instead. She said, “I think we are lost. We may have to ask directions here.” She settled the girls beside a tree, and ran into a house, asked directions, and went out the back door. She went off without the girls, leaving them there. When the girls realized that the maid had left them behind, they went into the cabin, asking directions to the castle. But the woman in the cabin was in on the maid’s plan. She closed the door behind them, locked it and the back door, and said, “You’re not going back to the castle, Lilybelle; you’re staying with me. You’re staying with me for a long time.” And with that, she shoved them into a back room.

Annabelle looked scared. “Why aren’t we going home, Lilybelle? Isn’t that where we live?” And she started to cry. Lilybelle comforted her the best she could, but she couldn’t answer her sister’s questions.

Meanwhile, back at the castle, the fairies easily used their magic to get out, and began looking for the princesses. They soon had to give up, though, for it started to rain hard, and they had to find shelter. The king was worried about his daughters, thinking they had wandered too far and were lost. He sent out search parties, and when they came back without the girls, he himself joined them. This was exactly the maid’s plan. She went and took one of the queen’s old dresses from her wardrobe, put it on, and told the servants that the king was planning to marry her to take the Marie’s place. The servants were easily tricked, and soon she was sitting on a comfortable throne. Since the king was out, she had plenty of time to plan her next move.

When the king returned, he saw a new woman sitting on the queen’s throne. She stood to greet him, and then began:

“Now Hendrick, don’t be surprised. I have lots of money, and I can help you rule. I’ve already settled it, and our wedding is in three months.”

The king had been tired, but he immediately woke up. “Our wedding?!” His first thought was to throw her in prison, but then she started reasoning, and after an hour of debate, the king gave in helplessly.

Meanwhile, the princesses were being put to “good use” by the woman who called herself Miss Minna. She made them sweep the floors, set the table and make dinner, wash and dry the dishes and put them away. Then she sent them to bed. The next day she got them up early, made them beat out rugs, make beds, prepare breakfast, the list never ended! Then to bed early, and up early the next day. And so on. While she did this work, Lilybelle did some thinking. She now understood. The maid had captured the fairies, became rich and was now trying to become queen! But she couldn’t do that unless the princesses were out of the way, which was why they were sent away. But if the clever maid could trick her father into marrying her, she would be queen, and they would be trapped with Minna for the rest of their lives! Lilybelle shuddered. She couldn’t tell Annabelle what was happening, so she had to make a plan by herself. First, she had to tell someone her story so they could help her. But who would believe her? She thought this out carefully.

Soon she had her plan thought out. She and Annabelle would stay awake until Minna had gone to sleep. Then they would slip to the front room and find the key to the door. They would escape into the woods and go home. But there was one thing wrong with her plan. No one in the village knew the way to the palace. But Lilybelle thought that if they tried hard enough, they could find their way.

That night both girls escaped outside. They quickly looked around to make sure no one was outside. They saw one figure, but it appeared to be a girl about Lilybelle’s age. Lilybelle was shocked. She had never seen this girl in the village before. The girl appeared shocked too, and ran behind a tree. Lilybelle went over to it softly and whispered, “It’s all right. We won’t tell on you.” The girl turned slowly. She motioned for them to follow her into the woods. Lilybelle opened her mouth to speak, but the girl shook her head.

Once in the woods, the girl began to talk. “My name is Elaine, and I am running away from this village. I am a princess from the kingdom of Anebia. My father is King George III. I am going back to him. I was captured in a battle between these kingdoms and kept here for two years. Tell me, who are you?”

Lilybelle was surprised at these news. She hadn’t known that there had been a battle between the kingdoms. She said, “I am Lilybelle, and this is my little sister Annabelle. We are princesses also, but we were kidnapped in a plot against our family. We are running away, just like you. We have been here almost three months, but we have not seen you.”

“I was kept inside a cottage all the time, which is why my skin is so pale. I have been sick for a week, and now that I feel better I am returning to my home,” Elaine said. She seemed eager to go, but Lilybelle wanted to talk more. Elaine started walking, and Lilybelle had to follow with Annabelle.

The girls went quickly, but Annabelle was young and had to rest often, which slowed them down. At daybreak the girls stopped at the sound of a woman shouting. “Minna!” Lilybelle cried. They darted into a clump of bushes.

After they had hid for ten minutes, they crawled out of the thicket and walked on. But they soon realized that they weren’t getting anywhere, and they sat down to think. Annabelle was the first to mention breakfast, and they walked into the nearest settlement. They explained how they came to be there, and a family offered them breakfast. When they sat down to eat, Elaine answered most of the questions that were asked. The family believed their story, and told them the way to the palace. The girls followed his directions carefully, and soon found it.

But when they approached the gate, the guard sent them away, laughing at their story. But as they had begun to walk the other way, the four fairies spotted them. They went to talk to them.

“Lilybelle, we can help you and your friends get in. Just hold hands tightly.” And when the girls had done so, they found themselves inside the palace! “It was fairy magic,” Lilybelle said. She went down the hall, and found her father sitting in the parlor. He looked up and recognized them. Lilybelle and Annabelle ran into his arms.

It just so happened that the king’s wedding was the next day, but not for long. Lilybelle told her story, and the maid was thrown into the dungeon. Elaine was adopted into Lilybelle’s family and so became her sister. Lilybelle and her sisters grew into beatiful young women, and they all lived happily ever after.

The End