Not your typical fairy tale...

photo from azuzephre.net
copyright 2005 Jeff Thomas

Once upon a time there was a beautiful princess who had no idea she really was beautiful. Whenever she looked in the mirror, she quickly turned away thinking "Ugh! No wonder no one wants to marry me." She had heard the stories countelss times of how each of her ancestors came to live in the castle. All their stories had one theme in common: a handsome prince slaughtered an ugly dragon to save a beautiful princess. Then they fell in love and lived happily ever after.



While she enjoyed hearing her history, she didn't believe it would ever become her present. Oh, she had tried many times to wait for a handsome prince to come rescue her. But she always defeated the dragon before any of them could arrive. The prince would then feel helpless and unwanted so he would leave her to fend for herself. Next thing she knew, she was hiding back in the turret, miserable and alone.



Then one day, a new prince rode into town. He wasn't like the other princes she had seen before. There was an air of confidence about him that was startling. Yet he possessed a gentleness that drew out the shyest of strangers. She watched him walk among the peasants, wondering why he had come to her father's kingdom.



She soon found out. It was dinner time at the castle and the princess was headed to the royal dining room. Her mother stopped her and warned her to be on her best behavior. When she walked in the dining room, she saw the prince talking to her father. They stopped and stood as she entered. The prince nodded to her as a blush rose on her cheeks. She curtsied and took her place at the table beside her father.





Dinner went smoothly. Then it was time for dessert. The prince got up from table as the servant brought in the scrumptious delicacies. He took the plates from her hands and served first the queen and then the king. Then the prince set the plate in front of the princess and knelt down on one knee.



"My dear," he said, "I have loved you from the beginning of time..."



She interrupted, "But, sir, I've never met you before today."



"That's okay," he said, "I know all about you. I have asked your father for your hand in marriage because I want to show you my love for the rest of your life. He has given his blessing."



"But, Daddy," the princess turned to her father. "I don't know anything about him. He hasn't slain any dragons for me. How can he know he loves me?"



The king replied, "It's okay my dear. This has been the plan from even before you were born. You were created for the prince."



She shook her head. "I don't understand."



The prince said "My love is a gift freely given. You don't have to understand to accept my unconditional love and become my bride."



"Oh sir, there is so much about me that I must change first. Haven't you heard about my stubborn independence?"



"It doesn't matter to me. Change will happen later. Just come let me love you the way a husband loves a wife," the prince replied.



"Mother, is this true?" asked the princess.



"Yes dear, it is the truth. All you have to do is say yes. He will explain it all to you after the wedding," answered the queen.



The princess drew in a breath before speaking. "Sir, I do not know what I have done to deserve such an honor. I must say I am a bit frightened. But something in your eyes that tells me I will be all right. So, yes, I surrender my independence and all my shortcomings. I will accept your unconditional love and be your wife."



As soon as the words were out of her mouth peace flooded her soul, the room began to glow, and her eyes were opened to all the beauty and majesty of the prince before her. He stood up and kissed her.





The next day they had a beautiful royal wedding and lived happily every after.



The End