Disclaimer: I do not own any fairy tales, but all of the characters and plots are mine. It is not based upon any fairy tale in particular.
Chapter 1: A Fairy Tale Beginning
Once upon a time, a beautiful baby girl was born to two happy parents. They were kind and loving, and they ruled their kingdom well. Everyone was happy until the princess became of age to marry. Her father ignored her pleadings that she was never going to marry, and called it nonsense. She must marry, for the good of the kingdom and for her happiness too.
She could have a Happily Ever After of her own, a fairy tale of her life.
I thundered down the Grand Hall for the second time, my feet stomping against the marble floor with unladylike clashes. My raven black hair was disheveled as I gripped the letter in my fist angrily, my nose flared. My steps came to a sudden stop as I stood in front of the great mahogany doors, imported from West Africa. My face was pink with rage as I said angrily to the doorman standing next to it,
"I want to see His Majesty."
The servant swept a gallant bow, his head almost touching the ground. When he popped back up, he said,
"My lady, it would be my great pleasure, but he is not here right now."
My lips curled in rage and I screamed,
"Then tell me where he is this instant!"
"Loreli!"
I whipped my head to see the graceful figure of my mother gliding towards me. Unlike me, her hair was as golden as the afternoon sun, pinned in a complex way, yet staying perfectly in place, every lock. Her midnight blue gown flowing behind her, she kept a very tranquil expression. One thing that I should've inherited from her was patience; I had not an inch of it.
"Why are you bothering such a kind man in this time of day?"
"Mother!"
Indignant, I waved my the fist which held the piece of parchment in the air.
"Do you not see, mother? It is the letter of bethrotal!"
My mother seemed calm, her face carved of stone.
"Yes, I am quite aware of it. It is from Prince James of Wales, is it not?"
I stopped my waving and immediately dropped my hand to my side. My heart leapt to my throat as I asked with a hoarse voice,
"You knew about this?"
My mother sweeped an elegant glance at the servant then back to me. She waved a delicate finger at me and commanded,
"Come, Loreli, we must discuss this in my chamber."
My feet were glued unto the floor as I stared at my mother with an open mouth, my blue eyes flashing.
"I thought you understood, mother, that I would never marry!"
My mother, whose name was Jenela, grew stiff, her shoulders tensing. She said again in the same voice as before,
"This is not the proper place to discuss such a matter. Come, Loreli."
Without another word, I meekly followed, for I knew that behind the gentle calmness, there was an air of authority. Angry and indignant, I stomped my way through the marble floor, my heels defiantely clicking against the smooth stone.
With another flick of her finger, my mother sent for a tray of hot tea to be served for us. With arms folded, I frowned at the lemon tea, the finest of the land.
"Let me see the letter."
"You already know what it reads, mother. It asks for my hand in marriage to Prince James of Wales, who is to arrive here by next week for Heaven's sake! And I am to be bethroted to him then! How could you be so cruel?"
Her eyes were calm and blue, her expression emotionless.
"It had be come soon, it was inevitable."
I wanted to grab the tea tray and send the delicate china to crash and break into a million little pieces beneath her nose. Perhaps then she would come forth from her perfect, tranquil state and start screaming like a real person! She was surreal! My black hair slivered from its pins as I ripped the paper into tiny pieces, then threw them into the air. I glared at my mother, my lips curled, satisfied.
"There. That is what I think about all this marriage business. I am not going to marry, so expect that. You should've known that it was indeed, inevitable."
My mother sighed, then sipped her tea with a delicate little sip. I glared at her angrily, tears starting to brim my eyes.
"This is just not fair! I will kill him first!"
Suddenly, there was a sharp clang as my mother put down her china unto the plate. So she can actually get angry too. Her blue eyes were like a ocean in a storm as she frowned and glared at me, her eyebrows knit together.
"Never, ever say that again! You shall not kill anyone for the sake of your happiness!"
"It was just a figure of speech of Heaven's sake!"
"It was a horrible thing to say!"
"What do words count for when your actions are much worse?"
"Enough! I shall not hear more about this marriage business! You shall be bethroted to Prince James and you shall have no more say about it! Be grateful that you are not being married to an old, drooling old duke."
I burst into furious tears, my heart about to burst in frustration. Why couldn't she understand? Mother strode to be and gently put her arms around me.
"Loreli..."
"No!"
I screamed the word at her harshly and pushed her away. With my back on her, I began to stomp out of the chamber.
"From now on, you are not my mother and you have no right to comfort me!"
I broke into a run, my gown brushing along the ground with gusto.
I wanted to die.