Once upon a time, in a far-off land there lived a fair king with his beautiful queen. No, no, no, this doesn't seem right. Too cliché, too formal, defiantly not the kind of story they deserved. Let me try this again.
It began years ago. Back when the world was young, motives were clear, and love sprung—Nah, that's not quite right either. Too sappy. Who knew beginnings were so hard to get right?
Oh! Hello there. I wasn't aware there was some with me. Are you perhaps here to hear my story? Hehe, well….you might have to wait on that for a bit. You see, I haven't figured out the beginning yet and I owe it to them to get it right.
My name? Oh, right, sorry. My name is Embla, self-appointed scribe of the kingdom.
(Soft laughter) Who are they? You must be joking.
Wait, you really don't know? Forgive me; I wasn't aware you were a foreigner. Everyone in our kingdom knows, and tells the story of the sleeping beauty.
Hold on, you do know the story?
(Bursts into a fit of giggles) Oh gods, they really think that….. (still laughing)
I'm sorry, I'm sorry. But to think that the story had morphed so much—oh Father is going to have a fit when he hears about this.
Well, since you're here, I can tell you the story though…now that I think about it, ours might not be the only story out there. Perhaps there is another land somewhere with a young princess that fell into the same trap.
However, let me tell you the tale of my kingdom. Of two young princes, an evil sorcerer, and of a curse that nearly destroyed them both.