Hey Everyone! This is a my version of what I think a modern day Sleeping Beauty would be like. The characters are mine (and I am very proud of them) but there are very real refrences to the original fairy tale. Please review and tell me what you think so that I can write some more! :D Dare
A Timeless Dream
by Dare
Chapter 1: The Fortune
I was six when I was told I was going to die. Well, I guess technically I was five. It was the night before my sixth birthday and to celebrate my parents decided to take me to a carnival, in France. My father was to be in Europe for the whole month of June and would be unable to attend my birthday. Seeing how upset I was when he told me he would be gone for a whole month he decided that my mother and I should come along to Europe with him. Since I was not in school, it was a perfect time to go. Unfortuneatly, my father did have a very important conference in Paris on my birthday. My parents decided to celebrate by birthday the night before at the Carnival and-since my father would be finished working during the evening-on my birthday have dinner at the Effiel Tour. I do not remember the Notre Dame, or the lovely stained glass windows it has. I do not remember the Chatues we stayed at or the creme buele. I do not even remember the Effiel Tour and the huge birthday cake I recived as "Happy Birthday" was sung in beautiful french. The one thing I do remember, that will always be in my brain forever more is the Carnival.
There were so many beautiful objects to look at in the Carnival. An explosion of color filled the dull lighted sky. Every where I turned there was something new and more enticing to look at. Clowns with their faces painted white and their hair and curly blue color seemed to stand 10 ft tall. Beautiful music played endlessly. I danced with my father for what seemed like hours. For one breef moment, I left my parents and went into the woods to follow a floating light. My mother caught me and scolded me, telling me I can not wonder off. Especially in a forgein country. When she asked me what I was thinking I told her I wanted to see where the floating light was going. She smiled and we walked together in the woods. Not that far away from the many flashing lights there was a small meadow filled with floating lights. My mother told me that the floating lights were actually bugs called Fireflies. I ran the meadow chasing the fireflies. This whole place seemed so magical and wonderful to me. It was as though it came right out of a fairytale.
When my mother and I finally returned from the Firefly meadow my father had told me it was time to return to the hotel. I knew that it was comming. I knew I would have to eventually leave. I just didn't want to. I did not whine or complain because I knew my parents would never do something like this for me ever again if I behaved badly. I did not want to leave but I knew if I ever wanted to return to this magical place I had to be on my best behavior. As we were walking toward the exit I saw a booth that drew me in like a magnet.
MADAME MARGO
SEER OF THE FUTURE
The sign was old, but still extremely lovely with the beautiful border of red and gold. It was hard to take my eyes off of it. There was no one there-almost everyone had already left-except for an old woman sitting infront of the booth. Her black hair that was begining to turn white, not gray, was tied in a braided bun. Her oval shaped face was wrinkled but not severly for she was still quite lovely. Her eyes were lovely, with an almost turquise color. I looked at her with a great and undenying interest. It seems as though the feeling was mutual.
"You little one" the lady called in perfect English "please come here"
I looked at my spectical parents. They really did not believe in the power of fortune telling. "Can I Mommy please?" I asked praying they would agree.
"Mira" my mother-who face resembled one of an angel with her lovely long blonde hair and kind blue eyes-told "It is way past your bed time. You promised you would leave nicely honey. You need to go to sleep if you want to go to the special dinner tomorrow. Daddy and I will not take you if you misbehave"
I hung my head, knowing my mother was right. I did promise I would leave when told and that I would not complain about it. However, I could not shake the feeling that this woman knew something about me. As though she had this deep connection to some part of me that I was completely unaware of. As I started to walk again with my parents the lady spoke once again.
"Do not worry Richard and Rose" the lady called as my parents faces took the form of shock "I am curious with your lovley 'Dawning Sun' she has a great future ahead and I would be honored to see what it might possibly be. She will be in no harm with me"
"May we come with her?" my father asked "I believe that is a fair compromise"
She nodded in agreement and called "This way please". As she told us my parents and I followed the lady into the booth. From the outside, the place had looked so small and crowded; however, once inside there was loads of room. Everything was so spacious. She lead us to the main room which had a small table with four chairs around it. The lady sat in a very elaborate and inticate chair. Compeletly made of wood, it was carved to look as though the whole milkyway was on the chair. My parents sat in two big wooden chairs as well. My father's chair was to look like the ocean-third to only my mother and I the ocean is my fathers great love. My mother's chair took the shape of a rose, her favorite flower and her name. My chair was small, the perfect size for me, and showed the rising sun that filled the sky.
"May I look at your hands sweet Mira?" the lady asked after we were all settled down.
"My mommy says I'm not supposed to talk to strangers" I replied.
"Ohh Mira" she laughed "We are not strangers but if it makes you feel more comfortable; and I can see it will, my name is Madamde Margo. You sweet Mira may call me Miss. Margo"
"I guess" I said "Now that I know your name we're not stangers anymore" My mother shook her head.
"No" Miss. Margo replied "No, we are not strangers any more. So may I see your palm?"
I gave her my tiny little hand. She grabbed it and turned it over. She began to trace her fingers along the lines of my palm. She kept staring looking over the lines.
"You have a very kind heart" she began "Though you have grown up with wealthy means you are not selfish. You are strong minded and will have a sharp tounge. You will have a lovely singing voice. A voice that will insist to be heard. Beauty will also be a great attribute to you" She smiled tracing the line again "Though I can see that you will be blinded by your own loveliness."
She then looked at the line that was closest to my thumb. Her face suddenly changed. She looked confused and slightly apprehensive. She repeated tracing the line as though she was hoping she was reading the line wrong.
"What is it?" my father demanded, he too could see the sudden change in Miss. Margo.
"Richard and Rose Henry" she finally spoke "I am sorry to say that your years of hoping were to go to waste. The many years you waited for your 'Dawning Sun' were apparently not required."
"What do you mean?" asked my mother wrapping her arms around me. Holding me close as though she was afraid I was going to vanish.
"You see this?" she asked holding palm infront of both my parents pointing to the line nearest my thumb. When they nodded in agreement she continued "That is your daughters life line. As you can see, it is short. Your daughter does not have much longer to live"
"How much longer?" my mother asked
"Ten years precisely." Miss. Margo answered "Her kind heart will lead to her death. A large force is comming straight for her. The collision is too great for her to survive"
"Wait a moment" my father was now standing, he was no longer hiding his fury "You just told my daughter she had a bright future and now you are telling me that her life is going to be ended in ten years? Which one is it?"
"That is why I am confused" Miss. Margo confessed "You daughter is a very unique and special child. I sensed that she is destined for greatness; however, there is no mistaking her short lifeline. "
"Are you sure she is to die so soon?" my mother pleaded, her eyes filled with tears.
"I do not believe I am wrong" Miss. Margo replied "However, it never hurts to call for a second pair of eyes. Chantal, can you come here for one moment?"
In an instant a lovely young lady with long black hair entered the room. Her olive skin seemed to glow in the dull lighted room. Her sweet mouth patient and kind. "What is it Mommy?" called Chantal.
"Can you please read this young one's palm?" Miss. Margo asked
"Why?" Chantal looked confused "None of your predictions have ever been wrong. Why do you need my help?"
"This is one prediction I do not want to come true. "
"What did you see?" Chantal asked
"I feel that this young girl is destined for a great love; however, as i traced her lifeline I saw blood, so much blood. I saw dead legs and a young woman lying in a hospital bed and never awakening. I am very confused as to how this can be, when I was so sure she is to have a solid future."
The lovely young woman knelt down and took my hand. She smiled "I too sense greatness in her, I can foresee a bonding and everlasting love ". She looked closer at my hand.
"Were you wearing your glasses when you traced her life line?"
"I believe so" Madame responded now looking around the table for them "I could of sworn...they were just here! Where are they? Oh here they are!" she explained picking up a pair of spectacles from the floor. "Why do you ask my dear?"
"Because I do not see death, as least not so early."
"What do you mean by that?" my mother inquired
"Death is a part of life" Chantal replied "Though life always changes; death and birth are the two activities in a persons life that will always remain constant. Your daughter will die one day it just will not be in ten years"
"Are you sure?" Madame Margo stated
"Yes" Chantal sternly confirmed bringing my hand towards my parents showing them my lifeline "see, the life line does not vanish but simply forms another line to the side, as though it were separate from her death. That line is quite long"
"So she will have a long life" my father sounded relieved
"Not necessarily" Chantal interviened "What Madame Margo envisioned is true. You're daughter will be involved in a terrible collision. It is her unwavering and good natured heart that will cause her to act on this prophecy. She will not die, but sleep"
"Sleep?" my parents asked in unison with both fear and confusion in there voice.
"Yes" Chantal confirmed "She will be unable to wake up. Though others will convince you to take drastic actions you must now know that she will hear you. She will hear your pleading calls and your agony; she just will be unable to respond to you. Others will be jealous because it is during this time that her beauty will grow. Though her mind will develop, her phyical appearance will not change."
"Meaning" my mother pieced "That she will not age? Or at least she will not look her age"
"No she will not" Chanel confirmed
"How long will I sleep?" I finally asked. My eyes looked straight into Miss. Margo's turqoise eyes pleading to know what my own fate was to be. "How will I be able to wake up?"
"The time..." Miss Margo started after a long pause "Will depend on the man wearing a purple jacket."
"Why?" I continued "Why does it depend on him? Why won't my parents be able to wake me up?"
"Because he is your future" Chantel replied almost furious "He is your destiny. The only one who can save you from yourself. The one person who knows you better than you know yourself. Who loves you for who you are and is not ashamed of that love. Your parents do love you emmensely. However, they are eachothers great love. This is the time when you will need to find yours. Unfortunately, he may not know that you two belong together. It will be your job to convince him."
"How will I be able to convince him if I am asleep?" I asked
"Ha ha ha" Miss. Margo laughed as she whispered to Chantel "Cette jeune dame est pleine des questions." This young lady is full of questions.
"Only because it has to do with my future" I replied
"You understand French, at such a young age" Miss. Margo was impressed "Pouvez-vous le parler ?" Can you speak it?
"Pas très bien". Not very well I replied. "Please, how will I be able to convince him that he is mine if I am asleep?"
"You will know how" Chantal replied "When the time is right, you will find a way to reach him. And I believe he will find a way to reach you too"
The rest of the evening is a blur. I believe my parents asked some more questions. They did not trust Miss. Margo and asked how could they tell that Miss. Margo was telling the truth. Miss. Margo said that in 4 months my mother was to be pregnant once more; however like so many others the baby will not be strong enough to live. Just as Miss. Margo said around 4 months later my mother told me I was no longer to be a only child. Though also as Miss. Margo predicted within 7 months my mother lost the baby. That day when my parents realized that Miss. Margo and Chantal had been correct they began to truly fear for my life. I was no longer free to do anything, I was trapt in a cage for the rest of my days. Even if the prophecy was not true it had become obivious that I no longer had a life, at least not one that I was living.