A/N: This is a new twist on the plot of Sleeping Beauty. As far as I know, King Stefan and Queen Glorianna (I decided to name her…I don't know what her real name was, and it doesn't matter in this story) never had any other children, but this is just my take on what might have happened had they had another daughter. "Arabella" is part one in a series of two. "Briar Rose" is coming up; watch for it. Read, Enjoy, Review!
DISCLAIMER: I don't own any part of Sleeping Beauty. Arabella is a made-up character, and not part of any Disney or Grimm's stuff whatsoever.
ARABELLA
Chapter One: The Birth of Arabella
The good King Stefan and his fair Queen Glorianna watched, heavy-hearted as their only child, Princess Aurora, disappeared into the night. They trusted the Good Fairies and they knew that they would bring the child up properly, but both felt a sense of heartache, as they thought of all the special moments of Aurora's childhood they would miss. They also knew that Maleficent was cunning, and that any attempt to contact the child would result in her death, so they must bide their time until Aurora's sixteenth birthday. The King and Queen knew this was the best way to keep her safe.
But they felt the loss of their daughter as keenly as if she had died already.
A great sadness fell over Stefan's kingdom, and the fair Glorianna no longer sang as she went about her castle. Stefan feared for her life as well, as she did not eat properly and refused to sit in the sun. It reminded her of Aurora, who was named after the dawn and had filled their lives with sunshine.
Stefan himself spent a great deal of time in the room at the top of the tallest tower, gazing out over the countryside, hoping to catch a glimpse of where the Good Fairies had taken his beloved daughter. But he never laid eyes on her again until her sixteenth birthday.Three dark months after the Good Fairies had departed with Aurora, Glorianna was again with child. Not even daring to have hoped that they would have other children, the King and Queen were beside themselves with joy at this new blessing. Glorianna's health changed dramatically for the better after she became pregnant again. The sunshine was no longer her enemy; she welcomed its warm rays as an old friend and often sang as she sat in the courtyard.
A year to the day of Aurora's birth, Queen Glorianna brought a second daughter into the world.
Arabella, as they named her, was every bit as beautiful as their first. Her hair was soft and reddish-brown, and her eyes were a deep, beautiful green. Her skin was as white as new-fallen snow, and her smile was as radiant as the sun itself.
Though their first loss was still keen in their hearts, Stefan and Glorianna found themselves filled with happiness, and the kingdom echoed with song and laughter once again.
