Sleeping Beauty
This story is based on the story-line of Disney's Sleeping Beauty (in case you hadn't already guessed!) It's dedicated to JustAnAfterthought, because if I hadn't read her story 'Prince Charming Meets Elven Prince' (an Aragorn/Legolas story based on Cinderella) I wouldn't have had the idea for my story in the first place! So enjoy, and please review! X
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Chapter 1
Once upon a time, in the Woodland Realm of Northern Mirkwood, there lived an Elven king, named Thranduil, and his wife. They were celebrating the birth of their son, prince Legolas. He was a beautiful child, with hair of pure pale gold, eyes of a deep blue, and soft, milky skin. The king and queen could not have been more proud, and a holiday was proclaimed on that joyful day.
Many people came from miles around to congratulate the king and queen, and to see four gifts bestowed on the child by the four fairy-hobbits of Middle Earth. Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin were their names, and they each had the power to give one magical gift to the prince Legolas.
Fairy-hobbit Frodo stepped towards the cradle. Wand at the ready, he gazed on the face of the future king of the Woodland Realm, and cast his spell.
"Prince Legolas, I give you the gift of beauty. Not only shall you be the most beautiful baby in all of Arda, but as you grow your beauty will grow also, and all who see you will love you at once."
With a flick of his wand, Frodo cast his spell. As he gazed once more upon baby Legolas' face, he saw that the baby was now even more beautiful than he could ever have imagined. With a small nod and a smile, he moved away so that the next fairy-hobbit may take his place.
Samwise immediately moved forwards and gazed upon the baby, considering for a minute. Finally, with a smile on his face, Sam raised his wand and spoke.
"I, Samwise, give you the gift of song. The beauty of your face shall be matched only by the beauty of your voice, and all who hear your voice raised in song shall be spell-bound at once."
With a flourish of his wand, Sam's gift was also completed. He knew that as soon as Legolas could speak, he would also sing with the voice of an angel. Reaching down, Sam stroked the child softly on the cheek, before moving away for the next fairy-hobbit to come forward.
Stepping forwards, Merry took his place at the cradle and raised his wand.
"I, Meriadoc, bestow upon you the gift of unbeatable skill and prowess with a bow. Your aim shall be unfalteringly perfect, and all who face you in battle shall cower in fear."
Merry stared in wonder at the beauty of the baby prince, before finally tearing his eyes away. Satisfied that he had completed his perfect gift, he moved aside for the final fairy-hobbit, Pippin, to bestow his magic upon the child.
However, suddenly, there was a clap of great thunder and lightning, the room went terrifyingly black, and a tall, mighty figure appeared in the middle of the room. Every person gasped in terror and fear, for it was the great and evil wizard Saruman. Everyone in the kingdom and the surrounding area had been invited to the party apart from him.
"So, Thranduil, you think you can hold a party without inviting me? I was hoping it was just due to a mix up, but I can see I'm not wanted around here..." Saruman gestured around the room towards the fairy-hobbits, who were all giving him a look of the deepest loathing.
Thranduil jumped to his feet and with anger on his face, shouted at Saruman.
"Saruman, I didn't want to invite you to the party because you're a mad, evil, man! Leave my castle now, and never return!"
With a look of mock surprise in his face, Saruman locked his evil gaze upon the king.
"Well, I guess I should be taking my leave now...but I think, before I leave, that I should also give a gift to the child. Move out of the way, hobbits!" He swept across the room towards the cradle, and pushed the hobbits away, who were trying in vain to stay in between Saruman and the cradle.
"I, Saruman the Great, bestow my gift upon you, my prince. Before the sun sets on your 16th birthday, you shall prick your finger on a poisoned arrow, and die!" Cackling madly, Saruman raised his staff, and cast his evil curse on the baby, before disappearing in a cloud of acrid smoke.
King Thranduil raced towards the cradle with his wife not far behind, and gazed in shock and fear at his child. He appeared to be sleeping peacefully, but everyone knew that his life would never be the same again. Quietly, Pippin, the final fairy-hobbit, stepped forward.
"Excuse me, your highness, but I still have my gift to bestow upon the child. My magic isn't strong enough to lift the curse, but I can try and help."
Walking closer to the cradle, Pippin thought very hard, before raising his wand and speaking the words of his spell.
"If you are indeed pricked by a poisoned arrow on your 16th birthday, you shall fall not into death but into a deep sleep, broken only by true love's first kiss!"
Flourishing his wand, Pippin cast the spell that would save prince Legolas from the evil will of Saruman. Everyone in the castle breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that if Saruman managed to get Legolas to prick his finger, he would not die, but be peaceful in sleep, awoken by his true love.
The fairy-hobbits gathered together, and had a brief, whispered conversation with each other. Finally, they walked towards king Thranduil, and spoke to him.
"Your highness, we have been talking, and we think it is best if prince Legolas is raised in the woods, away from the castle. We can pretend he is a peasant boy, and that way if Saruman comes looking for him, he will not be found. We will of course give up our magic to raise him ourselves, and do everything in our power to keep him from harm."
Frodo spoke with respect to the king, aware that he would be devastated at having his son taken away from him. Tears filled the eyes of the king and his wife, but they both nodded in agreement.
"I don't want to lose my son, but I know that it's for the best. If he is raised in the woods, he will be safe from harm. Take him now, and make sure Saruman doesn't find out!"
The fairy-hobbits took baby Legolas from his cradle, wrapped him up tight in a warm blanket, and began on their way. They were heading for an abandoned wood-cutter's cottage deep in the forest, away from prying eyes. Confident that he would be safe there, the fairies thought no more about Saruman, and concentrated on keeping the young prince happy. In time, they would tell him of his true background, but until then, it was safer that he didn't know.
The king and queen stood side by side, watching their only child disappearing into the dark woods that surrounded the castle, wondering when they would see him again. Knowing that the fate of the kingdom now stood in the hands of four fairy-hobbits, the king couldn't help but feel slightly apprehensive. Silently, he watched as his child disappeared from view, then turned and walked back into the castle without talking. It was going to be a long 16 years...
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Hope you liked it, and please review! I can't improve if I don't know where I'm going wrong =] xxx
