Spinning Gold
Prologue: Earlier Years
I'd like to believe that my father was acting out of complete and total idiocy, I'd like to believe that, but as I am a woman, I know so much about him- for instance- his ego was too big, like his pride.
Now I won't bore you with all of my snarky comments about everything, and I shan't lie, for I am not like my cousin Ethan. Yes, our family has an odd ability to be placed in fairy tale situations that were later recorded down for your enjoyment. The only difference between him and me, is that I go by Grimm's and he goes by Disney, now that my linage of cousins has been explained, I shall continue onwards.
My child hood was like another's childhood in my village.
At the mere age of six I had been taught to sing. I preformed for the old King Rupert and his son- the Crown Prince Derek.
At the age of six. I do not remember Prince Derek so much, he was a good two years older than me- making him eight, incase you can not count well, so he was much, much more interested in the frog that was hoping by, begging every man to kiss it so that they could be rich. I do believe that the Prince had picked up the frog and told it he would much rather have a talking frog than a princess, and as I remember, she was quite a snide girl. But he let her go and now she lives in Osmond with her prince, I do believe that is how it went…
But I was intent on my song so I did not notice much.
I remember that day well though.
Every one in my village had gone. My mother was so proud of me, and my father was too, but he was always thinking about elevating our status, so he was watching the nobles carefully.
I had my hair done by my mother, and I had been bathed for the occasion. Naturally a new dress had been made for me, using up much of our money, but I was singing for the king, at the mere age of six. The dress was beautiful. A soft silky material that ran through your fingers like water, and a beautiful dove grey with a periwinkle petticoat. I thought I was a princess in that dress. My mother had straightened out my curls and braided them back, while threading them through with white ribbon. When she was done she had declared me a peach.(I do not know either.)
After I had been done singing my father had been approached by the King and his complaining son, or was it the frog in his pocket? The Prince had refused to look at me, even though I was young, I was not young enough to be not vain. In other words, I was a very vain child.
The King had talked to my father and then withdrew a thick silver ring form his finger with a sapphire set in it. He gave it to me. I remember the joy that I had felt at that. How much I had smiled.
"Here you go, darling." he had told me, fitting the gigantic ring on my thumb. I held onto it so it wouldn't fall off.
"A pretty jewel for the pretty child with the pretty voice, and it matched your eyes well my dear." then he had kissed my forehead.
Which was the King's blessing, supposedly protecting me from the plague that was sweeping across the land. I had smiled brilliantly and step back beside my father, my smile grew even more when the young prince had looked at me curiously. Like I said, I was an extremely vain child.
The years had passed.
When I was but nine I was fluent in three languages, able to draw picture that rivaled the top artist, play any instrument, and dance with ease and grace, in fact every move I made looked like I was made of air. This of course made me only more vain.
But when I was eleven, my mother had died, because of the plague, I tended to her, because of my protection, and the plague never touched me, I was and indeed blessed child. My mother died, taking apart of my heart with her, and leaving my father absolutely broken, but we both go through the rough times.
Sometimes my father would look at me fondly and say, "My dear Aya, I do believe when your mother passed, she took most of that brilliant blue with her."
This was true, for the mirror was my best friend, I could spend hours in front of it pruning, at the age of eleven. But my eyes had indeed gone form the sapphire they had been to a grey blue that looked like ice, but had green wound through them.
By the time I was fifteen I had suitors lined up for miles. This pleased my father to no end. He couldn't afford me nice cloths like ladies, but I was always dressed immaculately, and of course jewelry became on of my loves, I could thank my suitors for that.
When I as fifteen also, I became smitten with my self. I adored my eyes, that were big and always seemed innocent and docile like a lady's should, my light, light brown hair that fell down my back, curling into gentle ringlets. And of course, my curves and bust, I could never wear anything that covered them up or hid them, I was one of those girls that didn't need a corset because her shape was so perfect. Always on my thumb I wore the ring the King had given me, at all times.
As it came one day, the King wanted me to sing for him again before he passed away. I agreed readily.
My father was delighted, he set about getting the money that would be needed for my dress.
But I fell short at one thing, my hair. For I had no women friends, they were far too jealous o me, and I had not been taught how to put it up, for it had always been up either in a twist with a paint brush through it or down. But I did not let that concern me.
My dress this time was quiet simple, a light blue that had a slash in the front, middle that showed a white petticoat. I had put it one, feeling the fabric slide over my body, as cool and refreshing as water. Then I had gone carefully into my little garden behind my father's house and picked daisies and wove them into a crown. I had gone inside and brushed my hair three hundred times. With my daisy crown and my ring courtesy of the king I set off for the castle courtyard.
My vain self confident that I would capture the Prince's heart.
I had reached the center of the beautiful courtyard that was surrounded by weeping willows. I had taken my spot and waited until all had quieted, then I had sung my song. Everyone was quiet whilst I sang.
But I had watched, unnoticed by anyone in attendance, for their eyes were closed, picturing things that I did not care about. I watched the prince.
He was seventeen then. And he was quiet different from last time. I had heard that he was quite a ladies man. I could see why. He was tall and lean, clearly all muscle. But I watched as he fidgeted, the muscles moving under his skin like flowing water. He was tanned, but of course, what prince is not? His copper hair had fallen in to his eyes, his beautiful eyes. I though that my song would be stopped because of the shock I felt when I saw those eyes. They were an unnerving green, brilliant like emerald with a ring of dark blue around the out side and gold strands twined through with the green in a motionless dance. And then I knew I wanted those eye focused on me.
But he had not looked at me once.
Damn you Derek! I had thought, shocked at my self for my language and the fact that I hadn't used prince. I felt something tingle its way up my spine. A sense of premonition? Insight? What I did not know, just a feeling that I had better get used to calling him his name with out a title.
I ended my song and curtsied while the audience clapped, but my eye were still trained on the Prince. He was clapping his hands lazily, while an airy grin was playing over his face. His eyes were perusing a woman. I wanted to shout to him "Look at me!" but I did not, my fingernails bit into the skin of my palm.
My father came to me and took my elbow and started to thread his way through the crowd, with a seething me in tow.
"The King wished to speak to you, child." my father said. I smiled brightly and put on my mask, even though my blood was boiling with rage at the Crown prince.
That bastard, did not even look at me once! I thought hotly. I quelled the storm inside of me, for I knew from my many hours in front of my mirror, that all of my emotions showed in my eyes, weather I wanted them to or not. We reached their highnesses, I wonder vaguely if the Queen was still alive.
"Welcome!" the king said, his arms thrown wide, his thin and raged face twisted into a smile.
"Your grace." I curtsied toward the King and then slightly toward the Prince and curtsied.
"Highness." I said even though I different term fought for its right to escape from my mouth.
"My dear, do you still have the ring I gave you, long ago?" the King asked. The Prince's eyes flick toward me in an involuntary reaction, no doubt, but to my great pleasure, they stayed focused on me. I curtsied again.
"Yes, Sire. For I have not taken it off, your gift it greatly appreciated." I said. The King laughed jovially. Whilst Prince Derek turned in his seat slowly towards me, eyes still focused on my face.
"I am glad my dear…" he trailed off and raised an eyebrow.
"Aya, Your Grace." I said with another curtsy.
"Well, Aya, you are so much of a lady." he paused and thought something over. From around his neck he pulled a golden chain on which a small thing heart rested with an opal set into the middle. "My dear, I do believe you are lady, more so than the actual ladies themselves, but don't tell them I said that." he winked, I grinned a silly grin and curtsied again, murmuring a quiet "Yes, sire."
"My dear, I want you to have this, and so long as you are in my lands, you are Lady Aya." he said. I flushed with pleasure and sternly told myself that I could not hug the King and kiss his cheek, they would have my head. I felt the intensity o Prince Derek's gaze on my face, causing me to flush with pleasure.
"Thank you, my king!" I said, with another curtsied, trying to quell the emotional storm inside of me. He laughed again.
"It 'tis nothing! For I have had my last wish fulfilled before my time, to hear the young maiden from long ago sing yet again!" he replied, spreading his arms. I blushed and curtsied, casting my eyes downward demurely.
"Thank you, highness." he laughed again.
"Lady Aya, please do not let me keep you, do go and enjoy the festivities." I curtsied to the king with a
"Thank you, sire." then I turned toward the prince and curtsied, and indescribable feeling washed through me, I tried to stop it before it reached me too much, but I was too late, for I was certain the Prince saw it.
"Prince Derek" I said.
When I met his eyes I saw the same emotion I had seen in all of my suitors- lust, and…curiosity? That was new. I blinked, but quickly, gracefully, left their highnesses to join in the dancing.
I smiled at everyone as I passed them, feeling proud of my job well done, and my gifts form the King.
But I was still curious about the Queen, what had happened to her?
I pushed my thoughts away and joined in the dancing, accidentally capturing those poor souls that did dance with me.
Within a few hours of the merrymaking, I had a line of people to dance the next one with me. I laughed as the dance ended and I was twirled away into the next man's arms. I laughed and smiled gaily as I stumbled, causing the man that I had to dance with to catch me. I hummed quietly to my self as I quickly fixed my dress.
When I looked up, I was looking into those unsettling green eyes.
I quickly swept into a curtsy, murmuring, "Highness." he held out his hand.
A brief flash of triumph consumed me, but I pushed it down to make sure I looked like the docile lady everyone believed me to be. We twirled around to the lively music. I hummed along with it, but I never met his eyes. They made me feel very odd every time I did. I felt his gaze on my face, as I watched our dancing feet closely, trying to look as if I did not understand the moves. When he suddenly spoke, I almost jumped, for we had both been quiet.
"You are a pathetic liar." he said, his voice smooth, muted somehow, quiet, but still loud enough to hear.
"Oh really, my lord? How so, for we have not spoken." I replied, meeting his eyes quickly and then looking over his shoulder, which I felt tense under my hand.
This, of course, small action brought me to notice how we were dancing, awfully close, much closer than the dance deemed necessary, and his hand was lower on my hip than deemed necessary. I flicked my eyes around, taking in the scenery, with a shock I realized that we were under a willow tree, quiet far away from the festivities. Now, how had he managed that?
"Looking at you feet, for it is quiet apparent in the way that you move, you are a very good dancer." he replied quietly. I did not know weather to take that as a compliment or insult, I said nothing.
"And of course, you won't meet my eyes, which tells me that you have something to hide." I looked at him, grey meeting green, he smirked slightly, but continued to move me around with him to the music, which I was still humming too. I couldn't tear my eyes away, oh how I wanted to! But something made me look.
"I have nothing to hide." I replied with a sweet smile.
"You are not a docile as you appear to be." he said casually.
"And you seem to pay more attention when you are dancing with someone." I replied bitterly.
"Ah, so you did notice." he said, a small smiled dancing across his full lips.
"No, not quiet." I tried to cover up my mistake.
"Yes, you did, for not even my own father commented on it." he said lazily in a drawling voice.
"Who were you perusing?" I asked, my vanity getting in the way.
"Ah, yes you did indeed notice. Do tell me, did it make you jealous." he had found my weak point. I wonder vaguely how he did that.
"No, why would I want you after me?" I asked airily, like I had thousands of other princes chasing after me.
"And there is yet another lie. For I was watching you, out of the corner of my eye, you seemed to be livid." he laughed, his breath tickling my face. I said nothing, but persuaded my lips and attempted to look away, and yet again I couldn't.
"How do you do that?" I asked without thinking, I said too many things when looking into those eyes.
"Do what?" he asked me arching a brow. To tell him or not? My mouth made the decision for me.
"I can not look away, how do you do that?" I asked him, like a small child.
"Ah, yes, that." he smiled lightly, then his face turned dark. "One of my lovable traits." he replied with bitter sarcasm, "Right now could make you do anything I want." he said, his voice contemplative, his eyes searching my soul.
"I do not believe you." I replied, with a slight smile. He raised a brow.
"Tell me your one horrible trait." he said quickly, his voice soft and seductive.
"I am…" I broke off trying to stop myself from saying it. I knew I was vain, but… "vain." I finished against my will.
"See?" he whispered into my ear. I stiffened. "Are you afraid now?" he asked me lightly.
"No." I said in a steady voice, trying to look away, but he still held me fast.
"You should be." he replied, a malicious smile playing over his face.
"What are you going to do? You can not have any grudge over me." I replied.
"Ah, yes, but I do. For something that you have that I don't. Freedom. I am not allowed to do what I wish, you are, within reason, but still you have more freedom than me." his face wistful.
"You shall take this bitterness of yours out on me? Because I happened to be the sorry maiden who bumped into you?" I asked skeptically.
"No, because your voice has been haunting me since I was eight years old." he said, frankly. I flushed. I just wanted to go.
"So, now, that I have you, I simply want you to dance with me." we had stopped moving, but as soon as he said it, I was dancing, and no matter how hard I tried, my feet wouldn't stop. I looked at him alarmed.
"What are you?" I asked in shock. He gave a short and bitter laugh.
"The one who can control all of your actions." he said. I flushed again. Oh how I wanted to leave! So badly!
"Please, let me go!" I tried, playing it up.
"Ah, so now you try the damsel in distress card." he smiled harshly, "It wont work."
"What the Hell is your problem?" I asked him trying to tug away, but we were moving in a spin now.
"I have no problem." he replied.
"Then let me go." I demanded, my head spinning.
"No." he said simply, dipping me back, always holding eye contact. He placed a kiss on my throat, I almost screamed, but something told me it wouldn't be a good idea. I tried to jerk away. My head was pounding. What was happing? Why was he able to do this?
"How?" I asked him, as we spun around again.
"Heritage. My mother could do, so can I, but only when I want to, other than that, I just have an interesting eye color." he replied nonchalantly.
"Then use it on the nobles, not a miller's daughter!" I cried. My vanity was slowly starting to unravel. It was because of it that I was in this mess.
"Because, you are so much more fun to play with." he replied. So I was a toy now? Oh, I wanted to hurt him.
"So Mr. I-am-smart, how do you expect to get back into the festivities without being noticed?" I raised an eyebrow, skeptical.
"Well, it is quiet simple really, no one knows that we are gone." his answer was so frank and well, ridiculous, that I couldn't help but to laugh.
"And if I screamed?" I asked him.
"I'd stop you before you could." he didn't bat and eye lashed, I shivered.
"If I kicked you?"
"I wouldn cut you head off, just make you pay, in the worst way possible." he said. His hand dropping lower. I bit my lip. I wanted to say something, but I wouldn't, I would not! I refused to. He talked then, tried to provoke me into saying something, but I held my tongue, he would eventually grow bored, with me.
"I could always make you talk." he said, he looked eerie in the silver moon light. I shivered again.
"Fine." I said. He smiled brilliantly. I cursed him, and my self. Why had I gotten into this mess?
"Are you tired?" I asked him. He gave a short laugh.
"I was wondering when you would ask." he said. We stopped dancing, and walked over to the willow's base. He sat down, pulling me with him. I tucked my feet under me, this whole looking into his eyes all of the time business was getting annoying.
"Can't you tell me to stay here, so I don't have to look at you all the time? My neck is starting to hurt!" I whined. His eyes smoldered and he pursed his lips.
"Wow, well if you can't make me do whatever you want with out me looking at you, you must be pretty weak." I said, always rely on one thing in danger, pricking man's ego.
"Yes, I can make you do what I want, without looking at you." he said.
"Prove it." I replied, raising and eyebrow.
"You are not allowed to leave this willow unless I tell you, and you must do whatever I say." he replied. And then broke eye contact. I sighed and moved my eyes around. And then closed them. I stood up, waiting for his protest and walked over to the edge of the braches. It tried to part them, put my hands and feet wouldn't move. I growled with frustration.
"I'll go back!" I shouted at the branches. I back away and walked around, trying to think of a way out.
"Come here." he said. My feet jerked that way. I grumbled a protest. "Sit." I sat. "You know, I have no idea why my father thought you were a lady." he said.
"Is time passing out side?" I asked in stead.
"No. just here." he replied looking around. "Great!" I grumbled, my carefully placed demeanor dropping. And then I composed it again. He slung his arm around my shoulders and pulled me into his side, but he made no eye contact, for which I was eternally grateful.
"Now I do no know about you, but I want sleep." he said. Pulling me down with him. I rolled my eyes but said nothing. I flipped onto my side and almost screamed when his arms wrapped around my waist and he pulled me close to him, tucking my head under his chin and curling his body around mine.
"Now, don't move." he said with a short laugh. I wanted to bite him or hurt him in any way, but that might be perilous to me…I sighed and closed my eyes, thoroughly tired and slowly drifted to sleep. I woke up before him. He had rolled away so I was free. I sat up and crawled over.
"Derek." whispered sweetly into his ear. He slightly moved.
"If you can hear me I want you to say 'willow'". he said the word sleepily. I grinned.
"Now I want you to say 'you may leave the willow tree, and you do not have to listen to everything I say.'" I told him. He repeated the words. I got up and walked over to the branches thrilled that my muscles did not lock up when I reached them. I looked back at the Prince, but he wasn't there. A little man was sitting where he had been. His coal black eyes watched me.
"What?" I asked him, unnerved…where had the Prince gone?
"You and I shall meet again." he said in an odd ominous voice and then he laughed and disappeared.
I had bolted up. The covers tangled around me. I had leaned my head on my knees. What a terrible dream! A horrible dream. And yet, now I couldn't even remember the rest of my day…I had shaken the dream out of my head, and had not thought of it for a long time...
When I was sixteen the King died. Causing 18 year old Derek to become King.
Two years later my father made his mistake. I wanted to believe it was a folly, I wanted to believe he had bumped his head and couldn't think straight, but I could not. For I knew that his mistake was born out of desperation. As most mistakes are…or lies, lies that led to trades, trades of freedom, trades of life, my life…I suddenly hated my father very much…
XoxOxoX
A/N I got bored so i started this, i picked this one first off my poll cuz it had the most votes...-yawns- srry, its late adn i posted this just for you! my peeps! Alrgiht, tell me what you think of our lovely heroien. Bc im not gettin ginto explinations tonight, i am listenting to paramorea dn staring covetly at the new offspring album on itunes, trying to decied how i am gonna get it.
Story related, yes she was dreaming, but some parts were fragemtn of waht she remembered, some parts were dream, well with the prince anyway, the rest was just histroy, and there will not be any lemons...unless someone writes it and then forces me to put it up. alrigth so as usal ur input is greatly apreciated, via review or e-mail, just tell me what ya thought! peace out my peeps.
and yes, all of my fariy tale chaacters in rewrites will be related bizarly :D Rae