Author's notes and disclaimer: I don't own any of the fairy tales mentioned in this story, obviously.

Also: English is not my mother language. So if you spot any mistakes, even if it's a typo, please tell me. And also please tell me if I repeat some things to much, I know how annoying that can be ;)-I tried to write British English, btw, instead of American English- And one last thing: Feedback is ALWAYS welcome^^

Finally, the first chapter! And the second is already written too! –but not typed ^^;- In the meantime, I drew a map of Talesia, and I developed some other characters –the princesses' parents for example, the first generation, and their future children, the second generation. Maybe, if I ever start it, I could write a sequel and a prequel? That's also why there are countries that aren't even mentioned in this story, like Carabas. Oops, my minute's up ^^; Time for the story!

~ Phara


Chapter I: Of wizards and wenches

or Why not every princess wants to be saved

She blinked. Where was she? Before she could dwell on it any longer, somebody entered the room.

"So you're awake, sleeping beauty?" said a male voice sarcastically.

She sat up to look at the stranger. It was a tall young man, with short, messy black hair and blue eyes behind silver rimmed glasses. He was wearing a forest green robe, typical for a … for who again? She just couldn't remember. Never mind that! All in all, he was quite the handsome chap. But how dare he speak to her like that?! She retaliated as fast as she could "Do you even know who you're talking to, young man?!"

"Indeed I do, you are Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Rosalène Cerin Rubis-Lilya of Grimmsel, daughter of King Enthar of Grimmsel and the late queen Léliana. Yet, you act like a common wench! Whatever happened to etiquette, and gratitude?"

"Why you impudent …"

"And there's one more thing you should know: You died six years ago"

She stopped the insult and blinked again. "Am I? Dead, I mean. I should be… the curse."

He chuckled. "No, my dear princess, you're not. In fact, one could even say that I saved you from that awful fate"

Now that the fog surrounding her memory was fading, she remembered clearly why she 'died' –and wanted to- in the first place. Sure, she couldn't exactly tell what her sleep had been like, but it had to have been more peaceful than this. She never asked for this!

"Why did you wake me, you insolent! Did I look like I wanted to be awakened?"

"I'm sure you didn't want to, your majesty" he sneered. "You had your own vain reasons, right?"

"Come again?" she asked, indignantly.

"The young princess was jealous of her stepmother's beauty, so she cowardly chose to sleep forever, leaving a grieving father behind. Everyone knows that! It was pointless though, princess, the queen disappeared years ago."

She took a sharp intake of breath. "That's what they think? That I'm vain? Me?!

The angered princess didn't look anything at all like the fragile doll she resembled sleeping anymore. Her cheeks were flushed, her ruby-coloured hair was flying around wildly and was that steam coming out of her ears?

"Like they know anything! Puh-lease! They think I'm dead! They don't know that Hexatha is the vain one, that she, that she…" She couldn't even say it. Rose slumped helplessly on the bed. Almost immediately, she took a hold of herself and breathed in deeply. "Do you know what it's like" she managed to choke out "to lose half of your soul?" It wasn't a question. She just stared at him with penetrating emerald eyes.

Taken aback, he racked his brain for explanations. What could she possibly be talking about? It couldn't be, no but she… "You don't mean, your sister? Princess Blanche?"

"Of course I do, you nitwit!" she spat out. "That vile witch killed her last err… a few days before I found this room."

"Six years ago" the fool added helpfully. But you're mistaken 'bout one thing, princess"

"No matter how much you happen to like her, I'm positive Queen Hexatha was the one who killed my sister"

"No, that's not it." He smiled. "Your sister's still alive. The hunter that was forced to kill her sent his son instead, who helped her escape. I spoke that very same hunter only yesterday!"

Rose stared at him, her gaze now both unbelieving and hopeful. Then her expression turned stern and determined. 'I will find her!' she vowed silently 'and then I will call out the witch and have my revenge.'

Suddenly she realised her companion was a complete stranger to her. "Who are you actually? Why did you wake me? How??"

"My name is Jacob Myst, son of James Myst and Hannah Sage. I'm a wizard from the royal court of Verra, but I was born here in Kassel. I came back to my home country to offer my services to king Enthar. Apparently King Nicholas hadn't talked to him since his sister's death, and he wanted to make up for it."

"Doesn't daddy have his own mages? What about his most loyal advisor, Merlyn? I remember him…"

"The former queen fired them all"

"All? Even uncle, I mean, Magister Merlyn?"

"Yes, all of them. That's why I came. But the king seemed a little off, and refused. He did let me stay at the castle though."

"Why did you stay?"

"As I said before, I thought he acted strangely and I learned to trust my instinct a long time ago. Magic can be a very subtle thing, you know. Incidentally, I discovered this room, covered in extraordinary vines and briars."

For the first time, the redhead noted that the walls were indeed covered in briars. Briars with blood red roses, that were starting to turn black. Her precious illusion of peace was crumbling, fast.

"I guessed who you were" he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear "and decided to save you, to repay my king's debt" she frowned, but didn't interrupt him, so he continued "And" he coughed "because it's what magician's do, it's our duty to help those in need."

She snickered, and this time, she did react "You sound like my cousin William, that snobby prince of Verra."

"Well, he is my best friend" he answered sheepishly.

"Enough about that idiot, I want to know how you broke the curse precisely."

At this, the usually calm and collective wizard blushed. "Did you know, your highness, that to find a cure for a curse, you have to analyse it first? Every little symptom is a crucial clue to find the spell's counterpart. It's quite a meticulous little job. On the contrary, the counter-curse itself is often fairly easy."

"And?" she interjected eagerly "What was it then?"

"Well eh, I had to, kind of…" He was as red as her hair now "kiss you, sort of." he muttered quietly.

"What?!" she bellowed, forgetting her princessly manners for a moment "You pervert, I'm only ten! And you, you must be twenty already!"

"Nineteen actually, and don't forget it saved your life." He paused "I hate to break the news, princess, but I'd say you're sixteen now."

She just gawked at him, so he gently pushed her in front of the mirror on the opposite wall. And indeed, she wasn't a little girl anymore. She still wore her favourite dark green dress, but it had grown with her.

An unusual, strangely resonating voice shook her from her thoughts. A mask-like face had appeared in the mirror and it spoke: "Une rose blanche fleurit en hiver, mais se flétrit en solitude." It vanished as soon as it finished speaking.

Jacob took it from the wall immediately and sealed it with magic. "This is a valuable, magical artefact, it could be useful." he explained "Shame it's probably dark. I'll have to purify it first and that could take a while."

"Now we should focus on reuniting the king and his long lost daughter shouldn't we?" Her brilliant smile at that comment made him forget why he'd regretted rescuing her earlier. They went to the throne room with lifted spirits, but what awaited them was not a warm welcome.

"This is not my daughter! My darling Rose died years ago, a few days after her sweet sister Blanche. How cruel of you to take advantage of an old man's misery."

Looking at him, she saw he did look old, older than he should be.

"But father dear- "

His eyes became pained at the familiar term of endearment. "And this wench, this shameless impostor turns out to be the cruellest of all. Out" he managed to hiss. "Out of my sight, now!"

The young mage fled from the castle, taking the baffled princess with him.

"Even my very own father won't believe me! What's there left to do now?" She threw her arms in the air.

"Plan B"

"You've got a plan B?"

He shook his head "Correction, We've got a plan 've got nowhere else to go, right? Then come with me to Verra, princess! I'm heading to its capital Mûrane anyway."

"But why?"

"Your sister could've gone there after she escaped."

"You're going to help me find her?!"

"Of course, besides, I want to see Will again, it's been almost half a year."

That made her remember what he said earlier "Why do you insist on saving princesses, Jacob?"

"Your sister is a special case"

Her eyebrows rose "You know her?"

"No, it's not like that. I owe it to my mother. She saved Princess Blanche all those years ago. And in a way, I owe it to you."

"To me?"

"After all, I rescued you against your will." he smirked.

"Oh, you! I, I refuse to speak to you anymore!" she decided stubbornly, crossing her arms. But her curiosity won in the end. "You mother… Did you inherit your magical abilities from her?"

"No, no magic isn't quite that simple, sadly enough. You don't get born with 'the gift'. Anybody can do it, but it takes a rather a long period of study. In fact, even after fourteen years I'm not a fully certified wizard yet."

"You mean you could've killed me instead of waking me?!"

"Now hold your horses, I never said that, princess."

"Call me Rose!"

"Princess Rose, now as I was saying-"

"Jacob!"

"Okay, Briar Rose then." he said, agitated. "I may not be certified, but you can hardly call me a novice either. I was one hundred percent sure about what I was doing!"

Instead of glaring, like he'd expected, she was smiling again. "It's been a long, long time since anybody called me that." she sighed, absent-mindedly. No sooner the words left her mouth, or her wistful expression disappeared and she did glare. "But that doesn't mean you can call me that!"

He chuckled inwardly. The hated nickname even made her forget what she'd been fussing about before. "Back to the point. I may have heard about the princess, but I haven't got a single clue 'bout the witch's whereabouts."

"And you think I have any?! Hello! I'm the one who's slept for the past six years, remember? And I'm actually just a little kid." she stated gloomily. "How could I possibly help?"

"Don't worry princess, you don't act like one" Rose grinned. "most of the time, that is." he amended hastily. Her only response was haughty huff. Unfortunately, the effect was ruined by the giggling that followed short after. Her chiming peals of laughter were contagious and the wizard couldn't help himself from laughing along. And that's how our friends departed for Mûrane, with hope in their hearts.


First person who guesses what the mirror's quote means, gets a sneak peek of chapter 2! -which is already fully written, but not typed^^;-Somebody already got this right, so I made up a new, harder one: Guess the fairytale I'll use in chapter 2! (Need hints? Analyse the names of the country they're going to and its capital) The price stays the same^^ I've started writing chapter 3, btw. Ps: I know Rose sounds older, but she grew up as a princess, so she speaks maturely. And don't forget: Liked it? Found a mistake?: Review, please^^

~ Phara