The next morning rose foggy and cold. It looked about to rain. When I first looked out the window, I shivered. It seemed like such a bad omen for the day Jonathan had to tell all.
Father, as usual, had us attend to the meeting. I don't know what my sisters were expecting, given past performance by the young men, but my heart was beating wildly. I thought, Surely, if there ever was a fate for us to be free from this awful curse, it would be with this man, who actually stood a chance? I was scared to answer my own question.
But there was Father asking the inevitable question.
Young man, you have now spent three nights in my daughters' bedroom to try and discover where they go to wear out their dancing slippers every night. I ask you, have you found anything for an answer?
My goodness, I thought, amazed, my father has the same hope shining in his eyes as I'm sure I do! What does he see in this young man, not so young anymore, but surely kind and good? Could he possibly see what I think I see?
Jonathan looked up, holding a bundle of cloth in his arms. I had no idea what it could possibly be.
Yes, your Majesty, I do have something to tell you.... but it may take some time.
Father looked at him, eyes shining with unshed tears. Take all the time you want, young man... I've waited nigh on five years to hear those very words... take all the time you want.
I could feel my heart breaking right then and there. This was it. Our curse was finally to be over... I could go and live in the sun again! Laugh again! Be free once more! I felt like jumping up and whooping for joy, but realized that it would look neither dignified, nor would it be very possible in the dress I was wearing. I composed myself quickly to listen to Jonathan, curious to see how he would describe the place where we had been for over four years.
I stayed awake, Highness, the first night, and pretended to sleep. I heard scuffling sounds from around the curtain, of girls dressing and putting on shoes... then a soft whoosh as a trapdoor, as I later saw, was opened and the girls descended, all twelve of them. As soon as they had disappeared, I ran out and ran quickly down the trapdoor as well, so as not to lose the princesses.
I followed them down a staircase, into a most marvelous forest. The trees were made entirely of gold and silver, with jewels hanging from them as if they were fruit. I decided to break off a branch to bring back with me with proof, so I did. The crack it made as it broke was enough to wake the dead! And that's when I realized what made me so uneasy.
The place was deathly silent. There was no noise at all, besides the rustle of the princesses' dresses. It wasn't right, for a forest to have no noise. And from then on, that forest was hateful to me, no matter how costly its woods.
We finally arrived at a landing, with a black lake. Those waters had never seen the sun before, and probably never will. There, there were twelve boats lined up, each with a pale man, dressed entirely in black, inside. Each princess got into one of the boats. I succeeded in concealing myself on the last boat, the one belonging to Nathie- here Jonathan bowed to her, then straightened and continued. Nathie turned pink, and my heart thumped.
- and followed them across the lake to a beautiful pavilion, with a palace in the background. We all got out of the boats and ascended to the pavilion, where music was coming out- but the music was odd. It wasn't for a while that I realized that it sent shivers up my neck, no matter how cheerful it tried to be. In fact, as I looked around, I realized I disliked this pavilion, no matter how beautiful, it was frightful. And all the princesses were dancing with the young men as if there was no better place to be. I didn't understand why they did so- until I realized they must be under some compulsion or another, for nowhere did I see smiles on any face, that I would expect to see on a girl's when she was dancing with her love.
So the entire night I spent on the sidelines, watching the dancing. Hours later, there being no moon or suns to tell time in that dismal place, all twenty-four young men and princesses walked back to the boats. Once again concealing myself on Nathie's boat, I followed and raced back to the room to be there before the princesses' return.
The second and third nights passed in the same way. On the third night, I also took the liberty of taking a wine glass belonging to the eldest princess, Fiona, to bring back.
My father now spoke for the first time. He'd been listening intently the entire time, his face closed as he heard the truth for the first time in four years.
And so do you have the proof? he asked.
I do, and he brought from the bundle a branch from the jeweled forest, all gold and silver, with tiny rubies on it about the size of cherries. The end was broken off, as from a tree, but now, in the light of day, it didn't look like a tree at all. It could not compete with the live trees outside, with birds singing in them and the wind rustling their leaves. The jeweled branch looked superfluous, crazy, and unnecessary, which it was. Then Jonathan lay it down on the table in front of him.
Next, he drew out the wine glass that I recognized from the night before, all encrusted with jewels. He seemed to be frowning at it, and I realized that their was still wine in the glass- an impossibility because it had been horizontally oriented.
Your Majesty, I don't understand how there could still be... Jonathan shrugged and experimentally tipped the glass sideways, and finally upside down. The liquid did not move at all. It seemed to be glued to the glass, yet still liquid. Nobody made a move to reach inside and try touching it. None of us dared to. Jonathan shrugged again and put the glass next to the branch on the table.
sighed my father- he looked as if he'd aged another ten years listening to this story. I have heard your story, seen your proof, and I accept it as true. However, I would like to ask my daughters why they didn't tell anybody? If they were so unhappy, why didn't they trust me, or anyone, with the truth?
I opened my mouth to speak, to say that I would have if I could have, but something prevented me from over mentioning it, and found to my bewilderment that that still held. I could not make myself speak. After trying many times I gave up, closed my mouth and looked down, to conceal the tears. I had wished so much to be able to tell my father the truth, and now couldn't, and maybe never could!
Father looked upset, then he sighed and went on. Well, if they won't, they won't. But, sir, you have won the contest, and can choose which of my daughters to marry.
Jonathan began, but stopped abruptly, as the floor began to shake and leap about, but with no sound.
Oh God..... I began.... but then the world shook even more, and I fell to the floor.
Don't worry, I'll get the next chapter written and up ASAP, given the constraints of school.....
