The Half Curse
A/N: Lookie! I decided to post this up after all. Great, now I have to think in six different modes. Well, I am on Easter Break after all, so I guess I'll write more. ^_^ Enjoy!
D: Well, there isn't much to disclaim. Except that some parts and spells may look a teeny bit similar, to the old tales – Cinderella/The Little Mermaid/Swan Princess – that is. That's all.
A Princess's Choice
Karla, a girl of 14, stood on her balcony. She sighed wistfully, wishing that she could be as free as the other girls of her age. One main reason, a very important one that is, was that she was a princess. Not just any ordinary princess, but was one of the richest realms in the world. Her father, King Proem, was the most stubborn man in the land. Karla was her father's favorite, mostly because she was the youngest. Her four other sisters: Jamaira was 17, Laurel was 18, Miranda 19, and Nina 20, were much older. Nina was already married to Count Aston and Miranda was currently with Lord Hasten.
The young princess grumbled about her 'imprisonment' and went inside. There were a lot of suitors visiting her everyday, since the time when she was 12. Asking for her hand for marriage, or that they were asking for their sons. Her father knowing that she was too young; refused them all. For his marrying age was 16, the age he got married.
The girl went into her bedroom and decided that she was going out, after all. She dressed, entirely, in black and jumped out her window. Using the space between the stones for gripping, she slowly lowered herself down. The palace's spymaster had taught her well. No one saw her when she traveled down the castle's wall. When she landed on the ground, her hand automatically went to her belt, making sure she had all her weapons and tools. Satisfied, she entered the marketplace. But not before she donned on her peasant's clothing.
Luckily, no one would remember the girl, if they didn't look into her eyes. They shone as bright as pure gold, but darkened to honey-colored orbs when she was angered. Right now, they shined like suns, excitement running through her veins. She messily braided her midnight-black hair and hurried into the busy stores. Entering the first one, she saw jades, rubies, sapphires, silver and gold decorations, and other riches. A gold necklace winked at her from the pile of wealth. It was an ordinary chain attached to a conch shell. The shell was outlined in silver and diamonds. Karla picked it up and examined it. Although it was plain, the work was flawless. The chain seemed to melt into the outline of the curved shell, as if it were made for each other and nothing else.
"Hey, girl! You break it, you buy it."
"Actually, I was planning to buy it."
The man stared at her, dumbfounded.
"Do you know how much that costs?"
"So?"
"100 gold, no can you buy it?" The man didn't bother to hide his annoying smirk.
"Yes."
She dropped the bag of coins into the hand of the gaping man and walked out. For a whole minute, he stood still, wondering where she had gotten the money. Shaking his head, he turned to go back in, at least these coins could feed his family for several years.
Once, outside, she realized that it was dusk and knew that she had to go back in time for her swimming lessons. When she was at the wall, a hoarse voice spoke.
"I wouldn't try to rob that place if I were you, youngling. Dreadful consequences. Now, who might you be? I've never seen you before."
She turned and found herself facing an old gypsy. Her face was lined with wrinkles and her hair was silver-gray. The gypsy's one eye swirled to meet her own. It widened in surprise at the young girl's unusual eye color, but the elder didn't say anything.
"I'm Estelle, from the lands of Darkness. My master has sent me to retrieve the king's staff. Now, I must go on with my job, please excuse me."
"Don't lie to me, young one. I know your secrets, princess. Come on, I know how you long to be free. I can give you an option. Though it might be a dangerous one."
"What may it be, elder?" asked the curious girl.
"I can allow you to turn into a mermaid at nightfall and a human in the morning. But you must give me something. Your crown."
Karla became overly excited, her wish had come true! To leave the royal family and join the people! Quickly, she agreed and asked for the conditions.
"You must first catch a silver fish. It MUST be silver, not a spot of any other color, you hear me? Then bring it to me."
Karla, who also happened to be an experienced huntress, went over to a small stream.
"It's size doesn't matter, does it, old lady?"
"No, just hurry, it must be done at night."
She quickly scooped up a small silver fish from the river and returned to the gypsy.
The old woman quickly stabbed the fish and told Karla to slice her finger. The princess delicately cut her finger (A/N: I meant a paper cut thing, okay? Not like those chopped off finger things) and handed it over to the gypsy. She took the princess's hand and dropped three drips of blood on the wound, then chanted a small verse. The wound closed up, as if it wasn't cut before and her hand had a tingling sensation.
"Now, we shall switch places. I advise you to be near a big body of water soon. Unless you want to be a dead being."
The old gypsy transformed into an exact replica of the ex-princess, except her eyes were silver, and vanished to reappear on the balcony.
"Bye, my dear, and may your adventures be worthy of this sacrifice. Though I don't see why anyone would want to be a peasant."
Karla watched the 'princess' re-enter the tower and started sprinting toward the ocean. The castle was built near the large body of water, so that it would have a great view. Who would have known such a beauty would have been so useful? She smiled happily as she sat on the bay. Suddenly, the moon shone clear and her legs became a fin. It was as gold as her eyes and shone with health. Happily, she dived beneath the water and started out for the clear, blue sea.
A/N: The next chapter is going to be called 'Acceptance'. Reviews, please? (for continuation, um, I'll wait till 10 reviews, but I might change my mind. I do this, so that I can rest and there is no need for me to write more, until the limit is reached, of course) THERE WILL BE A PRINCE, there I gave you a hint. REVIEW ^_^
A/N: Lookie! I decided to post this up after all. Great, now I have to think in six different modes. Well, I am on Easter Break after all, so I guess I'll write more. ^_^ Enjoy!
D: Well, there isn't much to disclaim. Except that some parts and spells may look a teeny bit similar, to the old tales – Cinderella/The Little Mermaid/Swan Princess – that is. That's all.
A Princess's Choice
Karla, a girl of 14, stood on her balcony. She sighed wistfully, wishing that she could be as free as the other girls of her age. One main reason, a very important one that is, was that she was a princess. Not just any ordinary princess, but was one of the richest realms in the world. Her father, King Proem, was the most stubborn man in the land. Karla was her father's favorite, mostly because she was the youngest. Her four other sisters: Jamaira was 17, Laurel was 18, Miranda 19, and Nina 20, were much older. Nina was already married to Count Aston and Miranda was currently with Lord Hasten.
The young princess grumbled about her 'imprisonment' and went inside. There were a lot of suitors visiting her everyday, since the time when she was 12. Asking for her hand for marriage, or that they were asking for their sons. Her father knowing that she was too young; refused them all. For his marrying age was 16, the age he got married.
The girl went into her bedroom and decided that she was going out, after all. She dressed, entirely, in black and jumped out her window. Using the space between the stones for gripping, she slowly lowered herself down. The palace's spymaster had taught her well. No one saw her when she traveled down the castle's wall. When she landed on the ground, her hand automatically went to her belt, making sure she had all her weapons and tools. Satisfied, she entered the marketplace. But not before she donned on her peasant's clothing.
Luckily, no one would remember the girl, if they didn't look into her eyes. They shone as bright as pure gold, but darkened to honey-colored orbs when she was angered. Right now, they shined like suns, excitement running through her veins. She messily braided her midnight-black hair and hurried into the busy stores. Entering the first one, she saw jades, rubies, sapphires, silver and gold decorations, and other riches. A gold necklace winked at her from the pile of wealth. It was an ordinary chain attached to a conch shell. The shell was outlined in silver and diamonds. Karla picked it up and examined it. Although it was plain, the work was flawless. The chain seemed to melt into the outline of the curved shell, as if it were made for each other and nothing else.
"Hey, girl! You break it, you buy it."
"Actually, I was planning to buy it."
The man stared at her, dumbfounded.
"Do you know how much that costs?"
"So?"
"100 gold, no can you buy it?" The man didn't bother to hide his annoying smirk.
"Yes."
She dropped the bag of coins into the hand of the gaping man and walked out. For a whole minute, he stood still, wondering where she had gotten the money. Shaking his head, he turned to go back in, at least these coins could feed his family for several years.
Once, outside, she realized that it was dusk and knew that she had to go back in time for her swimming lessons. When she was at the wall, a hoarse voice spoke.
"I wouldn't try to rob that place if I were you, youngling. Dreadful consequences. Now, who might you be? I've never seen you before."
She turned and found herself facing an old gypsy. Her face was lined with wrinkles and her hair was silver-gray. The gypsy's one eye swirled to meet her own. It widened in surprise at the young girl's unusual eye color, but the elder didn't say anything.
"I'm Estelle, from the lands of Darkness. My master has sent me to retrieve the king's staff. Now, I must go on with my job, please excuse me."
"Don't lie to me, young one. I know your secrets, princess. Come on, I know how you long to be free. I can give you an option. Though it might be a dangerous one."
"What may it be, elder?" asked the curious girl.
"I can allow you to turn into a mermaid at nightfall and a human in the morning. But you must give me something. Your crown."
Karla became overly excited, her wish had come true! To leave the royal family and join the people! Quickly, she agreed and asked for the conditions.
"You must first catch a silver fish. It MUST be silver, not a spot of any other color, you hear me? Then bring it to me."
Karla, who also happened to be an experienced huntress, went over to a small stream.
"It's size doesn't matter, does it, old lady?"
"No, just hurry, it must be done at night."
She quickly scooped up a small silver fish from the river and returned to the gypsy.
The old woman quickly stabbed the fish and told Karla to slice her finger. The princess delicately cut her finger (A/N: I meant a paper cut thing, okay? Not like those chopped off finger things) and handed it over to the gypsy. She took the princess's hand and dropped three drips of blood on the wound, then chanted a small verse. The wound closed up, as if it wasn't cut before and her hand had a tingling sensation.
"Now, we shall switch places. I advise you to be near a big body of water soon. Unless you want to be a dead being."
The old gypsy transformed into an exact replica of the ex-princess, except her eyes were silver, and vanished to reappear on the balcony.
"Bye, my dear, and may your adventures be worthy of this sacrifice. Though I don't see why anyone would want to be a peasant."
Karla watched the 'princess' re-enter the tower and started sprinting toward the ocean. The castle was built near the large body of water, so that it would have a great view. Who would have known such a beauty would have been so useful? She smiled happily as she sat on the bay. Suddenly, the moon shone clear and her legs became a fin. It was as gold as her eyes and shone with health. Happily, she dived beneath the water and started out for the clear, blue sea.
A/N: The next chapter is going to be called 'Acceptance'. Reviews, please? (for continuation, um, I'll wait till 10 reviews, but I might change my mind. I do this, so that I can rest and there is no need for me to write more, until the limit is reached, of course) THERE WILL BE A PRINCE, there I gave you a hint. REVIEW ^_^