The Old Forest, Ten years later
Grime sat in a corner and sobbed. Her sisters sat in other corners and sobbed. The past ten years had been a terrible strain on their patience – If you could imagine such beasts having patience.
Clean this, scrub that, sort that mess out, and for the god's sake will you wash your hands before you touch that sponge cake?
Such had been the banter they had endured from the young princess, she had worked them and worked them, reminding them constantly that she was a princess, and was to be treated with respect.
Mistress Filth turned suddenly as she heard the tapping of stiletto heels on the path. She whispered to her sisters. "Quick, she's back!"
As quick as lightning, no wait, not lightening, maybe a super-sonic car, no wait cars weren't invented then… okay as quick as a fox being chased by a large wooden horse, the fairies worked their magic, making themselves appear beautiful once more. A shame that such a spell did not last indefinitely, as it would have been a great improvement on the health of the forest. No more blind owls, for example. (Which, for some reason which I'd prefer not to go into in much detail, had become an unusual epidemic now in the Old Forest.)
Rose entered the cottage, glancing around gaily. Her hair shone in the dim sunlight that passed through the darkened canopy. Her lips were a deep shade of red. Her cheeks glowed; due to the great amount of pinching she had endured to achieve that oh-so fresh look. Oh good, thought Grime. She's in a good mood.
"Hello my dear fairies three, what mischief have you been getting up to?"
"Up to? Why nothing, my fair princess, we've been, er… that is to say er…" As has been mentioned before, Mistress Strife had a good deal of common sense, enough to not let on that she and her sisters had done nothing but sob and wail all day anyway, but was not at all inventive.
Mistress Grime faked her most silken of voices. "We've been thinking about what to make for dinner. We need to make a berry tart for afterwards. Would you go out and pick us some berries dear?"
Rose flung her coat on the floor and stamped on it. "What? I'm a princess! Princesses do NOT pick berries!!"
Mistress Filth raised her finger. "Now, my child, you know full well that neither of us can reach the higher branches of the bushes, and that is where the sweetest berries in the forest lie. Be a good child and go to get us some would you?"
Grudgingly, Rose stamped out of the cottage, taking a wicker basket with her. When she had walked to the end of the path, muttering choice phrases angrily under her breath, the three fairies sighed in relief, and sank to the floor, returning to their usual revolting state with a flicker of candlelight.
"What shall we do about this? Rose is going tonight, we have to celebrate someway, if only to keep her happy. I don't fancy having my hands whipped again…" Gasped Filth.
Mistress Grime was deep in thought. "Sister Filth, where did you put the wands?"
"They're in the broom closet upstairs."
Grime smiled wickedly. "Well, tonight is a night for celebration. Soon, our curse will be fulfilled. Tomorrow is Rose's wedding day after all, we have not long to wait. I suggest we ready her for the terror she is to endure."
The three fairies cackled insanely, before bustling around, readying the place for the princess's return.
---
Rose sang a merry tune of revenge as she strode determinedly through the woods. The birds and animals fled before her, scampering out of the way as quickly as you could say super-cala-fraga-… you get the picture.
She reached to pick a berry or two from the topmost branch of the bush nearby, and cursed as she pricked her finger. "Dammit! Oh why in the world do I have to live in this cursed forest? I'm a princess, this is NOT what a princess should endure!"
Suddenly resolute… Suddenly? Hold on, she'd always been resolute… Suddenly more resolute than usual, Rose sat down upon the basket, folding her arms across her chest. And thus she sat for many an hour, scowling at the sky until she would be found. This was a peaceful strike, or at least it would be until somebody disagreed with her reasoning.
---
Prince John rode through the woods, gaily clutching the wooden branches that flipped past his head, and snapping them. His horse, Deathbolt, weaved through the trunks with ease, sure of his purpose.
Spotting his target not far ahead, John silently brought his steed down to a trot, before stopping and dismounting. He quietly edged his way over to the mound of earth in his sight, unsheathing his dagger, tip-toeing along the dewy verge.
"BOO!!" The voice came from nowhere, and John fell to the floor as the rabbit rang headlong through the long grass, far from his reach. John stamped on the floor, and leaned on his knees, searching all around for the source of the sound.
Nothing.
He stood thus for quite a while, until soon he saw a flash of grey beyond the trees, followed by a faint sound of laughter. He smiled and chased the flash, ignoring the twigs that slapped his face as he ran.
Soon, he reached a clearing, and found in front of him a delicate figure leaning seductively on a rock. "Oh my, uh, what are you doing here?"
Her voice was as sweet as her appearance. Her face was flushed from her exertion, she breathed heavily. John hid the front of his trousers with his hands.
"I uh, I'm sorry, I thought…"
Rose giggled. "Yes, it was me, I'm sorry, I couldn't resist."
John laughed. "That's okay," Actually it wasn't okay, the adrenaline from his anger still coursed through his veins; his head was threatening to explode. But this girl, ah my, this girl…
Rose giggled as she saw the expression on John's face, then still more when she saw where he placed his hands. "Surely you wouldn't deny me a proper apology?"
"Apology for what?"
"Why for chasing me of course. You'd think you could make some sort of offer."
She gazed intently into his eyes, searching his thoughts. Not that she had to, she knew this would turn out to her advantage. Her knees shaked as her eyes traced the sculpted lines of his torso, he was strong and lean, and she begged him silently.
John stammered as he thought of a reply. His well-kept secret was the last thing he wanted to let on… But he would have this girl; he couldn't bear the thought of anyone else taking her from him.
He stopped himself from stammering and walked quickly to her, taking her tightly in his arms. He crushed his lips against hers, holding her tightly and stroking her hair as she went weak in his grasp.
---
Grime sniffed as she looked at the dress before her, its material stained here and there with berry juice, a wreath of thorns about the waistline. "It'll do I suppose. If she doesn't want to wear it it's tough luck."
Strife chuckled. "Might I suggest that we remain as we are when she returns? I would much rather take her to the dungeon as we are."
Filth agreed, she was allowed the pleasure of a brief chuckle before Rose fell in through the door, stumbling over the hem of her muddied skirt. Her hair was dishevelled, her ruby red lipstick smudged. She looked insanely happy, until she looked upon the three fairies. "Who… who are you? Where have my fairies gone?"
As Filth walked towards her, Rose fought the irresistible urge to faint as the odour of urine grew stronger. "We are three fairies come to take you back to the palace."
"You…. You're not fairies! Why, you're as ugly as rats!"
Grime fought the urge to thump the princess as she growled. "Put this dress on, dear, it will keep you warm for the journey throughout the night."
Rose looked at the dress, encased in its ring of thorns. "But… that would cut me, surely."
"Not at all dear, it will protect you from any animals, and will stop anyone from touching you." Strife cooed.
With much debate, Rose at last put on the dress, wincing as the thorns scraped her fair skin. She was dragged through the forest, and became so tired that she could sleep on her feet. But all the while she was dragged onwards, towards what she was told would be the castle, she did not know her way around beyond the forest any more, and so she believed what she was told.