Once Upon

Tiamat's Child

Once upon a time there were two princesses. One didn't know she was a princess, because her father's wicked advisors had sold her into slavery when she was a baby. But she was still a princess, and the calluses on her hands and the dirt on her face couldn't hide that. The other princess knew she was a princess, for she lived with her father in his strange, magical kingdom. Both of them were very beautiful, and very brave.

One day, the king of the magical kingdom had to send his daughter away into hiding. So she came to the place where the other princess lived and worked, and knew her for who she was as soon as she saw her. The evil woman who was supposed to be taking care of the king's daughter made her a slave too, as soon as her father was gone, and so the princesses both have to do jobs they aren't strong enough for.

But they can stand it, because they know that one day one of their faithful subjects will come and find them, and save them. And, what is more important, because they are together.

That's the story that Sara whispers into Becky's ear on long winter nights when they've put all of their bedcovers on one bed, and lie curled together to keep warm. When she tells it Becky always asks, Do the Princesses ever get princes? And Sara hugs her, and says, No, they never do, for they never find princes who they love anywhere near as much as they love each other.

Sara will kiss Becky's cheek then, so Becky can feel her smile. Becky always feels soft and glowing, the way she did the time she snitched a sip of the cooking sherry, when Sara kisses her. She always cries a little too, though not because she's sad.

They sleep that way till morning, close and cozy, and as safe as they can be, in their exile.