~ WR1tr's HRT
First of all, thank you for reading my story! This is my first time publishing on this forum, so please bear with me! I've posted a couple stories on WattPad though, if anyone is interested. Let me know if you are and I'll gladly direct you to my profile on that forum as well.
Once Upon A Forgotten Dream is still in the works but I will do my best to regularly add new chapters, though I am in the military and often, after getting off work, I am too tired to even eat lol. Still, I will keep these coming as long as I can because it is a fun story to write, and writing is sort of like therapy to me. I can lose myself in countless worlds at any moment and forget all about my stressful job. It is my hope that this story might do the same for you as well – allow you to escape the stresses and worries of your day, even just for a few minutes.
Also, I just want it duly noted that the Sleeping Beauty story does not belong to me. It belongs to whichever author first wrote the tale, (Charles Perrault, Basile of Naples, and later, the Grimm brothers, if I've got my fairly tale knowledge correct) and then the Disney movie Sleeping Beauty made by Walt Disney. I will definitely be creating some new characters along the way who belong to me, and of course the plot differences are mine as well but…I don't want to steal.
Anyway, I hope all y'all who read this enjoy (I may be a Southerner, but by golly I can still write lol!!!)!!! Happy reading!
The tales all tell of a beautiful girl with the voice of a nightingale, a girl cursed by a monstrous witch who sought revenge upon her father and his family. The girl would prick her finger on a spindle and sleep for eternity. Then the tales all end as the prince made a daring rescue, giving his all to save the woman he loved. After true love's kiss, she awoke, the two danced under the stars and in the clouds, and all lived happily ever after.
But the tales are all a lie. You see, I am that princess. I was the one who died, the one who was engaged to a man I had never met. But I was not the same as the girl from that tale.
You see, I ran away. I ran, not from the curse itself, and not even from royal obligations or a family I had never met – no, I from the thought of marrying someone I didn't love. I felt terrible, for my people needed me, but my parents were young. They could easily have another child, and I wanted to live my life the way I wanted, as opposed to the stifling life of a royal.
But fate has a sense of humor; I had no idea that it would turn the tables on me.
It all started here, right before I died.
*
"Rose, hurry! You need to go pick those berries! We need them for dinner!"
"All right, I'm going! Just let me grab my cloak." Not three seconds after I reach for it, throwing the hood over my curly blond mess called hair – and then my three goofball aunts promptly shove me out the door, slamming it in my face. I glance behind, towards the cottage where I can still hear their panicked bickering, and I grin slyly. They are preparing for my surprise birthday party, as they have done every year. They always try to keep it a secret, but they are not good with secrets.
So off I saunter, wandering through the forest, singing nothing in particular, and picking berries - but not hurriedly, for I know they will definitely need time to get their details together for when I return. The berry-picking is simply a distraction so I would not "find out" about the "surprise."
Suddenly the undergrowth rustles, and out pops a deer - one of my friends from the woods.
"Oh, hello there, friend. Here for some food?" I hold out some feed I had snagged from the cottage and she timidly wobbles forward, nose twitching, nibbling hungrily from my hand.
A little bluebird joins me next, singing a shrill, bright tune.
"Oh, so you want a competition, hmm? Well, you will have one then!" I begin to sing a song my aunts taught me, my voice soaring higher than the songbird's:
"I wonder, I wonder
Why each little bird has a song
To sing to, sweet things to…"
Suddenly I have an idea. "Oh, that rhymes!" I pulled out my notebook and begin to scribble furiously.
"Oh, here we are. This is perfect." Writing songs is a passion of mine; I love to challenge myself to come up with a melody and words on the spot, though it often sounds odd as I sing to myself at random moments throughout the day. But I don't care about that sort of thing, and even if I did, the only ears that would hear me are my animal friends and my aunts.
But there is another thing on my mind.
"I had the strangest dream last night," I confide to my animal friends, and their ears perk up as, little by little, more of them approach to sit near me as I talk.
"There was a boy - well, a man, I suppose. He held out his hand, I took it, and we danced the night away! We danced and danced, until finally he looked deep into my eyes…"
The animals all lean forward, listening intently with wide eyes. I lean towards them, my smile growing. "He leaned his head closer to mine, and closed his eyes…"
All my animal friends are chittering now, excited about the dream, and what happened with my dream man.
"And then…and then I woke up." I sigh in disappointment, and my animal friends deflate, mirroring my own feelings.
"What would it be like, I wonder…to experience those feelings for real?" I ask my friends, twirling as I speak. "To dance and to be held and to know someone…as though from once upon a dream…" I snap my fingers and jump suddenly. My excitement startles all my friends, and I accidentally cause one of my chipmunk friends to trip and take a small tumble.
"Sorry! I did not mean to make you fall! I simply grew too excited. Want to know why?" I ask mischievously, raising my eyebrow.
The animals all chatter in agreement. "All right. Well, I just had an idea for the most wonderful song. Would you like to hear it? Very well - here I go!" With that, I begin singing the haunting melody I have in my mind, the melody that is begging to be released:
"I know you,
I walked with you
Once upon a dream
I know you
That gleam in your eyes
Is so familiar a gleam
Yet I know it's true
That visions are seldom
All they seem
But if I know you
Then I know what you do…
You'll love me at once
The way you did
Once upon a dream…"
I end with a twirl and a low bow, extending down to the grass beneath me, much like the pictures of dancers that my aunts showed me when I was little.
The animals all go wild, barking and tweeting and tittering. I laugh, smiling delightedly. "Oh, so you want an encore? Well, an encore you shall receive!"
But things do not go as planned, for as I sing the final verse, I hear another's voice join mine. The voice is deep and strong, as though he is accustomed to singing with another and carrying a tune…but still…HE IS A STRANGER! I have never seen anyone other than my aunts and my animal friends. Especially not a man.My eyes widen and I whirl around…
And he is beautiful.
His green eyes stare back at me, bright with curiosity, kindness, and…something else.
So, this is what a man looks like? He looks just like me, but…different. Stronger, well-built - very muscular. I wonder who he might be, and why he is out here. What if he is out here to kidnap me, to do horrid things to me?
"You - you're a -"
"- A stranger?" He finishes my garbled sentence with a small chuckle. "I'm guessing you don't get out that much."
I shake my head sheepishly, uncertain as to whether I ought to leave or stay and talk, to find out more about this mystery man.
"I have never met anyone outside of my family. I only know my three aunts, and no other people."
His eyes widen and he whistles. "Land's alive…and I thought my life was sheltered!"
"I suppose…" I trail off awkwardly. "My aunts are very protective of me."
He shuffles, scuffing the ground with his boots. "My father is the same way. I shouldn't even be out here; I should be..."
"Should be what?" I ask when he trails off.
He stares at me for a long moment, then speaks. "You know what? I do not want to bore you with the depressing details of my life. It matters not. What does matter is…why ever a beautiful maiden such as yourself would be dancing in the forest all by your lonesome? We cannot have that, so…may I have this dance?" He holds out his hand, smiling encouragingly.
"I'm not supposed to be out here, either. I should get back," I answer, staring at his hand.
"Oh, come on. Just one dance, my lady?" He keeps his hand steady, and after one more moment of hesitation, I accept. He draws me closer, but he is gentlemanly enough to keep a decent amount of distance.
We dance a waltz, he calls it, and oh, it is the most wonderful experience of my life. There is no music - no stringed instruments, no chords playing the perfect song, but I swear I can hear the music in my mind as he holds me and takes me through each of the graceful steps. Eventually, we both grow tired and wander towards a hilly outcrop. We stare at the view of the castle and the beautiful sky, colored in cerulean blue, deep purple, and soft pink.
My mystery man wraps an arm around me. "Isn't it a lovely sunset?"
I stare dreamily out at the beautiful view. "Yes, it is…wait, sunset? Oh, I have to go!" I grab the basket I had absentmindedly dropped earlier when he first appeared. "I have to get back! My aunts will be so worried!"
"Wait!" He runs after me. "Can we meet again? And I didn't even get - "
"Meet me tonight! At the old cottage in the woods! Please…we can get to know one another better there. Goodbye!" I race through the trees, blocking my ears to his cries for me to wait. If I listen, I know I will never leave.
I will see you soon, Mystery Man.
*
"Surprise!" As soon as I step through the door, breathless from the run, my aunts bombard me with their birthday wishes. I see that they have gone all out, as they do every year, but…"Oh, what a lovely dress! It is so beautiful! Did you really go to all this hard work for me?" I hold the soft, satiny fabric, unable to believe that I am holding something so lovely. It appears somehow to be two colors at the same time: a royal blue and soft pink.
"Of course, my dear." Auntie Flora replies kindly. "Only the best for our Rose."
"Absolutely!" Auntie Fauna agrees, scurrying over to embrace time. "The best part is yet to come, though…"
"And what might that be? Though I have news as well, and I believe that mine is even more exciting!" I exclaim, hoping I do not blush.
"Ooh, let me tell her! Let me tell her!" Auntie Merryweather interjects, holding up her hands.
"Oh, all right, go ahead, dear," Auntie Flora relents, giving her permission to speak, but as soon as Auntie Merryweather opens her mouth, Auntie Flora quickly shouts:
"You are the lost princess!"
Everything is deadly quiet for a moment. Auntie Merryweather gives Auntie Flora a glare, but I am too shocked to take any notice.
"I - I am a - surely, this is just a joke! You raised me here, in a cottage, not in a castle -"
"We had to take you away, dearie. A witch cursed you, and in order to protect you we had to shelter you all these years. But now, you are of age and can return home and see your family. Your mother and father have been looking forward to this day for many a year! Tonight you get to see them for the first time since you were a babe – as well as your betrothed."
"Betrothed? But -"
"Yes, you get to marry a prince and live happily ever after! Isn't it romantic?" Auntie Fauna interjects dreamily.
"Will you all please give me a moment to process this?" I exclaim, my emotions raging faster than I can handle. "I just found out I am a princess, leaving the place in which I was raised, and am expected to marry a complete stranger – all in less than two minutes! I need time to get this in my head, and besides, how can I marry someone I do not love?"
"But you will love him, dearest. That is the way of royals; you must marry him, for your father wishes to make a peace treaty with the kingdom of your betrothed. You must do it, for the sake of your kingdom."
I think for a moment, the panic inside me rapidly swelling to a breaking point, and I turn my back to them, murmuring, "I cannot fall in love."
"Why ever would you think that, dearest Rose?" Auntie Flora asked, stepping towards me.
"Because I am already in love with another."
My aunts freeze, shock apparent on all their faces. "You. Are. What?"
"I - I fell in love. It just happened, all right? I invited him to the cottage tonight, so you can meet him. You'll see – he is a kind and handsome man. I cannot – will not – be with anyone but him!"
Auntie Flora gazes at me with pity, her eyes full of sorrow. "My dear, I am terribly sorry, but the king and queen expect to see you tonight in the castle. You will never be able to see that boy again."
Her words, spoken gently, hit me harder than a sack of stones, and my chest reels back with more pain than I have ever felt before. "No…no, it can't be!" I race to my room, the cries of my aunts fading behind me.
"Rose, wait, please!"
"Dearest, come back! It will be fine, you'll see!"
I ignore them, collapsing across my bed. As I think about everything that they have told me, I make a firm decision in my mind: I am not going to that castle, and I refuse to meet that spoiled, stuffy prince - let alone marry him! And I have no need of parents who allowed me to be raised by others, however kind my aunts have been to me. I simply wish to live my life the way I want…and to find my mystery man again. I will have to escape before nightfall.
But I must go further away from the cottage; I know my aunts will go out looking for me. Then, while they are away, I can wait just outside of the cottage for the boy of the woods. When he arrives, I can approach him quickly and ask him to take me away. To take me somewhere far, far away from here, and far from the castle.
All I know is I cannot stay here. I must go, if it is the last thing I do.
*
"I know, buddy, I know. I am engaged to a princess and it would be wrong to break the agreement my father made. But…I think I am in love with that girl from the forest. Her voice...I have never heard anything like it."
Felix, my proud horse, snorts in disgust. Or maybe he just snorted because he could – I do not know.
"Yes, yes. I am headed to the castle to see Father. And when I see him, I am going to tell him of my intentions with the forest girl, and he can either be happy or deal with it."
Felix snorts yet again, most likely thinking something along the lines of: "Out of all the masters in the world, why did I have to be stuck with the lovesick one?"
I pat his mane. "Don't worry, boy. When we get back, I will make sure you get a bushel-full of apples."
Now that makes him speed up. When we finally arrive, my father and his advisors await me. As soon as I dismount, I first instruct the foot-men to bring a load of apples for my four-legged friend, as promised. Then, interrupting whatever Father was about to say, I practically sweep him off his feet as I rush to embrace him.
"Well, son, this is quite the greeting! Someone seems excited to meet his future bride…" Father chuckles merrily, his stomach shaking heartily as he laughs.
I smile widely, still daydreaming of the girl. "Actually, Father…I've already met her!"
Father smiles as well. "Yes, yes, how nice…wait, what?! But how? She has not even arrived yet, and her father, the king –"
"Oh, no, Father. You misunderstand. She is not the princess."
"Not the…princess?"
"No, Father. I met someone. She lives in the woodcutter's cottage out in the forest."
"Woodcutter's cottage? Out in the forest?!"
"Yes, in the forest. And I am going to see her tonight."
"Tonight?"
"Yes, Father, that is what I said. Anyway, I just wanted to tell you that the engagement to the princess is off. I fully intend to ask the girl from the forest to marry me."
"What now? Marry? What -"
"I realize I know nothing about her, not even her name, but I feel as though we have met before…once upon a dream…" I lose myself in a daze as I remember her heavenly, angelic voice, that haunting melody that sounded so foreign yet so familiar…
"Now, see here -" Father begins, but I do not give him time. I quickly mount my steed once more.
"And now I am off! Wish me luck, Father!" I shout over my shoulder as I race away towards my future - and toward the woman of my dreams.
I hope you all enjoyed this so far! This first chapter was very close to the Disney version of the story, but it is just to set the scene for now. I'll change things up soon, I promise! There will be some action and adventure, as well as some romantic fluff. I try to do a good mix of both in my writing.
Anyway, we'll see what happens in the next chapter...will Rose go with her aunts to the castle and the fate that awaits her...or will she forge her own destiny? And what will happen when the prince visits the cottage tonight, I wonder? If you enjoyed, please leave a comment and let me know what you think! Have a blessed one, y'all, and hope to hear from some fellow reading and writing addicts soon! !)
