1. An Enchanted Tale


    Date: 11/11/2017, Categories: Fantasy & Sci-Fi, Author: Jonathans_Fantasies, Source: LushStories

    ... a cheer went up so loud the very heavens above must have heard it! Then the celebration began in earnest. And while the women all talked about the beautiful child and the town children played in the streets, all was joyous and happy. But sadly, it was not to last. As the festivities progressed, a dark shadow came to pass over the crowds. Not a shadow like the mountain cast either - this was an evil, malevolent shadow. The women stopped their chatter, the children stopped their playing, and all eyes turned upwards to see a black figure flying into view from high above. The figure came down slowly to light on the platform in front of the crowd. The crowd all gasped when they saw who it was. It was Morgana, a witch from the dark country to the far north of here. "Let me see the child!" she cackled. The Queen refused at first, pulling the child back. But our Queen is nothing if not gracious, so she allowed Morgana to view the baby cautiously. "A very pretty child," Morgana said, " TOO pretty!" And Morgana began her incantation and cast her spell on the poor Aurora. "Upon this child's 18th birthday, I will return in disguise and give her an apple, which she will eat. She will fall into a deep slumber that will last forever, unless her true love comes and kisses her," she said, laughing wickedly. Upon hearing her words, the Queen screamed and the King took them both away. The King's guards all charged at Morgana, but she disappeared in a cloud of black smoke. Well time passed, and ...
    ... the curse was eventually forgotten. But sure enough, on Princess Aurora's 18th birthday, she decided to come into the village and into this very shop to buy some things. At the time, a little old lady owned this market. She came in and got some fruit and vegetables to take back to the castle. On her way out, she picked up an apple from the bin, paid the kindly old woman, and took a bite of the delicious red fruit. Immediately she fell to the floor fast asleep. The townspeople were devastated that their sweet, beautiful princess had been struck down. They brought Aurora back up to the castle where they laid her in a beautiful bed and she remains to this very day, 100 years hence." "Has no one come to try to rescue her?" the stranger asked. "Oh certainly. We have had many princes, brave and honorable, come to try to wake her, but none have succeeded," the shopkeeper said. "The King was so distraught after what happened to his little girl that He gave up caring for the castle and it has fallen into a terrible state of disrepair. Now there are vicious thorns and bushes which further prevent anyone from attempting to rescue the sleeping princess." "That is quite a tale," the stranger said. "But it is getting late, and I don't want to travel at night. Is there a place in town that a weary traveler can lay his head for the night?" "There is a room above the shop here that you can stay in. It costs two shillings, but it is clean and warm, and includes a stall and hay for your horse," ...
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