Uncluttered by Tradition prompt from The Flame
I used to know them all. Every one of them.
Rapunzel was the first born child taken from her parents by the witch who healed her mother. Trapped in a tower she let down her hair for a prince who defeated the witch and she lived happily ever after. A fairy tale ending.
Then the little mermaid who made a deal with a sea witch so that she could be with her true love, another prince.
Cinderella, who left her life of drudgery for another prince.
Snow White found her prince.
Sleeping Beauty got one too.
A prince.
A princess needs a prince.
It is wrong for me to lie here. I love her. She is my fairy tale princess. Quietly, I sit and pull the covers up to protect myself from the cold air that drifts in from the window. I don't know how she does it. Her side of the bed has the covers pushed down so that the blankets drape over her hips but reach no further. She isn't bothered by the cold and doesn't seem to be concerned that she is exposed from the waist up, her pale skin glowing in the moolight and her long hair fanned out on the white silk pillows. I shouldn't look at her. I have no right to admire her in this way. But I am weak. I find myself lying down next to her once again, listening to her soft breathing and watching her eyelids flutter as dreams play beneath them.
Does she dream of me?
I curl into myself. That question hurts as the answer is obvious. A princess needs a prince. I'm not even a frog.
In my dreams I imagine that if I tried I could make myself into her prince. I could cut my hair short, learn to fight with swords and be awfully brave for her. I could save her from her loathesome tower, defeat the aweful witch and give her true love's first kiss. Unfortunately there are parts of myself that cannot be changed by simple scizzors and learning.
I sigh into the night and feel my princess stir beside me. She opens one lazy blue eye and gazes at me. Her body stretches like a cat and my eyes, always greedy for more over her, watch as her body pulls itself taught and then relaxes. When my gaze returns to her face I find her smirking shamelessly at me.
"If I show you mine I think you should show me yours." She murmurs, placing a soft kiss on the tip of my nose. She laughs as I blush.
"Sorry if I woke you. I couldn't sleep."
"I noticed. I could practically feel your head buzzing with thoughts," She laughs. "What are you thinking this evening?"
I fold my arms around my chest as she gently tugs the covers away from me. She traces patterns into the skin of my stomach as she waits for my answer and I can't help but sigh again. My princess is stubborn and won't sleep until I have told her everything. I don't want to tell her though. It will only lead to arguements. But her beautiful eyes beg me to tell her. I hate not giving her what she wants.
"I shouldn't be here." I finally find myself saying and then close my eyes so that I don't see her frown.
"Well, we could go down to your bed but then where would your sister sleep? Unless you wanted her to join in though I think that would be a little awkward." Her voice is light but I can hear the warning in it.
It is an old argument. We both know the pattern. I say I shouldn't be here, she says that there is nothing to stop me, I try to leave even though it hurts, we argue and then don't talk for days. It's always the same.
"You know what I mean. You need a prince, someone dashing an handsome and, you know, princely. Not a stupid servant girl that loves you more than she should."
She rolls her eyes at me and throws herself back down on her pillow.
"You're so silly, love. I don't want a prince. I don't want someone I've never met to sweep me off my feet and drag me off to his kingdom. That's not real life. Leave if you want to. I'd prefer it if you stayed though."
I find myself staring as she rolls onto her side so that her back is facing me. Her breathing slows and I know she is asleep again. I move closer so that I can just kiss her goodnight and then go off to my own bed and reality. But then she smells so good. I am weak. My eyes drift closed as I lie close beside my princess.
When I wake, the sunlight is streaming through the window and my princess is in the washroom. A letter rests on her pillow next to me. For me. From her. I read it.
Reasons your argument that princesses need princes is stupid;
1) Surely if a princess is more inclined towards the fairer sex then a prince is a stupid idea.
2) Have you met the princes in our area? Ick!
3) All your prince princess = love fairy tale ideals are idiotic. Rapunzel gets knocked up by her prince and had never met any other men (or decent women) so had nothing to compare him to. The dumb little mermaid left all her friends and family, made a deal with a witch for a guy she had never met. Cinderella also ditched her family for a random prince. Snow White too. What part of this is admirable? Why should I want this? I mean, gosh, the guys are probably complete pervs. (You are a bit of a pervert at times admittedly but I love you anyway.)
So no more arguing with me, ok?
X