Nap Time Rocks!

#028 a short little story, part 3

continued from here…

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kingdom flush had grown to be a very busy land, its trade flourishing thanks to open barriers and tax-free policies on merchandise. and so the kingdom’s officials became very busy, more so the queen.

one very hectic afternoon when her advisers had retreated to the round table conference room to discuss the new taxation scheme for imported products, queen anne decided that she had had enough for the day. her servants prepared her chariot and horses for a ride in the countryside, but she refused and prefered to go on foot.

seemingly like an ancient dream coming back to her in rapid flashbacks, she remembered the day she had come to the brook and wodnered if it was still there, pristine and quiet, undisturbed by the people.

—-

in the woods, however, a commotion was going on. the prince of the woodland fairies had decided, after a long long time of seclusion, to set out to the nearby kingdom and have a look around. you see, he was never allowed to go anywhere outside the woodlands because of his appearance. he was so beautiful that anyone who will look at him will have a psychological breakdown. his beauty was so arresting that a woman (or possibly a man) may spend the rest of her life locked up in a ‘crazy’ place.

the prince was unfazed and the fairies worried but they could not stop him. as he walked, he breathed the air that smelled of greens, and marveled at the flowers along the path. now he could almost hear the brook.

—-

anne (let’s drop the title for now) smiled when she saw that the brook was as how she left it several years ago. she peered again at the water and saw the same face — albeit a little tired and older.

—-

the prince (who still lacks an intersting name until now) stood again behind a large trunk of tree — the same one he hid behind in several years ago — and peeked between the leaves and branches and saw the (first and) most beautiful woman in his entire life. his heart was now thumping madly in his chest and his feet wanted to take him beside that woman by the water.

‘ah, this curse! if only i can show myself to her without falling into its trap.’ the prince thought hopelessly. for the meantime, he contented himself behind the tree gazing at the woman.

—-

anne felt like something — or someone — was watching her. she glanced about and saw nothing amiss.

—-

our handsome prince cursed with a pretty face almost wept as he stood hopeless in the distance, but his heart won him over and decided to reveal himself.

—-

the queen stood as she felt goosebumps on her arm. something was aglow behind a tree some few meters away. without fear or hesitation, and knowing in her heart that nothing bad can happen to her here, she approached the tree.

—-

in a typical melodramatic slow motion move, the prince stepped out of his hiding place and looked up to see bewildered eyes gazing at him. to him the woman standing before him had become like that young girl whom he had seen years ago, curious at what treasure she had found. for a still second that seemed like eons, they both stared at each other. afraid that the curse might have already affected her, he turned around to run away.

but anne would have nothing of it (apparently she was still sane), and called to the one-that-almost-got-away. she was not about to lose another one again.

“wait, will you not even introduce yourself?” said she.

the prince was obviously surprised that the curse had not taken effect. “why… how… aren’t you…?” he stammered as he turned around again.

“what,” anne giggled. “lost all your common sense already? normally the men who would come to me will introduce himself first before fleeing at the sight of a toilet bowl.” she laughed at the thought. by now she had gotten used to it and it became an in-house joke.

“certainly not, my lady! forgive me if i was rude. i was only amazed that you did not flee after seeing me.”

“oh? why whould i want to be parted from such a wonderful woodland creature like you?”

“you know what i am?” he stood further amazed.

“well, judging by your clothes, you sure would be royalty. and you were aglow when i saw you… are you a giant fairy?”

“hahaha. oh no, not at all. i am the prince of the woodland elves, i am prince avery at your service.” he said with a smile. he bowed as he said this and took of his hat. the queen was amused at her discovery. woodland elves were real!

now if you were to end this story in a fairy tale-like ending, we will have to write ‘and they lived happily ever after.’ but this is no typical fairy tale; will queen anne be able to tell prince avery of her kingdom’s flushing habits?

“my prince, forgive me but at this point of our acquaintance, i would have to tell you my disclaimer. i may be a complete package to you — beauty, brains, and money — but not entirely.” she began.

what could this beautiful woman mean? there was nothing that he cannot accept about her, he thought.

“you’re probably thinking that what you’re seeing now is what you’re going to get. but be not deceived, because from where i was raised there are strange habits — one of my suitors has even called it absurd and revolting — that i must live with and that i cannot easily reject.

what i’m saying is, and this is not easy believe me, my kingdom is aptly named Flush because my people like flushing toilets, even for no apparent reason. we just do.” with that, the queen lowered her head and waited for the prince to react the way her suitors usually do.

“my dear sweet princess, you were right. i really thought i’d be getting the whole package. but now that you’ve told be the truth about yourself, and i will not pretend that i don’t find it slightly disgusting, i have no choice but to be honest to you in return.

no, don’t leave yet. what i mean to say is that i am also in a miserable plight; i am cursed with such a pretty face that no one can look at me for very long save for my constituent elves. i have not been able to find a queen for myself because the women that come to me are always blinded by my beauty. no one woman has come close to me except you.”

“then my situation must be a good thing because it enabled me to look beyond your pretty face and see nothing more but your plain self. after years of waiting for my prince, i have slowly come to realize that good looks had nothing to do with character, as evident from all the royalty that came to our kingdom. but you, prince avery, are one of a kind. are you not apalled by our habits?”

“we both must live with our own shortcomings. i have to live with yours, and you with mine. if i learn to accept this strange habit of yours, will you accept me and come live with me in the woods?”

“that is a great sacrifice for me to do, my prince. but give me time to think about it. i will give you my answer in three days’ time.”

with that the two, who have now become lovers, parted ways and went on with their daily rituals. come the third day, queen anne decided to give up her royal status to live with prince avery in the woods. the people of kingdom flush grieved for their ‘loss’ but in the name of love they let the her go.

at first the adjustment of married life (yes, they did get married in a quiet ‘garden’ wedding) proved to be quite a challenge, but there is nothing that love cannot work out. together they built a home in the woods and lived happily ever after.

THE END.