Fairytale chosen (4 page)

Read Fairytale chosen Online

Authors: Maya Shepherd

BOOK: Fairytale chosen
6.06Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub

" Why don't we switch places and you make the choice for me?"

"You have to live later with the woman, not me," he replied. "But I could enchant you. Turn your inside out. "

" It was too early. I can hardly wait for the tests. It will be a pleasure to watch, as the flight takes one after the other "

"One would think you were going to end up empty-handed."

Lean was about to say something, but his mother's hand rested firmly on his arm. "Lean, do not you think that Daphne would be an excellent choice?" She said loudly, pointing at the girl who stood on the stage in front of him. He had previously taken no notice of her. She had long blond hair that lay in curls over her shoulders. A pretty face and a good figure. Her dress was in radiant silver that the colour of her eyes was reflected.

"I would choose" Amphion agreed with the Queen. But Lean saw nothing in her that would differentiate her from the the other candidates. He wanted to reject her already, but the eyes of his mother said volumes. Should he dare to send this girl from the stage, it would have consequences on him.

He sighed and pulled a twenty white roses from the vase next to her. Then he rose and gave the girl a flower.

"Daphne, my choice falls on you. Take this rose as a sign of my appreciation. "

The girl gave him a radiant smile, while the people broke out into a loud cheer. Amphion rained white rose petals from the sky. Daphne took the flower and humbly bowed his head.

"It is my great honour, my prince," she purred. Ladies hurried and led them from the stage in the direction of the castle. You would refer the first room in the castle. Already, she became the people’s favourite because she was the first who had chosen the prince. Although not entirely voluntary.

Lean leaned toward his mother. "Will not you take the rest of the decisions for me?" He hissed angrily.

"Do you trust me so much, my son, that you let me choose your future wife?"

" I don't see the forest for the trees anymore," he sighed. "For me, these girls are all the same. I'm sure you'll get the best of them whom you might have seen already. "

Niobe saw him disappointed and annoyed at the same time. "Well, then take your leave. But I expect you tomorrow back to life again next to me on the throne. Do you understand me? "

Lean could not believe how generous he was with him. But probably the Prince would not prefer to fall asleep in front of all eyes present there. He got up in a hurry to say goodbye to the people.

"Dear citizens of Chóraleio, important commitments call me back to the castle. But the choice is so far from over. My dear father and my beloved mother will choose for me during my absence. I trust them more than myself, and am convinced that they will make the right decisions. "

He discovered between people a few disappointed faces, yet they applauded him. He raised his arm and waved one last time and then went to the edge of the stage to the stairs to go down. But suddenly something hit him on the ear. A hard bang and something wet dripping down from his skin. He looked stunned to the ground and discovered a rotten tomato. Incredulous, he patted his face, wiping the juice from the ear. Horrified, he looked up. There was unrest erupted and the crowd parted. Guards thronged by the people through and pulled a girl out on both arms. She screamed and kicked around. King Egeas had got up and and hurried beside his son. The guards forced the girl in front of him on her knees.

"Did you attack my son, the prince and your future king?" He asked in a loud, menacing voice.

The girl boldly stretched to meet him head. "Attacked?!", she mocked the king. "I threw a rotten tomato. Of this no one has died! "

Lean looked at her fascinated. He had never seen anyone who dared to speak to the king. The girl was wild and ferocious. Her brown hair pulled away from her ponytail and was thrown together from head head. The dress which she worn was of brown wool and a sleeve was torn, as she had fought against the guards.

"Girl, you do not know who you're talking about?" The king shouted at it furiously. But Lean raised his hand to silence him. The girl squirmed now. "Why did you throw the tomato at me?"

she glared at him defiantly with her green eyes. "My sister has come a long way to present to you today. The whole day she was standing on her legs and her stomach growled with hunger. When you got up to toss your lazy butt from your throne that anger in me has burst. "

All the people fell silent, the king was red with rage and Lean could not turn away from this sassy and boorish person's eyes. She was far from finished. "My sister is the most beautiful girl of the entire Kingdom and she deserves that man we, because of all the hardships she has taken, at least look at her”

Lean looked behind the assassin and discovered another girl. She remained concerned with hands over her mouth while her cheeks glowed with charm.

"Are you her sister?" asked  lean directly, and she nodded shyly.

"Come closer," he asked it. The girl obeyed immediately. Her step was elegant and refined. His attitude straight. The blue dress clung to her slim body and her skin was like a porcelain doll. She had big, blue eyes and long black hair.

"What's your name?" Lean asked the girl.

"Medea", she answered shyly. "Please forgive my sister her rude behavior. She is not evil. It is her temperament, which has gone through with it. "

The nurse gave a condescending snort. Your did not seem sorry.

"Medea, you now have the chance to introduce yourself to me. Kick please on the stage, so that everyone can see you. "

Lean saw how shockingly her facial features have hardened, but she kept the attitude. He offered her his hand and helped her climb up the stairs. Her skin was cool, but soft. The people cheered her on and some even called her name, apparently she was already known in the city.

"Is there something you're specially good at?", now Niobe also asked with interest.

Medea lowered the head shy. "I am ashamed too much to produce a sound," whispered trembling. At that moment her sister broke away from the guards and she herself came running on to the stage. Lean commanded his men to stop with a simple gesture.

The sister took Medea's hand and forced her to look into his eyes.

“Nightingale, sing for me! ", she asked soothingly and amazingly empathetic. In Medeas eyes were tears of rage.

"Everyone knows that you can sing, only the prince does not know it!", addressing Lean and that gave her a feeling that she has missed something.

Medea took a deep breath and the first delicate tone that left her lips, was shaky and weak, but she was under the demanding eyes of her sisterEvery additional tone became firmer and louder. She had a beautiful voice, not too high and not too low. Soft and full of feeling. While Lean watched her, he did not feel like listening to a single song, but a story. The people were quiet and focused completely on her clear vocals. They managed to move people, even lean. In fact, he had not thought that it would be possible, for a singer to impress him. She was the best by far.

When it ended, the people burst into applause and cheers, which was far louder than the opening of the audition. Medea stole not only all previous applicants of the show, but also the entire royal family. She bowed politely to her audience and rewarded them with a gentle smile. Lean did not hesitate to give her the white rose. This decision, he made it alone.

As Medea accepted the flower, she looked him in the eye. He felt her close without even knowing anything about it. She held his hand. "Please, my sister does not do anything!" She asked urgently.

"She will not be harmed, I promise you!" He assured her and looked after her when the ladies of the court led her from the stage.

Her sister was still standing on the stage and watched her happily. When she saw the look of the prince, an apologetic expression laid on her face. "Thanks," she said quietly, biting her lower lip.

"What is your name? ", asked lean as the cheers died away and the attention was back on stage.

"Heera", answered the girl.

Lean smiled with satisfaction. He liked this cheeky person who is now quiet, almost ashamed to before him. "Did you accompany your sister alone or are you here for me to apply for me?"

Her head shot up in horror. This she did not seem to expect. "I want to apply," she muttered embarrassed. From the people came some laughs.

Niobe shook his head in warning. He already knew what Lean had wanted, but this was his choice. "What you can do, Heera?"

The audience broke into loud laughter. The Heera got pumped up, and angry she turned to them. "I can hunt! ", she cried out loud. "I can kill a pig!" she made a pause. "And I can drink more beer than the half of the men present here."

Niobe lifted up his hands before his  face embarrassed, while Egeas began to laugh softly. Heera turned defiantly challenging the prince, "I drink like loose under the table!", She claimed. Her courage had returned and she was again just as cocky as ever.

Lean handed her a white rose. “I’d like to see that!"

Heera stared at the flower between them. Her hand was a clenched a fist. For a moment Lean believed that she would give him a rebuff, but eventually her fingers closed quickly around the green stem. They snatched the Rose formally from his hands. Without looking at him or to thank, she let him lead the stage. It came before Lean almost as if he had punished them but instead he made it their joy.

A wish you have is free, but choose wisely,

Since
the heart
longs for,

What you can't buy with gold.

5

A
fter Prince Lean had decided the twelve girls at the end of the week, he called all of them to be in the ballroom of the castle. The selected ones marvelled at the ornate ceiling, the noble floors and the magnificent walls. You could hardly get enough of all the richness and beauty. But as they entered the Great Hall and faced the royal family, including their entourage, they felt all lost. This was a strange world to which so far none of them had access. Even the girl, whose parents had spent all their money on expensive clothes, looked pale and colourless against the sparkling sheen of chandeliers. The prince was waiting for them. He stood in a purple coat before the throne and reviewed its selection.

Like
cattle on the market,
Heera thought angrily. She was equally fascinated by the splendour as everyone else, but unlike them she wished not to spend the rest of her life here. Even this one week was bad enough for her. She lacked nothing, but she was worried about her parents and younger sister. How should her old father cope up with the work on the farm alone? Elena and her mother would be no help to him. If she can leave them at least send a letter! Surely they would knew what had happened and would be glad for their two daughters. Since ss both Medea and Heera were chosen meant hope for a better life for their parents. Under this confidence, they could be sleep even better with empty stomachs.

" I am happy to see that all of you have come," Lean welcomed the candidates. "Some of you have taken a long journey to get to know me." His gaze slid for a brief moment to Heera and her sister. Medea was blushing and embarrassed and cast down her eyes. Heera however, saw him straight in the eye, without moving even a muscle. She had promised her mother, her father and her sister to make an effort and to give the best. She wanted to keep this promise, but Lean had been unsympathetic from the outset. But his position suggested that he considered himself to be something better. In Heera’s eyes he was a spoiled young man who had no idea what hard work meant.

"To my appreciation to be followed by action, I want to give each chosen one something. No matter what you desire, I will fulfil it. My gift is yours, no matter what may happen. Even if I were to decide against you, you shall keep it. But choose wisely, for you have only one wish. Let's talk your heart! "

The girls began to whisper excitedly. It was a unique opportunity and it was to knock out the best, without being rude. Daphne came first, before the prince. She wore her blond, curly hair in an sophisticated looking updo that emphasized her long swan neck. Her head was raised and her nose stretched towards the ceiling. In Gege APPROACH to the other, they did not seem scared, but challenging. She gave Lean a provocative smile.

"I wish for pearls as white as my teeth are."

Queen Niobe smiled at her words.

"Your wish will come true," replied Lean monotonous. Daphne bowed with a beaming smile that showed off her snow-white teeth. Agnes came forward after her. She was of great stature. Her long, black hair fell like a curtain on the back and ended only slightly below her butt.

"I want a dress made of pure silk, that shines like my hair." Then she buckled a lock of hair over the shoulder and the light of the chandelier was reflected in the dark mane of hair.

"Also, your wish will come true."

The following candidates wished clothes, shoes, gems and jewellery. No request fell twice. As only a few chosen ones were left, Heera gave her sister a gentle nudge, so that they stumbled to the throne. Furious, she threw Heera a glance over her shoulder, before she smiled at the prince shy. Wish you something reasonable, Heera prayed silently. No jewellery!

"What do you want from me, Medea?" asked Lean, where the gentle tone of voice from Heera did not escape. Also he seemed to pay more attention to her sister clearly than the previous girls. He had not called anyone by name earlier.

Medea blushed and looked embarrassed aside. "I would like a tame lark, with which I can sing a duet," she said, looking at the prince dreamily. There was no jewellery, but also nothing Heera would have expected. The request was unusual. The other girls were whispering spiteful about Medea, but she smiled at Lean.

"Your wish will come true."

Perhaps Medea's wish had not been so stupid, wondered Heera. After all, the prince would at least remember it. After everyone had only desired jewellery and clothing, now the remaining candidates took care of Medea an example and wished the strangest things - unicorns, flying dogs or talking cats.

Other books

Good Mourning by Elizabeth Meyer
La Torre Prohibida by Marion Zimmer Bradley
Avalon Rising by Kathryn Rose
Chaos Bites by Lori Handeland
Blood Lies by Daniel Kalla
Blood Lance by Jeri Westerson
Bitter Bronx by Jerome Charyn