Bulwark's Princess

A long time ago, longer then it may seem, when dragons struck fear into the hearts of many, when there were real knights in shining armor, and fairies tormented the children for their own twisted merriment. There was a kingdom like no other. It was one of twenty, but stood out from the rest. For this kingdom was ruled by the most beautiful queen anyone had ever laid eyes upon. The kingdoms name was Bulwark and the name of the matriarch was Elyse.

Queen Elyse was not only lovely beyond compare, but she also knew all sorts of enchantments and incantations. This made her all the more powerful and alluring to townsfolk. Many had heard of her elegance and amazing charms, but very few had seen her in person. Some thought that Queen Elyse was just a lie to keep the people from starting an uprising. Others swore they saw her walking in their garden bewitching the plants to sing for her.

All these rumors were pure fiction although Queen Elyse did enjoy hearing her garden sing to her in the early dawn hours. Many did not know, but she also had a daughter. When the queen was no older then 30, she had a baby girl. Her name was Lilibeth. Princess Lilibeth was just as beautiful if not more beautiful then her mother.

Lilibeth had spent most of her childhood playing with the nymphs and fairies that inhabited her mother’s garden. Lilibeth had an enormous fascination with the townsfolk since she had never seen them. Queen Elyse told her that when she turned 15 she would be able to go to the town and mingle with the people. Lilibeth couldn’t wait for that day. She looked out her window and watched the other children play amongst themselves with a pebble.

She longed for friends to play with because the fairies and nymphs had a very unusual way of romping. They almost always played cruel jokes on poor Lilibeth, sometimes making her cry. The angelic princess wanted to know what it was like to play with other children like her. The older Lilibeth got the more excited she grew. It was a long and teasing wait, but Lilibeth was only three weeks away from being 15. One day before her birthday she was looking out her window at the children when something caught her eye.

A magnificent snow white stallion decorated with purple and silver roses and silk sequins. Atop the brilliant horse rode a boy, about 16 by the looks of it, wearing gleaming armor. Lilibeth stared at him for a long time as he rode up to the gates of the castle. She gasped as the gates opened. Mother never let outsiders into the castle.

The princess walked hurriedly down to the main entrance. She hid behind a pillar and watched as her mother welcomed the handsome young man and led him to the library. Lilibeth knew something was happening. She ran to the library stopping just before the door and hid on the side making sure she could not be seen. Queen Elyse sat the knight down in a chair and called for Lilibeth to come out of hiding.

Startled that her mother saw her, Lilibeth slowly walked out of hiding trying to look as dignified as possible. The queen introduced the young beau as Prince Leandro. She explained that he was there to escort Lilibeth through the kingdom. When the princess heard this she was infuriated. She did not need a boy from another kingdom to escort her through her own!

Lilibeth stormed out of the library and out to her mothers garden. It was so big that you could get lost and that’s exactly was Lilibeth wanted to do. She weaved through the dirt path surrounded by trees and flowers bigger then most ever thought possible. When she thought it was safe she sat on the stone bench that sat by a huge purple rose bush. She sat there pondering on why her mother wanted her to have this boy, who knew nothing of their kingdom other then it was lead by her mother, lead her through it.

She heard a ruffle and crack of twigs and dirt. The prince walked out from behind the rose bush trying to ward off the fairies that were pulling his ear and laughing gaily. He tripped over a stray vine and fell on his bottom with a loud thud. Lilibeth couldn’t help but laugh. He smiled awkwardly as he got up brushing himself off.

Prince Leandro bowed low and kissed Lilibeths hand. He expressed how honored he was to be leading such a fair lady through her dignified kingdom. Lilibeth flushed with redness and thanked him. She asked how long he would be staying and he simply replied that it was up to her. She giggled and asked him to sit on the bench with her.

When he did this she whispered a few words and all the flowers and vines came to life. The prince jumped as one of the roses that were in the bush behind them started to sing a melody in his ear. Lilibeth laughed and started singing with them. The flowers started to sway in their place as the princess started dancing. The prince smiled and enjoyed the show.

The next day Princess Lilibeth was up before the first light touched the dew covered leaves. She had caught a fairy and was keeping it in a box. When she got her hair curled to perfection she took the fairy and shook it making fairy dust fall onto her mane making it sparkle. She had her servants help her into the tight corset and big dress she was required to wear for a royal appearance. When she walked down the main steps into the front hall Prince Leandro was standing by the door waiting.

When he saw her his jaw dropped. He exclaimed that she was more beautiful then all the nymphs in the world combined. She smiled and thanked him. They walked out into the courtyard and a glorious carriage was waiting for them. Leandro opened the door and helped Lilibeth in.

When they got to the town everyone was huddling around the horse lead carriage. Lilibeth could hardly contain her joy as she stepped out of the carriage and greeted everyone who gazed upon her. Many asked if she was Queen Elyse. She told them no she was Queen Elyse’s daughter Princess Lilibeth. Many gasped, others cheered.

Each day Lilibeth and Leandro toured the kingdom discovering more and more. Each day took them further and further. Lilibeth pleaded with Queen Elyse to let her sleep outside the castle walls. She explained to her that she had been trapped inside the walls for too long and wanted to feel what it was like to be free. Elyse was hesitant about this but Leandro gave his word to keep a careful eye on the queens daughter. Every night, as the sun fell behind the edge of the world, Prince Leandro would kiss Lilibeth’s hand and wish her goodnight. He would allow her to sleep in the carriage alone as a gesture of respect as he lay to sleep on the hard dirt ground outside. This simple gesture made Lilibeth blush. Night after night she was not able to sleep though, she could not stop thinking about Leandro’s strong appearance and his kindness. On one night, she crawled out of the carriage while Leandro slept. She awoke him and invited him into the carriage. Leandro blushed and gave a nervous smile but denied the request. Lilibeth told him that she had been having nightmares and was not able to sleep unless a brave prince lay next to her. Leandro blushed some more, and finally gave in. They slept in each others arms that night and every night after.

As days went by, Leandro and Lilibeth became closer and closer together. They went deeper and deeper into the kingdom bringing joy and cheer wherever they went. A rumor soon began to spread around the kingdom that Leandro and Lilibeth were in love. Of course they denied this, but Lilibeth wasn’t sure if she agreed with the denial. Each day seemed more and more majestic as she spent time with Leandro. She began to dream about him. One night, as they slept together inside the carriage, Lilibeth decided she would tell Leandro that she loved him the next morning. She blushed to herself and closed her eyes smiling.

Her sleep was soon disturbed by noises coming from outside the carriage. She heard a rough voice talking and some grunting noise. She tried to wake Leandro but a rough laugh did that job for her. Before they knew it, the carriage was tipped over. Lilibeth spilled out of the carriage, Leandro fell on top of her. They looked around only to discover a group of bandits surrounding them. Their barbaric appearance gave Lilibeth the chills. She gasped as one showed a toothless smile. The bandits drew nearer and nearer. Leandro stood up and swung at the nearest one. The bandit fell backwards as he was hit in the mouth, but he wiped his mouth and laughed while drawing a rusty dagger from his ratty belt. Leandro readied another swing as he told Lilibeth to run, but it was too late. Leandro was stabbed in the arm. He crumbled to the ground in pain, the bandits laughed as they began to kick him and beat him. Lilibeth cried and tried to run but one bandit grabbed her. The bandits huddled around her. She looked at Leandro in teary eyes. He was disconnected and stared at the ground.

The bandits began to throw Lilibeth around, but a carnivorous rawr halted them. They looked around for what could have made such a terrible sound. Leandro began to laugh as wings sprouted from his back. Scales covered his body and claws grew from his hands. His laugh became a rumbling rawr as his head lengthened and grew fangs. Leandro turned himself into a dragon. The bandits were horrified seeing this and began to run, but with one breath of fire, they were stopped in their tracks permanently. Lilibeth was frightened and began to ran. She stumbled in the darkness but heard a familiar voice telling her to wait. Obediently, she obeyed. It was Leandro. He caught up to her out of breath. He held Lilibeth as she began to cry uncontrollably. He whispered “I love you.” Lilibeth fell asleep in his arms as if by a magic spell. When she awoke, she was back at the castle, and Leandro was no where to be found.

Lilibeth was frantic as she searched the castle for Leandro, but he was gone. She ran to her mother in tears and asked where Leandro was, her mother just shook her head and held her daughter close. Lilibeth returned to her room and sulked the rest of the day. That night, she got an idea. She would sneak out and find Leandro. Her heart demanded that she find him. She quietly snuck through the halls, and crept past the groggy guards and reached the gates. She then climbed to the top of the walls and used her plant magic to command a tall tree to lift her down. She had escaped.

Lilibeth ran through the streets of the city outside the castle walls, but her heart told her that Leandro was not there. She ran until she reached the forest where she decided to sit and rest. As she sat, goblins crept up to her, and began poking her sides and stomach. Annoyed at this, Lilibeth swatted at the pesky things which only angered them. They ran off into the darkness. Relieved, she closed her eyes, but the tree she was leaning against began to move. She opened her eyes to see a large glowing goblin wearing a crown. He was chanting something and the trees came to life and reached for Lilibeth. She quickly responded with some of her own magic, turning the trees against the king goblin. The trees shook the ground as they pulled out their roots to move towards the goblins. The goblins then looked frightened, and even the king ran. Lilibeth felt quite pleased with herself, but a large earthquake made her fall to her feet and paralyzed the trees. She heard a low rawr and looked behind her. A giant ogre began to run towards her, he bashed his heavy club to the ground causing Lilibeth to fall to the ground once again. The ogre quickly overcame her and grabbed her by the hair. He dragged her to his lair.

Once in his lair, the ogre placed Lilibeth in a cage made of bone. The ogre’s cave smelled like rotting flesh. The ogre laid his club on the ground gently like it was a baby, and then started a fire. He placed a giant cauldron on the fire and eyed Lilibeth as the cauldron’s water began to boil. Once the water was the right temperature, the ogre moved towards Lilibeth’s cage. She let out a scream, which was then accompanied by a rawr from outside. Anxious, the ogre grabbed his club and headed outside. Lilibeth heard rawrs from both the ogre, and something else, as she cowered in the corner of the cage. Finally, there was silence. A lone figure walked through the entrance way. It was Leandro. Leandro drew his sword and swung at the cage, breaking it apart. Lilibeth ran into his arms and cried. She whispered “I love you too” into his ear. Leandro was shocked but held her close and he too began to cry.

A year later, Leandro and Lilibeth were to be married. Lilibeth smiled at her dragon prince and kissed him gently on his lips. He smiled back. They lived happily ever after.