Once upon a time...
Once upon a time in a land not so very far away, there lived a King and a Queen in a beautiful castle. They were wise and generous and much beloved by their people, but they shared one grief between them – for despite their great love and fervent prayers they were without children.
When so, after many years, the Queen finally gave birth to a beautiful daughter, the King hosted a celebration, that everyone might share in their joy. From the highest courtier to the lowest servant, yay even the trolls and fairies of the deep forests were all invited - with the exception of one.
And on the day of the celebration all the people of the land - and the trolls and the fairies too - came to the royal Castle and bowed to the newborn Princess. Great gifts were bestowed upon her, and humble gifts - for not all in the land were wealthy, and the trolls held more love for mushroom and rocks than for Gold and jewels - and Three of the fairies came forth to cast their magic upon the child, as was their custom.
"I give you the gift of Beauty," said the first, "that shall never fade."
"I give you the gift of Kindness," said the second, "that you may be swift to show mercy."
But before the third fairy could bestow its gift, thunder struck the Castle and in a flash of lightning, a figure appeared in the midst of the King's throneroom. A fairy, regal and robed in black, with a magical staff in its right hand. Swiftly a Knight stepped in to block the path to the Thrones, armored and with the magical sword brandished in defense of their liege lords, even as the Royal couple sprang to their feet.
"Who goes there?" cried the King – and all eyes turned to the two, as a breathless silence filled the great hall.
Stunned, Maea blinked against the blinding light that danced in her eyes. A voice called out, and it rang strangely in her ears - at once familiar and foreign, as if half forgotten or just remembered. When her eyes cleared, the found herself standing in the midst of a wonderful castle throneroom, decked with banners and wreathes of flowers and evergreens. Light glistened off the King's crown and off the Queen's scepter, and by their feet she could see a royal crib, from which a child's laughter spilled into the breathless silence.
And standing face to face with her, at the center of that ever widening circle, was Hadama.
Choose whether to proceed as the Knight or the black-robed Fairy, and progress the story!
When so, after many years, the Queen finally gave birth to a beautiful daughter, the King hosted a celebration, that everyone might share in their joy. From the highest courtier to the lowest servant, yay even the trolls and fairies of the deep forests were all invited - with the exception of one.
And on the day of the celebration all the people of the land - and the trolls and the fairies too - came to the royal Castle and bowed to the newborn Princess. Great gifts were bestowed upon her, and humble gifts - for not all in the land were wealthy, and the trolls held more love for mushroom and rocks than for Gold and jewels - and Three of the fairies came forth to cast their magic upon the child, as was their custom.
"I give you the gift of Beauty," said the first, "that shall never fade."
"I give you the gift of Kindness," said the second, "that you may be swift to show mercy."
But before the third fairy could bestow its gift, thunder struck the Castle and in a flash of lightning, a figure appeared in the midst of the King's throneroom. A fairy, regal and robed in black, with a magical staff in its right hand. Swiftly a Knight stepped in to block the path to the Thrones, armored and with the magical sword brandished in defense of their liege lords, even as the Royal couple sprang to their feet.
"Who goes there?" cried the King – and all eyes turned to the two, as a breathless silence filled the great hall.
Stunned, Maea blinked against the blinding light that danced in her eyes. A voice called out, and it rang strangely in her ears - at once familiar and foreign, as if half forgotten or just remembered. When her eyes cleared, the found herself standing in the midst of a wonderful castle throneroom, decked with banners and wreathes of flowers and evergreens. Light glistened off the King's crown and off the Queen's scepter, and by their feet she could see a royal crib, from which a child's laughter spilled into the breathless silence.
And standing face to face with her, at the center of that ever widening circle, was Hadama.
Choose whether to proceed as the Knight or the black-robed Fairy, and progress the story!
The End
