The Princess and The Tree

A sharp twist of pain twirled through her mind, as the princess awoke, under a black ember sky. She found herself on a damp forest floor, resting under an archway of battered, thorny branches. The forest was oddly foreign to the princess. There was not a sole star to be found in the sky. Only a slight glimpse of pale moonlight, shined through. Leaves and broken bits of trees slashed into her bare feet. She did not mind; she barely felt a thing. All she could think of was the soft echo of his voice, it was all she would ever need to feel alive, to breathe again. The wind bellowed through the trees; raindrops hailed through their broken branches. The princess walked for hours, till her feet were cut and bloody, till there were tears, streaming down her eyes. She finally stopped to rest her tired body, under the cover, of an old willow tree. Its long leaves hung from its arched branches, creating a perfect shelter, from the stormy night. The princess rested her weary head against the trunk of the willow and continued to weep.

“Child are you well?” the princess was shocked to hear a voice. She looked around frantically in all directions, yet there was not another soul, to be found.

“Don't be frightened dear, though I'm sure it's not every day you talk to an old tree, such as myself.” The princess, realized in awe, that the voice was coming from the willow tree.

“No, I can't say I've ever spoken to a tree before, I’m so sorry for disturbing you,” the princess replied, embarrassed.

“Don't be, it's been a long while since I've had someone to talk to,” the willow chuckled. “What is your name child?” The princess tried to think of her given name, but it just did not seem important to her anymore.

“I can't recall, I’ll I can say, is that I’m a princess.”

“A princess!” exclaimed the willow, “well if I could curtsey I would! And what is a princess doing in such a place as this?"

“I’m not quite sure,” the princess sighed. “But it is nice and quiet here.”

“Oh, but princess,” the willow exclaimed, “there's not a single spark of daylight here, it is always, just, an endless night.”

“I have no need for light,” the princess wearily replied, “for light is much too brutal of a thing, when there's so much pain that lurks around every corner.”

“Dear princess your soul is filled with such sorrow! You must rest,” the willow commanded, rustling its branches in concern. “Sleep now, but child, you mustn't hide here forever, there are so many things you’ve yet to see.”

“There's nothing left for me to see,” the princess whispered to herself, as she faded off into a deep sleep.

The princess awoke under the willow, squirming and shrieking from a terrible nightmare. She was surprised to see the sky still black, for she had sworn it should be morning by now.

“Ah, the sky looks even darker, somehow today, princess,” the willow sighed.

“I think I’ll just go back to sleep then,” she replied.

“Dear child, you mustn't sleep your days away! The willow exclaimed in concern, “what would make you happy?”

“To see my prince again,” the princess answered without hesitation.

“There is a place here in this wood. When you come upon the pond, you’ll see. But princess you must not stay there for too long, take my word,” the willow warned.

The princess carefully followed the old willows directions, thankful, to have the light of the moon to help guide her way through. In the center of a ring of overgrown trees, lay a frozen pond. The pond gleamed under the moonlight, and the princess felt almost entranced, running her fingers along the slick ice that sheltered the water. And when she looked up, she could barely believe her eyes. Walking across the pond, towards her, was her longed-for prince. He smiled, offering his hand, “dance with me, princess.” The princess in awe, willingly, took his hand and suddenly she was back in the palace ballroom, it was the night of the summer ball. She wore her sapphire silk dress, and the prince was looking at her as if she were the only one in the room. The princess was so incredibly nervous, she just stared at the prince in silence. He grinned, grabbing her hand, twirling her around the dance floor.

“You must stop being so shy, princess!” the prince exclaimed.

“I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be,” the princess stammered embarrassed.

“There’s no need to be sorry, princess,” the prince laughed. He pulled her close, singing in her ear, for only her to hear. “I think I might just marry you,” he whispered. The princess, elated, rested her head against his shoulder, feeling light on her toes. She stayed in that moment, replaying it over and over. Until, above the music, she heard an echo, of a familiar voice, “princess, princess!” it called urgently. And suddenly she was back on the frozen pond, staring up at the old willow tree, and her prince who had just been before her had all but disappeared.

“I see you’ve found the pond,” the willow sighed.

“How many hours have I been here?” the princess asked, her mind still awash with memories of dancing with her prince.

“Oh princess, it's been days,” the willow replied solemnly.

From then on, the princess visited the pond each day, and the willow tree would come and bring her back to rest. The prince was always there waiting, to take her back into her memories. One day, she took his hand, and they were back in the palace garden, watching the stars at midnight. The prince leaned into her, his strong hands grazed her back as he kissed her, for the very first time. The princess almost fell over in surprise. “Don't lean back princess,” laughed the prince, and he continued kissing her soft and sweet.

“Dear princess, if you don’t mind my saying, you look truly a mess!” the willow tree exclaimed. It was the start of yet another dreary day, and the princess, was already ready, to make her trip back to the pond.

“I'm not sure that I care anymore,” she replied.

“Please eat something princess,” the willow pleaded.

“I’m not hungry,” she had no interest in eating, and could hardly remember the last time she did.

The willow sighed, “There are some ripe berries on those bushes over there, great for making pies you know, such glorious things, pies are!” The princess could not help but feel a faint smile dance on her lips.

“That’s a bit peculiar, what does a tree know about pies?"

“Oh, I know many things princess,” the willow chuckled. “And certainly, quite a lot about pies. There's so many flavors cherry, apple, blueberry, you must have a favorite princess?”

“I suppose it would be,” the princess thought for a moment, “raspberry.”

“Oh, what a delightful flavor, the willow responded. “Did you ever make them?”

“Yes, with my mother.” the princess answered. She thought back to the hours they spent in the emerald fields, picking berries. After they were finished, her mother would wrap her up in her arms, laughing, the whole way home. Suddenly another flash of memory ripped through the princess's mind. Her mother was staring out the palace window, tears ran furiously down her eyes, as fires blazed outside. The princess knew her mother was alone and afraid, and her kingdom was in turmoil. A sharp pain dug into her chest. There was nothing she could do but run.

The princess tore through the forest, frantically searching for the prince. She soon saw his figure, waiting for her on the pond. “Take my hand, princess,” he reached out his palm, and she entwined her fingers with his. For they were no longer on the pond, but back in the palace, watching the fires burn outside. The princess shook with fear. “Don’t worry princess,” said the prince, with an ease in his voice, that warmed her to her core. “You have me by your side!” The princess clutched the prince's hand, terrified to let go.

“Your dying princess,” the willow's voice echoed, yanking the princess out of her memory.

“Whatever do you mean?” she asked, bewildered

“Take a look,” the old willow replied. The princess glanced down, feeling a horrible shock, when she saw her reflection, through the translucent ice of the pond. The princess could barely recognize the girl staring back at her. She looked wildly pale, and thin, the bones of her cheeks protruding out through her skin. Enormous dark circles hung under her ghostly eyes. She knew the willow was right, she was near death. But there was one last memory, she knew, she needed to see.

She looked out again and saw her prince appear once more. The princess, took the prince's hand, knowing this time, something was very wrong. She found herself, just outside the palace doors. The prince stood under the wonderfully bright blue sky. His deep brown eyes almost turned black, as he spoke.

“I just can’t be with you princess; it is just wrong.”

The princess stared at the prince, utterly stunned. “But what about everything?” she stammered. “The ball, when you kiss-” but the prince cut her off before she could finish.

“It was just fun, princess,” the iciness in his voice, cut through the princess like a sharpened knife. “There is an entire world out there, that I have yet to see, and you must stay in this kingdom with its miserable war. You see, it can never be, between the two of us, princess.” The prince turned away, leaving the princess collapsed on the ground. It felt as if, she had been smashed, into pieces. She found herself back on the ice of the pond, watching the image of the prince, fade into nothing. She slumped down, against the old willow, crying softly. “I loved him, I thought he loved me too!”

“Ah, love is a rarity to find princess. From my observations, so many beings are just too fickle and afraid to allow it in," the willow spoke soothingly. “But princess, you were brave enough to let it in. Now you must be brave again. For if you stay in this place, you will rot away.”

“I'm terrified, to go on,” the princess said, her voice trembled with fear.

“Your soul is going to change, princess. You will blossom from this wretchedness; you just have to keep going.” The willow's words summoned a slight glimmer of hope to rise inside the princess’s soul. She knew she could not live in her memories any longer, even if she tried. The prince was gone and was never coming back. He would live a full life, without a care for her at all. While she would waste hers away, holding onto only a fragment of him. “How do I find my way back?” the princess asked the willow.

“Ah,” the willow replied, sounding pleased. “Just look up at the sky princess.”

She gazed up at the night sky. The once pale moonlight, seemed to be, glowing much brighter. Then, the princess could not believe her eyes, as the blackened sky, became a wonderfully bright mix of orange and red. “Isn’t the sky beautiful princess; I haven't seen a color like that in ages!” the willow exclaimed in awe.

“Neither have I,” the princess replied. She lifted her gaze a moment, to look back at the willow. Yet, to her surprise, the old tree was gone. She was no longer in the forest. Instead, she was standing in the palace garden. The morning light shined, and a faint smell of raspberry scented the air. “Seraphina, Seraphina,” a familiar voice, called out in the wind. The princess dashed towards the voice, with a smile dancing on her lips, for she finally, remembered her name.