The Princess In the Tower - by Feyishayo Shonde

THE PRINCESS IN THE TOWER


Once there lived a beautiful maiden named Saphiere. She had fair skin and gorgeous golden locks. Her entrancing eyes twinkled and sparkled in the dark of the night. She was humble, sweet, elegant and loved by all around her.

Saphiere lived in a gigantic, underwater palace made of gold and silver. It was decked with fine exotic jewels with marble pillars and a grand marble staircase leading to the royal quarters. Golden drapes hung from the ceiling as diamond chandeliers dangled from above. She wore fine lace and silk but remained humble and unselfish.

Her father (King Augustus) loved her most out of all her family. She was a diamond in disguise and had a heart of gold. However, her step-mother’s heart was stained with hate and jealousy. Despite her envy of Saphiere, she still loved her. Saphiere’s step-mother envied her too much. Even though she tried her hardest not to show her hatred little flashes of a deadly sin appeared often on her face.

One gloomy afternoon a wicked witch came flying through the palaces gates. The witch had crooked yellow teeth and a long brown broomstick. She was rather pretty, but the hairs on her nose did not do her any justice; along with the warts on her face that added to the effect. She wore a black hooded shawl and long pointy shoes, along with tights that were patched with multicolored spots. The witch, who was very cruel and rather ugly, also envied Saphiere because of her wealth and beauty and therefore decided to place a curse on her. She transformed her into a catastrophic creature! Saphiere now had a pointy nose and her face drooped down onto her shoulders! In addition to this her gnarled fingers were crippled like claws. She took the magnificent clothes and replaced them with torn, dirty old rags. Sadly she locked Saphiere into a tower; that was ugly on the inside but beautiful on the outside.

“Your mother is a very cruel and an evil woman. She has refused to change her ways, as a result you are to remain in this tower until you find someone who truly loves you. You will be allowed one visitor and if they see you for the loving, sensitive, adorable kind person that you are, I will set you free”, explained the wicked witch. With that she abruptly disappeared, as the night swallowed her slender silhouette.

Saphiere wept bitterly; the thought of not being with her father made her cry even harder. Each night she gazed thoughtlessly from the stained glass window hoping for that special person to come and save her. For three years she stayed locked in the tower and nobody dared to come near.

One fine day a handsome price came riding past the tower. Saphiere heard the galloping of a horse and stared out of her window. “I’ve got to trust in myself, I must stay strong”, Saphiere whispered to herself “I want him to be the one!” Suddenly three knocks on the door were heard. There before her amazed eyes was this handsome blond head prince. He wore silver armour and rode a white swift horse with a hairy mane.

With that the prince appeared in the room. Unexpectedly she heard a deep voice. “What am I doing here? And who on earth are you?” exclaimed the handsome stranger. His sapphire eyes dazzled beautifully making Saphiere spellbound.

“Well I’m locked in here and I was feeling lonely and wondering if you would like to join me for dinner?” “And by the way, what is your name?” The prince was taken aback. She was hideous! He was just about to reply no, as politely as he could, but something about her made him want to stay a while longer.
“Lancelot, and what might yours be?” asked the prince.
“My name is Saphiere” she stammered surprised that he had not run away yet!

They talked for hours hopelessly lost in each other’s eyes. For the magical time that they spent together her appearance didn’t seem to matter. He saw what she looked like before the curse. The sun had set cherry red in the sky illuminating the castle; for a second it left the ground and sparkled dangerously. They floated past the clouds driven forward only by their love for each other. The tower, (ugly on the outside yet beautiful on the inside) reflected the beauty Saphiere possessed. They gazed into each other’s eyes entranced, for what seemed like minutes but when they looked up from each other it was evening again.

“Promise me you’ll never leave and you’ll stay with me forever”, she said. He embraced her then slowly leaned towards her lips. He kissed her gently and the spell was broken!

Saphiere and her handsome prince found themselves back at the underwater palace at their wedding ceremony! They both lived happily ever after.



THE END


By Feyishayo Shonde 7MD