It was a happy day, a glorious day, for the birth of a royal. The sun was bright and the blueness of the sky was unmatchable. Behind the castle, the garden flourished with spring's new blossoms and colored the grass with patches of pink and yellow. Attendees rushed in and out of the King and Queen's bedroom for hot water and towels while the rest of the royal family waited in nervous anticipation. Screams that escaped the room (when attendees left the door ajar) made the young royal cousin William widen his eyes in fear of the monster that was about to arrive.
She was a tiny specimen of life, blessed with riches and the joys that accompanied such wealth. Cradled in the new mother's arms, she tested the movements of her tiny fingers and her tiny toes. Her eyes were big and blue, and her parents looked down on her with the same gentle eyes. Smiles and tears burst into the room as the royal family was introduced to the tiny princess. Even cousin William was curious--climbing onto the Queen's bed to get a closer look. "William!" his mother sharply whispered when he stuck his tongue out at the baby. But much to the happiness of the King and Queen, the princess laughed at it.
It was presented to her on her first birthday. The princess was growing up to be pretty and darling (and less messy), so the King and Queen decided to give her a beautiful jeweled bib. It glistened in the light and spotted the princess' face with stars.
There was one foggy night when the clouds misted over the castle and spooked the forest animals back into their caves. On this night, a young teenage girl swung her legs over the balcony railing and snuck into the King and Queen's bedroom, where the princess also slept in her cot, with the jewel bib around her neck. The girl stood over the princess with her hands on her waist, contemplating how she would take the bib away. The bib certainly was not mere candy, and this was going to be harder than she thought, for the clasp was behind the baby's neck. Reaching down, she scooped the princess into her arms. She gave a small sigh as the princess still slept on. She then removed the bib and carefully placed the princess back into the cot.
A chill had snaked its way up the King and Queen's legs from the open door and they woke. "Who are you? What are you doing here?" the King asked the girl with a slight panic in his voice. He worried for his baby girl. "Don't worry dad," she replied with a grin, "You'll see me again soon." She ran out the door, hopped over the ledge, and disappeared into the mist with the bib. The King and Queen rushed over to the cot to check on the princess, only to find her sound asleep, breathing as easily as she ever would.
(photo via Net-A-Porter.com)
