Pristine was a beautiful young princess who had terrible anxiety. At first, she simply would not go outside the castle grounds. Over time, she became so anxious that she stayed in her room for all but mealtimes. Only family and her nursemaid were allowed in her room. She was never seen and many rumors spread about her. People could not understand why a princess would be so hidden.
Berle was a man with a witch's curse. During the day he would become scribe to the king, and was respected by the aristocrats and adored by the ladies. At night he would become a giant and hide in the hills. Apparently, his satirical verses were not appreciated by those that knew the ancient magical arts. When Berle was a Giant, he would lie with his head peeking over the hills and stare longingly at the castle. Then when the sun rose he would walk back to the castle as a man. He understood the curse now. It was to keep him from ever having a love, as Giants are despised and no woman would ever agree to a part time relationship, never knowing where her lover was at night. He had resigned himself to being lonely forever.
One night while he was staring longingly at the castle, he saw a fire. One tower was completely engulfed in flame. Above the flaming part was a window with a single small woman standing in it. Without thinking he ran towards the castle, footsteps thundering all the way. When he reached the castle, he quickly pulled the woman from the tower, and realized he better run before the soldiers thought he was a kidnapper grabbing his dinner. He put the woman in his shirt pocket and ran back to the hills. He climbed to the other side of a large mountain that would take days for the soldiers to reach, and sat down.
He heard a sound and startled. Then he remembered the woman in his pocket. He gently pulled her out and put her on his shoulder where he could hear what she said.
“Thank you for saving me from the fire.” She said. “I was so frightened and certain no one could rescue me.”
Berle smiled. “You are most welcome. I am sorry I had to bring you here, I will take you back in the morning.”
“Don’t be sorry.” The woman replied, “I have never been off the castle grounds before, and this view is amazing. I am thrilled to be alive, and quite content to look at the magnificent landscape from here. I have only seen it before in paintings”
“You are the princess!” Berle realized, “You must be terrified. I will take you back now.” He started to get up.
“Oh, no!” She yelled, making him stop. “I have never felt so secure as I do on your shoulder. Please don’t take me back. Can you take me for a walk instead?”
For the first time in the many years poor old Berle had been cursed, he was finally happy to be a giant for once. He gladly took the princess on a walking tour of the entire kingdom in a single night. She was so excited to be out in the fresh air and not feel anxious. They talked about everything she was seeing for the first time. He did not tell her his secret of being a man during the day out of embarrassment. He let her think he was always a giant. He would tell her his identity if they ever met again. For the first time in her life, she felt secure in the world. She loved this giant with all her heart. She did not dare tell him this out of embarrassment. She decided to just enjoy herself and to tell him when they met next
When he took her back in the early morning before dawn, they snuck up on a very sad kingdom. Crying could be heard everywhere. Apparently, it had been a very sad night in the castle. Princess Pristine made Berle promise to come back and take her for another walk in a few days, when things calmed down. She would leave a red kerchief hanging from the window where she was. Berle set her gently upon the parapet, then dashed off to hide until sunrise.
When Berle came back to the castle to take up his writing duties, the castle was abuzz with the gossip of the previous evening’s events. Word was that Princess Pristine had been kidnapped by a giant who set her wing of the castle afire. Berle was quite upset at the nature of these stories and decided he needed to see the princess for himself to see if this was the story she was telling. He couldn’t believe it. He petitioned the king to be able to write her a poem welcoming her back after her harrowing ordeal, saying he wanted to make sure the princess knew how much the entire kingdom cared for her.
He worked on his poetry all day and was quite pleased with it. He read it to the king who thought it was exceptional. The king escorted Berle to his daughter’s new quarters personally, where he introduced him through the door, which the princess refused to open to a stranger. Berle was very excited and nervous, but began to speak.
The title of this poem is, “The Princess’s Harrowing Night”.
“How do you presume to know what kind of night I had?” The princess was offended. “For all you know it may have been the best night of my life.”
Berle was pleased at this, for he knew what it meant. He smiled to himself and said altogether too glibly:
“I was only referring to the fire, princess, and meant no harm. If you would permit me to read the poem, it would explain everything.”
Berle was right. He had cleverly written the poem so that it touched upon many things they talked about and even included certain phrases she had said word for word. If she heard the poem she would immediately know that the only one who could have written it was the giant himself. But the princess was angry that this silly poet had disturbed her quiet longing to be with the giant again.
“I hate poetry, and now I hate you!” she said angrily. “You must promise me you shall never speak to me again. I will not listen to your foolish poetry. I never want to be in your presence again. Will you promise me this?”
“I am sorry, my princess,” he said, thinking of their impending meeting. “I have made a previous promise that makes this impossible.”
“You are refusing a request of a royal person?” The king said in shock. “Why?”
“I can not tell you, sire.” If the princess would only hear the poem she would understand.
“I told you I hate poetry, you wretched man! I simply asked not to be forced to put up with your vile presence ever again. I am asking one last time, before my father executes you, will you promise on your honor to not write me any more poems and to never come in my presence again?”
“I promise.” Berle said dejectedly. He realized that he did not understand the world of the princess at all. The king would banish him for his insolence. He had now promised never to come in her presence again. He felt cursed worse than ever.
The morning came when the lonely princess pulled in the red kerchief that she had hung out the window the night before and a sudden thought came to her. She sent a message to her father and asked him if a copy of that poem from the banished man was kept. The king had a search done, and the poem was found. The princess requested it, and read it tearfully. She has never put down the red kerchief since.
She no longer stays in her room, but walks defeatedly about the grounds by day. Stays locked in her room by night with the red kerchief out the window, reading all the poetry her banished scribe had written. Now, when a giant head peaks over the mountains each night and stares longingly at the castle, someone in the castle stares longingly back.
Author notes
Amazing how people are the biggist obstacle between themselves and what they want.
In a list
A contest entry
- Tell me the story of... by kiwigirljacks.
1300 points, ended October 10, 2008, 16 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Give Me Fairy Tale Fantasy!!! by Ambrea.
800 points, ended September 11, 2009, 17 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
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Wow what a creative and heartbreaking story! ITs not very poetic, but I love the story so much I will overlook it. Well done! thank you so much for entering and good luck!
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Oh how sad! I wish you could have invented a happy ending! With both of them learning something from the encounter. So, it's called conditioned helplessness, so says Lady Dementia. You're a wonderful story teller!
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Wow! What an awesome story! I love the message within it to...Some people make themselves helpless without knowing it, and like you say put every obstacle possible in their path. I think its called conditioned helplessness, can be hard getting them to see it and help them over come it for sure...but this story you've told would go a long way in the right place. Ok I am waffling now
A beautiful tale, that I really enjoyed. Thanks for entering and good luck 
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Now that is some story!!!!
A brilliant message woven into a fab story you have told here! I was captivated from beginning to end!
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