Pricilla awoke as the cold chill of night kissed her cheeks. The last thing she remembered was flower picking in the woods after breakfast; the evidence of her work lay wilted and dead at her feet. The sun's warm rays passing through the trees, mixed with the delicious scent of wild flowers, had caused her eyes to grow heavy until she could resist sleep no longer. Now, it was cold and dark with no moon or twinkling stars to guide her home. Everything beautiful by daylight was now twisted and devilish in darkness.     

            The king; Pricilla’s father, had warned her many times not to venture alone beyond the city walls into the Epic Forest. His tales of those who had ignored him were filled with horror. He told of the mighty knight, Theo, who had drunkenly dared to walk into the forest claiming that he was unafraid. He wandered too far never to be seen or heard from again. A year before that, a weary traveller lost his way, finding himself confronted by a fearsome and enchanted beast at the edge of the Epic Forest. Rescued by passing soldiers, the traveller swore never to pass that way again.

            Darkness and cold surrounded Pricilla, accompanied by a greenish mist swirling about her ankles. Scared and unsure if she was going in the right direction, Pricilla became increasingly frightened. Listening, she could only hear her own heartbeat pounding like drums. With each beat she walked faster.

            Suddenly, she spun round, startled by the snapping of a twig in the trees behind her. Not wanting to see, or know, what was in the trees, Pricilla began to run. Faster and faster. Bounding over fallen logs and ditches in blind fear, she was certain someone or something was chasing her, gaining on her every step. Panting, the young princess wished she had never sneaked past the goblin guard at the kingdom's edge. If she had only done as she had been told she wouldn’t be running through the Epic Forest in the middle of the night chased by goodness knows what.

            Stumbling over a rock, Pricilla found herself face down in dried leaves. Trying to stand, her gown snagged on finger-like branches. In the blink of an eye, baring down on her as she tried to free her dress, was the stone-cold stare of a large wolf. The hound's fangs gleamed large and sharp, and he was hungry. Just as the wolf was about to taste his supper, something in the trees distracted him from his first fresh meal in months. Sniffing the air, the wolf recoiled instantly, emitting an ear-piercing howl before running into the darkness with his tail between his legs,.

            “Just lie still,” thought Princess Pricilla willing herself to stop shaking. “If I stay still, whoever, or whatever, it is will not notice me.” Images of far nastier animals ran through her mind. If the wolf was so afraid, it had to be something terrifying.

            Through the trees a large white animal walked proudly towards her. The whole creature appeared to glow. The air around her felt suddenly light and peaceful. She was no longer afraid. Having freed her gown, Pricilla stood, coming face to face with a winged horse - an animal of legend - a unicorn. Kneeling, the unicorn allowed the princess to climb carefully about his broad back. Once seated, he beat his wings once and they were off, flying high above the forest canopy.

            Their flight was beautiful and almost soundless; only the whoop, whoop of the unicorn’s giant wings disturbed the night air as they rode between the stars, passing over hillsides and villages. All too soon their flight was over and they were descending towards the castle grounds where purple banners and flags sagged on their poles and lantern flames danced in the gentle breeze. Never had the young princess been so pleased to be home.

            Rushing to greet them with worried looks etched on their faces, were the king and queen dressed in their bedclothes. Not far behind them ran George; the butler, desperately trying to put his arms into his jacket as he went.

            “Pricilla. Princess. Where have you been?” cried the queen, sweeping her daughter into her arms with relief.

            “The Forest,” began the princess shamefully. “I was picking flowers this morning for my bedroom and I fell asleep beneath the old oak tree by accident. I’m so sorry, I really am. I was so scared. A wolf chased me but this beautiful unicorn saved me,” Pricilla explained, in a single breath, pointing to the magical creature walking towards the stables.

            “What have I told you about wandering beyond the kingdom walls young lady? You could have been seriously hurt,” her father scolded, taking her into his arms also. “I only ask you not to go there because it is unsafe, not because I want to spoil your fun. We‘re just glad you are home, safe and sound.”

            “I know daddy. I promise not to go there again.”

            George was sent to feed their hero. Apple and sugar lump in hand, the old man rounded the stable wall, only, when he got there the unicorn had vanished and in its place stood a young man in rich clothing.

            “Who are you sir?” questioned George.

            “I am Prince Francis from the Kingdom of Light. I seek the hand of Princess Pricilla.”

He certainly dressed like a prince, though, to arrive unannounced was incredibly unusual. What was more unusual was that he was travelling alone in the middle of the night. He had no servants or knights to protect him. Both men walked silently to where the king, queen and princess stood, still embracing each other.

            “Sire!” began George, after clearing his throat. “Prince Francis has journeyed through the night to meet with you.”

            “Oh?” Surprised to have a visitor past midnight, the king, dressed in pyjamas, felt more than a little embarrassed in having to welcome a guest. “Very well, young prince. How may I be of assistance at this hour?”

            “I have come to seek the hand of your daughter in marriage. I would like for her to help rule my own kingdom as my queen,” spoke the man, politely. “There is nothing I wouldn’t do to within my power to protect your daughter from harm.”

            Princess Pricilla curtsied, extending her own hand to greet their visitor. They held each other's gaze for a long time. There is something familiar about those eyes, thought the princess. Something safe. Something magical even. Suddenly it all made sense. Around his neck hung a glittering unicorn horn believed to be the most magical of all things on Earth, and then there were his eyes, those same crystal blue eyes she had looked into in the forest. Could the prince be the unicorn? He had already told her father that he would do anything in his power to keep her safe.

            “It was you wasn’t it? Out there in the forest?”

Francis winked and smiled as his answer.

            Two months later, Prince Francis and Princess Pricilla were married in a wedding suitable for any fairytale. Their secret was safe and they lived the rest of their years happily in the Kingdom of Light.

The end.

Claire Atherton©2009

Category: children's stories