YOUNG VOICE
Princess Amelia
Once upon a time in a land behind the ice capped mountains of the tundra, stood a glorious castle at the center of the town’s square. In the topmost floor of the second tower was a beautiful princess with eyes as brown as amber, hair less black than ebony, skin less white than snow. Her name was Amelia. She looked through the stained-glass window, offering her gentle smile to each townsfolk that would pass by.
Princess Amelia had a heart for everyone, noble or peasant. She mastered the art of medicinal potions; she was the answer of hope to the sickly and the dying of their kingdom. Many gallant princes from different kingdoms had sought for her hand in marriage, but she continues to refuse their golden riches and await the loyal heart destined for her.
Her father was king and her mother died while giving birth. The King has been out of the kingdom for several days, in a quest of conquering other lands to meet the needs of his growing people. Amelia awaited her father’s return; she had readied the potions for the wounded soldiers.
The sun scorched from the middle of the heavens, it was noon when Amelia finally heard some galloping horses approaching. She rose from her seat, carrying her basket of antidotes and remedies, she went down and the whole kingdom heard her announcement of the brave men’s return.
The royal council emerged from their mansions and joined the whole kingdom’s welcome. Princess Amelia did not regard the council highly, for she knew they were plotting against her family. They wore valiant suits against their pride, they mock the poor and the weak yet befriended those with wealth. Soon, enough the horde approached nearer, and Amelia saw her courageous father beaming as he carried their banner.
The princess and the king embraced each other and the whole kingdom applauded. Amelia then rushed to the aid of the wounded soldiers, among them was Sir Thomas. He was a newly appointed knight and it was his first battle but he showed great skill and wit that the king was so pleased with him.
Amelia walked towards the daring knight and offered him a vial to treat his injury. It was the first time she saw Thomas, though she heard much from her father’s many letters. She was surprised the knight was about her age, and quite debonair. Their eyes met and each of their hearts leaped. They broke apart with a lingering smile that made the princess’s round cheeks blush for the first time. Amelia’s smile never left her face and she was all the more intrigued to see Thomas once again in the evening’s Masquerade Ball.
Amelia was clad in beauty, her white velvet gown made her look even more stunning. Her hopes didn’t fail, when the knight named Thomas asked her hand for a dance. Those few minutes seemed forever, Amelia was unsure of what she feels, but she was sure that at that very moment she wanted the music to never end. The royal council sat on a round table abounding in a banquet of food, yet their eyes were fixed on the dancing Amelia, smirking on the side of their malicious faces.
From the moment the dance ended, was the start of a blossoming friendship for Amelia and Thomas. Every time the young knight would visit the castle and talk about the attack strategies of the next conquest was also the time when he came to satisfy his longing for Amelia. The princess knew the emotions were mutual, for each of the young knight’s serenade made her believe on the growing love she has for Thomas.
Days turned to months and it wasn’t long before such love bore fruit. Amelia knew she was bearing a child unknown to the King’s blessings, but she was certain her father would understand. The day came when Amelia and Thomas approached the king and revealed their love. The king, as foretold by Amelia was more than ready to give his blessings and bind them in marriage. But, the royal council intervened and denied the possibility.
Their kingdom is yet bounded in rules and tradition, that a mere knight could not marry a princess and if ever they bear a child the throne to the royal blood shall be forfeited. The king was outraged saying he can change the rules anytime, but the council knew those rules require still their consent.
Amelia and Thomas refused to give up their love or slay the life of the unborn heir. The council was determined, it was indeed part of their plot to let the two grow deeper in love until they become vulnerable and so does the throne. The king filled with compassion to his daughter, deafened himself to the pedagogy of the council and continued with assimilating new rules and proclamations. This became more advantageous to the greedy council; they rose as a united body and persecuted the king.
The king was brought to guillotine, and although the townspeople wooed for his innocence, the council found ways, even harnessing the army to go against their commander-in-chief in exchange for sacks of gold and masses of land.
Amelia cried on the shoulders of Thomas, both of them were helpless. The council stopped at nothing, they came next for Thomas and accused him of disloyalty to the kingdom. Thomas suffered the same fate as his would be father-in-law. Amelia was forced into aborting the child in her womb; the council did not take any chances of having an heir to succeed the throne. Too much blood was spilt and Amelia cried all her tears leaving her torn and wasted. She was then exiled and banned from their kingdom. The daughter, the would be mother and wife, was now an orphan and a widow.
Hatred and revenge dripped into her heart enveloping her whole. Amelia wandered in the vast wilderness of the tundra. The trees seemed to become ghoulish figures, there were fierce eyes that followed her wherever she went. She was going crazy, her dreams were blinded by nightmares and now all she wanted was retribution.
Soon, she came across another castle, though different from her own, it was just as magnificent. A kind couple who were the king and queen of the unfamiliar kingdom welcomed Amelia. The king was an elegant and sweet man who reminded Amelia of Thomas. The queen had hair more black than hers; it was indeed as black as ebony; with a skin as fair and white as snow. The couple had a newborn daughter, who looked exactly like the queen. The princess’ name was Snow White.
Amelia felt helpless even in the comforts of the couple’s kingdom. They helped her regain strength but she couldn’t find the genuine gratitude in her forlorn heart. All was left was vengeance and envy. She would have the same kind of husband, the same beautiful daughter, the same life. But she didn’t.
Soon, the fog of regret and scornfulness hurled her to fix two vials; one is toxic poison and the other, a love drug. She mixed the poison to the queen’s evening soup and the love drug to the king’s wine. The results were to her content, the reigning queen died, leaving Snow White orphan to a mother. The king became dominated and was blinded to love Amelia. Right after the queen’s funeral was Amelia’s marriage to the widower king.
Queen Amelia ruled the kingdom as the king was under her spell. Her knowledge in potions was no longer used for medicine and healing, but to inflict harm on those who wouldn’t obey her whims. She became vain and greedy, no less than the council that wronged her. She did not want any maiden to be more beautiful than her, no person more powerful and learned than she is. She devised a powerful mirror to keep track of her obsession. In some time, the effect of the love drug withered, and the King was left helpless and mournful until the sad day when he too joined his beloved queen into the grave. Yes, Queen Amelia became step mother to Snow White and she believed this was the start of her quest for revenge, the start of her happily ever after.