Princess Sammantha
Once upon a time there was a princess. From the day she was born she had been spoiled rotten. Whatever she wanted, her father, the king, would get it for her. By the time she was seven, Princess Sammantha owned a unicorn, five ponies, two horses, a gold colored swan that laid gold colored eggs, many expensive gowns made of the finest silks and other fabrics, and many, many toys. Most of these things she grew tired of after a day or two with them.
The king and queen were good kind people. Many times they tried to give some of the princess' toys to the orphanage. But whenever they talked to Sammantha about this, she would just scream until they finally gave in.
The years passed and the bratty princess grew even more beautiful on the outside. But on the inside, Princess Sammantha was rotten, like an overly moldy piece of bread that you might find under a bed in a very messy bedroom. Each year she only became worse.
It was a week before this snobby, self-centered princess' eighteenth birthday. The whole kingdom was preparing to celebrate it. Princess Sammantha ordered it herself. Everyone in the kingdom was to bring her a gift. Then the day after her birthday she was to wed Prince Derek and unite the two kingdoms as one.
Princess Sammantha was ecstatic. He's a prince, so he must be very handsome, she thought. In her mind she pictured the most handsome guy in the land, and it only seemed fair that the most beautiful girl in the land should marry the most handsome guy.
She gazed at her reflection in a mirror in her dressing room the morning she was to meet Prince Derek. She had on a brand new gown just for the occasion. It was green with gold lace and it covered her toes. She had her long, wavy, golden blonde hair down today so it waved and flowed right down to her lower back. On top of her head she wore a golden bow.
The princess loved the way she looked. The green and gold looked lovely with her fair skin and the green made her soft green eyes pop out. She felt she wasn't just a princess any more, she felt more like a goddess; beautiful and absolutely flawless.
She gracefully walked to the top of the Grand Staircase where her parents were waiting. A trumpet sounded from the Royal Announcer, Francisco, and he said "Queen Helen and King Samuel," Sammantha watched her parents walk down the stairs and through the doors into the Grand Hall. "Princess Sammantha," Francisco announced.
She took a deep breath and began her descent down the marble staircase. Hands clapped as she walked through the doors of the Grand Hall. Sammantha followed her parents into the Throne Room, where she would meet Prince Derek. Her heart felt like it was going to beat right out of her chest.
The guests followed the royalty to the Throne Room. Sammantha took her throne. Silence fell as Francisco blew into his trumpet. "King Derek the Eleventh and Prince Derek the Twelfth,"
King Derek entered the Throne Room first. He was a stout and rather short man. He had a walrus like mustache. His crown was slightly tildted. Ew, I hope his son isn't that ugly, Sammantha thought.
Prince Derek followed his father in. He was tall and gangly. His hair was black and he had glasses. Behind the glasses were too dark brown eyes. He's not handsome at all! Is this some kind of cruel joke? Sammantha was sure there was some sort of mistake. Prince Derek was not handsome at all.
Sammantha felt her face scrunch up as she took in his appearance. He approached the throne and first bowed to the king, then to the queen and then to Sammantha. She stood up and curtsied back.
"Hello," the ugly prince said. "Princess Sammantha, I have waited months to meet you." His voice was smooth and soft, probably the only good feature about him. She suddnenly felt outraged. I am the pretties person in this land and I have to marry the ugliest man? "It is such an wonderful pleasure to meet you," he said, bowing again.
"It's a... uh... pleasure to meet you too, Prince Derek," Sammantha felt like she might have to go scrub herself after speaking to him. The musician began to play a waltz.
"May I have this dance you're Majesty?" He asked holding his hand for her take.
"Of course," Sammantha answered and regrettably, she took his hand. He held on to it and placed his free hand on her waist as the stopped in the middle of the room. He began waltzing to the music and she followed.
Sammantha got a close look at his face. He had a few pimples dotting his otherwise smooth face. Gross! He has acne! He smelt good, and the hand he was holding hers in wassoft and strong. I want to marry a different prince!
"You look very lovely, Princess. You are the most beautiful girl I have ever laid my eyes on." His breath came out and washed over her face; it was sweet smelling, not like she expected it to be. But he was still ugly and those nice features that he surprisingly had did not matter.
"Of course I am the most beautiful girl you have ever laid eyes on. No one is as beautiful as me. No one else has a dress like this, or skin that's as flawless as mine."
"I must be a very man to be the one to marry you, fair Princess," Sammantha couldn't take it anymore. He was just so icky!
"No, you still have no luck. I refuse to marry someone who is as hideous as you are!" She stomped on his foot and stormed out of the Throne Room. She continued stomping as she exited the castle and into the garden.
She flopped down on a stone bench. "How can a prince be so hideous?" She yelled. "Prince Derek was supposed to be gorgeous! I cannot marry someone so ugly! I am too beautiful!"
Princess Sammantha was so busy fuming that she didn't notice the figure floating towards her. It startled her when it spoke.
"You are angered, child. Tell me, what is it that angers you?" asked a calm, beautiful voice.
Sammantha looked up. A beautiful woman in a white gown was staring down at her. She's almost as pretty as me, she thought.
"Who are you? Sammantha asked the woman.
"I am your fairy godmother. Please, answer my question. What angers you, Princess?"
"I have to get married the day after my eighteenth birthday,"
"And you do not wish to be married so soon?"
"No, that's not it. I thought princes were supposed to be handsome, good looking, you know? But the one that I am supposed to marry is ugly! How can my parents to this to me? I am beautiful, and I should marry someone who is beautiful too, then our children will be beautiful."
"Your reason for not wanting to wed are all wrong, dear."
"I don't care! I am too beautiful to marry someone so ugly!"
"I have been watching over you since the day you were born, Princess Sammantha. You are spoiled, selfish and shollow. Therefore, I think I shall give you an early birthday present."
"A present?" asked Sammantha with delight. She loved presents.
"It's a lesson. Until you learn to be nice, unselfish, and not to be shallow, you leave me no choice but to strip you of your beauty. You may learn to not judge how people are on the outside, but learn to see their inner beauty."
"No! Don't take away my beauty!"
"Untill you learn your lesson," she then pulled out a magic wand and waved it. Sammanth felt the change. The bow fell out of her hair and her dress turned into a plain simple dress, like the kind that the village or farm women wore. Her fairy godmother handed her a mirror.
When Sammantha looked into it, she gasped. Her skin was pasty looking, and her blonde hair was dirty and matted in places. Her dress was still grieen, but it too, was dirty and faded. Then she gasped in horror as she took in the rest of her face. There was a zit on her nose, and several more dotted her face.
Sammantha began to cry. She was ugly. Her radiant beauty was gone! Her fairy godmother said "Until you learn," another time and then vanished. Sammantha ran from the garden. She ran to the stables. She threw herself on the to her chestnut colored horse, the one she had named Chestnut.
She had the horse gallop them away beyond the gates of the caslte, beyond the village. She rode into the forest. She roade until the light vanished as it was hidden by the thick trees. Still sitting on Chestnut, she began to cry again.
A wolf howled in the distance. It scared Sammantha. The forest was dark. Sammantha made the horse walk slowly and cautiously through the thick vegetation of the forest floor. The occasional snap of a twig beneath Chestnut's hooves or the hoot of an owl would startle her. Sammantha couldn't see the sky above her, the trees were too thick, so she was unsure if it was getting dark or not. The forest was also cooler than it was in the village. Sammantha shivered. The raggedy peasant dress she wore wasn't warm at all.
Then Sammantha saw it. There was a glow in the distance. Sammantha urged Chestnut towards it. AS she got closer, Sammantha could tell that the light came from inside a little hut. She dismounted the horse and walked towards it. She knocked on the door. She heard someone moving about inside. The door opened revealing a wrinkly old lady.
"Can I help you, dear?" The old woman asked.
"I'm lost and I need a place to stay." Sammantha shivered as a light, but chilly breeze went throug the air.
"Well you can stay here. Fetch your horse over there and tie it to that tree by my flower bed." Sammantha did as the old woman said. When she came back the woman let her in.
"What is your name, child?" Old Lady asked.
"I'm..." Sammantha stopped. She was so ugly she didn't want to reveal her true identity. "I'm Jane."
"What are you doing out here in these woods? They aren't safe for a young girl such as yourself."
"I'm running away," Sammantha said, too tired to think of another excuse.
"Well, I'll fix you some supper. You look so thin, haven't you eaten at all today?"
Sammantha shook her head. "Well I'll get a stew goin' and you can sit down and eat with me and tell me your story."
"Thanks," Sammantha said. Old Lady wasn't a very pretty lady, perhaps she once had been, but age didn't suit her. But despite the woman's appearance, she was kind. Kind enough to let a complete stranger into her home and feed her. Perhaps Sammantha should be honest with her. No, I am too ugly. No one must ever know that this is me.
When supper was ready, Old Lady called Sammantha over to a small wooden table. Old Lady placed a bowl in front of Sammantha along with a spoon. Sammantha began eating. The stew was delicious.
"This is really good. By the way, thank you" Sammantha said.
"Why thank you, Jane. But what on earth are you thanking me for?"
"You don't even know me, and you let me stay here. This is very kind of you."
"Well, you're welcome, child. So tell me your story. Why are you running away?"
Tears began pouring from Sammantha's eyes. She had spent very little time with the woman, but she had all ready learned so much. "I am running away, 'cause I was ashamed; ashamed of my appearance."
"What on earth have you to be ashamed of? I think you are very pretty." Sammantha began to thell her story, who she was, why she was upset and the horrible person that she was inside.
"Ah, I see," Old Lady said. "Do you think this prince you told me of will forgive you?"
"I don't see how. I was so mean. He's really not all that ugly."
"We'll get you cleaned up, and back at the Castle tomorrow."
"You would do that, for me?"
"Yes, my dear. You see, that prince is actually my grandson. I know he will forgive you. He has a very kind heart." Yes, Sammantha would swallow her pride and return to the Castle and apologize to Prince Derek.
The next day, Old Lady, who was actually named Elain, heated up some water for Sammantha to bathe in. Then she found a dress she had worn when she was Sammantha's age. Elain brushed the princess' hair getting out all of the snarls from the transformation her fairy godmother had caused. Once finished, Sammantha viewed herself in the mirror. She thought she looked rather lovely. I don't want to be as beautiful as I was before. I fear it might make me mean again.
Together, Sammantha and Elain prepared Chestnut to head back to the Castle. The sound of a horse made Sammantha turn. There, mounted on a beautiful white stallion, was Prince Derek. Sammantha hid her face, still ashamed of her behavior yesterday. Elain patted her on the back and whispered "It'll be all right, deary," and then spoke to her grandson.
"Hello, my grandson! I haven't seen you in ages! What brings you out here?"
"Hello, Grandmother! Yes, it's been too long. I'm here because I am seraching for Princess Sammantha. She went missing yesterday... and the guards said they saw her ride off towards the woods out here."
"You are in luck, Grandson," Elain said. "She turned up here last night. C'Mon over, sweety," Keeping her head bowed Sammantha walked over to Elain's side. "I'll go prepare a fire and make dinner for everyone." Elain walked into her hut, leaving Sammantha feeling awkward in Prince Derek's presence.
"Um, I," She tried to begin her apology, but her voice began to crack and her eyes started watering up. She still hadn't looked up at his face. She turned away from him. This wouldn't be easy. She felt a hand on her back. It was very comforting. She turned around and looked up at his face.
Prince Derek had a warm smile on his face and it touched his eyes. His face had just a hint of concern. Sammantha took a deep breath and began her apology.
"I'm sorry for what I said yesterday. I was being selfish, and rude and stupid and..." She trailed off as Derek put a hand on her face. The world was looking blurry to Sammantha. She realized that her eyes were watering up again. "I'm sorry," she said again.
"I forgive you," Prince Derek said. He brought his face close to her and pressed his lips lightly to hers. His lips were soft and warm. "Let's get you home, Princess. There's still a birthday to be celebrated... and a wedding to be held." He smiled that warm smile. He pulled a diamond ring out of his pocket and slid it onto a finger on her left hand. "That was my mother's engagement ring. My father and I both agreed that it should be yours."
"You mean, you'll stll marry me?" Sammantha asked in disbelief.
"Of course, silly!" Sammantha smiled at this.
Sammantha left Chestnut with Elain. She was invited to live at the Castle, but she wanted to stay in her hut, so Sammantha left the sweet lady with her horse so she could easily come into the village and visit whenever she pleased. ON the ride back to into the village, Sammantha told her prince the story of what had happened and why she had disappeared after insulting him.
"It doesn't matter to me," Derek said when she finished her tale. "You're still the most beautiful girl in all the land, inside and out. And you're mine." Once back at home, Sammantha gave all of her un-needed childhood toys to the orphanage, the children there squealed with delight; for them it was like Christmas had come in the middle of summer! Sammantha loved seeing their little faces light up as she handed each and everyone of them a toy. She told all of the villagers, herself, that they were no longer needing to bring her a gift.
Her birthday was faboulous. She held a ball where everyone was invited. And the day after it was the best day of Sammantha's life. The wedding was held in the garden. And after the ceremony, Sammantha spent the whole evening in the garden with her prince. When Sammantha's fairy godmother showed up to restore her beauty, Sammantha refused. She told her that she rather be beautiful on the inside than on the outside, and it only mattered that Prince Derek saw her as beautiful. Elain had come to the wedding, and the couple plan on naming a child in her honor. For it was the kind, old lady who taught Sammantha it's not what's on the outside, but what's on the inside.
And they lived happily ever after. The end.
