HOME | DD

Description
Well, it's my entry for the New Princess contest of the . And here she is, my Princess Maria! I think, she resembles Belle and Giselle a bit, but it was just that I tried to make her as Disney-like as possible. Maybe I tried a little too hard .
The story is my own, but, of course, as you may see, I was inspired a lot by other fairy tales, like e.g. "The Lion King" and "Donkeyskin" and some more. It's a more realistic story than a real fairy tale, but I like it though. Would like to know, what do you think about it?

Click "Download" to see the big version.

Thirty-one embroideresses

Once upon a time, there was a small happy kingdom. And the formal ruler of this kingdom was a princess named Maria. Both her parents died as she was a child. But until she came of age, the land was actually ruled by her uncle, the younger brother of her father. On her seventeenth birthday she had to marry the king of a neighbour country, so that they lands would be united. But her uncle loved his duties and his power more and more every day, so one day, as the princess was sixteen, he decided to remain the king forever. So he sent assassins to her.

Luckily her parlourmaid could warn and save the princess. She gave Maria the dress of a servant; the princess took few of her precious jewellery and could leave the palace unnoticed, and the parlourmaid stayed in the princess’ chamber. The faithful maid was killed then and buried in a closed coffin, as if she were the princess. And the uncle asserted that there was a malicious plot against the royal family, and his poor niece fell a victim to it. But by some amazing fluke he was, God be praised, still alive and would remain the ruler, so nobody had to worry. Anybody, who alluded even slightly to the king’s own interest in the plot, was arrested shortly afterwards and some of them were actually put to death. People were indignant, suspecting the truth, but couldn’t do anything. The country was cast down.

But the princess was still alive and arrived in the meantime in the neighbour country, where her fiancé Charles was the king. They were really in love and they were friends from childhood. But as a simple girl Maria couldn’t get in the royal palace. So she had first to look for lodging in the capital, until she could think of a way to get to the king. And she found a cheap room by a poor and childless widow, who showed concern for the girl. The princess didn’t say who she was, but explained that she was disinherited and turned out of house and home by her relatives. At first she sold her jewellery secretly, to pay for the lodging, but she had only few pieces. When she was out of money and didn’t know what to do, the widow asked her, if there was something Maria could do. The princess thought it over and answered modestly that she was taught embroidery a little. The kind widow gave her some fabric, threads and needles, and it turned out that Maria was very clever with her needle. Her works were neat and beautiful, so they were quickly sold and were a great success. Very soon the rumours about her skills reached the royal palace and the head of the royal workshops sent for her to ask, if she wanted to join the thirty other best mistresses in the country and to work for the king. Of course she was happy and assented to do it. She hoped that she would be able to see her beloved one.

The king, her fiancé, was inconsolable since he had heard about her death. But as a ruler he had to marry, it couldn't be helped. So he chose one of the unmarried princesses in the neighbourhood and proposed to her. She accepted and the wedding day was set in a month.

Meanwhile, Princess Maria worked assiduous, but wasn’t able to come nearer to Charles. She lost heart and thought that she had to work as a royal embroideress for the rest of her life. Her colleagues wanted to compliment the king for the wedding and decided that each girl should embroider a pretty serviette for King’s breakfasts during this month. And the last one, to give her present to the king, was Maria. She had to make a serviette for the breakfast on the wedding day. So, though she was upset she didn’t want to give up yet. She decided to try once more to give a sign to Charles, and if she failed this time, she would run away, because she couldn't bear to see her loved one with another woman.

Thus Maria put her present on the breakfast tray and hid her engagement ring under the serviette. When the king took it from the tray, the ring fell down, and Charles was thunderstruck as he recognized the ring, which he gave to his fiancée. And on the serviette he saw three crowned white doves: two standing next to each other and obviously happily cooing, and the third dove at a distance from the pair, flying away and crying. Then the king realized that his beloved Maria was alive. He asked the servant that had brought the tray, who was the embroideress that made this serviette, how long she was there and how she looked like. And then the king was firmly convinced that this was the princess. But he didn’t know what he should do now, because his new bride was already there and also her whole family and retinue. He couldn’t just send them back. Charles thought a little for a while and then said to the servant, that he liked the present very much and wanted to give this girl something in return. And he gave the servant another ring for Maria and also has sent word that he would like to talk to her later.

Before the wedding ceremony should begin, the king came to the throne room, where all the court and all the workers and all the servants - every last one, even kitchen boys - were assembled, as well as the eminent guests. And the king said thoughtfully: ‘My dearest friends! I need your good advice. In my dovecote I have a favourite pigeon, the prettiest and the fastest of them all. He fell in love with a beautiful female pigeon and she loved him back. And they lived happily, until one day a cunning black kite carried her away. She could escape by a miracle but she was wounded and fell to the ground in the forest. My pigeon grieved deeply without her. Another female was chosen for him, but he was still sad. My hunters happened to find his love and brought her back. She recovered from her wounds but as she saw her pigeon with another female, she wanted to fly away. My servants caught her by my order, but I don’t know what to do now. Shall I return her to the pigeon or I would better leave well alone?’

The guests listened to the story and became thoughtful. The father of the bride answered then, that beyond all doubt the king should reunite the loving couple. And other guests said it should be done like this, he should give her back to her husband. Charles smiled at them and said: ‘So be it!’ He went to the embroideresses who stand there, too, and took Maria by the hand and led her to the middle of the room. ‘Here is my lost bride,’ said the king. ‘I love her and will marry only her and nobody else.’ And the guests had nothing to do but to accept the situation and to congratulate them both.

Maria and Charles married the same day. The king threatened Maria’s uncle, he would declare war upon the neighbour country, if the usurper didn’t abandon his power voluntarily. The uncle was so frightened he preferred to leave the country. The people were delighted to know that the princess was alive. And the royal couple lived happily ever after and ruled wisely the united countries.

Description
Well, it's my entry for the New Princess contest of the . And here she is, my Princess Maria! I think, she resembles Belle and Giselle a bit, but it was just that I tried to make her as Disney-like as possible. Maybe I tried a little too hard .
The story is my own, but, of course, as you may see, I was inspired a lot by other fairy tales, like e.g. "The Lion King" and "Donkeyskin" and some more. It's a more realistic story than a real fairy tale, but I like it though. Would like to know, what do you think about it?

Click "Download" to see the big version.

Thirty-one embroideresses

Once upon a time, there was a small happy kingdom. And the formal ruler of this kingdom was a princess named Maria. Both her parents died as she was a child. But until she came of age, the land was actually ruled by her uncle, the younger brother of her father. On her seventeenth birthday she had to marry the king of a neighbour country, so that they lands would be united. But her uncle loved his duties and his power more and more every day, so one day, as the princess was sixteen, he decided to remain the king forever. So he sent assassins to her.

Luckily her parlourmaid could warn and save the princess. She gave Maria the dress of a servant; the princess took few of her precious jewellery and could leave the palace unnoticed, and the parlourmaid stayed in the princess’ chamber. The faithful maid was killed then and buried in a closed coffin, as if she were the princess. And the uncle asserted that there was a malicious plot against the royal family, and his poor niece fell a victim to it. But by some amazing fluke he was, God be praised, still alive and would remain the ruler, so nobody had to worry. Anybody, who alluded even slightly to the king’s own interest in the plot, was arrested shortly afterwards and some of them were actually put to death. People were indignant, suspecting the truth, but couldn’t do anything. The country was cast down.

But the princess was still alive and arrived in the meantime in the neighbour country, where her fiancé Charles was the king. They were really in love and they were friends from childhood. But as a simple girl Maria couldn’t get in the royal palace. So she had first to look for lodging in the capital, until she could think of a way to get to the king. And she found a cheap room by a poor and childless widow, who showed concern for the girl. The princess didn’t say who she was, but explained that she was disinherited and turned out of house and home by her relatives. At first she sold her jewellery secretly, to pay for the lodging, but she had only few pieces. When she was out of money and didn’t know what to do, the widow asked her, if there was something Maria could do. The princess thought it over and answered modestly that she was taught embroidery a little. The kind widow gave her some fabric, threads and needles, and it turned out that Maria was very clever with her needle. Her works were neat and beautiful, so they were quickly sold and were a great success. Very soon the rumours about her skills reached the royal palace and the head of the royal workshops sent for her to ask, if she wanted to join the thirty other best mistresses in the country and to work for the king. Of course she was happy and assented to do it. She hoped that she would be able to see her beloved one.

The king, her fiancé, was inconsolable since he had heard about her death. But as a ruler he had to marry, it couldn't be helped. So he chose one of the unmarried princesses in the neighbourhood and proposed to her. She accepted and the wedding day was set in a month.

Meanwhile, Princess Maria worked assiduous, but wasn’t able to come nearer to Charles. She lost heart and thought that she had to work as a royal embroideress for the rest of her life. Her colleagues wanted to compliment the king for the wedding and decided that each girl should embroider a pretty serviette for King’s breakfasts during this month. And the last one, to give her present to the king, was Maria. She had to make a serviette for the breakfast on the wedding day. So, though she was upset she didn’t want to give up yet. She decided to try once more to give a sign to Charles, and if she failed this time, she would run away, because she couldn't bear to see her loved one with another woman.

Thus Maria put her present on the breakfast tray and hid her engagement ring under the serviette. When the king took it from the tray, the ring fell down, and Charles was thunderstruck as he recognized the ring, which he gave to his fiancée. And on the serviette he saw three crowned white doves: two standing next to each other and obviously happily cooing, and the third dove at a distance from the pair, flying away and crying. Then the king realized that his beloved Maria was alive. He asked the servant that had brought the tray, who was the embroideress that made this serviette, how long she was there and how she looked like. And then the king was firmly convinced that this was the princess. But he didn’t know what he should do now, because his new bride was already there and also her whole family and retinue. He couldn’t just send them back. Charles thought a little for a while and then said to the servant, that he liked the present very much and wanted to give this girl something in return. And he gave the servant another ring for Maria and also has sent word that he would like to talk to her later.

Before the wedding ceremony should begin, the king came to the throne room, where all the court and all the workers and all the servants - every last one, even kitchen boys - were assembled, as well as the eminent guests. And the king said thoughtfully: ‘My dearest friends! I need your good advice. In my dovecote I have a favourite pigeon, the prettiest and the fastest of them all. He fell in love with a beautiful female pigeon and she loved him back. And they lived happily, until one day a cunning black kite carried her away. She could escape by a miracle but she was wounded and fell to the ground in the forest. My pigeon grieved deeply without her. Another female was chosen for him, but he was still sad. My hunters happened to find his love and brought her back. She recovered from her wounds but as she saw her pigeon with another female, she wanted to fly away. My servants caught her by my order, but I don’t know what to do now. Shall I return her to the pigeon or I would better leave well alone?’

The guests listened to the story and became thoughtful. The father of the bride answered then, that beyond all doubt the king should reunite the loving couple. And other guests said it should be done like this, he should give her back to her husband. Charles smiled at them and said: ‘So be it!’ He went to the embroideresses who stand there, too, and took Maria by the hand and led her to the middle of the room. ‘Here is my lost bride,’ said the king. ‘I love her and will marry only her and nobody else.’ And the guests had nothing to do but to accept the situation and to congratulate them both.

Maria and Charles married the same day. The king threatened Maria’s uncle, he would declare war upon the neighbour country, if the usurper didn’t abandon his power voluntarily. The uncle was so frightened he preferred to leave the country. The people were delighted to know that the princess was alive. And the royal couple lived happily ever after and ruled wisely the united countries.