The Fairest of Them All

Title: The Fairest of Them All

Princess Persephone was the only child of the king and as such, she grew up to be very spoiled.  She received everything she asked for and more.  None of her servants ever refused her requests for fear of what would happen to them when she became queen.

The only characteristic that could match her spoiled nature was her beauty.  Everyone in the kingdom agreed she was the fairest of all the maidens in the land and behind her back, the vainest of them all too.  One day in the royal court, Princess Persephone overheard a travelling bard sing the tale of a witch who made women beautiful.  Coveting her status as the fairest of them all, Princess Persephone set out to meet this witch and ensure she would be the fairest of them all for all time.  She set out for this journey in disguise with a single servant to aid her.  It was a swordmaiden, who was sworn to serve and protect her and only her.

After several weeks of investigating different leads, they received information regarding a curious old woman who lived alone.  The old woman was known for tending a beautiful garden and receiving visitors on a regular basis.  Deducing this to be the witch, Princess Persephone and her swordmaiden set out to where the woman lived.

On a cold, misty morning, they reached a nondescript cottage and the Princess banged on the door loudly.  An old woman opened the door to greet them and the Princess barged in demanding to know if she was the witch who made women beautiful.  Modestly, the old woman acknowledged this was she and asked the Princess who she was.

In a haughty tone, the princess declared, “I am Princess Persephone, only daughter of the king, future queen of the land, and the fairest of them all.”  Her swordmaiden bowed respectfully and showed the witch the Royal Seal, backing up the Princess’ claim.  Understanding why the princess was here, the witch explained how she could make it so the princess stay beautiful for all time.

“Journey to the Temple of Earth in neighboring Remora, speak to the priestess of the Earth, and receive treatment in the mud pits they keep underneath the temple.  The minerals in the mud will improve your skin and prepare your body.  Then go to the enchanted springs of Linnora and soak in these waters for one day and one night for the water will cleanse you of physical impurity.  Before you leave Linnora, bring me a lotus blossom that live in its sacred waters, and with that gift, I will grace you with beauty everlasting.”

Smiling her grand smile, the princess thanked the witch and set out to do everything she was asked.  She received treatment in the mud pits kept underneath the Temple of Earth.  She soaked in the enchanted springs of Linnora for one day and one night.  She had the swordmaiden retrieve the lotus blossom from Linnora’s sacred waters and with her tasks completed, she returned to the witch, prepared to receive her gift of beauty everlasting.  The witch examined the princess with a careful eye and nodded knowingly.

When the witch asked Princess Persephone if she was ready to receive her gift, the Princess remarked, “Of course, I am.  I am the fairest of them all and now I will always be the fairest forever more. ”

“So shall it be,” the witch agreed.  “Follow me and I will grant you what your heart desires.”  They walked to a humbly tended garden in front of the cottage and the witch drew a circle around the Princess.  Shaking the pollen from the lotus blossom, the witch blessed the Earth the Princess stood in.  She blessed the purified body of the princess.  Finally, the witch returned the lotus blossom to the princess and with a wave of her hand, blessed the lotus blossom in the Princess’ hand.  “Breathe from the blossom deeply and when you awaken, you will become the fairest of them all for all time.”  With gusto, the Princess breathed the heady pollen from the lotus blossom and passed out in the circle.  As she lay unconscious, the ground beneath her sank and she descended into the Earth.  Distraught, the swordmaiden attempted to rescue her princess, but the princess had descended too far for her to reach.  The witch gazed at the swordmaiden with a frightening look and said, “For three days and three nights, your princess will sleep in the Earth.  On the fourth morning, she will become what she always desired.”

Unable to return without Princess Persephone, the swordmaiden dutifully waited for three days and three nights for the witch’s spell to finish.  At dawn of the fourth morning, the swordmaiden watched in awe as a plant emerged from where the princess descended.  A green stalk rose from the earth and in the middle of it was an enormous flower bud, the size of an actual person.  As the sun shined down on this new plant, the petals slowly unfurled and a familiar figure emerged from within the flower bud.  Glistening with plant sap and awakened from her slumber, Princess Persephone opened her eyes and recognized her faithful swordmaiden standing before her.  Curiously, the princess was unable to speak or move for that matter and her eyes were frozen in a permanent stare.  The swordmaiden realized the horrifying truth.  As promised, the witch had made Princess Persephone the fairest of them all.  As a flower, Princess Persephone embodied the graceful beauty of plant life along with her human beauty.  

Trapped in her new body, Princess Persephone realized what had become.  She was beautiful to behold.  Her fragrance could enchant either sex to fall in love.  Her flower blossoms, when boiled, brewed a tea that could calm an aching heart.  With her roots settling deep into the earth, the sun would sustain her for all time and all would know that she was the fairest of them all.  All would adore her and know the truth.  She was the fairest of them all.  

Despair grew in the heart of the swordmaiden for she realized she could not return to the king with news of this tragedy.  As she knelt by her princess, the swordmaiden prayed for wisdom and protection.  The witch took pity on the faithful servant and cast a different transformation spell on the swordmaiden.  Flesh and blood gave way to stone as the magic coursed through the swordmaiden’s body.  Her skin hardened and her armor thickened as it transmuted into stone.  All worry and grief left her mind as her thoughts ceased and all that remained was the desire to protect her princess at all cost.  The swordmaiden would remain by princess’ side as her eternal guardian, impervious to the elements and as loyal as she was in life.

Finished with her task, the witch walked back into her cottage and prepared a kettle of water for tea.  She was expecting guests later in the morning.

The Fairest of Them All (c) dwwrider