A Fairy Tale for Jillian

Once upon a time, there lived in a far away land, a king and his queen.  Now the queen was very beautiful, but she was very sad for she had not yet given the king a child of his own and the years were passing by very rapidly.  Though her beauty had captured the kings heart to wed she knew if she did not produce a child soon enough, she would loose the kings heart forever for a child is what he truly wanted. A son to take his throne when he should take ill or die. 

Months passed and still nothing happened.  Until one day, while the queen was walking through the wood on the way to the castle, the queen met an old woman.  She was poor and asked for help from the queen.  The queen, being of kind heart said " dear woman, may I fill your cup with something warm to drink, you look tired and in need of a place to rest." You shall come with me today and my king we will give you a place to rest you weary head. The woman just shook her head, for it was bitter cold outside and it was a gift to be given such a gift from the queen.  They went arm in arm through the forest all the while the queen telling the woman of her misfortune of being barren.  With understanding eyes the ole' woman just nodded and said nothing but let the queen continue in the spilling of her wounded heart.  She seemed to be able to tell this woman everything, as if the words from her month came out without thought or consequence. 
Alas, the queen felt somewhat comforted to tell someone of her grief.  Her tears seemed to wash away the sadness of from the depths of her barren womb. 
Suddenly, one of the queen's tears feel upon the hand of the ole' woman. She shed off her cloak and a became an evil witch with green eyes that glared so deep into the queen soul that she could not look anywhere else.  Then the witch began to cast her spell upon the queen saying if she wanted to have the king's child then it shall be, but in just twenty one years the child would have to be returned to her.  If the queen told the king of this arrangement or if she did not follow through then she would kill the child and scar her beauty for life making her hideous for all to see.
As quickly as the pact between them had been made, the woman vanished into the wood. The queen ran as fast as she could tearing her gown in the brush and knowing that the decision she had made had been wrong.  The forest fairies saw this and surrounded her with a protective magic and as long as the child she had remained within her love, the witch would never be able to still the child away.  The queen did not know of the wonderful forest fairies had bestowed upon her.  It was a true test of love, and only a mother's love would truly win through the evil of the wickedness of the witch.
Within days the queen was with child.  Never being so afraid but so happy at the same time, she told the king the news.  The king was delighted.  Knowing that she could not tell the king of the ole' woman or the child would surely die, she kept everything inside her and wept a silent cry for not knowing when or if the ole' woman would show up again was terrifying to the queen. 
For now she was getting on in months and showing herself, and she would think of names of the royal one.  The king was happy as well and getting excited about his ere to be.  The king had a cradle made of pure gold and a blanket of the finest silk, for the young babe. The queen was so happy, unlike anything she had every known before. 
The anticipated day arrived with all of the joy of and folly of the royals.  The countryside from near and far was alerted at the news of the king and queens newborn babe.  To the kings disappointment, however, it wasn't a son but a gorgeous little girl with eyes the color of the oceans that sparkle in the Mediterranean sea.  Her hair was so thick that it already had a beautiful brownish gold curl atop of her head.  Skin as porcelain and creamy as any french doll maker would dream.  What to name this beauty, the king said with a look of amazement, it should be something that would remark of her beauty.  Snapping back into reality the queen, knowingly wanted to pick a name that held a virtuous meaning and not one of vanity. Being the very first act of love for the young babe, the fairies all danced in excitement around the gold cradle, and continued to protect her in their magic from the wicked witch. 
The king and queen decided upon a name for their beautiful new baby girl.  Jillamae, which means loving and kind to others.  It is common when royal bestow a name upon a child their are gifts given, and gifts were given indeed from every land.  The king did not know of the forest fairies, nor did the queen, but they arrived in time to give their special gifts to Jillamae.  The first fairy, gave grace and goodwill to all.  The second fairy gave a understanding to those in need, and the third fairy which was a little scattered and came in waving his wand and sprinkling his dust everywhere, and wonderful since of humor.  The king was astonished by these fluttering fireflies and demanded to know what was going on.  With a wink to the queen they were off, and suddenly the queen understood perfectly and grew ever so thankful to the forest fairies. 
Jillamae grew into a beautiful young princess with all of the gift that the fairies had given her.  She was giving to other and those in need, she had a wonderful grace about her and a lovely since of humor that made it so wonder to be around her that no one ever wanted to leave her side.  However, Jillamae was lonely and wanted a love of her own.  This the fairies had overlooked.  The queen had concentrated so hard on not loosing Jillamae, that the thought of her wanting a true love of her own one day was not a concern.  The time had come for her twenty-first birthday and the queen was so worried that she took sick to her bed with the breath of death upon her.  Jillamae not knowing any of her circumstance or what would happen to her should the queen tell or try and get help for Jillamae, did not understand the queen's need for worry. 
In this action of trying to prevent her mother's death, Jillamae left the kingdom and fled to a different land to get help for her dying mother.  There she met a physician, who was of royal heritage.  She told him of her problem and he immediately was drawn to her beauty and her caring ways.  It was night fall before they left and it the day could pass without the witch finding her then the curse would be over. They traveled by horseback, and went as fast as they could.  Jillamae felt lucky to have found such a favorable man to come at a moments notice.  They had to stop to water their horses by a stream when  a sound from the bracken spooked the horses and then came forth it was the ole' woman.  
Prince Cayman said to her, "here ole' woman, sit and have nourishment with us."  No, no, I have other matter's at hand, dear boy.  Jillamae, came from around the horse she had been riding and could sense danger from the ole' woman.  She said a pray to herself to ask the Gods to help her and her new prince. The prince also had gift bestowed upon him as a child an one of those was to read minds.  It took him seconds to detect danger within Jillamae's heart and mind.  He drew his sword and struck the ole' wicked witch in the heart and she melted to a dusty grave that sucked her within and was never seen again.
Jillamae and Cayman arrived in time to save the queen and when she saw that true love had come to her beautiful child she rejoiced with a laughter that was heard throughout the castle.  A wedding was planned by the king, queen and the courts, and the forest fairies and they all lived happily ever after.
THE END