kopnu's storybook

"If you don't see the book you want on the shelves, write it" - Beverly Cleary

[kopnustorybook]

Fairytale AU : The Captain and The Mermaid Part II

...how it ends…

In the palace, the prince made sure the sea girl was comfortable. At first, he was convinced that this was the girl that had saved him, but as it happens she could not speak, so thought not.

Still, the prince placed her as his honoured guest and took her on a tour of the kingdom. And because she could not speak, she was not able to tell us who she was, so the prince named her 'Marina', for the waters where she was found.  

Everything fascinated her, even the most common and mundane. A wagon, spoons and forks, a hairbrush and even shoes. It almost seemed as if she had never seen them before. She would smile, now and then, and gave little nods of understanding and became amazed at anything the prince showed her.

Everyone that met her, was enchanted by her. As was I.

They often came to see me, for when the prince heard of my service in rescuing his men, he rewarded me with a place among his royal fleet. The prince saw that I was a skilled sailor, so would come to my ship whenever he liked to sail out. And she always came along.

The first time we met, I thought I had never seen anything more beautiful than her. He hair was indeed a masterpiece; it was something you could never forget and she decorated it with seashells.  I wondered how she managed to save the prince that night, for he was much larger than she. She was quite petite; standing in her full height, she barely reached the prince's shoulders. And I, a few inches taller than the prince myself.  Her face was a perfect oval, with soft features, which brightened whenever she smiled. And her eyes, the best part of her; were large with blue and silver hues. I had never seen eyes like hers before. She walked very lightly and she loved to swish her dress around, loving the feel of it. It made her look so young and carefree and made me wonder what she thought about and what she felt. She was such a mystery, and one as deep as the ocean.

But one thing I did know, was that she seemed to love being on my ship and being out at sea. She stood on the deck, peering out on the edge, leaning as far as she could go and looked down to the waters. She sometimes stretched her neck high, allowed the sea wind to flow around her and breathed in deep. I could see she was happiest on my ship, and the thought made me happy too.

As time passed, I began to fall in love with her. I soon found myself thinking about her, constantly. I became excited when she and prince came to visit and I was almost shy when she was near. I wanted to know everything about her; where she came from? What did she think about?  What was her real name? But I never approached her, as she was always by the prince's side and anyone could see, she herself had very much fallen for the prince. And it would seem, he had too.

And soon enough, the prince announced he was to marry and the kingdom readied itself, to welcome their new princess. When the day came, the whole kingdom lit up in celebration. The streets were decorated, the palace was in full bloom and people came out from all over, sharing their joy with their neighbours. The sun shone brightly, and the sea was calm and glistening in the sunlight.

Trumpets sounded the arrival of the bride, and everyone watched as she walked down the aisle.

His blushing bride, dressed in the finest lace, looked angelic. A crown of wildflowers adorned her head; the finest jewellery decorated her and she moved with the grace of a queen, of which she would be one day. She walked down the aisle, towards her groom who waited with warmth in his eyes, and love in his heart. The prince wore his shining maritime uniform, and he lifted a gloved hand to bring his bride to the altar.

They looked perfect; as if they came straight from a fairytale.

The vows were said and a kissed sealed it. The people cheered, flowers were thrown and music sounded the happiness of the newly wedded couple.

[kopnustorybook]

Fairytale AU : The Captain and The Mermaid Part I

how it began…

I have been a sea Captain for many years, and even before then, my home was always on a ship. Many could only handle a sea life for a few years, they always soon longed for land. I, however, never had that feeling. I have been at sea for so long, I felt it so much part me now. There was nothing the sea could surprise me with. I understood all its movements and motions. I love its calm days that could turn to stormy nights. I love its depth and the secret wonders they kept. While most feared it, I saw the sea as something to behold. That there is more to the world than what the land had to offer.

Though of course, it can be cruel at times, for one morning, as early as the dawn, a message came that the prince's ship had been struck by a storm. My crew and I were sent out to find them. But, when we arrived, we saw no ship. There were only a few survivors, who were badly beaten by the storm and they were nearly half dead.

But there was no sign of the prince.

We headed back and as I looked out onto the shore, I saw the prince washed up on the beach. He was lying on the sand, but he was not alone.

A small figure sat near him; it looked like a woman. She was leaning over the prince; the sunlight shone on silver-white hair. I have never seen hair that colour before, and it looked like it went down long. Long enough to her feet.

Who was she?

Did she pull him from the water?

How did she get to the prince?

No one had heard of the shipwreck until this morning. How did she know?

They were a distance away and the morning sun was distorting my vision. I took out my telescope, only to briefly see the mysterious female figure dive back into the water, as palace guards came upon the beach. I still reached for my telescope and followed her movement. I scoped the shore and the waters near it, but could not see her. The sea waters were still rough from the storm last night, and an experienced swimmer as myself would still find the currents difficult, I wondered how she managed them?

I still looked out, thinking she would resurface, but she completely disappeared.

I thought I knew everything about the sea, but she soon became the mystery I needed to understand.

"Captain."

I came back from my wandering mind.

"Captain, the prince is on the shore. The guards have found him. He's survived!"

I looked back and saw the guards taking the prince back to the palace.

A few days passed and the prince soon recovered. And once he did, he began to speak of a silver-haired girl, with an angelic voice, that saved him from the water. At first many thought he was speaking in delirium, but the prince insisted it was true.

Did the prince really see her too?

I thought it comforting, strangely, to know he had seen what I had seen. And for a while, the thought of the mysterious sea girl was a constant thought in both our minds.

Then one day, I woke early and as I looked from my ship's deck, I saw her again. She was sitting on the sand, just as she did before. Her long pale hair covering her down to her toes. She was on the beach beneath the palace, and the prince strode along the shore and came beside her. He offered her his cloak, she gave him a smile and he carried her back into the palace.

[kopnustorybook]

Fairytale AU : The Evil Queen and The Huntsman 

Apples. She loves apples. Red ones. Red as blood. 

I would pick them on my way back from the forest. And I would happily present a bag full before her.

They all called her an evil queen, but I never saw anything evil in her. I wanted to know her, the real her. The one behind the name, the one behind the crown.

I thought her to be very beautiful, but whenever the king’s daughter came to visit, she felt threatened and turned cold.

She called me before her and ordered me to kill the child.

Taking her deep in the forest, I thought about what I was to do. Though I would never disobey an order from my queen, I would stop breathing if she asked me, I knew this was not right. I let the child go free and returned to the castle.

She accused me of falling in love with the child, just as everyone else had. She cursed at me, saying I lied to her, that I never loved her.

“My queen, I love no one but you. Please understand my mercy in freeing the girl, was for your sake.”

“Lies, lies, all lies. You stand there with your sweet words, fooling me, but you are laughing at me, slandering me just like all the others.”

“My queen please,” I move to stand before her, closer than I ever have been, “I let the child go, to show your heart. To show the kingdom there is more to you. You do not need to be like this, so full of hate. You can be kind, you can be happy…you can have love.”

She looked back at me with startled eyes. It was the same look I would see in the animals I hunted. I raise a hand to cup her face, to let her know I was not going to hurt her. Then to my surprise, she kissed me. It was everything I imagined it to be and more. She was soft, gentle and tasted so sweet.

Must have been all those apples.

[kopnustorybook]

When Spring came to Darkness 

The stories were not true. 

He did not kidnap her.

It was a day as any other, and Hades was making his rounds as usual. 

His kingdom was dark and dreary, as one could imagine.The ground was not smooth or straight, it was rough with sharp stones and gravel. Above, the roof reached far up and looked like the roof of a cave, with stalactites hanging down almost threatening. The flowing River Styx could be heard, which you could consider soothing, especially as it masked the wailing of the souls damned to the Underworld. This was his world, his home of which he knew every corner of. 

Though on this day, he stumbled across something new. 

Coming to a small corner, he noticed a light. Sunlight to be exact. Such a light was unfamiliar to him, as light itself never entered his world. His world was dark, in every sense of the word. But now before him, a dim light was emitting in the corner of his dark word and he became strangely drawn to it. 

He approached carefully, almost cautiously as if the light would harm him. As he came closer, he saw that the light was not coming from above, but from a girl. 

His curiosity deepened and he came to kneel beside her. 

Who was she? 

How did she come to be here? 

He had many questions but they all soon went away, as he was struck by her beauty.

Her skin looked warm and smooth, with flushes of pink on her cheeks. Her eyes were shut and her eyelashes, settled delicately on her cheeks. Her hair was auburn spreading in waves around her. Her body petite, laying in a curve, showing off slender legs and elegant arms. White flowers were growing in speed right there beside her and in her hair. 

It was then that he knew, this was the daughter of the earth, Persephone. 

She must have fallen, he thought for certain, and she must be hurt. 

Gently, so not to harm her, he lifted her in his arms.

And when she did not stir, he turned to take her to his palace.

This is the truth and this is the story.

He did not kidnap her, she came to him.

[kopnustorybook]

The Sun and The Moon 

Have you ever heard the story, of the Sun and the Moon?

That when they were still young, they fell in love with each other, even though they had never seen each other.

The Moon heard the humans speak of the brilliance of the Sun, as it gave warmth and lit up their world.

The Sun listened to the stories of the Moon, of how it illuminated their paths in their darkest hours.

Little by little these two celestial beings began to fall in love, but they still never saw each other.

The Sun made the days longer, to catch a glimpse of the moon, and the Moon made the nights shorter, to take a glance of the sun.

They followed each other but almost always, they missed each other.

Then one glorious day, through all their attempts, they appeared before each other.

Unafraid and unbridled, they embraced each other. 

But what felt like an eternity was only a mere moment, as the sun and moon were torn apart, returning sorrowfully to their own sky.

And this is why, even for the briefest moment, when the sun and moon come together in the sky, the whole world looks on to their eclipse and know true love.