Once Upon A Dream

Princess Phillipa, or Pip as she preferred to be called by her father, King Hubert, was a skilled rider and a gifted swordswoman. When she had been born, her father, it was true, had been hopeful for a boy; a son to take riding and hunting and teach to joust and shoot a bow and used a sword; but when she had been born, he had fallen for his daughter at first sight and decreed that she would be equal to any man in life. Thus, she had been trained as if she were a boy; she had been brought up alongside stable boys and boy archers and swordsmen and blacksmiths lads and now she was a feisty twenty year old woman, as strong and skilled in combat as any man.

But there was one problem; her impending marriage to Prince Roar. Pip sighed to herself as she rode onwards through the forest on her faithful grey and black horse, Sampson. He had been her tenth birthday present from her father, when she had learned to ride properly, and the bond between horse and mistress was unbreakable. She had been betrothed to Prince Roar ever since his birth; she was a month or so older than he was, but who was counting? She hated the fact that this part of her life had been dictated for her; that she may never marry for love, but only duty. Clicking her fingers, she steered Sampson over the river and across the plain. She had a recurring dream in which she met a handsome young man who would sweep her up in a dance and woo her with words of romantic nonsense which she would laugh at and tease him for having said and then they would hold one another close, but she always woke up before she could dream herself kissing him.

Unknown to Pip, however, Prince Roar had been cursed by the faerie lord Malefic to prick his finger on a spindle and fall into a hundred years sleep come his twentieth birthday. In order to prevent the curse from coming true, his parents had given him to three good faeries, Flora, Fauna and Merryweather, to be raised until his twentieth birthday when he could return to the castle. The faeries had raised him to believe that they were peasants and that he was their nephew, Briar; and he had grown into a fine young man under their influence. But, of course, at the time, Pip didn't know that. All she knew was that unless she could find her real true love before her marriage to Roar, then she would certainly live a miserable existance.

Just then, she heard a sound. At first, she thought it was just birdsong, and then she realised that it was, in fact, a human singing; a man. Soft and low it was, melodious and she felt hypnotised by it.
"Whoa, boy," she murmured, rearing in Sampson. "Listen to that."
Sampson tossed his head, snorted and attempted to move on, but Pip was captivated by the voice. "Come on," she said, tugging on his reins. "Let's follow it." Sampson shook his head. "Oh, I see," Pip teased, "so if I offered you a bag of oats, you wouldn't change your mind?" Sampson pricked his ears up. "And maybe some sugarlumps?" Sampson tossed his head, considering. "And maybe a few...carrots?" At that, Sampson stamped his feet eagerly. "Come on, then, boy!" Pip cried, draggig him in the direction of the sound.

Immedietly Sampson began to gallop faster, over hill, over brake, over briar, but as he leapt over a pool of water, Pip felt herself hit a tree branch and shoot backwards off her mount. "O-oh!" she exclaimed as she landed straight in the pool, soaked to the skin. Sampson, guiltily, reached forwards to remove her hunting cap with his teeth. Annoyed, Pip splashed him with the heel of her hand. "That's it," she scolded him. "NO carrots!"

"I know you, I walked with you once upon a dream..." Briar sang, imagining that he was dancing with the beautiful lady of his dreams. "I know you, the gleam in your eyes is so familiar a gleam..."

Pip, on foot, not trusting Sampson not to accidently throw her again, led her horse in the direction of the captivating voice.

"And I know it's true that visions are seldom all they seem..." Briar bowed to his imaginary lady and pretended to lead her into the dance. "But if I know you, I know what you'll do..."

Pip pushed back the criss-cross branches of the trees and held her breath as she stared at the handome young peasant before her.

"You'll love me at once, the way you did once upon a dream..." Briar hummed to himself, still dancing, with only the forest animals as his audience, or so he thought. Tentaively, Pip removed her cloak and stepped into the clearing behind him.

"But if I know you, I know what you'll so; you'll love me at once..."

"The way you did once upon a dream," Pip finished with her own melodious soprano voice.

Briar jumped and spun around at once with a yelp of "OH!" He stared at the young and very beautiful woman before him. "I'm sorry," Pip said, stepping towards him. "I didn't mean to scare you."

"Oh, it's not that," Briar stammered, still looking her up and down. "It's just that you're, well, a...a..."

"A stranger?"

"Yes. Sorry; my aunts are very overprotective of who I talk to."

"But we've met before," she smiled.

"We have?"

"You just said so yourself; once upon a dream."

He smiled for the first time. "I did, didn't I?" He stepped up to her so they were within touching distance. "My name's Briar."

"I'm Pip."

Automatically, he held out a hand and automatically she placed hers in it. His hands were so soft; he couldn't have done a day's work in his life. She slid her other hand up to his shoulder, feeling herself blush. Dancing was the last thing she was any good at. Briar placed his other hand on her waist and together they moved, like two rivers dancing and flowing into the sea as one. With each movement, she felt her heart beat faster. They danced until they were dizzy and then they walked together. "So," Pip said, breaking the silence, "when you're not sweeping strange ladies off their feet in the middle of the forest, what do you do?"

"Besides gathering fruit for my aunts, you mean?" Briar smiled. "Not a lot. I'm not let go where I like. Everything's so boring here."

"Can you hunt?"

"I've never tried."

"Can you joust?"

"Not that I know of."

"Oh, you must be able to ride, surely?"

"I can safely say I have never been on a horse in my life."

"What sort of man are you?" she cried, incredulously. Pip had never before met a man in her life who couldn't hunt, joust or ride. "What do you do for fun, then?"

"I read a lot."

She softened then. She could always appreciate a man who was well read. "Which books?"

"Adventures, mostly. The Journey to Avalon's Gate; The Green Man; Caliburn and the Berry Queen; The Golden Bird; Jasper Red and the Magic Sword; The Enchanted Forest of Noll; The World is Too Much with Us; Applegarth; The Magician of Lore; Lock and Lucrezia; oh, and a few romances; True Beauty; Rain and Fire; Mab's Eyes." He smiled at her. "Is that enough to satisfy you, my lady?"

She tossed her head, feigning indifference. "It's a start! But being unable to ride; that is truly unacceptable!" She whistled and Sampson came trotting up to them. "Come on!"

"What?"

"I want you to mount my horse. You needn't be afraid," she added. "Sampson wouldn't throw you or hurt you in any way; he's perfectly tame."

Frightened of embarassing himself, Briar pulled himself up into the saddle, awkwardly and Pip did her best not to laugh at him. He took the reins. "Now what?"

"Now, you ride!" And with that, Pip slapped Sampson's rear with the palm of her hand. Sampson charged forwards at once. "Whoa!" Briar yelped, clinging on for dear life as the horse dragged him through miles and miles of grassland at an unimaginable speed. And then, without warning, the horse stopped dead and sat down. Briar slipped back off the saddle and landed on his back.

"Briar?" Pip came running up to him and knelt by his side. "Are you alright?" She smiled. "I'm sorry; I've just never met a man who can't ride before."

Briar looked up at her. She was so unbelievably beautiful. He returned her smile. "Well, I think I can safely say that I have never met a woman quite like you either, Pip."

She loved the way he said her name, so softly. He sat up and she realised this was it, the moment of her dreams. Sh closed her eyes, awaiting his kiss...

But Briar sprang to his feet. "I've got to go!"

Her eyes flew open. "What?"

"I'm sorry; but I really must get back!"

"Well, wait!" She sprang to her feet. "When will I see you again?"

"Never."

"Never?"

"Well, maybe someday."

"But when? Tomorrow?"

That seemed too far away. "No, tonight. Come to the cottage in the glen."

"Father!" Pip sprang lightly from Sampson's back as she entered her father's courtyard. "Father!"

"Pip!" He exclaimed upon seeing her. "Hurry, girl, hurry, and change in something suitable. Can't meet your future husband looking like that!"

"Oh, but I HAVE met him, Father!"

"You have? Where?"

"Once upon a dream, of course!" Pip sighed, before dancing her father around the courtyard. "I know you, I walked with you once upon a dream..." she sang.

"Put me down, child!" Hubert demanded. "Now, what's all this dream nonsense, Pip, hm? I thought I brought you up better than that."

"It wasn't a dream, Father; I really did meet him."

"Prince Roar? Why, this is excellent news!"

"I didn't say it was Roar, Father," Pip cried, catching his arm. "I just said that I'd met the man I intend to marry. I don't know who he was; a peasant boy of some kind..."

"A peasant boy?" Hubert exclaimed. "No, no; I will not allow it! I am your father and I command you to come to your senses..."

"And marry the man I love!"

"Exactly!"

"I knew you'd understand!" Pip beamed, leaping upon Sampson's back. "Goodbye, Father!"

"Pip! You come back here right no, you disobedient princess, you! Phillipa! Pip!"

But Pip barely heard him as she rode back to the cottage in the glen. However, unknown to her, Briar had already gone. Flora, Fauna and Merryweather had already told him the truth of his heritage and taken him back to his castle. But someone else was waiting for her. Malefic and his minions were lying in wait to catch her; for Malefic knew that Prince Roar's curse could be broken by the power of True Love's Kiss, and he wasn't prepared to take any chances to let that happen. As Pip stepped into the room, the minions leapt upon her and bound her arms to her sides. She couldn't reach her sword; she tried to scream out but she was gagged before she could do so. Light fell upon her face and she stared up at Malefic as he sneered down at her.

"Well, this is a pleasant surprise. I set my trap for a peasant, and lo! I catch a princess!" He laughed. "Away with her. But gently, my pets, gently, I have plans for our royal guest!"

"Why are you doing this?" Pip asked when she was eventually able to speak; and when she was also chained up in Malefic's dungeon.

"Oh come now, Prince Pip," Malefic said, feigning friendliness. "Why so melancholy? A wondrous future lies before you. You, the destined heroine of a charming fairy tale come true."

"What are you talking about?" Pip asked.

"Behold, King Stefan's castle, and in yonder topmost tower, dreaming of his true love, the Prince Roar. But see the gracious whim of fate. Why, 'tis the self same peasant lad, who won the heart of our noble princess but this day. He is indeed most wondrous fair. Gold of sunshine in her hair, eyes like two blue pools. In ageless sleep he finds repose. The years roll by, but a hundred years to a steadfast heart are 'bout a day. And now, the gates of the dungeon part, and the princess is free to go her way. Off she rides on her noble steed; a valiant figure, straight and tall, to wake her love with love's first kiss, and prove that true love conquers all." His voice dripped heavily with sarcasm and now he laughed, evily. Pip took a moment to register what he had said and then sprang to her feet. "Briar? He is Prince Roar?"

"Exactly! Sadly, it will be a long, long time before you can ever lay eyes on him again!" Cackling, Malefic left the room. Pip groaned and slumped back down in her seat. What was the point of being able to ride or fight now if she couldn't get out of this place?

But, luckily, Flora, Fauna and Merryweather were on hand to help. They quickly zapped Pip out of her shackles and handed her a Sword of Truth and a Shield of Virtue, both of which, they said she would need on her quest. Together, the four of them snuck from the castle, but Malefic was hot on their trail. Changing himself into a dragon, he chased after them. Even Sampson, could not outrun him. It was time to turn and fight. Pip leapt from her horse's back and turned, weilding sword and shield. The shield protected her from the dragon's flames, but how on earth was she to get close enough to use the sword? And then, she remembered something her father had always taught her.

"A sword can be held or it can be thrown; but it is effective either way, Pip."

With thoughts of Briar slash Roar filling her head, Pip flung the sword towards the dragon's heart. It met it's mark and the dragon felt to dust upon the ground. Pip leapt back upon Sampson and rode onwards until she reached the castle. There, she hurried inside, guided by the faeries all the way up to Roar's tower where he lay asleep, still as a stautue and still so handsome upon the bed. Pip smiled as she sank down beside him. Even if she hadn't loved him before, she knew that she would have kissed him in those few seconds, for who would be able to resist him? Brushing her hair back out of her eyes, she leaned down and pressed her lips down against his.

Briar blinked at her and then smiled. "Pip? I should have known you'd come."

"Why?" she teased. "Did you see it in a dream?"

His response was to sit up, pull her into his arms and kiss her back; and Pip melted into his kiss, knowing it was indeed true love.

They had a forest wedding, with music and laughter. Of course, Flora, Fauna and Merryweather were invited; and everyone watched and cheered as the newly wed Prince Roar and Princess Pip danced until they were dizzy, singing together in joyous reunion.

"But if I know you, I know what you'll do
You'll love me at once
The way you did once upon a dream!"

The End

Picture by xavierhaven