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Glory Bound Books
presents
~ Once Upon A Twisted Tale ~
BOOK ONE
The Pimpled Princess
by
Leah Berry and Cindy Knowlton
~ Storytellers for THE KING! ~
Copyright © 2002
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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CHAPTER EIGHT
~ King Maximilian V ~
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...The PLAN...
The next morning Pashzmeenie gathered together the things that she would need for Step One of her Plan. First... she laid a large yellow silk handkerchief on the end of her bed. She chose yellow because it was Great-Uncle Max's favorite color. Next... she found a pretty little gold box, filled it with birdseed, and placed it on top of the handkerchief.
...A sweet surprise...
Just then, Pashzmeenie's handmaiden - a laughing young girl of 16, with sparkling brown eyes... whose name was Merri - entered the room carrying a silver platter that held a small, intricately woven basket. Pashzmeenie danced with excitement as she waited for Merri to open the basket. Inside were two tiny chocolate birds, each sitting on three marzipan eggs in twin nests of shining, spun sugar. It was the perfect treat for a man who loved birds! Pashzmeenie gently placed the little basket on the handkerchief. She could hardly wait because she knew that Uncle Max would share one with her!
...The mission begins...
One last gift for Uncle Max and she was ready... a small, handbound book with pictures of all of the birds in the kingdom. Carefully she tied the handkerchief around her little treasures and went to see Uncle Max, who lived in his own tower in the castle... complete with private kitchen and receiving rooms.
...The visit...
There he welcomed her with a big hug and she presented him with the yellow handkerchief. He was deeply touched by her little gifts and showed her how to feed the birds... truly a special honor because no one but he was allowed to care for them. As they worked, he told her about the birds, and soon she was asking him questions about his life.
~ This is what she learned ~
The Royal Family of The Famed Hills of Fromage passed on the title to the next in line when they became weary of the responsibility. Long ago... so long ago that it was a whole different century(!)... Great-Uncle Max became King at the age of 23.
Soon it became time for him to marry. His father, the old King, went on a journey through foreign lands to find a suitable bride for him. Some months later a messenger came bearing the news that a match had been approved with Sapphira, the 17 year old daughter of King Reynaldo from the realm of The Cracker Islands in The Caraway Sea. Uncle Max's father envisioned a thriving trade between the two kingdoms... cheese and crackers... a monopoly! Preparations were made for The Royal Wedding and the entire kingdom was polished and decorated until it looked just like a fairy tale.
Finally the big day arrived! Early one frosty fall morning, a glittering silver and glass carriage pulled by eight pairs of matching white horses in silver livery was seen approaching in the distance. Eight mounted Harolds with long silver trumpets preceded the ornate carriage, and following it were other carriages lining the road for as far as the eye could see... carrying wedding guests from across the sea.
~ The Royal Wedding ~
The wedding took place inside a tiny chapel in the forest glade outside of the castle walls. Beautiful six-foot-tall silver candelabra, garlands of fall leaves and flowering asters surrounded the two families as the marriage of their children united them as one.
Guests lined the forest clearing outside of the chapel, exclaiming over the beauty of the bride's gown. White silk edged with silver thread was gathered at the tiny waist and the gown parted down the center to reveal a shimmery silver satin underskirt that gently brushed the tops of her tiny silver fox boots. She carried a matching silver fox muff and a bouquet of the silvery, dusty miller plant. A large white silk hood edged with silver fox hid her face as she passed by.
After the ceremony, she appeared on the arm of her new husband, King Maximilian V. The crowd gasped... for her hood was thrown back and never had they seen a face of such loveliness! Raven black hair framed a pale, heart-shaped face with enormous eyes of sapphire blue.
~ The Reception ~
Tables for The Wedding Feast filled The Great Hall. Exotic dishes were arranged down the center of the table... herbed cheese and sausage stuffed lamb, spiced bear cakes served on great trays of wild rice with aged cheese, deep fired octopus... presented upside-down and filled with a seven cheese spread... with crackers from The Cracker Islands arranged between the tentacles and zucchini flowers nestled in each suction cup, great slabs of wild boar topped with a cheesy olive sauce, and whole roasted ostrich stuffed with an esquisite apple and onion chutney, sprinkled with truffles and black walnut oil... lightly dusted with the finest cheese in the land. It truly was a feast fit for a king!
The cake was so large that it was set up in its own room. At fifteen feet tall, it towered over the crowd; each section had five layers, three different fillings, and was topped with thick frothy whipped cream. Servers stood on giant ladders cutting the cake from top to bottom, as the cook held his breath, praying that the cake wouldn't fall!
There were so many wedding gifts that they filled the great caverns beneath the castle. Guided tours of these treasures from around the world were given throughout the day and into the night.
~ The Honeymoon ~
At last the couple broke away, traveling through the lavender twilight to a mountain lodge. It was a quiet ride, for the groom was tongue-tied by the beauty of his bride. When they arrived, the new bride was escorted inside by her ladies. The groom waited until night had truly fallen, and the lodge was illuminated by the glow of candle light, before leaving the carriage. But... as he approached the door... he overheard something... something so hurtful...
...A story with no end...
Uncle Max couldn't continue, and Pashzmeenie left, feeling very confused. What were the facts? Where was Uncle Max's wife? Why had she never heard of her before? Why was he so sad? What had he overheard? How did the story end?
~ Maybe Grampa Leo knew ~
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~ The Tale Continues ~
CHAPTER NINE
~ King Leopold II ~
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children's stories,
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and educational and homeschool resources for reading!
It's children's literature at its best!
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