Fairytale chosen

by Maya Shepherd

  Medea smiled at Heera gratefully. "You have to say you're my sister."

  "But I also have eyes in my head. All revolve around after you. You did not need to dress up. You are also the most beautiful one over here. "

  " The prince will not even notice me," she sighed sadly. "Everything sparkles and glistens and I'm so insignificant as a gray mouse."

  ""At the latest, if you start to sing, he can no longer ignore you,” Heera spoke to her to encourage.

  At last they reached the end of the line and joined on. The whole courtyard was full of people and the first applicants were already on stage to introduce themselves to the royal family. It would be late in the afternoon until the sisters come to the series. As soon as the prince chooses Medea, she should live in a room in the castle like all others who were chosen. Heera would return alone in the evening about her way back home. To her, it seemed impossible that Medea would not be chosen. But Heera also decided that she would be ignored by him. Although she was wearing a brown dress and the mother had her hair braided into a braid, she was still not pleasing to the eyes of anyone, the prince would not even be turning to look at her. She was the gray mouse! When she managed to keep her mouth shut, no one would ever remember she had been here. Already, the townsfolk did not know who she was, even though she had already been with many of them driving trade. Everyone knew her in the pants of her Father, and with a cap pulled down over her face. A girl was not expected in this dress. Presumably, she was considered as a friend of the pretty Medea and not for their well-known fearless sister.

  A woman in flaming red dress walked onto the stage. The corset was so closely tied together that she could hardly get air. Despite the great distance Heera clearly saw that the lady had far exceeded the marriageable age. On her head she wore a wig in brilliant white. Prince Lean followed every step, without batting an eye. The woman answered the questions of the Queen, before she started to sing an aria. It was horrible. Her voice was loud, but shrill. She did hurt their ears. But the prince seemed very happy. Heera realized that he made fun of the candidate, but in a very subtle way. The lady took his laughter presumably as jubilation, more disappointed she was when the Queen sent her back from the stage. she was downright angry and tore the wig from her head, which they then threw it on the prince's face. Immediately guards came running and arrested the woman. She yelled and kicked around. But Prince Lean gave her no attention, but called for the next candidate on the stage.

  Lean had his head placed on his hand, which probably did not looked plush. He had stopped counting and completely lost track of which number candidate stood on stage. So far he had not decided on a girl. Niobe looked at him again and again for punishing the best candidates from the stage, when he let go without a word. But for him they were all equal. Of course, his bride should be beautiful, but he would have to spend his life with her. When she was only beautiful, what would he talk to her? He waited for at least one to stood out from the crowd. Perhaps by an unusual hobby or a funny story. He had seen enough girls who embroider, dance or could sing. How about one that admitted to fish or who spoke the language of animals? Something out of the ordinary.

  Amphion tapped him on the shoulder. "You look like you would just fall asleep. Should I cast a spell on you, which makes you sleep, even though your eyes are open? "

  The offer was tempting, but Lean still shook his head, grinning. "My mother would then at the latest notice, if I start to snore," he replied, amused.

  "Why do not you choose from at least one? There are so many pretty girls there. To me it would be rather difficult just twelve to choose instead of a hundred. "

  Amphion as a wizard was in a difficult position with women. In addition, he was of slender figure and his brown hair was standing on all sides of his head. The women liked to use his tricks, but also distrusted him. His close friendship to the Prince did not make it get better. The girls tried again and again to put it to use , in order to be closer to the prince. Amphion was fortunately smart enough to see through it.

  "I have to watch every day even for a week, the hordes of girls. If I choose all of them now, I might have no space left for a really interesting candidate "Lean tried to explain to his friend. He did not miss the warning look from his mother to stop immediately. But Lean ignored it.

  "What would a girl need to have, so that you would find her interesting?"

  “She just had to be different

  "A lot of girls were different. Many had a big nose, big ears and another one even had six fingers, " Amphion whispered in amusement.

  " Why don't we switch places and you make the choice for me?"

  "You have to live later with the woman, not me," he replied. "But I could enchant you. Turn your inside out. "

  " It was too early. I can hardly wait for the tests. It will be a pleasure to watch, as the flight takes one after the other "

  "One would think you were going to end up empty-handed."

  Lean was about to say something, but his mother's hand rested firmly on his arm. "Lean, do not you think that Daphne would be an excellent choice?" She said loudly, pointing at the girl who stood on the stage in front of him. He had previously taken no notice of her. She had long blond hair that lay in curls over her shoulders. A pretty face and a good figure. Her dress was in radiant silver that the colour of her eyes was reflected.

  "I would choose" Amphion agreed with the Queen. But Lean saw nothing in her that would differentiate her from the the other candidates. He wanted to reject her already, but the eyes of his mother said volumes. Should he dare to send this girl from the stage, it would have consequences on him.

  He sighed and pulled a twenty white roses from the vase next to her. Then he rose and gave the girl a flower.

  "Daphne, my choice falls on you. Take this rose as a sign of my appreciation. "

  The girl gave him a radiant smile, while the people broke out into a loud cheer. Amphion rained white rose petals from the sky. Daphne took the flower and humbly bowed his head.

  "It is my great honour, my prince," she purred. Ladies hurried and led them from the stage in the direction of the castle. You would refer the first room in the castle. Already, she became the people’s favourite because she was the first who had chosen the prince. Although not entirely voluntary.

  Lean leaned toward his mother. "Will not you take the rest of the decisions for me?" He hissed angrily.

  "Do you trust me so much, my son, that you let me choose your future wife?"

  " I don't see the forest for the trees anymore," he sighed. "For me, these girls are all the same. I'm sure you'll get the best of them whom you might have seen already. "

  Niobe saw him disappointed and annoyed at the same time. "Well, then take your leave. But I expect you tomorrow back to life again next to me on the throne. Do you understand me? "

  Lean could not believe how generous he was with him. But probably the Prince would not prefer to fall asleep in front of all eyes present there. He got up in a hurry to say goodbye to the people.

  "Dear citizens of Chóraleio, important commitments call me back to the castle. But the choice is so far from over. My dear father and my beloved mother will choose for me during my absence. I trust them more than myself, and am convinced that they will make the right decisions. "

  He discovered between people a few disappointed faces, yet they applauded him. He raised his arm and waved one last time and then went to the edge of the stage to the stairs to go down. But suddenly something hit him on the ear. A hard bang and something wet dripping down from his skin. He looked stunned to the ground and discovered a rotten tomato. Incredulous, he patted his face, wiping the juice from the ear. Horrified, he looked up. There was unrest erupted and the crowd parted. Guards thronged by the people through and pulled a girl out on both arms. She screamed and kicked around. King Egeas had got up and and hurried beside his son. The guards forced the girl in front of him on her knees.

  "Did you attack my son, the prince and your future king?"
He asked in a loud, menacing voice.

  The girl boldly stretched to meet him head. "Attacked?!", she mocked the king. "I threw a rotten tomato. Of this no one has died! "

  Lean looked at her fascinated. He had never seen anyone who dared to speak to the king. The girl was wild and ferocious. Her brown hair pulled away from her ponytail and was thrown together from head head. The dress which she worn was of brown wool and a sleeve was torn, as she had fought against the guards.

  "Girl, you do not know who you're talking about?" The king shouted at it furiously. But Lean raised his hand to silence him. The girl squirmed now. "Why did you throw the tomato at me?"

  she glared at him defiantly with her green eyes. "My sister has come a long way to present to you today. The whole day she was standing on her legs and her stomach growled with hunger. When you got up to toss your lazy butt from your throne that anger in me has burst. "

  All the people fell silent, the king was red with rage and Lean could not turn away from this sassy and boorish person's eyes. She was far from finished. "My sister is the most beautiful girl of the entire Kingdom and she deserves that man we, because of all the hardships she has taken, at least look at her”

  Lean looked behind the assassin and discovered another girl. She remained concerned with hands over her mouth while her cheeks glowed with charm.

  "Are you her sister?" asked lean directly, and she nodded shyly.

  "Come closer," he asked it. The girl obeyed immediately. Her step was elegant and refined. His attitude straight. The blue dress clung to her slim body and her skin was like a porcelain doll. She had big, blue eyes and long black hair.

  "What's your name?" Lean asked the girl.

  "Medea", she answered shyly. "Please forgive my sister her rude behavior. She is not evil. It is her temperament, which has gone through with it. "

  The nurse gave a condescending snort. Your did not seem sorry.

  "Medea, you now have the chance to introduce yourself to me. Kick please on the stage, so that everyone can see you. "

  Lean saw how shockingly her facial features have hardened, but she kept the attitude. He offered her his hand and helped her climb up the stairs. Her skin was cool, but soft. The people cheered her on and some even called her name, apparently she was already known in the city.

  "Is there something you're specially good at?", now Niobe also asked with interest.

  Medea lowered the head shy. "I am ashamed too much to produce a sound," whispered trembling. At that moment her sister broke away from the guards and she herself came running on to the stage. Lean commanded his men to stop with a simple gesture.

  The sister took Medea's hand and forced her to look into his eyes.

  “Nightingale, sing for me! ", she asked soothingly and amazingly empathetic. In Medeas eyes were tears of rage.

  "Everyone knows that you can sing, only the prince does not know it!", addressing Lean and that gave her a feeling that she has missed something.

  Medea took a deep breath and the first delicate tone that left her lips, was shaky and weak, but she was under the demanding eyes of her sisterEvery additional tone became firmer and louder. She had a beautiful voice, not too high and not too low. Soft and full of feeling. While Lean watched her, he did not feel like listening to a single song, but a story. The people were quiet and focused completely on her clear vocals. They managed to move people, even lean. In fact, he had not thought that it would be possible, for a singer to impress him. She was the best by far.

  When it ended, the people burst into applause and cheers, which was far louder than the opening of the audition. Medea stole not only all previous applicants of the show, but also the entire royal family. She bowed politely to her audience and rewarded them with a gentle smile. Lean did not hesitate to give her the white rose. This decision, he made it alone.

  As Medea accepted the flower, she looked him in the eye. He felt her close without even knowing anything about it. She held his hand. "Please, my sister does not do anything!" She asked urgently.

  "She will not be harmed, I promise you!" He assured her and looked after her when the ladies of the court led her from the stage.

  Her sister was still standing on the stage and watched her happily. When she saw the look of the prince, an apologetic expression laid on her face. "Thanks," she said quietly, biting her lower lip.

  "What is your name? ", asked lean as the cheers died away and the attention was back on stage.

  "Heera", answered the girl.

  Lean smiled with satisfaction. He liked this cheeky person who is now quiet, almost ashamed to before him. "Did you accompany your sister alone or are you here for me to apply for me?"

  Her head shot up in horror. This she did not seem to expect. "I want to apply," she muttered embarrassed. From the people came some laughs.

  Niobe shook his head in warning. He already knew what Lean had wanted, but this was his choice. "What you can do, Heera?"

  The audience broke into loud laughter. The Heera got pumped up, and angry she turned to them. "I can hunt! ", she cried out loud. "I can kill a pig!" she made a pause. "And I can drink more beer than the half of the men present here."

  Niobe lifted up his hands before his face embarrassed, while Egeas began to laugh softly. Heera turned defiantly challenging the prince, "I drink like loose under the table!", She claimed. Her courage had returned and she was again just as cocky as ever.

  Lean handed her a white rose. “I’d like to see that!"

  Heera stared at the flower between them. Her hand was a clenched a fist. For a moment Lean believed that she would give him a rebuff, but eventually her fingers closed quickly around the green stem. They snatched the Rose formally from his hands. Without looking at him or to thank, she let him lead the stage. It came before Lean almost as if he had punished them but instead he made it their joy.

  A wish you have is free, but choose wisely,

  Since the heart longs for,

  What you can't buy with gold.

  5

  After Prince Lean had decided the twelve girls at the end of the week, he called all of them to be in the ballroom of the castle. The selected ones marvelled at the ornate ceiling, the noble floors and the magnificent walls. You could hardly get enough of all the richness and beauty. But as they entered the Great Hall and faced the royal family, including their entourage, they felt all lost. This was a strange world to which so far none of them had access. Even the girl, whose parents had spent all their money on expensive clothes, looked pale and colourless against the sparkling sheen of chandeliers. The prince was waiting for them. He stood in a purple coat before the throne and reviewed its selection.

  Like cattle on the market, Heera thought angrily. She was equally fascinated by the splendour as everyone else, but unlike them she wished not to spend the rest of her life here. Even this one week was bad enough for her. She lacked nothing, but she was worried about her parents and younger sister. How should her old father cope up with the work on the farm alone? Elena and her mother would be no help to him. If she can leave them at least send a letter! Surely they would knew what had happened and would be glad for their two daughters. Since ss both Medea and Heera were chosen meant hope for a better life for their parents. Under this confidence, they could be sleep even better with empty stomachs.

  " I am happy to see that all of you have come," Lean welcomed the candidates. "Some of you have taken a long journey to get to know me." His gaze slid for a brief moment to Heera and her sister. Medea was blushing and embarrassed and cast down her eyes. Heera however, saw him straight in the eye, without moving even a muscle. She had promised her mother, her father and her sister to make an effort and to give the best. She wanted to keep this promise, but Lean had been unsympathetic from the outset. But his position suggested that he considered himself to be something better. In Heera’s eyes he was a spoiled young man who had no idea what hard work meant.

  "To my appreciation to be followed by action, I want to give each chos
en one something. No matter what you desire, I will fulfil it. My gift is yours, no matter what may happen. Even if I were to decide against you, you shall keep it. But choose wisely, for you have only one wish. Let's talk your heart! "

  The girls began to whisper excitedly. It was a unique opportunity and it was to knock out the best, without being rude. Daphne came first, before the prince. She wore her blond, curly hair in an sophisticated looking updo that emphasized her long swan neck. Her head was raised and her nose stretched towards the ceiling. In Gege APPROACH to the other, they did not seem scared, but challenging. She gave Lean a provocative smile.

  "I wish for pearls as white as my teeth are."

  Queen Niobe smiled at her words.

  "Your wish will come true," replied Lean monotonous. Daphne bowed with a beaming smile that showed off her snow-white teeth. Agnes came forward after her. She was of great stature. Her long, black hair fell like a curtain on the back and ended only slightly below her butt.

  "I want a dress made of pure silk, that shines like my hair." Then she buckled a lock of hair over the shoulder and the light of the chandelier was reflected in the dark mane of hair.

  "Also, your wish will come true."

  The following candidates wished clothes, shoes, gems and jewellery. No request fell twice. As only a few chosen ones were left, Heera gave her sister a gentle nudge, so that they stumbled to the throne. Furious, she threw Heera a glance over her shoulder, before she smiled at the prince shy. Wish you something reasonable, Heera prayed silently. No jewellery!

  "What do you want from me, Medea?" asked Lean, where the gentle tone of voice from Heera did not escape. Also he seemed to pay more attention to her sister clearly than the previous girls. He had not called anyone by name earlier.

  Medea blushed and looked embarrassed aside. "I would like a tame lark, with which I can sing a duet," she said, looking at the prince dreamily. There was no jewellery, but also nothing Heera would have expected. The request was unusual. The other girls were whispering spiteful about Medea, but she smiled at Lean.