Aishabella
Chapter 3
“Is she going to kill Prince Papillion?” Mariposa asks, finishing the last of her pear and discarding it in the soil beside the tree.
“I don’t know, is she?” I repeat the question back at her.
Mariposa frowns. “I thought you knew what was going to happen next.”
“I do, but I’m not going to spoil the story now, am I?” I reply. “Not when it’s getting to the best part.”
Mariposa yawns, resting her head on my knee and blinking up at me. “But Mama, what’s going to happen?”
I stroke Mariposa’s silky black hair and start a small braid. “Well, let’s go back to the story and find out.”
Prince Papillion returned Mariposa to her small cottage near the stable, and in the moon-washed ambience, the Prince steered the stallion away, leaving Mariposa standing there with a tiny flutter in her heart.
There was a wistful magic in the air, and as Mariposa crawled into bed, she could almost hear the Prince whisper her name like an incantation, as soft as the wind that flew through the window and swirled around her bedroom.
“Mariposa.”
The Prince returned Moonstone to the stables, leading the horse into its stall, but lingering a moment longer to stroke its pale mane, thinking wistfully of Mariposa. “I am in love with a stable girl,” he told his horse, and Moonstone neighed in reply. “I know, it’s ridiculous, but my heart belongs with her, and I see her face every time I close my eyes. What can I do?”
Prince Papillion waited for a response, but then remembered who he was speaking to, and laughed to himself. “Of course, you cannot understand, for you are merely a beast, who will never understand the power of love.”
The Prince walked back to the castle, chanting Mariposa’s name beneath his breath, and was caught sneaking back in by the King.
“What in the heavens were you doing out in the midnight?” the King demanded, then noticed his son’s eyes sparkling with what he recognised as love, and his tone softened. “Who is the girl?”
Without thinking, the Prince foolishly answered truthfully. “The stable girl, Mariposa.”
The King lost his temper. “You were with a stable girl?! That is unacceptable, young man. Such royalty as yourself should not go off with a filthy peasant.”
“But I am in love, Father!” the Prince protested. “Surely that must count for something?”
The King shook his head briskly. “No. From here on, I forbid you to leave the castle. You must stay inside and work on your studies.”
“You can’t do that!” Prince Papillion exclaimed.
“Just watch me.” The King stared his son down before glancing away, and ordering him to go to bed. With a heavy heart, and a drooping head, the Prince reluctantly obeyed, and dreamed of his sweet stable girl, Mariposa, calling to him in the night.
The next morning, Mariposa was certain the events of last night were all just traces of a wild dream, and she rose early for work as usual, fetching water from the well and fresh barley to feed the horses. But as she filled Moonstone’s water trough, the graceful white beast nuzzled her hair and grunted in a somewhat affectionate manner, surprising Mariposa entirely so that she spilled some of the water onto the floor.
“Oh!”
Suddenly, Mariposa remembered riding upon Moonstone’s back, with her arms looped around Prince Papillion’s waist, the stars glittering in the vast navy sky as the wind blew her hair back like black banners. And as she stared into Moonstone’s dewy black eyes, she realised that the horse must recognise her, and perhaps even like her because of the Prince.
With a hesitant hand, Mariposa reached out and patted the side of Moonstone’s face. She had never grown attached to any of the horses, but there was a nice, unfolding feeling within her of peace and tranquillity as she stroked Moonstone.
Keith caught her in the moment and barked, “Get back to work or I’ll kick you out onto the streets!”
Mariposa nodded rapidly, hurrying back to the well to refill the bucket of water. As she pulled up the bucket, she felt a chilly sensation on the back of her neck, and turned to find the Silver Sorceress standing behind her, waiting silently like an ice sculpture with a presence. A deathly cold presence that spread goose bumps across your skin like a plague.
“Well, hello, my dear,” the Silver Sorceress spoke in an unnaturally kind tone, imitating the voice of her sister, the Gold Sorceress. But in her crystal blue eyes, you could see she didn’t mean well.
Mariposa eyed the Sorceress suspiciously. “What do you want?”
The Silver Sorceress’ icy smile flickered. “That’s not very polite. I said hello so I expect a greeting in return.”
Mariposa scowled. “How’s this for a greeting – Goodbye.” She spun on her heel and began to walk away.
In a swift cold wind, the Silver Sorceress appeared before her. The smile had disappeared and was replaced by a glowering look.
“Listen, Mariposa. I saw you with the Prince last night, galloping in the woods. You should know better than to go off with a man of high class and royalty, considering that you are equivalent to the animals you tend to, and you look as if you roll about in their droppings as well!”
The Silver Sorceress gives an evil cackle, and Mariposa took a tiny step backward, eager to get back to work rather than listen to this evil woman. But the Silver Sorceress sensed this and suddenly came closer, digging her nails into Mariposa’s arm and yanking her dark hair.
“You better stay away from Prince Papillion, or I’ll make you wish you were never born. And if I see you flirting about with him again, I will turn you into a worm, though there wouldn’t be much difference, would there?” The Sorceress laughed maliciously.
Finally, she let go, and Mariposa rubbed her arm, which was now scarred with deep red crescents, and glared at the Sorceress through unshed tears. She was afraid to speak for her voice would betray her by trembling and wobbling.
“You’ve been warned, Mariposa. And the Silver Sorceress never forgets her warnings.” And with that she disappeared in a gust of ice particles that twinkled silver in the morning sunlight, leaving a frightened Mariposa in her wake.