Week 13 Story: By the Riverbank

 Week 13 

(Source: Princess Elizabeth)

There once was this beautiful princess named Elizabeth who lived in a huge castle next to the river. She would spend most of her days sitting by her window watching the water flow. She was forbidden to go out there by orders of the king saying it was too dangerous. One day she saw a man who looked rather lost sitting by the riverbank. She quickly ran down the stairs and met with him from the other side. 

Once she got closer she shouted, "Excuse me sir! What are you doing out here all by yourself?" 

Elizabeth didn't realize he was the prince who was suppose to meet her sister, Anastasia, later that day. 

He responded, "I'm so sorry I went for a ride by myself to clear my head and I got lost. I have to figure out a way to get to the castle actually." 

She stumbled backwards realizing who he was. She quickly gave him directions on how to cross the river and ran back up to her room in hopes no one realized she had slipped away. Her sister suddenly burst into her room overwhelmed with this prince she would meet soon. The princess had little to say to her sister as she fancied the prince but knew he wasn't for her. As the prince arrived at the castle the king ordered his daughters to come down. Elizabeth hid behind her sister in hopes the prince wouldn't notice her. Once he laid eyes on her he saw she was even more beautiful in person. He had to hide these feelings because the arrangement was for him to marry the eldest daughter. 

Anastasia said, "What is your name and how do you do?" 

He responded, "My name is Henry and it is lovely to meet you all. I am doing quite well thank you. I almost didn't make it here if it weren't for your sister." 

Anastasia whipped back at her sister and gave her the ugliest snarl. She knew Elizabeth was beautiful and didn't want her to take prince Henry away from her. After all, she believed it was love at first sight. There was to be a ball later that night and Elizabeth and Anastasia were to wear their most beautiful gowns. While getting ready Elizabeth received a letter. It read, 

"Meet me by the riverbank at the spot you gaze upon from your window. 

                                - Yours truly, H." 

She figured the H meant Henry. Elizabeth knew this was risky but she couldn't help herself. She wanted to tell Henry how she felt about him. She went out to the river as was met by her sister. 

Confused, she said "W-what are you doing here?" 

Anastasia responded, "He is mine and I will do everything in my power to keep it that way. You thought he wrote that letter? You're wrong, I did!" 

She then pushed her sister into the water and watched her float down the river. Elizabeth was saved by a farmer who lived off the riverbank100 yards down. Her beautiful dress had been torn to pieces and left muddy. The farmer had no idea he was in the presence of the kings daughter. He cared for her for months until she built up enough strength to help out around the farm. One day he was asked to bring his best pig to the castle for it would be cooked and served at Anastasia and Henry's wedding. Elizabeth was unaware of where they were going. She thought she was miles and miles away from home and would never return. When they made their way up to the castle she wore a cloak so no one would recognized her. The farmer brought his best pig and after it was chosen he and his family were invited to the wedding. At the wedding ceremony Elizabeth walked in. She was wearing a simple dress but she made it look more beautiful than ever. She walked up to her sister and in disbelief her sister gasped. She said, "I thought you were dead." 

Everyone was puzzled as to why the sister thought that since everyone thought she was just missing. Elizabeth quickly said back, "Why? You pushing me into the river didn't kill me like you hoped it would? Thanks to this farmer and his family I am still alive. If it weren't for them, you would've killed me!"

 Prince Henry and the king were in disbelief. They banished Anastasia from the kingdom for her horrible actions. Princess Elizabeth ended up marrying prince Henry and they lived happily ever after.  

The End. 

Author's Note: 

This story was based off a story from "English Fairy Tales" by Joseph Jacobs in 1890. The story was "Binnorie" and it followed to princesses where one killed the other by throwing her into a river. She did this because she felt her sister was getting in between her love for Sir William. In the original story she princess ends up dying by drowning but is found by a harper. He makes her bones out of a harp that he plays during a ceremony at the castle. During that it is revealed the one princess killed her own sister. My story had some similarities because I also used the idea of two sisters fighting for one love and the eldest trying to kill the other. I also used the river as an element. I did want to change up the idea of the princess surviving and getting revenge in person with a much happier ending.