Read Online Sleeping Beauty, the One Who Took the Really Long Nap by Wendy Mass - Free Book Online Page A

water bubbled happily from the mermaid’s mouth.
    The falconer saw me from the aviary and came down from his tower. “What will your mother say when she gets back?” he asked.
    â€œI do not care,” I replied.
    He smiled. “You are planning on getting rid of it before she gets back, right? And you’re going to throw some dust back over everything inside?”
    â€œYes,” I admitted. The falconer knew me well.
    The next day the bugle blew, announcing the arrival of the townspeople. In all, about twelve men and women showed up. The kitchen staff had set up the tables in the Great Hall, and the room looked nicer than I ever remembered seeing it. The silver serving trays gleamed and the chandelier glittered with light. Most of the guests had never been in the castle before, and I could tell by their twitchiness that they were nervous. Once they were all seated, I stood and said, “Welcome, everyone. Please relax and have some warm tea and cakes.” I waited until they were sipping on their tea before adding, “I am hoping you can help answer a question for me.”
    They whispered amongst themselves at this, then gave me their attention.
    I did not want to ask about the old castle directly, so I decided on a roundabout route. “I need to know everything you have heard about my castle,” I said. “The history of it, how long it has been here, who built it, anything at all.”
    This elicited many more whispers, but no one offered up any information. I waited patiently. Finally, one old woman stood up, holding tight to the arm of her chair for support. She was the oldest in attendance, at least eighty.
    â€œMy grandmother told me that when she was a girl, the castle was farther away from the town than it is right now. The ground where this castle rests used to be a field. Knights and squires practiced jousting here. She said one day, soon after my own mother was born, the castle suddenly moved to this field. Gardens, stables, moat, the whole thing. Just got up and moved all at once! I never believed her tale, of course, for everyone knows castles don’t appear fully formed overnight. It must have taken months to move all those stones.”
    I listened carefully as she spoke and then asked, “How long ago would you say it appeared here?”
    She calculated for a moment and then answered, “A few years short of a hundred.”
    I thanked her heartily, and she sat back down. “Have the rest of you heard the same story?” I asked.
    Most of the people in the room nodded. One man stoodup, took off his hat, and said, “I know a bit more, Your Highness.”
    I nodded my encouragement.
    â€œThe castle was moved during the time of King Bertram and Queen Melinda, Lord rest their gentle souls. It was right after their daughter disappeared. They were never the same after that. When they died, the castle went to your father’s grandfather, who was from the finest family in the kingdom. Your family has been ruling ever since. Quite well, may I add.” He bowed creakily and sat back down.
    The story of the daughter rang a bell. My nursemaids used to talk about a missing daughter of Queen Melinda. “Does anyone know more about the girl?” I asked, searching their faces.
    One man called out, “I think she was named after some kind of flower. Don’t know more than that. I think she was ill or something.”
    The woman who had spoken first suddenly stood up again. “I remember something else! Grandmother said that when the castle moved, the forest grew triple its size and completely covered the area where the castle had originally rested.”
    Another woman added, “I’ve heard those woods are haunted. Ain’t natural for woods to grow up that fast.” At this, everyone nodded.
    Soon they all returned to munching on their cakes andsipping tea. No one seemed anxious to leave, so I sat with them, mulling over what I had