title: Their Tale
Author: Hidden In You
Setting: AU...in a land fa, far, far away.
Spoilers:NONE!
Disclaimer: I don't own anyone...Joss does...not me...him...i do own my own characters.
Feedback:HIT me...go for! I can take it
Note: No more silly mistakes on my part...i swear it! This story is a fairy tale. I kninda mixed Cinderella with my oiwn twist and some other fairy tales and this...popped out of my head. Hopes you enjoys it.
In a land far, far away, in a tiny village, in a tiny house lived a small family. In this small family lived a man named Matthew Maclay, the village blacksmith. He had a beautiful wife by the name of Elizabeth. And they together had two children. A son named Donald, and a little girl named Tara. This little girl was quite the creative one. She would pretend she was a princess, marrying the brave prince charming. Her mother would love to watch her little girl play her make believe games while she did the chores of the house. Outside her husband worked, making the new horseshoes for the horses. As the years went by Tara grew and started doing her own chores with her mother. Sewing new trousers for her brother and father, helping cleaning the small house, and making the meals. When Tara turned 16, her mother fell ill. And soon after passed on with consumption. That was the heaviest blow to the small family. Her father was always working, and her brother was as well. While Tara stayed at home, doing everything that her mother used to do. It was at this time that her father remarried, to a horrid woman named Candace. She took an instant disliking to Tara. She and her daughters would force their chores on Tara while her father and brother worked hard outside, unsuspecting anything that went on inside the house.
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In this far, far away land, in the tiny village, a castle stood at the top of the highest hill. In housed the royal family. The king and his queen only bore one child, a little girl with bright red hair. They named her after the trees that surrounded their courtyard, Willow. This little girl was a rebellious one at that. She, with her best friend, Alexander, would always try and sneak off into the village to interact with the people of the village. But the royal advisor, Rupert Giles, always caught them. Today was no different. At her tender age of 16, she had gotten some of the common people’s clothing for herself and Xander, and were climbing over the castle wall to get to the village square.
“I don’t see why you and I are always climbing over this damn wall. What do you find so interesting about being among the commoners anyways?” Xander, as Willow called him, asked
“Do you always want to stay behind castle walls? The castle is so stuffy. I hate being in their in those damn dresses and always being so proper. You would hate it too if you had to wear those dresses too.” Willow babbled as Xander laughed.
“Right…let just go and get caught by Giles.” Xander said as Willow smiled. They both wore trousers and white shirts. At the same time, Tara was with her stepmother and her stepsisters, as well as her father and brother. They were in the village square getting much needed supplies and selling produce. Tara carried her stepmother and stepsisters bags.
“Tara…come here.” Her father said as he gathered the bags from her and kissed her forehead. He handed her a silver coin and smiled. “Go and buy yourself something nice.” He said as Tara smiled. Her stepsisters scoffed and followed their mother. Tara smiled as she walked over to the dress shop. One stuck in her eyes the most. It was a white dress that would look beautiful on her. Willow turned the corner and saw Tara staring at it. She gasped at the beauty in front of her. Her long blonde hair. She was tall and very curvy, and in the glass she could she the deep sapphire eyes. Willow was instantly in love. Willow had to speak with her. She tied her hair back in a ribbon and walked forward.
“That dress would look beautiful on you, m’lady.” Willow said as Tara turned and saw the most handsome yet almost womanly man she had ever seen. He had deep emerald eyes with fiery red hair. He was smiling as Tara gasped.
“Y-Y-You really t-t-t-t-think s-s-so milord?” Tara asked as Willow smiled.
“Yes…in that dress you would look amazing…radiant…worthy enough to be a queen.” Willow said as she produced a rose. “To my queen.” Willow said as Xander turned the corner.
“Willow! Giles is here! And he looks mad.” Xander yelled as Willow shook her head.
“I’m sorry miss but I have to leave…but until I may see you again, take this…” Willow said as she leaned forward and kissed Tara gently. The kissed was amazing. Willow pulled away after a few seconds and smiled. She then turned and ran away, just as the royal advisor ran out of his carriage. “Til we meet again.” Willow said as she continued to run.
“Your Highness!” Giles yelled as he followed Willow and Xander. Tara brought her hand up to her lips and held it there. Who ever this boy was…he had captured her heart.
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Willow and Xander were being dragged back into the castle by Giles.
“Xander…your parents are in their room…they are disappointed in you as well. As for you, your highness, your parents are in the throne room.” Giles said as Willow rolled her eyes.
“Why are you always ruining our fun, Giles?” Willow asked as Giles rolled his eyes.
”Because you of all people should know that you are not allowed outside the castle walls unless you are on official business. You can’t be off in the village with strangers and lowlifes. You have opulence here. Out there, there is nothing.” Giles said as Willow shook her head. She changed into her dress behind her screen.
“No, Giles, out there is freedom.” Willow said as she thought of the blonde girl in the village square. Giles just shook his head as they headed off to the throne room. Inside, her parents were dealing with royal business. Her mother was arranging her 17th birthday ball. While her father, played chess, by himself.
“Ah, Willow…about time you’ve been caught. Where was she this time Rupert?” Her mother asked.
“The village square with young Alexander.” Giles said as he stood at his post.
“Ah yes…you know the rules, Willow.” Her mother said as Willow nodded.
“Honestly…do you think walls can kept me inside this castle. I become restless mother…these walls are like prison, and you expect me not to leave them?” Willow asked as she looked pleadingly to her father. “Father?”
“Listen to your mother, sweetie.” Her father said as he made his next move.
“Sweetie…you are turning 17 in a few days…you have to chose a suitor to become your husband and the next king of our kingdom.” Her mother said as Willow scoffed.
“What if I don’t want to be arranged? What if I want to marry for love? Not for state?” Willow asked
“You learn to love each other…just like your father and I did.” Her mother said as her father just nodded. Willow just rolled her eyes and left the room. She walked out into the courtyard where her other best friends, Elizabeth and Maria were hiding. Buffy and Ryan as she and Xander called them were kissing behind the stonewall. They had fallen in love at a young age, and were plotting to run away as soon as they could.
“Don’t you two ever stop?” Willow asked as she and Xander walked over.
“No.” Ryan replied as they separated and they all walked together.
“You were caught again weren’t you?” Buffy asked as Willow nodded.
“Yes…I hate it when Giles finds us.” Willow said as Buffy nodded.
“If you had listened and not gone out, you wouldn’t be in trouble.” Buffy said as they sat down on the grass.
“Well at least you have free reign to come and go, seeing as your parents as they cooks, and the gardeners, but no, not me…I’m the princess…I have to stay here and make sure I look prim and proper for those damned suitors…” Willow said as she thought of the blonde girl again.
“Well what about the girl in the market place?” Xander asked as he nudged her.
“What?” Willow asked shaking her head.
“You know…that pretty blonde with the blue eyes.” Xander said as Willow smiled.
“I wish I had gotten her name.” Willow said
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Tara was working on the meal, when her father came inside.
“Tara…Candace said she saw you with some boy…is that true?” He asked as he sat down in front of the fire and watched her.
“Yes…but he was paying me a compliment, papa…he told me that the white dress in Mr. McDylans would suit me well.” Tara said
“Well…that’s nice…he had the dress especially made for his daughter before she passed. God rest her soul. It would look beautiful on you, dear.” He said as he walked over to a trunk in the corner, which was locked. He opened it up and pulled out a white dress. Tara walked over and gasped.
“It was your mother’s. Your great-grand mother had made it for your grandmother, who passed it down to your mother…she was going to pass it on to you as well, love. I imagine you will look just as beautiful as your mother did in that dress. I will never forget the day I married your mother. And I miss her so much. I look at you and all I see is her.” He said as he kissed Tara’s forehead. “Now tell me this boy’s name, and maybe I might know his family.”
“That’s the thing, papa…I’ve never seen him before…and he didn’t tell me his name.” Tara said as she looked at the beautiful dress in her arms.
“No worries then. I’m sure you see him again in the market…and then you get his name, and I’ll make sure that he is the best for my baby girl.” He said as Tara smiled. She turned and continued to finish dinner, as her father smoked his pipe and read to her a story from her mother’s storybook. His new wife was jealous of all the time that they spent together, and figured the only way to get Matthew all to herself…was to get rid of his daughter. Donald was getting ready to get married. Now all she had to worry about was his little girl. She never did like the girl anyways.
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The next day it was the festival of the masses. Every year hundreds of people would come to celebrate the harvest and the birthday of Princess Willow. Matthew and his family were out, celebrating the day with everyone else in their small village. Today was one of the rare days that the princess was allowed outside. Tara was once again in front of McDylan’s, staring at the beautiful dress. She noticed a sold sign on it, and looked down sadly.
“I heard the princess was the one who bought the dress.” Donald said next to her, with his soon to be wife next to him.
“Really…how would she be able to buy this dress…she isn’t allowed to leave the castle.” Tara said as Donald smiled.
“That, Tara…I don’t know.” He said as Tara smiled and walked around. She watched the little children playing in the fields. She watched as they played innocently near the pond, just being children. It reminded her of all the times she spent with her mother. She was so distracted she didn’t see the carriage going her way. Willow was again in disguise as she walked around. She the blonde girl, and then the carriage. She ran towards her and pushed her out of the way, landing on top of her as they tumbled in the grass.
“I say, M’lady…not very attentive today, are we?” Willow asked as Tara just shook her head.
“I’m sorry sir…it seems I’ve ruined your shirt.” Tara said as she pointed to a tear.
“It’s nothing…” Willow said as they sat up and smiled at each other. “I told you we’d meet again.” Willow said as Tara nodded.
“Hmm…that is true.” Tara said as she and Willow leaned forward towards each other and met again in an innocent kiss. What they didn’t see was Tara’s step sisters, Erin and Jane, were watching.
“What until Matthew hears about this.” Erin said as Tara and Willow pulled away from each other. Jane just took one look and gasped. She dropped to her knees, and dragged Erin with her.
“Princess Willow…” Both said as Tara gasped, and dropped to her knees as well.
“No…” Willow said as she turned towards Tara. Tara didn’t look up. She felt a little hurt, yet she couldn’t believe that she was kissing the princess of the kingdom. “You are never speak of this, you two. If you tell anyone, I will have you thrown in the prison. As for you…a name is all I ask for.” Willow said as she knelt down to Tara.
“Tara…” Tara said as she stared into Willow’s eyes.
“Tara…well, I’m Willow…and yours as well.” Willow said as she lent forward and kissed her again. “Forgive me, but I must go.” Willow said as Tara nodded and smiled.
“If you must…your highness.” Tara said as Willow smiled. Willow kissed her cheek as she ran away from the scene. She had seen Giles walking and knew she was caught again. Tara held her lips again as Willow ran from there. Erin and Jane watched in complete amazement that the princess had taken such an interest in their awful stepsister.
“Well…that was odd. Let’s get back to the market place. Matthew is waiting for you.” Erin said as Tara nodded and followed her. She was just kissing the princess of the kingdom. Oh lord…what was she supposed to do now? How was she supposed to tell her father? How was she supposed to see Willow again? She and her stepsisters walked back into the market place to see it busy with people. Her father was with her stepmother near the corner.
“What is going on papa?” Tara asked
“The royal family has arrived.” He said as he put his arm around Tara and held her next to him.
“Matthew, we’ll be in the dress shop.” Candace said to deaf ears. He and Tara just stood there talking as they watched for the royal family.
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Willow was sitting in her family’s carriage while they pulled up to the market square.
“I don’t understand why we do this every year. I can’t go out with the people, so what is the point of coming here?” Willow asked as she sat back in frustration. Her mother wasn’t listening, and her father was reading the latest piece from the other kingdom. Willow let out a sigh, as the carriage stopped and she heard the royal advisor speak on their behalf.
“It is the greatest pleasure that I present to you, your royal highnesses, Queen Sheila, King Ira, and Princess Willow.” Giles said as all three stepped out of the carriage and onto the thrones provided. Tara saw Willow in her dress, with the crown on top of her head, and she looked away. Tara smiled shyly as Willow spotted her.
“It’s is an honor to be among our people again. Today is a very special day indeed. Today is our daughter’s 17th birthday. She is to find a suitor and soon take over the kingdom in our place.” Shelia said as Willow rolled her eyes. But she saw Tara and smiled. So while Shelia talked about how proud she was, Willow sneaked off the stage, making sure Giles didn’t see her. She made her way over to Tara after she removed her crown and changed back into her street clothes.
“M’lady…I would like to take you someplace very special in my heart.” Willow whispered as she grabbed Tara’s hand and led her away from the crowd. Together they walked to a small pool of water. It was crystal clear…and one could see all they way to the bottom of it.
“Your highness…this is beautiful.” Tara whispered as Willow smiled and put her hands on Tara’s waist.
“You don’t have to use formalities with me…I’m just Willow to you.” Willow said as she reached forward and kissed the beautiful blonde in front of her.
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ok...any better?
yes...no? Maybe?
BWR 