Millanda's Fairy Tales

Long long ago, there was a kingdom, ruled by a queen. She didn't want to get married, for she felt no one is as wonderful as herself. However, it was her dream to have a daughter. Definitely, she needs a daughter to claim to her throne after her death.
She put a notice on the walls in her kingdom's capital, to seek for someone to make her pregnant.
Days after the notice was put, a witch came to the queen's palace. She was very pretty indeed, totally different with the witches in fairy tales. The queen did doubt the witch's ability. 'Your majesty,' the witch says, 'I have magic powers, I can make you pregnant and let you give birth to a daughter. I do not wish payment. But I wish you can do me a favour, your majesty.' 'I can fulfill your wish, as long as you can let me have a daughter.' 'Your majesty, I wish to stay in the court with the princess to teach her. Not only normal things, but some magic.' 'No problem!' said the queen at once.
'Come with me,' said the witch, as she led the queen to a secret corner. She took out her wand, pointed at the queen's stomach and said, 'Presato verato, quero presato!' She looked up at the queen's pretty pale face, 'That should do it. Enjoy your time with your little princess.'
Soon, the queen's stomach grew larger and larger. Ten months later, she gave birth to a girl. She was just as beautiful as her mother. The queen hugged her in her arms days and nights. She named her Melissa Albus White
One day, someone visited the palace, it was the witch. 'Your majesty, you promised me...''I still remember. Come, I have prepared a room for you. Please, teach Melissa well.'
Everything went in peace. Soon, the princess grew up, being wise. She also learnt some magic to use. The queen liked and trusted the witch, and allowed her to stay in the palace.
Suddenly one day, news flew to every people in the capital that the queen died. She was still all right the night before, but was discovered dead the next morning. Melissa cried and cried. The witch hugged her and patted her, 'It's alright dear, it's alright. I am still here with you.'
According to the royal doctor, the queen drank poison in her dinner last night. Immediately, people started to suspect the witch, for she had killing potions and she is in the palace that night. 'Why suspect me?' said the witch in front of angry citizens. 'I have lived with the queen for so long, ever since Princess White was born! If I wanted to kill the queen, I wouldn't have waited so long! I love the princess and the queen, I had dedicated all my time into teaching the princess! I hope I can use my magic powers to save the queen, but death is something even magic can't reverse.' she cried and cried. The citizens believed her.
One night, the witch told Melissa, who was now the queen, that the flowers blossomed in the garden, and suggested that they go on a walk together. Melissa agreed, happily. Truly, all kinds of flowers are blossoming, making the garden pretty and filled with aroma. Suddenly, the witch pulled out her wand and pointed at the princess. 'Melissa,' she said with a evil smile, 'I gave you life, I taught you knowledge, shouldn't you give me a gift?' Melissa, totally scared, said, 'What do you want? I have countless gold and jewelries...' 'No! I do not need wealth, I want power. Yes, I want your throne!' 'I will not give it to you!' 'No? Are you sure? Tell me, Melissa, your life and your throne, which do you want?' the witch poked the wand on her chest. 'I, I will give it to you, do not kill me!' said Melissa as she burst into tears. 'Go, see that mountain? Go, I don't want to see you again! Or, your life won't be promised' Melissa ran to the mountain.
One week later, everyone received bad news-- Queen Melissa Albus White got lost in the forest of the mountain behind the palace one week ago. She was never seen again.
According to Melissa's Mother's final words before death, the throne was given to the witch, for Melissa do not have any other relatives.
Meanwhile, Melissa ran up the mountain and into the forest which led her outside the palace. Deep in the forest, Melissa saw a small wooden house. She knocked on the door. 'Who is there?' answered a small voice. Melissa was so happy that she finally found someone! 'I am Melissa Albus White, the queen. I had a witch teacher, she forced me here in order to get my throne. If I don't obey, she will kill me.' 'Come in!' and the door opened. There is an elf. She had saw some of them in a book the witch gave her. 'Your majesty, I am Floppy, an elf. I had a master. He is very bad at Floppy, so Floppy ran out of his house and hid here. Would you like a cup of tea?' 'Thank you so much Floppy.' 'This is what I should do. Please enjoy yourself. I am going to make dinner.'
Soon, dinner is served on a small round wooden table. 'Your majesty,' 'just call me Melissa''okay, Melissa, I am frightened nearly all day long. I'm afraid my master caught me. He might chop my head off. And I am afraid, too, that the witch you said might find you and kill you to strengthen her rule.' 'Well, Floppy, I know how to use magic too, perhaps I can help you.'
One day, Melissa woke up earlier-- she heard the noise of horses and men. 'Yes, he is called Floppy.' 'Chop his head off!' from these words she can tell that they are after Floppy. She quickly woke Floppy up and hid him in the closet. She yawned and walked out the small hut. The men stopped. 'Who are you?' asked one of the men. 'Hello, I am Melissa Albus White.' 'Melissa?' yelled another, 'isn't she lost for so many days? She is still alive!' 'Your majesty, we had an elf, called floppy. He is very short and ugly, just a bit higher than my knees. He was seen hiding in this forest. Have you seen him?' 'No, sorry, I haven't met such a creature you mentioned. By the way, your scarf makes you really handsome.' cheers flushed red, the man handed her his scarf, 'your majesty, if you want it, keep it.' 'Thank you. And that book on your hand...' 'You want it?' 'No, no, but, it seems like a book I wrote before... the author's name is Miranda, right?' 'Yes.' 'It's my nickname. You want a signature?' 'Thank you, your majesty!' the man hands her the book and a quill. She signs it and returns the book.
'Before you go,' says Melissa, 'can you please do me a favour?' 'My pleasure.' 'The closet seems strange as I lived in here. Something seems to be inside. I am too afraid to open it. Can you help me?' Floppy was about to cry, she betrayed me, he thought, she betrayed me for a dumb scarf.
The man opened the closet. 'Ahh!' he yelled, 'Floppy, you are hiding here!' the man says with an evil smile, 'Come, time to go home!' Floppy runs to a corner of the room, and the man threw the book on his hand to Floppy to hit him. The book landed in front of Floppy. The man is walking closer and closer. It's impossible for Floppy to escape.
Melissa smiles, and says, 'Floppy, open the book.' Slowly, Floppy opens the book. There it was, a white silk scarf. 'Master has given Floppy a scarf! Master freed Floppy!' Suddenly knowing he was being cheated, the man tried to kill Melissa. Quickly, Melissa pulled out her wand and removed the man's knife. The other man tried to punch Melissa, but he was thrown by magic into the air and on to the ground. Knowing they couldn't defeat Melissa, the two men went away, sadly.
'Melissa!' floppy screamed, 'you saved my life! You saved Floppy! How can I repay?' 'Floppy, you let me live with you, that's why I deserve to help you. I just hope for a shelter, that's all.' 'Thank you Melissa, I will use my life to protect your safety!'

Back in the palace, the witch, no the queen, is regretting for not killing Melissa in the first place. Just then, the two men asks to meet the queen. 'Your majesty,' one man says. 'I saw Melissa this afternoon. She is in the forest. She is not dead as you said.' 'But,' the other man says, 'we will not tell anyone else she is still alive. She made us lose our most important property in our life. We will not forgive her.'
'Good,' says the queen, 'thank you for providing such important information. But it's too important, that I am afraid you might tell someone else. Tell me, how will you keep the secret. Say, how you can let be believe you are trustworthy.' 'Your majesty, if we release the message, we would rather kill ourselves.' 'That, is too late. What about lending me something?' 'Of course, your majesty, anything, as long as you can believe that we are loyal.' 'What about your heads? They seem cute, don't they?' 'Your majesty,''Soldier? Chop their heads off.' 'Your majesty, please! We told you the secret!' 'If you can betray her, you can betray me too.'
She enters her room, walks around, and starts to think. Oh, Melissa, you are in the forest. How can I get you and kill you?
(TO BE CONTINUED)