Royalty of Serpo

I could have thrown myself from the third floor balcony this morning, but I resisted. I wouldn’t want to die on the grounds of Hettycliff. My father had returned from the war in September, and the cold nights grew wearisome with him around. The maids scuttled about the place, maddened with hysteria. So what if the man of the house was home? I was better at being in charge. Ask my dollies. Prince Piper would tell you the truth, if his stitched mouth ever found a way to open. He is my best friend in the world, so maybe that is the reason I didn’t leap from the galley today. But I was leaving Hettycliff one way or another. My father had given me a swollen lip from striking my face, and Cook cackled when I tried making a balm. She did not let me eat any clover either. I will be leaving Hettycliff. I hate the cold house. It is made of rocks and nothing more. I will make my own home somewhere with Prince Piper and write letters to the Queen and she will give me all the jewels I should ever want. I will not sell them to people who will lock them away and get richer, I shall make my own jewel dresses and be a princess with my dollies forever. Do you like my plan, reader? I left through my garden, and forgot to put on shoes. My hair is short and neat, so I shan’t worry about washing it for a while. I ran all the way across the field, away into the town of Hetty, and followed the twilit road. I am going on an adventure, reader. I am going to the Forest of Serpo! I reached the twisting trees as it was almost completely shrouded in the dark. Prince Piper got snagged on a thornbush, and I rescued him gallantly. How fine a princess I shall make! Prince Piper agreed. He said I did not even need any jewels. I laughed, and then covered my mouth and remembered to be quiet. You see, reader, the Forest of Serpo is haunted. There are tales written of the things that lurk in here. Some travellers have gone in, and never returned. One lonely man went running back home, only to find his reflection in the mirror had gone! I might be spooked from the dark, and the whispers of the leaves, but I want to stay here. I’m never going back to Hettycliff! I hear a monster calling me.

Later, I found myself in a clearing. Everything around me was covered in moss, and a calm crept over me. Sitting Prince Piper down on a rock, I wondered about home. What would Cook be serving Father? Something disgusting, slugs and Brie. Whatever Brie is. I so wish my mother had not died in childbirth. I thought it such a terrible way to go. How is it fair someone can die whilst giving someone life? It all felt very make- belief to me. Maybe they should have found a way to keep the blood in. Oh reader, should I become a nurse? Someone who fixes people? Oh, but I once tried fixing Prince Piper’s dog: Kettle. Kettle is no longer with us. He had a silly name anyway. Don’t you think, reader? Maybe if you live in the Forest of Serpo you do not need fixing. There are plenty of magical things, and soon I will have plenty of jewels and fairies will invite Prince Piper and I for tea, for they like shiny things. There was a loud crash from behind me all of a sudden. It was like a hundred trees had hit the ground. I toppled over, and started to panic slightly, reader. What had caused that? Another huge thump, and something gave a loud growl, and my feet had carried me out of the clearing and I found a hollowed trunk lying down. I crawled in with a squeeze, and closed my eyes. Then a feeling of horror came over me. Prince Piper! I had left my best friend on the rock! How could I, reader? Do not be ashamed with me! I had no choice. Prince Piper had to be saved. I crawled out the trunk with verocity, and leapt over thorn bushes to get back to the clearing.

“Prince Piper! I found a trunk for us to hide in,” I cried. But there was something else in the clearing. And Prince Piper was not in sight. There was a tall beast stood in front of me. It had gnarly, thorny horns bursting from its skull. Its eyes were dark, and latched onto me. Perhaps it thought me too small to eat. I had much too many freckles on my face, too. But the beast didn’t eat me. It cocked its large, spiky head, and puffed out a breath. It hunkered down to my level, and I found its eyes reminding me of milky galaxies from my storybooks. “Do you have my Prince Piper?” I asked. I cocked my head, matching the beast.

“Prince…Piper?” It spoke with a deep voice, and sounded older than the Earth herself.

I almost toppled over again, as the beast spoke back. How fascinating! Prince Piper would be impressed too, I know.

“My… dolly. I left him on that rock behind you. But… I can’t see him.”

The beast stood up fully once more. It was very tall, and reached behind its back slowly. A huge, gnarled hand produced my Prince Piper and my heart leapt! Oh, my best friend was here!

“I did not know he was a Prince. I thought perhaps… it was a new friend.”

“Oh! Prince Piper and I have been wanting a new friend! Please, let me join you. I want to live here in Serpo.”

“You would be my friend? Truly? Are you really a human, or am I mistaking you?”

“Yes, I am human. My name is Annie. Prince Piper is not human. We will make a great trio, won’t we? Oh, I am very happy!”

“Annie. It’s an honour.” The beasts eyes blinked slowly. “My name I forgot long ago,” the beast lowered itself back down once more, and I hopped onto its back. There were ladybirds nestling in the thorns. “Perhaps you can think of one for me. I should like to be a Princess. Do you have any jewels?”

I was so happy reader! I will make a home here after all!