Retelling of the princess and the pea

Retelling of the princess and the pea

The castle was bustling with noise since the morning. The maids were running around in the kitchen to make sure everything is perfect. After all, today was a big day for everyone, especially for the prince. He's going to choose his princess--a girl who will become his wife. Everyone was so excited and were busy talking among themselves about what kind of princess the prince would choose. In the big hall, a small group of maids were talking among themselves.

One of them said, "I wonder what type of princess our prince will choose for themselves."

Another one said, "I think he will choose the most beautiful princess in the world."

The plum looking maid said, "No, I think he will choose the princess whose kingdom is big and powerful, has lots of troops and is very rich. It could help our prince to win over other kingdoms."

Ava, who was hiding beside one of the pillars, was listening to their conversations. She couldn't help but wonder what exactly they were talking about. She wanted to run out and found J. Bear to tell all about it. But she changed her plans mid-way and postponed it for later as she doesn't want to lose out in the hide and seek game. She kept hiding behind the pillar and other maids also resumed their work when they were corrected by the head maid.

After the event, the king, queen and prince along with J. Bear and Ava were having dinner. It was a long day and everyone was tired but the prince was deep in thought as he hardly touched his food.

The king glanced at the prince and asked, "Well, son. Why are you not eating anything?"

At the king's word, the prince shrugged his shoulder. "It's nothing, father. I'm just tired of today's event."

The queen said, "You should take some rest, son. I guess, it might be tiring to meet all those princesses."

The prince nodded.

The king took a bite and opened his mouth to speak. "Did you decide whom you would marry? There were so many beautiful princesses who came from rich and powerful kingdoms. I'm sure there might be one whom you have liked."

The prince glanced at his parents. "Actually, that's the opposite. None of them feels a real princess to me. I don't know but why I couldn't feel any vibes, any connection from any one of them."

"Real princess?" Surprised, Ana looked at J. Bear, the king and the queen. "What do you mean by 'Real princess', prince? Aren't their fathers the kings of their kingdoms?"

"They are, Ava." The king said. "But just by being a daughter of the king doesn't make them real princesses."

"What do you mean?" Ava asked.

"That simply means that none of them possess the princess quality." J. Bear said.

The queen nodded. "They are not kind, compassionate and don't think of others. They all keep their priorities first and tell lies."

"That's correct. The one with these qualities makes you a real princess and it doesn't even matter whether you are rich or poor, or young or old. What matters is that you should have those qualities which make you a real princess that differences you from ordinary other princesses." The prince added.

Ava was still confused with all these conversations. She tilted her head and looked at J. Bear, "I don't understand how you will determine that the girl is a real princess when you don't know her."

"You will get to know by yourself when you will meet her. The real princess has a different aura...almost like a godly one. You won't be able to take your eyes from her even if you wanted to."

Ava took another bite and nodded, "hmm, I see."

"Anyways," the king cleared his throat. "I think we should now go to bed and get some sleep. Today was a long day."

Everyone agreed and after they finished their dinner, all of them went back to their room. While everyone slept peacefully, for a long time Ava can't stop herself thinking about the real princess. She was hoping to meet her soon.

Several days later, Ava and J. The Bears were exploring the forest together. Together, they were playing with rabbits and butterflies. J. Bear was trying to teach Ava about the different species of trees but little Ava was enjoying her time chasing the colorful butterflies. Both of them were having a fun time, when suddenly Ava spotted a beautiful girl. The girl was riding a horse and behind her two guards were following her. The girl had a worried look on her face but still she had a smile on her face. Ava was confused but still she was intrudged with that girl. J. Bear walked towards Ava and slowly nudged her.

"Well, what are you doing here."

Instead of speaking anything, Ava quietly pointed at the girl. J. Bear followed Ava's line of sight and a soft smile appeared on his face. "This is the real princess, Ava."

"R-real princess." Ava's mouth was opened wide.

J. Bear nodded, "Aren't you intruding on her?"

"I'm!" Ava said enthusiastically.

"Then, you will soon see some of the things that will prove that she is a real princess."

Ava nodded. Quietly with J. Bear, she started to follow the girl. Soon, they found out that the girl was very kind and thought about others as she patted her horse's neck and led him to the lake so that he could rest and drink some water. Also, to avoid accidentally stepping on little insects, she carefully took her each and every step. Ava was surprised at how considerate the girl was. She couldn't help but point out every little thing the girl did to J. Bear.

In the evening, when the clouds darkened Ava and J. Bear went back to the palace. After a little while, it started to pour heavily. Ava was looking out of the window, worried about that girl. She was praying that the girl was well and fine. J. Bear comforted Ava and told her to not to worry about it. Ava nodded and smiled. Both of them turned around when they heard the knocking on the door.

It was the girl standing out there in front of the gate. The water ran down from her hair and clothes; it ran down into the toes of her shoes and out again at the heels.

Ava and J. Bear were happy to see the girl well and good in front of them. Ava told the queen that she is a real princess.

The queen nodded. Well, we’ll soon find that out, thought the queen. But she said nothing, went into the bed-room, took all the bedding off the bedstead, and laid a pea on the bottom; then she took twenty mattresses and laid them on the pea, and then twenty eider-down beds on top of the mattresses.

On this the princess had to lie all night. In the morning she was asked how she had slept.

“Oh, very badly!” she said. “I have scarcely closed my eyes all night. Heaven only knows what was in the bed, but I was lying on something hard, so that I am black and blue all over my body. It’s horrible!”

Now they knew that she was a real princess because she had felt the pea right through the twenty mattresses and the twenty eider-down beds.

Nobody but a real princess could be as sensitive as that. Everyone in the kingdom was very happy at the news that the prince had found the real princess.

So the prince took her for his wife, for now he knew that he had a real princess; and the pea was put in the museum, where it may still be seen, if no one has stolen it.