A Very British Tale

By Mark Davey

Can you keep a secret?
Come on a journey that will take you to the very heart of a secret adventure. An adventure so secret it should not be made public. 'A Very British Tale' brings together ancient folklore, a thousand year old Royal Family and mystical magic; and sets it all firmly in the 21st Century.
This story tells of how Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, hides a dark family curse that turns her into a strange flying creature. In order to break the curse Prince William and Prince Harry must face an adventure that will take them to the four corners of the United Kingdom. This heroic tale involves princes and knights and trolls and dragons - even the Loch Ness Monster makes an appearance. Secret Agents, King Arthur and a Welsh Rock Star all play their part in helping the young princes in their quest to break the age old curse.
However, as if their task was not hard enough, wicked forces are at work to frustrate the prince's game plan at every move. Their enemies, both human and supernatural, will stop at nothing to defeat Prince William and Harry. But with the entire Royal Family lending a helping hand, this hilarious fantasy adventure will have you both laughing out loud and on the edge of your seat.
Can Prince William succeed in his quest? Can the curse be broken? Can the Royal Family help or hinder the progress? And, with a reporter hot on their tails; can it all be done without the press telling the world of this very secret adventure? Find out the answers to all these questions and more in a tale so incredible it must be told, but only to you. Can you keep a secret?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mark Davey
• Release date: Jun 25, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476183756

Mark Davey

Mark is a college lecturer; teaching students in the school of Health and Social Care. He has worked as a social worker, community worker and youth worker before setting up an organic catering company with the love of his life, wife Dee Dee. He wishes the Royal family well and hope they enjoy the book too. Also, hoping that Prince William and Kate will read the story to the new Royal baby in good time. Wishing you all Happy Reading.

Book preview

PROLOGUE:

And they all lived happily ever after???

Everyone knows that the British Royal family is the most special of all the Royal families in the whole, wide world. It is a large Royal family with Queen Elizabeth II as its head. She has been married to Prince Philip for many, many years and they have four grown up children: Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.

The Queen has reigned for 60 years and all over the United Kingdoms there will be parties to mark this event. There will be celebrations around the Common Wealth countries, where she is head of State and in many other places too where they love the British Royal family and especially Queen Elizabeth.

Our story starts, not with the Queen’s special celebrations but with the marriage, a little while ago, of her grandson Prince William to his lovely girlfriend Kate Middleton. As a wedding present, the Queen gave them the title of Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Their wedding day was wonderful. They were married in Westminster Abbey and Kate chose to have an aisle of trees inside the Church building! Millions of people from all over the world saw the wedding on television, while thousands watched from streets and parks all over London. Many were there at the service in person, as guests of the Royal couple. There were lots of others at the service too, uninvited guests, that people couldn’t see and the television cameras didn’t pick up, however, we mustn’t think about them just yet, for now it is William and Kate’s day.

After the service, the Royal couple, along with other members of their family, stood on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. A sea of people cheered as Royal Air Force planes flew overhead. William kissed Kate and the crowds roared again. Now most fairy tales end with the wedding as the Prince kisses his bride and they live happily ever after. This story begins with the wedding and the royal kiss. Whether they live happily ever after, remains to be seen…

PART ONE

A Very British Summer

CHAPTER ONE

With Wings to Fly

Prince William’s eyes began to close. He was laying in a bath filled with hot water and bubbles, to the point of overflowing. There was music playing quietly in the background and the early morning sun streamed through the windows. He felt happy, content and very comfortable. Suddenly the peace and calm was broken by a long, loud scream coming from the bedroom beyond.

Fifteen hours earlier the Royal couple had kissed on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, to the roar of approval from the adoring crowd that filled The Mall. With a second cheer the couple kissed again. It was during this kiss that it happened: as the prince’s lips touched those of his new bride, a quiver ran down her spine, yet she felt warm all over. There was a glittering sparkle that whizzed and fizzed in the air, like a thousand mini explosions, too small for even a microscope to see.

The flashing explosions were not seen by the others on the balcony, nor by the crowds viewing below or by the world’s news cameras filming the event; but some saw them and they gasped because they knew full well this was a sign that a very special magic was taking place. At this moment, they were not sure what this would mean, but as they watched from a thousand hiding places, invisible to all the humans around them, they knew that the birth of a miracle was taking place.

The Royal family turned away from the crowds and went inside Buckingham Palace. They all laughed and chatted to each other as they made their way along the corridors. Soon they would tuck into a wonderful feast to celebrate the occasion.

Meanwhile, Kate and her new husband, Prince William, drove through the crowds outside the palace in his father’s vintage sports car. They were greeted with more cheers from the people that filled the entire area. Everyone clapped and shouted, laughed and danced as the newly-weds drove through the happy gathering, waving to one and all.

The Royals and their guests enjoyed the wedding banquet. Several parties continued throughout the night. At dawn all the revellers enjoyed hot bacon rolls as the celebrations came to an end and it was time to go home.

Prince William’s bow tie was undone and also the top three buttons of his shirt. He carried a half empty bottle of Champagne in his hand. The prince put his arm around his bride and drew her close to himself. They made their way to the line of black cars outside. They smiled at the chauffeur who held the back passenger door open for them to get in. As they sat down they chatted about their honey moon destination. The sun was already in the sky as the car made its way to Kensington Palace, residence of the royal couple.

Once inside the palace they ran excitedly upstairs to their bedroom to get out of their party clothes, freshen up and have a short rest before setting off for the plane that would take them on their honeymoon.

It was at this moment when Prince William, almost asleep in the hot water, surrounded by a wobbly mountain of bubbles, was awoken by a blood curdling scream which came from the bedroom. Leaping out of the bath he grabbed his towelling bathrobe and ran for the door.

In the bedroom Kate was sitting on the four-poster bed with a king-size quilt wrapped around her. In spite of the warmth, she was shivering and crying.

What ever is the matter, Sweetheart? gasped Prince William. Kate did not answer, she just shook her head.

Please, tell me, what is wrong. he persuaded.

Well, Wills, you know how we were talking about the honeymoon flight earlier?

Yeah, we can’t wait – can we? enquired the prince.

Well we just might not need the plane to get there, she responded, slipping the duvet off her shoulders and displaying two large wings that had appeared on her back just below her shoulders. Prince William stared in disbelief at these enormous glittering wings. Kate fluttered them to show they were definitely her own.

What the heck has happened to you, my love?

I have no idea! The top of my back started itching and as I tried to scratch I felt a sudden pain. I thought I might have cut my shoulder with my finger nail so I looked in the mirror and to my horror I saw these things growing out of my back.

At that moment Kate’s arms began to swell, followed by her legs and then her waist. Her face rounded and three double chins appeared. Prince William froze to the spot as he saw the Duchess transform before his eyes.

Baby, what on earth is going on?

Wills, I have no idea, she sobbed.

Perhaps you ate too much at the reception or something that disagreed with you?

William! If you eat something that disagrees with you, you get a stomach pain or maybe a little sickness. If you over eat you get a little swelling of your tummy – you don’t turn into the Incredible Bulk!!!! I’m some kind of freak, she wailed and began flapping her wings which slightly raised her off the bed. Suddenly she started flying about the room.

Help me Wills, I can’t control this, she squealed as she soared round the ceiling of their bedroom. The prince noticed that the large bedroom window was open, as the long voile curtain was blowing gently in the wind. He ran over and shut it before his new wife flew uncontrollably out of the window and into the summer sky. As he stood at the window, he saw the gathering of press and photographers below. Desperately he pulled the heavy, plush velvet curtains together. Just as they closed there was a knock on the bedroom door. It opened and a maid headed in to begin cleaning the room. Prince William let out a scream of exasperation as he ran towards the door, causing the maid to scream too.

I’m so sorry sir, stammered the maid.

Er … um … no problem! No problem at all. We are just not ready for the room to be tidied perhaps you could come back later. Much later. he replied. With Kate hovering above the maid’s head in the top corner of the room, Wills rushed to the door and with the maid walking backwards, he ushered her into the corridor. The prince closed the door firmly and looked up at his wife who had now flown to the far side of the room near the bed. As she flew back towards him, he asked, What on earth are we going to do?

And what are we going to do when the press find out? whimpered Kate. At that moment the swelling of the Duchess’s body went down, the wings disappeared and she crashed towards the floor. Prince William caught her in his arms and kissed her on the cheek.

We’ll cross that bridge when we have to. Just don’t worry, everything will be okay. Then, just as earlier, the wings reappeared, followed by the swelling, and off she flew again. Prince William looked very worried. He did not want to mislead his bride at the beginning of their married life together. This was not turning out to be the fairytale he had imagined.

CHAPTER TWO

A Meeting of the Clans

The car, carrying the Middleton family, arrived outside Buckingham Palace a little after 8.20a.m. It drove past the group of reporters at the gates, across the red asphalt forecourt and up to the main doors, where it stopped. Everyone got out and was ushered into the grand entrance.

The Queen busied herself with the plastic breakfast cereal containers, placing them in order of size. Prince Philip used a napkin to brush some crumbs of toast from the corners of his mouth. Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall were still eating prunes and yoghurt, but the rest of the family had finished breakfast and were making their way into the Drawing Room. Prince Andrew sat on a chair near the front window, Prince Edward and Princess Anne both sat at the piano, while Edward tinkered out the melody of several West End musicals. William and Kate sat near the marble fireplace which was empty as it was far too warm for a fire to be lit.

By the time the Middletons were announced in the Drawing Room, Charles and Camilla had made themselves comfortable on one of the three settees. Prince Philip stood beside the Queen, who was sitting in a high backed armchair with two corgi dogs on her lap and the other five curled up at her feet. Kate’s family sat on the other settees. With tears in her eyes, she smiled at each of her family members in turn.

Thank you all for coming today, proclaimed the Queen and everyone nodded in appreciation of the greeting, You have all been told the reason we are here. Perhaps Kate would like to fill in any details for those of us who don’t know the full story and then we can all pool our thoughts and discuss it.

Kate relayed the story of her embarrassing situation with several uncontrolled demonstrations of swelling body, silvery wing growth and a couple of flights round the Drawing Room. When Kate had finished her tale of woe Mr. Middleton coughed and began to address the gathering.

I think we can shed some light on the whole sorry story, he announced.

Really Daddy? quizzed a surprised Kate.

I think we can help, added Mrs. Middleton. Perhaps great aunt Florence would be so kind as to explain. This is Florence, Kate’s Godmother, Kate’s Fairy Godmother!

Of course, I would love to explain. declared an elderly woman with a strong Yorkshire accent. As she stood to address the whole room she let her shawl fall onto the settee revealing two enormous silvery wings of her own. I thought this might make you feel more comfortable, my dear. she smiled at Kate and then continued. "Long, long ago in the hills of Yorkshire there lived a community of Northern Fairies. Tarkin, the Prince of the Fairies met your great, great, great grandmother Sarah Middleton and they fell in love. He was banished from the Northern Fairies because he married Sarah. This marriage introduced the magic blood into our family line. Some of those who have fairy blood, when