Remedy: a Sleeping Beauty story

By Sonya Writes

Laila Rose Thatcher doesn’t find out that the man courting her is the royal prince until after she’s been accused of his kidnapping. Locked high in a tower and facing daily accusations and questions from Her Majesty the Queen, Laila utilizes the only solution she can think of: drink a potion and sleep until Prince Thaddeus has returned safely home.
This novella is approximately 100 pages long.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sonya Writes
• Release date: Jun 11, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310742293

Book preview

Remedy

a Sleeping Beauty story

By Sonya Writes

All rights reserved.

Copyright ©2014 Sonya Writes

Published by Sonya Writes at Smashwords

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Book description:

Laila Rose Thatcher doesn’t find out that the man courting her is the royal prince until after she’s been accused of his kidnapping. Locked high in a tower and facing daily accusations and questions from Her Majesty the Queen, Laila utilizes the only solution she can think of: drink a potion and sleep until Prince Thaddeus has returned safely home.

~

once upon a time…

Laila giggled beneath the branches as her brother tried to find her.

Briar Rose! he called. Briar Rose! Benjamin saw a bit of movement and walked in her direction. He peeled away the branches and found her. There you are, he said.

She climbed out. "My name is Laila Rose, Benjamin. Laila."

I know, he teased. But I prefer to call you Briar Rose, because you always hide among the briars.

The pricks don’t bother me, she said. She brushed some of the dirt off her skirt and stood taller. She and her brother were alike in that they both wanted to grow up sooner rather than later. Laila was ten but at times she looked twelve or thirteen. She liked to stand tall and appear older than she was. Benjamin was twelve and also tall for his age, at least a head taller than his sister.

As they decided what to play next they heard some noise coming from among the trees behind Laila. They looked and both saw him at the same time. There was a boy about Benjamin’s age standing there; he was hiding behind a tree, watching them. He was nicely dressed but alone. He didn’t look like the type to be alone in the forest.

Show yourself, Benjamin called. Who are you?

The boy stepped out from behind the tree and approached them. I’m Asher, he said.

Benjamin looked him over. Hmm. He thought for a moment. I’m Benjamin Burnell. This is my sister, Briar Rose Burnell.

Laila was about to correct him, but Benjamin gave her that look that said she needed to keep her mouth shut. Asher noticed it too.

Hello Briar, he said. He gave a most practiced bow. This boy was not of low class. You have a most pleasant name.

Laila gave her best curtsy. Thank you sir, she said.

Oh stop, Benjamin told her. He’s not any sir and you ain’t a lady, so stop pretendin’a be one.

She shot him a glance, that ‘why are you talking dumb’ sort of glance that she gave him whenever he pretended to be less educated than he really was, which was often. They might be orphans, but Mr. Burnell took good care of them and was an excellent teacher. They were probably better educated than most of the kids in town.

I didn’t mean to interrupt anything, Asher said. I just saw you playing and—

—and what? Benjamin asked, crossing his arms. What are you doing out here spying on us?

Well I hoped that I might get to play as well. Perhaps we could be friends.

Laila smiled. It wasn’t often she got to see other children. They were rather secluded out here in the woods. Not many children came by, and she couldn’t remember the last time Mr. Burnell had taken her to town with him.

Benjamin did not smile. He didn’t trust strangers of any sort. What do you want to be friends with us for? he asked. Ain’t you got friends more your type?

Laila hated when he talked like this. He said he liked for people to think he was stupid. He said if people thought him unintelligent then they would underestimate him, and if they had any ill intentions toward him they wouldn’t be expecting it when he was able to outsmart them. But the whole thing irritated Laila.

Asher gave a shy smile. Charming, but shy. I don’t have many friends, he said. My mum keeps me home all the time.

If your mum keeps you home, then what are you doing out here?

I snuck out a window. She probably thinks I’m in my room studying or taking a nap. I just needed to get out though. Mum never lets me do anything fun.

And coming out here in the middle of nowhere is your idea of fun?

This isn’t nowhere, he said. And yes, I do find exploring in the woods to be fun. Certainly more fun than arithmetic.

I agree, Laila said.

Benjamin glared but Asher smiled.

Oh stop, Benjamin, Laila told him. He’s just a kid, like us. What are you acting so suspicious for?

I just don’t trust him is all.

"You don’t trust anyone, she said. She looked to Asher. I, however, would love to have a new friend. Do you like to play Tag?"

Tag? he asked. I don’t think I’ve played before. How does it go?

Laila and Benjamin looked to each other, both wondering the same thing: where did this kid come from that he’s never heard of Tag?

Well, Laila said, It goes like this. She tapped him on the arm and then started running away. Tag! You’re it! Try to catch me!

Benjamin smirked at Asher and then he too darted off. Asher took a moment to figure it out and then he chased after Laila. She was fast for a girl, and she certainly knew these woods better than he did, but Asher was sure he could catch up. He kept his eyes on her long blonde curls because they stood out against the trees. It was her curls that led to her being caught, because after a few minutes they got snagged on a branch.

Asher ran up to her and touched her arm. Tag, he said. You’re it. He stood for a moment outside of her reach and smiled at her, but before her hair was free he ran away.

Not fair! she called, but she still chased after him. Her hair was long enough that she could tie it into a knot, so she did to avoid any further snagging. She caught up to Asher in a matter of minutes. She only meant to tag him but she ended up tackling him to the ground by accident. They both lay in the dirt for a moment laughing before Benjamin came back.

Get up, Briar, he said. That’s not a proper way for a lady to behave.

Weren’t you just telling me a moment ago that I’m not a lady? she asked. She started laughing again.

Get up, he said. I mean it. We need to be going home anyway. He started to walk away.

Laila rolled her eyes. I’m sorry, she said to Asher. My brother can be such a pain at times.

"It’s