Sure thing, Abi! Here it is!

A Cup of Friendship Tea:

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, there lived a girl by the name of Scarlet. She was really far better known as Little Red Riding Hood, but she did not like that name very much. She quite prefered Scarlet. Now, on the day our tale begins, Scarlet was sitting in the garden in front of her little house, staring out into the woods, and daydreaming. She could often be found this way, thinking of this and that. Today, she was wishing for a friend. Ever since that adventure with the wolf, Scarlet had been cautious about talking to new people. She had never been shy, but suspicion had prevented her from making friends. For many years, her only comrade had been her twin sister, Bluebell, sometimes called “Little Blue”. When they were young, Bluebell and Scarlet had been inseparable. There was nowhere one would go without the other. They were the friendliest siblings that ever walked the earth. Then, one day, when Bluebell was in bed with a cold, Scarlet went off on her own to deliver some goodies to her dearly beloved grandmother, and got lost in the woods. There, she encountered a wolf, who tricked her into telling him where her grandmother lived, and blah, blah blah, blah blah. You know the tale. Of course, the whole story with the wolf had not been at all pleasant, but it earned Little Scarlet fame. And it turned the friendship sour. Bluebell, who had for her entire life been a sweet, innocent girl, had the seeds of jealousy sown in her heart. A few years later, she caught sight of the beautiful Prince Charles the Charming and fell madly in love with him. Her jealousy was now quite driven away by adoration, but Bluebell was far from being friendly. She spent every day sighing and wailing by the window. Scarlet now had not a friend in the world, and was too suspicious to find one. A good deal of a mess for one to be in, I should say. So, there came the day when Scarlet decided it was time she let go of her suspicions and found a true friend.

Now, Scarlet was thinking of ways to go about this plan. She was just deliberating on going off to town, when  a tall girl, with dazzling fair tresses flying about in the breeze, a tattered dress, and only one shoe came flying out of the forest as if the wind itself was carrying her.

“Good… Day…” she panted.

“Good heavens, what are you up to?!” Scarlet exclaimed.

“Well, you see, I was running away from a prince…”

“What?!”

“It’s… a long story. Could I possibly… Come inside? You have no idea what  a glass of water could do for me right now.”

Now, when it really came to it, Scarlet was unsure if she wanted to make friends after all! Her old suspicion was just coming upon her, as she began to mumble, “Welllll, I’m not really allowed to talk to strangers…”

Suddenly, the door burst open, and her grandmother stepped into the garden.

“My dear! What is going on here? Oh, my darlings, step inside! Only pray tell, are you quite alright?”

“Perfectly, Ma’am, perfectly alright. I’m only a little tired, and distressed. Nothing more, I assure you!”

“Very well, then. Come in. I’ll brew you some strawberry tea, and you’ll tell the tale.”

Before Scarlet had the chance to collect her wits, she found herself at the dining table, sipping her grandmother’s famous strawberry tea.

“I would ask Bluebell to join us, but I’m afraid she won’t come. You know how she is these days… Never stirring from her room.”

“What is it? Is she sick?” the girl asked.

“No… That’s a fable Scarlet can tell you a little later. Now, it’s your turn to talk. Tell us who you are and how you turned up on our doorstep.”

“Well,” said the girl, sipping her tea, “It’s kind of a long story. A very long one.”

“It’s okay. We have time.”

“Alright then. My name is Ella, though you may know me as Cinderella, for that’s the nickname my kind sisters gave me.”

“Wait a moment,” Scarlet’s grandmother interrupted, “Ella? Certainly not… Not Ella Goldentress?”

“The very one!”

“Why, I knew your mother before she… The two of us were very good friends. I always hated your father for marrying that step mother of yours. Excuse my saying so.”

“No, it’s quite alright. My step mother… She’s really not the kindest lady. Well, you know the beginning of my tale, then. I lived as a servant for my stepmother and sisters. It was not a good life, but I bore it well. Two weeks ago, I heard that the prince was having a ball, and that my “family” was planning on going. Of course, I was not invited along, but that was not my problem. In secret, I sewed myself a dress, and created a carriage from a large pumpkin. Then, tonight, as they were getting ready to go, I snuck away too. I was just about to roll away towards the palace, all beauty and splendor, in my new carriage, dress, and these very slippers. Just then, my fairy godmother appeared.”

“How very wonderful!” Scarlet exclaimed. By this time, she was getting very much into the adventure, which she found much more interesting than her own.

“Nothing wonderful about it. I had done everything myself already, and was perfectly content to just go, and my godmother always has such strange ideas. Well, she insisted on doing something for me. She disappeared for a moment, and soon appeared again, looking immensely content with herself. She had cast a spell on the prince! Now, at the moment, I didn’t care much about it; I simply wanted to be off. So, I left my godmother to revel in her accomplishments, and went off to the dance. Little did I know what kind of a spell the kind-hearted fairy had cast on the prince. A love spell! The moment I got to the ball, the prince fell madly in love with me, and followed me around for the rest of the evening. At midnight exactly, he took me aside, and began to mutter how much he adored me. It was simply insufferable! At this point, I felt I could bare him no longer, and ran down the steps and through the forest, ripping my dress and losing a shoe along the way. And a whole lot of trouble I’m in now! This tea is delicious, by the way.”

“Wow. That… That’s horrible!” Scarlett muttered, baffled.

“Well, you’re with us now, so there’s no need to despair.” Grandmother said cheerfully, pouring Ella another cup of tea, “Drink up! You’re welcome in my house for as long as you wish to stay here.”

And so Scarlet met a friend. At first, the two were not very close, as Scarlet was timid and suspicious where her grandmother was open-hearted and welcoming. Slowly but surely, though, the two became as inseparable as two girls ever were. For a long time, both ladies were extremely happy. There was nothing in the world to distress them.  Grandmother loved and cared for them, and the two suited and entertained each other perfectly. Soon, however, Scarlet began to feel once more that there was something missing from her life. Ella felt sorry for the poor prince who loved a vision, and so was often sad about the pain she had caused him. Scarlet, too, often wished that all around her could be as jovial and blooming as she herself was. It distressed her to see Bluebell crying at the window, and Ella sighing at her side. She began to feel that something must be done. So, one day, Scarlet came to her grandmother, and asked for a talk.

“Yes dear, what is it?”

“I wish to help Ella feel at ease! There must be some solution to this prince problem!”

“Yes, darling, I’m sure there is, and it’s up to you to find it. I suggest you travel to the palace, and have a talk with the prince. Then, you will surely find a solution.”

And so Scarlet set off. There were many tears shed upon her leaving, and even Bluebell was heard to sigh at the window, though that may have been her usual state. Scarlet walked through the woods, swinging her basket, humming a tune. Never was a more self-confident lady seen in the land. The wild animals themselves were too scared to approach her. Three days and three nights she walked, and on the third day she reached the field of announcements. There, a little girl approached her, mumbling and whispering.

“Please, Ma’am help me out! A young princess, the beauty of the kingdom, has pricked herself with a needle, and fallen into an eternal sleep. Only a prince can save her! Perhaps you know one around?”

“I will try, my girl,” smiled Scarlet, and went on her way. A little while later, a second little girl approached her, as confused and nervous as the first had been.

“Oh, my lady! Could you do me a favour? Would you be so kind as to deliver this message to any prince in the neighboring lands?”

“But of course!”

“Well, you see, a beautiful princess famed for her sweetness and gentleness, who has for the past few years lived with some kind dwarves in the woods, has been poisoned by an apple! It is rumored that a gallant young prince can be her remedy.”

“I know just the one,” Scarlet assured her, and continued on her way. In a few moments, a third young girl approached her, looking just like those who came before her.

“Kind, gentle friend!” she pleaded with Scarlet, “My sisters have told me how gracious you have been to them. Perhaps you could help me too? You see, a beautiful girl, come from a faraway land was at Prince Charles’ ball. It so happened that he fell in love with her. But as soon as the clock struck midnight, she was off and running, so fast that none of the guards could catch her! No one has seen her since. Could you perhaps help us find her?”

“Now that,” Scarlet said, highly displeased, “Is something I can not help you with. And I suggest you leave off this search at once.” With that, she walked briskly away, and left the girl staring after her.

Soon after, Scarlet arrived at the palace. She turned to the sleepy guards at the gates, asking them to allow her to speak to the prince. However, the answer was not in her favour.

“Certainly not, my lady.”

“Absolutely impossible. You see, the prince is currently in mourning. You’ve heard about his love, I suppose. The mysterious lady of the palace, who had the heart to run away from him. So sad...”

“Yes, well, I…”

“So,you see, there can be absolutely no way for you to see him.”

“Ah, but I bring him news of his love! I thought he might wish to her that. But if not, I will gladly go away.”

“Tell us, and we shall deliver the news.”

“Absolutely impossible. I shall tell him, or no one at all.”

“Very well. I will tell his royal highness that a lady wishes to speak to him of the princess.” The guard bowed, and Scarlet smiled at her own cleverness. She had prepared a speech to deliver to the prince, and was about to go into the palace. All was going according to plan.

When the guard returned, Scarlet was conducted to the Royal chambers. The doors were opened for her, and before she knew quite rightly what was going on, she was standing in a long, beautiful room, with a throne before her.

“Your Royal Highness Prince Charles the Charming,” Scarlet said, curtseying as low to the ground as anyone had ever gone.

“Speak, Madam. I will gladly hear the news you bring.”

“Ah, yes, sir. But you see, I can not speak while they are here,” she whispered, nodding towards the guards.

“You, guards, are dismissed. We shall talk in private.” The guards cleared the chamber with a bow, and Scarlet found herself alone with the prince. Now, for the first time, she had a chance to examine him. He was a tall youth, lavishly attired, with long brown locks falling on his royal forehead. Really, as far as looks went, he was all that could be desired in a prince. But when Scarlet examined his face a little more closely, she found there very little true grief. She doubted he could be truly in love with Ella. The spell had made him fancy himself so, and that was all. However, in his princely features,  Scarlet quickly saw something that made her want to help him. A hint of neglect, a want of love hung about him. What he needs most, Scarlet thought to herself, Is a kind woman to love him. Well, she would try to find him one, but it would not be an easy job.

So, Scarlet began her tale. She told the prince she had heard of his tragedy, but that she thought he had misinterpreted it. She told him that his love was really unworthy of his attentions, and that they would never be happy together. He would wish for someone who could love him more than the beautiful lady ever would, and she, in turn, would be miserable in her inability to make him happy. All in all, it would be a very unfavourable match for both parties. Why should he continue on his search?

“Very well. Perhaps you are correct. Perhaps I was truly mistaken in my love for her. You see, I’ve been considering. This lady, she was so elegant, so gentle, so elusive… Almost like a vision. I felt like some unbeatable force was making me love her. Now, though, I perceive its effects beginning to wear off. Your presence has made me question what I have mourned for. But tell me, it has come time for me to marry. You say it shall be wrong for me to wed this lady. My heart yearns for her, but I see now that you may be right.  Who, then, shall I take as my bride?”

“This, too, I have thought of, Your Highness. Along my travels, I have heard of a princess. A beautiful young girl, sadly put into an everlasting sleep. You will find her in the land of Dormiria. What do you think of going off to rescue this lady? You could then take her as your bride.”

“I, too, have heard of this Sleeping Beauty. I do not think she is the one for me. You see, I do not enjoy the thought of going against a witch’s spell. Besides, whatever shall I do if I do not end up loving her? I will be forced to wed her. Do you have any other options?”

“But of course! In the faraway woods, at home with some nice dwarves, lives a kind, gentle girl, poisoned by an apple. It is rumored that a prince can save her. Could you rescue this beauty-of-the-woods, and have her as your wife?”

“Well, uh, you see… I’m not, ah, how should I put this, the biggest fan of quests. I find them… Just a little dangerous, you see. A bit. I want a wife that will love me unconditionally, worship the very ground I walk on, and yet be glad to be loved by me, and be my fellow ruler of the land. I do not wish to work for her. Quests are not my cup of tea.”

Scarlet thought for a minute. She had expected the prince to be cowardly, but not to this extent! She hardly had an idea of what to do with him. Suddenly, something came to mind. She knew the perfect girl, one that would suit him exactly. Someone that would be completely infatuated with his Regal self, and would love him unconditionally. Scarlet smiled to herself, and once again addressed the prince. If only Prince Charles would agree to her plan.

“Your Majesty, I believe I have just the girl for you. If you lean down for a moment, I will whisper in your ear the name of that who you seek.” So she did, and as a wide smile spread over the princely face, she continued, “If you will be so kind as to meet me on the morrow, all alone on a sturdy horse at the entrance to the woods, I shall take you to her. Be prompt and bring no man with you.”

“Kind lady, do allow me to give you room and lodge for the night?”

“Unfortunately, I have an aunt in the land to whom I must deliver my regards. We shall meet tomorrow, before the sun rises. Do not forget what I have told you!”

“But please, my lady, is there anything else I can do for you?”

“If you are so anxious to help, do bring a horse for me too.”

“The best horse in the royal stables shall be yours.”

“I thank you, Your Majesty. And now, good day.” And with a bow, Scarlet was out the door and on to her aunt’s house, extremely pleased with herself.  She had accomplished her goal, and, if she was not mistaken, come up with a wonderful plan. All in all, she was very happy with her performance as the mysterious hooded figure.

“Wait! Young lady, do tell me your name!” Prince Charles shouted into the distance. However, no answer came to his cries. Scarlet was gone. So, the prince was left to think over the events of today, and what the future held.

***

It was near dawn on a cool summer morn when Scarlet stood near the entrance of the woods. It’s been over an hour that she’s been standing this way, and she was beginning to get irritated. Could it be that the spell was too strong for Scarlet to break? Perhaps, she thought, the cowardly prince had been too scared to make the trip. Or, maybe he had overslept? Just as all of these thoughts began to invade Scarlet’s calm, the prince appeared, all expensive gallantry on his beautiful cream-coloured mare. Along with him was another, a chocolate brown pony, galloping quietly by his side.

“Good day, Your Royal Majesty! I hope you are ready?”

“Quite so, fair lady. I trust this ride will be safe and calm?”

“I have reason to hope that it will. One must exercise common sense in the woods, I have learned, but really when you do they are quite safe. Think of this trip as a joy ride. After all, you are going to meet your future bride!”

“I… Yes. I have been preparing for that. What shall I tell her, do you think? I want a woman’s point of view in this. I am thinking: ‘My lady, shall you do me the honour…’”

At that, Scarlet let him chatter on, and concentrated herself on the beauty of the woods. All around her, flowers were blooming, birds were singing, and the world was waking up. Before long, they reached the trail towards her home. The mares were quick-footed, and in the morning breeze it truly was a joyride. Not a single wolf would dare approach them at such a beautiful time. Scarlet was at her ease.

As the horses approached her home, Scarlet stopped the prince.

“Your Royal Highness, you must stay here while I go and warn my friends of your coming. I will come and get you when the time is right.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to spring upon them by surprise?”

“Certainly not. Your bride might faint from the shock of your handsome face appearing so suddenly! No. Stay here while I go on ahead. I won't be gone a minute.” She galloped off, leaving the prince to pace impatiently.

The first one she saw as she approached the hut was Ella. She had been waiting impatiently for Scarlet’s return, and had hardly left the garden since the start of her absence.

“Scarlet! What is the news?” she yelled after hugging her repeatedly.

“I have found a bride for the prince. Now, listen to the plan,” and with that she whispered softly into Ella’s ear, so that only little bits could be heard.

“...into the house… lead her out… after it’s done, come out again and offer them tea…”

And then, aloud, “So we shall see whether my plan was successful, or no. I have a feeling it will be. Hurry, dear, and get them ready! I do not wish to keep the prince waiting. Not a second can be spared!”

A few minutes later, Scarlet and the prince gallopped up to the hut. The prince stepped up, and Scarlet sat down in the background. She had done her job, and had only to wait and see how her plan turned out. The door opened, and out stepped Bluebell, in all her beauty and glory, pale skinned, with magical clear-blue eyes. Upon seeing her immense beauty, the spell wore off completely, and Prince Charles fell immediately in love with her. Her sweet face served as an antidote to the godmother’s magic. The prince had planned a long speech, but now could only mutter, “Dear… Love… Sweet…”

“What he means to say, dearest Bluebell,” Scarlet laughed, “Is ‘I love you dear Bluebell, will you love me eternally and be my royal Queen?’”

Bluebell looked like she might indeed faint, and demanded, “Is this some kind of prank? Might this be true?”

“Yes… I... That is, if you love me. If… Oh, fair dame, I love you more than it is in my power to state. If you agree to become the Queen of Fairytale land and rule with me forever, I will be the happiest man ever to walk the earth. I have fancied myself in love before, but never have I had this feeling. Please?”

“Nothing would make me happier,” smiled Bluebell, the first real smile that Scarlet had seen from her for ages. Just then, Ella flounced out, and offered the couple some tea. Prince Charles didn’t even flinch, and walked inside, never suspecting who was pouring his beverage. So, Scarlet left the Prince with Bluebell, and Ella to recover from the shock, and went inside to talk to her grandmother.

“You have done well, my child. This shows that friendship can be the best gift in the world, doesn’t it? It has been for Ella and Bluebell.”

“And for myself, as well. Thank you, grandmother, for your counsel. I am extremely grateful.”

“You’re very welcome, my dear. Now, go and party. I shall join you soon.”

And so the wedding took place without a delay. The Prince was infatuated with his bride, and she, with him. It was the happiest marriage ever to be held in Fairytale land. They lived together peacefully and joyfully. A few years later, Bluebell bore Prince Charles three sons. The first went off and and rescued Sleeping Beauty from her endless slumber, the second saved the poisoned girl. Both went down in history as smart and brave lads. The third son became a professor, and wrote down many a tale he had heard around the land. All of them were true, and went on here, in Fairytale land. As for Scarlet and Ella, they continued to live with grandmother, in the little hut in the woods. As time bore on, Ella met a clever prince from an adjoining kingdom, who fell madly in love with her, and married him. Scarlet continued to be her most trusted friend, and became the main advisor for both Fairytale Land and Ella’s kingdom, Magicville, for even the greatest rulers sometimes needed some help and guidance.

All in all, Scarlet had solved every problem that could cause them pain, and all the friends lived happily ever after, with nothing to worry or depress them to the end of their days.