THE SWAN PRINCESS by Foutoux

The Swan Princess by Foutoux
All Rights Reserved Copyright L.Ivison 2013

The new-born Princess opened her eyes to a world which looked down on her with horror.  The child, the King and Queen of R.'s first born, had a very long neck - a neck as long as a swan's.

The Princess grew into a good-natured child, cheerful and happy with the attention that her swan's neck gave her.  The Queen tried to hide her growing anxiety, as did the King, but the Princess busied herself with making elaborate ruffs of Belgian lace which she would wear in layers.  In winter she knitted scarves from fine angora wool which she wore in the freezing Northern winters.  At the dinner table she had to bend her swan's neck so that her eyes would meet those of her parents - and she felt this to be the only real disadvantage.

At the age of 16 a number of suitors came and made their excuses when they saw the small head balanced high above her shoulders, even though the face was quite beautiful with a skin as fine as porcelaine and intelligent brown eyes.

The King and Queen in desperation invited suitors with their own peculiarities - one with legs as long as a giraffe, another who neighed like a donkey when he laughed - but even they, blind to their own faults, made their excuses and left.

Now, in the lake in the Palace grounds lived several swans who glided silently from one side of the lake to another.  Only the Princess dared to approach them and she would sit for hours watching the Royal birds pass and repass.

April arrived - the sun was bright but the air bitter and a sharp wind whipped the surface of the lake.  Catkins hung from bare branches, pussy willows like miniature cats gave the first hint of warmer days and the  fields of daffodils swayed.    One day the Princess was sitting very still when a large male swan climbed out of the water and lay his long neck across her lap.  During the course of this cold spring the Princess went to the lake everyday wrapped in furs and she would sit down on the bank.  Every day the same swan came out of the lake and lay across her lap.

The King and Queen were having afternoon tea one cold afternoon and were discussing, as usual, the problem of the Princess's future.  The King got up and walked towards the window which gave onto the grounds and from where he could just make out the Princess.  He watched his daughter, from this distance, with an astonishment which struck him dumb and motionless as he saw her climb on the swan's back.  The great white bird took to the air, flew over the naked poplar trees and the two of them were never seen again.

FOUTOUX

All Rights Reserved Copyright L.Ivison 2013