The Princess and the Tux.

Once upon a time, in a kingdom far away, there was a King who knew no mercy.  His motto, “There can be only one.”  With this determination, he conquered all the known world. There was no army, no nation that could stand before his might.  This is not his story, for during his conquests, he met a Princess.  They fell in love, or at least He did, and they were wed.  It took little time for the stork to arrive, carrying their first born daughter.  She was named Michelle.  

Michelle grew up in the lap of luxury, as would be expected of the daughter of the most powerful king in history.  However, she grew up in an emptiness, everyone around her feared her.  At night she cried herself to sleep, because no one understood.  She couldn't try explaining to her father, because he would just order someone executed.  Her mother was no help either, she would order the servants whipped, or arrange a meeting with a foreign prince.

The sad fate of Michelle was soon to change though.  Her father learned of an unconquered land.  It was far to the south, and rumored to be a land made completely of snow.  The preparations for war were made, and the King and his undefeated army set sail.  The inhabitants of this new world were a strange lot.  They were not even human at all, but the magics they wield made them a formidable foe.  Soon, the King and the remnants of his fleet returned, shattered, and completely defeated.

Afraid of his waning power, the king thought desperately of how to retain a hold on his Kingdom.  Defeating the armies of this foreign power was unimaginable. They had cast incredible spells, ice had poured from the sky like an endless volley of arrows.  The ground beneath them has shattered and shook, and the icy waters had claimed scores of his men.  When they fled, the winds picked up and tossed their ships like rags across the ocean.  All of this from a strange race of creatures who were shorter than most children, and were clothed in black and white.

Finally and adviser suggested something so crazy, It might work.  An alliance, offer Princess Michelle's hand in marriage, and the problem would be solved. The king thought this over, but what interest could they have in a human girl?  Having seen their dark magics first hand, though the adviser quickly assured The King that transformation to different species would be a small task for their mages.  So a messenger was sent, and preparations were made.

Michelle was depressed with her meaningless existence, and contemplating how to end her own life when she heard the news.  As if, I'm just a pawn to save this stupid kingdom, she thought to herself. “Sounds like a chilly place,” she commented indifferently, acting to make the servant leave her alone.  Picking up a knife she has used this morning she thought, With this I can kill myself.  I need to be alone, suicide just won't be possible if someone finds me before I'm dead.  Scratching her wrist with the point she hummed quietly to herself, when the hollow echo of footsteps warned her of an approaching attendant.  Sighing softly, Michelle set the knife aside, and prepared her fake smile.

The king's adviser stepped into her chambers boldly speaking, “Greetings, princess Michelle.  The King has a dire request of you.  You must sacrifice yourself in the name of all that is Good and Holy.  You alone, can stop the fearsome might of the southern continent from it's rampage of destruction against us.”

Taking a breath, and pompously flourishing his azure cape, he continued, “By taking the hand of this fearsome land's prince in marriage, you can save our people and go forth boldly in history forever remembered for your self sacrifice.”  

Michelle interrupted, “Oh, but if only I could do so much.  Alas I fear my heart lies elsewhere.  Tis tragic, but I cannot lay before another man,” she lied, with a composure only a life as a princess could have given her.

“oh woe is me,” the adviser grieved, ”Can not you at least speak your heart before the prince of this foreign land?,” name asked, he had lived his entire life before nobles, her act would not deceive him.  He knew the prince of those southern people could easily be warned to use a truth spell.

Trapped by the cunning adviser, Michelle sighed, “I fear for my safety, but perhaps, a meeting far from others can be arranged.”  Glancing at the knife longingly she thought, Perhaps during this journey, we will find time to embrace.

As the sun rose over the mountains, the scurry of servants began to rouse in the castle.  Princess Michelle had barely slept that night, she had hoped to escape, and end her life, but hand maidens and attendants had fussed over her refusal to sleep. They made her prepare for the long journey, and assumed she was nervous about meeting this powerful foreign prince.  They couldn't have been more wrong if they had tried to, but she couldn't tell them that.  So a weary Michelle yawned through her breakfast, and donned her travel dress.  There is no escaping the journey now, she thought.  Maybe I can find a place to sneak away as we travel.

With the morning half over, the King's men accompanied Michelle to the seaport, and the waiting vessel.  Her stomach turned, This far away land of powerful magic would have to be half way cross the ocean. Smiling brightly and waving to the commoners, she braced herself for a miserable journey.  The sea could easily sweep me from this world, if only I can manage to slip beneath her beauty beneath the tears of heaven some call stars.  Alas, her fate was not to die, suspicious of her motives, name had hired a boy to watch her every movement.  

So the journey by sea went with little fanfare, as the spy kept Michelle safely from her dreams of death.  All too soon the weather on board grew colder, and the crew knew, they approached the fearsome land of ice and magic.  Some of them trembled in fear, others made grand boasts of their fearlessness, but secretly all of them just wanted to leave.

It was the next afternoon that the shore was spotted, Princess Michelle was almost relieved.  Surely in such an ungodly place I will find the final embrace.  Smiling weakly she relied on seasickness to bolster her act, “I thought surely I would perish aboard this dreadful vessel, but at last I see hope that I might never walk this deck again.  We simply must rest immediately, I could never make a furlong.”  Her guards reluctantly agreed, fearing for her health.  When they landed, a scout was sent onward to bring news of Princess Michelle's arrival to the prince of the land.

...

The emissary arrived before a towering palace built of enchanted ice.  The orders were simple, inform the prince of the arrival of princess Michelle.  The king had negotiated these talks, and his goals were clear, turn a threat to his indomitable might into an asset.  The emissary was curious as to how these powerful magicians had bothered to allow themselves to be manipulated so easily.  Surely they were not that arrogant.  

“Worry not,” Prince Tux spoke as if reading the emissaries mind. “I know all about King Will's plans. This meeting was allowed for one reason only.  Princess Michelle is the key to our victory.”

His training lost in the shock, the messenger reeled backwards into the wall.  “surely you jest, there are no secret dealing afoot. i-ff you plan to harm the princess I will lay down my life to ensure her safety!”  the man reacted, fear causing him to shake.

“Do not misunderstand me, Princess Michelle will be treated better in my kingdom than she has ever been treated her entire life in her own father's kingdom.  With her on our side there will not be a decent man left loyal to the fool you call King.”  Tux's words resounded against the icy walls
and the messenger collapsed into a dreamless sleep.

...

Night fell on the encampment, finally the nervous tension at being on this continent of ice had caused the men to drop their guard on princess Michelle. I will be able to end my life, tonight, and finally be able to be at ease, she thought.  She fled the camp, her knife at her side, and stole into the night.

The cliff was majestic, it's sheer ice face glistened in the starlight.  waves crashed below, their icy fingers seeming to call Michelle.  Grabbing the knife in her hands, she prepared to plunge it into her heart, when a voice rose. “Such an awful thing to do.  Has your life truly been so empty that you would end it here?”  Prince Tux spoke, as he put his currently human hands around her, gently keeping her knife from moving.

“What is the meaning of this? You did not come with us, how did a human come to these lands? How do you claim to know me or understand me?!?” Michelle shouted in confusion.

“I am your prince, Tux, here to save you at long last.  It may be true that I am not really human, but my magic is powerful.  I know everything about you, your silent torment, the lack of any real meaning in your life.  I came here tonight out of my love for you.  Together we have the power to change things.”

“what do you mean?  What do you plan?  Your Mages have surely put my father to his heels, but you are not the first strong opponent he has faced! Do you know how many people thought they could defeat him? they all failed!!”
Michelle protested.

“The people of your land are indeed powerful, but your father has made a grave mistake.  He offered you to me.  It will not be easy but I have a plan, If you trust in me, I will trust in you.” He said his hand releasing hers, as he pulled back a step.

Michelle turned and faced this man, who was he? what could he do?  Her fears all melted before his smile, and letting go of all her problems she reached up and kissed him fully.

...

the preparations took several months to complete, but for Michelle the time simply flew by. Her lover Tux was with her every night in his human guise, some nights they simply talked, but others the passion swept them away.  She smiled wide at the thought he was so caring and gentle.  He listened to her, he understood everything that was wrong.

Today was important though she steeled herself, because her role was critical.  She must convince the people of her land that her father was a terrible man, unfit to be king.
Initially she had doubted that such a thing could work, but Tux's plan had been quite convincing. A truth spell would be cast upon her father and she would ask him the questions that he could not possibly speak the answers to before the court.

Michelle bravely entered the palace courtyard, and stood before the assembly of nobles and generals awaiting a signal from her love. A light flashed, indicating that the spell had taken effect. Stepping forward she asked, “Father dearest, how many children have you slain with your own hands? A hundred? a thousand? a million?”

the king stuttered.. “At le-east te-en thousand..” the court became dead silent

“So, how many of your loyal men have you had tortured for the pleasure of hearing their screams?”

he answered, ”untold thousands...”

“How many lovers have you taken only to murder them in your own bed?”

“hundreds”

the shock began to wear down.. and many in the court began to look angry..

“so father, were you not born in a dusty village as a commoner, did you not kill the crown prince who looked so like you who trusted you as a friend?”

“yes, i did!” and with that the fate of her father was sealed, he was striped of his crown, and beheaded as a commoner at that very hour.

At that moment Prince tux marched in chanting an incantation..  the king's lifeless body froze solid, and then shattered to dust.  “In the name of the great kingdom of Icelandia, I claim a right to this now vacant throne, by my marriage to Princess Michelle, and by might of my armies who stand poised to crush all who oppose me.”

The court sat stunned after a moment some quite whispering began.  “We appreciate your offer, however in light of new evidence the princess has no right to the throne of this land.”  a servant began speaking as ordered.

“nonsense,” tux explained, “Her mother the queen had full rights to the throne when she married that impostor. However, her devotion and dedication to that evil man have been her undoing, but Michelle's claim to the throne remains valid, and I will accept a challenge only from those who have an equally legitimate claim to the throne. I can assure you though, her father hunted down and slaughtered all such claimants.”  

the whispering became more frantic, and the court finally spoke, “In that case, we must first gain her mother's approval for your marriage!”  they cried desperately, hoping not to be dominated by these foreigners so easily.

...

A dinner was prepared, and the former queen met with prince tux and princess Michelle.  Tears still stained the queen's eyes, for while she had not loved him at first, he had been her only source of comfort for so long.  Losing her King had devastated her.  The dinner was quite formal, but despite that Tux made Michelle burst into laughter more than once.  The Queen could see that it was a truer love than she had ever hoped for for herself.  She had been told to refuse the marriage no matter what.  How could she deny such love?  she cried openly, “I cannot bear to see my daughter cry again.. I will grant you permission to marry, but only on one term.. you leave this nation.  We will sign an alliance with your people, but we want nothing to do with your rule.”

Tux smiled gently, “I can agree to those terms, I only needed your permission or it would be pointless to have taken your daughter away.” He leaned across the table and daringly kissed Michelle fully.  Soon they were married and lived happily ever after.