A Writer's Wonderland [PDF] - University of Portsmouth

Before Arianna could even comprehend what had happened, the hag had gone, and in
Arianna’s outstretched hand now laid a silver necklace, swaying to and fro.
***
‘How dare she!’ Arianna shouted as she stormed through the castle, her voice echoing
among the high ceilings. Arianna’s mother Isabel soon came to her side.
‘What is wrong, my dear child?’ she asked. Her voice was melodic and soothing.
‘I’ll tell you what’s wrong, mother,’ began Arianna, ‘an old hag in the Forest just
attacked me! Attacked me I say! I should have her killed!’ Isabel moved towards her step-
daughter as if to comfort her, but Arianna struck her arm up immediately. ‘I do not need
comfort, mother, I am not a child!’ Isabel solemnly took a step backwards and clasped her hands
together in front of her.
‘What did she do to you?’ Isabel continued to ask.
‘She tried to rob me!’ screamed Arianna, as she was pacing backwards and forwards.
Several of the palace maids had left their duties and were now hiding behind nearby statues and
walls to get a glimpse of the commotion.
‘She had me strangled and spat at me and told me something terrible will happen on the
eve of my birthday if I don’t act more like my father. How dare she tell me how to rule my
Kingdom?’
‘Do you remember what she looked like?’ asked Isabel calmly.
‘Like an old hag! Short and ugly and smelt repulsive! But that describes almost half of
the Kingdom!’ shouted Arianna. She suddenly looked her mother in eye. ‘And she disappeared
soon after she attacked me,’ she said much quieter, ’and left a silver necklace in my hand....’
Isabel had a puzzled look on her face, and was just about to ask another question, when Arianna
continued, ‘but I cast it into the lake at once. I do not want some fake, enchanted piece of
witchcraft! Now come on mother, I would like to try on the dress for my ball.’
Arianna turned and made for the marble staircase towards her chambers, and the
scurrying of the maids footsteps back to their duties could faintly be heard. Isabel smiled and
followed her step-daughter up the stairs.
When she got to Arianna’s chambers, she found her standing in front of the mirror,
wearing the dress her mother had made especially for her. It was floor length and deep red, and
glistened in the light.
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