A uthor and I llustrator : A shley J oseph

Ashley Publications, Inc © January 2009

This story is dedicated to my dad for always inspiring me to use my imagination!

O nce upon a time there was a beautiful princess named Elizabeth. She had always listened to her parents. Elizabeth was always given everything she wanted in life, but the one thing she had never gotten was true love.

H er parents had arranged for her to get married to Prince James, a selfish and rude man. She unwillingly said yes to please her parents. Though she kept wondering about true love, she knew it wouldn’t come true for her.

O ne day Elizabeth took a walk in the village market. There she met a handsome young man named Thomas. He was no prince but the princess felt as if she knew him her whole life.

P rincess Elizabeth had never been so happy. She went to the market place almost everyday to meet Thomas. She was so happy until she realized that she was to marry Prince James in 3 days. She was so upset, but realized that she must obey her parents and marry Prince James.

T he day before the wedding Elizabeth told her parents about everything that happened. Her parents were very angry with her. So they locked her in her room with her servant Jill and guarded the area. Go surround the area…she’s not going anywhere!

T he princess was so upset at the fact that she was about to marry a man who loved her money and power more than her. She was running out of options so she asked Jill on what she should do. What should I do???

J ill’s advice to Elizabeth was to follow her heart no matter what. Elizabeth knew her heart said to marry Thomas, but she wondered on how she was to do that when her room is being guarded. Follow your heart!!!

J ill then says that she will go to Thomas and tell him to come and save you. Princess Elizabeth ran to Jill and held her hand and said, “You’re a saint. Just when I was about to give up you give me support and now I may have a chance with Thomas”. So off went Jill to tell Thomas.

W hen Jill reached Thomas’s house she saw him working in the field. She went to him and told him everything that had happened due to them falling in love. He said that he had heard of the wedding, so he had decided to forget about her.

H e then told Jill to leave since he was also getting married the next day. She kept arguing with him but found it was no use and left. After Jill left, Thomas’s father came and asked him what was going on. Thomas then explained everything to him. Here's the thing dad….

T homas’s dad was disappointed at Thomas because he turned away his true love. Thomas’s dad reminded him that he had married his mom by love, and they were happy together. He then asked him why he didn’t tell him about Elizabeth. Well the thing is dad …

T homas told his dad that he never thought that Elizabeth would marry a peasant boy like him. Then his father said son the truth and path you should take is in your heart, follow it and be happy. But…

T homas knew he had to marry Elizabeth, but the only thing stopping him was his wife to be, Mary. He went the next day to Mary with his dog, Jackson and decided to tell her everything. He knew Mary would understand everything.

H e told Mary and she became sad and cried, she understood him and gave permission to leave her. Before they left Mary gave Thomas a sword to help him save her. He then left with Jackson to go save Elizabeth. Thomas and Jackson finally reach the castle but see that it was being guarded.

T homas sees princess Elizabeth in the window but doesn’t know how to get past the guards. Then Jackson makes Thomas follow him into a dark passage in the back of the castle. Thomas sees a stair case and decides to see where it leads to.

B y luck it led him to Princess Elizabeth's room which was also guarded. Only he was too late, he sees her on her way to the ballroom to walk down the isle. He ran as fast as he could to the ballroom while Jackson distracted the guards.

H e then barges in the room and says, “stop the wedding”. He walks up the isle to Elizabeth and asks why she is marrying Prince James and not him. She then answers and says you’re the one who had second thoughts and I am doing the right thing. Then James pushes Thomas away and says to continue.

T homas gets mad and pulls the sword, that Mary gave him, out. When James sees the sword he takes out his pocket knife. Thomas then asks to have a dual with Prince James to see who shall marry Elizabeth. Everyone was so anxious to see who would win and marry the princess.

T hey began to fight among each other. Princess Elizabeth couldn’t stand the violence. Then a shocking incident happened, Prince James had pinned Thomas to the ground. Just before he was about to stab him, Jackson jumps on him and the knife falls and stabs Prince James.

Elizabeth ran to Thomas and gave him a huge kiss. He then asked for her hand in marriage. They were finally together and they lived happily ever after.

Character Archetypes Hero : Thomas Damsel-in-Distress : Princess Elizabeth Earth Mother : Jill Mentor : Thomas’s Father Friendly Beast : Jackson

Situational Archetypes Task – Rescue Elizabeth Battle Between Good and Evil – Thomas fights against Prince James Magic Weapon- The sword Mary gives Thomas.

Symbolic Archetypes Light vs. Darkness – Elizabeth hopes that Thomas will come save her and bring a renewal in their relationship explains light. Thomas being unsure and in despair about the task is darkness. Cross Roads – Thomas comes to a time where he has to make the decision on whether or not he will marry Elizabeth or leave her and go for Mary.

The End!!!