Once upon a time there was a princess named Margriet. She was the daughter of King Johanne and Queen Lisbeth. Margriet was the most beautiful lady of the land. She had shiny, smooth, waist-length hair that was the color of a golden sun. Her pale, flawless skin was as soft as silk, and her vibrant green eyes the color of leaves just before autumn arrives.

Princess Margriet lived in the kingdom of Pehr, a small, quaint village surrounded by mountains. At the farthest end of Pehr stood Lake Lasse, which was the only way to reach any human outside of Pehr. Just across Lake Lasse stood the large kingdom of Bronte. Bronte was the largest kingdom for miles and miles around, and it was ruled by the handsome King Percival. The Princess had met King Percival only once, but she was in awe of how good-looking he was. His chocolate-brown hair complemented his tawny skin well, and his dark, hazel eyes were captivating. 

After Princess Margriet’s mother fell ill, the Princess and her father knew Margriet needed to be married soon in case something happened to her father. They agreed that should she not find a husband by age 19, or should her parents die, then she would marry King Percival. Doing so would also unite Pehr and Bronte.

One day Princess Margriet awoke to find her mother dead. King Johanne planned a ball for that night, and invited King Percival to attend. He also invited all from Pehr and Bronte to attend.

Before the party, King Johanne told Margriet, “Please keep your mouth closed about your mother. I don’t want the public to know she has passed. Just say she is feeling ill and is unable to attend. Stay with King Percival.” And so she did.

She was asked many times, “Princess, where is the Queen at this moment,” and “How come the Queen is not present?” 

 All Princess Margriet could say was “She is feeling unwell and does not wish to pass it to others.” Every time someone mentioned her mother she wanted to start sobbing at the pain, but she had to keep her composure until the ball was over.

The next morning at the breakfast table, King Johanne was acting odd. Instead of pouring his cereal first then his milk, he poured the milk then cereal. He was eating his fresh fruit with a butter knife, and he was stirring his tea with a fork.

“Father, why do you do that?” asked Princess Margriet.

“What do you mean?” replied King Johannes. He then realized he was trying to eat a piece of watermelon with a butter knife, unsuccessfully. 

“I was just messing around dear. No need to worry,” he told the Princess.

Margriet did not believe her father’s excuse, but it would be rude to argue during breakfast, so she let it be. 

Later that afternoon she found her father in one of the corridors that houses the servants.

“Father, what are you doing up here?” she inquired.

“I don’t remember,” her father replied with a confused look on his face.

“Come with me back to the sitting room,” the Princess replied. She grabbed her father’s arm to walk with him down the stairs, but was taken aback by how it felt like ice. When they arrived in the sitting room Margriet grabbed a blanket for her father.

“You feel cold, and your skin is pale,” she told her father. He replied with a mumble of thanks. She left the room to fetch them some tea, but when she came back her father had slumped over on the couch. 

“Father,” she said, gently shaking his arm. She thought maybe he just fell asleep. “Are you sleeping?” she asked him. The King did not respond. Once again, Margriet shook him, quite vigorously this time. “Please wake up.” But King Johanne did not even move an eyelid. 

With fear building inside her, Princess Margriet ran for the royal doctor. When they returned a few minutes later, the doctor walked over to the King. He softly took two fingers and placed them onto the King’s neck, looking for a pulse. After a few moments, the doctor stood up and told Princess Margreit regretfully, “I’m sorry to say this Princess, but the King is dead.” 

Margriet’s stomach dropped so low she didn’t know where it went. Within 24 hours, her mother and father both died. Holding onto the little happiness that remained inside her, she left the room. 

News soon spread throughout the kingdom of not only the King’s death, but also of the Queen’s. The next morning when she went to eat breakfast, a grim-looking Queen Margriet was greeted by King Percival, who had arrived in the middle of the night.

“Good morning my love. How did you sleep?” he asked. The castle was full of movement. Servants were moving furniture out of Margriet’s mother and father's room and bringing in new furniture to replace it. She felt pain as she had never felt it before, and she tried to talk to Percival, her new husband, about it. 

“My darling, my mother and father have passed so close to each other, and I miss them very much.” Queen Margriet said to King Percival, teary eyed.

Percival replied, “I do not know why you would miss them. Their passing is a blessing for our kingdoms.” Margriet was taken aback by his words.

“What do you mean?” she asked, attempting to hide the pain and hurt in her voice.

“Those two did nothing good for Pehr. Look at the state it is in! Now that we are ruling both Pehr and Bronte, our kingdoms will become the wealthiest in the country,” he replied.

Margriet was unsure how to reply to Percival’s statement. She was hurt, but she could find no words. Many more events like this happened over the next seven years. After only months of marriage, Margriet learned Percival was not the kind, caring person she thought he was. Instead, he was cold, cruel, and manipulative. 

Every morning and every evening, Queen Margriet asked herself, “Will tomorrow be the day I become happy?” That day never was tomorrow, and she was stuck in the grasp of her cruel husband for seven years.

During an early morning stroll past Lake Lasse, Margriet spotted a group of young sailors. Wearing a disguise of brown hair and a worn-down skirt, she approached the men. 

“Good morning gentlemen, how do you do,” she said asked politely. Three of them replied, while the fourth one merely looked up and nodded his head in her direction. Queen Margriet made eye contact with the sailor, and a tiny flicker of hope sparked inside her. The world seemed to stop spinning, and her heart started to beat faster. The other three sailors continued on with their work while the fourth sailor made his way toward Margriet. 

“How do you do my lady?” he said grabbing her hand and gently kissing it. 

“I do well, and you?” Margriet replied.

“I am fine. Thank you. What name does a beautiful lady like yourself go by?” asked the sailor. 

“I am Margriet. And what may I call you, kind sir?”

“My name is Nash.” he said doing a little bow. Margriet found this amusing. 

Every morning, Margriet would walk past Lake Lasse in hope of seeing Nash. Whenever she did, they always had a pleasant conversation. Over months, their acquaintance grew into a friendship.

“Margriet, I was wondering if you would like to go to the pub with me and get a bite to eat one afternoon?” Nash asked Margriet hopefully.

Margriet replied, “I would be honored to Nash.”

A look of relief could be seen over Nash’s face. The next day at three o’clock in the afternoon, Margriet and Nash met together at a pub. Margriet, still trying to hide her true identity to Nash, borrowed her favorite servant’s dress. It was made for the common person, but it was also good quality and clean. Her gorgeous, golden hair wasn’t styled, and she wore a bare face. Margriet and Nash had a very excitable afternoon at the pub, but sadly, she had to leave before Percival returned.

“It was an honor to be invited to lunch with you Nash. I had a splendid time,” she told Nash. 

“It was my pleasure Miss Margriet. I hope to see you another time soon?” he asked curiously. 

“Of course! What kind of question is that?” 

Nash bowed to Margriet, and she curtsied in response. Nash held the door for her and watched as she walked towards the castle.

Nash and Queen Margriet made regular dates like this. Nearly every week they met up at the pub and had a meal together. One day, Queen Margriet lost track of the time. She glanced at the clock on the wall and realized she was due at the castle nearly 45 minutes prior. She apologized to Nash and dashed out the door. 

When she returned to the castle, King Percival was there waiting for her at the door, and walked to the dining room with her.

“Where have you been?” Percival’s voice boomed around the room. 

“I was just walking around the town. I enjoy connecting with people,” Margriet innocently said.

“Why did you not inform me of your leaving?”

“I didn’t know you cared when I leave the castle since you don’t care about me when I am here.” 

“How dare you insult me like that! I am the King of two kingdoms, and I have more work than I can handle. All you do is whine about how I don’t care for you. If you wanted a meal with me, then why didn’t you say so? I’ve seen you and that sailor together. You don’t think I know you’ve been sneaking out for months to meet up with him? I am outraged you would do that!” Percival was yelling so loud that the glassware on the table was shaking. “You have two options: you either leave Pehr forever and never come back, or I shall execute him.” 

Margriet’s heart stopped beating. Leave the town she grew up in forever to protect the love of her life, or stay in her childhood home but kill Nash? She quickly made up her mind.

“I’ve been looking for an opportunity to leave you for years. I’m leaving, Percival. Good bye.” Margriet turned around and ran toward her bedroom. She took a bag and put a few blankets in it before saying goodbye to the servants. She left through the large, wooden castle doors, not knowing what was in store for her future. 

Margriet  headed straight toward the mountainous woods. After wandering until most of the sun had gone down, she found a cave to stay in for the night. She was visited in her dreams by the ghosts of her parents. They told her she had done the right thing by leaving Percival. 

The next morning, while looking for water, Margriet saw something out of the corner of her eye; it was her mother and father standing there. They were silvery and shimmery, but they also looked so real. She walked toward them with fear running through her body.

“Mother, father? How are you two here?” she said to them. 

“Our spirits are here, not our bodies. We have come to help you,” her ghost mother replied. She went to hug her parents, but then she remembered they were ghosts.

After one month in the mountains, she was starting to miss Nash more than ever. 

“There must be some way I can return to Pehr,” she told her parents. 

“Indeed there is. The Witch of Pehr can help you,” her mother said. 

Margriet started her week-long journey to find the Witch of Pehr. After a long, arduous journey, she found the Witch of Pehr.

“Dear, I have heard you need my help to get rid of your husband,” the witch said. 

“Yes, I must return to Pehr to seek my love, but I cannot while King Percival rules the throne.” 

“No worries, I can deal with that,” the witch said. “All you need to do is write out on paper what you wish to achieve and how, and I will do the rest.”

 Margriet knew she would feel guilty for killing King Percival, but she felt she would die if she doesn’t see Nash.

The next evening around seven o’clock, Margriet  returned to the witch’s hut to find the paper was finished. She thanked the witch profusely and left to return to Pehr.

Margriet walked all over Pehr looking for Nash, when she found him by the port. 

“Margriet, where have you been? Did you know the Queen has gone missing, and King Percival just died?” Nash exclaimed. Margriet was shocked at the fact that the witch’s contract worked. She hugged Nash so tight, she couldn’t feel her arms.

Margriet and Nash walked up to the castle. 

“Why are we going here? We aren’t allowed inside,” Nash asked.

“I live here,” Margriet replied. Nash couldn’t believe her.

They walked into the castle and were greeted by the happy servants. They all thought Margriet was dead and were glad to see her. 

Queen Margriet and Nash had the largest wedding in a century. Now that Pehr and Bronte had merged, Queen Margriet renamed the new kingdom Johanne, in honor of her father. Queen Margriet and Nash lived happily ever after.