Death, Time, and the Princess

Once upon a time there was a beautiful princess who wanted, more than anything, to live happily ever after. Her happily ever after, however, was to not live.

In her own right, she was locked into a surreal fairytale. Her wicked stepmother was not a tangible foe. Her prince charming would not wake her with his sweet kiss or smite the dragon who oppressed her.

Her life was the great force of evil, her knight in shining Armour, Death. She longed for his dark touch, for him to wisk her away to his far- off kingdom, to be carried away to a land where nothing here could touch her.

Each day, suitors from far and near would come to her father's castle. Each begged, plead, and bargained for the hand of the princess, and each was shunned and turned away by the girl. For none, she felt, would ever satisfy her.

After many years passed, the king became angered by his daughter's refusals, fearing she would never allow his blood to be passed into the future, thus causing the  kingdom to fall to ruin. So he made a deal with the gods for one of their own to succeed his crown in turn for making his daughter content. The gods, thinking their talents infallible, eagerly accepted the trade. They scoured their ranks for the perfect candidates. Of all their numbers, only two were found that could please the princess, Death and Time. 

The gods presented their two before the king and the princess. Each stated their beliefs as to why they would be better than their competitor. Time claimed he would never touch his bride's youthful grace, keeping her as lovely as that day to the end of time itself. Death said he would love her like no one else could, for she in turn would love him.

When both had been heard, the king thought the matter through, considering each Time and Death's reasoning. He pondered his dilemma for a week, during which the princess was given frequent audiences with her suitors. Each day, the princess rudely shunned and mocked Time, falling more and more in love with Death.

Time, too, was in love with the princess, even though he knew she did not love him. He also realized that, given the choice, the princess would choose Death over Time, for he offered the opposite of what she wanted. So he made the same offer to the king he had made to the princess; not to touch him. The king seized the chance, thinking he would never have to relinquish his crown to the gods.

So on the end of the seventh day, disregarding all pleas, the king announced the marriage of his daughter to Time.

In an act of revenge, Death wreaked havoc upon the kingdom, claiming the servants, villagers,  livestock, and eventually, the king himself. But he never again so much as looked at the princess, for he loved her too much to harm her so.

Time honored his word, and showed the princess his love by never touching her beauty. His love was in  distance, an empty love. How she longed for the embrace of Death, for a lover who would hold her and give her what she wanted.

Years passed, and the beautiful princess grew sadder with each. One evening, Death came to the castle and told Time he had come for the princess. Time scoffed and replied that it was impossible, for he had made his wife' s youth immortal.

That is true, Death replied, you have not touched her.

Time thought he had defeated Death once and for all. The princess was horrified that she would never be able to join her beloved Death. Strangely, Death did not retreat in a defeated manner. Instead, he looked amused. He smiled a sly and wicked smile.

Dear Time, he said, But she has not died of age, she has died of a broken heart.