Bald

Once upon a time there was a princess named Cecilia. She lived in the Kingdom Crimper. She was perfect in every way. She had large, green eyes under long, thick eyelashes. Her skin was as white as snow with no blemishes. Her lips were full and red. Her hair, oh! her hair was long, wavy, and blond. But her hair was her flaw. She was obsessed with it! She would spend hours brushing her hair and would do nothing else. There was only one other thing she liked to do and it was making other people jealous of her. She would walk around the town while people admired her. One time a man even asked his wife after Cecilia had walked by, “Why couldn't you look like that?” 

            One day, Cecilia was brushing her perfect hair. She was putting down her brush when she looked down at it and saw a blond hair. She fainted dead away. Her servants all rushed to her side. She sat up and said, “I just had the scariest nightmare! There was a hair on my brush. What an imagination I have!” She laughed. One of her servants looked at her brush. The color in his face vanished. “That wasn't a dream, Highness.” He stuttered. “WHAT!” Cecilia shouted. “You did this!” She pointed at the poor servant. “Never show your face here again!” The servant ran from the room. Cecilia stared at that single hair on the brush. “It can't be true! It is probably just a cruel trick!” She started brushing her hair again. A whole clump of hair fell out. “NO!”

            The next day Cecilia set off to find a cure to her hair disease. She went every where and tried everything but nothing worked. It seemed to make it worse. When she had tried everything she could, she only had a hair left. She returned to her kingdom. When she had gotten back the rumor that their princess was bald had spread all around. Cecilia had never been more miserable and the people in the kingdom had never been more happy.

            That night Cecilia was weeping in her room. She stared out at the full moon as she pulled out her last hair. Her tears dropped on the hair and ran down it. Then the hair started to grow until it was a tiny fairy sitting in Cecilia's hand. She stared in amazement at the tiny person she was holding. The little fairy had delicate wings and each strand of her hair was a different color. The fairy spoke in a twinkling voice, “I am the Hair fairy, I have come to give you back your beautiful hair!” Cecilia clasped her hands together, squeezing the fairy. “Oh! really! Give me my hair! NOW!” She shook the fairy up and down. “Now, now princess. It is not that simple.” The fairy vanished out of Cecilia's hands and reappeared in front of her. “You must do three good deeds by the next full moon or else you will never have your hair back. You will also be turned into an ugly old hag. For that is what your inner beauty is at the moment. Become a better person and I will give you even more beautiful hair.” “Can't you give me my hair now?” Cecilia whined. “I will give you a hat, but that is all.” The Hair Fairy waved her wand over Cecilia's head and a hat appeared. Cecilia's lip quivered, “It is not good enough!” The fairy ignored her and started to disappear. “The next full moon,” the fairy's voice said, then faded away. Cecilia turned to herself in the mirror. “At least I'm still pretty!”

            For the next 4 weeks Cecilia stayed in her room. She was too ashamed to go out and didn't want to be seen yet. She had thought about what the fairy said, but after a while it just felt like a dream so she forgot all about it. In those 4 weeks Cecilia changed from a spoiled, self centered little princess into a sad, normal person. With out her hair she was nothing and she finally realized that she wasn't the only thing that mattered. But even though she had changed, she still hadn't done the three good deeds. She had never done anything nice to anyone other than herself in her life. The fairy was disappointed that Cecilia hadn't even ventured outside, let alone do good deeds. The fairy decided to visit Cecilia again. 

            2 days before the full moon Cecilia was visited by the Hair fairy. “What are you doing! You only have 2 days to do 3 good deeds!” “Cecilia was shocked and exclaimed, “You are real? I thought you were just a dream!” “Of course I'm not a dream! And neither is the 3 good deeds you are supposed to do!” “Oh! no, then I am going to turn into an ugly old hag in 2 days?” “Yes, you are.” the fairy answered. “I better get going then!” Cecilia cried and she ran around the room gathering warm clothes, for it was winter, and 10 gold pieces for food and shelter. She put on her hat as she ran out the door.

            Cecilia decided to go to the kingdom next to hers, the Kingdom Kurler. No one would know who she was there. It started to snow as she walked through the streets. She was about to go to an inn when from inside she heard a man yelling, “Go away! And don't come back until you are useful!” A girl about Cecilia's age ran out of the inn and ran into her. “Sorry ma'am,” the girl said. She had tears running down her dirty face. Cecilia looked her up and down. “What is your name?” Cecilia asked. The girl was surprised that such a noble young lady was speaking to her. She didn't answer. “Well, my name is Cecilia, and you look freezing!” The girl nodded. Cecilia took off her coat and wrapped it around the girl. “And you will probably need some money to pay for food and shelter.” Cecilia took out 10 gold pieces and handed them to the girl.“Th...th..thank you,” the girl stuttered out. She ran off before Cecilia could change her mind. 

            Cecilia shook her head at the girl and walked away from the inn. She had a weird feeling in her stomach and didn't know what it was. Then she tripped over a rock and would've fallen in the snow if a hand hadn't grabbed her. “Thank you,” Cecilia said to her rescuer. It was a tall young man with golden brown hair and hazel eyes. He stared at her wonderingly. “Your welcome. I couldn't help but see that strange exchange that just went on. Why did you give that girl so much?” The stranger asked. “She needed it more than I did,” Cecilia explained, “wouldn't you have done the same if I had not been there?” He straightened up, “Of course, I would have had you not been there.” Cecilia laughed. “What? I really would have!” “I know, I believe you. May I ask for your name?” “Well, I think you already know!” He said smiling and striking a pose. “No. I do not.” Cecilia said. “Oh! really. I am Golden.” “I am Cecilia.” The snow starting falling harder and Cecilia shivered. “Are you cold? Let us find a warm fire.” Cecilia nodded and let him lead her to a small inn. They sat in front of the fire to dry off. Golden disappeared into a room and came back with the owner. The owner gave her tea and some meat and left the room. “I can not eat anything,” Cecilia admitted, “I gave all my money to that girl.” Golden laughed. “You need not worry about it.” They ate and dried off all the way. Then Golden stood up. “I must leave you here. I know the owner and she will give you a room for as long as you need. I will come back tomorrow.” He left before Cecilia could even say thank you.

            After Golden had gone, the owner came out and led Cecilia up to a room. She left her there to get ready for bed. Cecilia took off her hat and looked at herself in the mirror. Her bald head reflected the candle flickerig. Cecilia looked at herself and discovered she was not even sad that her hair was gone anymore. She could live without it and she liked not having it occupy her whole day. She sat down on the bed and tried to decide if she should even go to the trouble of getting her hair back. She decide she would try because she did not want her kingdom to be embarrassed that their princess is bald. She went to bed then, for she wanted to be well rested for tomorrow.

            Cecilia woke up the next day to a loud knocking at her door. “Let me in or I'll knock down this door!” A voice yelled. Cecilia only had time to yank on her hat before the door came crashing down. 5 men with masks came in and grabbed her purse, only to discover it was empty! One man yelled “Give us everything you have!” Cecilia said, “I have nothing to give!” All the men looked at the man in charge. He said, “Take her. I need a wife!” They all laughed and grabbed her. They tied her up and threw her in a bag. When they let her out of the bag she found herself in a dark room. All of the men were staring at her, and she was trying to figure out why when she realized they were staring at her head. She looked around for her hat and grabbed it and stuck it on her bald head. The leader of the men shook his head and said, “I could never marry her boys. I have to marry a lady with hair.” Cecilia sighed in relief. “Get rid of her.” He finished. Cecilia gasped as the men came toward her. “Wait! Would you kill a princess?” “You are a princess?” The man asked. “I am Princess Cecilia of Krimper.” She said proudly. “Boys, don't kill her. We are keeping her for ransom!” All the men yelled happily. The Leader grinned at Cecilia and said, “You are going to make me rich, baldy.” He told his men, “You  will all stay here and keep an eye on baldy here while I go give this girl's daddy a note.” He left the room. Cecilia sat down and started to cry. All the men looked at each other and they pushed one of them forward. “Why you crying princess?” The biggest one said. “Because my dad is going to have to pay to get me back, and he'll be mad at me and no one will want me to be their princess anymore!” She cried. “Don't be sad little princess!” He said, patting her back. Another man stepped forward. “Maybe if you told us how you got here it would make you feel better.” He said. Another one said, “My mom would always sing to me and give me warm milk to make me feel better when I was sad.” They all stared at him. “What?” He said. Cecilia nodded. “I'll tell you.” 

            The men crowded around her to listen. As she told them her story they listened intently. She won them all over with her story, and they all told her their stories too. They had all come from a circus where they had been shown as oddballs. Their leader had found them and was paying them to rob stores and inns. “Well you shouldn't do that!” Cecilia exclaimed. “But we don't know how to do anything else!” They told her. “You can do lots of stuff! You can come to my kingdom and find work at the palace!” They all looked at each other and nodded eagerly. “And if you do that, you won't work for your leader anymore, so you can let me free!” They looked at each other again and shrugged. “Why not!” They untied her and let her outside. “It was nice meeting all of you!” Cecilia said. They shook hands and all the men started out to kingdom Krimper. 

            Cecilia was lost. She could not find her way back to the inn she was staying at. She was trying to figure out what to do when horse turned the corner and almost ran her over. She jumped out of the way just in time and looked up to see the rider was Golden. He looked down at her in surprise and jumped off his horse. “How did you get away from the robbers?” He asked. “They let me go. How did you know they took me?” “When I went back to the inn this morning the door was knocked down and the owner told me thieves had come and taken you away. I was coming to save you but...” “But you didn't need to.” Cecilia finished for him. “Yes. Well, why did they let you go?” Golden asked. “They were actually really nice! Except for their leader, who wanted to marry me but then he didn't and they were going to kill me but then I convinced them not to because they could hold me for ransom and make my father pay and then he left and all the other men took pity on me and then let me go!” “Thats great, I guess.” Golden said. “Here, I'll take you back to the inn.” “Oh, I don't really want to go back there.” Cecilia said. Golden sighed and said, “Where do you want to go then?” “I haven't done anything fun in a while. What is something fun?” Golden thought for a second then grinned. “I know someplace perfect! You'll love it.” 

            Golden and Cecilia walked out of the play Romeo and Juliet laughing. “Did you see how bad Romeo was? He was such a bad actor!” Cecilia said. “Or the balcony scene? 'Romeo, Romeo, where fore art thou Romeo?' That was the worst part!” Golden cried. They were still laughing when they heard music playing down the street. “What is that?” Cecilia asked. “That is just the festival they have every week.” “Oh! can we go?” Golden smiled down at Cecilia, “Of course!” 

            They walked through the crowds, holding hands so they wouldn't lose each other. Cecilia was trying to figure out why everyone was staring at them. She felt her head, but the hat was still there. Did they know she was a princess here? She pondered. But all the girls were staring at Golden, not her. They eyed her, obviously jealous. Cecilia just shrugged it off. She didn't want to care. 

            Golden led her to a gazebo right by the musicians. A lot of people were dancing around it and it seemed thats what Golden wanted to do. He held out his arm and escorted her into the gazebo. They were quiet for a while, but then Golden asked her, “May I ask you a question?” Cecilia nodded. “Why do you wear that hat?” Cecilia accidentally stepped on Golden's foot. “Sorry. Why do I wear this hat? Because I get terribly sun burnt. It is a horrible sight. Peeling everywhere!” She laughed. “But it is night now. You don't get sun burnt at night.” Cecilia was quiet for a while, then said, “I just do not wish to take it off.” Golden didn't ask anymore questions. He knew when to back off. 

            Cecilia changed the subject. “So what were you doing last night before you saw me giving away my coat?” “I was taking my horse for a ride.” He answered. “Then where was your horse? I did not see it.” “I had just put it away.” He answered. Cecilia thought back to the day before and remembered being right next to the royal stables. How could Golden have put his horse away there? He wasn't royal. She thought on this and didn't hear Golden when he said something. “Sorry, what was that?” She asked. Golden repeated “Where did you come from with only 10 gold pieces and a coat? Then gave them away?” “I came from Krimper, and I gave them away for a goal of mine.”

Golden looked down at her and said, “What is your goal?” Cecilia told him, “To do three good deeds.” “Why would you need to do that? You probably do 10 every day!” Cecilia laughed sadly. “No, I have never even done one.” Golden looked confused. “But I have already seen you do one! Not many people would give a peasant girl her coat and 10 gold pieces. Then be so humble to say they have never done a good deed! You are truly a remarkable woman, Cecilia.” Cecilia blushed. “I believe that is one. But I need to do 2 more by tonight! Or else...” “Or else what?” Golden asked. “Never mind. It is nothing.” 

            “Well, Cecilia, I must ask you something. I have never met anyone that is as amazing as you are. My father has been pressuring me to get a wife, but no one has ever been as worthy of you. But before I ask this question, you need to know something.” Cecilia looked up at him questioningly. But before he could tell her what was so important one of the jealous girls that had stared at Golden as they danced by snatched Cecilia's hat off. 

            The girl gasped and laughed happily. Golden was staring at Cecilia's shiny head. “Golden!” Cecilia gasped, “I didn't want you to know!” The girl interrupted Cecilia and said, “Well, Prince Golden! Looks like you were about to make a big mistake! Everyone knows you are looking for a bride to be the next queen, but why don't you choose someone normal! Maybe someone that has hair! Like me!” The girl pushed Cecilia away and stood in front of Golden. But he did not pay attention. He was still staring at Cecilia. And Cecilia was staring at him. “The prince! You are the prince and you didn't tell me?” she cried. “I was about to! And you didn't tell me that you.. that you are...” He couldn't finish the sentence. “Bald! Yes, I know! I was hoping you wouldn't figure out until I had gotten my hair back! But now that you know laugh! I know you want to!”  Prince Golden stared at her in horror, “Laugh! I would never laugh at you Cecilia!” But Cecilia did not hear him, for she was running through the crowd. He ran after her calling, “Cecilia! Dearest Cecilia! Why do you run from me?” 

            Cecilia finally made it out of the crowd right as the full moon came into the night. The hair fairy appeared in front of Cecilia, her strange hair falling across her shoulders. “Cecilia! I am so proud of you!” The fairy cried. She looked Cecilia up and down. “Why are you out of breath so? Never mind, it can wait. You have done so well!” “There is nothing I've done well! I only did one good deed and know I think I've lost my one true love!” Cecilia cried. The fairy was astonished. “No! You have done so much more! You gave that girl a coat to be warm and 10 gold pieces so she could buy food and shelter. You helped those men stop robbing people and now they are traveling to your Krimper to become better people!” Cecilia looked down sadly. “But I did not do another good deed. I will never be beautiful enough for Golden.” The fairy rolled her eyes. “Golden was your third good deed!” “What?” Cecilia asked. “Humans,” the fairy muttered, “You made the young prince a better person. Before he was shallow, and cared only about finding himself a wife that was beautiful. Now, he wants you. Even though he knows you are bald. You have given him the greatest gift of all. Love.”

            Golden appeared out of the crowd right as hair started to grow out of Cecilia's head. There was a glow around her as the most beautiful hair anyone had ever seen fell across her shoulders. When it was finished growing, Cecilia fell to the ground and the Hair fairy vanished, her work done. 

            Golden ran to Cecilia's side and cradled her head in his arms. She stared  at him and grinned. “You were about to ask me something, I believe.” Cecilia said. Golden laughed and sat her up. He knelt by her side and ran his fingers through her hair. “Will you marry me?” 

            “Yes!” Cecilia cried. Golden leaned down to kiss her, but she stopped him. “You need to know something else about me.” She told him. “What? You aren't bald anymore. What other secrets do you have?” “I am the princess of Krimper.” Golden raised an eyebrow. “I'm sorry I didn't tell you,” Cecilia hurried to tell him, “but it just would make things even more complicated and...” Golden stopped her talking with a kiss. “I guess you still love me?” she asked. He nodded. “And nothing will ever change my mind.”

They lived happily ever after.

The End

Originally written in 2011

Also, if you made it this far, then I really hope you enjoyed my really cheesy story. Cut me some slack, I was 14 years old.