Phillip's Story- The Truth about Sleeping Beauty
S. Barrett
You’ve all heard my story, and you think you know it. But there’s some things that
you’re missing. Let me explain.
I’ll start with telling you that my name is Prince Phillip. Yes, the handsome prince who
saved a girl he’d just met with a kiss. And who fought an evil fairy turned dragon. But like I said,
you’re missing a lot of the story. For one thing, I hadn't just met her. And for another, she
wasn't sixteen.
It started when my father’s best friend, King Stephan, was blessed with a child. A little
girl. I was five when Aurora, as they named her, was born. I have to admit I was slightly jealous.
My mother had died when I was born, and King Stephan’s wife, Rosalind, had always treated
me like a son. Our kingdoms were small and right next to each other so the two kings spent a
lot of time together. Anyways, about a month after she was born, King Stephan held a big party
for her. Little did I know what was going to happen. My father and I brought a gift for her, a
golden jewelry box with a necklace and ring inside. When we were announced, and I brought
the gift up with my father, he and Stephan declared that Aurora would be betrothed to me. Like
I said, I was five years old at the time. Marriage wasn't even a thought to me. Queen Rosalind
led me up to the cradle where Aurora was sleeping. I set the gift down on the table next to it
and peeked inside. She was so little, and plump. Like any other babies I had ever seen. I rolled
my eyes and turned away, returning to my father. At least it wouldn’t happen today.
The three good fairies came then and gave her gifts. I’d been told they’d been at the
christening party given for me when I was a baby. They gave Aurora gifts of beauty and song
but before the third gift the whole room darkened. A wind whipped through the room, doors
flying outward and banners and tapestries being torn down.
The menacing shape of the evil fairy Maleficent appeared, standing straight and tall in
the middle of the room. I'd heard of her but I had never seen her before. Whispers behind me
alerted me to her identity- the Mistress of All Evil.
My father pushed me behind him, worried for me I guess. A raven flew into the room,
settling on the edge of the cradle. Fauna, one of the fairies, tried to shoo him away but he
wouldn't budge.
“King Stephan, when I heard of your daughter’s birth I was shocked to not receive an
invitation to her christening. I trust it was an oversight?”
“Of course,” King Stephan replied quickly. I knew he was lying, I had heard my father ask
him about inviting Maleficent. “To be honest, I didn't think a child’s christening would interest
you.”
“King Stephan, you know better than that. Little princesses delight me.” She walked
over to the cradle and picked up Aurora who started to cry. “Dear, dear, you mustn’t cry. I have
a gift for you. I told your father I’d repay his wrongs to me.” She set the baby down in the cradle
and crashed her staff on the floor. “Listen well, the princess will grow up like any other,
beautiful and lovely. But when the sun sets on her eighteenth birthday, she will prick her finger
on the spindle of a spinning wheel, and die!”
“No!” Rosalind cried out in anguish and picked up Aurora, clutching her tight. “Please,
don’t do this to us.”
“Seize her!” Stephan bellowed at his guards.
As the guards rushed her, Maleficent disappeared in a cloud of smoke, her raven flying
out the door. Her laugh echoed in the room even after she was gone.
The room went silent other than for Aurora’s soft cries and Rosalind’s sobs. Everyone
was shocked.
“Father, what’s going to happen to her?” I pulled on his sleeve. “Is she really going to
die?” He looked down at me, his sad eyes betraying the truth. I squared my young shoulders.
“Someone should do something. There must be someway to keep her from dying.” Everyone
looked at the Fairies as everyone had the same thought at the same time.
“Can’t you fix this?” Stephan begged them.
“Maleficent's magic is too strong to remove the curse placed on the princess.” Flora
replied. “But Merriweather has not bestowed her gift to little Aurora. Maybe she could alter the
curse so Aurora won’t die.”
“I can try,” Merriweather added. “Little princess, if this curs e is to pass, and a spindle
should your finger prick, let you lie, not in death, but just in sleep to be awoken by love’s first
kiss.”
“Thank you Merriweather.” Rosalind smiled through her tears.
The party dispersed and King Stephan made a decree that all spinning wheels and
spindles were to be destroyed with fire while the fairies cooked up another scheme to try to
keep Aurora safe. Me, I explored the gardens late into the night. That’s how I happened to see
the three fairies leave with Aurora through a ill-used garden door. I followed them at a
distance, learning the way to the cottage that they planned to call home.
The years passed. I grew up, and learned to fight, to rule the kingdom. The gifts given to
me at birth, handsomeness, strength, and virtue, became clearly evident. I was an excellent
horseman, riding throughout the kingdom on my stallion Samson. We still visited King
Stephan’s kingdom constantly, my father and Stephan always locking themselves away in some
room to plan, something.
I explored, leaving through the garden door the fairies had used and going into the
woods. I would sometimes ride to the cottage, but rarely saw anyone outside. Other times I’d
ride through the woods, learning where the best stream was to cool off on a hot summer's day.
Where the best climbing trees and where the berry bushes were. That's where I first saw her
again, the young Aurora picking berries with the fairies, disguised as her aunts, nearby. She
looked to be about ten the first time I saw her. She noticed me in the woods and curiosity
brought her closer to me. Once we were out of sight of her aunts, she started talking.
"Who are you?"
"My name is Phillip. What's yours?"
"Briar Rose, is what my aunts call me."
"What they call you? So is that not your real name?"
"No, but I'm not supposed to tell anyone."
"I see." I paused looking at her closely. "Is it Aurora?"
She stared at me in astonishment. "How did you know that?"
"Because I met you when you a baby. Your father is the king of this land."
"There's other people living near here?"
"Yes, not in the forest but in the town outside of it. You've never seen it have you?"
She shook her head. "My aunts say that strangers are dangerous and we don't need
anyone else to be happy."
"I know why. It's because they're trying to keep you safe-" I was cut off by someone
calling her name.
"Rose! Where did you go child?"
"Coming Aunt Flora!" She turned to go but I grabbed her arm.
"I'll come back to see you but you can't tell them you saw me. I won't tell anyone I've
seen you either."
She nodded and ran back once I released her arm.
She grew up into a pretty girl and her voice when she sang, which was often, was that of
an angel. The animals followed her around, birds singing with her, deer walking beside her.
Once I saw her riding a stag, she was laughing as he raced through the woods with her.
I saw her as often as possible, teaching her about the rest of the world. I brought maps
of both kingdoms we would eventually rule, but I never told her she was betrothed to me or
why she wasn't living with her parents. She never asked me that thankfully. I showed her a hill
that overlooked the castle, it became our meeting place. I was her link to the rest of the world
that was waiting for her return. I also taught her about the life of nobility, teaching her popular
dances, bringing her tastes of popular dishes. I brought her books to read, helping her to
understand what she read. One I brought was about a girl who was betrothed, the closet I ever
got to telling her about our fathers' plan.
When Aurora’s eighteenth birthday came near, my father and I came again to stay at
Stephan’s castle, with plans to stay until after she had returned. I went out riding, going into
the woods again to see Aurora. I heard her singing and Samson and I raced to find her, planning
on surprising her.
Samson however, as he jumped over a stream managed to knock me off into the
stream. I had to dry off before I saw her. I took off my hat and cape and riding boots and hung
them on a tree to dry. “No carrots for you, Samson.” He lowered his head in shame, knowing he
was in trouble.
I could hear her singing again. She had to be close. Then I knew she was close because
animals stole my cape and hat and boots. I raced after them, thankful for the shoes I’d had on
inside my riding boots.
They went into a clearing, creating a person with the clothes in front of her. Golden hair,
red lips, dainty feet and hands. Heavens, she was beautiful. She laughed when she saw the
animals and played along, pretending it was a loving prince from her dreams. I watched her for
a few moments before I went and took the place of the animals, scaring them into the bushes.
I startled her to be sure, although it took her a moment to realize what had happened.
She stopped singing, so I picked up the song she had been singing and we danced together.
We ended up walking hand in hand along a stream and eventually up the hill that
overlooked the castle and town.
"Phillip, what will happen when I return?"
"There are plans for a large party. You'll get to meet your parents, and your subjects."
"What about my aunts?"
"I'm sure they'll stay nearby. But you should know, they aren't actually your aunts,
Aurora. They're fairies that have been raising you to keep you safe."
"Keep me safe from what?"
I hesitated. "From those who want to harm you."
"That's not all. What aren't you telling me?"
She was smart too. "Aurora, it's nothing to worry about. All you need to know is that
you'll return on the night of your eighteenth birthday.
"That's today!"
"I know. That's why I'm back."
"So, I'll be going back tonight?"
"Yes. Aurora, your life won't ever be the same." I paused a moment, trying to phrase the
words I needed to tell her.
"Phillip," she spoke before I could, "what will happen to our friendship? Now that I'm
back, will you go back to your country permanently? I don't want to lose you."
"I don't want to lose you either. I love our time together almost as much as I love you."
"You meant it then earlier? When you were singing?"
"I did, but I didn't realize how much so until just now." I looked down at her where she
was leaning against my side. "Please remember that when you return tonight."
"Why? What's so important? Phillip, what aren't you telling me?"
I sighed, I couldn't get around it anymore. "You were betrothed to me when you were
born. Our fathers wanted to unite the kingdoms, make them stronger."
"That's why you always came to this kingdom? Because you would eventually rule it?"
"No, yes- well, partially because of that. It's complicated Aurora. I didn't ask to be
betrothed to you, nor did I come and find you because of it."
"I never even thought of that Phillip. We fell in love without knowing about the
betrothal. It doesn't matter why you decided to find me. I'm just glad you did." She looked
down at the ground shyly. "Phillip, will you do something for me?"
"Anything for you."
"Will you kiss me?" She looked back up to me. "I want to know what it's like."
Aurora's curse was instantly running though my head, even as I leaned towards her. I
shook my head and stepped back, having to turn away so I didn't kiss her. "I can't."
"Why not?"
"I won't tell you that." How I later wished I had told her the truth. "I don't want you to
worry. But I will, I promise, later. After the sun sets."
"What's so special about the sun set?"
"That's when the party is. When we're reintroduced and your father tells you who I am,
who I will be, I'll kiss you then."
"Reintroduced? Don't they know we've met?"
"No. No one was supposed to know where you were. No one knows we've been
meeting. I've been meeting you at my own expense. It'll all to protect you though. I'll explain it
later, after-"
"After the sun sets?" She looked at me with her head tipped and hands on her hips. I
nodded. "I see." She looked up at the sun's position. "I need to get going. My aunts expect me
to return soon with berries."
"Alright. I'll see you tonight."
She started to turn away. "Phillip, come back this evening! To the cottage. Don't let me
face this new world on my own."
“I’ll be there, my love.”
She smiled at me again before continuing on her way.
I went back and grabbed the clothing the animals had taken that started this wonderful
day. I headed back to the castle to clean up before returning to the cottage.
When I was getting ready to leave, I ran into my father.
“Phillip, you can meet your future bride looking like that.”
“I’ve already met her, Father."
"The princess Aurora? You've seen her? We need to tell Stephan!"
I realized my err. He thought Aurora was back at the castle already. "I didn't say I'd met
Aurora. Just my future bride. A peasant girl she was, in the forest."
“Not Aurora! Be serious now Phillip. You are going to marry the Princess Aurora, or
everything is ruined. Stephan and I have been planning this since you were a young boy.”
“But Father, betrothal since birth is the thing of the past. You need to live in the now,
where people marry for love.”
“But I am still the king.”
“Yes Father, and I’m going to marry the girl I love.”
“Exact- No! Phillip!” But I was already leaving on Samson, laughing at how easily I could
turn my father around.
I hurried to the cottage, anxious to get there before they left. When I reached the
cottage, it was dusk, the sun setting in the west and fireflies coming out of bushes.
I knocked on the door of the dark cottage. That should have been my first clue that something
was wrong.
I was let in and the door slammed shut behind me. Before I could do anything, creatures
were jumping on me, ropes were being tied around my body. Try as I might, there were too
many to fight off. Once I was restrained, a green flame sparked to life and Maleficent held up a
candle to my face.
“Well, well. When Diablo told me her love was coming, I never expected a prince. Phillip isn’t
it?”
“Maleficent! Where is she? You'd better not-"
A wave of her hand and her minions had me gagged.
“Bring him along boys. Once he’s safely locked up, maybe he can have some answers.”
They led me away from the cottage, bringing Samson along as well.
When we reached her castle, I was locked up in a dungeon. I sat thinking about Aurora.
The sun had already set, and Aurora had been fine that morning. There were no spinning
wheels in the land, let alone spindles. What could have happened? What was I going to do?
What could I do, locked up in the bowels of her fortress? These quwestions ran through my
head as I sat in the damp, cold, cell.
The lock bolt on the cell door slammed as it was unlocked and the door creaked open,
letting Maleficent in. “Well now Prince Phillip. A smart boy like you should have figured it out
by now, but I’ll tell you. Princess Aurora lies sleeping in the topmost tower of King Stephan’s
castle, having pricked her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel of my own creation. She lies
dreaming of the young man she met in the forest while living in hiding as a peasant girl." She
paused as if her next thought had just dawned on her. " Why that would be you! Yes, your
lovely maiden is also your betrothed princess. She sleeps and awaits love’s first kiss. Now, I am
not entirely without a heart. You may be locked up now, but in 100 years, the chains will fall
away, the doors will open and you’ll ride out of here, valiant and true, riding your faithful
steed.”
I stood up in anger, my chains keeping me out of reaching distance.
“We have done nothing to you! If you really want to hurt him, why not have King
Stephan locked in this dungeon.”
“Because he needs to know what it's like to lose something.” She hissed at me before
leaving. “Come my pet. Let's leave Phillip with these delightful thoughts.” Diablo settled on her
shoulder, glancing back at me with an evil eye as the door closed.
I leaned back against the wall in anguish but before I got too lost in self-pity, the three
good fairies flew into the room.
“You knew I was here?”
“Hush!” Flora shushed me as they broke the locks on my chains and door. “We have to
hurry, but first, a shield of Virtue and a sword of Truth.”
As she spoke, they appeared in my hands, the most elegant and lethal sword I’d ever
beheld, and the strongest but lightest, shield I’d ever carried. I led the way out of the cell, and
up the corridor where we ran into Diablo, who proceeded to sound the alarm. Guards started
pouring into the corridor, each carrying weapons: maces, swords, spears, clubs. I jumped out a
window, sliding down the sloped and crumbling wall to the ground. The fairies were already
releasing Samson.
We raced out of the castle, the fairies changing the arrows, rocks, and boiling oil that
was being poured down on me into harmless objects. Just as we got through the gates,
Maleficent appeared, angry to have been woken. I could hear her yelling behind me, just before
a lightning bolt destroyed a stone bridge in front of me. Samson and I skidded down the
embankment, before racing down the ravine and up a shallow hill. Stephan’s castle was in sight
now, but the sky above it was turning black, thick clouds gathering and billowing angrily.
I hurried on, my only thought on getting to Aurora. But as we reached the castle, I saw a wall of
thorns had grown up around it, with branches thicker than my arm and thorns as long as my
fingers. Samson reared up as he neared it but I encouraged him forward, hacking through the
branches cleanly with the sword of truth. When we got through we were at the outer wall of
the castle, which stood on a rocky hill. Before I had taken a step, Maleficent appeared in front
of me.
“Well done, but now you’ll have to face me!” She started laughing as she grew,
stretching up into the sky as she transformed into a large dragon. I rushed towards her on
Samson, but she blasted me from his back under the force of her fiery breath. I hid behind
some of the thorn bushes until she brought her snout down looking for me, and I cut in it,
barely making a mark in the scaly hide. In retaliation, she lit the thorns on fire. I scrambled up a
rocky hill, actually it was all that was left of one of the watch towers, and waited for her. She
sent another blast of fire towards me, knocking the shield from my hand. Suddenly the fairies
were there, casting a spell upon the sword to make it fly straight so I could throw it into
Maleficent. I noticed an alcove below and to the right of me, a place I could hide as she crashed
down on top of me.
She came closer and I saw my chance, her soft underbelly exposed. I drew back and
threw the sword as hard as I could, only watching to see it hit it’s mark before diving into the
alcove. She crashed hard, sliding down the hill before coming to a stop at its base. I climbed
back up and looked down. All that was left was a black cloak pinned to the ground by sword.
The thorns disappeared, and I rode up to the castle. When I looked back, the only evidence of
the fight I could see was that the outer wall was crumbled in a few places from the thorns that
had grown up.
When I went into the courtyard, everyone and everything was asleep. I looked to the
fairies with my unspoken question. “We didn't want them to know.” Fauna replied sadly.
“They'll awake when Aurora does.”
I hurried into the castle, climbing to the top of the highest tower. The fairies led the way
since I had never been in the tower. And there at the top, like Maleficent had told me, was
Aurora, lying fast asleep. She was just as beautiful asleep as when I had seen her before. I
approached the bed slowly, both worried and anxious. I glanced back at the fairies, glaring at
them to get them to leave.
Once they were gone, I leaned over and kissed her. Instantly her eyes fluttered open
and she smiled at me. I helped her up.
"You didn't come to the cottage," she pouted.
"I did, but you had already left. Instead, Maleficent was waiting for me."
"Maleficent? Does she have something to do with why you wouldn't kiss me before
sunset? Or what I was being protected from?"
"Yes, but you're safe now. Maleficent was an evil fairy and she cursed you as a baby, so
you were hidden to keep you safe from her. But something happened and the curse took effect.
What happened before I just woke you up?"
"I don't remember. I- Wait, we came to the castle and I was crying because you didn't
show up but my aunts thought it was because I was betrothed to a prince I didn't know. They
left me alone and I saw a green light and heard a strange sound but then I don't remember
what happened. It was like I was in a green haze, then I felt a prick on my finger and everything
went dark. After that, you kissed me and I woke up."
"She must have used her magic to put you in a trance to make you prick your finger,
then came to catch me so I couldn't wake you up."
"Yet, you came and you're here, and I'm awake."
"I had some help to escape and defeat Maleficent from the three good fairies. She'll
never hurt us again."
A trumpet sounded in the courtyard below.
"What was that?"
“That’s for you, they’re welcoming you home.”
“You know that I can’t face them alone, will you come with me?”
“Absolutely,” I looked at what I was wearing. Not what I should be greeting my future
in-laws in. “But I should change first.”
“Alright.” I left her in her bedroom while I went to change, then escorted her downstairs
to the throne room where everyone was waiting.
She hugged her parents and then I swept her out to the dance floor while my father tried
to make sense of what was happening.
So now you know the real story. And they were right about one thing, we did live happily
ever after.