The Cat and the Prince: Chapter 1

The Cat and the Prince

Once, in a time where dragons and castles and knights were quite common, there was a lonely prince, living alone in a castle, the only living member of his family, besides his aging mother, the queen. The castle had only a handful of servants at the time, since an old woman and young thin man needed little care. The fiefdom itself was small, containing only a few small villages, which provided the food for the castle and the village's inhabitants. The few peasants that lived there respected their rulers, as the King had been a good, kind man, and had treated them fairly. They felt sorrow for the prince, as he was lonely, his youth and health slowly slipping through his grasp, with no one by his side to help him rule this land.

He went on walks through the land every day, looking for a good woman, lonely so long that nobility meant nothing to him anymore. He needed companionship, and cared not where he found it. But the women of the villages held no interest for him, the wenches too sour, the maidens too sweet, the others too world weary. He saw the same faces everyday, yet every day he walked and hoped to find what he longed for in his heart. His aging mother felt sorrow for her melancholy son, hoping he would soon find companionship before he died of a broken heart.

One day, on his daily walk through the villages, he walked without seeing, his heart heavy. He reached the end of the last village and had turned in his usual manor to walk back to the castle, when he tripped and nearly fell over a lump he had not seen in the road. A sleek black cat sat up and gave him an apprehensive leer. He looked at the cat, slightly abashed. He'd never seen this cat before, not in all his many trips through the villages.

“Forgive me, Cat, but I had not seen you. My mind had wandered,” he apologized, righting himself and bowing to the cat. The cat continued to look him over, before deciding it approved and nodded in acknowledgement of his apology. He stood and, turned to go home. “Fare you well, Cat, I must be on my way,” he said to the cat as he walked by. The cat began to trot along beside him, her sleek fur gleaming in the afternoon sun. He looked down and saw her, curious as to why she followed. But he said nothing, and the two walked back through the towns, nearing the castle with every step.

When they reached the castle, the sun was beginning to set, and the cook in the castle was finishing a meager meal for all its inhabitants. The prince looked down and saw the cat still by his side as he walked to the wide doors. “Why do you follow me, Cat?” he asked, but only got a sly look in reply. He pushed the great door open, and the cat darted inside. He went to scold her, but stopped and smiled instead. Maybe he would like having a cat. He followed her inside, closing the door behind him. She sat waiting for him to come in, perched at the foot of the stairs, giving him that sly look cats are so fond of giving. Smiling, he walked to the dining hall and she followed.

He sat at the table as the cook set the few places with bowls of stew and plates of bread, and the cat jumped into his lap. “Oh!” he exclaimed, “Are you hungry, Cat?” She looked up at him, closing her eyes in approval and purring softly. “Alright then, I'll share with you.” He took a bit of meat from his bowl and held it to the cat. She sniffed it tediously, then took and ate it, purring louder.

His mother walked into the dining hall and took her place, and the servants took their places after her. They all dined at once, in the same place; formality at this point was just silly. She turned to her son, asking about his day as usual. “Good evening, son. Have you found a companion from today's journey?” she inquired hopefully. Just as she asked, he fed another bit of meat to the cat in his lap. “Oh! What a beautiful cat!” she said, clapping her hands in excitement.

The prince smiled, feeding her another bit of stew. “Yes, mother. I'm afraid I tripped over her most rudely, yet she saw fit to forgive me, and accompanied me home. She decided to join us for dinner, you see,” he explained, moving his bread to the table, and poured a bit of gravy into the plate, setting it on the floor next to him. The cat gave him a questioning look, then leapt down to lap up the gravy. He smiled down at her, then across to his mother.

She beamed back at him. “Oh! Son, I'm so glad you've found a companion. You were so lonely. It hurt my dear old heart to witness.” She reached across the table and gripped his hand lovingly.

He nodded. “I know, Mother. And it hurt my heart to see you suffer, as well. This cat is surely a blessing for us both.” He held out a hand to the cat, whom eyed and sniffed it warily, then rubbed her head against it. He scratched gently behind her ears, then pulled his hand back up to continue his meal. The servants at the table strained to catch a glimpse of this wonderful cat, whom the prince seemed so fond of. They were happy for him, and wanted to see her.

The cook, whom sat beside the queen at the table, looked to the prince. “Shall I prepare an extra dish at tomorrow's breakfast, Sire? A small one for your furry friend there?” he smiled as the cat leapt back into the prince's lap, purring as she cleaned her fur of the stray gravy. “It seems she enjoys my cooking,” he added, chuckling to himself.

The prince grinned. “Of course! Our guest should have part in our breakfast, if she sees fit to spend the night,” he said, and the cat closed her eyes in approval again. “Then it's settled! Our guest will stay the night and breakfast with us at least.” The cook nodded, and all went back to their plates. The cat curled up in the prince's lap, waiting patiently for him to finish his meal. When all were done, the maid stood and collected dishes to take to the kitchen and wash. The cook went to his quarters, and the few other servants went about to prepare the bedrooms for a cool night in a stone castle.

The prince gently nudged the snoozing cat, saying, “Pardon me, Cat, I wish to stand,” she lifted her head, looked at him, and jumped down. As he stood and left the room, she trotted beside him, following him up a flight of stairs and into his chambers. He sat on the soft couch in his room, looking through his wide window at the last rays of sunset, dying the night sky a soft pink-ish orange. He sighed, enjoying the site of it, and the cat leapt up to sit beside him. Without taking his eyes from the scene outside, he gently held his hand to her, which she nudged in approval. He slowly stroked her fur, and she laid her head on his leg, watching the sun set with him.

The prince sat lost in thought as a servant rendered a weak fire in the fireplace for warmth, the dusk seeping in through the window. As time slid gradually by, his thoughts wandered though his day's journey, to the cat he was currently stroking. “Oh, Cat,” he said forlornly, “If only you were a beautiful, chaste young woman. Then this kingdom's problems would be over.” The cat looked up at him, studying his face. She looked a long while before laying her head back on his leg. He sighed, and continued stroking her. “I meant no insult, Cat. I enjoy your company, it's true. But I must soon take a queen to rule this land beside me, as my mother grows too old and weak for such a chore,” he lamented, and looked out to the starry sky above.

Soon, he stood, gently moving the cat from his leg. “Forgive me cat, but I must be off to bed. You may sleep on this couch, if you like. I shall alert you when it is morning and breakfast it ready,” he smiled at her, giving her a final scratch behind the ears and heading to his bed room, where he dressed for the night and climbed into bed. The cat watched him walk to the room, then laid her head down on the couch and fell asleep.

That night, the prince had a very vivid dream. He was wandering the halls of his very castle, searching for someone. He wasn't quite sure who it was, only that he knew them well, and missed them terribly. He called a name that he could not quite hear himself, walking down each hallway, until finally he came to the balcony overlooking the courtyard. A young woman sat on the bench there, looking out at the garden and smiling dreamily. Her hair was black, long and soft, her eyes a fierce but beautiful green, and her skin was white as milk. Her frame was thin and curvy, with wide hips and full breasts, and long, slender arms and legs. He smiled, knowing he had found the person he was searching for.

He called the name again, not quite hearing it himself, but the maiden heard. She smiled sweetly, turning to him and meeting his eyes. Something struck him about those eyes, but he could not place it. Anyhow, he was drawn to them, like a moth to the flame. He went to her, and sat beside her, smiling and taking her hand. They looked into each other's eyes for a long moment, then leaned in to share a kiss. Their lips were about to meet, when the prince felt a soft thump on his chest.

He awoke abruptly, cursing the loss of the dream woman. Morning light filled his eyes as he opened them, and he found himself face to face with the cat. She was perched on his chest, purring contentedly with her eyes shut in self satisfaction. He smiled and shook his head, stretching out his stiff muscles, and hoping that he may find this dream woman someday soon. He rubbed the cat's head. “Good morning, dear Cat. Pardon me, but I must prepare for the day.” She moved off his chest and curled up in the warm spot on the bed he'd just vacated. He grinned as he moved behind his dressing curtain to don this days attire.

Once he was decent, he went to the bed and woke the cat. “Time for breakfast, my dear Cat!” he chirped. She looked up at him sleepily, but leapt down gracefully none the less. He made his bed, and trotted cheerfully down to the dining room. Opening the doors, he strode in more cheerily than he had in years. The cook was just setting out the last of the dishes, and looked up at the sudden intrusion.

“Well, good morning, Sire! You look well! And good morning to you, Cat! I trust you are enjoying your stay?” he said, placing a small portioned plate at the seat next to the prince. The cat nodded approvingly at him and jumped into her seat. The prince grinned as he sat beside her, his mother walking in to join the rest of the meal takers.

“Good morning, Mother!” the prince beamed as he began slicing his morning's bit of ham. His mother smiled, shocked at how happy the prince was, as she took her seat beside the cook.

“My, my, dear Son! How cheery you are this beautiful day! I'm so glad to see you like this,” she said, tears of joy filling her old eyes.

“I have every reason to be happy this day, Mother! I've had a vision of a beautiful woman. I dreamt of her last night, and I'm sure I will find her soon. It'll only take a bit of searching. Only this time, I don't think I'll be so lonely, that is, if sweet Cat here wished to join me on my daily journey?” he looked at her imploringly. The cat looked up from her ham and closed her eyes at him, agreeing silently to accompany him. He smiled and scratched behind one of her ears, turning back to his mother.

She smiled at her son, beginning to eat her breakfast. “Well, son, it is my dearest hope that you find her soon.” They finished their meals in peace, the old queen leaving to do her needlepoint when they were done, and the prince making a pack for the day's journey. He followed the cook to the kitchen, where he prepared a lunch for the prince, and a smaller one for the cat. Each of these and a jug of water went into the pack, and a small bowl, so the cat could also drink. Once he had the day's provisions, he and the cat set off on the daily search through the village.

The prince didn't know which direction to go this day, but somehow knew he must take a different route. He saw the cat walk a little ahead of him, then stop and look back at him. He walked towards her a few steps, and she turned and began walking a path he'd never followed. He walked close behind her as they took the long, winding path surrounding the kingdom. Wide, rolling valleys stretched out to one side of the path, mountains just visible in the distance. Looking out over the fields, the prince wondered if his fair maiden lay beyond those distant hills. The field itself contained long sweet grass, wildflowers, a few scattered trees from the forest that lay somewhere ahead on this winding path, and a few creatures grazing. His heart ached at the beauty of this nature he rarely saw, and he reminded himself to walk this way more often.

As noon loomed overhead, he and the cat went into the field to a shade tree near the path. The prince opened his pack and set out their lunch, pouring some water into the bowl for the cat, which she slurped up as only thirsty cats can do. They ate, then relaxed a while, resting tired feet before setting back on their quest. When the sun turned towards the west, the prince stood and repacked his pouch. He and the cat set back to the path, and he looked over the field again, marveled by how something so simple could be so calming.

He looked ahead of himself again, only to see the cat disappearing into the woods. He hurried to catch up to her, but had lost site of her. Forgetting his quest for a maiden, he began searching for his friend. “Cat! Oh, dear Cat, where have you gone? I seem to have lost you! Please come back!” he looked all around the path as he continued along it, calling for her, until he finally came to a small, peaceful cottage in the woods. A garden of catmint and chamomile grew in front of it, and a humming from inside told him someone lived there. He hoped they had seen his dear friend.

He approached the door, calling out to the occupant. “Hello? Is anyone home? I was wondering if you had seen my dear friend, a small black cat. I've lost her, and,” he began explaining as he heard footsteps come towards the door. A thin woman with ample curves answered, her long sleek black hair spilling over her shoulders and her green eyes flashing with curiosity. Her milky skin beneath a grey dress and black bodice was complimented by soft pink lips, which spoke to him.

“You've lost your friend the cat? I'm sorry, Sire, I've not seen her,” she spoke in a voice that would shame the angels.

He stood frozen in awe; it was as if this woman had walked straight out of his dreams by way of this cottage. She looked at him slyly, which struck his heart in a way that made it skip a beat. All he could manage to say was, “I'm sorry to trouble you, miss. But, could I perchance hear your name, fair maiden?”

She blushed slightly at his words, smiling as she spoke it. “My name is Mirri,” she said, and it slid into his ears like silk over soft skin. The name fired off in his brain, and he knew that was the name he'd been calling in the dream. How he loved the cat, for she had led him straight to, quite literally, the woman of his dreams. He suddenly felt a pang for his furry friend, and knew he must soon find her.

He bowed to the maiden, taking and kissing her hand. “Oh, fair Mirri, I feel I have loved you from beyond my knowledge. I'm so happy to have found you. Sadly, I know I must find my friend the cat. I'm worried for her. I only hope she is safe just now,” he said, his heart torn between friend and dream woman.

The woman smiled, not at all shaken by his words. She gently pulled her hand from his and touched his cheek with it. “Dear Prince, worry not for your dear Cat. I know that she is safe,” she said, and his heart was breaking from the beauty of her voice.

“Forgive me, Mirri, but how do you know she is safe if you have not seen her?” he said, glancing off into the woods worriedly. She turned his face back to hers with a gentle nudge, and looked directly into his eyes with that striking sly look. Something struck him again about that gaze, and suddenly he knew. He knew why the look was so striking; it was familiar. His dear Cat was the only one he knew to look at him that way, yet here was Mirri with the same expression. He knew in his heart without a word from her that they were one in the same.

“My dear Prince, surely you know now that I cannot have seen myself pass by. For I am your dear Cat,” she said sweetly. He bit back a cry of joy as he swept her up into his arms and spun her around. She clung to him and tittered with glee.

“Oh! I'm so glad you are safe! And so happy to have found the woman of my dreams. How was it you found me, dearest Mirri?” he asked, the beauty still in his arms.

She smiled and gazed deep into his eyes. “I've watched your sad daily walks from the shadows each day for two years, my Prince. It hurt my heart to see you so dreadfully lonely. Though one day, I saw you smile genuinely, and it made me happy that you were so. That day, I loved you, and decided I would meet you. As you can see, I have this form, and the form of a sleek black cat. I usually travel in that form, which is why you tripped over me in the road. I was traveling to the castle to see you. Of course, you'd already seen me as a cat, and it would have confused you at the time to see me change. So I followed you and got close to you, and lead you to my home this day. I knew not that you had dreamt of me. How fortunate for me!” she blushed and smiled.

The prince smiled back, still holding the woman of his dreams in his strong arms. Their eyes met, and after a moment, so did their lips, this time uninterrupted. They loved each other in the way that only soul mates can love, and nothing would ever change that. After they kissed, the price set his beauty down on her feet and took her hand. “Come, my dearest Mirri. Let me take you back to the castle and tell mother!” he said happily, leading her from the house. She smiled, and led him along the path that would take him back to the castle.

They reached the castle around the time the sun set, and the prince swung the door wide. “Mother! Cook! Everyone, come and see!” he cried jubilantly. A few scrambling moments later, heads poked into the room from various doorways. The prince pulled Mirri inside gently, presenting her to his servants and mother, whom unknowingly had already met her.

Mirri blushed and gazed at the floor as everyone made a fuss and a mad dash to meet her. The queen nearly tripped on her petticoats as she hurried down the stairs. “This is Mirri, the woman I dreamed of. Who knew I would find her this day!” the prince was overjoyed. His mother clapped her hands excitedly, and the cook beamed at her. The other servants smiled and clapped, happy that their prince had found a good woman at last.

After everyone had fussed over her, and the group broke up and met again at the table, Mirri by the prince's side, of course, his mother inquired about the cat. “Oh, son, I'm so glad you've found your dream woman. But, what may I ask happened to Cat? Where has she gone?” Mirri and the prince exchanged and glance and smile.

The prince answered, “Mother, she is the one that lead me to Mirri. She stayed the night as a guest to earn my trust, and disappeared into the woods when I found Mirri. I know that she is safe, though, Mother.” He squeezed Mirri's hand under the table, and she smiled at him. They both knew that the castle's inhabitants would not understand. They continued their meal with the usual short bits of conversation, and ended the meal the same way as always.

As they all stood, the prince stopped anyone from leaving the room. He knelt before Mirri and took her hand in his. Kissing it, he looked up at her, and asked, “Mirri, would you marry me, and be my queen?” The whole of the room seemed to hold it's breath in anticipation.

Mirri put a hand over her fluttering heart, blushing deeply. “Oh, my prince, nothing would make me happier than to be by your side forever!” she answered. The prince stood and swept her off her feet, kissing her deeply as the room let go a cheer. Once he set her down, his mother came and gave her a hug.

“My dear, I'm glad to have you with us here. Please take care of my son,” she said, smiling a wise old smile. Mirri smiled back, kissing her mother-in-law-to-be's cheek.

“Of course I'll care for him. And I'll care for you until you leave us, dear Mother,” Mirri replied, and the queen smiled and patted the girl's cheek. The prince led Mirri to the guest chambers, where a servant was preparing a fire and turning down her bed.

He turned to her, looking longingly into her eyes. “Soon, love, we'll be married, and you'll stay in my room. But tradition separates us now until that night. You will find bed clothes and other gowns of your size in the armoire beside the bed, and you may change into them behind that curtain.” He kissed her forehead, then her lips. “I shall see you in the morning and miss you every moment `til then,” he said, and she smiled back at him. They parted ways for the evening, and that night, they each had the same dream of meeting on the balcony by the courtyard, and sharing kisses `til the morning's light.

The next day, plans began to be made for the wedding, which was to be the following day. Invitations were sent to everyone in the fiefdom, asking them to come and celebrate the prince's marriage and join them in a feast. The cook sent out for more food from the stores to be brought in for the feast, and set out plans on when he must start it. He would have to work through the ceremony with a few other servants, but they would look on through the window.

Seats were set up around the archway into the courtyard, which was beautifully in bloom and needed no further decoration. The priest from the nearest town was called to spend the night and perform the next day's binding, and wine was brought in by the barrel from the village's vineyard. Once everything was in place, everyone tried to keep from being overly excited as they waited out the day. The day crept by slowly, and the night even slower, but the big day finally came.

All the villagers poured in from the whole fiefdom, filling every chair and even standing to witness this day. The priest joined the prince and Mirri, and the villagers threw handfuls of petals over them as they raced excitedly inside to the feast. The cook and servants had set up two extra tables to accommodate the extra guests and food, and everyone sat down and dug in. The feast was by far the finest thing the cook had ever accomplished, and the queen beamed at him for making this day absolutely perfect.

After the festivities, gift givings, congratulations, and good byes, the guests slowly left, and the newly weds excused themselves to the balcony overlooking their wedding place. “It's so beautiful,” Mirri said, watching purple butterflies flutter over the archway as the sun began to set, turning the sky a dusty pink. The prince wrapped her in his arms, pulling her close, and looking deep into her fierce green eyes. There was a deep connection between them that he could not begin to understand, but he didn't try. He only accepted it, as did Mirri. He kissed her deeply, with a love that can't be described, not with real words.

That night, they lay in his bed, Mirri's arm draped across his chest and her hair sprawled around them. The moonlight gleamed on her skin as she looked lovingly at her new husband and soul mate, whom lay dreaming beside her with a tender smile on his lips. She smiled and kissed him sweetly, resting her head on his chest and drifting off to sleep as well.

And, wouldn't you know it? They lived happily ever after. Well, to the end of their lives, anyways, bearing a son and two daughters, who ruled the kingdom after they were gone. Sadly, the prince's mother died about two months after his wedding, from an unknown illness. He mourned her death, but Mirri helped him through the pain. But other than the loss, they were very happy together, no matter what happened. They made it a point to take walks along the long path to her home every now and again, and visited the balcony each evening, long into their old age until their peaceful deaths.

The End

(fun fact: Mirri's name is actually an affectionate Finnish word for Cat, but it also has a subtext, like the petname “kitten” in English)