Narrative Essay on Weeping Willow

Once upon a time, there lived a princess called Willow, who loved her kingdom Alythia very much. The King and the Queen found her as a baby under a willow tree in a faraway kingdom. She was raised in the palace but one day a fire started, killing both her parents. As she was too young to take the throne her uncle got it instead. Willow was locked up in a tower.

“One day you will marry a prince, you will become a dutiful wife, that is your only purpose.” her uncle would tell her. The king, her uncle, was detested by the kingdom. He spent all the money on himself and only wanted more power. One day the King came to Willow with the news.

 “I have found a husband for you. He will pay the kingdom well for your hand.” he declared.

“You will sell me, my hopes and my dreams for money?” she whispered. “So you can continue ruining my kingdom?”

“It's not your kingdom,” he sneered. “You are not a ruler, you are a weak being. You cannot lead!”

That night princess Willow decided it was enough. She gathered her things and escaped. She ran through the forest but soon heard the voices of her uncle’s soldiers behind her. She hid behind a tree terrified. They were both faster, and stronger. She would have to outwit them. She ran till she found the right place. She awaited them and when they saw her they were so distracted that they didn’t notice the quicksand under their feet.

As she continued the next morning, she found an injured rabbit. She was almost out of the water but nonetheless, she cleaned the rabbit’s injured foot with what little she had left and carried the rabbit with her until it healed. 

She arrived in the midst of the night, fireflies buzzing through the air, spiraling around the majestic willow tree.  As she approached, the wind rushed through the air and she could hear a familiar and wise voice.

“You are Willow Aurelius and this is your birthplace. You have passed the tests of freedom, wisdom, and kindness and proven yourself worthy. You will receive a gift, a magical sword, which upon one touch will give freedom.” the tree mumbled the last words as Willow took the sword and ran.

In the forest, she met the rabbit she had helped.

“I will help you for your kindness.” the rabbit announced. It shifted into a gleaming white horse. Willow rode to the palace. On her way, people started gathering at her side. Men and women who wanted their freedom.

The king was outraged.

“You will never get away with this. You are pathetic, you are only a woman,” he screeched.

“I will stand up for myself and my people. You won’t and that is your downfall.”  Willow retorted as she pounced. Her sword was up in the air before the king could react and at first touch, he turned into shimmering dust that was carried away by the wind. They were free. As she walked into the forest, back to her people, a crown of willow leaves appeared on her brow. Willow was crowned queen and the kingdom Alythia lived happily ever after, under the rule of fairness and love.