A Tale of the Wild Swans

(text-style:"emboss")[Salutations] dear friends. We hope you enjoy the glorious Hans Christian Andersen tales, as we are about to bring to you (align:"<==")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXXXXXX===")[(text-style:"bold","emboss")[A Tale of the Wild Swans]] adapted from the original "The Wild Swans" by Hans Christian Andersen. - Srinithi C & Belle L Let us proceed: [[Once upon a time...]]

Everything was peaceful and dandy until, one day, the beloved queen passed away. Everyone throughout the kingdom mourned her death. Then, a few years went by, the queen’s throne was empty, but a kingdom cannot have no queen so the king married another woman who was a perfect wife but an evil, vicious stepmother. [[You try to look for your brothers]] [[You stay and try to endure living under your stepmother]] <img src=" https://st.depositphotos.com/70723420/59933/i/450/depositphotos_599339470-stock-photo-ruins-illustration-perfect-concept-art.jpg " width= 1000 height = 500/>

You try looking for them all over the house and you can’t find them. You know that they were with your stepmother the last time you saw them. [[Continue living with your stepmother]]

[[Continue living with your stepmother]]

One day, you were doing chores, sweeping the royal bathroom floors, your stepmother forced you to do it, and you confronted her. You asked her why she was acting so, and why she didn’t like you and your brothers. Her reply was a smirk, a harsh slap on your cheek, and a slam of the door on her way out of the room. [[You withstand the pain and continue on cleaning because you are determined to knock down that evil queen and reunited with your brothers in the future]] [[The anger builds up inside you, and you find your hand swinging towards her face resulting in an echoing thwack on her cheek. The queen doubles back in pain, but after she registers what just happened. She grabs you]]

You decide to go to your father, the king, to plead to him about annulling his marriage with the queen as she is so unfriendly and unfit for her position. You also tell him about the various unpleasant encounters you have had with her, however, he doesn't believe you. [[You run away because you hate that your father doesn’t believe in you and you abandon your brothers]] [[You run away because your father does not believe in you]] [[You confront your stepmother]]

The queen is set on sending you away to a peasant’s farm, away from your brothers, home, and life you are used to. She pours cinder ashes on your face and foul gunk into your hair and brings you in front of the king. She tells him that this girl broke into the palace, but due to her kind heart, she wants to find a home for her outside of the palace. He agrees. [[You run away because you hate that your father doesn’t believe in you and you abandon your brothers]] [[You go because you don’t want to cause a scene or cause trouble to your brothers. You want to use this time, away from your father and stepmother, to finish the coats and devise a plan.]]

You now live in a rural shack in the countryside. You find your own food, and scavenge your own water. Your hands are no longer of a princess. [[Continue..]]

You now live in a rural shack in the countryside. You find your own food, and scavenge your own water. Your hands are no longer of a princess. [[Continue..]] <img src=" https://i.pinimg.com/originals/d4/0a/b6/d40ab640c6131e76b4015674ae9ae68e.jpg " width= 1000 height = 600/>

You now live in a rural shack in the countryside. You find your own food, and scavenge your own water. Your hands are no longer of a princess. [[Continue..]]

You are walking on a dirt path the next day, and one the side of the road, sat an old lady. You go up to her and ask if she was lost, yet she didn’t seem to acknowledge that question. She just clasped your hands with hers and looked you in the eyes. “Save them!” “Save them!” “The eleven swans are your eleven brothers.” “Save them by clothing them in nettle vests!” And then, she turned, and left. Leaving you standing there, stunned. [[You believe her, and you began gathering nettles to weave vests]] [[Why would you believe a random old hag? You turned and went on to gather berries for dinner]] <img src=" https://i.pinimg.com/originals/51/64/34/5164346c2f895f1972f83dd4dacbf306.jpg " width= 650 height = 500/>

You were by the stream fetching water one day, and you saw eleven swans, each with a golden band upon their foreheads, majestic and graceful. Once they saw you, they swam over and bowed their heads. You even thought you saw one have a tear fall from its beak. That night, you fell asleep with thoughts about the swans. [[Continue...]] <img src=" https://i.pinimg.com/736x/0a/a9/fa/0aa9fae3715d654c49d951dc43b05e08.jpg " width= 1000 height = 500/>

You are by the bushes collecting nettles, and even though you hands are pierced again and again, you persist in pulling out the nettles. You are determined to save your brothers. As you work, you hear the sounds of hooves approaching. And as you raise your head, your eyes meet those of a handsome man. He introduces himself as the King of Worchester, and he asks if you were willing to go back to his kingdom with him. [[Go with the king]] [[Refuse the king]]

You are by the bushes, and you hear the sounds of hooves approaching. And as you raise your head, your eyes meet those of a handsome man. He introduces himself as the King of Worchester, and he asks if you were willing to go back to his kingdom with him. [[Go with the king]] [[Refuse the king]] <img src=" https://live.staticflickr.com/4091/4962202468_e67a08dca1_b.jpg " width= 600 height = 400/>

You said yes to marrying the King. But as you are traveling, you and the King pass through your kingdom. Rumors, due to your “kind” stepmother, have spread throughout the empire that you were a benevolent witch. Townsfolk, upon seeing you, threw rotten vegetables and eggs at you. No one welcomed you. Now, It was either, you left with the King and never came back to your kingdom, or stayed for your brothers. [[You try to claim your innocence]] [[You focus on trying to save your brother and build their vests]]

He kidnaps you, and brings you along anyway. [[Continue....]] <img src=" https://cache.getarchive.net/Prod/thumb/cdn2/L3Bob3RvLzE4ODMvMTIvMzEvcG9sbGFyZC10aGUtd2lsZC1zd2Fucy1iYjY5MDctNjQwLmpwZw%3D%3D/320/413/jpg " width= 800 height = 1000/>

You slowly start to like the king and agree to get married to him. But as you are traveling, you and the King pass through your kingdom. Rumors, due to your “kind” stepmother, have spread throughout the empire that you were a benevolent witch. Townsfolk, upon seeing you, threw rotten vegetables and eggs at you. No one welcomed you. [[You try to claim your innocence]]

No one believes you and you are burned at stake for being a witch. [[Thank you for your time]] <img src=" https://i.pinimg.com/564x/9b/03/16/9b0316b9886f0f2f237453f1d365ac8f.jpg " width= 800 height = 600/>

The situtation has escalated and the people of Worchester are demanding that the king burn you at stake for being a witch. The king's hand is forced and the day that you're to be burned at stake has arrived. You're almost done with making the last vest but you're not sure if you'll be able to finish on time. [[Try to finish the last vest]] [[Try to plead your innocence with the king for the last time]]

You finish it at last and before you fall asleep from the exhaustion you see 11 white swans come to rescue you and you recognize them as your brothers. The people see this and are surprised and think it's a sign from the heavens that you're innocent. You are faint from all the stress and are about to pass out but before you do, you drape each of the swans with their vests and fall asleep as they all turn back human. When you awake, you are asked by the king again if you would marry him. [[You say yes]] [[You say no because you would rather stay with your brothers]] <img src=" https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:2000/1*adObok-uFHKgAzdcNdWqMw.jpeg " width= 800 height = 600/>

Right before you're burned at stake 11 white swans come to rescue you and you recognize them as your brothers. The people see this and are surprised and think it's a sign from the heavens that you're innocent. You are faint from all the stress and are about to pass out but before you do, you drape each of the swans with their vests and fall asleep as they all turn back human except the last one who remains with half of its body human and half of it a swan. When you awake, you are asked by the king again if you would marry him [[You say yes]] [[You say no because you would rather stay with your brothers]] <img src=" https://i0.wp.com/mythicmojo.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Wild-Swans-by-Paul-Hey-1939.jpg " width= 600 height = 600/>

You live happily married life with the king and your family and the king and your brothers banish your stepmother---who you later found was the one who turned your brothers into swans---from the country. [[Thank you for your time]] <img src=" https://as1.ftcdn.net/v2/jpg/05/50/93/68/1000_F_550936870_G8kI5zjFch8h3AXfG9cmMXKQkhjPe8G3.jpg " width= 600 height = 600/>

You live happily ever after with your brothers and safe from the dangers that come from being a part of the royal family. [[Thank you for your time]] <img src=" https://www.bilingual-childrens-books.com/multilingual-picture-book-img/ws-inside-6.jpg " width= 800 height = 800/>

In a far away land, long long ago, there was a kingdom, Aurelia. A noble king ruled the land along with his wife the queen, and their twelve children-eleven handsome princes and, the youngest, a beautiful princess. [[You are the youngest princess…cont.]] <img src=" https://beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/LakeVillage_RobertoNieto_full.jpg " width= 1000 height = 500/>

(text-style:"emboss")[Credits] Beneath Ceaseless Skies. https://beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/LakeVillage_RobertoNieto_full.jpg. Accessed 4 Apr. 2024. Berry Picking. https://live.staticflickr.com/4091/4962202468_e67a08dca1_b.jpg. Accessed 4 Apr. 2024. Fire. https://i.pinimg.com/564x/9b/03/16/9b0316b9886f0f2f237453f1d365ac8f.jpg. Accessed 4 Apr. 2024. Happily Ever After. https://www.bilingual-childrens-books.com/multilingual-picture-book-img/ws-inside-6.jpg. Accessed 4 Apr. 2024. King Kidnaps Her. https://cache.getarchive.net/Prod/thumb/cdn2/L3Bob3RvLzE4ODMvMTIvMzEvcG9sbGFyZC10aGUtd2lsZC1zd2Fucy1iYjY5MDctNjQwLmpwZw%3D%3D/320/413/jpg. Accessed 4 Apr. 2024. Kingdom Picture. https://ih0.redbubble.net/image.5172785138.4267/raf,360x360,075,t,fafafa:ca443f4786.jpg. Accessed 4 Apr. 2024. “Magic in the Air.” Pixabay, https://pixabay.com/music/main-title-magic-in-the-air-43177/. Accessed 4 Apr. 2024. Red Curtain. https://w0.peakpx.com/wallpaper/253/412/HD-wallpaper-red-stage-curtain-red-stage-floor-surtain.jpg. Accessed 4 Apr. 2024. Rural Countryside. https://i.pinimg.com/originals/d4/0a/b6/d40ab640c6131e76b4015674ae9ae68e.jpg. Accessed 4 Apr. 2024. Sad Kingdom Picture. https://st.depositphotos.com/70723420/59933/i/450/depositphotos_599339470-stock-photo-ruins-illustration-perfect-concept-art.jpg. Accessed 4 Apr. 2024. Saved By the Swans. https://i0.wp.com/mythicmojo.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Wild-Swans-by-Paul-Hey-1939.jpg. Accessed 4 Apr. 2024. The Last Vest. https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:2000/1*adObok-uFHKgAzdcNdWqMw.jpeg. Accessed 4 Apr. 2024. Wedding. https://as1.ftcdn.net/v2/jpg/05/50/93/68/1000_F_550936870_G8kI5zjFch8h3AXfG9cmMXKQkhjPe8G3.jpg. Accessed 4 Apr. 2024. When She Sees the Swans. https://i.pinimg.com/736x/0a/a9/fa/0aa9fae3715d654c49d951dc43b05e08.jpg. Accessed 4 Apr. 2024. Wise Old Lady. https://i.pinimg.com/originals/51/64/34/5164346c2f895f1972f83dd4dacbf306.jpg. Accessed 4 Apr. 2024.