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In the middle of the woods, there sits an enchanted lake. In that lake lived a wonderful white swan and a beautiful black swan, both cursed by an evil sorcerer of a kingdom long forgotten. The white swan was graceful and gentle, and had long since been freed from her curse, but the black swan had been changed by time. Once white, sweet and delicate, the black swan had been betrayed, and so his feathers turned black with each passing day. For seven years, the swan was cursed to spend his days about the lake. With every failure to break his spell, the black swan slowly gave up, resigning himself to a life of misery. And so, for every time his heart broke, his heart sank further down into the pit of water in his body. Down to the last trace of white. For every day he spent in that lake, he desperately wished for his charming prince; his knight in shining armor. The very last feather turned white on his nineteenth birthday.
Then one day, a beautiful prince with an eye for mystery happened upon the lake. His chestnut hair caught Eddie’s eye immediately, entrancing him in an effervescent state of awe. He was beautiful, his face holding every feature Eddie had seen in his deepest dreams. Captivating hazel eyes, long wistful eyelashes, moles dotted all over his suntanned skin. His smile is so easy and wonderful when he introduces himself to Eddie. Prince Steven of Roane spent most of his days at the lake with the swan as he told stories of his life and his adventures. Long lessons in Literature and Writing. Adventures he had taken with his best friend and royal chaperone. Still somehow, he always appeared alone with something new to give to him. It didn’t surprise Eddie though. No, Prince Steven always returned to his swan no matter the weather or the circumstances. The poor, sweet swan who had had his heart broken many times before fell hard and fast for the lovely prince, who had been so kind and devoted to him. Steven continued to bring him tiny trinkets and strange gifts that the swan would tuck into the grass for safekeeping. A temporary home for the things he treasured most until his curse could be broken. Soon enough, Steven began speaking of the lost kingdom of Hawkins. Of a Prince named Edward and a maiden named Nancy. Eddie couldn’t believe that his story was still being told. He smiled upon his dear prince and listened intently as the prince spoke of how he long admired the missing prince. How he longed to be able to converse with him about his favorite books, and cause trouble around the castle. How he desperately wished he could help style his hair for balls, and waste time away in the fields. And most of all, how he wished he’d known him, even for just one moment.
Eddie was rather elated, though saddened by the fact that he could not talk. Despite himself, he remained companionable with the darling prince. The swan treasured these moments, and spent his days content to remain in this state, if only so he could continue seeing prince Steven.
This went on for forty days more. One day, his beloved prince did not return. Eddie wept and wept, his poor heart inconsolable. The heartbroken swan swam laps around the lake for hours on end, praying his prince would return. The prince, however, had not appeared. And so, Eddie created a bed for himself in the lemon grass that grew wild on the bank, prepared to resign himself to a fate of the worst kind.
It was four more days before he saw his beloved prince again. Steven knelt at the edge of the enchanted lake, skimming his hand across the top of the water as his face falls in disappointment. That wasn’t right. Eddie let out a bellow and rushed to make his way to the prince, Steven smiling wide when he lays eyes on him.
“Oh, my sweet swan…you’re not really a swan, are you? You’re the prince.” Steve whispered. Eddie bowed his head and spread a wing, waiting for yet another heartbreak to doom him eternally. It did not come. Instead, prince Steven brought two of his fingers to his lips and kissed them gently before pressing them to Eddie’s head as he continued.
“…The one I have grown to love, and would long to see standing before me. I have spent a fortnight trying to discern how I should break this spell, but I know how, now. The world has not forgotten you, most certainly not myself. Come forth to me, and let your curse be broken, my dear.” Steve laments. Eddie swims around in a circle and spreads his other wing as he places his head upon his back. The only response the Prince receives is silence….
… And from the swan came forth a burst of long black feathers. Silky soft, slowly descending from the sky. They drift through the air, carried off by the wind and scattered around the lake. Steve holds his breath and looks up, and he gasps.
Before Steve now stands a mysterious man dressed in a striking black shirt, a spiky black collar around the top of it, covered in downy feathers that fall quickly to the ground as he shakes them off. His eyes are sharp, and he doesn’t look like any portrait of the prince that Steve had ever seen. The painted portraits Steve has grown fond of portray a fair skinned prince with white hair, light eyes, and a captivating smile. Steve looks at him and reaches a hand out to pick up a single curl and wraps it around his finger, twirling it for a moment. Gone were the cloudy white locks, and the eyes that seemed to pierce. Before him, Prince Edward’s hair is now the color of the dahlias that grow on the outskirts of the kingdom. His eyes are dark and mysterious, stealing the attention of Steve’s mind.
Steve, as always, is immediately enamored with the strangeness of it all. The swan is nowhere to be seen, despite the way he looks around for it.
The man extends his hand to Steve with a sharp, wordless smile and Steve takes it, standing there with his hand in the other man’s.
“Well, aren’t you rather curious? I’m Edward. I hope you will still accept me as I am.” He says, moving his other arm sharply but gracefully to the front of his body, and Steve comes to realize. The prince of Hawkins, with his once white hair, had been changed with time. And although Steven had half expected the swan to remain, it was gone.
This man was his black swan, and he is beautiful.
“Dance with me, won’t you? It’s been an awfully long time.” The dark haired prince smiles. Steve smiles back and steps towards him with one light foot forward, dancing beneath the light of the full moon above them.