Stay in the Castle

[neuroticcat]

Has this been seen here before? I stumbled across it on a fundie girl's blog and think it's okay to post in entirety since the author posted it in full here: realhelpforteens.com/index.php?PGNM=article&id=15 - The article also includes a nauseating backstory that inspired the story.

Stay in the Castle, by: J. Ross

Once upon a time there was a princess that lived in a beautiful palace overlooking a simple but worldly village. She lived in the castle with her Father, the King, and a handful of faithful servants. Her Father doted over her, supplying her every need and most all of her wants. Over the years, she blossomed into a beautiful teenage girl, quick-witted, full of laughter, and always obedient - but increasingly lonely.

Often, late at night, she would gaze from the window of her room, high in the castle wall, watching the people far away in the streets below. She would lean towards the gaiety, straining past the sounds of music and laughter, to try and pick out the words of the young people. No sad, lonely sounds ever reached her ears, and she began to believe that they must be the happiest people in the kingdom.

"Father?" she asked one evening as they worked together on what he called her preparation. "Do you think that perhaps I might one evening be allowed to attend one of the festivals at the village? Perhaps just for a short time?"

The old, but wise King laid aside the Book of Lessons and looked upon his daughter with compassion and concern.

"My child, the village below is a worldly place full of sad people. The sound of merriment that you sometimes hear is their attempt to drown out the emptiness and despair of their lives. It is best that you stay in the castle."

Though she loved her Father, it was not the answer she wished.

"But Father, how will I ever meet…I mean…someday I would like to…Oh Father, you are so good to me, and I do so love it here, but at times I get so lonely!"

The King sat back in his chair, his eyes suddenly seeing his daughter not as the little girl she would always be to him, but as the young lady she was becoming. He then decided.

"It is time that I tell you."

"Tell me what, Father?"

Standing to his feet, he walked to a window overlooking the countryside to the East. His eyes fastened onto the King's Highway, a straight road that passed high above the village and led to the castle gate.

"Shortly after you were born, I foresaw the day when you would need someone special - someone with whom to spend your life. I set out to search, to visit other castles in the Kingdom; to find a prince for you. Not just anyone, but that special someone."

The King turned to look at his Princess, her eyes full of wonderment.

"I have met him. I know who he is."

"Oh, Father, where does he live? When do I get to meet him?"

"He lives far away, but not so far, in a castle not unlike this one. He, too, is being prepared as you are - both for the other. Come stand beside me, my child."

She walked to where her Father stood by the window.

"See there? That's the King's Highway. When the time is right and not before, he will come on a white steed. You will know him."

Then taking her hands into his, he looked into her tear-brimmed eyes.

"Princess. Never forget you are a child of the King. You are Royalty. The one being prepared for you is also of Royal Descent. Be patient. Prepare. And stay in the castle."

She hugged the King, jumping into his arms, happy now and determined to prepare and wait. For many months, at night, she looked out her bedroom window, past the village and its sounds to the Highway above, watching and dreaming of the one who would someday come.

♦

A year passed. Then another. The dream became harder to envision, and the night sounds of laughter and glee from the village below again began working their way slowly into her thoughts. It became harder to concentrate on her preparation, harder to be patient.

One morning while taking her breakfast in the Royal Kitchen, a knock was heard at the back door, the door where deliveries were made from the village below. She waited for one of her Father's servants to answer but when none immediately did, she decided to answer it herself.

"Hello," said the young deliveryman as he pulled off his crumbled hat and bowed. (It was an exaggerated bow, very low and lasting, followed by a winsome smile.) She couldn't help but laugh.

"Delivery for his Royal Highness, the King," he proclaimed with just the slightest shade of irreverence. "And my, but I must say that he has hired some lovely kitchen help, a great improvement indeed!"

"Why, thank you, but I'm not the kitchen help," she replied blushing. "I'm the King's daughter."

"I had heard that he had a daughter. But I was never told how beautiful she was! Do you live here all alone with your Father?"

"For now," she replied, thinking briefly of the now fading story her Father had told her.

He carried the supplies past her into the kitchen. "You ought to come down to the village some night. The lads would be taken with you! Lots of friends your age and wonderful parties."

"Tell me about the village."

For an hour they talked - talked and laughed. Every story of the village life seemed so full of humor and excitement! He acted out the stories he told and sang a village favorite, dancing merrily to the tune. She could not remember ever laughing so much and found herself resenting her Father for not allowing her to take part.

"You must come to the village this very night. The Fall Festival begins and it is the best of the year."

She glanced awkwardly at the kitchen door. "I don't believe my Father would allow me to attend."

"Then sneak out after dark. I will meet you at the bridge this side of the village. You'll have a great time!"

"Perhaps." She hesitated. "But I can't promise."

"I'll meet you there," he said, then shut the door and was gone before she could answer.

That evening, she sat with her Father in the Great Room, he reading aloud from the Book of Lessons, and she pretending to be listening. In reality, she was measuring the diminishing light from the setting sun. The distant music began to loft up from the festival below, her imagination going skyward with it. It took several moments before she realized that her Father had stopped reading.

"You seem far away tonight."

She straightened her dress nervously, "No, just tired I think. Perhaps I should go to bed early."

"Darling…"

"Really, Father, I'm fine," she said, quickly getting to her feet. "Good night," she said back over her shoulder as she scampered up the stairs.

Two hours later, when it was believed that all in the castle were sleeping, a lithe, young figure stole out the kitchen door and disappeared into the night.

♦

Three months later, a slightly older but much changed Princess marched into the Great Room to announce to her Father the decision she had made on the previous night. Her midnight visits had increased in frequency since that first visit a life time ago. The village nightlife was more exciting than she ever dared imagine. The people, though sometimes crude, laughed and sang and danced and chased each night into dawn. They were living! Living now! Not just waiting for a dream that might never come true.

The young man that had met her that first night had treated her, well, like royalty! In a hundred ways he had made her feel special. Then last night, the greatest of all nights of her life, he had proposed to her. She clutched the ring he had slipped onto her finger tightly in her palm, drawing courage from the pain it produced.

"Father, I have something to tell you."

He sat in his chair, the Book of Lessons on his lap, its pages freshly stained with his tears. She almost lost her resolve.

"I've met a young man. I know I shouldn't have gone without your permission but…anyway, we are going to be married - right away!"

The King shut the Book and stared out towards the Highway. "I watched you go each night, wishing you back." Then turning His eyes to her and through her, "This castle has never been a prison. This castle is a decision. I want you to know that if you leave here, things will never be the same again. My love for you will never change, but everything - everything - else will."

She wavered for a moment but only a moment, her head filled now with the village ideas.

"I know that this is what is right for me. He may not be Royalty but I love him." And with that she left the castle.

♦

she woke with the dawn, not knowing that it was a year to the day since her

departure. Her back hurt. "Just part of being in your last month of pregnancy," the village women had told her. Rising with difficulty, her husband muttered something in his half-drunken state. He had come home only hours before and they had argued - again. Oh well, after the baby is born maybe things will get better.

There was still a house to clean and chores to do. Picking up a worn, straw broom, she walked outside to sweep the front porch. Their house was small. It sat at the edge of town, not far from the bridge where he had waited for her that first night. Her eyes followed the path up to her Father's Castle. The King had still found little ways to show her that he had not forgotten her, that she was still loved. But what he had said was now true. Nothing was the same.

Her eyes wandered to the East to spend a few minutes watching the sun rise, a simple pleasure that she shared alone each morning. Its rays almost blinded her, distorted the trees and hills beyond. Squinting against its brightness, she returned to the job at hand, first glancing absently up the High Road.

Her heart seemed to stop, gripped as if by a strong hand. The broom quivered in her grasp. Far down the road came a white horse, its rider sitting straight and tall. He seemed to be coming straight out of the sun. The horse quickened its pace as it neared the castle, sensing the excitement of its master. Her heart began to beat again, now loud and in rhythm to the pounding hoofs. He reigned his mount to a stop outside the castle's front gate. She could not make out his features but his stance spoke of honor and character. He knocked on the front door, her front door not that long ago. The King stepped out to greet him and she watched as they conversed; she watched as the King spoke with his hands and then pointed toward the village. Involuntarily, she took a step back into the shadow of the porch.

The noble Prince listened carefully, his strong shoulders sagging in disappointment and sadness. Shaking the King's hand and receiving from him a consoling hug, he mounted his horse. He looked toward her village home, his eyes finding her in the shadow. For a moment they both stared. Then, pointing his mount back toward the sun, he rode away into its brightness.

She felt the hot tears on her arms and hands long before it occurred to her that she was crying. Nothing, she thought, will ever be the same.

[Savoring Samsara]

I seem to remember seeing this on Kristina's blog once a long time ago. I always thought she wrote it for some reason but I guess that was not the case!

[PennySycamore]

WTF did I just read?

[socalrules]

His stance spoke of honor and character? Is that like a wide stance?

[debrand]

A lot of the Calvinist leaning fundies seem to believe that they are just slightly better then everyone else so princess stories are right up their alley.

Princess. Never forget you are a child of the King. You are Royalty. The one being prepared for you is also of Royal Descent. Be patient. Prepare. And stay in the castle."

The entire story is creepy. Its moral is, if you, the young woman, set foot outside of daddy's home and try to engage other people then you will end up unhappy and poor.You will miss out on your true knight who comes when he is ready which has nothing to do with when you want to meet him because your thoughts on the matter aren't really important. Just sit and wait until the men folk decide you can start enjoying life.

Thanks but no thanks.

[Angharad Crewe]

There are a lot of unanswered questions in this story. How does the audience know that the Prince at the end of the story would treat her any better than the husband she chose? Maybe her husband is actually a good person and they have a healthy relationship that can withstand arguments. Maybe the Prince would be horrifically abusive to her, which he would be able to get away with because of his high status.

Side note: I find it interesting that the story includes the detail that her back is aching because of pregnancy. I don't think that pregnancy complications like back aches are determined by the father's wealth, which is what that seems to imply.

[DuggarsTheEndIsNear]

There are a lot of unanswered questions in this story. How does the audience know that the Prince at the end of the story would treat her any better than the husband she chose? Maybe her husband is actually a good person and they have a healthy relationship that can withstand arguments. Maybe the Prince would be horrifically abusive to her, which he would be able to get away with because of his high status.

Side note: I find it interesting that the story includes the detail that her back is aching because of pregnancy. I don't think that pregnancy complications like back aches are determined by the father's wealth, which is what that seems to imply.

He stood with honor and character. Clearly he is a good man. Not like her drunken husband that argues with her when she's pregnant.

On another note, wouldn't a princess get SOMETHING, ANYTHING like money or a maid. Just because she's married to a commoner doesn't mean she's not a princess.

And why don't the king and Princess partake in customs of the town? What kind of kingdom do they live in? Does the king even address his subjects? Actually clearly he doesn't. Cause being in the village is not being under his protection. Otherwise the village wouldn't be so worldly unless he liked worldly things.

[16strong]

And why don't the king and Princess partake in customs of the town? What kind of kingdom do they live in? Does the king even address his subjects? Actually clearly he doesn't. Cause being in the village is not being under his protection. Otherwise the village wouldn't be so worldly unless he liked worldly things.

This. That was my first thought. If the king was so godly, why wouldn't he insist his kingdom conduct themselves as he does? There seems to be a HUGE disconnect between the king's morals and the morals of his subjects. And whose fault is that? :naughty:

[Naga Viper]

So the author heard this song and combined both women into one character, basically:

QhQWND9jKDA

Still, it shows more imagination than anything poor Sarah Maxwell's written...

[lilith]

He stood with honor and character. Clearly he is a good man. Not like her drunken husband that argues with her when she's pregnant.

On another note, wouldn't a princess get SOMETHING, ANYTHING like money or a maid. Just because she's married to a commoner doesn't mean she's not a princess.

And why don't the king and Princess partake in customs of the town? What kind of kingdom do they live in? Does the king even address his subjects? Actually clearly he doesn't. Cause being in the village is not being under his protection. Otherwise the village wouldn't be so worldly unless he liked worldly things.

In fundie land women take on the identity and social and economic status of their husbands. Which may be why the Botkinettes don't seem too keen on marriage.

[samurai_sarah]

...And then, the princess decided that living in regret wasn't a good way to live. So she started visiting night school. She divorced her drunken husband, got a real education, and lived as a successful single mother until the time came for her to take over the realm. Which she did. She may or may not have found a new partner along the way. In any case, she was a good queen, and her kid, alongside all others in her realm, received a decent education. And they became capable adults, who could take care of themselves. Just like their queen. The End.

[jerkit]

Well.

That wasn't horrifyingly manipulative in any way.

Also, in this metaphor how does the father already know who she will marry? Short of arranged marriage which ony happens in the craziest of fundie circles, what is that?

[DuggarsTheEndIsNear]

Well.

That wasn't horrifyingly manipulative in any way.

Also, in this metaphor how does the father already know who she will marry? Short of arranged marriage which ony happens in the craziest of fundie circles, what is that?

It was an arranged marriage. Remember he met with all the kings in the kingdom (cause kingdoms have more than one long now, and unlike GoT this isn't a very bitter kingdom when it comes to the number of kings), and the prince was being raise to marry her as she was being raised to marry him.

[jerkit]

It was an arranged marriage. Remember he met with all the kings in the kingdom (cause kingdoms have more than one long now, and unlike GoT this isn't a very bitter kingdom when it comes to the number of kings), and the prince was being raise to marry her as she was being raised to marry him.

Right I get that. I'm just not used to arranged marriages in "normal" fundie culture.

[DuggarsTheEndIsNear]

Right I get that. I'm just not used to arranged marriages in "normal" fundie culture.

I think in this case the king is supposed to be both her father and god. Cause they're basically the same thing anyways, right?

[jerkit]

I think in this case the king is supposed to be both her father and god. Cause they're basically the same thing anyways, right?

Oooooh. Gross, but that makes more sense.

Metaphors are not my strong suit.

[DuggarsTheEndIsNear]

Oooooh. Gross, but that makes more sense.

Metaphors are not my strong suit.

Nor theirs. It's just the only thing I can think of as to how her father would know the perfect one was being groomed for her, plus he's the king and she's the daughter of the king while her intended is also descendent from a king. The phrasing of that whole passage sound like they were doing that whole "your gods child and god has big plans for you" thing.

[polecat]

I know the moral is supposed to scare young women into staying under their parents' "protection," but as I read it, I read it as a parent, and the moral to me was not to squash your child's dreams, individuality and freedom in a vain attempt to protect him/her because it's almost sure to send him/her running in the opposite direction.

[church_of_dog]

What I couldn't figure out, even after grokking the metaphor that daddy-king is supposed to be god, is why "if you leave, I'll still love you but everything else will change." WHY does everything else have to change? The story doesn't even have an ostensible reason why the princess isn't permitted to choose to live as a member of the community (who, as someone here just pointed out, are the king's subjects -- if he doesn't believe they are living righteously, why doesn't he commence to guide them?)

You know, I can accept a very wide range of beliefs and values, but I just cannot deal with things that don't make sense.

[Closed Womb]

1) So, nothing good comes from eating? Nothing good comes from being in the kitchen? (Since my husband has the cooking chores in our house, I can get behind that one. Maybe.)

2) I think the pregnancy detail was that she would be waited on were she still a prisoner good christian who waited for the white horse.

3) Indeed, how can she tell on sight that the White Horse Dude is a better man? Or is this a matter of disbelief? Would she have married Delivery Dude if she knew WHD was for certain going to show up?

4) If she would have been admonished to stay in WHD's castle as the wife, she may have gotten the better end of the deal. If the grass is greener on the other side, it's probably because they used a lot more manure.

[debrand]

I think that it is weird that the princess lost all social status just by marrying a commoner. If her dad was a decent man wouldn't he make certain that his pregnant daughter and mother of the future heir to the kingdom was comfortable?

The father is a horrible leader and his daughter should lead the people in a rebellion against him. It is amazing to me that the writer can't understand what a terrible ruler she has created.

I agree that the story is a very confusing metaphor for god. The reason that it doesn't make sense for a lot of us is because we don't have the fundies screwed up view of god and father/daughter relationships.

[Maggie Mae]

Why is her lowborn husband a drunk? Does being royalty protect from alcohol addiction as well as pain from pregnancy? If A Song of Ice and Fire head taught me anything, it's that being aroung royalty will get you ducked

I don't suppose they used to enjoy drinks together before she got knocked up.

[JemimaPuddle-Duck]

Okay, I have heard that the Malley(sp?) sisters tell this story or something akin to it at their presentations. I hate it, as well, but I have another take on it. I don't discount the way y'all feel about it, but I have a fundie perspective on it too ;-)

It's basically denying the sovereignty of God and saying you can thwart his plan for you. He had this perfect prince all planned out for you, and now you've went and messed it up by marrying the wrong man. So in essence, they're teaching these young ladies that if their husband doesn't turn out to be the perfect Prince Charming, or isn't someone their parents picked for them, they married the wrong guy and will have to spend the rest of their life discontent with the wrong husband. It's ridiculous.

Definitely not a story I can see being popular with the reformed crowd.

[Joan of Snarc]

I like how the princess is supposed to sit in the castle and "prepare" for her prince on a white horse. How exactly does she prepare? What does she do? Keep a bag packed? Brush her hair a hundred times every day? Keep a pen handy to sign that marriage license? Put toothpaste on her dad's toothbrush?

:roll:

[RandomTrivia]

I wonder how many churches have bought the "3-act play" version of this and performed it.

Also, what does it say about the king's involvement with his kingdom, if the delivery boy doesn't recognize the princess. What does the king do all day?