Lisiane took off her hat and laid it one her laps, as she always did, she then looked at the children gathered before her, the willing listeners she always loved.
I've heard you want me to tell you a story?
She asked, a smile on her face. The children all noded in agreement, and so she leaned back in her chair.
Very well, make yourselves as comfortable as you can and let's have an adventure of our own.
She watched the children shift in their places, she waited untill they stoped moving before the story began.
One day, as I got lost, I found my way to a land I've never seen before. The people there looked like you and I, but their houses were afloat on the biggest lake you can imagine. So big was the lake that an entire city was made at it's top, with a giant, white castle in it's center. In the castle lived a royal family, King, Queen, and their children, twins, a boy and a girl. People loved their rulers, as life in the city was good, yet the prince and princess were not allowed outside their palace, as they couldn't swim and their parents feared for their safety. I found it odd, as they were surrounded by water from each and every side, and so I inquired the people about it. Noone seemed to know the reason, they never questioned it, and so I seeked ways to enter the palace, to know the story in it's entirety. I stayed at an inn, not far from the city centre. The first eve I told a story to the inn's proprietor and his family. The next, more people arrived, and before long I had a crowd of listeners bigger than here and now. These people, you see, rarely left their lake city. They knew little to nothing of other peoples, who they shared a world with, thus they flocked to hear of what they never saw. The word of my storytelling spread, and soon I was invited to the castle. The King and Queen thought, if I was to tell their children of what lies beyond the lake, they would be content, abandoning their dreams of leaving the palace. I thought it a great opportunity and accepted, thus began my stay in the castle walls. I was ferried from the inn in a white boat, shaped after a wild goose. It didn't take long to arrive at the castle, the gate was made of silver, by the looks of it, and also shaped after geese. Once behind it, I was led through the gardens of floating lillies in colours you've never seen before. A narrow path, made of the same, white stone as the castle, was swirling around it, making it possible to walk. Once inside the castle, I couldn't help but notice how little people were living there, but as I asked my guide about it, he remained silent. Not wanting to be seen as rude, I didn't pry, not yet at least.
I was brought to the throne room, and met the King and Queen. They were both dignified and beatuiful, they were also the most polite pair I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. I was greeted with a dinner, and introduced to the prince and princess. Instantly, I was showered with questions, I have only answered a few before the children were sent away. Once they left, the King asked me, if I would stay in the palace, for a time. "Of course" I said, "I do have a condition of my own however."
The King bade me speak, and so I asked for my questions to be answered. They exchanged looks of relief before agreeing, and so I learned their story.
There was another city, at the bottom of the lake, whose people had gills and fins as you can surely imagine. For many years the two cities lived in peace, until one day.
When the prince and princess were born, both cities celebrated for days, such was their happiness. This disturbed the monster, who lived in the lake. For many years it ignored both peoples now, enraged by their joy, it set out to destroy everything they held dear. As it rampaged through the lake's bottom, it destroyed much of the underwater city. All festivities left the peoples hearts, as they fretted for their homes. Thus the King went out to negotiate with the beast, knowing there is no means of slaying it. He took a boat, and alone, arrived outside the city. He then called for the beast untill it reared it's foul head out of the water, for the monster's body spun for miles, underwater and in the ground around the lake alike. Once he stood face to maw with the beast, he began his plight. He promised the beast all the riches of his city, if it only stops it's rage. Monster accepted and gave the King two conditions. There will be no more celebrations, and if it ever spots the twins, it will devour them. After it went back to it's lair, the city on the lake's bottom was rebuilt, but it's people kept to themselves, out of fear. To protect his children, the King forbade them from ever leaving the castle, and learning how to swim, affraid the monster may be lurking underneath the castle gardens.
I stayed with them longer than I planned, I even secretly taught the prince and princess how to swim, this was the least I could do for them. This and storytelling each evening.
Silence fell, and Lisiane stared at the horizon. The children were waiting, not sure if the story was finished, until they grew impatient. One of them finally asked if she saw the monster. She looked at the group before her, as if she woke up from a deep slumber, and flashed them a warm smile before answering.
No, never have I seen the creature with my own eyes, nor would I like to meet it. But look, just how late it got! It's time for you to rest.
Protests erupted as she spoke the last words. Children always demanded more stories, and she could speak until the sun rises, they needed sleep however, and so did she. One child asked her if the story was true, another asked what happened to the twins. She agreed to answer those questions, as she spotted her listener's mothers approaching.
When I was leaving, the twins were hearty and whole, I know not what happened later. As for your other question, some of my stories are true, some are not. It depends on you in which you believe.
She put on her hat as she was saying that, and stood up from her chair. She watched as mothers claim their children before returning to her room at an inn.
