The Princess & The Old Fat Fox

The Princess

&

The Old Fat Fox

A Grimm Fairy Tale

In a faraway land of rivers and snow, where animals could talk and fairy trees grow.

There once was a Princess more beautiful as a crimson sunsets glow. 

Some who were lucky to have seen the fair Princess would gossip and talk 

It was rumored some would pay to watch her just walk.  

Some would dispute and disagree

But how those would shout that were willing to pay the fee

“Sir, are you blind! For it is obvious anyone who can see!”

And so it was it was, her stories were shared over frothing full mugs

In taverns and pubs, alehouses and normal houses with nobles and with grubs

Entire towns would sing with stories of the Princesses bright red hair.

From her bright blue eyes and of her skin, so fair. 

To crimson red nails and she allegedly didn't only like males.

Stories abounded of scandal and sorrow, for many a man tired and were met with “Not tomorrow” 

The Princesses castle was the most epic that has been

It was surrounded by forest as far as could be seen. 

Sat on top of a hill so steep it would often sort who was most keen. 

One warm day the princess sat on her couch and sorted through her mail until she found a pouch. 

Attached was a letter so sweet, the words almost dripped from the page to her feet. 

Her cheeks blushed as red as can be as she read the final request from MR V.

“Just a piece of your hair. Yours truly Mr V.C.V”

She sat straight on her couch and looked at the accompanying red pouch 

Though she request odd, she considered it was only fair. 

For the words were the most beautiful she had heard in a while. 

With exuberance and gusto she jumped to her feet with a wry smile. 

A moment later she closed up the pouch and wrote a reply.

Many letters latter and many months went by

And before long her admirer was no longer so shy.

“I have written you a Sonnet and gifted you a bonnet. 

You responded in kind and many great gifts my pouch did find. 

At great risk of your scorn the time has arrived I humbly request,

To adorn my many presents as now my love I require your presence”

Below were directions for the Princess to follow to be there soon before tomorrow. 

“Yours truly Mr V.C.V”

Frozen and dark outside she could not see. 

Her hands clenched tight the Princess trembled in fear 

For it had been months since she had stepped from here.

She looked in the mirror and made up her mind. 

She would meet this man who had been ever so kind. 

Her secret admirer had fulfilled so many a desire. 

Showing the Princess not just words but clothes that there were no finer. 

Bonnets and gloves and bodices and boots, even a broach with a dove.  

Remembering the little red pouch the Princess gave her window a shove.

With a hop and a climb she was off at a pace with that wry grin on her face. 

Cold filled her lungs as her foot almost slipped, 

her hand saved her but only just gripped. 

The boots were too large and the gloves barely did fit. 

But their crimson red velvet, were too pretty to resist. 

Into the forest and through the snow the Crimson Red Princess looked back and whispered

“No one will know”

Through branches and brambles through swamps and through sludge 

Down that steep hill all night the Princess did trudge. 

Until she came to a bridge of questionable strength

The only way around adding considerable length.

With a sigh and a breath she pulled up her skirt and decided to dance through the dirt.

Mud and rock and snow and slime covered the old river what been lost to time. 

Scraping and scrambling the princes began to climb 

But when her boot slipped

She found herself stuck all covered in grime.

Shivering and freezing as she began to cry 

“You seem to be in a spot of bother” a voice said and it was no lie

Her once beautiful clothes were now tattered and torn

She looked down at her numb feet completely forlorn 

The princess looked to and she looked fro 

And thought “where did it go?”

Against a small tree the voice did lean 

Its tummy was fat and its old eyes wore a sheen

But the foxes smile kind

And after all the Princess was in more than a bind.

“Please help me Mr Fox I am stuck. I can't feel my fingers and my toes” 

“Oh young girl why would you come out here wearing those clothes?” 

“Promise you’ll tell know one? Because no body knows” 

“I am just an old Fox girl your secret is safe with me”

The princess looked around to find any better ground but there was none she could see

With courage she spoke and fought the sudden urge to flee

“Tiss a big secret and no one could know but it is an admirer which is why I must go ”

In the cold air and filled with despair the Princess took her chance 

And shouted on the luck of her red locks 

“I'm dirty and yuck and stuck in the muck, please help me kind fox Mr Fox.”

"Of course Princess now come on,” The Old Fat Fox sighed and stretched out his paw. 

“Lets get you cleaned at mine so you can thaw”

Then in no time at all they came to his door. 

“Come on Princess the fire is hot and I’ll boil the pot”

With a cough and a wheeze

The princess sat and rested her knees.

Handing the cup the Fox whispered “This will warm you up”

“I’ll make us some stew on which we will sup” 

Itching her warm head the princess was aware she could have ended up very much dead.

“Hand me your bonnet girl do not despair” 

“I have the same red velvet with which I can repair.”

She lifeted the hat fearing the cold

The princesses bare head gleaned quite very bald. 

“Please dont tell anyone” The bald Princess pleaded

“My lips are sealed” The old fat fox responded his wiley old eyes heeded.

Through shivering and chattering 

She drank the tea and lessened her nattering.

That old fat fox was right, this warm fire would get her through the night.

And shortly thereafter the princess felt alright.

As the warmth from the fire had made her sweat. 

The old fat fox trundled over “Ok Princess the table is all set”

“Are you not hot in those gloves? Why not take them off and cool down”

Before she could frown the princess looked down at the fine gloves on the hands of renown. 

“Please oh promise, oh kind Mr fFox, I have another secret that know one can know” 

“Ofcorse dear girl I am just an old fat fox your fine hands you can surely show”

With a blush and a pull the fine red gloves were gone

What hid beneath were no bright red nails that once shone.

Before the Old Fat Fox could speak 

The Princess looked up and took a small peak 

In the rich red stew

Her horror grew. 

The old fat fox chuckled

And his strained belt buckled. 

“Now lend me your boots so that I might mend them to something that suits.”

And all the princess could do was roar. 

“You are the one always after MORE!” 

“Yes it is ME I am Vetus Crassus Vulpes!”

And you are the Princess who sent me your Capillus!

Without further cry the stew did fly and Vetus Crassus Vulpes was hit straight in the eye

With several severed digits from the rich red stew

And inside the Crimson Red Princess her rage grew and grew

Until she lunged for the Old Fat Fox nubs that were once fingers extended

Filled with fear that this will be how she was remembered

With all her might she put in a fair fight and clamped on the tail and the old fox sure did flail 

As he was flung into the fire 

That wide wry grin barely hid her desire

Kicking and screaming the fox flailed and screamed

As for the princess just gleamed. 

Embers and smoke choked the air

Along with the kingdom's once fair Heir.