Part 1 Part 2

Summary: It’s the day of your wedding to the Fae Prince. Your future husband seems certain that he has you trapped, with his threat against your brother’s life. Still, you’ll be damned if you let him seal either of your fates without a fight.

CW: kidnapped listener, possessive language, threats, fae trickery, extortion, forced marriage, Shakespearean English

Characters: Fae Prince (lines designated with "P"), Officiant (lines designated with "O").

Usage:

• OK to record & monetize, as long as you give me credit in the video/audio description as the scriptwriter! I would also love to listen to the recording when it’s done–please send me the link on Reddit! Paywalling is okay; however, if you paywall, you must make it possible for me to listen to the finished product.
• Gender-flipping and small tweaks are okay (e.g., changing pronouns, leaving out curse words), but no large edits are permitted.
• Feel free to use music or insert sound effects if you’d like. Any sound effects given are suggestions–use at your discretion. *Sound effects in bold, set apart by asterisks\*
• Any dialogue or reactions given by the Listener are purely for the benefit of the VA, to help them feel like they have something to respond to while they’re acting. Listener reactions in italics.
• Please let me know if you have any questions!

—————————————————————

SETTING: The Listener’s room, the morning of the wedding.

\Sound effect–knocking; door opening\**

P: Good day, my flower, my one and only rose.

The Listener is silent.

P: What, no words of welcome for your beloved? Not even a glance to spare for the one who, by day’s end, will be your husband?...

Pause. The Listener says nothing.

P: \chuckle** One might confuse you for one of the statues in my garden. (sarcastic) Come, now, my dear…you must restrain yourself. Such ardent displays should be saved for our wedding night, should they not?

At that, the Listener turns and glares at him.

P: \laughs** Ah, that February face…so full of frost. ‘Tis a good thing I am made of stronger stuff, for if I were a plant, such a look would make me wither where I stand! But, while I admire a flower that does not immediately bow to the wind…only a fool continues to fight a losing battle, my dear. 'Twas a brave final attempt, I admit, setting me a quest so long and arduous, that I might not return before our wedding day. But, despite your best efforts, my flower, I have returned, my brow bound with a victorious wreath. ’Tis time you accepted your fate.

“Isn’t it bad luck to see the bride before the ceremony?”

P: Hmm? True, ‘tis a break from tradition, to lay eyes upon you before the ceremony. However, any ill luck I might invite by doing so, I would experience a hundred times over, just for the chance to see your face. You are as radiant as the sun itself. You will be the envy of all at the ceremony...and I, for being able to call you my own.

“And what about my brother? Will you still set him free?”

P: You still doubt me, my flower? As I promised, once your brother’s debt is paid, he goes free. A plague o’er me and my house, should I not keep my word.

P: Now…’tis nearly time. I shall leave you, to allow you to make your final preparations. \kisses her hand\** Farewell, then, my beautiful rose. I shall see you beneath the arch.

-Timeskip to Ceremony-

\Sound effect—music\**

O: Welcome, dear friends. Today, we gather to celebrate the union between Prince [insert Author’s fae name here], head of our beloved Middlemist Court, and his chosen. Before they are made handfast, let them now, in accordance with tradition, present one another the results of their quests, as proof of their devotion to one another. (to the Prince) My Lord, let thee be first. What hast thou secured for your beloved?

P: As you requested, my one and only rose, I have brought for you an item of legend…one sought by many, but which few have ever laid eyes upon, be they Fae or mortal. I traversed realm after realm, through flood and fire, to obtain for you what you desired…

\Sound effect—rustling cloth; gasps and whispers from the audience\**

P: Behold—a mantle of invisibility. They say it graced the shoulders of the Once and Future King himself...and now, ‘tis yours, my flower. Take it, as proof of my love.

“Wait—will it really make me invisible?”

P: Well, why don't you see for yourself? Go on; try it.

\Sound effect—swishing cloak, more gasps\**

P: What did I tell you? I am glad to see you like it. *chuckle\* Or, not see, I suppose.

O: (to the Listener) And now, my Lady, let thee reciprocate. What hast thou secured for your beloved, in turn?

P: There was only one thing I desired from you, my flower. Do you remember?...That’s right. From you, I wish only for a smile. After all, your happiness is my own. Well?...

The Listener says they are smiling.

P: \chuckle** Perhaps you are smiling, but ‘tis useless if I cannot see it. Remove the cloak, my dear, and let me see your lovely face.

The Listener refuses.

P: …I beg your pardon?

The Listener refuses again.

P: Another of your little games, hmm? Come, now. As much as I enjoy your wit, ‘tis hardly the time. Our friends wait upon us. Remove the cloak, and let us continue the ceremony.

“No.”

P: No? (voice grows dangerous)…Ah. Of course. I see how it is. Leave it to you to find a final way to spite me...in front of all our guests, no less. Clever, my dear…very clever. However, I grow tired of your jests. Remove that cloak, at once, before you make me truly angry.

The Listener refuses.

P: You dare refuse your Prince? I shan’t tell you again—show your face!

The Listener says that they will never remove it.

P: What!? Nonsense! Do you intend to stay invisible forever!? What king ever had an invisible queen!?

“Think back to your words, my prince,” the Listener snarls.

P: Think back to my words!? What do you—(horrified realization) No…naught but empty air in the seat beside me…the whispers of the wind as my sole advisor!…

“Yes. From this day forward, you shall never see me, nor hear me. ‘Tis time to reap what you sow.”

P: NO! ‘Tis madness! You cannot stay under that cloak for eternity!

He reaches out, trying to grab her, but she steps back.

P: Graaah! Where are you!? Get over here, you saucy minion! You cannot deprive me of seeing you, nor hearing you! I won’t have it!

“If you want me, you shall take me as I am. Unless you are saying you do not wish to wed me after all?”

P: If I want you, I shall take you as you are!? (RAGE) You little viper! We had a bargain!

“I said I would give myself to you. You never specified which form I had to be in.”

P: …Oh, really!? I only said that you had to give yourself to me…I never specified anything further!? \laugh** So that’s it, is it!? Trying to give me a taste of my own medicine!? Or are you truly that desperate to get away from me!? But think carefully, my flower…think very carefully. Remember, it is not merely you that our bargain affects. If I should release you…you know what will happen to your brother. Do you still wish to tread that path?...

“Yes.”

P: \evil chuckle** Very well. If you want so badly to be free, my thorn-stemmed rose…then so be it. (to the crowd) Let all the friends gathered here bear witness: I hereby revoke the marriage contract between myself and my chosen! As of this moment, she is free. There will be no wedding today. But, do not think yourselves robbed of a spectacle! Instead of a marriage, we shall have an execution. Yes…bring the human prisoner here, and let him be executed at once!

\Sound effect—crowd gasping, murmuring\**

“WAIT!”

P: Silence, my flower! ‘Tis time to reap what you have sown. Without your hand as payment, your brother’s debt still stands. Now, he will pay for your selfishness with his life!

“No.”

P: Oh? What makes you think you have any right to object?

“I claim him!”

P: You claim him!? On what grounds!?

“I claim him as my reward for caring for your garden.”

P: Ha! We’ve been over this already, my dear. You cannot claim him as a reward for caring for my garden. You already said you didn’t want anything in return!

“I’m not demanding a thing. I’m demanding him.”

P: What? He’s not a thing, but a person? (horrified realization) \gasps** Wait...no. NO!

“Precisely. I don’t need any type of thing…but I do need him.”

P: No! This cannot be! You think a mere twist of my words will be enough to wrench yourselves from my grasp!? You cannot escape me that easily!

“Isn’t that what you did to me? Besides, Fae law says you can’t get something for nothing; isn’t that right?”

P: What!?...Damn our laws! Perhaps they do say you can’t get something for nothing, but I am the Prince. Who's to say I cannot break them if I choose? Who would dare to challenge me? What consequences could I possibly face?

The Listener reminds him of his words from earlier that day.

P: I said what?...(horrified, realizing he's trapped) A—A plague o’er me and my house, if I do not keep my word!? No...no, you can't...I...

Long pause, as everything sinks in. Finally, the Prince starts to laugh.

P: \laughs** Well played, my dear…very well played, indeed. It would seem, in this particular battle of wits, you are the victor. Then…let it be so. Take your fool of a brother, and begone from here. But, before you take your leave…pray, let me gaze upon you one last time. I would fain see the face of the one who has bested me.

\Sound effect—rustling fabric\**

P: Ah, my flower…you truly are like a rose. As deadly sharp as you are beautiful. I have been fortunate indeed, to be pierced by your thorns. Your face shall forever be noted in my book of memory. Now, take your brother, and get thee gone. Adieu, my dear…and be vigilant, I beseech you. For should we ever meet again, rest assured…it will not be you who is victorious.