12\. Where Is the Prince?
by George MacDonald · from The Light Princess
Adapted Version
A kind Prince Leo lived. He loved Princess Lily. She lived in a special lake.
Prince Leo loved Princess Lily. She was a water princess. She lived in a special, blue lake. Prince Leo did not see her. He missed her very much. He felt very sad. He wanted to see her.
The special lake got smaller. Princess Lily felt very sad. She felt very weak. Prince Leo saw the lake. He saw Princess Lily. He was very worried. He wanted to help her. He wanted to make her happy again.
Prince Leo wanted to help. He put on simple clothes. He looked like a helper. He went to the big palace. He wanted to know about Princess Lily. Why was she so sad? He must find out now.
Prince Leo learned Princess Lily stayed inside. She was very, very sad. The lake was small. This made her very sad. She did not know her friends. She did not know her people. She was too sad now. She stayed in her room.
The lake got smaller. It got very small. The water went away. The fish were sad. They needed more water. They could not swim well. The lake was not happy. It was almost dry.
Soon, the big lake was gone. Only small puddles were left. They were in the middle. The lake was almost gone. Just a few puddles.
One day, children played there. They played near the puddles. They saw a shiny thing. It was yellow. It was at the bottom. It looked very special. They wanted to know.
A brave boy went in. He pulled out a plate. It was golden. It had special pictures. He took it to the King. The King looked at it. He was surprised.
The King looked at the plate. One side had a message. It was a secret message. It talked about brave love. It talked about helping others. This message was big. It was a big secret.
The other side told a secret. A big secret. A brave person must give magic. This magic helps the lake. The lake will be full. It will be happy again. This saves Princess Lily! Prince Leo read the message. He knew he must be brave. He wanted to make the lake happy. He wanted to save Princess Lily. What would Prince Leo do? He must find a way.
Original Story
12. Where Is the Prince?
Never since the night when the princess left him so abruptly had the prince had a single interview with her. He had seen her once or twice in the lake; but as far as he could discover, she had not been in it any more at night. He had sat and sung, and looked in vain for his Nereid; while she, like a true Nereid, was wasting away with her lake, sinking as it sank, withering as it dried. When at length he discovered the change that was taking place in the level of the water, he was in great alarm and perplexity. He could not tell whether the lake was dying because the lady had forsaken it; or whether the lady would not come because the lake had begun to sink. But he resolved to know so much at least.
He disguised himself, and, going to the palace, requested to see the lord chamberlain. His appearance at once gained his request; and the lord chamberlain, being a man of some insight, perceived that there was more in the prince's solicitation than met the ear. He felt likewise that no one could tell whence a solution of the present difficulties might arise. So he granted the prince's prayer to be made shoeblack to the princess. It was rather cunning in the prince to request such an easy post, for the princess could not possibly soil as many shoes as other princesses.
He soon learned all that could be told about the princess. He went nearly distracted; but after roaming about the lake for days, and diving in every depth that remained, all that he could do was to put an extra polish on the dainty pair of boots that was never called for.
For the princess kept her room, with the curtains drawn to shut out the dying lake, But she could not shut it out of her mind for a moment. It haunted her imagination so that she felt as if the lake were her soul, drying up within her, first to mud, then to madness and death. She thus brooded over the change, with all its dreadful accompaniments, till she was nearly distracted. As for the prince, she had forgotten him. However much she had enjoyed his company in the water, she did not care for him without it. But she seemed to have forgotten her father and mother too. The lake went on sinking. Small slimy spots began to appear, which glittered steadily amidst the changeful shine of the water. These grew to broad patches of mud, which widened and spread, with rocks here and there, and floundering fishes and crawling eels swarming. The people went everywhere catching these, and looking for anything that might have dropped from the royal boats.
At length the lake was all but gone, only a few of the deepest pools remaining unexhausted.
It happened one day that a party of youngsters found themselves on the brink of one of these pools in the very centre of the lake. It was a rocky basin of considerable depth. Looking in, they saw at the bottom something that shone yellow in the sun. A little boy jumped in and dived for it. It was a plate of gold covered with writing. They carried it to the king. On one side of it stood these words:—
"Death alone from death can save.
Love is death, and so is brave—
Love can fill the deepest grave.
Love loves on beneath the wave."
Now this was enigmatical enough to the king and courtiers. But the reverse of the plate explained it a little. Its writing amounted to this:—
"If the lake should disappear, they must find the hole through which the water ran. But it would be useless to try to stop it by any ordinary means. There was but one effectual mode.—The body of a living man could alone stanch the flow. The man must give himself of his own will; and the lake must take his life as it filled. Otherwise the offering would be of no avail. If the nation could not provide one hero, it was time it should perish."
Story DNA
Moral
True love requires ultimate sacrifice and selflessness.
Plot Summary
A prince is distraught when the magical lake, home to his Nereid princess, begins to dry up, causing her to waste away in despair. He disguises himself as a shoeblack to learn more, finding the princess withdrawn and forgetting everyone. As the lake nearly disappears, a golden plate is discovered, revealing an enigmatic prophecy: only the voluntary sacrifice of a living man, whose life the lake will take as it fills, can save it and the princess. The story ends with this dire solution revealed, leaving the prince's next action unknown.
Themes
Emotional Arc
despair to hope (implied)
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
George MacDonald was a Victorian author, often incorporating Christian allegory and romanticism into his fairy tales.
Plot Beats (10)
- The prince is separated from the princess, who is a Nereid, and has not seen her since she left him abruptly.
- He observes the lake shrinking and the princess wasting away, unsure of the cause.
- The prince disguises himself as a shoeblack to gain access to the palace and learn about the princess's condition.
- He learns the princess is confined to her room, consumed by despair over the dying lake, and has forgotten him and her parents.
- The lake continues to dry, turning into mud patches with floundering fish and crawling eels.
- Eventually, only a few deep pools remain in the center of the former lake.
- Youngsters discover a shining yellow object at the bottom of one of these pools.
- A boy dives in and retrieves a golden plate covered with writing, which is brought to the king.
- One side of the plate contains an enigmatic poem about death and love.
- The reverse side explains that only the voluntary sacrifice of a living man, whose life the lake will take as it fills, can stop the flow and save the lake.
Characters
The Prince ★ protagonist
Lean and agile, with a build that suggests both strength and grace, suitable for swimming and active pursuits. His height is average for a young man of his time and region.
Attire: Initially, he wears the fine, yet practical, clothing of a royal prince, suitable for a northern European setting, perhaps a tunic of rich wool or velvet over linen, with fitted breeches and soft leather boots. When disguised, he adopts the simple, sturdy attire of a common shoeblack: a coarse linen shirt, plain wool trousers, and a leather apron, all in muted, earthy tones.
Wants: To reunite with the princess, understand the mystery of the drying lake, and ultimately save the princess and the lake itself.
Flaw: His intense focus on the princess can make him overlook other aspects of the situation; his love borders on obsession.
He transforms from a lovelorn suitor into a self-sacrificing hero, willing to give his life to save the princess and her kingdom.
Determined, resourceful, deeply loving, observant, and self-sacrificing. He is driven by his affection for the princess and his desire to understand and solve the mystery of the lake.
Image Prompt & Upload
A young man with a lean build and average height, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has dark, slightly wavy hair, earnest brown eyes, and fair skin with a determined expression. He wears a coarse, dark grey linen shirt, plain brown wool trousers, and a worn leather apron tied at his waist. He holds a soft polishing cloth in his right hand. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Princess ◆ supporting
Delicate and ethereal, her physical form is intrinsically linked to the lake. As the lake wastes away, so does she, becoming increasingly frail and withdrawn. Her height is slender.
Attire: Initially, she might have worn flowing, light garments suitable for swimming or lounging by the lake, perhaps of silk or fine linen in shades of blue or green. As she wastes away, she remains in her room, likely wearing simple, comfortable nightgowns or dressing gowns, perhaps of white or pale grey linen, reflecting her withdrawal and illness.
Wants: To exist in harmony with her lake, which she perceives as her soul. Her primary motivation becomes to escape the torment of its drying.
Flaw: Her life force is inextricably linked to the lake, making her vulnerable to its decline. She also becomes self-absorbed in her suffering, forgetting those who care for her.
She declines from an enchanting, mysterious figure to a despairing, withdrawn invalid, mirroring the fate of her lake.
Initially enchanting and somewhat elusive, she becomes increasingly despondent, self-absorbed, and forgetful due to her connection to the dying lake. She is sensitive and easily overwhelmed by her circumstances.
Image Prompt & Upload
A young woman with a delicate, slender build, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. She has long, lank light brown hair, pale blue eyes with dark circles beneath them, and very fair, almost translucent skin. She wears a simple, flowing white linen nightgown. Her posture is slightly hunched, and her expression is one of profound sadness and despair. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Lord Chamberlain ◆ supporting
A man of mature age, likely of average height with a dignified, perhaps slightly portly, build befitting his administrative role. His appearance suggests a life of courtly service.
Attire: Formal court attire of a high-ranking official in a northern European kingdom. This would include a richly embroidered doublet of velvet or brocade, a starched ruff or lace collar, fitted breeches, and fine leather shoes. Colors would be deep and regal, such as maroon, dark blue, or forest green, possibly with gold or silver accents.
Wants: To serve his king and kingdom, and to find a solution to the crisis of the dying lake and the ailing princess.
Flaw: Perhaps a tendency towards traditional courtly procedures, though he shows flexibility in this instance.
He remains a steadfast and wise advisor, facilitating the prince's quest.
Perceptive, insightful, pragmatic, and open-minded. He is willing to consider unconventional solutions to the kingdom's problems.
Image Prompt & Upload
A middle-aged man with a dignified, slightly portly build, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has a neatly trimmed grey beard, keen brown eyes, and a fair complexion. He wears a dark blue velvet doublet with gold embroidery, a white starched ruff, and matching dark blue breeches. His posture is upright and composed. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The King ○ minor
An older man, likely with a regal but perhaps weary bearing, burdened by the crisis facing his kingdom and daughter. His height is average.
Attire: Royal robes of a northern European monarch, likely heavy and richly adorned with fur trim, gold embroidery, and a crown. Colors would be deep and symbolic of royalty, such as purple or crimson.
Wants: To save his daughter and his kingdom from the impending disaster.
Flaw: His inability to understand the enigmatic message on the golden plate, highlighting his reliance on others for solutions.
He remains largely static, representing the authority figure seeking answers.
Concerned, perplexed, and reliant on his advisors to solve the kingdom's problems.
Image Prompt & Upload
An elderly man with a regal but worried expression, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has a long, flowing white beard, tired blue eyes, and a fair, wrinkled complexion. He wears a deep crimson velvet robe trimmed with white fur, adorned with gold embroidery, and a golden crown set with jewels. He holds a simple golden scepter in his right hand. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
The Royal Lake
A once-deep, expansive lake, now rapidly drying up. It transforms from clear water to broad patches of slimy mud, revealing rocks, floundering fish, and crawling eels. Eventually, only a few deep, rocky pools remain in its center.
Mood: Desolate, dying, alarming, with a sense of impending doom. Later, a glimmer of hope with the discovery of the golden plate.
The princess's Nereid form wastes away here; the prince searches for her; the lake's decline mirrors the princess's health; a golden plate revealing the lake's secret is discovered.
Image Prompt & Upload
A vast, parched lakebed under a bright, clear sky, with large, cracked mud flats stretching towards a distant horizon. Scattered across the mud are exposed, water-smoothed rocks and small, stagnant puddles reflecting the harsh sunlight. In the foreground, a single, deeper rocky basin holds a small pool of dark, still water, with a faint golden glint at its bottom. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
The Royal Palace
A grand, regal structure, likely of European medieval design, where the king, queen, and princess reside. It contains a lord chamberlain's office and the princess's private chambers.
Mood: Initially formal and orderly, becoming increasingly anxious and concerned due to the princess's illness and the lake's decline. The princess's room is secluded and melancholic.
The prince disguises himself to gain access; the lord chamberlain grants his request; the princess secludes herself in her room, wasting away with the lake; the golden plate is brought to the king here.
Image Prompt & Upload
A richly appointed, high-ceilinged chamber within a medieval European palace, with heavy, velvet curtains drawn across tall arched windows, casting the room in a dim, melancholic light. Polished dark wood paneling lines the walls, adorned with faded tapestries depicting ancient hunting scenes. A large, ornate four-poster bed with a canopy dominates the center, its drapes partially closed. On a small, carved wooden table nearby, a pair of delicate, polished leather boots rests. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
