But, unfortunately, there was one important fairy that the king and queen had forgotten to invite ... Grizzelstinki!
Grizzelstinki was a scary fairy who lived up in the mountains. People told scary stories about her, frightening their children into being good by threatening to send for her if they were naughty!
On the day of the christening, everyone had a wonderful celebration at the palace and there were lots of lovely presents for the baby. One person gave her a tiny teddy bear to cuddle, another gave her a rattle to play with and another gave her a story book for her to read when she was older.
But the most magical presents of all were from the good fairies: One gave her beauty, one gave her a sweet nature, one a lovely voice, one charm, one kindness and one a sense of humour.
A cold wind blew through the hall. The door burst open and there was Grizzelstinki herself!
Grizzelstinki marched up to the baby princess. And as she passed, everyone held their noses as the smell was quite terrible.
'I haven’t given her my present yet,' Grizzelstinki growled. 'My present is that when she is older she will prickher finger and fall asleep ... forever!'
Grizzelstinki laughed a terrible laugh and disappeared in a puff of smoke!
There was a stunned silence around the palace until one of the good fairies laid her hand on the baby’s head ... I promise that she will not sleep forever,' she said. 'She will only sleep for a hundred years.'
The king and queen were still very worried so they decided to ban anything sharp in the kingdom that the princess might prickher finger on.
Years went by and, as Aurora got older, the people almost forgot the curse that was upon her.
One day, when she was alone and bored, Aurora decided to explore all the rooms in the palace. She went from room to room, exploring all over the palace until she got to an old stone staircase. Up and up the stone staircase she climbed until she came to a room right at the top of a tower. It was the only room in the palace she’d never been in! So she peeped inside and, to her surprise, there was a little old woman busily spinning wool on a spindle.
'Hello my dear,' the little old woman said. 'I am pleased to meet you.' And she stood up and tried to curtsey.
'No, no, please sit down, I don’t want you to hurt your back,' said Aurora, hurrying forward. 'Can you tell me what you'redoing up here in the tower all alone?'
'Only spinning silk, my dear, to make you a lovely dress,' the little old woman replied.
'May I have a go please?' Aurora asked politely.
'Of course my dear,' the little old woman said, and she chuckled quietly to herself. 'Let me show you how.'
Aurora sat down with the spindle in her hand and the little old woman began to show her how to spin silk.
Suddenly a sharp pain shot through Aurora’s arm as a spike on the spindle pricked her finger. It was the curse! Grizzelstinki’s curse was upon her!
Suddenly the little old lady threw off her cloak and stood up straight, it was Grizzelstinki all along! She laughed a wicked laugh and ran away leaving the princess all alone.
Because of Grizzelstinki’s birthday curse, Princess Aurora fell into a deep, deep sleep.
And all around the palace, people started to fall asleep too!
The wood was so thick that the prince had to get off his horse and walk – he even had to hack through the dense undergrowth with his sword!
Then, as he was cutting through the undergrowth, his sword suddenly struck some stone; it was the wall of a palace!
Could the stories be true? Could this be the forgotten palace?
The prince wanted to find out so he began to climb the palace wall.
When he reached the top he couldn’t believe his eyes!
There before him lay the palace asleep; the guards still snoring, the maids and the cook sleeping peacefully. And the gardener still asleep in the overgrown garden (and the cat was still curled up asleep of course). Even the king and queen were still asleep!
