「Synnøve | A Horror Tale | Creative Writing」
- Enosha
- Jul 15, 2017
- 4 min read
nce upon a time, in an opulent castle hidden among the scenic mountains of Norway lived a stunning princess named Synnøve . Alluring and puissant was she; everyone, from the lowest commoner to the most esteemed royalty wished to please her, and being the demanding maiden that she was, her admirers had every chance possible to fulfill her needs in order to earn their way into her heart.
Synnøve was notorious for her outlandish requests. But with her mesmerising, shockingly icy blue eyes and eloquent manner, no desire of hers was to be ignored. Her servants didn’t dare to question - they simply and happily did as told. Alas, princess Synnøve had more than anyone could ever want; yet she was never completely happy. Her cool, confident physique sheltered an insecure damsel who wished for a companion, yet she feared betrayal and neglect from a potential suitor.
Troubled, Synnøve expressed her concerns to her father, a noble and peaceful king whose only hope was for his precious daughter to be happy. Synnøve demanded a royal announcement, calling all young men who was devoted enough to be wed within the following fortnight.
Kjell sighed shakily; the dirt and dust that had built up in the corners of the casket arose in the dry, trapped air and settled on him, in his eyelashes, his hair, and entered his nostrils into his clogged throat. He turned slightly, trying not to look at his decaying wife beside him. The stench of death was getting stronger now, and the foaming blood seeping from her body soaked his satin shirt. Kjell struggled to ignore it as he closed his eyes. The worst was soon to come, he thought bitterly. Attempting to numb his brooding, he reminisced about much happier days, his mind taking him back five years ago. The grand wedding day.
Kjell and Synnøve stared into each other’s eyes as the clergy gave his blessings. The royal family, distinguished ambassadors, and his simple, merchant parents among many other commoners, onlooking with pleasant smiles; the merchants, the most pleased of all. Aamina, the royal elf, was also present, for she was needed to bestow the final wedding gift to Princess Synnøve.
Taking a deep breath, Kjell proudly gazed around at the splendor of the palace’s wedding chamber. Marrying into the royal family at the right time made him next in line for the throne. Eventually, everything would be his. Was he completely devoted to the princess, the clergy asked. Was he willing to do anything to please her? Perhaps, Kjell thought to himself, if only it will get me the crown.
He focused his eyes back on Synnøve and grinned inwardly. What an odd girl. Of course, she was beautiful and intelligent and such. Yet who would ever think to request a spell that bounds lovers together, even after death? While he was lost in his musing, Aamina glided towards the altar and took her place between Kjell and Synnøve. In retrospect, he realized what had went wrong happened at this moment. These very words, which he so carelessly uttered, engaged the spell and brought him to his petrifying fate...
“I, Kjell, take you, most highest, Princess Synnøve, to be my lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, for even death shall never do us part.”
He heard writhing along the onced-polished rosewood floorboards. Maggots. He started to breath heavily. Tiny nails scratching, something long and tail-like brushed past his fingers. Rats. He shut his mouth tight, his heart thumping rapidly. Kjell didn’t know how long he’s been buried alive, encased many feet beneath the ground. He figured eventually he would be engulfed by bacteria and insects as result of the rotting princess.
Yet, now that the day had finally come, he wasn’t prepared. He began to panic, uselessly jerking his arm, praying that he would be free of Synnøve’s hand. They remained bound, her cold, stiff fingers eternally interlaced with his. They were on him now. Maggots crawling through his collar, the starved rats tearing away at his clothes. Pinches and bites met his skin. Kjell blindly wriggled and thrashed, kicking against the boards, his efforts to claw out in vain. Silently screaming, careful to keep it shut from the swarm of small,buzzing flies. They found a way in regardless. His eyes snapped open in shock, what he discerned was a mistake too late. Smothered en masse, Kjell stopped fighting.
Both the darkness and parasites infested and feasted on his body, the skeletal frame only left behind. Yet, subsequent the total consumption of Kjell and Synnøve, their hands remained, entwined. Together, even after death, just as promised.
This was a for a written assignment project in regards to my creative writing teacher's challenge to restyle a certain fairy tale. My particular tale was inspired by "Three Snake Leaves" by Grimm Brothers, which is also a horror tale. I kept the base plot of the story being a woman who wanted her husband to be buried with her after her death, but re-imagined everything else. I hoped you enjoyed.
Comments