Once upon a time there was a story that we all think we know of a beloved princess pricked by a witch’s hex who falls into an unnatural slumber. You have heard of her years of sleep and the kingdom that slept around her. You may even know of the prince who awakened her with true love’s kiss. What you know is only a sliver of the tale.

The slumbering princess named Talia or Aurora depending on the storyteller was found by a king on a hunting expedition. Exploring the sleeping hamlet, King Perceforest discovered the girl and plucked her ripening beauty. He left her debauched still sleeping.

Whilst asleep, the princess maybe called Rose gave birth to twins. One newborn nursed at her breast but the other babe suckled her pricked finger removing the poisonous splinter. The sleeping beauty awoke from her curse a mother. The castle stirred to life as the babies cried in her arms.

Our princess also known as Elgantine and Dornroschen was understandably tormented. Out of shame, Her mother Queen Leah hid her grandchildren in a little used tower. Enraged, King Stefan secretly sent out emissaries to find the babies’ father. The princess visited her babes yet fear stood in the way of maternal love.

Little Briar Rose, her sometimes name, once bright and lighthearted, drew deep into herself as the months passed. Rarely sleeping she took to walking, long walks in the night forest. Cared for by a coterie of family retainers, the twins, hale and hearty, strangely never slept at all. After five years of stealthy seeking King Stefan found the now married King Perceforest and demanded compensation.

The princess let’s just call her Rosamund received the news of the discovery without batting an eye. Without royal issue, King Perceforest happily negotiated a gift of jewels worthy of a princess’ dowery and offered to take the children as his rightful heirs. By many accounts, his barren queen was less happy with the arrangement. The princess’ parents were elated. By the first morning’s light the children were whisked off to Pentamerone, King Perceforest’s fiefdom.

Forever restless, the beloved princess left her castle once her children were gone. Haunted, she took to a bhante life of study. Some say she found love among the stacks of ancient scrolls, married, and had more children. Others opined she became a fearsome witch. But you would like to believe over the years her soul shook off its nightmares and found peace. As to her children born bewitched and from violence they were said to be a chip off the old block whatever that means but theirs is another story.