Sleeping Beauty in the Wood

Join hosts Micah and Andrea as they dive into Charles Perrault's 17th-century version of Sleeping Beauty, a tale far more twisted than the Disney adaptation you know. In this episode, our hosts explore the often-overlooked second half of the classic fairy tale, where the story takes several dark turns after the princess awakens.

Discover the shocking revelations: the prince's secret marriage, the birth of two children (Morning and Day), and most surprisingly—a murderous ogre queen mother-in-law with an appetite for her grandchildren! Listen as Micah and Andrea react to the heroic cook's clever deceptions, debate the queen's questionable parenting decisions, and marvel at the unexpectedly complex family dynamics.

Our hosts breathe new life into this centuries-old story with their signature blend of historical context, witty commentary, and genuine surprise at the tale's darker elements. Whether you're a fairy tale enthusiast or enjoy entertaining banter, this episode reveals why the original "Sleeping Beauty in the Woods" was perhaps too disturbing for Disney's adaptation.

Tales of Bedlam brings forgotten fairy tale elements to light—visit talesofbedlam.com to share your thoughts or suggest tales for future episodes.

Transcript

Welcome to Tales of Bedlam

Micah 0:00

Should we start? Welcome again to Tales of Bedlam. I'm your host, Micah.

Andrea 0:05

And Andrea.

Micah 0:06

And we are here today to give you the second story of Sleeping Beauty. Charles Perrault from France wrote our second Sleeping Beauty rendition in the late 1600s. Andrew Lane collected this tale for his Blue Fairy Book. We've updated the story with modern language and sentence structure in order to retain the essence of the original tale while making it easier to understand. So, without further ado, are you ready, dear?

Andrea 0:39

I'm so ready.

Micah 0:41

All right then. Sleeping Beauty in the Woods so ready?

Andrea 0:50

All right, then, sleeping Beauty in the Woods, the king and queen were so sorry that they had no children, so sad that they could not express it with words. Therefore, they sampled all the waters in the world, made vows to gods and traveled to holy cities, yet without any results gods and traveled to holy cities, yet without any results.

Micah 1:10

Years passed until one joyous day the queen discovered she was expecting a child. In autumn, she gave birth to a baby girl. The royal family quickly arranged a baptism, inviting every fairy in the kingdom to serve as the princess's godmothers. Seven in total, that's quite a few. According to the custom of the time, each fairy bestowed a special gift upon the princess to ensure that she was blessed with every imaginable virtue.

Andrea 1:53

After the ceremony the company returned to the king's palace. The servants prepared an excellent feast for the fairies. A magnificent seat was ready for each of them with a spoon, knife and fork made of pure gold and set with diamonds and rubies. But as they were all sitting at the table, they saw an ancient fairy enter the hall. They had not thought to invite this fairy because it had been over 50 years since she had been seen outside the tower and she was believed to be either dead or enchanted.

Micah 2:34

Did nobody think to maybe email her an invitation? You know, just to check. No, come on, just to check, no. The king ordered her a seat but could not furnish her with gold utensils because they had only made seven. The old fairy imagined she had been slighted and muttered threats between her teeth. The youngest fairies who sat nearby overheard her grumbling. Forget me, have they? I will not be forgotten, grumbled the old fairy.

Andrea 3:12

Judging that she might give the little princess some unpleasant gift. The youngest fairy went as soon as they rose from the table and hid behind the curtains. As soon as they rose from the table and hid behind the curtains, Thinking to speak last and repair as much as she could the evil gift the old fairy might intend.

Micah 3:34

What do you think she intends? I don't know. In these things it's usually death.

Andrea 3:40

Well, that old fairy doesn't seem very happy. No, she's not.

Micah 3:44

She's an old turd. Meanwhile, all the fairies began to give their gifts to the princess. The first was to make her the most beautiful person in the world, Of course, because that's the most important thing, right. Second, that she should be intelligent and clever. That should have been the first. The third, that she would have an extraordinary grace in everything she did. The fourth, that she would dance perfectly well. That's useful when you go to an arcade with the dance-off, when you go to an arcade with the dance-off. Nice, I wish I had that power. The fifth, that she would sing like a nightingale. And the sixth, that she would play all kinds of instruments to perfection. The old fairy's turn came next. With her head shaking More from spite than age, she said the princess will have her hand pierced with a spindle and die from the wound. Oh my god. The terrible gift made the whole company tremble and everybody began to cry. Made the whole company tremble and everybody began to cry.

Andrea 5:05

At this very instant, the youngest fairy came out from behind the curtains and spoke these words aloud Rest assured, my king and queen, that your daughter will not perish from this misfortune. Although I cannot undo what my elder has done, the princess will prick her hand on a spindle, but will not die. Instead, she will fall into a deep sleep that will last for a hundred years, and at the end, a prince will arrive to awaken her.

Micah 5:45

She won't die, but she'll be in a coma forever. Hey, the end. A prince will arrive to awaken her. She won't die, but she'll be in a coma forever. To avoid the misfortune foretold by the old fairy, the king immediately issued a proclamation under which everybody was forbidden, on pain of death, to spin fiber upon a spindle or to have a spindle in their houses.

Andrea 6:08

Wow.

Micah 6:09

I guess for the next hundred years there wasn't a lot of clothing available. Oh, I guess that wouldn't have been a hundred, that would have been. So this story doesn't actually say when she will prick her finger. Sometimes it says like on her 16th birthday or something like that, and it didn't really give us a time.

Andrea 6:34

So I guess it's just sometime in the future.

Micah 6:38

They don't have any clue when this will happen, but literally textiles will be in short demand well, it just says, when she does it she'll go to sleep for 100 years.

Andrea 6:49

But I guess we could have just kept on reading, because it says when she does it.

Micah 6:53

Oh, 16 years later. Huh, look at that.

Andrea 6:57

Just write the next sentence but the fairy doesn't say when she's gonna do it, but it just says when she does it.

Micah 7:04

So well, I guess the king and queen have no clue when it will happen, right, so they just ban it forever.

Micah 7:09

Yeah, I wonder if they were getting to the point where, like, maybe it won't happen. You know, we've gotten 16 years. Maybe you know what that old fairy said won't even happen, won't come true. 16 years later, while the king and queen were away at one of their vacation homes, the young princess amused herself with exploring the palace. As she moved from floor to floor, she discovered a small room at the top of the tower. Inside an elderly woman sat alone spinning her spindle. The elder had not heard of the king's decree banning spindles.

Andrea 7:49

What are you doing here, grandmother said. The princess.

Micah 7:55

I'm spinning my pretty child, said the old woman. The elder did not know who the princess was.

Andrea 8:03

Huh, said the princess, this is very pretty. How do you do it? Give it to me so I might give it a try.

Micah 8:13

Here you are, my child, said the elderly woman. No sooner had she taken the spindle in her hand than, whether out of haste, clumsiness or the curse of the old fairy, it pricked her hand and she collapsed as if dead.

Andrea 8:31

The elderly woman, unsure what to do, cried out for help, help, help, help. People quickly gathered in large numbers, trying everything they could to revive the princess. They splashed water on her face, loosened her dress, massaged her hands and rubbed strong perfume on her temples, but nothing would bring her back to consciousness.

Micah 8:54

Oh, At least they gave it their best shot.

Andrea 8:58

Well, you know, especially back then, who knows they?

Micah 9:00

probably had no idea. They gave her an adrenaline shot.

Andrea 9:03

Um, I don't know if they have that back then.

Micah 9:06

Maybe some donkey piss or something Wow.

Andrea 9:09

Yeah, it's not Brickle Britt.

Micah 9:11

Oh, yes, true, Okay. Nothing's as good as the Brickle Britt story.

Andrea 9:16

Let's see what they did.

Micah 9:17

The king was summoned and, in recalling the fairy's prediction, he knew what had happened to his daughter. The fairy's prediction he knew what had happened to his daughter. He ordered the princess to be carried into the most exquisite room in the palace and placed on a bed adorned with gold and silver embroidery. He then wept, for he knew he would not live long enough to see his daughter awake. Yeah, a hundred years, I mean.

Andrea 9:42

That's sad. She looked so beautiful that one might have mistaken her for an angel. Her cheeks were rosy and her lips were soft pink. Though her eyes were closed, the gentle sound of her breathing reassured those around her that she was not dead. The king ordered that she would not be disturbed, allowing her to sleep peacefully until she awoke.

Micah 10:08

The good fairy, who had saved her life by condemning her to sleep a hundred years, was in the kingdom of Matican. That brings up a point why couldn't she have sentenced her to sleep for a shorter period, like 10 months A year? So the good fairy befell the princess. By the way, the Earth's circumference isn't even 34,000 miles, it's less than that. Still, she was instantly informed of it by a little dwarf with seven-league boots, by a little dwarf with seven-league boots. Seven-league boots are a wondrous, magical item that allows the wearer to move seven leagues, approximately 24 miles, with every step. I think that 34,000 miles, though, is still going to take a while. It wouldn't have been an instant, but okay. The fairy left immediately, and she arrived about an hour later in a fiery chariot drawn by dragons. These are some very interesting little tidbits, right yeah?

Andrea 11:40

Did you want to discuss now?

Micah 11:42

Sure, what did you want to discuss?

Andrea 11:44

I don't know what you were talking about with the 100 years or.

Micah 11:49

I totally think that she could have maybe I mean, she was gonna she reversed the spell. Why not just make it like A hundred days, not a hundred years, you know?

Andrea 12:02

Yeah, I don't know.

Sleeping Beauty's Fateful Curse

Micah 12:06

She wasn't good at math or something, I don't know. I don't know. That is weird. Death minus sleep is a hundred years Equals a hundred years. I don't know. Yeah, so go ahead.

Andrea 12:20

So the king helped her out of the chariot and she was pleased with everything he had done. However, given her extraordinary foresight, she was unsure how the princess would care for herself after she awoke. She touched everything except the king and queen and the palace, using her wand, causing them to fall into a deep sleep. Using her wand, causing them to fall into a deep sleep. This includes the ladies, gentlemen, officers and stewards, the cooks, scullions, guards and pages, footmen, the horses in the stables, the dogs in the courtyard and even the princess's little spaniel Mopsy, who lay on the bed with her. Did the fairy get consent before putting these people to sleep for a years as well? No, I'm sure. I mean if the king and queen can, you know, summon and make decrees. I'm sure that when this happened, he said whatever.

Micah 13:18

Whatever the fairy says goes oh, so they didn't have a choice, it was just probably not forced upon them.

Andrea 13:25

That's rude If you live in my kingdom. What do I say? Goes.

Micah 13:30

Well, like it sucks, because then when you wake up, all the people you knew were dead, including family, but you get to see the future. It's like a real slow time traveler.

Andrea 13:43

Let's see what happens.

Micah 13:46

And now the king and queen, having kissed their dear child without waking her so their kiss didn't do it went out of the palace and declared that nobody should dare come near it.

Andrea 14:03

This was unnecessary, for in a quarter of an hour a vast number of trees, great and small, bushes and brambles twining one with another, grew all around the castle so that neither man nor beast could pass through. Nothing could be seen of the castle but the very tops of the towers.

Micah 14:27

So put this fairy's powers in perspective. In 15 minutes she was able to grow a forest with trees as tall as towers, but she couldn't just nullify the old fairy's death sentence. I think she was more than powerful enough to do that. She grew a forest in 15 minutes when a hundred years were gone. Okay, so we're in the future now. The son of the king now reigning, who was of another family that's good from that of the sleeping princess foreshadowing was hunting near the castle. He asked the locals what towers do I see in the middle of that wood? The locals answered according to what they knew, saying it is a ruinous old castle haunted by spirits.

Micah 15:24

Others said All the sorcerers and witches of that country have secret meetings there. The most common belief was that an ogre lived there, capturing all the little children he could find to eat. No one could follow him, for he only possessed the power to pass through the woods.

Andrea 15:47

The prince was at a loss, not knowing what to believe, when a countryman told him this story. May it please my prince. I heard from my father's father that there was in this castle a princess, the most beautiful that ever was seen. She had been cursed to sleep there a hundred years and would be woken by a prince.

Micah 16:13

The young prince, filled with passion upon hearing these words, immediately believed he could resolve the extraordinary adventure. Driven by love and honor, he decided on the spot to take action.

The Princess Pricks Her Finger

Andrea 16:27

He advanced towards the castle when all the great trees, bushes and brambles parted to let him pass. He walked up to the castle and entered through its gates. It surprised him that none of his entourage could follow him, because the trees closed again as soon as he had passed through them. However, he did not turn back.

Micah 16:51

Well, at least the trees moved for him. I mean, it would have been a long he needed a chainsaw to cut through that woods.

Andrea 17:01

So that means that he was the chosen one right, or does that? Would it have opened for any prince?

Micah 17:07

that's a good question. Um, since we don't have a record of any other princes trying, I'm gonna say that, yeah, yeah, any eligible prince who was honorable and had love in his heart to give and wasn't already married Probably could according to the spell. But who knows? Because we don't have record of anyone trying. Oh, this is not a true story, by the way. He entered a vast outer courtyard where even the bravest would have been horrified by the scene. An eerie silence prevailed and death hung over everything. All round were the bodies of men, women and animals sprawled out. They appeared to be lifeless. However, he could tell by the castle guards' ruby-red faces and pimpled noses that they were merely asleep. The remains of wine in their cups made it clear that they had dozed off while drinking.

Andrea 18:15

He then crossed a court paved with marble, went up the stairs and entered the guard chamber. There, guards stood in ranks with muskets on their shoulders, snoring loudly. After that, he went through several rooms full of gentlemen and ladies, all asleep, some standing, others sitting.

Micah 18:37

Hmm, I guess it just depended on when they got hit by the fairy right. At last, he came into a chamber, chamber all gilded with gold, where he saw upon a bed, the finest sight he had ever beheld, a princess whose bright and resplendent beauty filled his vision. He approached with trembling admiration and fell down before her upon his knees.

Andrea 19:06

This act signaled the end of the enchantment. The princess awoke and looked at him with tender eyes. Is it you, my prince? She said to him have you waited long for me?

Micah 19:23

Yes, very long, so long, whoa Well not just reading. No, I oh no, we have to discuss this. Ok, this is interesting, because he didn't kiss her, he knelt before her and that broke the enchantment. He didn't just go and plan a kiss on her, he knelt before her and it broke the enchantment. He didn't just go and plant a kiss on her, he knelt before her and it broke the enchantment. That is very sweet.

Andrea 19:50

Well, it just says a prince will arrive to awaken her.

Micah 19:53

I know so yeah, but in other stories, in future stories, it's a kiss. But if you think about it, this young lady has been sleeping in a coma for 100 years and then some guy just comes along and plants a big old smacker on her lips without asking Okay, I'm just saying yes, I get it. You shouldn't go around just smacking and kissing. Don't smack people, that's not good. But you can't just go around kissing young ladies, whether they're enchanted or not. So this is refreshing, I like it, so let's go on. The prince was charmed by these words and much more by how they were spoken, but he did not know how to show his joy. He assured her that he loved her better than he did himself. His eyes filled with tears and his speech lacked any eloquence. Aww.

Andrea 20:59

Sweet. He was even more bewildered than she was. She had plenty of time to consider what she might say to him. The kind fairy had likely blessed her with pleasant dreams during her long sleep, giving her ample time to think about what she might say. In the end, they talked for hours.

Micah 21:21

Meanwhile, the palace awoke. Uh-oh, do you think there would be any disgruntled employees at this point? Everyone thought about what they should be doing and, as they were not in love, they were ready to die from hunger, as hungry as everyone else. The lady-in-waiting grew increasingly impatient and loudly informed the princess that supper was ready. The prince helped the princess to her feet. She was elegantly dressed, though he politely refrained from noting that her outfit was reminiscent of his great-great-grandmother's. Fashion Styles had shifted over the past 100 years.

Andrea 22:08

They entered the grand hall for dinner, served by the princess's attendants. Violins and horns played ancient yet exquisite melodies. After supper, without delay, the priest married them in the castle chapel. They retired to the room but hardly slept, for the princess had no need for it.

Micah 22:34

Well, I mean she had slept for a hundred years, I mean, I wouldn't be tired for a while. I would think.

Andrea 22:41

I guess that was just they got married that night. I know I would think I guess that was just they got married that night. I know it was quick.

Micah 22:46

Well, I guess her parents are dead, so she couldn't ask them. Is that sad?

Andrea 22:51

Weren't they asleep? No, remember the father cried because he knew that he wouldn't be alive when she finally awoke.

Micah 22:59

You know, maybe they should have had the good fairy put them to sleep as well, like in the movie.

Andrea 23:05

Yeah, what?

Micah 23:07

No, I don't. Oh, the mother and father. You're right.

Andrea 23:10

She put them all to sleep. The Disney movie and the cartoon. They did it right in those cartoons back then.

Micah 23:17

No, because he kisses her without consent. Well, I mean, I mean, come on.

Andrea 23:25

Some things it could have tweaked a little bit. Okay, all right, anyway, go ahead.

Micah 23:30

The following day, the prince departed to return to the city, where his father must have been anxious for his return. So he's not taking her with him. The prince told him. So he's not taking her with him. The prince told him. I've lost my way in the forest, went hunting, and found refuge in the cottage of a woodcutter who gave me cheese and bread.

Andrea 23:53

The king took him at his word, yet the prince's mother would not be persuaded. The prince then hunted almost daily and always had some excuse for doing so. The queen suspected that he was visiting a lady.

Micah 24:12

He sure was His wife. The princess kept his marriage a secret for two years. That's difficult, a clandestine union that bore two children. So two years and two children. He hasn't told his parents that he's married and he's got kids.

Andrea 24:33

That they're grandparents.

Micah 24:35

My God. The first was a daughter whom they named Morning, like the sun rising up morning, not morning as in morning for the dead. The second was a son whom they named Day, a name befitting his extraordinary beauty. This is a good looking kid.

Andrea 24:57

The queen repeatedly asked her son how he spent his time, but he did not trust her with his secret. He feared her, though he loved her, for she was of the race of ogres.

Micah 25:14

What His mom's Shrek? I guess so, or I guess it would be Fiona, oh yeah, she's an ogre, isn't Shrek's wife Fiona? Fiona, oh yeah.

Andrea 25:23

She's a no-girl, isn't Sheck's?

Micah 25:24

wife Fiona yeah.

Andrea 25:25

Oh my gosh.

Micah 25:26

We're mixing the movies. No, we're not mixing it. That's not Disney. Well, true, but the thing here is that this is kind of. This is different from the other stories.

Andrea 25:37

That's true. That is way different.

Micah 25:39

Disney did not put this in their version of it.

Andrea 25:42

Let's see what happens now. That's scary.

Micah 25:46

Actually, disney's version pretty much ends after he defeats the witch. They get married and there's a big party.

Andrea 25:54

Yes, when were we, the mom? We found out she's a race of ogres.

Micah 26:00

Race of ogre. I know, oh gosh, this is not going to end well. The king would never have married the ogre queen if it had not been for her vast riches. It was whispered about the court that she had ogreish inclinations. Whenever little children passed by, it was difficult to avoid eating them. Oh boy. Now suddenly it makes sense why the prince didn't want to tell his mom and dad, because he's probably afraid that she'll eat his children.

Andrea 26:34

Yeah, Then the king died and the prince became lord and master. He then openly declared his marriage With a grand ceremony. He brought his wife to the palace, they made a magnificent entry into the capital city and she rode between her two children.

Micah 26:58

Soon after the new king went to war against a neighboring emperor, he left the kingdom's governing to his mother, the ogre queen. That was a bad choice and asked that she care for his wife and children. She'll care for them. He was obligated to continue his expedition all summer long. To continue his expedition all summer long. Soon after, as he departed, the ogre mother ate everyone the end. Oh wait, that's not what it says. The ogre mother sent her daughter-in-law to a country house in the woods so that she might more easily gratify her horrible longings.

Andrea 27:45

There is the discussion.

Micah 27:47

Yes. So, what are her horrible longings? I mean, we've got morning and day all alone, without their mother or father.

Andrea 27:58

I mean, did the king have to go to war?

Micah 28:02

Well, in those days I guess it probably was pretty normal for the king to head up the campaign against another country for some reason or another. I mean, he was the warlord as well, not just the king.

Andrea 28:14

He was the commander.

Micah 28:16

You know Huh.

Andrea 28:17

I thought they just sent people and they had to stay back.

Micah 28:21

I guess they could. But I mean, in a lot of stories from back then, kings would ride out with his army. He might not be at the front of the army, but he still rode out with them. But you're right, right, I mean they could have stayed behind, but I think it it would have been a sign of of craven or cowardice, that's true, you know to be like, hey, you guys go fight this for me, I'm gonna stay here with my hot wife, you know, and make some more children well I'd be, my mother might eat my family.

Andrea 28:56

True, true If he knew that I would be like.

Micah 28:59

Well, and that she just immediately sends the mother away leaving them. Like, why did the mother leave? Like she technically is the queen, couldn't she be like no, or okay, I will go, but I'm taking my children with me. What's her deal? Why did she just go?

Andrea 29:17

That was all really weird so.

Micah 29:19

But we don't know how she went. Maybe the ogre's queen boxed her up and sent her off Alright. A few days afterward she went to her royal cook.

Andrea 29:34

I wish to eat Little morning for my dinner tomorrow.

Micah 29:40

Aye my queen, cried the cook. Or maybe it's ah my queen, or yee my queen. It's literally just ah. Maybe would that be in like yes, or maybe I mean it looks to me more like he's like oh my God, really no, that's what he should have said. No, my queen.

The Prince Discovers the Princess

Andrea 30:06

I will have it. So replied the ogre queen. I will eat her with my sauce.

Micah 30:17

He slapped that kid with some gravy and cook her, Knowing he must not play tricks with an ogress. The poor cook took his great knife and entered Little Morning's bedroom. She was four years old and advanced to him jumping and laughing, seizing him around the neck and asking him for some sugar candy, upon which he began to weep. The great knife fell out of his hand and he took up little mourning, carrying her to his wife to hide her in his home.

Andrea 30:51

That's sad.

Micah 30:52

Well, he's like the hero of the story. No, like, seriously, the ogress is bad. Yeah, yeah, the prince, just, I mean king, now king.

Andrea 31:03

He goes off, slept his family.

Micah 31:04

I mean it's understandable.

Andrea 31:06

It's different back then. Yeah.

Micah 31:08

Later he went into the yard, killed a little lamb and dressed it with such good sauce that his mistress assured him.

Andrea 31:17

I have never eaten anything so good in my life. This sauce is to die for.

Micah 31:26

Someone did die for it. Eight days later, the wicked queen told the cook.

Andrea 31:33

I will now eat little day for dinner.

Micah 31:37

Is she like, maybe thinking like, when the king does come home? How is she going to explain that?

Andrea 31:44

Well, you know, he knew she was an ogre who ate children, I know.

Micah 31:48

but like hey, son, I'm glad you're home. And he's like where's my beautiful little children? How about that? I got hungry. So the cook he nodded resolved to cheat her, as he had done before. He went to find little Day and saw him with a sword sparring with a remarkable monkey, the child only three years old. So two things here he's three years old and he's sparring. I mean what? Most kids start walking at two.

Andrea 32:29

This kid is sword.

Micah 32:31

Fighting a monkey and that's the other part of this is like a remarkable monkey. It is remarkable. He took him up in his arms and carried him to his wife to hide him along with his sister. He then cooked a very tender young goat in his place with sauce which the ogress found to be wonderfully good saying.

Andrea 33:01

You have outdone yourself cook. What a satisfying meal.

Micah 33:10

All was well for a time.

Andrea 33:12

But one evening the wicked ogre queen said to her cook I will now eat the young queen with the same sauce I had with her children.

Marriage and Secret Children

Micah 33:28

She sure loved this sauce. I wonder if it was like KC barbecue sauce or something. The poor cook had now lost all hope of deceiving her. The young queen had turned 20, not counting the hundred years she had been asleep and he was at a loss to find a beast in the yard. Firm enough to trick the ogress, Fearing for his life, he decided to kill the young queen instead. He's going to try to go through with that. With his resolve, he went to her chamber, worked himself into a rage and entered the young queen's room with a dagger. However, rather than taking her by surprise, he had a change of heart and respectfully informed the young queen of the orders he had received from the ogre queen.

Andrea 34:23

Do it, do it, said she stretching out her neck. Execute your orders, and then I shall see my poor children, who I love so much, and then I shall see my poor children who I love so much, for she thought them dead ever since they had been taken away without her knowledge.

Micah 34:43

No, no, madam, I will not kill you. You will see your children again, but you must go home with me, where I have hidden them.

Andrea 34:59

I shall deceive the ogre queen again by preparing a young deer instead. That's pretty brave of the cook, I mean he's the hero. Yeah, he's risked a lot. Well, yeah, because if she finds out, I'm sure that she'll kill him and his wife and all of them and eat them all with sauce. Yeah, I mean, I don't know how he was, gosh, that would have been hard to even think for a second. He could have killed the princess.

Micah 35:25

He was going to, but he changed his mind at the last second. Yeah, so he's a good guy.

Andrea 35:30

Yeah.

Micah 35:31

He led her to his home, where he left her to embrace her children and weep with them. Meanwhile, he prepared a young deer with sauce, which the queen ate for supper, savoring it as if it had been the young queen herself. She took great pleasure in her cruelty and even concocted a tale to tell the king upon his return.

Andrea 35:57

There you go.

Micah 35:58

Claiming that the mad wolves had devoured the young queen and her two children, Like maybe they were at the park and the wolves just ran up and ate them.

Andrea 36:09

So obviously she already knew what to say, like she wanted to get rid of them and she had a story for it, because she didn't care.

Micah 36:17

That's going to be a hard story to sell.

Andrea 36:20

Still.

Micah 36:21

Really, the wolves came and ate my entire family and hurt no one else. No one else saw it, nothing, what I'm just saying.

Andrea 36:31

She didn't care about her son Deceit.

Micah 36:33

Yeah, she didn't care about her son Deceit.

Andrea 36:34

Yeah. One evening, as she was wandering through the palace grounds, as was her habit, hoping to catch the scent of fresh meat, she overheard Little Day Crying in a nearby room. His mother was about to whip him For misbehaving, while Little Morning pleaded For her brother's forgiveness.

Micah 36:55

Wow, she's like Just got them back him for misbehaving, while Little Morning pleaded for her brother's forgiveness.

The Ogress Queen's Terrible Plan

Andrea 37:03

Wow, she's like just got them back and she's already beating them for misbehavior. Just a whip.

Micah 37:06

She didn't say she's going to beat him. It's just a whip about to whip him for misbehaving. She was going to whoop him with a whip.

Andrea 37:14

No, that's what they said. I'm going to whip him. I'm going to whip him, him with a whip. No, that's what they said.

Micah 37:16

I'm gonna whip him you've seen indiana jones, seen those whips? I mean recognizing her daughter-in-laws and the children's voices. The ogress was engaged, sorry, enraged at having been deceived. In a terrifying voice that made everyone tremble, she ordered that a large tub be brought into the courtyard the next day. It was to be filled with toads, vipers, snakes and every kind of serpent. So what are the toads going to do to you? Will they give you warts before the snakes and vipers inject you with poison? Alright, I guess the toads were gross. The young queen, her children, the kitchen cook and his wife were all to be thrown into it, their hands tied behind them, as the ogress had commanded. Tied behind them, as the ogress had commanded.

Andrea 38:14

They were brought out as ordered and the executioners were about to throw them into the tub when, unexpectedly, the king arrived on horseback.

Micah 38:25

Astonished, he entered the courtyard and demanded I think astonished is too weak of a word for here. I mean, I'd be more like terrified to see this scene. What is happening here, mother? No one dared to explain, but in a rage the ogress, having been caught, hurled herself headfirst into the tub. Instantly she was devoured by the creatures meant for her own family. Those toads were hungry, though. The king was deeply saddened, as she was his mother. He soon found comfort in the presence of his wife and lovely children.

Andrea 39:18

So that's kind of crazy that the ochres jumped in on her own.

Micah 39:23

Well, I think she saw there was no way out of this.

Andrea 39:26

I know, but she could have just ran for it and just lived on her own.

Micah 39:29

I guess it was bad timing for him to show up? Yeah, because she did have her excuse, so she needed to kill them all.

Andrea 39:37

Although hold on Wait. She had her excuse, for the wife and the children got eaten by wolves. She was now going to kill the cook and his family.

Micah 39:48

They were on a picnic and they brought their chef with them and his family, and the wolves just happened by and were like hmm, this looks delicious, let's eat all of them up. It's very plausible. I think she could have gotten away with it, but she just didn't kill them quick enough.

Andrea 40:06

I don't think so. I think that's why she's like, well, I'm done, and she jumped in.

Micah 40:11

I think she could have ran Exactly, she had no other options. She could have ran, yeah, exactly, she had no other options.

Andrea 40:16

She could have found more ogres out in the woods.

Micah 40:19

Well, run away. Yeah, sure, but he might have hunted her down.

Andrea 40:23

Oh, that's true. That's true. This is a pretty big offense. Yeah, I didn't think of that.

Micah 40:28

And it's sad.

Andrea 40:30

It is sad.

Micah 40:31

Because she has urges and she couldn't control them and so she had to eat children. And it's sad because the only way out she could see was to feed herself to the toads.

Andrea 40:48

It's like getting a veggie burger. It's like meat, but it's not meat. No, so I don't. You could have got something that, but it's not meat?

Micah 40:55

No, I don't.

Andrea 40:56

You could have got something that was like children's meat, so she got an impossible burger from Burger King?

Micah 41:00

Yes, exactly, and she was good, you know.

Andrea 41:04

She just needed some alternative to help those urges.

Micah 41:09

So yeah, the chef could have like flayed.

Andrea 41:12

Well, the chef was doing absolutely fine by giving her lambs and deer and sauce.

Micah 41:19

She could have been happy. She could have just been like just keep fooling me forever that you're feeding me little children and I'll be happy with my sauce, secret sauce and these fake little children. That's right. And then they could have all lived happily ever after as a family.

Andrea 41:39

Yeah, what is that saying? What you don't know won't kill you.

Micah 41:43

Well, so what does the prince look like if his mother was an ogre?

Andrea 41:48

It was a step ogre.

Micah 41:51

Right it was a step ogre.

Andrea 41:53

Right, because it says the father married no, I think it said that his mother was an ogre Well, an ogre's mother, but I thought it said the dad married the ogre because of her riches.

Micah 42:05

Oh, so you're thinking that maybe he was a child from a previous wife that maybe passed away?

Andrea 42:12

Yeah.

The Cook's Brave Deception

Micah 42:13

That's a good point, hmm. It probably doesn't give us enough um details. Okay, so he did not trust her with his secret. The queen repeatedly asked her son. Okay, it doesn't say anywhere here that she was a stepmother. It just says she's an ogre queen and an ogre mother. So this dude either took totally after his father or he is a interracial child.

Andrea 42:47

It just says the Kansi.

Micah 42:49

Like a cross between Johnny Depp and Shrek. This is a might bit better than our previous one, where the king did awful things to the young princess before she even woke, so it did get better. But there was still this weird twist of the Ogress mother.

Andrea 43:13

At least she, just, you know, did it, did it herself, I guess, I don't know yeah, it would been really hard for maybe the son he seemed like he loved his mom.

Micah 43:22

Yeah, and he says it I mean he left her in charge and everything, yeah, but he also was a little worried about her, remember, because he didn't want to bring his wife around for two years and children.

Andrea 43:33

Until he was in charge, and then he thought she would listen to him.

Micah 43:36

Maybe, but it didn't end badly because they lived Yep and they live happily ever after.

Andrea 43:44

Yep.

The King's Return and Final Justice

Micah 43:45

It says they already found comfort in the presence of his wife and lovely children, just like I find comfort with you every day. And I find comfort with you, yep, and I find comfort with you, yep, and we do most days with our child, even though she's a teenager, yikes, I know. So, yeah, great, there is another Sleeping Beauty. Thanks for joining us in the world of Bedlam, where fairy tales come to life with a dash of history and a sprinkle of our own madness.

Micah 44:18

We love telling these stories, but we'd love even more to hear from you, visit us at talesofbedlamcom, where you can share your thoughts, suggest tales for future episodes or just say hello.

Andrea 44:33

Remember every great story deserves to be shared, Including yours. Until next time.

Micah 44:40

Sweet dreams From Micah.

Andrea 44:43

And Andrea.

Micah 44:44

At Tales of Bedlam Good night.