marycatelli: (East of the Sun)
marycatelli ([personal profile] marycatelli) wrote2022-06-07 10:48 pm

some do, some don't

There are witches who turn women into sheep and have them killed so they can slip into their place in the family and be in a position to marry off their daughters to a prince. Or just jump at the chance to be a stepmother.

There are witches who hide off in the wild wilderness and snarl when the prince appears and enslave them and threaten to kill them unless they perform some task impossible without magic -- and fortunately (for the prince) the witch's daughter helps the prince and then runs off with him. The chase after them often ends quite badly -- and permanently -- for the witch.

Now, I can see why a witch who doesn't want her daughter to marry a prince wouldn't go and become a stepmother. Lots of bother, and then there's her stepdaughter marrying him, which the daughter might not like.

On the other hand, sneaking off into the wilderness does seem a reliable way to get your daughter to marry the prince. You just have to make sure that the obstacle you teach your daughter can't actually kill you, so you curse them when the third makes it impossible for you to reach them.

Err, that's scream abuse form of curse. Yes, your daughter will be able to get around a curse that makes the prince forget her, but really, the obstacles are enough to convince the prince.

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