Quest to Retrieve the Tock: Fairytale

The clock ticked in the stillness of the night, and something stole the tick and tucked it away under his arm for later use. Without its tick, the hand of the clock did not move. Nothing moved. There was a breeze, but the curtain did not blow. There was a stranger in the castle, but the watchdog did not stir. There was an intruder in her bedroom, but the princess did not awake. She didn't snore, either, which was more of a miracle. The only thing that moved in all the castle grounds was the stableman's daughter, who had gone to sleep in the paddock with the horses, because one of them was close to foaling and she wanted to see that it went right.

Inspiration: Ticking of the time-to-cook-next-step clock.
Story Potential: High.
Notes: And so to rescue the princess (and maybe somebody more important, or just the castle in general), the stableman's daughter must go on a quest to recover the tick. Hmm. Maybe, just for clarity, I should have the tock stolen instead. Note also that I think it would work better without indulging those who want clarity on the (gasp!) maybe-lesbian nature of the standard reward for freeing an enchanted princess. Let 'em all stew. Could even make it a parable on time and how women react to it--but only if can keep that way, way subtle.