The Story

Once upon a time…

As there is always a time. And usually in such times there is a kingdom, and there is in this one too. A great kingdom, in this case, that had been won long ago, and only occasionally had to be kept secure through battle against foolish opponent or frenzied mystical beast (usually a dragon, but most recently a very ambitious pack of goblins).

And you wouldn’t be hearing about such a kingdom if the time discussed weren’t dissimilar from all the rest, as this one is. In this time upon, quite the affliction was spreading across the land.

Not a simple plague, sending doctors hither and thither with their noses stuffed with flowers. No, what started as reportedly short rainfall at the beginning of growing season, was now feared as a great Curse. Corn and wheat withered in the farmer’s hand. Shepherds wept at their fallen herds. Common markets and royal courts were equally marked with mourning black as the houses on the edges of the boarders were swallowed by the devastation.

Death was creeping across the kingdom, killing land, animal, and hope alike.

Many were lost in the search for answers: Scholars were sent to the boundary of wilted fields to not return, knights galloped with swords drawn into darkened forests without a trace. Others simply escaped to the green- following where the curse had not touched, abandoning the world they’d known to cross the great River Heks into uncharted lands where it seemed the curse had not yet reached. If there be more dragons or goblins or even a Minotaur there? Then so be it.

The kingdom began to echo with emptiness. Its people were either lost or leaving.

When the general of the royal army reported that more of the kingdom was lost than remained unscathed, the king ordered his younger son to take the queen, the royal guard, and their most faithful subjects of the royal city to the green for security while he stayed and bravely stood against the curse.

The young prince led his mother and the many others in a long train, down through the large city, across many fields, and up to the wide River Heks. While the company prepared to cross the river, he saw the subtle signs that would lead a desperate traveler in need of guidance to a sorcerer- a circled branch here, a miscolored bush there. Knowing these signs spoke to him, he signaled the company to camp a moment, and followed the signs into the shallow woods.

There he found a sunny clearing with a woman sitting at a clean wooden table. He wondered how he had not seen her from the road, but when he turned to look behind him, the road was gone and replaced with rows of jade and emerald ferns.

This was the sorceress.

“Would you sit and dine with me, my prince?”

“I thank you,” the prince bowed low to not offend the powerful woman, “but my people need me and I cannot stay long. There is a curse upon our lands and I am taking them to a safer shore.”

The woman smiled, and though her eyes crinkled he knew her to not be old or young.

“I know of the curse on your home. A great sacrifice of life will stop the growing death. I know the spell, I could do it now and save your people.”

The young prince wanted to be a hero, but he was afraid.

“I am only the second son, barely anything! My brother is the crown prince, I am but a spare. With a broken heart, I will send him to you.”

He had barely taken a breath when he found himself back on the road with his company. He sent a rider back to the castle, and waded into the river.

When the darkness could be seen from the royal turrets and the heritage oaks began to wilt, the king ordered the Crown Prince to take their Secret Guard and Highest Council to the green for security while he stayed and bravely stood against the curse.

The elder prince led the limited crowd down through the large city, across many fields, and up to the wide River Heks. While the company prepared to cross the river, he saw the subtle signs that his brother’s letter spoke of. Knowing these signs spoke to him, he signaled the company to camp a moment, and, drawing his sword, followed the signs into the shallow woods.

There he found a dim clearing with a woman sitting at a clean wooden table. He wondered how he had not seen her from the road, but pushed aside the matter.

“Would you sit and dine with me, my prince?”

“I cannot,” the prince nodded stiffly towards her, unable to tell if her hair was silver or gray and disturbed all the more for it, “my people need me and I cannot stay long. There is a curse upon our lands and I am to take my people to a safer shore. My brother told me you could help.”

The woman nodded, her eyes never leaving his.

“I know of the curse on your home. A great sacrifice of life will stop the growing death. I know the spell, I could do it now and save your people.”

The crown prince longed for his legacy, but he was afraid.

“I am only the crown prince, barely anything! My father is the king, I am but the heir. With a broken heart, I will send him to you.”

He had barely taken a breath when he found himself back on the road with his company. He sent a rider back to the castle, and waded into the river.

When the darkness had reached the royal grounds and the roses of the imperial greenhouse shriveled, the king ordered his own horse be fetched. The last of his people- his most knowledgeable scholars and his most loyal knights (as well as one blacksmith, one candle maker, and one scribe who had all been “honored to be chosen to stay behind with the king”), followed him through the large city, across many fields, and up to the wide River Heks. While the company prepared to cross the river, he saw the subtle signs that his sons’ letters spoke of. Knowing these signs spoke to him, he signaled the company to camp a moment, and, saying a prayer, followed the signs into the shallow woods.

There he found a darkened clearing with a woman sitting at a clean wooden table. While the road he left was still lit by an unwavering sun, he found only a pale strip of moonlight illuminating her shifting figure. He knew he had entered some unworldly place.

“Would you sit and dine with me, my king?”

“It would be my honor,” said the king, as he took a seat opposite the sorceress, seeing pleasure in the pale green of her eyes. “I cannot stay too long, however. My people need me. There is a curse upon our lands and I am to take the last of my people to a safer shore. My sons have told me you can help.”

The woman poured wine into crystal glasses that had previously not been there.

“I know of the curse on your home. A great sacrifice of life will stop the growing death. I know the spell, I could do it now and save your people.”

“Yes, do what needs to be done,” he answered. For the king was not afraid.

The sorceress began to whisper to the wind. It whirled around them, tugging at their clothes. She held her left hand out and bits of herbs ushered to her palm. Then she held out her right hand lightening struck it, not causing pain but setting fire to her finger tips. She let all of this fall into the king’s glass, stirring it into shimmering dust. She closed her eyes and gave thanks to the stars and the moonlight grew stronger and the air itself felt sweet and syrupy.

In a breath, the world again was still.

“Let us toast, my king, to death and to life.”

“To death and to life,” said the king. And though the sorceress politely sipped, he swallowed his wine in a single gulp. For the king was not afraid.

For the king had switched the glasses.

The sorceress twitched, her eyes bulging. Her hands flew to her throat.

When she finally fell still, the king knelt to her and whispered, “I thank you for my people.”

He returned to his company, and waded into the river.

With king and queen, sons, and country reunited, there was much celebration! They had escaped the curse! Their royal family had led them to safety! There was even rumor that the king himself had defeated an evil witch to stave the curse from spreading to their new home! The people gladly advanced into the pastures and hills of their new home, elated with safety.

When the new Capital City was complete, the king held a month long festival to celebrate the establishment of the new realm, and thank his people for their resilience. The queen offered him her own glass of wine, but he dared not partake. His sons begged him to join them in the celebratory hunt, but he dared not venture into the woods with them.

And when the winds blew across the freshly built turrets, he swore it sounded like laughter.

That’s when he saw the roses begin to wilt.

The Word

Tale (noun): a fictitious or true narrative or story, especially one that is imaginatively recounted. (archaic) a number or total.

Yeah so hiiiiiiiii

I know, I know. I’ve been gone. And then I come back, and then I disappear again, and then I come back. One day when I’m a really big writer this will be quirky and distinctive not annoying and undedicated.

But I’m in another I CAN DO THIS phase, helped along by MasterClass*. And Neil Gaiman gave me homework. He said to take a fairytale, dissect it, and after doing so, see where else it can take you. Can anyone see where this one started??

(…….)

That’s right! Billy Goats Gruff!

He also said to try to imitate a voice, so that you can learn what yours is more like and not like, and I’ve been reading Tress and The Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson recently, so I tried to lean into that sort of playful but knowing narrator. I think I’ve got it started but then I kinda lose it when I get into the repetitive stuff. Something to work on.

So, is this Quilled Sister’s return? I hope so. Watch this space, my dear, dear reader 🙂

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Fun Fact: Heks means “witch” in Norwegian, and Billy Goats Gruff is originally a Norwegian fairytale. So, the River Heks…. yes if you haven’t caught on by now, I do in fact think I’m hilarious.

*Not a sponsorship, just the truth. As if a tiny mention at the end of a single blogpost might be a sponsorship but you never know these days.