Athelstane's Tale
Mar 14, 2021 20:33:34 GMT -5
Post by themirrorthief on Mar 14, 2021 20:33:34 GMT -5
"I'll buy more ale if you'll spin another of your tales of
adventure...only it must be one I've never heard," so
said he young farmer Ulgrinn.
-"Very well, I am thirsty," replied the aging warrior Athelstane.
There is one tale I have never told anyone." Ulgrinn called for
the drink and the tale began.
-There was a lovely young woman who lived up in the hills. She
was very lonely because her husband, who was a good man,
stayed gone far to much because of his trade. One long night
she slipped away to this very tavern where I sat drinking at this
very table. Later I went back with her to her lonely cottage and
we spent the night making love. Very early the next morning
there came a loud rapping at the door.
-"You're husband?" I asked.
-"Surely not," she replied and went to the door. I heard a loud
scream and she run rushing to my arms. "Its an evil fairae lord,
he means to take me away forever."
-I took up my broadsword and went out to meet the evil spirit.
Our swords clashed in the bright sunlight. I was less tested in
battle then and the fairae was a better swordsman. Despite my
courage and fierceness he was about to best me when and old
woman appeared at the edge of the wood and yelled at the evil
fairae. He glared at her and then ran away.
-"Who was that woman who saved me?" I asked.
-"She be the witch of the wood and very powerful. She chased
the fairae away but he will return. Please go and find her house
and ask for a ward against such evil spirits or I may never find
peace again."
-"But why would she help us?" I asked. "I will bake her a fine
blueberry pie," the lass replied hopefully.
-Later that morning I went deep into the woods carrying the pie.
I spotted a wisp of chimney smoke and followed. Soon I found
the witch's house and gave her the pie. She seemed pleased by
the gift and so I requested a ward against the evil fairae. The
witch looked at me and scatched her crooked chin. "This surely
is a fine pie but I will need more than that for such a powerful
ward. However, perhaps we can help each other. Later today
the Queen is coming here seeking a charm against infertility.
The problem is not with her but with the King who is sterile. I
will give her a potion that will put her in a trance. Then you will
go into her and seed her. Afterwards you shall have the ward
your lover desires." I agreed. After all, the Queen was comely.
-That evening, after the Queen left the witch's hut the witch said
to me, "you did well, she is pregnant. She carries a false charm
to the King's bedroom. She is with child and no one knows the
better of the method. Now here is your ward." She gave me
a sparkling silver necklace that was to be placed around the evil
one's neck. I left at once.
-A few days later the knock at the door came again. I hid as the
lass invited the fairae in and served him dinner. He ate and was
well satisfied. "I have a pretty gift for you great fairae lord," the
girl said and slipped the necklace about the neck of the spirit.
-At once is face turned green and smoke blew from his ears.
The room got hot as the fairae turned to steam and smoke. At
last naught was left save for a pile of smoking rags, his sword,
and the necklace. The girl kept the necklace and I took the
sword. We continued our affair in peace...at least until her man
returned.
-"That was quite a fanciful tale Athelstane," said Ulgrin happily.
The young farmer ordered more ale for the old warrior and then
he took his leave. Athelstane sat by the fire alone, drinking and
dreading the oncoming winter cold. He fingered the hilt of the
fairae sword that was sheathed by his side and thought of a few
details from the tale that he'd kept to himself. After all, young
Ulgrinn was the product of his interludes with the lonely girl.
Therefore he was the warrior's own son. And furthermore, the
farmer was half-brother to the King!
adventure...only it must be one I've never heard," so
said he young farmer Ulgrinn.
-"Very well, I am thirsty," replied the aging warrior Athelstane.
There is one tale I have never told anyone." Ulgrinn called for
the drink and the tale began.
-There was a lovely young woman who lived up in the hills. She
was very lonely because her husband, who was a good man,
stayed gone far to much because of his trade. One long night
she slipped away to this very tavern where I sat drinking at this
very table. Later I went back with her to her lonely cottage and
we spent the night making love. Very early the next morning
there came a loud rapping at the door.
-"You're husband?" I asked.
-"Surely not," she replied and went to the door. I heard a loud
scream and she run rushing to my arms. "Its an evil fairae lord,
he means to take me away forever."
-I took up my broadsword and went out to meet the evil spirit.
Our swords clashed in the bright sunlight. I was less tested in
battle then and the fairae was a better swordsman. Despite my
courage and fierceness he was about to best me when and old
woman appeared at the edge of the wood and yelled at the evil
fairae. He glared at her and then ran away.
-"Who was that woman who saved me?" I asked.
-"She be the witch of the wood and very powerful. She chased
the fairae away but he will return. Please go and find her house
and ask for a ward against such evil spirits or I may never find
peace again."
-"But why would she help us?" I asked. "I will bake her a fine
blueberry pie," the lass replied hopefully.
-Later that morning I went deep into the woods carrying the pie.
I spotted a wisp of chimney smoke and followed. Soon I found
the witch's house and gave her the pie. She seemed pleased by
the gift and so I requested a ward against the evil fairae. The
witch looked at me and scatched her crooked chin. "This surely
is a fine pie but I will need more than that for such a powerful
ward. However, perhaps we can help each other. Later today
the Queen is coming here seeking a charm against infertility.
The problem is not with her but with the King who is sterile. I
will give her a potion that will put her in a trance. Then you will
go into her and seed her. Afterwards you shall have the ward
your lover desires." I agreed. After all, the Queen was comely.
-That evening, after the Queen left the witch's hut the witch said
to me, "you did well, she is pregnant. She carries a false charm
to the King's bedroom. She is with child and no one knows the
better of the method. Now here is your ward." She gave me
a sparkling silver necklace that was to be placed around the evil
one's neck. I left at once.
-A few days later the knock at the door came again. I hid as the
lass invited the fairae in and served him dinner. He ate and was
well satisfied. "I have a pretty gift for you great fairae lord," the
girl said and slipped the necklace about the neck of the spirit.
-At once is face turned green and smoke blew from his ears.
The room got hot as the fairae turned to steam and smoke. At
last naught was left save for a pile of smoking rags, his sword,
and the necklace. The girl kept the necklace and I took the
sword. We continued our affair in peace...at least until her man
returned.
-"That was quite a fanciful tale Athelstane," said Ulgrin happily.
The young farmer ordered more ale for the old warrior and then
he took his leave. Athelstane sat by the fire alone, drinking and
dreading the oncoming winter cold. He fingered the hilt of the
fairae sword that was sheathed by his side and thought of a few
details from the tale that he'd kept to himself. After all, young
Ulgrinn was the product of his interludes with the lonely girl.
Therefore he was the warrior's own son. And furthermore, the
farmer was half-brother to the King!