Ramblin From The Closet

"Once upon a time in a far off land where the sun shone like a big ruby jewel and the blades of glass were the colour of jade lived a little girl with hair the colour of strawberries, long, thick and in ringlet curls. She had ice blue eyes, the colour of the sky, pink lips the colour of a delicate rose and skin as pure as the finest porcelain. She was the most beautiful child in all the land."
"But those in the land didn't know she existed for she was kept far away in the woods away from those who might use her beauty for their own selfish purposes. Her dad was worried that if she might be discovered, they would steal her away and he didn't want to lose her. She was very special to him for she had come to him quite by chance."
"You see, she was not his real daughter but he treated her like one. He had lived alone deep in the woods for a very long time, away from the world that had shunned him because of his very looks. He hated how the world placed such high values on looks. He didn't want her to go through what he went through and he didn't want her to think he was ugly. For if she thought he was ugly then she might look upon him with the same disdain as those he had escaped from."
"He could never forget their cruel taunts. The way they made him feel less than human, like a dirty animal. They would pinch him until he bruised, pull his hair out in clumps, and batter him so severely that he wanted nothing more than to die. But he ran away, as far as his little legs could take him. He ran into the woods. He ran until he could no longer see daylight, his eyes puffy from crying, his clothes torn and skin bleeding from the brambles, until he could run no more. And then when he laid down hoping to die, to be taken away from his pain and misery, he could hear nothing but the sweet song of the forest. Yet the cruel sounds were still in his head. He thought he'd never be able to escape. But in time, the sounds faded. He made his life off the woods. He lived off the land, not like an animal but like a true king of the woods."
"And it was on one of those trips into the woods that he'd found a small child of about two. She was crying as much as he had been some fifty years earlier and she was wandering aimlessly around. Her clothes were wet and her cheeks stained with tears. He couldn't resist going to her, to comfort her for she was far to young to understand the forest song, to understand that she would soon be safe. Hunched over from his years in the forest, he went to her, called to her."
"At first she was scared of this greying aged figure, but her fear overcame her shyness and she was into his arms. He cradled her, soothing her. Wiping the tears from her eyes, he picked her up as one would pick up a delicate kitten and took her back to his place."
"There he offered her food and drink which she gladly took. Neither said a word, but a special bond was forming."
Bethany could feel her eyes getting heavier. But she didn't want to go to sleep. She didn't want to miss the story. The kitten by her head stretched his little paws and yawned too. She fought sleep off. Brieanne noticed that she was nearly asleep and tried to get up but her sister asked for more story. "I want to know what happened. I just can't go to sleep without knowing"
"All right, I'll tell you some more of it, but you must go to sleep soon. You have to be asleep before mum returns. She wanted you in bed early." Brieanne began to tell the story from where she'd left off.
"He didn't know where the girl had come from, but he tried to think of a name for her to call her as she couldn't tell her his name. He tried lots of names with her until he hit upon one that she looked at him and smiled. He knew he'd found out her name. It was Erwinia. As he said her name once again, her eyes sparkled. She burbled in baby talk that he couldn't understand and she put her arms out for him to hold her once again. She felt safe."
"As the years went by, he taught her of the forest. He told her stories of elves and of fairies that lived within the woods and how they took care of those who respected their surroundings. He taught her the very same songs he had learned in the woods, the songs, he said that the fairies danced to to keep the world around them alive. He taught her the songs he learned from the rain and the whistles of the birds. He noticed how quickly she picked up on all that he showed her. Her brains far outweighed her beauty. And he felt for the first time in his life, accepted for who he was and not what he looked like. She never judged him, never questioned his looks and loved him dearly for who he was."
"As he got older, he became more frail and his body became tangled and gnarled. But she never lost the love for the man to whom she called her father. Her devotion to him grew. As he tried to get out into his beloved woods, the woods that had kept him company for so many years, he required more and more help but Erwinia was always there with open hand to help him. To make sure that the same happiness he'd given to her for all those years, she'd give back two fold."
"On occasion she'd slip away by herself, down to the stream to watch all the wonders he'd taught her to look for. She loved how the frogs danced on their pads, the butterflies flew about merrily, the bunnies dancing at the river's edge playing with one another. And it was there that she sung to herself the songs that he'd taught her."
Brieanne was beginning to get caught up in telling the story herself. This was one of her favourites. She always wanted her dad to tell her this one even though her brother whined that it was a girl's story. But it wasn't just a story just for girls, but for anyone with a heart and soul, she'd tell her brother. But he was just obstinate. Bethany had rolled over onto her tummy with her eyes half closed listening. She could hear the songs in her mind too. She just knew she could. Brieanne stopped for a moment until a sleepy little voice insisted that she carry on. "What's going to happen next. Please don't stop the story now."
"Bethany, you're supposed to be going to sleep."
"I'm trying but when you stop I don't think I'm going to hear the end and I wake up again."
"But you never were asleep."
"Well I was almost asleep until you stopped!"
So Brieanne continued. "Erwinia had wandered down to the stream on a beautiful sunny day. Her chores were done and her father was laying in bed napping. He seemed so very tired these days and she thought it was best to let him rest for if he knew she was working and he was sleeping, he'd have to get up and try to help. And this was her little tiny bit of free time away. Gently placing herself next to the stream's edge, she began to sing. And then she heard a strange rustling sound that caused her to stop. It seemed to be coming from the other side of the stream and it wasn't a sound she'd heard before, or not that she could remember."
"�Who's there,' she gently called but no one or nothing would respond. She was hoping actually that it may have been one of the woodland elves or fairies for she'd never seen one before. Maybe because she'd been so careful to respect the land around her that they were finally going to show themselves to her. Her father had spoken of them many times and she was sure that this time she was going to see one. She heard the noise again and startled, she ran back to the cottage. Her father still lay sleeping and she tried not to wake him. She decided she'd remain though close to him because that's where she always felt safe."
"The following day during her father's afternoon sleep she returned to the same and very spot where she'd heard the sound that scared her so. She was determined not to run away again. She was determined to find out what it was. Erwinia began to sing once again, keeping her ears trained on the other side of the stream. And there she heard the same noise as she did the day before. "Who's there? Who's there I say? Answer me?' Again no one or nothing responded. She raised her voice and spoke loudly in a stern tone. �Who's there? Who's there I say? Answer me? I know you are there so don't try to fool me. Your sounds are not the sounds of the forest song.'"
"A voice called out from the other side. �How did you know I was here? For I thought I was as quiet as a church mouse.' Erwinia didn't know what a church was but didn't question his reasoning. �Why are you watching me' she asked."
"� I was out in the woods hunting game and I had wandered deep into the woods, further than I had ever gone before. And I had heard your voice. It drew me to you. I had to go see where it was coming from. But yesterday when you ran away, I thought that I might never see you again. It is like I have heard your voice; that I know you and that's why I had to come back today. To see you once more. You are like a vision of the past. Of a beauty that is rare; of royalty' As he stepped out from his hiding spot, he stood across from her. He too had hair the colour of strawberries and eyes the colour of the sky. His appearance frightened her. He looked too much like her and she thought it was a trick. �You're nothing but some old witch,' she yelled. �You're trying to trick me into thinking your likeness is me so that I might follow you and that you'd take me away from here.' Tears welled up in her eyes. She was so confused. As he stepped toward her with outstretched arms, she once again ran in fear and vowed never to return to that same spot along the stream's edge."
"She arrived back at the cottage. Her father had awoken but she did not speak of the meeting. She'd feared that in some way she'd offended the elves and fairies around her and she had to try and make amends so that they would stop playing tricks on her. She also feared that if they were upset with her, then they would be upset with her father as well, and she didn't want to ever see him hurt. She went into their small garden and began to care for the plants around her. She pruned them so that they'd become stronger, propped them up all the whilst, talking to them. She went to get a container of water she'd brought up earlier from the stream and carefully watered them. �Now,' she thought, �they can't be upset with me for not caring about how precious life is around us.'"
"Why would the elves and fairies be upset with her Brieanne? She is nice to them and she's nice to her father too?"
"Bethany... you're supposed to be trying to go to sleep I told you."
"Well I am, but I have to find out why?" Bethany was always inquisitive. And at this point in the story here interest was peaked. She'd taken the kitten and curled him up into her arms cradling it while laying on her tummy rubbing her face in his soft fur and with eyes half open, glancing at her sister making sure she wasn't getting ready to stop the story; to show her she was still listening.
"Why don't I finish the story tomorrow night then if you won't at least try to fall asleep."
"But if you don't finish the story, I won't be able to sleep because I'll be thinking of what is going to happen." Brieanne couldn't argue with that reasoning so she agreed to continue.
"Her father knew something was wrong. Not by the way she was tending to the garden, but he knew it was something. He queried her and she became rather quiet. He knew something was wrong. �My darling daughter, you must tell me what troubles you. If you don't, then I shall not be able to help you fix what is wrong.' She lowered her head and began to tell him the whole story. He listened intently to what she had said when appearing from the trees was that very same young man who seemed to be cast in her image. Not saying a word, she pointed to the young man."
"Her father could not believe his eyes. As he approached them, Erwinia huddled closely to her father. �Go away,' she screamed. �We haven't done anything to warrant your arrival into our lives. GO AWAY.' Her father put his hand on her shoulder, and hugging her told her to remain calm. He had seen people who looked very much alike one another before. And he began to feel as though he'd be alone again."
"�Who is this ugly old beast that is with you?' the handsome man questioned Erwinia. �That is my father and I demand that you not speak of him in that manner or you may take your leave immediately away from us and our lives.' The young man apologized for his behaviour and asked if he might join them. The old man showed his hand to where he wanted them to sit."
"As they sat, the young man introduced himself. �My name is....'" Brieanne stopped there. She could hear Bethany's heavy sighs. She had finally drifted into sleep. The sleep had won over the excitement to hear the rest of the story. She gently pulled the covers up a little higher to make sure that she wouldn't be cold through the night or at least until she crawled in. She was sure her sister had heat sensors. Bethany made little burbling sounds and rolled on the kitten who promptly ran off to the end of the bed. Gently lifting herself up she moved her way to the doorway. Lifting the quilt up she looked outside. The land was covered in darkness and the cooking fire was nothing more than charred embers. Her mother always let that fire go out through the night but not the one inside. She remembered that she should put a few more sticks onto the fire within and did so. She then returned to the doorway where she thought she could hear cries of despair. She looked again inside to see her sister sleeping soundly. She pointed her ear in the direction of Mrs. Davis' home hoping that she might hear some of the conversation.

If you want a bit more then... Go to chapter 4! (still under construction)

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