Storytelling Week 14: A Life for a Life

Anna was exploring a cove, trying to stay away from view. Her master had been looking for her for three days now. She had run away, unable to remain a slave to him any longer. If he found her, she would die.
However, none of these things were going through Anna's head at the time. She was too busy admiring the incredibly blue waves crashing softly on the shore and searching after the waters pulled back for seashells in the sand.
As she walked along the shore, Anna became aware of the faint sound of grunting. She made her way closer to the sound, careful to remain quiet. It seemed to be on the other side of a wall of rocks. Anna slowly peaked her head around the rocks and her eyes grew wide.
On the sand struggling, trapped in a net, was an honest-to-god mermaid! Anna grew up with legends of mermaids, but that was all they were to her, legends. This was a real mermaid, with a golden tail to match her golden hair. She seemed more frustrated than frightened as she pulled at the net which surrounded her.
I have to do something, Anna thought. She slowly stepped from behind the rock and as soon as the mermaid became aware of Anna, she stopped and looked up like an injured animal.
"Don't be frightened," Anna said carefully. "I can help." She pulled a knife from her pocket which she had stolen from her master.
The mermaid flinched slightly as Anna got closer and grabbed the net, but Anna smiled and sawed at the rope. Soon, she cut a hole large enough for the mermaid to escape through. She pulled it off the mermaid's tail. The mermaid did nothing at first, until Anna finally realized she was staring at the knife. Anna threw it away and smiled at the mermaid.
"Can I help you?" Anna said, holding out her hand. The mermaid gingerly took Anna's hand and Anna pulled her into the ocean.
The mermaid looked back at Anna. "Thank you," she said softly and then she swan away into the waters.
Anna smiled at the waters, then quickly became aware of two men running behind her. She turned and saw the two standing next to the cut up net. One of the men had his hands on his head.
"What?" He shouted. "We had her!" The two looked up and saw Anna. "You! What did you do?!"
Anna glared at the men. "You had no right to trap her like that."
The other man stepped towards her. "That was our greatest catch!" He turned to his companion. "I leave for one second to get you, and some tramp ruins our plans." He looks back at Anna. "You will pay for this, girl."
His companion looks at Anna closely. "Wait, I think this is the slave that ran away from old Wilson. She looks exactly as he described." He came to Anna and grabbed her wrists. Anna cringed in pain and the man held up her arms, smiling in triumph at her red, blistered wrists. "Perhaps we'll make a profit after all."
The two men grabbed Anna and dragged her back to her master's house. When Wilson saw her, his face turned bright red. "You two will have your reward," he told the men. "And you." He stepped close to Anna and glared down at her. "For your rebellion, you will die."
The next day, Wilson along with four other men brought Anna to a cliff overlooking the ocean. They bound her hands and feet together and then attached a heavy rock to the rope around her feet, intending to drown her.
Anna's heart beat fast. This is where her life would end. Still, there was peace in knowing that she would no longer be a slave. She breathed out and tried to remain calm.

Two men picked up Anna, and two others lifted the rock. "Good riddance, slave," Wilson growled. With that, the men heaved Anna and the rock over the cliff. 

Anna's stomach came up to her throat and her legs felt as though they would be torn off her. She hit the water hard and any breath she held left her. She quickly sank, yet the bottom was not very deep, so the rock hit it soon. Anna closed her eyes and waited for her lungs to lose air. 

She then felt something tugging on the rope attached to her feet. She opened her eyes, but could not see very well in the water. Suddenly, she felt her legs relax and realized she was not attached to the rock anymore. A hand took her arm and pulled her towards the surface. 

Once she broke the surface, Anna sputtered out water and caught her breath. She opened her eyes and in front of her was the same mermaid she had rescued the day before. The mermaid smiled at Anna and held onto her. "Let me help you," she said. She helped Anna reach the shore on the other side of the cliff. 

Anna touched the sand and breathed deeply. Now the two were even, a life for a life. She smiled at the mermaid. "Thank you." 

Author's Note: I read the story of Androcles and the Lion and was immediately inspired. The story is about a slave who escapes his master and finds a lion who has a thorn in his paw. Androcles takes the thorn out of the lion's paw and the two become friends. Later, Androcles is captured and sentenced to death by being thrown to a lion to be eaten. As it turns out, the same lion he helped it the lion he is thrown to, and the lion remembers him and doesn't kill him. I really liked this idea, and so for my story I chose to keep the same plot of a slave escaping a master and later on being found and sentenced to death, but I decided to make Androcles a girl and make the lion a mermaid, because I really like mermaids. It just goes to show you, you never know what might happen if you take the time to help someone. Maybe they will help you back.

Bibliography: This is a retelling of the story of "Androcles and the Lion" from Europa's Fairy Book by Joseph Jacobs. From the unit Europa

Image information: A picture of McWay Cove taken by Brocken Inaglory, 2009. Web source: Wikimedia Commons

Reading Notes: Europa's Fairy Book, Part B

Continuing with Europa's Fairy Book, the next story was the story of The Swan Maidens, a story that alarms me a little. A man steals a woman's dress, and he won't give it back until he marries her, and then he never gives it back. It's no wonder she flies back home when given the chance. The whole story just seems wrong to me.
I like the story of Androcles and the Lion. I love this idea of doing something nice for someone and then they do the same. I also love how a wild animal could befriend a man. It's just a really great story and I would love to write about this concept. 

The story of A Visitor from Paradise is so comical. A woman mishears a man say he is from Paradise and she believes him. Then her husband to stop robbers from stealing from their house takes the door off. I just find the lack of common sense hilarious, but at least the story ended happily.
Inside Again is a very odd tale. A man and a snake argue over whether the man should be eaten or not. I would have just run away, but perhaps the snake would have caught up with him. I didn't like that in the end the fox saved the man's life and the man's dog eats the fox. It's as if the man did not learn his lesson at all.
The story of Johnnie and Grizzle is just Hansel and Gretel with different names. Although this time, instead of an evil step-mother, it is the children's own father who tries to kill them. The witch is also much more menacing, especially when she is chasing the children. It is a classic, but it really is a morbid story when you think about it. I'm sure I could use this for my own story, I'm just not certain how.
The story of Thumbkin is just like the story of Thumbling. It's just as odd as that one, except that the woman kills all of the other boys like Thumbkin, which is tragic. What would have happened if she had not? She would have had dozens of little boys running around. That would make for an interesting story.

Bibliography: Europa's Fairy Book by Joseph Jacobs. Source link: Part B

Image information: "Androcles" by Jean-Léon Gérôme, c. 1920. Web source: Wikimedia Commons

Reading Notes: Europa's Fairy Book, Part A

For my last week of readings, I chose Europa's Fairy Book by Joseph Jacobs. The first story was The Cinder-Maid. I love the story of Cinderella. It is one of my favorites, because I love the idea of an ordinary girl becoming a princess. In this story, Cinderella's father is still alive, and I am not sure why he does not stop his new wife from mistreating Cinderella. It makes no sense, and can't understand why a loving father would put up with this. I like the idea of more than one ball. It reminds me of the story of Allerleirauh. The ending is so morbid. I cannot imagine wanting to marry someone so badly that one would cut her own foot. Still, I love the ending when Cinderella gets married to the prince, and I'm glad he at least knew what she looked like. This story was so magical, though, and I would love to write a story like this.
Beauty and the Beast is another one of my favorite stories. I love the theme of falling in love with a person gradually. This story, while not like the Disney version, is a really great story and I love how the Beast was kind in this one. This is a story I would love to write about, as it can be used so many ways. 

The next story was The Language of Animals. This story is just like the story of Joseph in the Bible. It was sad that Jack's father grew to hate him, but it ended well. There is a really interesting theme of talking to animals which would be fun to write about.
A Dozen at a Blow. This story is so interesting. I like how the tailor is so clever in deceiving the giants and making himself look more powerful than he is. Unicorns aren't evil though, so this is an odd twist in this story. I actually like how the princess didn't just allow herself to be handed over to anyone, but I'm glad they lived happily ever after still.
The last of this part was The Earl of Cattenborough. This is such a great story. I love how Miss Puss cares about Jack and is helping him. She is so intelligent and cunning. I do wonder how the King did not realize that the fields or the castle did not belong to Jack. That seems like a stretch. Still, this was a really good story and I enjoyed Miss Puss. It would be interesting to write a story like this.

Bibliography: Europa's Fairy Book by Joseph Jacobs. Source link: Part A

Image information: "Beauty and the Beast" by Warwick Gobble, 1913. Web source: Wikimedia Commons
 

Storytelling Week 13: Rags to Riches

For sixteen years I've been on this island.
I wasn't born here. I'm actually not certain where I was born. I arrived on this island in a small boat when I was around two years of age, and no one knows where I came from. The woman I who brought me died a few days after we arrived. Convenient I suppose. Since that day, I have never left the island.
The people here despise me, not so much for anything I have done, but more for the fact that I am an outsider. I am the first stranger to come to this island in over a hundred years I am told. They were hoping to continue that record before I came along.
Not everyone here hates me though. Grayson took pity on me all those years ago, and I've been living with him ever since along with his niece Marge. They suffered excommunication because of me, but they've always loved me regardless.
One night, however, my whole life changed. There was a storm outside, which made me restless. The rain pounded on the roof and the walls crackled by the rough wind. Since I could not sleep, I wandered around Grayson's small house. I was in the kitchen when something caught my eye outside through the window. I turned and moved closer to the window to see what it was. My heart stopped.
There was a ship! Grayson lived right next to the beach, away from everyone else, and never had I seen a ship near this island other than the king's, which were never used. I thought no one outside knew we existed here.
Even though I had never seen a ship sailing, I knew this wasn't what it was supposed to look like. The waves were crashing on the ship and it titled back and forth as if it was about to topple over. And it was dangerously close to the shore. I quickly ran outside and as I did, a colossal wave slammed into the ship and it just shattered. I began to run to the water, then hesitated because of the enormous waves. 

Then, as if nature was satisfied with its destruction, the winds dispelled and the waves calmed. I quickly ran into the ocean without a second thought, searching around me to find any survivors. Lightning still cracked across the sky, giving me a little light to see. With every body I came to, my heart sank more and more, and I felt like vomiting. Every man I came across was already dead.
Finally, I came to a woman, holding onto a piece of wood. Please don't be dead. I grabbed her wrist and felt for a pulse. There it was! I took hold of the girl and paddled backwards towards the shore. She didn't move once, unconscious from the impact most likely.
Once we reached the shore, though I was breathing hard, I managed to lift the girl in my arms, even though the water in her dress seemed to make her twice as heavy. I trudged to the house and kicked on the door, hoping Grayson or Marge would hear me. A few moments later, the door opened and Grayson stared at me open-mouthed.
"Edric, what-?"
"Not yet," I interrupted. Grayson opened the door wider and allowed me to come inside. I carried the girl to my room and set her on my bed. My arms felt weak and I sank to the floor beside the bed.
Marge ran in with a candle. "Edric, what happened? Who is this?"
I breathed out. "There was a shipwreck. She was the only one I found. Alive."
They both stared at me. "Well," Grayson finally said, "I suppose there's not much to do until she awakes." Grayson looked at me. "You should get some sleep."
I chuckled. "She's in my bed." 

Grayson laughed and helped me up.

The next morning, the girl woke up. She was alarmed at first, but as soon as I told her what had happened, she looked close to tears. 

"They're all dead?" She whispered. 

"I'm so sorry," I said. "I couldn't find anyone else alive."

The girl held her composure remarkably well. "What is your name?" I asked her after a moment of silence.

"My name is Crystal. And yours?"

"Edric."

"Well, Edric, I am indebted to you for saving my life." Crystal paused. "You seem familiar to me, though I do not know why."

I shrugged and asked, "I don't either. Where are you from?"

"I am from Lore. It is about a week's sail from here." 

I shook my head. "I've never heard of it."

This time Crystal shrugged. "It's a fairly large kingdom. My father is the king of Lore." 

I stared at her. A princess? I rescued a princess? She only nodded as if she could read my thoughts and smiled. "So you have lived here your whole life I am assuming?" 

"Actually, no. I was brought here sixteen years ago, by a strange woman who died a few days later. I am not certain where I am from. But since then I have lived here." 

The princess narrowed her eyebrows and bit her lip. "Strange..." She trailed off. She looked down and muttered to herself, "Yet it could be a coincidence..." She looked back up. "May I ask you a somewhat odd question?" 

I nodded slowly. "Of course." 

"Do you have a birthmark, on your right shoulder?"

I was shocked. How...? I pulled the collar of my shirt to reveal a dark spot on my right shoulder. 

Crystal's eyes got wide, and then she smiled slowly. "I lost my brother sixteen years ago. No one knows where he was taken. My father told me he had a birthmark on his right shoulder. Edric, I think you are my brother." 

Now my eyes widened. "You're serious?" Crystal nodded excitedly. "You're my sister? I have a family?" 

Crystal attacked me with a hug and my heart began to leap. I couldn't help but smile with her. I'm a prince. I have a family. 

I have a home.  

Author's Note: As I was reading the story of Allerleirauh, I began to get an idea for a sort of rags to riches story. Allerleirauh is the story of a princess who runs away from her father who is trying to marry her. She finds work in another kingdom as servant. Eventually she meets the king and dresses in these beautiful dresses to each of his balls, and in the end they get married. I liked the idea of someone who is royal having a kind of rags to riches story, and so I created Edric, who is a prince, but no one knows it because he was abducted as a child. I wanted to show him primarily before he became a prince to show his character as one deserving of a crown. And in the end, he gets a crown, much like Allerleirauh. I sadly ran out of word space, or this story would have been a lot more detailed. 

Bibliography: This was inspired by the story of Allerleirauh from Household Tales by Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm, translated by Margaret Hunt. From the unit Brothers Grimm (Hunt).

Image information: "Churning Troubled Water" by Brigitte Werner (werner22brigitte), 2014. Web source: Pixabay 

Reading Notes: Brothers Grimm (Hunt), Part B

Continuing on with the stories from the Brothers Grimm, the story of Bearskin is one I am not familiar with, but it is entertaining. It's always interesting to focus on a hero after their adventures, because sometimes they place their identity in their adventures. It would be cool to write about that kind of thing and how a hero feels bored after they have won. I loved how the youngest daughter looked past Bearskin's appearance and saw his heart and how she was sad that he left. It was incredibly touching and I would love to do something with this for my own story. It almost has a beauty and the beast feel. It is sad though that the other sisters killed themselves because of it.
The next story was Hans the Hedgehog. I basically imagined Hans as Sonic the Hedgehog, which actually makes him seem less odd in my mind. This was such a weird story. I am shocked that Hans knew that his father didn't want him and that he left and was fine with leaving. It is also odd that he was able to become a man, as I didn't expect that. Still, it was kind that the princess married him even though he was half hedgehog.
Last was the story of Snow-White and Rose-Red. So this is not the same Snow White the princess. Still, I enjoyed the sister's relationship. The bear was an interesting character, and I always love talking animals who are good. The ending was interesting, and I am wondering how old the two girls are. I had pictured them around ten, so I was confused when they married grown men. Even so, I love stories with loving siblings, so this one was really good. I really enjoyed the tales of the Brothers Grimm and found a lot that I could use for my story.

Bibliography: Household Tales by Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm collected by Margaret Hunt. Source link: Part A

Image information: "Snow-White and Rose-Red" by Hermann Vogel. Web source: Wikimedia Commons

Reading Notes: Brothers Grimm (Hunt), Part A

This week I chose to read Margaret Hunt's selection of the Brothers Grimm tales. The first story was Hansel and Grethel. I had no idea that Hansel and Grethel had a step-mother and that she intentionally wanted to abandon the kids so they'd die. I wouldn't have been surprised if she wanted to eat them also. A very morbid story just became even more morbid. The rest of the story I recognize. I like how Hansel and Grethel were still able to rely on each other even though their parents abandoned them. I also like how Grethel was the one to defeat the witch and save her brother. I enjoyed the happy ending. I'm sure there are many things I could do with this story, especially with the relationship between brother and sister.
The next story was Thumbling. I actually only know the female version of this tale, so this was a surprise. Still, it is so interesting how the woman gave birth to a tiny little human, but I am glad that his parents love his regardless. I also love how clever Thumbling is. However, I didn't expect Thumbling to get eaten by a cow and a wolf. That is so unpleasant and disturbing, I was afraid he was going to have to come out the other way. Thankfully, that didn't happen and the story ended well.
The story of Allerleirauh is not what I expected. I am at least relieved that everyone else thinks incest is wrong, even if the King can't see it. I like the plot of the story, that each time there is a ball Allerleirauh puts on a new dress. I only wonder what her father was thinking after she left. I love these kinds of rags to riches stories, especially since this one is different in that she is already royalty, but doesn't appear to be at first. I would love to write a story about a prince or princess who goes missing and is later found.

Bibliography: Household Tales by Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm collected by Margaret Hunt. Source link: Part A

Image information: "Allerleirauh" by Arthur Rackham. Web source: Wikimedia Commons

Storytelling Week 12: Death Day

Knowing when you're going to die isn't as horrible as it sounds. 
Since I was eight years old, I have known the day when my life will end. Of course, my parents have known since I was first born. You see, when a fairy is first born, at least my kind of fairy, an elder comes in and announces that fairy's death day also. It's somewhat ironic, that on one's birth their death is also announced. 
The only thing that isn't known, even by the elders, is how that fairy will die. Now, if a fairy is old enough, it is most likely they will die peacefully of old age and will be able to live a long, happy life. That is how most fairies die here. There is not much danger around to threaten us, and we are immune to sickness. 
Still, there are a few who die much earlier and much more tragically. Some deaths are accidental and some are intentional, and no matter how hard they try, a fairy cannot escape his or her death. 
It would just happen that I am one of the lucky few who die early. Now, I'm sure this should scare me, and at times it does make me sad that I will not live past my 25th birthday (which is actually very young for fairies). There's so much I will not be able to do because of this.
However, there is something about knowing your death that makes life so much more precious, and exciting. Knowing when you are going to die means you won't die until that moment. You're invincible. The fairies who are able to live a long life do it normally, and that's so boring. They could be just as invincible as I, yet they choose to stay at home because they have their whole lives to live, and adventure doesn't seem to be high on their list of things to accomplish. 

My adventure is coming to an end, though. I am twenty-five now, and I only have a few days left. My life has consisted of traveling and exploring and doing things which j may not have been able to do if I were not "invincible." However, I wanted to spend my last days with my family. My parents are the only two who know when I am going die, and I could tell for a few months now that it was not easy for them. My mother would often look at me while she thought I wasn't aware. Today I finally brought it up.
"What are you thinking?" I ask her. She blinks, as if coming out of a trance.
"What was that, Keena?"
"You know it's coming. I was just wondering what you think about it."
My mother came to side beside me and took my hand. "It's not easy, looking at you and knowing I won't be able to look at you much longer. You are my light, Keena, and I hate the darkness. Still, I have accepted it, because to not accept it would just make it harder. How do you feel?"
I looked at her. "I've accepted it to. I'm not sure I can not accept it, since it's going to happen regardless. I'm not really scared, just sad. I'm not sure what to expect."
"Expect peace. I am not sure what is next, but I am hopefully it is so much better than this place. And there is no need to be sad. We will all be there with you soon after." She pulls me into her arms, and I have to hold back my tears.
I enjoy the next few days, and I feel as though I grew closer to my family and friends in those days. Yet, suddenly, the day is upon me and I am forced to decide where I want to go. I could stay with my family and have them watch me die. Or I could leave and die somewhere else. I chose the latter. If I am going to die, why not go in an exciting, mysterious way?
On that morning, my family stood around me as I said goodbye. I begin to turn and leave when my father says, "Where are you going to go?"
I smile. "It's a mystery."

Author note: I know, I know, this is a very depressing story, but I thought it would be interesting to tell. I read Billy Duffy and the Devil this week, which is about a man who makes a pact with the devil. The devil will give him a lot of money, but Billy will die after seven years. Bully outwits the devil and eventually dies of old age, but I thought I this idea of knowing when you will die was interesting. I also read a lot of fairy stories, so I wanted to incorporate that. The story of The Fairy of Dell mentions how fairies don't outwardly age much, but they do die of old age like humans, so I added that as well. I wanted to still make this story hopeful, even though it is about death.

Bibliography: This was inspired by the story of "Billy Duffy and the Devil" from Welsh Fairy-Tales and Other Stories by Peter H. Emerson. Inspiration was also taken from "The Fairy of Dell" From the unit Welsh (Emerson). 

Image information: "River Fairy" by ClaraDon, 2010. Web source: Flickr