The Straw Maiden (aka Rumpelstiltskin) Part 4

The king has just informed the Straw Maiden that they shall be wed.Not far from the palace another man was thinking of the upcoming marriage. The matchmaker was glad that his plans had not ended in his death, but his own greed led him on a path to see the king. Although the maid had proved her skill with a loom, he well remembered her warning that she could only spin for those not of her family. He thought it only his duty to give the same warning to the king, and had in fact already secured another maiden who was sure to find royal favor. With a thought to his purse, he arrived at the doors of the palace.However, he was minutes late and the ceremony had already concluded. Tables were being brought out to begin the celebration, and all were rejoicing. All but one. The newly made queen did not look pleased at her great, good fortune. He assumed she had not told her husband, the king, her secret and it weighed heavily on her. Never one to miss an opportunity to advance his standing, the matchmaker begged an audience. Feeling magnanimous having won himself a queen literally  worth her weight in gold, the king indulged the matchmaker. Explaining in hushed, deferential tones the matchmaker told the king of the queen's "deficiency" and offered in her place another maiden at the same bride price. The king's joy receded and was replaced with utter shock."Is it true what this man says? You cannot spin for your family?" asked the king of the queen. The matchmaker tried to hide his grin, but his eyes dared the queen to lie. The queen did not try to deny the claim of the matchmaker, but saw an opportunity of her own within her predicament."My lord, the ban is to those who share my blood, but our blood has yet to mingle," she said significantly. "You may never have an heir, but our kingdom will always be prosperous." She hoped that appealing to the kings avarice would keep her from his bed. She knew him well enough to make this statement and was rewarded by being banned from the king's chamber. Unwittingly she had also earned the matchmaker's ire.Her clever mind had saved her, but even the queen was at a loss as to how to conceal the real reason for shunning the king's bed. Even now she knew the gift left to her by her night visitor would soon become difficult to conceal. As if thinking of him would bring him to her, he appeared. The look of sadness on his face confirmed her belief that he knew of the wedding that had taken place. She recounted all that had happened since and the two began to plan for her escape. Time wore on and the queen's condition eluded the notice of the king, so long as the gold continued to fill his coffers. It had not escaped the notice of the matchmaker, however, who had elected to remain at court in order to watch the queen. His patience was rewarded, one day, when is was clear the queen was in some distress and retired to her room early. Peering through a crack in the door he saw the queen bring forth a son.Amazed at his good fortune, for the downfall of the queen was his current goal, the matchmaker made haste to the king. Upon delivering the news, the king made his way to the queen's chamber. He demanded an explanation, but the queen had been prepared for this. "We have been rewarded for our sacrifice and given a son," she said still exhausted from her travail. The king did not want to question the queen further knowing that it might mean losing what he loved so dearly - gold. However, the matchmaker knew of this and he could not be sure of his discretion. Not knowing if he had already told others in the court, the king's options were few. So he left the decision up to fate."My dear, I cannot say whether you have been false to me, but I will give you test. Long ago the fairies gave me a name and said whoever could pronounce it would share kingdom, but whosoever made the attempt and failed would forfeit their life. You must learn my name and say it in three days time or you and the babe will be put to death." The king thought this was a very clever arrangement. If the queen was able to learn his name he would be no worse off because she was already his queen. If she failed, he would be rid of both she and the child and while he would miss her spinning, he had enough for ten lifetimes.The queen poured over books and sent to all the surrounding towns for unusual names. On the first day she tried names of kings of old to no avail. On the second day names of plants and animals were off little use. That night, her night visitor came and told her "I have spoken to the queen of the fairies and she has given me the king's name. As payment, I can no longer be a fairy. All of my magic is gone." As he said it all the gold spun thread turned back to straw.The next morning, the king was in a rage because he had awoken on a bed of straw. He now had no reason to spare the queen and went to her room with little thought to his previous challenge to her. Slamming the door open he found the queen with her child and a man he did not know. It dawned on him that he had been tricked and was intent on revenge. However, seeing the anger in his eyes the queen acted swiftly. "Your name is Rumpelstiltskin", she said clearly."The fairies told you, the fairies told you!" he yelled and stamped his feet like a child so hard he made a hole in the floor and was swallowed up. The queen ruled the kingdom fairly with the stranger at her side and their child. No one ever heard from the old king again and though they were a kingdom of straw, they lived happily ever after.                                                                                                                   THE END

The Straw Maiden (aka Rumpelstiltskin) Part 2

"I've come to inspect your daughter. If she proves as impressive as you claimed in the tavern I am to take her to the king," he said with severity. His tone was brought on by fear and the memory of his meeting with the king. With eyes full of avarice, he told the matchmaker to bring the girl and he would give Conall twice the bride price. If the report was false, Conall, the girl and her boastful father would pay with their lives.He dismounted and knew at once he had made a grave error. If the miller's daughter had this ability, why would they live in a mill performing back-breaking labor? He walked into the dwelling of which there was only one room. The girl he saw was indeed beautiful, but her clothes were shabby. Hardly the kind of clothes someone with such a gift for spinning would wear!"Your father claims you can spin straw into gold. My king wishes to know you and test your skills. If he is displeased, it will mean all out lives are forfeit," he said without preamble. He had no time for being kind, and this mistake would cost him more than a commission. At least her beauty would give the king pause.For her part, she was livid. She saw the truth of the rumor on her father's stricken face. Being clever, she played for time."It is not something of which I boast. Although I want to be of use to your king, can I not merely send him my efforts if he is in need of more wealth?" She kept her eyes downcast for fear he would see the anger in her eyes. He took it for modesty."Then you do claim this ability? If that is so, why do you live and toil here?" he said sweeping his gaze across the small space. He was more than incredulous, but hoped he could use being taken in by her lies as a way to save his own neck."As part of my gift, I cannot spin for myself or my family - only for others. And only under the light of the full moon." She said this to hope she would have more time. The next full moon was four days away, and just enough time for her father and her to go into hiding. The matchmaker was unsure what to think, but decided to take no chances."You will come with us to meet the king. Your father shall stay here under guard. Say your farewells quickly." Abruptly, he stepped outside, pushing his way passed the stricken miller."I'm sorry seems a small thing to offer, but I am. All I can give you is your dowry - your mother's ring and necklace. Perhaps, with your cleverness, you can pay a guard for your freedom." The hug she gave him was for the man he had been when her mother had been alive, and to keep from lashing out at him for his stupidity. With dry eyes, but a heavy heart she left with the matchmaker. Unbeknownst to her, at a discreet distance followed the fairy.At the castle, the maiden was kept in a room three times the size of her home, but it was most certainly a prison. It was a pretty dungeon, but a dungeon nonetheless. As she paced the floor, tested the door, and pushed at the windows, she plotted and rejected countless ideas. She knew more than her life was at stake if she could not impress the king. Her meeting would be soon.She was brought before the king and the court the evening of the full moon. Seeing him did nothing to ally her fears. His mouth looked as though it seldom smiled, and his eyes had a hard glint that only softened when looking at the many jewels on his hands and clothes. He looked her up and down as she approached. She sensed he preferred meekness and looked down to appear so. He was not untouched by her beauty, but his bigger concern at hand was gold."Is is true you can spin straw into gold as the matchmaker claims? Only for others and not for yourself?" She noted the impatience in his voice and the exclusion of not being able to spin for her family, but now she knew why. The man who had come for her was not a courtier, but a matchmaker! This king was looking for a bride and being told that a woman who could spin straw into gold, but would cease once they were wed would make her less desirable. It was little consolation."Yes your majesty," she said to the floor. She almost said no, but hoped one more night would give her an idea. However, her luck came to an end."Then you shall follow this guard. He will take you to a room where you will spin straw into gold. If you don't you and your father shall die for lying to the king." She was led away to a small room full of straw to the ceiling, except for a spinning wheel. Even she was hard pressed to look undaunted. Soon the guard left and the door was closed. She finally gave into despair, and indulged in something she hadn't done since her mother had died - she cried. She cried so hard in fact that she didn't hear the little man enter her straw cell......To be continued...