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 3

When last we saw our heroine, a small man had entered her chamber filled with straw unnoticed."Can I help?" ventured the visitor. Startled, the crying maiden failed to respond. Wiping her face and smoothing her rumpled hair she looked at the man who had just entered. He was no bigger than an adolescent, but had the eyes of an old soul. Despite her shock, she found nothing threatening about him."Unless you can spin straw into gold, I fear, I can only ask you for a handkerchief," she said with a wry smile."Lucky for you I can do both," he said as he handed her a crisp handkerchief. She looked at him and finally took in his whole appearance. He was not as small as she first thought, just slight of build. His face was kind, but guarded as though he was unsure of his welcome. But he quickly warmed when at his task. The straw became gold filigree before her eyes."What can I give you in return?" she asked fearful of his demands. She was not naive to the ways of the world and knew some men would press an advantage."Your company. Tell me about yourself and I'll tell you as much as I can about myself," he replied. They talked for hours, hesitantly at first and then as old friends, laughing and sharing. When dawn broke the work was done and, fearing they would never meet again, she pressed the small bracelet into his hand. Before either could say more, the door was being unlocked and he vanished.The king swept in and barely noticed the look of contempt on the maiden's face. He was hungry for the sight of so much gold it blinded him to all else. He finally acknowledged her with a cursory nod."Come with me," he said with a smile that was not for her. He kept her with him all day although he made no attempt at conversation. For her part, she kept her eyes downcast partly to continue her show of modesty, but also giving herself the opportunity to think about her night visitor. At the end of the day, she was exhausted and assumed the guard would return her to her room. Instead a turn down a new corridor brought her to another room with enough straw to dwarf last night's offering. The same spinning wheel stood in the middle of the straw mountain. After a sleepless night and a day of being observed yet ignored, despair gave way to sleep.She awoke to the familiar sound of the spinning wheel and her friend in quiet concentration addressing the task at hand."I brought you something to remember me by," he said over his shoulder. "Look in my satchel."Inside she found a book of herb lore and healing. She smiled her first real smile since last seeing him and its warmth reached him. She was touched that he remembered her speaking of her wish to learn more about healing to help others. The spinning took most of the night to finish this time, but they passed it as pleasantly as the night before. Before leaving he was emboldened to kiss her. She pressed her mother's ring into his hand and asked him to return for her.That day was much like the last except the king smiled at her more. Perhaps it was to put her at ease, but it had the opposite effect. On this night the king himself led her away. She didn't know whether to fear another room of straw or his bedchamber, but neither choice would have been welcomed. Nevertheless he opened the door to an unfathomable amount of straw, and with a look of pure arrogance said "If you finish this by morning, not only will I spare you and your father, but I shall make you my queen."He did not stay for her reaction, so sure was he of her gratitude and the honor she must feel. She dropped to the ground and with such incentive as marriage to this odious man started calculating how she could save herself and her father. It was at this point that her spinning friend appeared from the shadows."I have tried in vain to rescue your father, but he knows of the kings plans. He hopes to see you married to him and knows you will be well provided for," he said with a heavy heart. Her hand had found its way to him and they stood for a moment regarding each other. Then he set to work.He was like a man possessed working furiously and silently. He finished well before sunrise and in a rush of words, tears and the thought of never seeing each other again, were soon entwined on a bed of gold thread. He promised to return for her with her father to escape. He left then, but the memory of their shared gift stayed with her.The king arrived as always and was awed by the golden glow "Now we shall be wed," he said looking at the gold. For her part, she looked to the shadows and hoped her spinner would return in time. It was at that moment, she realized she never asked his name......To Be Continued...

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...

The Straw Maiden (aka Rumpelstiltskin) Part 1

(See intro here)Know you the story of the straw maiden? Perhaps it is known to you as a different name, but while another would say no matter, I say it does. Names hold power and this story will show you how much.Long ago, under a harvest moon, a fairy happened upon a birth. The fairy was new to the world of men and was intrigued by the baby. Her name was one with which he was unfamiliar, so he thought of her as the Bright One. As she grew, the fairy would look in on her from time to time. The fairy learned of the Bright One's love of nature and her dislike of the small, confined space of the mill. He shared in her joys and felt all her sorrows, but always at a discreet distance. Her worst sorrow was the death of her mother and consequently when all her troubles began.The miller was pained by the loss of his wife and took to late nights of drinking and bluster. It came to pass, as it usually does with those whose tongues loosen with drink, that he boasted of his daughter."Her beauty and skills are truly remarkable. She would have made her mother proud," he said on more than one occasion. And while there were those who had heard his remarks previously remained silent, there were newcomers to the tavern. Sadly these strangers became mean and abusive when fueled by drink."What talent could she possibly have that other maids don't? Go home old man - perhaps that talented daughter of yours can cure your addled mind!" laughed a stranger along with his companions. They laughed uproariously making the man feel shame. Perhaps a naughty imp was hiding in the corner of that tavern or maybe the miller did lose his wits for a moment, for none - not even he - could explain what he said next."My daughter has a wondrous gift. She can spin straw into gold. What's more her beauty and talent are fit for a king!" Now most of the patrons laughed quietly to themselves having known the miller and her daughter for years. However, there was a table with a single man who took note.Conall was a matchmaker whose circumstances had him in a desperate situation. He had promised a king in a neighboring realm an amazing bride and was nearing the end of his deadline. Not to mention he was in competition with another matchmaker for the bride price. Quickly and quietly, he settled his account and offered the tavern keeper a handsome sum for the name and location of the mill. Then with all haste, he raced off to see the king.Days passed and the miller forgot his boasts in the tavern. Therefore it was with some surprise that he found two armed riders with livery accompanied by an unarmed gentleman waiting at his mill. He was further confused when they asked after his daughter. The gentleman, who admitted to being a matchmaker, looked nervous and stole furtive glances at the riders who had their hands on their sword hilts....To Be Continued...