Adele's Stories

(Story inspired by Ken Smith photography)

It was on one of those days when autumn had just begun, when the grass was still sparkling green, but the leaves had begun to change to a golden hue. They fell sparingly onto the paths I tread, while the sun lit the land like a fairy tale. It was on one of these days when I met the fairies.

I had not intended to make the trip home on foot. But there is nothing one can do about a lame horse. My cousins were more than kind enough to keep him in their stables and retuning him when he was better. As the only other horse they currently held in their stables was far too old to make the trip I opted to walk.

In the end it wasn’t as bad of a walk as I thought it was. I took my time, moving slowly over the cobblestone paths taking in the scenery, stopping occasionally to stop and breath it all in. I was following the river, hands in my pockets, when I came upon a beautiful tree.

It’s leaves had begun to change and its long branches stretched over my path, casting me in a lovely shade, with enough room for the sunlight to stream through and dance upon the leaves. It sat upon a grassy knoll that was so inviting I decided to stop beneath it for lunch.

I had just laid out my meager meal when the first traveler came my way. He wore a long, thick, dark cloak with the hood raised to disguise his face. He carried a tall, gnarled, and yet intricately carved walking stick. He leaned on it heavily as he seemed to walk with a pronounced limp in his right leg.

The stranger decided to take a rest in the shade of the tree near to me. I could hear his labored breathing, and he massaged his leg as if it pained him. I wondered if he had been walking far and if so why did he carry nothing with him, but a cloak that must have been too hot and his walking stick? If his leg pained him so why not take a horse or carriage?

“Have you travelled far, stranger?” I called out to him.

“Eh? Oh yes that I have. And I have much further to go before the day is gone.” He adjusted his weight and stretched out his right leg in front of him while he tucked the left underneath him.

“If that is so perhaps you would like to share my meal with me? It isn’t much, but I do not have as far to travel as you so I will not eat as much.” I held out an apple to the man and he studied me a moment before accepting.

“That is mighty kind of you, stranger.” We ate our meal in silence and after we finished I shared my water with him as well.

“If you don’t mind me asking, if you have such a long way to go why don’t you ride a horse or in a carriage?”

I could see the man smiling at me from beneath his hood.

“A horse or carriage would prevent me from doing the things I need to do on my way.”

I found it useless to ask what he meant by that.

“And what about you, stranger? What brought you here on your own two feet?”

I leaned back against the tree and told this man my tale. He listened intently and when I finished he was quiet. He was quiet for so long in fact that I was quite startled when he abruptly rose to his feet.

“Well I must be off. I have many important things to do. But as for you it is getting too late to keep going. I would suggest you stay the night here under this tree and continue on your way in the morning.”

“Morning? But sir it is only just past lunch!”

He winked at me. “Are you sure?”

I stood to look around and to my utter shock the sun had begun setting, and the sky was painted in vibrant colors of orange and red. “My! How did that happen I wonder?”

“As you have been so kind to me,” the stranger’s voice brought me out of my revery. “I offer you a piece of advice. Whatever may happen this night do not leave this tree. Do you understand? Stay. Under. The. Tree.” And with that he was off down the road. He walked briskly away from me and I noticed how he no longer seemed to be limping.

I could hardly wonder at this before something else wonderful happened. A woman came careening down the path. Leaves flew around in her wake as her white gown swished by and landed in her dark hair.

“Oh!” she tripped and collapsed at my feet. “Dear sir! You must come to my aid!”

I took her hands and helped her to her feet. “What is wrong fair maiden?”

“This night my father would marry me off to a neighboring lord. But he is a hateful man and I couldn’t bear being his wife! You must come with me and protect me!”

I shook my head remembering the strangers warning. “I can not come with you. But you may hide behind my tree this night if you would like.”

“Oh thank you!” She picked up her skirts and raced behind the tree. I sat down to contemplate my predicament. The woman was so quiet behind me I nearly forgot she was there. But then the sun went down and the stars twinkled above shining down between the leaves of the tree. A full moon shone just ahead of me lighting the path with its silvery beams.

I almost spoke to check on the woman, when I heard the sound of pounding hooves. A towering, black horse, unlike any I had ever seen, came charging down the road and came to a rearing stop just before me. His rider was dressed as a night with a livery I did not recognize. But from this man’s dress and even the saddle his horse wore I knew he must be a wealthy lord indeed.

“Has a beautiful maiden passed this way?” he asked me.

“No, my lord.” I bowed my head respectfully, but stayed where I sat.

“Are you quite certain of this?”

“Yes, my lord.”

The large horse huffed and stomped his feet in restlessness. How glad was I not to be in this imposing horse’s way.

“Will you help me to search for her?”

I shook my head. “I dares’ not leave my tree my lord. Who is it that you search for so?”

“My bride. She is the most beautiful woman in the land. The moment I set my eyes on her I said she must be mine. And yet this night she runs way from me.”

“Why would she do that good sir?”

The man shrugged. “Who am I to know the ways of women? Are you sure you will not help me?”

I shook my head again. “I can not leave my seat. But I will keep an eye out for you.”

The lord bowed his head in thanks and he and his charger took off down the path. When they were gone from view the woman came out from behind the tree and kissed my cheek.

“I can never thank you enough for your help this night kind sir. Will you come with me and be my husband instead?”

I was sorely tempted to accept the woman’s invitation but I felt it best to heed the stranger’s warning. “I cannot come with you my lady.”

“Is there any way I can repay you?”

“Your kiss is thanks enough.”

She smiled at me sadly, kissed my cheek again, the took off down the road in the opposite direction of her estranged betrothed.

I decided the best thing to do now was get some sleep. Maybe I’d wake in the morning to find all this had been a wonderful dream. But as I laid down glittering lights began to dance above my head. I stared at them in awe at first believing them to be stars come down from the sky. But then they revealed themselves to be pixies.

They grew to full size right before my eyes, six of them, three boys, and three girls, no bigger than children yet they appeared full grown. They wore clothing that looked to be made of the nature surrounding us. The girls dresses were made from multicolored flowers and the men wore breeches made from the reddest leaves.

The pixies seemed to not notice me or otherwise ignore my presence. They continues chatting and laughing as if I wasn’t there. Eventually they began a game of some sort, dancing around me and my tree. I tried to follow along and learn the rules, but I only managed to make myself dizzy, trying to follow their quick movements. One moment they’d be on the ground and the next they’d be glittering lights playing up in the leaves of the tree.

I said nothing, afraid if I addressed them they’d spook and leave. But eventually their game wound down and they came to sit in a circle around me. Though they included me their group, they did not address me. They continued to chatter nonsensically amongst themselves leaving me in utter confusion.

“What do you say, stranger?” One of the men finally spoke to me.

“Pardon?”

“Will you come to the fairy queens wedding that is to take place this night?”

“Oh there will be a wonderful feast!” One of the woman interjected.

“And lots of dancing! All night long!” Another beamed at me. The woman giggled and smiled like school girls and yet there was an innocence about them that made them endearing. And I would be a fool indeed not to notice the men’s protectiveness over them.

“I’m afraid I will not be able to join the festivities this night.” I gave my sad response. Who would turn down seeing a fairy wedding? But the stranger’s warning would not leave my mind so I continued to heed it. Fairies were still mischievous creatures after all.

The pixies pouted and continued to beg until they realized it was no hope. At that point they became light again and bounced their way along the road, their laughter carried back to me among the breeze and echoing in my ears.

Was this a magical road I had stumbled upon? Or perhaps it was the tree? Maybe there was something special about this night? Whatever it was I knew I’d never sleep now.

Hours passed and the night seemed to darken, making the stars shine brighter and the moon glow greater. A strong breeze came down the road stirring up the leaves into intricate swirls flying high up into the sky. When they settled on the ground again I found and old woman hobbling before me.

Her gray hair silvered in the moonlight and she walked bent over a cane that was clearly too small for her. “Hail weary traveler! Come and rest awhile under my tree.”

The old woman smiled graciously and took my offer, plopping down next to me. “Where are you off to on such a night as this?”

“A fairy wedding or so they say.”

“Ah, how envious I am of you. I’d offer to escort you, but alas I cannot leave my tree.”

“And why might that be?”

I could only shrug. “Honest madam, I know not.”

“Hmmm,” the woman tapped her cane with long finger nails as she thought. “I’ll tell you what, kind stranger. If you do me one simple favor I will bestow a gift upon you. A thank you for your kindness and a reward for heeding wise warnings.”

I tilted my head in curiosity. “What might this favor be?”

“A kiss.”

“That is all?”

“That is all.”

I studied the old woman for a moment. Then I shrugged and planted a sweet kiss on her cheek. And then my eyes widened in astonishment. Before my very eyes the woman transformed. Her wrinkles grew smooth, her eyes more round and blue, her hair turned from gray to a stunning gold. Where the old woman used to be now sat a beautiful young maiden, with a crown inlaid with the most stunning jewels I had ever seen. Jewels of every color of spring, that twinkled in the moonlight.

I gasped as she smiled. “I must thank you again for your kindness. Now I can go and marry my love. For you see I am the fairy queen. And this night I was cursed by my own sister out of jealousy and spite. She was envious of my marriage. But you have broken her spell and I am free. And now for your gift.”

The fairy queen lifted the crown off her head and placed it in my hands. I was so stunned by the whole affair I knew not what not to say. She laughed, a lovely musical laugh, and placed a hand on my cheek. “Now sleep.”

Darkness surrounded me and the next thing I knew I was waking with the sun casting purple and pink hues across a clear sky. I was surrounded by leaves, and laying nestled into the roots of the magical tree towering above me. I looked around in awe. Had it all been a dream?

But something gleamed in between the leaves and I swept them away to reveal the fairy queen’s crown. I took a moment to admire it in the morning light before carefully placing it away and standing to my feet.

I took one last look around before beginning down the path. I placed my hand over the crown knowing I would never forget the night I was visited by the fairies, the night when a stranger was gifted the crown of the fairy queen, when magic unfolded beneath the tree, on the road to home.