From Barbara Leonie Picard’s The Faun and the Woodcutter’s Daughter.
Duke Roland was a coward. He and everyone else knew it. Afraid to ride fast, learn to swim, participate in tournaments, or even climb his own high towers to look out over his own lands, Roland was quietly ashamed but never did anything about it.
Until (cue the rising music) a beautiful young woman came to his castle.
Her eyes were blue and her hair was golden, her voice was music and her smile was the smile of one who has never glanced on pain or sorrow or cared for their existence. She lived only for the joyous things in life.
When good Duke Roland attempted to gain her favor, she only laughed at him.
“Have you never heard that only the brave deserve the fair?”
She then threw her bracelet into the fire and bid him pull it out in proof of his courage. He could not.
And so Roland went to a wise old man to inquire where to find courage. Under the old man’s direction he looked in a chest at the top of a high tower, in a casket under deep water, in the locket of a mysterious knight (whom Roland must fight to obtain the locket), and in the flickering blue flame that races through a dark wood, as fast as a horse may gallop.
Having faced his fears, and discovered his courage in doing so, Duke Roland returned to his lady fair. Again the Lady Alison mocked him and his efforts, tossing her bracelet into the fire. Seeing her with new eyes, Roland realized that he was greatly changed, but she was not.
He stooped and picked the bracelet out of the fire and dropped it at her feet.
“Your bracelet,” he said. “Good night, cousin,” and he turned from her and left the hall.
And for the first time in her life, the Lady Alison’s blue eyes filled with tears, for she knew that she had lost him.
Hi Amy Jane,
Thanks for visiting my blog. I wanted to answer your question in my comments regarding my lost and found motivation. I think “it” just came back on its own giving me the energy to shop and get the books. The buying didn’t do it. It was just so weird for me to have such a lack of motivation last week. I suppose it was the little mini vacation we took and not following a routine for several days.
Thanks for the suggestion of recording Daddy reading. We tried that in the past, but it tends to make the girls sad and miss him more. I think it is easier for them to find a temporary solution rather than a “replacement.” They are the same way with my mom. She videoed herself reading to them a few years ago when we lived further away, but both girls didn’t want to watch it because they said it made them miss her more.
Have a super day,
Kim
Amy–What a fun site you have here. I think we must be kindred spirits, for as you pointed out, we seem to have a lot in common.
I am a freshman blogger, and still learning how to keep it fresh and enjoyable while still attending to my other duties. You seem to do it well. I’ll frequent your site!
Anna
http://www.wholeheartedlife.blogspot.com
(PS-My husband has family in Alaska.)
This story sounds very interesting.
I’ve been thinking for DAYS about what tale summary I could post for this, and I kept drawing a blank. Everything I came up with seemed too predictable. What are some good sources for lesser known fairy stories and folk tales?
Hi, Amy–
I just discovered your blog–through a back link to mine (Write Place, Write Time). Thank you so much for putting a link up on your site to my blog. I’m humbled.
I LOVE what you’re doing here and plan to spend a lot of time digging into your untangled tales!
–kaye