For those who could not attend the King’s day storytelling, we below transcribe the tale Rendal, Ard Filea told in honour of HRH King Jedediah.
«Gather around dear Lords and Ladies
For tonight I shall tell you a tale, which begins, as it would happen, on the Birthday of a Prince
It was in fact the coming of age day of Prince Calith, of the land of Malden.
Our Prince was a humble man in many ways, for he never saw himself as being above the people of the land, rather he sought to be a protector and guide for his people. On that very day, much like this one in fact, he swore in his heart that though he was sought by many a King for their daughters, to not take a wife unless she had first won his heart
How little did he know, that that time was not far off…
It was that very night, as he walked the gardens, beneath the light of the stars and moon, when he beheld what he first thought was a vision. A Lady that he had not met before was dancing among the flowered gardens, and her beauty was such that it seemed the flowers blossomed, and the stars shone, especially for her. The Prince approached her, and soon they were lost in talk, and time seemed to stand still while he was in her presence
Her name was Lianna, and she said only that she was newly come to the Kingdom. Before that moonlit night had passed, Prince Calith's heart was sited with her, and over the days that followed he would walk with her, among the gardens, as was her wont. Calith knew in his heart that he had found the only Lady that he would ever love, and at last, as they walked again on another night beneath the light of the stars, he spoke to her fully, and asked her for her hand.
Yet Lianna had a secret, of which she had not spoken, and now she told him it in full. For she in fact was no mortal woman, but one of the Fae, and she had desired to walk for a time in the mortal world. At this the Prince said that it mattered not, for it changed nothing that was in his heart for her yet she afraid, fearing that their love could not be. And so, she set upon him a sleeping spell, and as he slept she crept from the garden, to make her way back to her own home, not wanting to stay longer for fear of breaking his heart.
In the morn the Prince awoke, and he guessed at what had happened. For days he walked the gardens, hoping she would return, and at night he would sit in the high tower, and look out over the lands about. At last he could stand it no longer, and he took his leave of his Father, and set out on a personal quest, seeking the land of the Fae, and his love. All about the lands he journeyed, seeking ever news of the land he sought, and many adventures befell him, yet no word did he hear of that which he sought.
Nearly a year had passed, and still his heart was set on his quest, when he came throught a mountain pass, and on the other side he came into a land that seemed marvelously fair and strange.
"Can he be" he thought. "That I am at last nearing my goal?" For in this land even the color of the trees and the sky and the earth seemed crispy, and the air more wholesome.
That night he went onward after dark and he was just about to make his camp, when he heard voices, voices unlike any he had heard before, rough and guttural they sounded. He went forward slowly, and then he saw them, two creatures in a clearing, tall, thick muscled, dark furs covering their green hides, and long dark mated hair on their heads
He wondered what they were, and what the small bundle one was carrying was. Then he saw the bundle move, and he knew that it was a living creature.
Angered at this apparent injustice, he drew his sword and charged the creatures, before they knew he was there.
They were of course, as you might know, Orcs, yet it had been many years since his Grandfather had driven the Orcs from their kingdom, and Calith had never seen one before.
The fight was over quickly, for strong as they were, the Orcs were no match for his skill. When it was over he turned his attention to the small bundle, and to his surprise saw an intelligent pair of eyes looking back up at him.
Quickly he cut the cords binding it, and engaged the creature’s mouth.
The little creature then stood and dusted off his clothes and bowed. "I am ever so grateful to you. Tell me, what is it that a mortal man is doing in these parts?"
Calith was beside himself to realize the creature could talk, yet he was courteous, and treated him so. Soon he learned that he was a Knobbin.
The Knobbin’s name was Tollok, and in their talk he told Calith that he was also on a quest. For you see, Tollok had been separated from his parents as a child, and raised by a kindly mortal man and his wife
Since he had come to adulthood, he had travelled, seeking for the homeland of his people, which many had heard of, but none knew where it laid.
Calith in his turn told Tollok of his own quest, to find the land of the Fae, and of his lady love. At this Tollok jumped up and said that he may be able to help. "For I have recently come from their land. I could lead you there if you like, to pay you for saving my life."
So they set out, Calith with his hopes renewed, and behind him on his saddle rode the little Knobbin, telling him of the strange places he had seen. At last they passed through a foggy vale, and came out in a land that made Calith nearly weep for joy, for the beauty and richness of colors, the trees and flowers seeming almost more awake as it were, and he knew that now he was on the right trail.
Not often is it that the Fae receive visitors from outside their land, for many fear to go there, yet they were courteous, and welcomed Calith, if a bit questioning of his reasons. There though Calith's joy darkened, for he leaned gracious news. He found out first, that Lianna was not only a Fae, but she was a Princess of their people.
When Lianna had returned to her home, the Queen had been upset, fearing for her daughter's safety, yet at last Lianna had persuaded her to allow her to visit the mortal world again, for her heart could not rest since she had met Calith.
She had gone with two others as an escort, yet on that very day one of them had returned bearing ill news for their party had been ambushed, and the Princess taken captive... by Orcs.
At this Calith was enraged, and he swore to find and free her. So he left, intending to hunt them down, no matter the cost to himself, and with him only Tollok went, for he would not forsake his friend in his need. They found the trail at last, and back through the misty vale it went, and once again they found themselves in the land in which Calith had met Tolok
It was evening when they found what they sought. There was a fire in the distance, and slowly the crept closer, and then they saw beyond a doubt that it was the party of Orcs. They were many and well armed, and in their midst, lying by the fire, was Lianna, her hands and ankles bound.
Calith's heart would not allow him to wait another moment, and not waiting to take thought or council, he charged the Orcs, hoping to rush them by surprise, and sweep Lianna away to safety. Yet the Orcs were many, and attentive, and though he fought valiantly, it was not long before they lay hands on him, and soon he also was bound. Tollok, who saw this from the trees was in an awful fret, for what could he do against these creatures?
Quickly he fled, noting where they were, the one thought in his mind of finding someone, anyone that could help. Yet as he went through the darkened forest, he missed his footing, and soon was tumbling head over heels down a long hill, til at last he bumped his head on a stone, and remembered nothing for a while.
At this time the Orcs were debating what to do with the Prince. For they were under orders to deliver the Princess to their chieftain as a prize, yet he was not in their orders. It was late in the night, early morn perhaps, when the arguments turned to blows, and all the camp was in an uproar. Calith thought this was their chance, yet while he struggled with his bonds their suddenly came a strange noise in the trees.
There was a loud rustling and jostling, and soon the Orcs forgot their fight, and several of them went into the trees to see what was going on. Suddenly, almost all around the camp, the trees resounded the twang of bows, and the whistle of arrows filled the air.
Calith was startled, and wondered what this help was that had come, when he heard a familiar voice in his ear.
"Hold still while I cut your cords," whispered Tollok.
While the Orcs were busy fighting thir unseen foes, the Prince and Princess were freed, and together they fled into the woods with Tollok.
"Who is that fights for us? I should aid them." said the Prince
"They won't catch them my friend," said Tollok, and we must hurry away from here and to the village.
So it was that Tollok led them down the very hill he had fallen down, and found that he also had succeeded in his quest, unexpectedly
For it turns out that the very stone he hit his head on, was the first paving stone of a walkway...which led the first little house of a Knobbin village, hidden in the deep vale. When Tollok had told them of the Orcs, they had sent out their best archers, "And by now they have probably left the Orcs very confused," he finished out the tale as they paused at the door to a small house.
They stayed the rest of the night, and the next with the Knobbins, and then Calith returned Lianna to her home.
There he sought audience with the Fae Queen herself, and asked for Lianna's hand in marriage
So it was that the next spring they were wed, and in both Kingdoms the merriment was high for many days.
I hope you all enjoyed my tale, Rendal, Ard Filea»
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