Fairy Stories & Other Tales

 Once upon a time there was a wicked prince. He was bad in all the ways you can imagine: taking all advantages, stealing from the poor, corrupting youths, dancing very badly... One day he met a girl who was as good as he was wicked. As these stories go, he became enthralled. She was not, it must be said, immune to his ardor. And so she took him into the Enchanted Forest to meet her mentor: the wise old witch.  This particular wise old witch was filled with all the spunk and vigor one could hope for. More importantly, perhaps, she was an excellent mistress of potions and was passing on her skill to her young charge.  The wicked prince was unconcerned as to his meeting with the wise old witch. How harmful could an old woman be to his suit? But then his beloved began speaking to the old witch. And the old witch spoke back. On and on they spoke, knowledgeable, with keenness tinged with an essence of friendship. It was too much for the wicked prince. He fled. The girl married ...

 Once upon a time a prince fell down a hole.    A princess was walking by and heard his shouts.    Naturally, the princess found a ladder nearby and lowered it into the hole.    The prince climbed out, shook the princess by the hand, and they went on their separate ways.     They saw each other from time to time in marketplaces between their two kingdoms, acknowledging the other's presence with a nod.    Later they met at a call for rescuing villagers from a nearby fire.    A witch once gave a tea for those inclined to help her with her healing work; it was there that they became friends.    Their friendship was lively and intellectual and satisfying.     A whisper grew in the kingdoms, of a marriage, of a combined land, of tiny princesses and princes.    Perhaps. And perhaps it was the witch that married them. But if it happened, it was nice that it didn't happen all at once. For th...

The baker had made a perfect loaf. She set it aside that day, and even after all the rest were sold, she kept it back. She knew it was perfect by the sound, the sight, the smell, and a fourth sense  — a tingle of magic that made her certain. She had been taught that secret once, a long time ago.     After closing the bakery, she warmed the loaf, wrapped it, put on her cloak and scarf, stepping out into the cold, dark afternoon.      Her feet stopped in front of the oldest cottage. It had just a few patches of thatch missing. That would need fixing. A tilted door frame. But that had been there for years. There were no holes in the mortar. And while the garden had died it's annual winter death, it would come back just fine.     The baker knocked at the tilted door, then entered.      The one room had a single bed, and in it a woman whose face had skin so deeply etched it was hard to find other features. Her hair w...

 Once upon a time a little girl went to a wishing well, and wished to grow up.     She fell into the well.     And came out the other side a young woman.     She was happy that way.     The other side of the well was an extraordinary world that way.