Fairy Stories & Other Tales

 Once upon a time there were two young women who entered into an enchanted wood.     Upon their arrival, a fairy approached. She offered them all that their hearts could ever desire in exchange for a mere moment - it would feel like a moment - of their time.      'No thanks,' they said, and walked on.     Then  they came to a cave, in which a dragon lay sleeping deeply atop a hoard of gold. It slept on all kinds of objects, from the smallest golden tea cup to the largest necklace, much of it encrusted with the finest gemstones. The women continued on their way, and let the dragon sleep.      Lastly, they came to a witch's cottage. They knocked on the door and offered the witch their help in harvesting her ready supply of herbs. In exchange, she gave them a cup of very fine tea.      Is it needless to say that their mother slept well that night when the young women returned and told her their story? Possibly. But ...

 There was once a witch whose magic took the shape of power.       It could make queens and kings, form tempests, level mountains.      And so, the witch put it away.      Who knows if the world was better for it or not.      But when she died, she did not regret having done it.