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Picture Credits: Samantha H. made it
“Now you’ve all heard stories told by my folk for many centuries. But the tale I have to tell isn’t the typical story. This one isn’t boring, oh my no! It’s riveting, suspenseful, and quenches everyone’s thirst for a bit of fear. Action you ask my dear sir? No, no action! Love, my dear lady? What is a story without love? Now if you please, my kind audience, sit your selves down. Pull up a patch of grass, and lend me your ears for a while. This story will keep you hanging on my every word. If not, I shall play with the wolves! Now where shall I begin? What is that? Young lady, come up here and voice your query. Does it involve a pretty girl? Why yes! Now go sit down. Shall I begin? Any more questions? No? Good.”
“Imagine a dirt road as wide as the average person is high, and as long as any road, stretching from one place to the other. Now imagine lush, green grass flirting with the edges of the road, and extending far off in the distance. Flowers in a dozen different colors in reds, and blues, even some yellow ones, and I swear, even a polka-dotted bunch! There is a tree if you walk across the grass. But be careful not to tread on the flowers! For if you do, she will get you.”
“The daughter of the local baker, Natalie. She was the only girl in the small village forced to work by her father. The other girls, as soon as they came of age, they married, and moved away. The village was so small, that soon, Natalie was the only one left her age. She didn’t have any friends, and she was constantly hidden whenever a young man came galloping in on his horse, looking for a maiden to marry. The disguise her parents used on her was very convincing. They used lies to keep her at home, and baking.”
“The lie? Oh, you shall find out soon my friends! Let me tell you about Natalie. She was a red haired maiden, blue eyes as luminous as a crystal in the light, skin fair, and flawless. She was the best height for a maiden: not short, but not tall. She was forced to wear clothing that hid her body, but let me tell you, it was bea-uti-ful! I see some of you are laughing! Don’t you believe this Bard? But you must believe me when I say she could dance! Ah, what a sight to see her shed her thick layers of clothing to the traditional attire for festivals, and dance by a huge bonfire!
“The clothing worn by the eligible maidens on festivals, are white. Just simple white. And in their hair, the very valuable white rose fastened next to their ear. Slippers of the maiden’s choice of color were also worn. The dress itself was made of cotton. It lacked sleeves, or long skirt. To see a maiden in such clothing is enough to drive a man wild with desire! So it was to no surprise when Natalie’s parents were worried when the festival came around. There were travelers passing by who were staying for the festival. Their lies wouldn’t be able to keep Natalie, the only eligible maid in the village, inside the house. As soon as word of the festival came around, Natalie was instantly excited, and shirked her work so she could be fitted for the dress.”
”The night of the festival, the bonfire was lit, and crackled merrily as the travelers took their seats with the men, as well as the elderly, sickly, and young children. And with the sound of a flute, the festival commenced. The married women served the food they cooked, as well as poor wine, ale, and other great drinks that would make even the richest king jealous! Music was played, and such a tune they played! It even put to shame the most beautifully voiced Bards, and singers! And then, came the dancers. All Maidens, as well as some of the more finely figured women were to dance. The women wore purple, black, or other dark colors. And I must say, when Natalie pranced out and twirled in the firelight, the men stopped with forkfuls of food halfway to their mouths, and drinkers stopped their draught, and even servers stopped serving to watch. The fiddles started, and harps were plucked. Trumpets sounded, and guitars hummed along to what seemed to be Natalie’s dancing. Drums pounded in rhythm to Natalie’s feet, and almost appeared that Natalie’s feet were emitting the sound. The music wound themselves around the spectators, pleasing their ears, while the dancers pleased their eyes, and the food pleased their mouths.”
“And her parents worried even more, as they spotted the only person who hadn’t went back to their eating. One of the travelers kept their eye on the fair Maiden whose name he did not know. And so, the traveler stopped one of the servers, and asked: “Who is that Maiden in white, for she dances so gracefully?” And the servant smiled a sad smile and said: “Why, that is Natalie!” And she scurried away. The traveler watched Natalie, transfixed in her dance, keeping his eyes on her face instead of her body, like a man should. On her face was the expression of joy beyond measure. While dancing, Natalie noticed the man watching her, and felt rather shy. She blushed as he continued to watch. And soon, the music ceased, and the dancers joined the festivities until it was their time to dance again.”
”While Natalie was leaving the circle around the bon fire, the traveler came up to her. Natalie looked up at him, as he was a tall man clad in clothes of red, and wished him a pleasant evening while trying to escape his vibrant eyes of green. “Fair Maiden,” The traveler said. “I wish to tell you that you dance well. Why are you the only one in white?”
Natalie could feel the eyes of her parents on her, but answered: “Thank you for your kind words. I am the only in white because I am the only one eligible for marriage.” And his eyes lit up! “Come with me,” he said excitedly, taking her hand, and leading her from the light of the fire. He took her past the village houses, and to the only tree in the lush, flower field. He told her to stand at the tree while he bent over, and picked flowers of every color imaginable! Reds, and blues, even some yellow ones, and I swear, even a polka-dotted one! He gave them to Natalie with the proposal of marriage. What more could she say, but yes?”
”On the day of the wedding, which was to be held in the flower field, something dreadful happened. The traveler was found dead, under the tree. Ladies, don’t cry! Children, don’t run! Men, don’t scream! Because that’s what Natalie did. She ran along bloody footsteps leading to her door. And in the house was the murderer. Her father was standing with bloody clothing, the murder weapon still in his hands a little way from the door. Natalie screamed at him, and then took off running again towards the field. The words of her parents started pounding in her head: No man has eyes for you. You are destined to be a baker girl. Leaving your family will lead to crisis. She ran back to the traveler, and cried on him for days. He was buried right beneath the flowers be died upon.”
”The story does not yet end, my friends! Oh no, it doesn’t. Natalie stood guard over his grave, and attacked whomever plucked or stepped on a flower within twenty-steps of the tree. She sat in that tree for many years, until she too, died. She was buried right next to her love, but she never stopped watching over the field. Many of the village citizens didn’t know of her death, and those who were foolish enough to pluck her flowers, were found dead in their beds days later.”
“Her ghost could be seen dancing in the field late at night when the sky is cloudy, and no star can be seen. But she is not alone. The ghost of her love is dancing with her, and both as young as they were the day they met. Natalie wearing the white dress, and the traveler in red…”
“Two figures smiling…”
“Two figures with their hands laced together…”
“Two figures gracefully stepping to the beat of their own drum…”
”Two figures dancing for eternity, basking in the love they shared.”
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