A long time ago, in a land not too different from our own lived an orphan girl named Holly. Now, Holly was a sprightly girl, full of vim and vigor. Indeed, when most people met her, they proclaimed her the most effervesvent girl in all the land. As was her wont, Holly would go to the public fountains every morning to bathe and then to throw a penny in, as she wished for a real family. If there was one thing she wanted in life, it was that family she had never had. Her morning ritual was, in fact, the only time she focused on it, however, so it was also the only time she was sad.
So, it came to pass one fine spring day, while Holly was taking her morning bath, Methusa, a witch, happened to be passing the public fountain and heard someone crying faintly. Methusa had no heart, so she wasn’t moved by the display. However, she knew an opportunity when it presented itself, and she was ready to seize it.
Creeping up close to the fountain by using silent magic, Methusa was able to enchant the waters with an ancient charm that made them as chains. Then she crept away just as quietly, chuckling to herself about the impending mischief she had orchestrated. Meanwhile, Holly had finished her bath, and her sadness, and was her cheery self again as she attempted to exit the fountain. To no avail. She found that she was held fast and no amount of wiggling could extricate her from the situation. So she sat and thought.
While she was in thought, the village tanner arrived in the town square for his early morning walk. When he observed Holly, whose head was the only part of her above water, he frowned. Why was she still in the fountain? You see, the entire village knew of her ritual pre-dawn bathing, but she had made a deal to be out by dawn.
“Little Holly, why stay ye?” the tanner queried.
“This water contains me,” she replied.
“Shall I fight to set thee free?” he said.
“I fear t’is not to be,” she sobbed.
So the tanner walked on, but before he left, he set a pair of shoes from his cart down by the fountain. Before too long the village tailor passed on the way to his shop, and did a double take at the orphan girl in the fountain and the pair of shoes next to it. Blushing beet red, for she had a fancy for the young tailor, Holly explained the predicament again.
“This water is my jail,” she said.
“We shall save you without fail,” he replied.
“T’will be no happy tale,” she sighed.
“Then I shall leave this on the rail,” he said.
So the young tailor walked on, but before he left, he deposited a fine satin dress from his cart next to the shoes next to the fountain. Holly was more frustrated than ever, and the sun had gotten higher in the sky. She knew the entire village would be out and about soon to witness her shame.
Before too long the village jester passed by on his way to the castle. He stopped suddenly when he saw Holly in the fountain and stared at her for a minute before understanding her predicament.
“I see that thou has need of me,” he said jovially.
“Of thee and,besides, two or three,” she said with a smile, for no one could frown when the jester was near.
“Then we must speak a charm to set thee free,” he said.
“And in your debt I would forever be,” she replied.
He set his jester’s hat on the surface of the water, and it rippled not. He then spoke three words over it, the magic charm of which he had mentioned, and he removed the hat from the water. It was completely dry. Holly was beside herself, but she still remembered her modesty.
“Please kind sir, to turn your back, whilst I take a certain tack,” she said, and then tried to rise from the fountain. To no avail. So she sat and cried some more. The village jester could not believe his charm had failed, so he left his prize jewels next to the dress, next to the shoes, next to the fountain.
Now, it came to pass that a very powerful magician was visiting the castle that very day, and the jester intercepted him when he arrived, telling him the sad tale of the orphan girl. Upon hearing it, the powerful magician, whose name was Ezriel, went straightaway to the fountain and found the girl still languishing, as he had heard.
“What is’t that ought thy favorite quest?” he asked.
“Why, to have what having would be best,” she replied.
“And that would be a boon for thee?” he said.
“Aye, a home and family,” she cried.
And so saying she was delivered from her bonds, for the only magic she needed was the magic in her very soul, to admit what she desired most instead of pretending she was fine with her lot in life. Ezriel was so impressed with her that he proposed on the spot. Holly accepted with no hesitation, rose from the fountain, bedecked herself in the new clothes and shoes and jewelry, and a wedding was had that very day.
When it came time for the bride to say her vows, she conjured up the memory of the three others who had tried to help in their own ways. And of the jester she said, “The third time’s the charm, for he brought my savior and husband to me in my time of need.” And they lived happily ever after.
Sam
Sam's Online Journal 