Story By James Catlin Artwork By Jennifer Catlin
Copy Right 22 April 2013
For Ben, RJ, Arzalia, Riannon, Iris, Rowan, Daniel
Grandpa liked to tell stories of long long ago. Things that our little ones wanted to know. Back before autos and high flying planes, even older than bikes and old smoky trains. His tales swelled with magic and other wondrous things and even some songs for the wee ones to sing. “Between two, high rocky hills where rainbows forever alight lies a path to a land that is magical and bright.� As such he would always begin and the rest of us would snuggle in.
“It was there that a boy, a prince in all rights lived with his kin among fairies and sprites. Unicorns grazed on the high rolling hills and dragons nested peacefully preening their frills. Tall folks from the valley and stout miners of the deep would come often to pay their respects at the ages old keep. For here the royal family ancient of name would welcome them all regardless of fame.” “In all of the land there was no want or fear and rarely did anyone even shed a tear, save those of joy for kindness sake or when a loved one passed through ages gate. In the kingdom, there existed only a single written law, to cover a single, inherent magic flaw.” Grandpa’s face fell as if he’d been struck by despair and every child’s eyes filled with foreboding and care.
“On a day sunny and warm the young prince walked out through the fields and with the fey folk he talked. Down near the lake he skipped pebbles and splashed and across fields of tall grass he happily dashed. Then in a cops of very old trees he stopped and fell to his knees. The sprites and the squirrels vanished from sight as his eyes fell on an egg black as night.” “The young prince knew the law and it’s meaning was clear, Yet the orb was magnificent and to his heart became instantly dear. It surface sparkled like a million tiny lights, and he doubted how such beauty could be an evil blight. So in a deep and empty cave he hid the egg away and in its time the egg did crack and darkness soon held sway.
“At first the other dragons sided with the boy, until the ebon drake began his evil to employ. Soon fear and anger gripped the land and once gentle folk took heavy hand, one against another the once bright light of love to smother. One by one the creatures left leaving forests, field and town bereft. Horns of unicorns withered from the strain, scales from dragons fell like rain and fairy folk both sprite and gnome fled to find a different home.� For the first time our cheerfulness was stripped, for in none of the stories before had sadness so eclipsed.
“Festivals no longer graced each colorful autumn day and villages dwindled in disuse and decay. At last when their last subject had gone and the sky glowed dull on a sunless dawn, the royal family lay down their crowns, looked one more time upon the castle grounds then followed those who had gone before to another world through a mist shrouded door. Not long after this sad tale of fate, grandpa crossed through ages gate. I never forgot all he had said and passing it on now lay on my head. He’d always spoken as if he’d been there with shifting emotion and a regal flair. I had not his grasp of every aspect so in my recounting there was little respect.
Then a day that came bright and clear we gathered as family in a place quite dear, an old plot of hallowed land where ancestors had plowed by hand. T’was a place in the wild to tame and make mild. I’d visited the place several times in the past, but today was different, not like any of the last. No one else seemed to notice the feel in the air, perhaps I was the only one who even might care. I decided a walk was what I sought toward nearby hills to help with my thought. A niece and a nephew I took in my hands to show them the wonders of the surrounding lands. We passed through the fence at a faded old gate then up a slight rise at a leisurely rate. At the top we paused for we spied, a million dazzling butterflies. Then as the top of a higher hill I stood all amazed totally still...
For before us lay, in leafy shade, a wooden walk through wooded glade. The little ones dashed ahead, joyful, their eager arms outspread as if to literally embrace the thickets charming grace, but to my astonished eyes they were greeted by a dozen larger butterflies. At last I followed stepping in to keep safe my little kin, but in an instant my eyes went wide and my soul took off like a celestial tide. The butterflies shifted to a different shape, all I could do was stand there and gape. Tiny winged sprites danced all about and the very wood seemed ready to shout. With the children the fairies played then just as suddenly to follow they bade. We walked for a time to the edge of the wood, It was then and there I knew where I stood.
Before me lay twin rocky hills and from between them a rainbow did spill. Can it be true I questioned myself or is this the result of poor mental health. I had no more time the thought to appraise for my nephew rushed ahead like a fiery blaze. I grabbed up my niece and ran in pursuit, my body crying foul but my mind resolute. I felt a wave of panic pass down my back as we entered some mist and my vision went slack, but after an moment of agonized fright we stood in a place that to our eyes was a delight. I grabbed my nephews arm lest he come to any harm. All about us water fell to terraced pools of azure and jade surrounded by boulders covered in moss and weeping willows giving plenty of shade. It was the amazing creatures however, that put awe upon our features for cavorting about in the outward shallow places, were equine forms, with single white horn upon their faces. One by one they’d pause and look, at first as if no trespass they’d brook. Then one approached, regal but with gentle eyes and considered us as if looking for some subtle guise. Then without warning my niece reached up and in her tiny hands the creatures muzzle cupped. I never would have thought to see a unicorn look and smile at me. Twas then the others trotted fore as if greeting ones they’d known before.
For a short time we lingered there and I for one had not a single care, but all to quickly the play was gone and the largest silently urged us on. I looked and spied a winding narrow trail up the wall leading out of the enchanted vale. As the trail crested the cliffs I stopped and gaped, what lay before my eyes was a forlorn land in winter draped. I had not long this sight to scrutinize for a shadow fell across my own. I looked up in stark surprise at the a beast coming swiftly down. In a whirlwind of beating wings it alighted and with a strange bow of its head it saluted. Fear that had swelled in my core, slipped away like water into a sandy floor. It’s head and wings were that of an eagle and it’s body and tail of a lion majestic and regal. With a lowering of its great shoulder I felt my soul become a bit bolder. I mounted, sitting on its muscled back then lifted up my little kin there faces wide eyed with wonder and as likely as me, trembling within. Slowly the gryphons wings unfolded and around the children my arm I enfolded, I felt my heart beat, suddenly skip as the wings came down with an air rending rip. My legs tightened about its thick feathery neck and my breath I was holding to keep stomach in check. When my eyes finally opened just enough to spy I found myself high in the bright sunlit sky.
Below us lay a sprawling, rolling land that may once have been green and grand. In swaths the trees were bare and black, those that lived lay bent and slack. Unlike the unicorn vale radiant with life what lay below was scared by evils strife. I glanced ahead and in the distance I saw a structure of stone that filled me again with awe. The Gryphon flew in an hour or less what days would have taken, walking I guess, then at the end of a long shimmering lake the creature alighted for no further would us, it take. Here new grass and wild flowers grew, low to the ground where they could gather the dew. Several sprites had come with us, in our shirts tucked away, now they scampered out to flitter and play. At the far end of the lake narrow and long, stood a castle like those in a fairytale song. I took hand in hand my nephew and niece and we walked the long shore in silence and peace. We stopped a few times to rest and to splash in the cool water of the valley’s wet cache. From time to time vague movement caught the corner of my eye and I strained to see its source but failed in every try. The afternoon was growing late by the time we reached the outer gate.
There we stopped dead in our tracks I know at least my jaw went slack. Before us laying upon the ground an ebon dragon lay and for a moment all manner of horrors in my mind did play. Then I noticed a thing or two that helped my nerves unknot, the beast was lying still as stone, and eyes filled with rot. I looked beyond the ebon form to the castles inner keep, which lay upon a low green hill and silence that was deep. A bridge of stone arched across a shallow moat lined with rock and moss. A few paces on we made the crest and stood before the door and there we came face to face with a little man who looked quite sore. His countenance was amusingly grim so much in fact that the hair stood out on his pointed chin. I smiled and asked who he might be, he grinned and spun, saying only “Follow me. I led the children as I walked behind, down a dusty hall, wondering what we would find. Through an ancient door of heavy oak he turned with a swish of his well worn cloak
then came to stop before a pedestal of stone and stripped off a tattered linen the color of bone.
There on the top of the dusty old stand lay two golden circlets still shiny and grand. With a look of longing mixed with fear the little Gnome bade me draw near. He pointed at the smaller of the two crowns, when I hesitated his face became a mask of deep shifting frowns. I glanced at my charges then lifted it up, both the little ones eyes were as wide as tea cups. What happened then I cannot say, but the three of us went on our way. At the misty door late that very day, we left behind the creatures and our goodbyes did say. Perhaps I would have stayed, but then was not the hour. The little ones were not mine to keep, and I had yet to climb the tower. Yes I remember all of Grandpa’s tales, of sprites and Gnomes and dragon scales. A place where knights used swords and shield and never would to evil yield. Where one single magic law kept the peace from one lone magic flaw. All this I’ve written down to keep Grandpa’s tale alive so younger kin will know for what and where to strive. Farewell
Grandfathers tell tales to there grandchildren. One young girl believes her grandfathers story, and wounders if the kingdome is still out there. One day the young girl goes for a walk, with a niece and nephew. it is on this walk that they find the lost kingdom.