The Princess and the White Finch
For the always awesome jlrpuck , who asked for a "finch" story from my mini-meme. Enjoy!
Once upon a time a beautiful Princess was born. She was the only child of the good King and Queen and was immediately adored by the entire kingdom, but most of all by the King. The searched the entire kingdom for the perfect gift for his beloved daughter, but nothing seemed special enough. The days until the young Princess's Naming Day were getting fewer and fewer, but still the King had not found what he was looking for.
"Our daughter has our complete love," the Queen told him over dinner one night.
"What else could she possibly want?"
The Queen was highly regarded for her wisdom and kindness, and the King considered her advice.
"Aye, but I just wish I could find something that will always make her smile," the King replied. He thought about the elusive gift all night long, barely sleeping a wink. He called for his horse early the next morning and went for a ride through the countryside. This did much to lift his spirits, as he took in the fresh, cool air and the beautiful green of nature. At length he dismounted and lead his horse into a forest, looking for a stream for his horse to drink from. He soon found it, and loosely tied the horses reins to a tree nearest the river, so the horse could drink his fill while the King explored the forest. He had not gone very far at all when he heard a bird singing; the most delightful singing the King had ever heard before.
"Hello!" the king called up to the trees, (for in fairy tales, everyone knows how to talk to birds),
"That was such beauitful singing just now. May I ask who the singer is?"
A small white finch flew down to a branch just above the King's head.
"That was my singing you heard, majesty," the white finch replied.
The King now knew what present to give his young daughter.
"Splendid! You can be my gift to my daughter. I am sure that your singing would always make my daughter happy."
The King then noticed how very sad the white finch now looked.
"Oh, but we would be very kind to you," the King try to explain.
"And if you have a family, we shall provide for all of them as well."
"It is not that, Majesty," the white finch replied.
"It is a very great honour that you offer me, and I am very greatful for it. All the birds know how good and kind you and your Queen are, but I would really rather stay here in the forest."
"But why?" the dissapointed King asked.
"There are several other families nearby, very simple folk who are all hard working. They have children as well, but unlike you, they cannot afford to buy them fine gifts. Instead, they come into the forest and ask me to sing for their children. If I leave, who will sing for the other Children?"
The King now felt quite bad for asking the white finch to leave.
"I am sorry," he apologized.
"I am afraid I have been quite selfish. By all means, please stay here and sing for all of the children."
The little white finch made an elegant bow.
"Thank you, majesty. For your kindness, I shall prepare a special gift for the new Princess."
The next day was the Princess's Naming Day. Just as the King and Queen stepped out onto the balcony, a large group of songbirds, hundreds of them, flew into the courtyard below and started singing merrily. The young Princess giggled in delight and the Queen smiled and looked at the King.
"Looks like you managed to find the perfect gift after all."
* * *
Peter set down the storybook on the little table near the rocking chair, careful not to disturb his sleeping daughter. He then placed the sleeping Lucy in her crib and stood there for a moment, just looking at her. He was so caught up in his sleeping daughter that he did not notice when Rose entered the nursery.
"Finally asleep then?" she asked quietly.
"Aye," Peter replied, still not taking his eyes from his daughter.
"I read her a fairy story."
"Was it the one with the Wise and Beautiful Queen?" Rose asked, a smile dancing upon the corners of her mouth.
"That's my favourite."
"Because there are uncanny similarities between you and the queen?" Peter asked.
"And because it's about another da' who would do anything for his wee bairn," Rose replied seriously.
"Aye," Peter replied again and leaned down to brush a light kiss over Lucy's soft little forehead.
~fin
(I had to sneak them in somewhere...)
Once upon a time a beautiful Princess was born. She was the only child of the good King and Queen and was immediately adored by the entire kingdom, but most of all by the King. The searched the entire kingdom for the perfect gift for his beloved daughter, but nothing seemed special enough. The days until the young Princess's Naming Day were getting fewer and fewer, but still the King had not found what he was looking for.
"Our daughter has our complete love," the Queen told him over dinner one night.
"What else could she possibly want?"
The Queen was highly regarded for her wisdom and kindness, and the King considered her advice.
"Aye, but I just wish I could find something that will always make her smile," the King replied. He thought about the elusive gift all night long, barely sleeping a wink. He called for his horse early the next morning and went for a ride through the countryside. This did much to lift his spirits, as he took in the fresh, cool air and the beautiful green of nature. At length he dismounted and lead his horse into a forest, looking for a stream for his horse to drink from. He soon found it, and loosely tied the horses reins to a tree nearest the river, so the horse could drink his fill while the King explored the forest. He had not gone very far at all when he heard a bird singing; the most delightful singing the King had ever heard before.
"Hello!" the king called up to the trees, (for in fairy tales, everyone knows how to talk to birds),
"That was such beauitful singing just now. May I ask who the singer is?"
A small white finch flew down to a branch just above the King's head.
"That was my singing you heard, majesty," the white finch replied.
The King now knew what present to give his young daughter.
"Splendid! You can be my gift to my daughter. I am sure that your singing would always make my daughter happy."
The King then noticed how very sad the white finch now looked.
"Oh, but we would be very kind to you," the King try to explain.
"And if you have a family, we shall provide for all of them as well."
"It is not that, Majesty," the white finch replied.
"It is a very great honour that you offer me, and I am very greatful for it. All the birds know how good and kind you and your Queen are, but I would really rather stay here in the forest."
"But why?" the dissapointed King asked.
"There are several other families nearby, very simple folk who are all hard working. They have children as well, but unlike you, they cannot afford to buy them fine gifts. Instead, they come into the forest and ask me to sing for their children. If I leave, who will sing for the other Children?"
The King now felt quite bad for asking the white finch to leave.
"I am sorry," he apologized.
"I am afraid I have been quite selfish. By all means, please stay here and sing for all of the children."
The little white finch made an elegant bow.
"Thank you, majesty. For your kindness, I shall prepare a special gift for the new Princess."
The next day was the Princess's Naming Day. Just as the King and Queen stepped out onto the balcony, a large group of songbirds, hundreds of them, flew into the courtyard below and started singing merrily. The young Princess giggled in delight and the Queen smiled and looked at the King.
"Looks like you managed to find the perfect gift after all."
* * *
Peter set down the storybook on the little table near the rocking chair, careful not to disturb his sleeping daughter. He then placed the sleeping Lucy in her crib and stood there for a moment, just looking at her. He was so caught up in his sleeping daughter that he did not notice when Rose entered the nursery.
"Finally asleep then?" she asked quietly.
"Aye," Peter replied, still not taking his eyes from his daughter.
"I read her a fairy story."
"Was it the one with the Wise and Beautiful Queen?" Rose asked, a smile dancing upon the corners of her mouth.
"That's my favourite."
"Because there are uncanny similarities between you and the queen?" Peter asked.
"And because it's about another da' who would do anything for his wee bairn," Rose replied seriously.
"Aye," Peter replied again and leaned down to brush a light kiss over Lucy's soft little forehead.
~fin
(I had to sneak them in somewhere...)