Week Five, Night Five: The Fox Finds The Prince

I had a dream last night...

I saw the Fox, hopping through the tall grass, coming up on the land of the Golden Apple King, when he overheard someone talking nearby.

He crept closer to the road, and found two of the king’s guards, with one having just informed the other of something.

The one receiving the news gasped, saying “The king’s youngest son?! How could this happen? Do they know who did it.”

The Fox leaned closer to listen, fearing the absolute worst.

“It was in the woods leading to the castle.” replied the guard with the information. “His murderer is said to have taken the boy’s clothes, so at the suggestion of the young prince’s brothers, all of our archers have been ordered to fire upon anyone wearing them.”

The canine’s heart sunk at “murderer,” until he heard the part about the clothes and the brothers. “I’d wager that the poor lad failed to follow my advise yet again.” he whispered.

So the Fox left the two guards, quickly making his way for the woods they had indicated, running almost as fast as the Golden Horse himself.

He crossed the road, and saw a little house where an old man was tending his garden. Knowing he wouldn’t bother to turn around, the canine called out to him “Good day sir! Do you, by any chance, know where a well might be around here?”

“You’ll be better off getting water from the brook.” he replied. “That old well in the forest as long been dry.”

“Which well might you be talking about?”

“The one on the other side of that oak.” he explained, pointing in the direction without looking up.

“Thank you very much.” the Fox replied, darting off toward it.

Making his way around the oak tree, he saw the well on the other side of a shaded path. He ran up to it, and looked down, fearing what might happen to a boy at the bottom of a dry shaft. But there sat the Prince, huddled on a thick bed of soft moss!

“Do dry wells normally lead one home?” asked the canine, startling the boy as he looked up and saw who it was.

The Fox leapt down to the Prince, shaking his head at his situation. “Is it for the sake of hearing myself speak that I give you these warnings? Perhaps you have been waited on too much to follow instructions yourself.”

“Do not be vexed with me, dear Fox. I am truly sorry. They were my brothers, after all, I never thought they would do something like this!”

“I have not given up on you just yet.” he replied. “I will help you up again into daylight. Now, remove your outer shirt and hat, and grab hold of my tail.”

The Prince immediately began to remove these things, asking “Why must I do this?”

“Your brothers have declared you dead, and have described your murderer as wearing your clothes!”

“How could that be? What have I done to make them so cross?”

“Something certainly is amiss. Now grab hold.”

And as the Prince clung to the creatures tail, they bolted up out of the well, stepping out onto the surrounding grass once more.

“Thank you ever so much!” said the Prince. “Now they will not think I am the murderer, and I can straighten all this out!”

“It may not be even that easy. I fear your brothers will try something even after you get into the castle. Here, follow me.”

The Fox led the boy back to the old man’s house, telling the Prince “Go exchange clothes with him.”

So the boy walked up and asked the old man, finding him more than willing to trade his worn clothes for the fine ones.

And once the Prince had changed and was back in front of the Fox, the canine told him “Sit upon my tail, and I shall take you to the side of your father’s castle, where you will gain entry as one of his servants.”

The boy did as he was told, and sat upon the creature’s tail, and away they went, flying over stock and stone, until the wind whistled through their hair!

–Charles M Warren

Week Five, Night Four: The Gold Thieves

I had a dream last night...

I saw the Golden Princess, riding the Golden Horse with the Golden Bird, as the Prince and his two brothers walked along beside them.

The middle brother drooped his head forward, saying "How long have we been walking like this?"

When the eldest seemed to get an idea. "Let's go cool ourselves in that forest there. We may even find a stream with which to refresh ourselves."

Everyone thought this a fine idea. And soon enough, they found a nice shaded path, with some low-hanging trees they could rest under.

When the eldest prince pointed at something up ahead. "Look there! What's better than a stream? A stone well!"

The all gathered near it, with the middle brother flopping into the grass, and the eldest helping their younger brother to draw up a bucket of water.

The Prince watched his oldest brother pass around the water, as he sat on the stones around the well, and asked "So did the two of you just make it back into that town? You must have searched everywhere to have decided to head back home!"

His two brothers looked at each other, and let out a laugh, with the oldest one replying "But we did find the Golden Bird."

The Prince looked confused, as his brother went on.

"You brought him right to us!" and with that, the eldest prince pushed his youngest brother backward into the well!

The Princess gasped as she saw the boy fall, but the two other princes quickly pounced on her and the bird, as the younger said to her "You won't say a thing! We'll take you to our father, and you'll just play along, or we'll say you're a witch and have you thrown in the dungeon!"

"Yeah!" his older brother agreed. "No one will believe a witch!"

So they put the girl up on the horse's saddle, and climbed up themselves, with the Bird in their hands, forcing the horse to carry the three humans atop his back.

Soon they were at the castle of the Golden Apples, where the King came out to greet them, in utter disbelief at the wondrous creatures they had brought.

"Father!" cried the eldest. "We have found the Golden Bird!"

"And a Golden Horse and Golden Princess as well!" added his brother.

"Absolutely astounding!" exclaimed their father. "And what of your brother? Did you happen to see him, by chance, on your journey?"

The Princess glared at the two princes, knowing she could say nothing herself.

The younger prince turned to his brother, whispering "He may have yet survived. And could spoil the whole lot!"

The eldest nodded, and turned to the king. "Father, I have grave news. A robber killed our brother and stole his clothes, just as he stole our own! I would advise that guards be sent to watch the forest, and kill anyone they see coming out of it."

The king appeared quite troubled. "Yes, yes. That sounds good. We shall repay that murderer."

The Princess felt some comfort in the two brothers' doubt in their sibling's demise. So she said to the king "Your majesty, if I may, we saw no body for the youngest prince. It may be that he has somehow survived."

The two brothers looked at her angrily, but the king nodded at this, and ordered that the golden animals and the Princess be given food and housing.

And as the day went on, the Princess could think of nothing else but the poor Prince, with the king noticing how she would only sit by herself a weep. And as beautiful as the other creatures were, the Golden Bird would not sing, and the Golden Horse would not eat or allow anyone to ride him.

–Charles M Warren

Week Five, Night Three: North Of The Prince's Castle

I had a dream last night...

I saw the Golden Horse, carrying the Prince, Princess, and the Golden Bird on his back, as they made approached the town north of the Golden Apple King.

As they trotted through the streets, everyone around them would stop and stare, mesmerized by all the shimming gold of the creatures.

Coming up to the two inns, the Prince pulled the horse over to the cheerful one, and flagged down a gentleman who was just about to go in.

"Kind sir," the boy asked "Have my brothers returned through her? Two princes, on a quest for the Golden Bird?"

The gentleman made a confused face, saying "What in fairyland are you talking about? Princes? Here? I don't know anyone who's seen such a thing as that. But I've gotta get going, two rich fellows got in trouble with the law, and I want to see 'em get hanged!"

"Two rich fellows?" the Prince wondered. "Where is this taking place?"

The gentleman pointed to the eastern side of town.

So the Prince pulled the Golden Horse around, and galloped in that direction.

They came to a small crowd of people, with many of them shaking their fist in anger, when the royal group caught sight of the gallows for hanging.

The Princess turned to the boy, "You're not thinking they could be... your brothers, are you?"

"That's what I'm about to find out." he replied, dismounting and getting the attention of a tall thin man. "You there. Just who are these men, and what did they do?"

The man told him "You name it, and they done it. Fighting; stealing; trying to sell the things they stole; bribery."

"Where are they? I must see these men."

So the thin man raised his hand above the crowd, shouting "Here-here! This man wants to see the criminals!"

The crowd turned around to look at the Prince, beginning to separate to each side, as the two men were brought out. The boy couldn't believe it, they really were his two older brothers, wearing dirty rags, with their hands tied behind their backs.

"How could this be?" he asked. "Brothers, tell me you had no part in these crimes!"

The older, bearded one, turned to the other, seeming to smile a bit before replying "It was a mistake! I'd advise you to never stay at that inn, they demanded so much for us to stay there, that we had to sell our royal garments just to pay for it!"

The other one nodded in agreement. "Oh, yes. It must have been the two that bought those clothes who did all those crimes!"

When off to the left, an important-looking man with glasses pointed at them and said "You pair of liars! You know you did those things, and because of your threats against our people, are more than deserving of death."

The Prince turned to him, "This cannot be." he said. "Here, I will pay for them, and take them away with me."

The important-looking man watched the boy take out his money, then nodded his head. "Very well. As long as they never return."

So the two older princes were untied, and allowed to go with the royal company, as the Princess rode the Horse with the Bird, and the Prince walked along with his brothers.

The middle prince tapped the back of his hand on the eldest, saying to his youngest brother "How wonderful! You actually found the Golden Bird... and so much more. Father will be ever so happy!"

The Bearded Prince looked up at the girl on the horse, saying "And such a beautiful princess as well!"

The Prince joyously stepped out in front of them. "They are all such magnificent creatures! You should hear the Bird sing! Oh, and the Horse gallop at full speed! And the Princess could not be more kind and gentle."

–Charles M Warren

Week Five, Night Two: From The Bird To The Fox

I had a dream last night...

I saw the Golden Bird, sitting in his wooden cage by the window of the mansion, when a swarm of people could be heard making a commotion outside.

The bird cocked his head, wondering what could be going on, when a servant came bursting in.

He closed the window, and took the fowl out of the wooden cage and put him in the gold one, causing the Bird to give out a screech as the little door was shut.

The Bird was then taken through the mansion, and out the front door, where a crowd of people had gathered, with the Prince trotting up on the Golden Horse.

The Prince dismounted, and led the horse over to the owner of the mansion, the great Hunter and possessor of the Golden Bird.

The Hunter rubbed his hands together as he said "I can't wait to ride by that pompous Rider's estate... on the back of his own horse!"

"Well he's all yours." replied the Prince, presenting him the creature's reigns.

The man instructed some of his servants to take the horse away, presenting the bird to the boy. "And, as promised, the Golden Bird."

The Prince approached the gilded cage, studying the animal inside, leaning close and whispering "The Fox instructs you to fly into the faces of those holding the Golden Horse. Then to meet us in the woods west of here." and unlatching the cage door, he swung the structure around, letting the door swing open.

The Bird flew out, and into the faces of those leading away the horse, causing them to let go of the large creature.

Looking up at the fowl, the Prince shouted "The Golden Bird has escaped! I can't give you the horse if you don't have the bird!" So he jumped back onto the Golden Horse, and with the hunter shocked at what was happening, rode off into the woods.

Soaring up over the trees, the Golden Bird peered down through the branches, and saw the glinting of the Princess' hair. So he tilted his feathery body to the left, and spiraled down through the air, passing through the trees, and finding the Princess sitting on a log beside the Fox, just as the Prince came galloping up.

The girl couldn't believe her eyes, standing up as the bird came fluttering over to her and perching on her outstretched arm.

The Fox smiled, nodding at the additional creature, and turning to the Prince. "How wonderful! The last of the golden creatures!"

Dismounting, the boy led the horse over to the others. "Yes. Thank you, kind fox, for taking care of the Princess. If there is anything I can do for all your help, do not hesitate to ask."

"Actually, there is something." replied the canine, suddenly becoming very serious. "This is the reward I seek for helping you: I wish to be slain by you."

Both of the royal couple were horrified at the thought.

"You can't be serious!" exclaimed the Prince. "Some reward that would be!"

"I assure you that I am quite serious indeed." replied the Fox. "It is the final thing that I desire most. I must be slain, and my head and feet cut off."

The Princess let the Bird fly over to the horse's saddle, as she bent down to look the creature in the eye. "Dear little friend, why would you ever ask such a thing? This is something I simply could not bear to see happen to you."

Looking back at the girl with moistened eyes, the Fox lowered his head. "I understand... Princess." He then looked up at the Prince, "Then I will give you one more piece of advice. Do not buy any 'gallow's flesh,' and never sit on the edge of a well. Goodbye to you all!" And before anyone could say anything, he disappeared into the woods.

The Princess looked over at the boy, " 'Gallows'? Aren't those the things criminals are hung upon to be put to death?"

The Prince nodded. "Yes, indeed. And who would ever fancy sitting on the edge of a well?"

As they pondered the Fox's words, the Golden Horse walked up, nudging the two to get going.

The girl turned around, "I guess we best get back to your father's castle. I'm sure he would like to see the Golden Bird, and I can't wait to meet him, seeing as you've already met my parents."

"Then let's be on our way!" he replied, helping the Princess up onto the front of the saddle, and swinging himself up behind her, with the Bird on his shoulder.

So off they went, on their way to the castle of the Golden Apples.

–Charles M Warren

Week Five, Night One: From The Princess To The Horse

I had a dream last night...

I saw the Prince, sleeping beneath a small tree as the dawn quickly approached. The Princess' castle was to my back, and the valley that the hill had blocked was laid out before me.

And as the sun began to rise, something on the other side of the valley started to glisten and sparkle with a golden light.

Out came the Princess' father, who couldn't believe what he was seeing. He pointed the light out to his servants, saying "Look! There it is! The Golden Castle!"

The Prince sat up from the tree he had been lying under, and wandered over to the king, as the Princess was finally allowed to come out. She ran over and threw her arms around the Prince.

"You've done it!" she exclaimed.

But the Prince didn't seem to understand what was going on, when he noticed the overturned earth beneath his feet, and realized that the Fox stayed true to his word.

The king's wife came out next, appearing more concerned than amazed, stuttering "Oh... n-no."

The Princess hopped over to her father, kissing him on each cheek and saying "You promised, Father. Now he is free to go, and has gained my hand."

Yet the king could saying nothing in reply.

The princess then went over to her mother, giving her the same kisses. "Do not worry, Mother, this is what I want, and what was meant to be."

The queen just slowly shook her head, knowing she could do nothing. But when she saw how joyful the girl was, returning to the boy who had tried to take her, she felt comforted that her daughter would be happy.

So the Prince and the Princess set out on foot, passing through the front gate, and finding the Fox, sitting there waiting for them.

The Fox bowed to the Princess, "You are looking as lovely as ever, princess."

The girl glanced at the Prince, then curtseyed to the little creature. "Thank you." and asked "Do I know you, little one?"

"Yes." replied the canine. "But that was a long time ago. We have other matters to attend to."

The girl turned to the boy, "A friend of yours?"

The Prince nodded as he crouched down, "Most certainly so. He was the one who helped me remove the hill last night."

The Fox nodded, "But let us now make haste, for though the Princess is certainly the most precious of the golden creatures, you can also obtain the Golden Horse, for it really belongs to her."

"What must we do?" asked the Prince.

"I will take you both to the Rider's estate, but I can only carry one at a time. So the Prince will go first, with the Princess in the safety of her castle gates, so that I may drop the boy off to wait alone in the forest while escorting the Princess."

So the Prince sat onto the Fox's tail, and away they went, flying over stock and stone, until the wind whistled through their hair!

The Fox dropped the boy off near the estate, and went to get the girl, soon returning with her on his tail, so that they were all together again.

The Prince helped the girl up off the creature, saying to the Fox "Don't tell me we're just going to give the Rider the Princess."

"There is much more to it than that." he replied. "Once everyone is cheering over your success, proceed to shake the hands of everyone around you, offering the gesture to the Princess last of all, only to swing her up onto the horse behind you!"

 proceeding to tell them the plan.

The Prince walked up to one of the estate's guards, and told him "I would like to see the man of the estate. I have come for the Golden Horse."

The guard went to deliver the message, spreading the word of what was going on, and causing a huge crowd to form at the front of the estate.

Finally, the Rider emerged. So the Prince walked up to meet him, leading the Princess by the hand.

When everyone realized that the Golden Princess was before them, they began to cheer and shout

The Rider's face brightened when he saw what everyone was excited about, saying "O how wonderful. how wonderful! You've come to deliver me my bride!"

The Princess tried not to show her disgust, as the Rider continued to look at her longingly.

"Now where is the Golden Horse?" asked the Prince.

The Rider snapped his fingers, and the creature was led out, with the golden saddle atop his back.

The Prince escorted the girl to the Rider's arms, nodding at her in assurance, before swinging himself up onto the horse's back. "Thank you, kind sir." he said, reaching out his hand for a congratulatory handshake.

The Rider, keeping his left arm tightly around the Princess, held out his right hand to complete the gesture.

The Prince continued to shake the hands of everyone around him,  glancing at the Princess as he moved forward on the saddle to make room behind him, noting how tight the Rider's arm was around her.

The girl looked up at the Prince with concern, fidgeting in the Rider's arms to try and loosen his grip on her, when she seemed to have an idea. She turned to look at everyone, "All hail the Prince, for gaining the Golden Horse, and delivering a princess to her most deserving groom!" raising her hands above her head, and leading them all into a celebratory clap.

The Rider couldn't resist applauding his good fortune either, lifting his hands to clap in the air.

The Prince nodded in thanks, reaching out to shake a few more hands, before offering his palm to the Princess.

They grabbed onto each other by the wrist, and he swung her up behind him, spurring the horse to dash away in a moment, flying faster than the wind, away from the Rider's estate!

–Charles M Warren

Week Five: The Taking Of The Golden Creatures

   The Fifth Week, with Five nights of dreams...

Week Four, Night Five: The Prince's Task

I had a dream last night...

I saw the Fox, late in the afternoon, coming out of the woods near the Golden Princess' castle.

Slipping through a hole in the wall, he swiftly crept up to one of the windows, hearing the voice of the Princess herself:

"But Mother, I told you. He is my betrothed. The one the Golden Bird sang about!"

Yet the queen just shook her head. "We have no way of knowing that. He tried to take you away in the night! Your personal guards are lucky they won't be losing their heads."

"Then is it really necessary to give him such an impossible task?"

Her mother replied "If he really is your betrothed, then he will find a way."

"And if not?"

"Let's just wait and see what happens first."

Leaving them, the Fox went back through the fence, and across the front wall, looking for where the boy might be.

Finally, he found the Prince digging a hole into a large hill, one of about a dozen, scattered about.

"I have been looking everywhere for you." explained the Fox. "What happened with the Princess?"

The boy looked at him with a rather annoyed expression. "She has once again returned to the safety of her castle. I was caught yet again. But this I'm sure you already knew."

"Then what is this you're doing? Is this digging your punishment?"

"No." replied the Prince. "The king said that I must move this hill from his view of the valley by tomorrow morning. Only then may I gain the hand of the Princess, or else be charged with her kidnapping and endangering her life!"

The Prince wearily scooped up two more shovel-fulls of dirt, before crying out in frustration and throwing his utensil down, falling to his knees. "What kind of task is this?! The king will surely have my head for even touching the Princess."

The Fox calmly shook his head. "I did not speak my warning for no reason. But I know that you are a good lad, and I wish to help you." Looking up to see how low the sun was, he told the boy "Go lie down under that tree. Get your rest, and I will take care of this task for you."

The Fox waited until the Prince had fallen asleep, then began to whistle a most haunting melody, but of a different tune than the one that had put the guards to sleep.

And suddenly the trees and bushes nearby rustled with movement, as wolves, foxes, and bears emerged. Along with wild boars, hedgehogs, and squirrels. And out of the ground there even came moles and shrews.

"My brothers and sisters, aid me this final time, for the conclusion of my own quest is now in sight!"

–Charles M Warren

Week Four, Night Four: The Princess At The Springs

I had a dream last night...

I saw the Golden Princess, in a thin white gown, entering a trail through the woods in the moonlight, having left two guards behind to await her return.

Wandering down the narrow path, she came to a place where the trees opened up into a pool of water amongst the forest.

She made her water toward the water, when someone grabbed hold of her hand. Knowing it must be her maidservant, she turned to see what she wanted, when the Prince leaned up to her and kissed her on the cheek!

It was he that had grabbed her, saying to the girl "Princess, please, come with me."

Seeing that he was awaiting her consent, she nodded. "I will go with you."

So he began leading her down a stream through the thick forest, when she suddenly stopped.

"Oh, but my parents." she explained, reminding herself of the conversation she had with her mother. "I must say goodbye to them first!"

"But Princess... We cannot. We must leave now. Before your guards realize you are gone."

"But..." she began.

"We have to keep moving." he instructed, pulling the girl along after him.

The poor princess couldn't help but start to cry, thinking about the promise she had made to her parents. "Please! Please! You must let me say goodbye to them. It would take but a moment. I will go anywhere you take me, if you just let me do this one thing."

The Prince stopped, and looked back at the Princess, seeing the tears in her eyes. "I'm truly sorry, dear princess, but I have promised to take you with me without stopping. I fear it may go badly for me if I don't."

"Dear boy, they are but my own guards. Yet, even if you must fear them, I know a way into my castle where we can avoid them. Only please let me bid my parents farewell."

The Prince could resist her pleas no longer, bowing his head as he told her "Very well, Princess. You may lead the way to them."

The Girl took him back to the springs, and into the woods on the other side. After a short hike, they came out to a wide field, with the wall of the castle on the other side.

Leading him along the castle wall, she stopped at a spot that looked no different from the rest, yet pulled open a secret door. Slipping inside with the Prince, they passed a young boy whose duty it was to watch that very wall, with the Princess merely raising her finger to her lips.

They make it inside, and as far as the kings chambers itself, when the Prince grabbed the Princess by the arm. "You aren't going to actually wake them, are you?"

She looked back at him, and shook her head. "Only tell them goodbye and give them a kiss."

So the Prince let the girl go, waiting by the doorway.

The Princess crept up to her mother first, carefully giving her a kiss on the cheek and forehead. Stepping over to her father she did the same thing, whispering to them "Goodbye Mother. Goodbye Father. I will come visit."

But her mother began to stir, seeing her daughter and asking drowsily "Darling? What's going on?"

"Oh. Nothing Mother." the Princess replied. "You can go back to sleep if you wish."

And as her mother drifted back off to dreaming, the girl made it back to the doorway with the Prince, as he said:

"That was close."

They walked back up the hall a little ways, when the Princess seemed to remember something, turning to the Prince. "Oh, might I just get one thing from my room? A golden apple that I found on my windowsill."

"A golden apple!" he replied, too curious not too see it for himself.

She led him into her sleeping quarters, where she lit a lamp to illuminate an old dresser, opening it up to reveal the apple on a shelf, and a beautiful golden dress hanging nearby.

The Prince couldn't believe she had ended up with one of the Golden Apples. "And were there four in total?" he asked.

"No. Just the one."

The boy started to ask her further about it, when he noticed their reflection in a full-body mirror, with himself in his stately clothes, and the wonderful Princess in such a flimsy thing.

When the girl took the golden dress off its hook, and held it up to her body to show him. "Isn't it beautiful?"

The boy nodded. "Yes. Do put it on. I should like to see how it looks on you. But be quick, I fear we have stayed too long already."

She disappeared behind a folding screen, and quickly emerged in the gown fit for a queen.

"Truly beautiful indeed!" remarked the Prince, backing up and bumping a small table. He looked to see if it would fall, and watched as a whole porcelain tea set went crashing to the floor, with the clatter echoing across the room.

In rushed the king and a dozen guards, imediatly siezing the Prince, and standing between him and the king's daughter.

The Princess tried to plead with them, saying "It's quite all right! I wish to go with him!"

But this concerned the king all the more, as he ordered "Take the boy to the dungeon! We will discuss what to do with him in the morning."

–Charles M Warren

Pictures+ Updates!

     I added the Pictures for the rest of Weeks Two and Three, and added a few more details to Week 3, Night 4: "The Princess And Her Mother," and added even more to Week 3, Night 5: "The Fox At The Mansion," including more from the Bird.

–Charles M Warren

Week Four, Night Three: The Rider And The Tailor

I had a dream last night...

I saw the Golden Horse, with the arrogant Rider on his back, racing toward the town north of the Golden Apple King.

They flew through the streets, past the butcher and the tanner, coming to a stop at the shop of a tailor, with expensive clothing hanging in the windows.

The Rider swung his leg off the saddle, and began to tie up the reigns, when the tailor came rushing out.

"Good day. Good day." he said.

The Rider turned to him. "Yes, yes. To you as well. I've come to buy–"

But he was interrupted by the shop owner: "Best not leave such a beautiful horse out here unattended." he said.

"What's that?" asked the Rider.

"It's those two rich hooligans." informed the tailor. "They'll sell anything they can get their hands on for another pint of beer and a song!"

"Well I've come for the fanciest suit you've got. One fit for a the groom of a princess on her wedding day!"

The shop owner's eyes brightened, seeing that the Rider was a rich man himself. "Well, we can do business right here." he told him. "I just got in two suits that match just such an occasion!"

The tailor disappeared into his store, as the Rider looked about the streets, wondering if he might catch a glimpse of the men the tailor was talking about.

The shop owner came back with two royal garment indeed, impressing the Rider as soon as he saw them.

Taking one of them up in his hands, the Rider said "Amazing! These could be nothing less than the clothes of a king!" He looked up at the man. "Where did you get these?"

"Actually, from those hooligans I spoke of." replied the tailor. "They sold them to me for half what they're really worth!"

"I'll take this one." instructed the Rider, of the yellow one in his right hand.

"So," began the store owner, watching his costumer count out his money, "Is this really for a royal wedding."

"Indeed it is, my good man!" he replied, swinging himself back up on his horse with the garment in his hand. "Mine! And with the Golden Princess!"

–Charles M Warren

Week Four, Night Two: The Servant And the Song

I had a dream last night...

I saw the Golden Bird, perched in his wooden cage, late in the afternoon. When a male servant of the Hunter appeared, replenishing the food in the bird's cage.

The Golden Bird began to sing the most beautiful song, causing the eyes of the servant to brighten.

"Not only are you beautiful to the eye, but to the ear as well!" said the servant.

He looked out the window as he listened to the bird sing, saying to himself "I wonder where it is you went when I let you out all those nights ago?"

And suddenly the bird stopped, looking curiously at the servant boy, until he was looking back at him. When the Bird spoke:

"The old woman of the castle so bright, beckoned me to do her bidding one night. And though that castle was once where I belonged, she should not be there, its owners were wronged. O wonderful castle, of gold not of stone; why are you so empty, your halls so alone."

"The old woman?" asked the boy.

"She is not the first, but the second, it's true; a betrayal that happened not to one, but to two."

"Then, to whom does the Golden Castle belong?"

The Bird replied "When a queen almost died, birthing a child; a fairy came in, quiet and mild. She saved queen, so it was told; and out came a girl, with hair made of gold. And once she grew up, meeting a man of success; she had a babe like herself, the golden princess."

"The Golden Princess!" the servant exclaimed, "I've heard of her! They say she's the most beautiful woman ever to step foot in this land!"

Then the Golden Bird began to sing, producing a wonderful, otherworldly melody, that made one feel both sad and joyous at the same time. Until he suddenly stopped, reciting another poem:

"This girl, with hair of gold; will grow up kind, will grow up bold. She will see the castle, the horse and bird; until the time comes, with her brother is heard. Her prince will come, when her vulnerability is great; only to press his lips to her cheek, a nobleman's trait. And all of the Golden Creatures they'll gather; and live in that great castle, happily aver after."

–Charles M Warren

Week Four, Night One: Quests And Questions

I had a dream last night...

I saw the Prince, trudging through the woods at midday, and looking none too happy.

The Fox came hopping along, looking up at the Prince as he said "Good friend, I see that you have overlooked my advice yet another time–"

When the Prince angrily spun around. "What have you gotten me into?! I've become nothing more than a common thief! And not a very good one at that!"

The Fox looked around in confusion, uncertain of what to say. So the Prince continued:

"All my father wanted was the bird that belonged to this golden feather, and now I'm on my way to kidnap the daughter of a king!"

"My Prince," the canine began, "I tried to warn you of the way you should go. But ease your mind, I can assure you that all of this is to set things right. You know that those men are not the true owners of the horse and bird, they were merely given to them as bargaining chips!"

"And what of this princess?" asked the boy, turning away in frustration. "I suppose there is something I am to look out for here as well? And if she really to go to that scoundrel?"

The Fox closed his eyes and lowered his head. "I can assure you that the Princess will not end up with the Rider of the Golden Horse, for I am twice the gentleman as he! The Princess will go with you willingly, she has been waiting for you, and I know where to find her."

The Prince looked back at the creature, asking "Then where am I to take her?"

"That will come at its appointed time. For now, let's make our way to her castle. Here, sit upon my tail once more."

But the boy hesitated.

So the Fox told him "I have not steered you wrong up to this point, and I shall not start now."

The boy considered it for a moment.

"I want things to turn out right... far more than you know."

Finally, the Prince nodded. "I will do as you say. But promise me that this is the last time I shall every have to steal anything."

"The very last indeed." replied the Fox. "And on any account, a willing princess is not stealing at all!"

So the Prince sat onto the Fox's tail, and away they went, flying over stock and stone, until the wind whistled through their hair!

Nearing the castle, the canine stopped at the edge of the nearby forest, and let the Prince get back on his feet again.

Adjusting his hat, the Prince asked "Just tell me in which room I will find her."

"Oh, she will not be in the castle tonight. In preparation for her Birthday, she will be taken to the royal springs to bathe. You must hide near the springs until she appears, and quickly step out and kiss her on the cheek. Then she will know that you mean her no harm, and shall willingly follow you where ever you go."

"If it is as easy as that, I think I shall like this one most of all." declared the boy.

"But, my Prince, you still need be aware. I know the Princess. She will want to wish her parents goodbye. But you cannot let her. You must resist her pleas. For if she goes, you may find her beautiful golden dress to much to resist, and ask the maiden to try it on. Beware I say, or it may go badly for you."

The Prince nodded. "This time, I will follow your advice to the letter."

–Charles M Warren

Week Four: The Taking Of The Golden Princess

The Fourth Week, with Five nights of dreams...

Week Three, Night Five: The Fox At The Mansion

I had a dream last night...

I saw the Fox, moving through the grass at midday, sneaking up on a window of the hunter’s mansion.

The shutters were open, with air being allowed to pass in and out, when the canine leaped up unto the windowsill, and peeked in to see the Golden Bird in his wooden cage.

“Dear friend,” said the Fox, “Have you observed anything about the Princess, and how she can best be reached?”

The bird cocked his head, almost as if he didn’t understand, then opened his beak and said:

"To the east of her castle, in a wood where water starts; the maiden will be bathing, with her protectors quite apart."

The Fox bowed his head, saying "Thank you, kind fowl." And he turned around to leap down onto the ground saying "Now, if only that Rider would leave her alone."

 and leaped back onto the ground.

When the bird spoke again: "The Rider causes shame, to the beast that he rides; for his true intentions, he rarely hides. The witch of the castle of sparkling gold, made me fetch the apples, for potions untold. She poisoned the fruit, and with the Rider so sly; sent them to princes, to make them all die."

The Fox narrowed his eyes at the thought of the old woman's treachery. "I figured as much."

"You saved the one prince, so valiant indeed;" said the bird, "yet danger encompasses the others, no warning did they heed."

As the canine began to ponder the Bird's words, he heard talking from the front of the mansion.

So he hopped back down to the ground, and quietly snuck up to the front corner of the grand house, peeking around to see the mansion's Hunter speaking with the Rider atop the Golden Horse.

The Rider pointed down at the big man, "What are you trying to do by sending that boy after MY horse?!"

"Ha ha! I knew he wouldn't get him." the Hunter replied. "I was merely ensuring I would never see the lad again."

Seeming to calm down a bit, the Rider said "Well, there are plenty of other horses you could have sent him to steal."

"So what was his punishment?" the hunter asked. "What did you do to him to get him out of your hair?"

"Simple, really." explained the Rider. "I sent him to fetch me the Golden Princess."

"Ho ho ha!" laughed the Hunter. "That's a fool's errand if I've ever heard one! I just hope you weren't looking forward to that coming true!"

The Rider turned away, a bit irritated, before finally replying "No. At the very least, the Princess will see how much I want her. " Then he smiled, "After all, I'm even sending princes to fetch her hand for me!"

As they both began to laugh, the Fox turned away, saying to himself "Don't be too surprised, O proud Rider, when that Prince gains the heart of the object you so selfishly covet!"

–Charles M Warren

Week Three, Night Four: The Princess And Her Mother

I had a dream last night...

I saw the Golden Princess, sitting upon a pillow on the floor, with an older golden-haired woman standing behind her, sipping on some tea.

“Princess,” began the woman, “You’ve been quite distance as of late. Please, tell me what’s on your mind.”

The Princess smiled, gently shaking her head. “Oh Mother, you needn’t bother about my thoughts. I guess it is just my approaching Birthday that has led my mind to wander.” Then, looking up at the woman, she asked “And what of the plans after the celebration?”

“Why, you will be attending the royal refinement school like any other good prince or princess, where they will train you in the ways of a lady, and recommend other royalty and statesmen for you to be matched up with. Running off with another man's horse isn't exactly fitting for a princess, you know.”

The girl smiled, as she explained “I brought i back to him.” But then she turned serious. “And by ‘matched up with,’ you mean... for marriage?”

“Yes, my dear, of course.” replied her mother, stepping in front of her daughter and bending down to look at her in the face. “But do not be concerned. We want only for you to be happy. We would not agree to anything that went against your happiness, or what was right for you.”

The Princess got up, and walked over to the window. “But mother, what of the Golden Bird, and his prophecy about my betrothed?”

“That was but a silly story.” said the Queen.

The Princess turned to her mother in surprise. “But what of the fairy that came at your birth? And all the gifts she gave when my aunts and uncles were born?”

“True, that is the story my father always told us. But we were forced from that castle long ago, and I just don’t see how–”

“The Golden Bird.” Her daughter interupted. “He came at my christening, and told of the Prince that would come for me. Did you not see that with your own eyes and ears?”

“Yes.” the Queen admitted. “And as much as I passed it off as some kind of trick, I will believe it if you wish me to believe it.”

“And the refinement school?” the Princess asked.

“If things happen as the Bird proclaimed, then we will bring someone here to teach you the things you should know.”

“Really?!” asked the Princess excitedly, running up and wrapping her arms around the Queen. “Oh, thank you Mother!”

“I only ask that you give me a kiss goodbye before he takes you away.”

The girl smiled. “I’ll give you two! And father as well!”

–Charles M Warren

Week Three, Night Three: The Prince And The Rider

I had a dream last night...

I saw the Golden Horse in the stall of his stable, shaking his mane in the cool night air. When who should pop up from the wooden door keeping him in but the Prince.

The young man slipped under the stall door, and patted the horse on the side. “Amazing.” he exclaimed. “You’re more beautiful than I could’ve ever imagined. Just let me get your saddle, and we’ll be out of here.”

He slipped back out, and reached for the leather saddle, only to glance over at the golden one. But then he shook his head, reminding himself of the Fox’s advice, and what happened the last time he didn’t take it.

Carrying the saddle back to the Horse’s side, he lifted it up over the creature’s back, and shifted it around for a proper fit. But something seemed wrong. The saddle just looked so out of place sitting on such a lovely animal.

“What harm could it really do?” asked the Prince. “A horse certainly can’t crow like a bird. Perhaps I shall inspect the golden saddle, to see if it would be safe after all.”

So the Prince went back out, and approached the ornate harness, feeling around its cold, metal edge for anything that might alarm the groomers. But he could find no such thing. So, carefully, he lifted the saddle up off its hook on the stable wall, and examined the underside of it, again finding no evidence of it doing any harm.

Taking the golden saddle over to the horse, and sitting it aside so that he could remove the leather one, the Prince swung the shiny seat up onto the horse’s back. But the cold metal must have surprised the horse, as it caused the animal to rear up and whinny loudly!

The Prince turned to the stall door, fearing the worst, as the groomers came rushing in and grabbed hold of him.

Hearing the ruckus, the horse’s rider came out to see what was going on, stepping into the stable. “My horse?! What happened? Is he all right?” then he saw the Prince. “And who is this?! A horse thief?!”

The Prince looked up at the rider with concern. “My greatest apologies, kind sir. I merely came to ride the Golden Horse.”

“Ride it right out of my hands!” snapped the Rider. “I can see that you are from a rich family. Tell me, why is it that you wanted my horse?”

“If you really must know,” began the Prince, “I only wish to have the Golden Bird, as it was caught taking the golden apples from my father’s garden. But when the man who keeps the bird saw me trying to take it, he said he would only forgive my crime and give me the bird if I could get him the Golden Horse.”

“So you really are nothing but a thief after all.”

“Please sir, I was told that the horse was not yours either.” explained the Prince.

“Oh but it is!” the Rider replied. “The old woman of the Golden Castle gave it to me!”

The Prince looked away in thought. “So it is true...” Turning back to the Rider, he said “Then surely there is something I can retrieve for you, in the same way I am doing for the others!”

“Hah!” scoffed the Rider. “Send you on another thief’s errand?!”

These words hurt the Prince. What was this fox leading him to do? But what choice did he have now? Yet he assured the Rider “Whatever you wish, I promise that I will bring it to you, and bear the full brunt of the consequences.”

“Very well.” he replied. “There is a certain princess, with hair as dazzling as gold. She lives in the next castle north of here, and would love me herself if she only got to know me better.”

“A princess?” asked the Prince.

“Yes. Only then may you have the Golden Horse!”

–Charles M Warren

Week Three, Night Two: The Moonlit Springs

I had a dream last night...

I saw the Golden Bird, sitting in his wooden cage in the dark, listening to someone talking in the next room.

“I’ve got another one!” exclaimed the voice. “First fox we’ve killed in days. There can’t be too many more out there.”

Then came the voice of the man of the mansion, “Well I’ll be happy when we can tell that old lady that we’ve done it.”

“Say, do you think that Prince will really be able to get the Golden Horse?”

“With that snob holding onto it?” replied the man, “You know how he gets whatever he wants... and never lets go!”

The Golden Bird cocked his head and turned around, brushing his tail against the cage door, and causing it to swing open, as it had apparently not been secured!

So the bird hopped out onto the rim of the door, looked around at the room, then the scene outside, and flew out into the night air.

The bird flew across the moonlit landscape, soaring over fields of swaying grass, as well as dancing treetops, until he saw a small stream running from the forest.

He dove down to skim over this stream, following it up through the dense forest to where it might lead.

Coming to one pool of water from which it ran, the bird perched on a limb hanging over the water, and bent down to get a drink, tilting his head back after each beak-full of water. When he heard the sound of girls laughing.

The Golden Bird hopped over to another low branch, then took off into the air, with his tail pulling up droplets of water as it lifted from the pool’s surface.

He flew through a space in the tree limbs, and discovered a spring from where the stream originated. And in the stream, were several young maidens, bathing in the moonlight.

The bird rose up off the branch he was resting on, and flew over to a limb closer to the maidens.

“Might as well enjoy it tonight.” said one of the girls. “She’ll have it all to herself tomorrow night.”

“Well I suppose it is the only time she has to herself, getting out of the castle and all.”

“And how many girls can say that they’ve bathed in the same waters as the Golden Princess?”

–Charles M Warren

Week Three, Night One: The Legend Of The Golden Castle

I had a dream last night...

I saw the Prince, cautiously sneaking up to the stable of the grand estate.

As he approached the entry-way, he saw several of the groomers on each side, standing up, yet fast asleep.

He began to quietly step past them, when one of the groomers spoke:

“So you wanna hear about the legend of the Golden Castle, do ya’?”

The Prince froze in his tracks, wondering how he could’ve been caught, when he saw that the groomsman’s eyes were still closed.

“That’s right. That’s right. I know the story well.” said the sleep-talking man. “You see, long ago, there was a very noble and humble king and queen, who ruled their kingdom quite fairly. Before long, the Queen was expecting a child, and when it came time for her to give birth, she began having great difficulty in her labor, until she was but a hair’s breadth from death.

“So the King called out to the Creator of Heaven and Earth for help for his wife, and flying into the window came a beautiful fairy woman with golden wings! She told the King she would help his wife, but to be careful not to favor this child over any others he should have later on. The King agreed wholeheartedly, praying only that the fairy do what she could for his wife and their child.

“So the fairy used her magic staff on the Queen, and she did not breath her last, but gave birth to a darling daughter with beautiful golden hair. They thanked the fairy, and asked her to be the girl’s godmother when the child was christened.

“Later, though the King feared his wife having more children, she became with child again, and gave birth to daughter with hair as brown as the earth. To celebrate, the Golden Fairy gave the king a tree that bore Golden Apples.

But then the face of the sleeping groomer seemed to turn bitter, as he said “Well what do ya’ mean by that? The golden fruit tree isn’t near the Golden Castle anymore because it died long ago. But it’s from a seed of that tree that the king to the South got his Golden Apple tree. Make a bit more sense to ya’? Good.

“So the King, seeing as his eldest daughter had golden hair, considered the tree to be hers, and would only let her eat of its fruit.

“Then the Queen bore a third child, a boy with the hair of a raven. So the Golden Fairy brought the King and Queen a wonderful Golden Bird, who would sing like no other bird, and even proclaim what might happen in future times. But again, the King thought the Golden Bird should belong to his Golden Princess.

“Soon, the Queen had a forth child, this one was a boy who had the color of the harvest upon his head, so rich was his blond locks. And in commemoration, the Golden Fairy brought an amazing Golden Horse, which could run faster than the wind. And you can bet that this horse we have here is one and the same.

“With this gift too, the King thought it should go to his eldest, who loved to ride it once she got to the age.

“Next the Queen had a third girl, as their fifth child, with hair as bright and red as the dawn itself. The Golden Fairy came once more, and though she didn’t know about how the King had been favoring his eldest daughter, she saw how happy they all were, and how humble the King and Queen had remained. So she used her magic to turn the entire castle into gold!”

But then the groomsman seemed confused. “What’s that?” he asked his imaginary listener, of whom the Prince could only guess at what was being said. “Well I’ll tell you why it’s now empty.” assured the man. “As the King’s children got older, some of them began to resent their oldest sibling, though it was no fault of her own. And they all went out to make lives of their own.

“When one day, the second eldest came back, ‘Lady of the fruit tree,’ they called her. She let her heart grow dark, and sought to learn the ways of dark magic. She cut down the Golden Apple tree, and forced her parents and her sister from the Golden Castle, keeping the golden creatures with her, and everyone else away.

“So the King and Queen moved to a neighboring kingdom, where their daughter married a prince, having a daughter of her own, one with as golden of hair as her mother.”

Then, smiling, the groomsman licked his lips. “Yes, I’ll have another biscuit...” And grew quiet once more.

The Prince was intrigued by such a story, but knew he better hurry to the Golden Horse.

–Charles M Warren

Week Three: The Taking Of The Golden Horse

The Third Week, with Five nights of dreams...