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