New Story

As promised, here is my rendition of the magic spectacles:

The Magic Spectacles

Once upon a time, there was a bonny wise queen. She lived in the land of faeries beyond the hills, away in the West, and her castle looked out over a vast lake. She lived alone now that her laird, the king, was gone away to the Fair Isles, but she was well loved by the people, so she was not lonely. She had ruled in the land over her subjects for many years after her bonny prince had died, and had become a kind and wise ruler, and a grannywoman to all. She so loved her people that she often walked through the countryside to talk with her subjects, and to find out how they fared. Sometimes she watched the sunsets and sunrises or picnicked beside the lake among the revelers there. She was loved by all and knew the toils and troubles of all those she governed.

One day two bandits from a far off country crept into the marketplace to see what there was to steal. They hid in the shadows and watched the stalls to discover who was the most careless with their til. They were surprised to see the Faery Queen walking among her people, speaking to the merchants and even purchasing some small gifts for her ladies-in-waiting from the market vendors. At midday, she sat beside the lake and shared her food with the village children and watched as they gamboled and played beside the waters of the lake. The bairns played their games of tiddly winks, sailed their toy boats, and danced and sang as they enjoyed the day. She was very happy and content with life.

The bandits were astonished by her willingness to mingle among ordinary folk. It was not so in the kingdom they came from, where their own king was miserly and turned the poor people out into the streets if they could not pay their taxes, and took all the best crops and livestock for himself. He was so miserly that he would not even allow them to hunt in the forest for game. The desperate bandits' eyes narrowed as they glimpsed the Queen's fine jewelry and the pouch of gold tied onto her wrist. Their mouths watered at the sight of the sumptuous fare she had laid out before her. The bandits, who had not eaten for days, decided it would be more profitable to rob the Queen than to steal from the marketplace. So they waited in dark alleys and watched from the trees until they could find the Queen alone.

Early one morning the Faerie Queen was seated quietly beside the lake watching the sun rise and the water birds leave their nests and begin to fish. She watched the Flower Faeries gathering dew, and the robins building their nests. She was quite alone and enjoying her breakfast and the quiet of the morning when the bandits drew their daggers, sprang from the forest and threatened to kill her if she did not give them her jewels and her purse of gold. The Queen looked at the two strangers, and quickly put on her spectacles. Then she calmly gave them her purse and the rings from her fingers. She took off her spectacles and tucked them safely away in her pocket. Then she did an astonishing thing. She invited them to share what food and drink she had, saying ”Forever remember that a Faery Queen showed you love and kindness when you showed her only your greed”.

The poor bandits accepted the food, meekly took her purse, and deeply moved by what had taken place, scampered off into the forest.

Word spread quickly about what had happened, and one villager, hearing the tale did as the bandits had done and waited until the Queen was again alone by the lake. He took his dagger and threatened the Faery Queen. The Queen looked up and asked, “What do you wish?”

The thief said, “I have come to kill you unless you give me your gold!” The Queen reached into her pocket and put on her spectacles. Then she took them off again and said to the robber, “No, I will give you nothing.”

“Why not?” stammered the thief. “When two strangers threatened you, you gave them your rings and your purse! Would you do less for your own subject?”

The Queen sighed and answered, “Those two strangers were poor unfortunate creatures. I saw that all they have known is misery and hardship, that they lived under the yoke of a cruel king. They needed the experience of love and compassion to show them another way to live. You, on the other hand, have been surrounded by family and friends and a good and fair Queen your entire life. You lack for nothing. Your only motivation is pure greed.”

“How do you know these things?” asked the villager.

“I know because these spectacles allow me to see into your black heart. They were left to me by your wise king, and upon his death, have passed to me. They allow me to look into the hearts of all my subjects to see what it is that they need. I offer you another kind of compassion by not giving you my gold. So kill me if you must, but no reward will come your way because of your greed.” With that, the Queen arose and walked slowly back to the castle.

The villager broke down and wept. He resolved to change his greedy ways and to remember to be grateful for what he had.