Thursday, April 21, 2011

REMEMBER? IT WILL COME TO YOU ...

Another exciting challenge for today. The letter R conjures up so many words. What will today's post reveal? You must read and find out. Today's is a bit longer so I hope you enjoy it. 


I just would like to welcome and say a quick hi, to my new friends who joined my blog family this week. They are: Sue, Marjorie, Whitney, Bob, Josh, Vanessa, Marsha, Grandpa, L. G., Heather, Hilary, Melissa, Monti, and Joanna. I can't wait to get to know all of you better.

Sweat pours down a young maiden’s face with each turn of the spinning wheel. She wipes a bead of sweat trickling down her forehead. “This is impossible. My father and his big mouth!” A tear caresses her cheek as it slides down her delicate features.
Late into the night, a funny looking gnome appears before her wearing an impish grin. She jumps back, landing on the stone floor covered in straw. “W-who o-or w-what are you sir?” she asked in higher octave than her normal voice.
Still grinning, the creature, no higher than her knee speaks in a gravely voice. “I am here to help you fair maiden.” He smiles, revealing chipped yellow teeth.
“No one can help me. My task is impossible to achieve,” she said, tears streaming down her pale skin.
“I am capable of anything, Miss. Your necklace for payment, and I will do as you ask.”
Wide eyes stare in disbelief at the horrid creature. “Very well. If you can spin all this straw into gold, I will give you my mother’s necklace. It means everything to me, but my life is more important.”
With nibble fingers he spins the wheel creating gold with each new strand of straw. Her jaw drops and fiery light enters her eyes. “But how?”
Not responding, the gnome continues to spin the wheel at rapid speed and fills the room with gold before daybreak. She hands over the necklace to him and he disappears.
The king visits the maiden and is thrilled at the sight of a room full of gold. He extends his arm and escorts her into another room filled with straw. A moment later, a servant places the spinning wheel and stool next to her. 
“You live for today, my dear. You know what to do.” He exits and locks the door. 
Hours upon hours, she calls out to the magical creature until her voice is hoarse. At midnight a rustling of straw captures her attention. “It’s you noble sir. You have heard my cries.”
“Alas, but I should need payment.” His eyes darted to her hand. “The ring you wear on you left hand whilst do.”
“This treasure is all I have left from my dearly departed mother.” 
“No concern of mine.” He extends his hand and wiggles his gnarled fingers. 
Trembling, she slips the ring off and hands it to him. He pockets it and sits at the wheel, beginning his work. Once more, by daybreak the room is spilling over with glistening gold. He disappears with a knock on the door. Once again, the king beams and escorts her to another straw filled room.
With no other treasure for payment, she collapses and sobs into pungent straw. At midnight the gnome appears. Without a word he begins his work. As the last stand of gold hits the floor, he turns to her. He stares with mischievous black eyes.
“I have nothing left,” she said in a choked voice.
“Your first born will be mine.” He snaps his fingers and is gone.
The king arrives, opens the locked door. Eyes bright, he exclaims, “You, fair maiden shall be my bride.”
Nine months later, the queen gives birth to a bouncing baby girl. At midnight the gnome returns demanding payment.
“Please, I’ll give you all the treasures of the kingdom if you renounce your claim,” she pleads.
He refuses. 
“You must! I’ll do anything?”
With a sinister gleam in his eye, he speaks. “Guess my name. You have three days. I shall return to you each midnight for your answer. If by the third day you guess wrong, she is mine!” 
At the stroke of each midnight there he was. The queen guesses incorrectly for two nights.
On the third day a scout appears before her. “I have found the gnomes dwelling sire. In his rapturous dance of glee, he chorused his name.”
“Yes,” the queen whispers. “Tell me, please.”
“Rumplestiltskin, your highness.”
“Rumplestiltskin ... I have you now."

29 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

A fine telling of that tale, Michael!

Francine Howarth said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Francine Howarth said...

Hi,

Oooh, nice double twist fairy tale and so love the sinister gnome! ;)

best
F

Talei said...

Wonderful story telling! I love this piece, the voice is perfect. And, I know I shouldn't but I do have a soft spot for little old Rumplestiltskin.

Anonymous said...

Lovely! Again, so visual. I love the line: "A tear caresses her cheek..." That spoke to me.

Talli Roland said...

Beautifully told, Michael! Crafty old Rumple-man.

Robyn Campbell said...

You rock! Michael, you have a way with words, my friend. On every trip over to your blog, I know I will be inspired to write more and to write better than I did yesterday. Today was no exception. (Love the gnome.) :-)

Heather said...

A great take on the classic tale! Loved it!

Hart Johnson said...

I love this story! Well done! I always have liked this story, anyway.

Brenda Drake said...

R is for riveting, Michael! I really love this one - great job! :D

Arlee Bird said...

Well told version of this classic tale.


Lee
Tossing It Out

Roland D. Yeomans said...

Brenda is right, Michael. You did a riveting job as always, Roland

Luanne G. Smith said...

Righteous retelling of the Rumplestilskin romp.

I don't know why, but when I get to your blog I alliterate all over the place.

Golden Eagle said...

I love your take on the fairy tale! :) Great writing, as usual.

Marjorie said...

It's one of my childhood favorites. The evil little imp had no right to demand something as precious as a living being for payment. One of my other favorites as a child was The Pied Piper of Hamlin. Yet another evil character who stole innocent children because he wasn't paid. It's sadder than Rumpelstiltskin because he succeeded in robbing the town of its children.

Laura said...

Nicely told - I really enjoyed the read. Sorry I've been missing a while - mildly chaotic in the world of Laura, but I really hope to catch up on reading your back-posts this weekend
Lxxx

Nicki Elson said...

Aha, perfect way to reveal your R word at the end. I've always had a morbid fascination with this tale, and your telling of it was quickly paced and enjoyable. :)

Denise Covey said...

Great retelling Michael. Your voice is spot on. Imaginative use of the R word.

Denise<3

The Words Crafter said...

I'm beginning to think, Michael, that you should do a retelling of all the familiar tales, and publish them. Your versions are much, much better!

Bravo!

Brooke R. Busse said...

I knew it from the first bit of dialogue! Your pieces have spurred my brain to look at every clue. However, don't forget to watch your tenses.

Patricia A. Timms-McGehee said...

I love how much fun you're having during this blogfest. Great job!

This nome reminds me of the little guy in the movie Labrynth, Hogwart, I think. It probably shouldn't but it does. It's the part about the necklace. Remember in Labrynth how Hogwart wanted the girl's jewelry to help get her baby brother back? Love that movie. I need to watch it again with my kids.

Hope you're well.

Notes Along the Way with Mary Montague Sikes said...

Nice again, Michael!

Thank you for your compliment on my blog. I hadn't realized it, but I think you're right!

Monti

NotesAlongTheWay

N. R. Williams said...

What an evil looking gnome. This fairy tale always confused me as a child. I mean, wouldn't the king expect her to continue to spin gold? And who would want to marry him? Well, I guess I'm a liberated woman.
Nancy
N. R. Williams, The Treasures of Carmelidrium.

Lisa Potts said...

Ooh, I've always loved that story. Great interpretation, Michael.

Unknown said...

I love the story! Love the original, love the remake!

Author Joshua Hoyt said...

Great story. And thanks for the welcome. I look forward to the stories.

Heather Henry said...

I've always loved this story. You definitely have a way with words. Great retelling. And the picture...very sinister. :)

Anonymous said...

I love the line bouncing baby girl! It is a great fairytale :O)

Anonymous said...

Oh and i like the parody in 10th Kingdom of the story too with the wood cutter called was it Juliet? :O)