The Book of Bird and Fairy Stories

by Anne Spackman

of which she had never beheld. There was a grey stone walled castle looming high above the city and a sprawling city round as far as the eye could see. They passed by many streets of the city and finally up onto the gangway for the castle.

  In the castle, several guards stopped to converse with the huntsman.

  “I have a nightingale for Lady Helene,” said the hunstman atop his horse.

  “Very well, you may pass,” said the castle guards, but they relieved him of his weapons and instructed him to dismount so that a servant could tend to his horse in the stables. “A servant will lead you in to the courtyard.”

  “Very well,” said the huntsman, waiting for the servant to appear. Finally he did and they began to move. Meanwhile, Sophie had jumped from the horse and onto the hunstman’s back, crouching and clinging to his cape as she was bounced along towards the castle within the walls of stone.

  “Lady Helene, we have a huntsman here to see you.” The servant announced.

  “On what business?” said the noble, richly dressed woman sitting on a chaise in the courtyard.

  “He brings a gift for you.”

  “At a cost.” Said the huntsman. “For ten francs I offer you a gift of a nightingale to sing in your bird cage for you.” And he showed them the mesh bag, within which the nightingale struggled and made vague, plaintive sounds.

  “A nightingale?” The Lady Helene said. “Very well, I accept your offer, huntsman.”

  With that a servant was called, and he brought money to pay the huntsman. Another servant took the mesh bag within which the nightingale was moving about a little, but looking rather the worse for wear after her long journey to the castle.

  “Bring this creature to my bird cage in my chambers.” Instructed the Lady Helene. The huntsman made a gesture and said,

  “My Lady, I thank you and bid you farewell.” And with that, he turned and headed back towards the guard post within the wall.

  Sophie quickly jumped to the ground and followed the servant carefully who held the poor nightingale. As she was directed down many long corridors within the castle, she heard the intermittent sad calls of the poor little nightingale.

  The servant arrived at the Lady Helene’s chambers and put the little nightingale in the cage there, that had lain empty quite some time. The nightingale hopped into the cage from his hand and flew about a bit, calling softly, but she did not sing.

  The servant left the room, but Sophie stayed at the door and watched until he was quite gone. Then Sophie came in.

  “I will help you, my little friend,” she said, and she hurried to the cage, opening the latch quickly. “Fly now, fly away out that window, fair bird!” she cried.

  And the nightingale, sensing that freedom was near, chirped in happy gratitude at the mist fairy. Then Sophie watched as the nightingale flew from the cage and soared out into the open sky.

  And once she knew that her little friend the nightingale was free once more, Sophie headed back to her home in forest within the ash tree.