by R D Blake
“So, my old friend, you have come back to me at last,” a great voice boomed out. A figure, both young and old, newborn and ageless beyond reckoning, of a size that dwarfed the bear but upon a second look seemed of equal proportions, robed as if a priest but then again armoured as if prepared for battle, gentle but firm, seldom angered but when so moved, fierce, yet forgiving and merciful unless faced with evil, then resolute. This being was all these and more beyond words of mortal men and greater powers than they. “I have missed you. Come and sit with me.”
The great black bear happily did so with the skull still held tightly within his jaws. God and the bear sat sprawled informally out on the steps below His Great Throne where He scruffed behind the ears of the beast who leaned in desiring even more. “And what is this you have conveyed to me, my noble servant?” And when God had looked at it more closely, said on, “You bring that to me?”
The bear grinned in a manner that he knew his master would understand. “Ah, you think to jest with me. Well, that cannot remain here.” And with a snap of His Fingers and a knowing glimmer in His Eyes, the skull disappeared. God shook the bear’s head roughly. “So you thought you would trouble me with that toy of yours. But yes, best to be rid of it. Though I regret having to do it and wish all men would flee evil, I cannot allow it here. That one chose his own path and that could only lead to his own destruction. So be it,” God said with both a sigh and firm resolution. Then he turned again to scratch the bear’s black hide harder and the creature moaned out his pleasure.
“Yes, I enjoy doing this as much as you like receiving it. Now, my friend, I wish to thank you for the service you gave me with regard to those two young sisters. Evil played its game with them and nearly succeeded, but I am content with how events turned out. Now, name your reward, for you gave up much to serve me in this way.”
Silence filled the building for some time, if time existed in that land in the fashion that men would understand. A smile came to God’s face and the bear returned it impishly. “So that is the way of it. You miss those human cubs, do you? Well, you shall have what you wish. But mind, there will come a time when I will need you again, my friend, though I hope it will not be soon.”
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Post Requiem
And now our tale has come to an end. What? You wish to know more? About what happened afterwards? Well, this tale has already been long, days long in the telling, as you all know, over most of the days of our autumn festival, and many of you should have been in bed hours ago. Your parents are giving me warning with their eyes so I must be quick about it.
This land of No Where, otherwise called Freehaven by citizens elsewhere in the kingdom of Pellannor, Erick and Teton came to rule jointly on behalf of the king. Though rule would be a far too strong word for how they governed. For in the autumn of that year, after the first of what would be a long line of strapping boys born to Teton and Marta, the two friends and their families travelled back to the lands south of this vale and reunited with their parents. But in the spring of the following year, they returned with the two sisters’ mother and father in among a great number of craftsmen, farmers, and a few retainers and began to build anew this northern region. As you know, Erick never took the kingship nor did Teton wish for the dukedom. Power and authority was passed to near cousins of both of their families. Instead, those two assumed responsibility as lesser dukes (though none within No Where ever called them that) of this new Mark of the realm.
More children were born to both Erick and Ilena and to Teton and Marta; but you all know of that, don’t you? Now, stop that laughing and smirking for some of them sit here among you even this night with babes and children of their own, though I see my story has put one to sleep. No Where grew to be a fair town, however by common consent the ruins of the fortress were never rebuilt but simply left as reminder that all men are but like the grass of the field before God.
Of course, you know the king and his queen came often visit us over the last years of their reign, and if I would be bold enough to say it, he loved this place and we his people more than any other; for here he would take off his crown and be as his son: one of us, even aiding us with his own hands during the harvests.
Oh, you ask, what of the Earl of Westhaven? As I heard it, the king sent him as an ambassador to the people of the southern isles. Where is that? I am not sure anyone exactly knows, but his lands were divided up and given to those nobles who bordered his earldom.
Now little ones, it is time to go home with your parents and find rest for the morrow comes soon and many of you must work the fields with the rest of us.
Oh! What now?! The bear you say? What of him? Now I know you only wish to delay the end of this night. You know as well as I do what became of him. In fact, he only left us a few days ago and that was only because some of you younger ones drove him to it with all those rides and pawing at him and jumping on his back and incessant playing with him. If he was a normal bear you all would have perished. What? Yes and likely he did have to go back to his den to nurse his wounds and pains. As did Teton. For didn’t they entertain us the other day with another of their tussles? And if I may say it, I still think neither that giant nor that bear will any day soon best the other.
Now, with one last word I will say goodnight to you all, for I deem our story ended. I give you this: do not any of you wish or think that Ilena and Marta and their husbands, Erick and Teton, lived lives of ease and only pleasure after the ending of the curse. You know better than that and comprehend as I do that those things only come true in tales — for God allows both good and evil to live upon our fair Earth and troubles come and go within the realms and within the lives of both man and woman. Only God knows the final ending for us all, if ever there is one, but store this in your hearts: He wishes for all things to end well.
And now off to bed, you scamps and you rascals, for who knows what tales the morrow will bring us afresh that you might miss, if you stay asleep and abed too long!
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About the Author
R.D. Blake is best known for the Saga of Michael Liddle: a seven book publication. Until he began writing as a post-retirement hobby and vocation he worked as a professional accountant and business owner and resides in Kitchener, Ontario Canada. For more information, go to www.imotifbooks.com, and for short children stories, to www.imotifbooksfaerietales.com.
