The Library

The Elf Kings Bride

By: Karen Bembry
Macon, Georgia


Look all around you

And what do you see?

A story that is waiting to happen

Or is waiting to be told, perhaps?

I have a tale to tell,

About life and loss, love and hate.

Let me tell you a story about a family,

But let me warn you though,

Its a sad tale, but with a happy ending.

But does the happy ending

Excuse the fact that the tale is sad?

Or does it make it a better tale to tell,

Which Im about to tell?


There once was a man

Who lived in the woods

With his three beautiful daughters

Enchanting as they were.

Lily was the eldest,

Her hair shone like gold.

Next was Violet, her eyes told it all.

Last was Rose.

Her skin was the purest that it could be.


Well, this man loved his daughters

Like any man would.

He give them anything

All that he could.

He worked to make sure



That they had food to eat

And clothes they could wear.

He even took care of the house

So his precious princesses

Wouldnt have to lift a finger

Or soil their perfect beauty.


Oh, did I forget to mention,

Did I forget to tell

Of one other daughter hidden

In the shadows of longing and despair?

She was the last daughter, the baby,

The favorite of his late wife.

Her name was Raven

And she was not like the

Other three, nothing like

Them at all.

Her hair hung listless and was dull,

Her eyes were blank and held nothing,

Not even the spirit of life.

Her skin was scarred and damaged.


Do you want to know something?

How her mother died, perhaps?

Father blamed the little one,

But it wasnt she who was of blame.

A fire raged through the house,

Burning everything in sight.

Mother went back into the blaze

To save her little precious one.

She and the child were badly burned.

Mother died and the child lived.

Maybe the child should have died

Along with Mother, then maybe,

She wouldnt have to

Endure her life as it was.

To tell you this brings such pain.

The fire was just an accident

Caused by three lost little girls

Who also wanted Mommys attention.


Raven lived in the shadows,

She lived in the dark,

She lived in the cellar

Full of cobwebs and rats.

One day, one bright and early day,

When the dew was fresh and new,

Father worked to get everything ready

So his princesses wouldnt have to.

The house was cleaned and

The breakfast was cooked.

The clothes were washed and

The table was set.

The floors were neatly swept and

Everything was in their proper place.


Father sat patiently waiting

To see the smiling faces

Of his beauties three.

The door slowly opened.

Raven entered, her black hair

Falling over her face,

Her tattered clothes covered her scars.

Here she came ever so slowly

With buckets of fresh milk.

She placed them by the stove

And slowly left.

No words pass between them.

No emotions were shown.


Lily bounded into the room.

Her hair shone about her like a halo.

Where are you going, dear Lily,

with your hair tied up and

your cloak clasped tight?

Just going to pick some strawberries.

Well, okay, then. Just be careful.

The goblins are out today,

trying to snare any beautiful child

with their tricks and lies.

My Father, dear Father,

Ill be careful as careful can be.


Out the door, Lily went.

Her yellow cloak flowing behind her.

Her straw basket begged to be filled.

Her golden hair glowing ever so bright.

Fathers eyes beamed with pride and joy.


Next came Violet, her beautiful eyes

Shone with confidence and happiness.

Where are you going, dear Violet,

with your hair tied up and

your cloak clasped tight?

Oh, just going to look at Mother Nature

and the wonders that she gives.

Well, just be careful.

The fairies are out today,

trying to snare any beautiful child

with their tricks and lies.


My Father, dear Father,

I promise I will.

Out the door, Violet went.

Her purple cloak flowing behind her.

Her eyes gleaming ever so bright,

Soaking everything in.

The spirit of life filled those eyes,

Oh, how it filled those bright eyes.


Last came Rose.

Her cheeks were red and

Her skin was pure.

It was as white and smooth as marble.

If one didnt know any better,

If one wasnt too bright,

One would think that she was a statue.

Where are you going, dear, Rose,

with your hair tied up and

you cloak clasped tight?

Im just going to get some honey.

Oh, well, okay. Just be careful.

The sprites are out today,

trying to snare any beautiful child

with their tricks and lies.


My Father, dear Father,

you can trust me.

Ill be very careful, oh, so careful.

Out the door, Rose went.

Her red cloak flowing behind her.

Her basket and jars waiting to be filled

With the sweet nectar of life.


Father watched each daughter

With pride and joy.

He turned to the buckets and

Dumped the milk out.

He turned to the food and

Wrapped them up for later.


Father took one look outside

Into the world in which his

Bright, beautiful daughters

Bounded off into.


My daughters, sweet daughters,

please, oh, please, be careful.

The Elf King is out today,

trying to snare any beautiful child

with his promises of riches

and lies of long life.


Raven sat in the cellar

Listening to all that was happening.

Her dull eyes stare off into the dark.

The cobwebs brushed gently

Across her scarred body.

The rats squeaked and scattered about.

Few sat on her lap waiting to be petted.

Some gathered around her feet

To keep them warm.

A couple gave her food.

She smiled and loved each one.

They were her friends and her family.

Soon, she fell off into a deep slumber.

Goblins and fairies and sprites,

Those bright fancy fancies,

Danced and twirled about her head.

A vision of a handsome young man

Filled her being.

There she slept in the dark,

There she wept in the dark.


When I was a tine child of thine eyes,

you once loved me and called me yours.

What ever happened to those carefree days,

my Father, dear Father?


The night became cold

And Father stood by the door,

Waiting for his beauties three.

In danced Violet, in skipped Rose.

Where is Lily, my dear Lily?

Where has she gone?

Father, we know not.

Oh, oh, no.

The goblins has snared away my precious child.

Father, dear Father, we will go

find our dear sister, Lily.

No, my dears, no.

Lily is gone from us,

taken away from us.

There the three stood

With their heads hung low,

Silently grieving for their lost one.


Raven listened from her dank home.

Her heart filled with sadness.

She looked at her friends and her family.

The rats stared back at her.

They understood.

Some of them dragged an old,

Tattered black cloak toward her.

She didnt tie up her hair

Nor was the cloak clasped tight.

Gripping the frail cloth about her,

She made her way into the night,

Into the dark that she knew of so well.


Midnight, not a sound could be heard.

All alone in the moonlight,

Raven searched and wandered.

The wind began to bellow.

She gripped the cloak tight.

Lily, where is Lily, the eldest?


Scatter, scatter, scatter.


Raven followed the scattering.

Soon, she came upon a sight:

Goblins upon goblins each and

Every one different from his kin

Taunted and hissed at poor Lily.

There were big goblins and

There were little goblins.

There were tall goblins and

There were short goblins.

Some were as wide as a barrel,

Others were as thin as a twig.

Some had faces of birds,

Others of dogs, rats, or cats.

Few wore elegant clothing,

Others looked like merchants,

Some looked like peasants.

There they were

The goblins of Fathers warning.

They threw strawberries at Lily.

Some were bold enough

To get close and smear her

With the sweet-tart redness.

Tears flowed down Lilys face.

Raven stood tall and still.


Lily, where is Lily, the eldest?


Lily looked toward the voice

As did the goblins.

They screamed and hissed,

Cursed and taunted.

Some throw strawberries at her.

Others ran toward her,

Tearing at her tattered cloak.

Few climbed on her

Smearing and crushing

The red candy all over her.

But there she stood, tall and still.


Lily, where is Lily, the eldest?


Soon, they grew tired of their games

And ran from them both.

Lily dried her tears and

Gathered her things.

She huffed right passed Raven

Without even a Thank you.

As they walked home,

A man watched and followed.


Lily, my Lily!

Where have you been?

What has happened?

Father, my Father, oh,

I have a tell to tale.

With that Father went out with his axe.


The next day, Violet and Rose went out.

Lily stayed home upon Fathers wish.

Her hair no longer shone like a halo.

That night only Rose came home.

Violet, where is my Violet?

Father, I know not.

Oh, no, not again.

The fairies has taken her away.

Should I go look for her, Father?

No, no. I cannot bear to lose another

child and have her soiled.


Raven sat and listened.

The rats dragged the cloak back to her.

Off she went, out into the night,

To look for her sister.

The man stood in the shadows.

His eyes glowing with curiousity.


Midnight, all alone in the moonlight,

Raven searched and wandered.

The wind began to bellow.

She gripped the cloak tight.

Violet, where is Violet, the second?


Whish, whish, whish.


Raven followed the sound.

Soon, she came upon a sight:

Fairies upon fairies each and

Every one different from her kin

Taunted and hissed at poor Violet.

Some were tall as humans and

Others were as small as a coin.

Some were green, others red,

Few yellow, couple were blue,

Just a rainbow of colors.

Some wore leaves.

Others dressed in twigs.

They threw their fairy dust

At Violet, stinging her,

Making her cry.


Violet, where is Violet, the second?

Violet turned to Raven.

Her eyes had lost their shine.

The fairies growled and hissed.

They started to throw dust at Raven.

But she stood, tall and still.


Violet, where is Violet, the second?

They had finally given up and scattered.

Violet dried her tears and

Collected herself.

She huffed right passed Raven

Without even a Thank you.

As they walked home,

The man followed and watched.


Violet, my Violet!

Where have you been?

What has happened?

Father, my Father,

it was just horrible.

They hurt me.

With that Father went out with his axe.


The next day Rose went out

Against Fathers wishes.

Lily and Violet stayed in bed.

That night Rose didnt come home.

Oh no, oh no, oh no.

My daughter, my daughter,

my precious, precious daughter.

With that Raven went out to look,

The man close behind.


Midnight, Raven searched

And wandered. The wind began to bellow.

She gripped the cloak tight.

Rose, where is Rose, the third?


Rustle, rustle, rustle.


Raven followed the sound.

Soon, she came upon a sight:

Sprites upon sprites each and

Every one the same

Taunted and hissed at poor Rose.

They were as big as insects

And looked like a ball of light.

They threw stones at Rose,

Poured honey all over her,

And dumped Holly leaves over her.

There Rose sat and cried.

Rose, where is Rose, the third?


Rose rised her eyes toward Raven.

Her skin was scarred.

The sprites glowed with anger.

They started to totured her instead.

Soon, they grew tired of this

And slowly faded away into the night.

Rose dried her tears and

Gathered her things.

She huffed right passed Raven

Without even a Thank you.

The man watched after them.


Rose, my dear Rose.

Where were you?

What has happened?

Papa, look at what they have done to me.

They have ruined me.

With that Father went out with his axe.


The next day, each girl stayed in bed.

People came and went.

Father was at wits end.

It was like he lost his head.

The Elf King could help for a price.

Yes, the Elf King!

Get him to help.


Father looked at each and every person.

The Elf King will just take them away.

Lily looked to Father.

Give him Raven.

Yes, Violet agreed.

Rose nodded.

With that Father dragged Raven

From her home and friends and family

To the woods

To where the Elf King lived and ruled.


A young man sat on a stump

With goblins and fairies and sprites

Dancing and twirling around about him.

His long blonde hair shone with majesty.

His blue eyes gleamed with innocence.

He stared at Father and hate filled him.

What do you want, foolish mortal?

I want your help.

Why should I help you after what you

had done to my subjects?

I had no choice.

No choice.

He turned and laughed.

Funny. Be gone.

He waved his hand.


I offer you my daughter.

What do you want?

I want my other daughters the back as they were.

For that you give me this thing.

She is not much,

but do as you wish with her.

I care not.


The Elf King stared at Father.

Raven stared at the ground,

Hair covering her face.

So shall it be, human.

Let them be as their were

and still are on the inside.

Leave her and leave here.

Father turned his back and

Never looked back.

Tears rolled down Ravens face.

Cry not Raven.

I dont want my queen to tears of sadness,

just tears of joy.

Why do you say jest things?

Me? Queen?

Yes, my dear. You are very beautiful.

No, Im not, my sisters are.

You are beautiful.

Your beauty is on the inside.

He climbed off his throne and

Took Ravens hand.


You have courage beyond

any measure. You, alone, went

looking for your sisters even though

they never treated you with an ounce respect

or loved you like they should.

He led her to a small spring.

Look in.


Raven stared at her reflection.

No longer was she ugly.

Her hair shone in the light,

Her eyes held life,

And her skin was smooth.

All of her scars were gone.

You are my queen, Raven.

Please be happy.

Your life will be better.

What about my friends?

What about them?

The goblins and fairies and sprites

Turned into rats, her friends and family,

And turned back into their old selves.


What?

Yes, Raven, I was watching you since

the day you were born. I was watching

you every step of the way. Your mother

made a promise to me that her last child

would be my bride. You are the last child,

so you will be my bride.

What about my family...Father,

Lily,

Violet,

and Rose,

What would become of them?

You need not worry about them.

They will suffer their own fate.


Father made it home to see

If the Elf King kept his promise.

Each girl was scarred and ugly

Just like Raven was.

The Elf King had kept his promise.

With all that said and done,

The Elf King and Raven were wed.

Oh, it was a joyous sight to see.

All the woodland creatures

Came to attend.

Nature decorated herself with

Flowers upon flowers upon flowers.

It was a winter of petals.

The Elf King and his queen

Lived happily ever after.


Look all around you

And what do you see?

A story or a tale waiting to be told.

I have told you my tale,

A tale of sorrow and woe,

A tale of happily ever after.

Now, my time is done and my tongue is tired.

Wouldnt you please share a story with me?