Private Tales Sierra's Storytime

[Sierra]

"The Hunter King of the dark wood journeyed back to the Huntress Queen and their castle. He'd gotten just to the border of woods when a strange sound reached his ears. It was a crying child."

Rose reached across the bed and grabbed her stuffie unicorn, hugging it tightly.

"A cruel, determined smile curled upon the Hunter King's lips. With a nudge of his heels against his black steed, he galloped over and with one lean and a swoop of his hand, he hauled the lost child up and into the saddle. The child was very young, perhaps only one or two and didn't struggle or fight as the King rode off with the little boy."

 

[Sierra]

"As the gates of the castle in the middle of the dark wood lowered, he rode forward with the sniffling babe. His voice boomed across the courtyard, calling to his Queen Huntress. For you, he called. I have brought a gift. He handed her the child, much to the Queen's delight."

Sierra shifted in her seat.

"The Queen doted on that child for years and the child was wanting for nothing. The child had all the clothing, food, and toys it could ever want."

 

[Sierra]

"But of course, children can't stay children forever. And after a few years the little boy was not so little anymore. Still a child, but no longer closer to the little baby that the Queen Huntress loved. And as he grew taller, she went to her Hunter King."

"The Hunter King could see her displeasure. And because the goddess Meershta was correct, she held no love in his heart for this child. Just the idea of having a babe. She complained to the Hunter King that she no longer loved the boy child. He was getting too big, afterall. Too old."

 

[Sierra]

"So, the Hunter King told the child he was going on a special hunt with the King. And the little boy was ecstatic. He loved spending time with his parents and he looked forward to a special hunting trip with his father. The Hunter King and the little boy rode far out into the dark wood. Just the two of them."

"After a time, the Hunter King stopped the horse and set the boy down. He unsaddled and told the boy to watch the woods around them. He could sense a predator near. The Hunter King slid his great sword from its sheath. The sound of steel sliding on the scabbard filling up the eerily quiet wood."

 

[Sierra]

"With one step forward, the Hunter King thrust his blade into the little boy's chest."

Rose gasped and squeezed her eyes closed, hugging the plushie even tighter.

"Without looking back, the Hunter King left the body of the child there and remounted his horse, heading back to his queen and their castle. But on the way, he veered off toward the village that bordered the dark wood. He tilted his head listening for that tell-tale sign of a babe's crying."

 

[Sierra]

"This time he came across a little girl wandering the fields. He easily swooped her up and into the saddle with him and turned, bringing his prize back to his Queen. She didn't even ask about what happened to the little boy because she didn't care. Or even remember. She was delighted to have a new little one. And a girl this time!"

"Mom," Rose huffed, arms squeezing the toy tightly. "That's wrong. Is he just going to get away with killing a child?"

Sierra shrugged. "I guess we'll find out if we keep hearing Daisy tell her story to the night sky."

Rose frowned. "Well maybe the sky didn't like how the story was going either."

 

[Sierra]

Sierra leaned forward and lightly patted her daughter's arm. "Perhaps. But Daisy kept telling her story."

Rose grumbled lightly but kept quiet.

"The little baby girl found herself being doted on. Lots of gifts and presents. But as with the little boy, as the years went by and the little girl grew older and into an older child, the Queen quickly became disinterested. The King took the little girl on a trip and once again, found himself disposing of the body."

Another grumble from Rose.

 

[Sierra]

"Sometimes travelers would come across these bodies. Bodies of missing and lost children. Children only the original families recognized after years of being away. But most times, the bodies disappeared and were never seen again. And so, the Hunter King and Queen Huntress continued to do this for centuries. Enough so that the surrounding villages knew better than to leave their very young children unattended. Stories spread and villagers knew to keep their loved one in before nightfall."

Sierra took a breath.

"Especially on nights of the slivered moon."

 

[Sierra]

"And like the animals they hunted, the Hunter King and Queen Huntress liked children of the same caliber. They liked the most beautiful. The most talented. The most gifted. And centuries later, a story about a far-away kingdom reached the dark wood. A story about a kingdom's royal daughter. She was said to be the most fair and most gifted child that the land had ever seen."

 

[Sierra]

"The Hunter King and the Queen Huntress got their group together and left their castle in the middle of the dark wood. They rode far and traveled quickly, under the darkest of nights until they were outside the walls of the kingdom's castle that held the princess."

"The King howled into the night and used his tricks of magic to lure the little girl out of her bedroom. And it just so happened that the princess's older brother was awake."

 

[Sierra]

"He went to check on his sister after hearing the fearsome howl. But he didn't find her. And the guards and servants were all asleep. As if under a spell. And no matter how hard he tried, they wouldn't be worken!"

Rose was listening very attentively; Sierra started to wonder if she was choosing the wrong story-types to tell at bedtime.

"The prince ran to the balcony just in time to see his sister wander outside and into the arms of the waiting Hunter King and Queen Huntress. He waved his arms and yelled, trying to snap her out of the spell. But the Hunter King swooped the little girl up and into his saddle. His cold, dark eyes tracked to the prince and with a cruel smile on his face, they began galloping away."

 

[Sierra]

"The prince turned and ran as fast as he could. Tearing through the halls and nearly falling down the stairs. He launched himself into the stables. The stable master and hands were under the same spell. They were all asleep!"

"Not wasting time on a saddle or tack, the prince took his favorite white steed from the stalls and leapt onto his back. Spurring the horse on, he charged down the eerily empty city streets, following after the hunting party. Faster and faster he urged his horse. He had to save his sister!"

 

[Sierra]

"He chased them through the fields but could never get close enough. He knew that if they entered the dark wood, it would be even harder to catch them. But he was determined to save his sister. He'd managed to strap a quiver full of golden-tipped arrows to his back. And a bow slung over his shoulder."

"Even for how young he was, he was an excellent marksman. But he was still too far to try a shot. Just too far. He urged his horse even faster. Even as he saw the hunting party crest a hill and then disappear as they went down the other side."

 

[Sierra]

Rose sat up in bed, clutching her stuffie unicorn even tighter. Sierra glanced out the window, thankful to see Cillian in the barn. She knew she'd never hear the end of this if Cillian came back now. Instead of getting Rose to sleep, she was keeping her daughter decidedly awake.

Sierra gently cleared her throat.

"The prince crested that same hill and his heart fell as he saw the hunting party near the edge of the dark wood far below. But this was his sister! And he refused to give up. He urged his horse faster and faster. Tearing down the grassy field to follow closely behind."

 

[Sierra]

"And on he went. Even as the group disappeared into the thick shadows of the dark wood. He didn't stop or slow down. His eyes were only for his sister. Even as he wound through trees and branches that wanted to snag him and swoop him off his saddle. Even as he thought he might never catch them."

Rose crossed her legs and bobbed anxiously on the bed.

 

[Sierra]

"The thick trees finally started to thin. And just ahead he saw the fabled castle in the middle of the dark wood. Flickering torch lights lit up the impressive structure. And there! He saw the drawbridge lower. His sister in the Hunter King's arms. The Huntress Queen just behind him. He wasn't going to make it. He would be too late."

 

[Sierra]

"Determined, he urged his white steed forward with one last prayer to any gods or goddesses that were listening. Reaching back into his quiver, he took out one of his gold-tipped arrows. Releasing the reins and balancing, she knocked an arrow to the bow, lining up a shot for the one thing he knew the Hunter King loved most."

Sierra paused.

"His Queen Huntress. Yelling at the top of his lungs, he released the arrow through the night."

 

[Sierra]

"The gods or goddesses must've been listening because with some invisible push, the arrow cut through the night air and buried itself right into the Queen Huntresses' back - right through her heart. She came crashing off her horse with a growl and fell right before the drawbridge. The cry grew the Hunter King up short as he spun around, shock and anger on his face."

 

[Sierra]

"With a sharp whistle, the Hunter King sent his group of fellow hunters at the boy. The boy didn't stand a chance. He took blows of the sword across his back and through his stomach. He fell to the ground with a sharp shudder, his horse running away into the dark wood beyond. But he struggled to lift his gaze even as the hunting party returned back to the drawbridge. Even as the Hunter King dismounted and knelt by his fallen Queen. Dragging the little girl by his side."

 

[Sierra]

"Let my sister go! He yelled sharply, finding the energy to do so. You see, the sliver moon was almost down in the horizon. The first light of dawn was almost up. The light always kept this group separated from this world. A veil between worlds. And the Hunter King would be forced to return to his side within seconds. The young prince knew this and begged. Release my sister! He cried out."

 

[Sierra]

"The Hunter King had to choose. Drag his queen with him behind the veil or take the struggling girl. But the Hunter King knew his beloved was too far gone. There would be no saving her. Or perhaps it was easier for him to take revenge. He snarled at the boy and held a knife to the princess' throat. The prince cried out for his sister even as the first rays of dawn started to peek above the horizon. The king stepped back with the girl in tow, over the bridge and then disappeared."

 

[Sierra]

"The boy cried out. How could he have failed his sister! It didn't matter now, though. Even if his parents would never know. Even if they would eventually wake from the spell and find their children gone. The heirs to the kingdom, gone. Because he knew he was dying. He watched through sleepy eyes as the God of Death emerged from shadows. Like an old friend."

 

[Sierra]

"But the God of Death passed the boy by and walked straight to the Queen Huntress. She snarled at him. She'd escaped death for so long. And she was quite the prize to be had. And he'd make sure she'd never escape the realm of death again. See? Both she and the Hunter King had escaped the realm of death once already. With a boned hand, he took hold of her. And for a moment, he looked over his shadowy shoulder at the boy, then seemed to disappear into the rays of sunlight, taking the Queen Huntress with him."

 

[Sierra]

"The boy wondered if he'd be back. The prince was in so much pain and he had to wonder if his sister was still alive. Or had the Hunter King killed her out of spite? If only he could get through the veil. If only he could stop himself from dying now. All muddled thoughts as he lay on the ground. There was a rustle of branches behind him.

 

[Sierra]

"He didn't have the energy to look up. But he kept his eyes open, even as a pair of boots that looked as if they were made from leaves and bark appeared in his vision. His gaze tried traveling upwards as a gnarled voice reached his ears. You, she said, you killed the Queen Huntress? The boy managed a nod. Then gave a tired laughter that sounded more like a cough. What good it did, he muttered."