Topic: Faery Tale

Yasmin

Date: 2014-04-16 21:30 EST
Yasmin: A Faery Tale Beginning

Once upon a time, there was a couple who wanted to have a child. After years of trying, they were unable to have one of their own. The woman had heard dark magic stories of the mysterious travelers who began camping outside the town. Desperate, the woman secretly wandered into their camp one night. The travelers all watched her silently as she approached their elder, a gypsy woman with aged white hair.

With a toss of her hand, the gypsy invited the woman into her wagon, which was as colorful as the gypsy's patchwork clothes. The woman sat down at the small table made from driftwood and explained how she was unable to produce a child. Never uttering a word, the gypsy set to work mixing a potion for the woman. With each new mysterious ingredient added, the woman watched as the potion would bubble and glow. When it was finished, the gypsy carefully poured the creation into a clear glass bottle. The gypsy handed the blue tinted liquid to the woman. When the woman grabbed the bottle to accept it, the gypsy held onto it and wrapped her other hand around the woman's tightly. It was then she spoke.

"You will have a special child, but at a price. Heed my words, you will not see your child twice."

The woman gasped as the gypsy released her, leaving the bottle in her hands. She quickly stood, ran out of the wagon, out of the camp, and back to her home. She stayed up a few more hours, constantly checking at the windows to see if the crazy hoard of travelers had followed her. Still thinking about what the gypsy said, she sat down and stared at the bottle. She questioned what the old woman meant. If she had the child, would they steal it away from her? Surely her husband and the town would protect her baby from the travelers. There were not that many, after all. No more than a third of the town's total at most. In her home, in her town, she felt safe. She began to drink the potion. At first it was bitter, but each sip was different from the last, turning to sweet to salty to sour and more. After finishing it, she went to bed with her husband, without telling him what she had done.

Yasmin

Date: 2014-04-16 21:40 EST
A few days went by and the woman assumed the concoction did not work. After a few weeks, she began to feel sick and wondered if the gypsy's potion had poisoned her. Not long after that, she realized she was expecting a child. Months went by and the couple was so happy. As time grew closer to the birth, the woman became paranoid about the old woman's words. A few weeks before when the baby was expected to come, the woman finally told her husband. He assured her that no one would take their child.

After a sleepless night, and her sister's help, the woman gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. The mother voiced concern about her daughter's skin, but her sister said many children were sometimes born with a yellow hue that would soon fade within a day or two. The mother held her daughter close as she drifted off to sleep.

Within a few hours, the baby began to fuss, waking her mother. Her eyes were just beginning to adjust to the morning crimson sunlight as she looked down at her daughter. Her sister was right, the yellow tint faded into a pink. It did not seem like a typical pale baby pink; it was closer to a dusty rose color. Again, when she asked her sister and husband, they both assured her it was perfectly alright, but she could tell from their expressions it was not normal. The mother went to bathe as her husband went to work outside and her sister prepared them breakfast. The mother then went to check on the quiet infant and let out a scream. Her sister and husband ran to her side and gasped at the sight in the crib. The child had now turned a deadly shade of white, so pale even the blue veins had faded in color. The mother began to weep, believing surely her daughter must be dead. As she began to cry, the infant began to stir, frightening the three even more. They were at a loss for an explanation.

Every time during that day when one of the three looked upon the child, each coloring was different from the last. Even her eyes and fine downy baby hair on her head would change color. It was then the woman remembered the gypsy's words. She was right. Her daughter was a special child, and because her skin and coloring would change each time she looked at her, she was never truly able to see her child the same way twice.

Yasmin

Date: 2014-04-16 21:46 EST
After another day of facing inhuman colors, the mother's sister went into the town center for supplies. The local holy man approached her to ask about the new addition to the town. She confided in him and told him about the infant. He went back to the home with her to see the baby girl.

The mother showed the holy man the child, hoping he would bless her and cure her of her ailment. Through tears, she explained the gypsy's potion. The holy man grabbed the now sky blue skinned, white haired child and began cursing the monster to the gates of hell as he rushed outside and back to the square. The mother, father, and sister followed in horror. Eventually he came to a stop at the large well in the center of the town, dangling the girl from one leg as she cried over the deep well.

The townsfolk in the square began forming around the well, cursing at the child and spitting towards the well, cheering the holy man on to kill the child. He began his sermon, citing religious cleaning and rebirth and chasing out the demon in the child through holy water. The father tried to run to save his daughter, but the male villagers held him back violently.

The travelers quickly emerged from the places they seemed to be lying in wait surrounding the town square. Behind large hedgerows. Between the small shops. They easily outnumbered the couple dozen townsfolk in the square. The old gypsy approached the holy man, who stood still in terror. She put her hand up, palm facing him, as she walked up to him without saying a word. Both sides of the people watched the two with only quiet murmurs. Some there swore she said nothing at all, while others said she simply commanded.

"Give me my child."

Still in a silent daze, the holy man handed the woman the child. The infant stopped screaming, being held tightly and affectionately in the gypsy's arms. It was then the mother knew that it was not the mysterious, black magic wielding, traveling gypsies that would steal her daughter away from her, but the people that spoke holy words and did acts in the name of higher powers that would try to steal her child's life. With a heavy heart, she watched as the old woman took her daughter as her own, holding her with the love and protection she would need to live a happy and blessed life, living among the traveling gypsies.

....That was one of the many stories Yasmin heard when she asked where she had come from.

http://th09.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/i/2010/138/9/1/Aeia_by_stansartstudio.jpg Beautiful artwork by StansArtsStudio. See more of the artwork here: http://stansartstudio.deviantart.com/