THE WELL

An original fairy tale

By Atonia

Once upon a time in a tiny kingdom far, far away lived a handsome prince. He was loved by all though especially by his father the King. As he grew into adulthood the search went out to find him a suitable wife. It had been decreed by the King that all young men must marry by the age of 25.

As his birthday approached, young women were brought in from all over the kingdom but none caught the Prince’s eye. He was sent to the well in the middle of the square one evening and before he let down the bucket he saw a beautiful young woman in the water. Her lovely face gazed up at him in wonder and he called out to her thinking she’d fallen in the well. She smiled and soon the water rippled and she disappeared.

The Prince turned quickly to see if it had been the reflection of some beautiful village woman but found himself alone at the well.

The young woman in the well haunted his dreams and he found himself at the well daily, waiting for her to appear. She seemed to stare directly into his eyes and he longed to bring her out of the water.

A steady parade of the loveliest young women in the kingdom passed by him but he waved them away for his heart was caught by the lady in the well.

“Oh, Lady of the Water, if only you were here with me my future would be decided for it is you and only you that I desire for my bride.

The Lady of the Well blew him a kiss before disappearing in the movement of the water.

Once again he dreamed of the lady in the well and could almost feel her blown kisses against his lips.

The King , growing weary himself of the constant twittering parade of beauties and very much aware of the approaching birthday, said to his son, "A bride must be chosen today or I will choose for you!”

The day wore on and still the Prince made no choice. He excused himself from his father’s court and sat by the well. She seemed to be waiting for him and always smiled when he appeared. Deeper he fell in love with her and longed to bring her out of the well.

At last the bells began to toll, which meant his father was about to choose a bride for him. The Prince ran to the well and seeing the beautiful lady blowing him another kiss, he plunged into the water.

Far, far away on the other side of the world a beautiful young Princess let down a bucket into the well. Deeper and deeper the bucket  sank. She felt a tug on the rope and began pulling until it at last cleared the water. Still she pulled on the rope with all her might until the handsome Prince appeared at the edge of the well.

“My Lady,” he said, “My Lady of the Well,” and reached out and touched her face.

“Oh, my handsome Prince, you have surely saved me from a most unsuitable match for I must marry today or be banished from my father’s kingdom forever!"

“And I am saved by you for I must marry before tomorrow!” He took her in his arms as the bells began to chime.

They were married before nightfall and lived happily ever after.

The End

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