Knight Edliedon and the Enchanted Bread

Knight Edliedon and the Enchanted Bread

There once was a woman and her husband, and they had four children. The first was Henley, then Leah, next Jonas, and finally Edliedon of whom our story is told. Edliedon was half-a-dozen years of age and was often not heeded by his brothers and sister, though he didn’t mind it much. He wasn’t often called Edliedon, for that is long to say. He was sometimes called Ed, but most often Edlie.

On one quiet spring day, when the sun was out and gleaming on the great green hill on which his house was perched, Edlie found a wooden sword under the great green tree that shaded his house. He was on a quest to find the enchanting bread of the Queen that had such wonderful smell and wonderful taste. He wielded his woody sword and set off.

He started down the great green hill to the woods. He came across a young girl in a dark dress, playing with the daisies on the hill.

“Who be you and why stand you in my path?” He asked confidently bold.

“I am Leah, gathering daisies for Mother. Why do you speak outlandishly so? Where are you going?”

“I believe you not! I believe you to be a witch, gathering your h-erbs for your evil concoctionses, and are trying to lure me from my quest. Do not hinder me!” He ran off down the hill with a ‘ha ha’ brandishing his great wooden sword.

Now Edlie became very thirsty and was glad to find a shallow creek with which he quenched his parchedness. As he drank, something darted across the path through the woods. Ed watched intently to see what would appear, and from the shrubbery, a hare emerged. Edliedon stood; the hare spoke:

“Quick! After me, before I flee!

For white is my tail, and dark is the trail

I am the Great Hare, come if you dare!”

And follow it he did, right over the wooden bridge and into the dark woods. The hare fled and disappeared and Edliedon was lost, though he would only have needed to turn around and would have found his way easily.

Edliedon ran deeper down the path but began to grow weary, for the way was long and he was small. He was on this path for a great deal of time when he came to another path that crossed his own. He had to choose between three ways, to go forward, or to turn right or left. Edliedon sat down, for it was very hard for him to think while standing on two tired little legs.

Now, he had been walking straight for a great deal of time, so a change would be desired. Also, many of the great stories lead to bright lands, and the sun, which was still in the East, was shining down the left road. Thus, Edlie chose to go left.

Edlie traveled the bright East road for nearly as long as the last and grew very dirty, for the road had become dry, and the earth came up as dust. Edlie began to become very tired again when he suddenly heard a ‘clip-clop’ in the distance. It grew nearer and seemed to come from behind. Edlie became very frightened as the sound grew nearer and the ground seemed to shake. Edlie jumped headlong into the bushes and was well hidden by their leaves.

Two great beasts burst into view, great big horses. They seemed to be of the purest black and breathed quick and heavy, and Edlie believed them to be very evil. They were of course not evil, only being a dark brown and breathing heavily for they rode hard, though Edlie did not know.

After the horses passed, and Ed found the courage to come out of his foliage refuge, he found some red berries on the bushes and he forgot his fear. The berries stained Edlie’s mouth and hands, but being as delicious as they were, they could never surpass the delicious enchanted bread of the Queen and her King.

Now Edliedon had another choice to make and he sat down again, for his belly was full. These were his choices: to follow after the dark horses which had the potential for danger or to turn around to see what lay at the end. He thought so hard that he fell asleep. Now he had a dream and the dream was one of frightful nature. Edlie was captured by men who rode upon dark horses, and he was taken to a dark castle. He was put in a dungeon, and his sword was taken from him and he lived in that dungeon till he was very old.

Edliedon awoke and found it to be a dream. The sun was high in the sky. He began his quest again well-rested, and he had also made his decision. He would find the dark castle and make the road safe for travelers who would come to eat of the Queen’s enchanted bread with its enchanting smell. He followed the deep hoof prints and found himself in an open country and looked down, not into a dark castle, nor the Queen’s castle, but a quaint little village.

“This is blessed tidings!” He told himself, “Certainly a sign that a castle is near, for a royal castle is never without a good village.”

So Edliedon tramped into the village with an air of triumph, his sword swinging gently at his side. He walked so triumphantly, however, that he did not notice the horse, bumped into the tail and fell to the ground.

“Even knights bumble and tumble sometimes.” He thought, shaking the dirt off, being sure not to stand behind the horse. He stopped short in awe, for ahead were two young Princes, clad in grey tunics and green cloaks and brown pants and matching brown riding boots, and they were feeding their horses.

Edliedon ran up to the Princes in excitement, “I am knight Edliedon, on a quest to find the King and Queen and taste of the Queen’s enchanted bread. I would like to know your names if it pleases your Majesties!”

The tallest of the two stood taller, and with a smile began, “I am Prince Henley, son of the High King and Queen. I am very pleased to meet you, Knight Eldiedon.”

“And I am Prince Jonas, brother of Prince Henley, and I would like to bestow on you the honor of meeting the High king and High Queen.”

“Oh please, please!” cried Edlie in much joy, “Many thanks be to you! I will forever be at your service.”

Jonas was very pleased to hear this and continued, “Here is what you must do. Go through the village and the road will lead you to a forest. Beware of the roaming dragons on this road. The road will lead you to a great tower, and upon climbing it, you will see the castle. Cross the perilous bridge across a creek and you will have found the castle of the King and Queen. Do not turn off any roads and go with haste!”

“Many blessings to you, your Majesties! I thank you kindly!” Cried Edliedon gleefully.

“And Knight Edliedon,” put in Prince Henley, “Here is an apple from the Queen’s table herself. May you find your way with ease.”

Edlie was so happy that he had not the words to speak. He only nodded his head when the two Princes hailed goodbye. He cherished the apple so dearly that it was many moments before he dared take the first savory bite. He returned to his quest of seeking the Queen’s castle, and as Prince Jonas had told him, he tramped through the village and found the forest.

Edliedon followed the road for quite a long time when a path crossed his own. Edlie had forgotten that he must not turn from the road, but he reasoned that since he had chosen left last time, he should choose right this time. So he turned right and found the way was dark, but he continued to follow the road.

“What is that ahead?” cried Edlie, for there was a dark shape on the side of the road.

“It is a dragon!” He shouted and he charged it with a war cry. He beat it with his woody sword, and it bit him sometimes, but he was victorious. He turned around and returned to his own road, now remembering what Prince Jonas had warned him, about roaming dragons and turning off other roads. He also realized that he had been leading away from the bright lands. He took a deep breath, for as you may know, a fight with a dragon is hard work.

Edliedon brushed all the leaves out of his hair that had lodged there in the terrible battle, and found to his dismay that his sword had snapped. This was sad tidings to Edliedon and he continued on his road very downcast. But he was greatly cheered when he found a stump with a rotten hollow, just the size for his sword. He placed his sword into the hollow and found it a good way to honor his sword. Then in the dust, he wrote his name “Edliedon Reviresco McCune” for McCune was his family name, and he had learnt his letters.

He continued on again down the road, and the trees began to thin and stop, but from the last tree, there hung a ladder. Edlie proceeded to climb it, which was difficult work, for it was twice as tall as he. When he rounded the last rung, he found he was in the guard tower which Prince Jonas had spoken of. He looked out and saw it, the beautiful castle perched on a green hill, bathed in the bright colors of the evening sun. The chimney smoked, and Edliedon knew there must be bread baking. So he hurried down the ladder and ran, for his quest was nearing its end.

There however, was a narrow bridge across his path. Edlie remembered Prine Jonas’s words, that the bridge was perilous, but Edlie was confidently brave, and he knew that on the other side, he would receive the Queen’s bread from the King’s hand. He slowed to the bridge and fearlessly crossed it, over the shallow creek, the last peril on his quest.

He climbed the great green hill and found the castle door and knocked. The door opened and the great light poured out and Edlie was pleased, for he had found the bright lands. There in the light, stood the Queen, or as it truly was, his Mother.

“Come in Edlie,” she said, “The table is prepared, only, please wash yourself.

This he did quickly and found the dinner table. There were white flowers on the table; daisies, as he had learned to call them. There was Leah in her dark dress, who truly was not a witch. There were also his brothers, Henley and Jonas in their gray tunics, and there, as Edlie climbed into his seat, was his Father handing him a roll of bread. They prayed together, and all the time, Edliedon could not help but smell the wonderful enchanted bread of his Mother!

The End