A long time ago, when Bebo and her cousin Gleamdrene
were but maids, a time which only she, the Prince, the dragon and his sister
can remember, the dragon was searching for the perfect man or woman to be his firstborn.
He found a
man, a captain of the watch named Orman to fit the role he had planned. Orman
was perfect in the dragon’s opinion and so he went off to his sister’s realm.
“I would have
this man as my firstborn” he told his sister.
“Then let us play our game,” she replied. They
played their game and the dragon smiled, “So he is mine now” he said. His
sister shrugged.
The dragon left for his own realm and began to plan
a way to get Orman into his clutches.
Gleamdrene
did greatly admire Orman and he was of great repute and therefore she wished to
marry him. One night she was invited to meet his parents and together they
would ask for marriage.
So that
evening her cousin, Bebo helped her with her clothing.
“I can’t wait” exclaimed Gleamdrene.
“I can...” said Bebo quietly, for she didn’t like
Orman.
That night
Bebo waited long for the return of her cousin, but she did not come. Eventually
Bebo decided to go and fetch her cousin. She walked all the way to the house where
Gleamdrene had been expected earlier that night.
When Bebo
arrived she knocked on the door. It was opened by Orman himself.
“Is my cousin
still here?” she asked,
“No,” replied
the man, “when she left the dragon himself swooped down and took her away.”
“I see” Bebo said flatly, “at this time of night I
do not want to hear jokes; I only want my cousin to come home as it is very
late.”
“I was not
lying!” Orman retorted sharply “She is gone now so you’d better be off home
before the dragon nabs you as well.”
“Will you not
go after her?” Pleaded Bebo, “She is your love after all”
“No, my
parents say she isn’t rich enough so that’s the end of that!” Orman refused,
Bebo gaped “You
don’t love her at all!” she scolded. “Well if you won’t do anything I shall rescue
her myself!” And with that she stalked off.
*****
Bebo walked a long way. She didn’t stop to eat or
drink. She just kept going day after day looking for an entrance to Death’s
realm.
When she
found one at last she entered. She soon had to stop though, because she feared
to walk alone through the darkness.
“Lumil Elisul
will you please help me?” she cried out “I cannot go on like this in the dark”
“Follow my
path and trust in me” said a wood thrush which flew out of the darkness. “Your hair will light the way”, it
trilled, and Bebo’s hair began to shine like melted gold. “Thank you” she
whispered and kept going.
When she
reached the dark waters her resolve faltered, what would she do?
The dragon
sensed someone in his realm, sent a boat across the dark waters and was
satisfied as he saw the boat sailing across the waters with someone in it. He
smiled.
But the dragon
was not pleased for long. When the boat landed he saw the Path this person
followed, and also the person was not who he had been expecting! He frowned. This
was a woman! A woman did not rescue
another woman!
Bebo
continued walking. She hadn’t gone far when she found herself at the foot of
the dragon’s throne. Gleamdrene was there too, but she was sleeping.
“What are you
doing here?” Asked the dragon;
“I have come for my cousin!” Bebo answered.
“But you cannot do that”, said the dragon, “She must
be rescued by her true love.”
“Her true love has refused to come,” she replied
simply.
“WHAT!” the
dragon cried. “He will not come! Well that does change something…You may take
your cousin IF you amuse me” he decided.
“I can do that,” Bebo exulted; she was relieved;
surely it would not be too hard to amuse someone?
She tried
juggling. The dragon snorted. She tried riddles. The dragon looked bored. She
tried dancing. The dragon ignored her. Bebo sighed. Nothing she thought of
worked! And then she had an idea.
“I shall now take my cousin and go” Bebo announced
“Gleamdrene wake up, we will leave now.” Gleamdrene stirred and got to her
feet.
“What!” The dragon sneered, “Surely you do not think
that you can leave with her? You have to keep your end of the deal before you
may rescue your songbird cousin! I am amused that you should try and take her
before you have!”
“Have I not?”
Bebo queried.
“What!” Cried the dragon, realising he had been
tricked, “Well I did not say you could leave my realm did I? I did not say I
would not try and stop you?” The dragon smiled, “Anyhow, you cannot cross the Dark
Water”
But the Lumil
Elisul was with Bebo and the dragon could not touch her or Gleamdrene as they
walked down to the shore. Finding the boat still there they left his realm
safely. He was enraged but there was not a thing he could do.
The next
night the dragon visited Orman. “Do you wish to be great and powerful?” He
asked
“Of course I do!” exclaimed Orman, “Who wouldn’t?”
“Than accept my kiss”
“No way! I
know what you’re up to now! You’re some lass with a glamor on!”
Unfortunately for him Orman probably did not survive
the following few minutes.
A long time
after this when Bebo during the siege of Rudiobus, she looked back on this and
smiled at her younger self.
As for
Gleamdrene, she had found being rescued by her cousin, who was a lady like
herself, was very embarrassing and eventually she made herself forget. After
the siege of Rudiobuss she only felt a surge of annoyance and did not think of
it at all.
VOTING: If you would like to vote on this or any of the other fan fiction submissions, email your top three titles to me at aestengl@gmail.com. Voting is for fans of the Goldstone Wood series only.
Tee hee! Poor Gleamdren... She's so silly! Great job, Jemma!
ReplyDeletethanks Allison
ReplyDeleteJemma
Oh, I enjoyed that! It's such a good idea and meaningful! After all, this was before anyone other than those few would remember, so Akilun and Etanun had come to the Near world. So began the Flowing Gold!
ReplyDeleteAnd now that you've written this, Ragniprava ought to be ashamed of himself, emulating the Dragon so!
Ha! Enjoyed this story! Especially like how the Dragon was tricked through his own words. Excellent job!
ReplyDeleteOOo, a little Bebo and Gleamdren!
ReplyDeleteHa! Who would've thought that Bebo set off to save Gleamdren? :D
ReplyDeleteGreat way to introduce the Flowing Gold!
ReplyDeleteI am touched, I am smiling very hard and my eyes are watering!
ReplyDeleteThank you everyone!
Jemma
"Unfortunately for him Orman probably did not survive the following few minutes." Heh heh.
ReplyDeleteProbably not
Awww that was so cute!! And you've actually made me feel a wee bit sorry for poor Gleamdren! Poor girl gets stuck getting kidnapped all the time, and all her Knights in Shining Armor end up ditching her for one reason or another, and the ladies always end up rescuing her...even though she's much too proud to admit it.
ReplyDeleteThe last paragraph was most definitely the best (aside from the introduction to the Flowing Gold, which was so sweet and clever!). An awesome way to end an adorable story. Awesome job, Jemma, hon!
Blessings,
Melanie
I love that Bebo was the one to rescue Gleamdren, although I'm sure Gleamdren would have rather it been a handsome knight :) Great job, Jemma!
ReplyDeletethanks!
ReplyDeleteJemma