Golden Apples

Kella1

I never knew what happened to my father after my mother died but something changed between us. He became cruel and irritable. Now I sit at his side as he announces that the men who won should come forward to fight for their prize.2

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Four months ago my darling father thought up a “fantastic idea” to marry me off. 4

“We’ll have a contest,” he grinned; I hate it when he grins that grin, it usually means that something really horrible is about to be revealed, “Kella will be the prize and that is how we will decide the unfortunate to suffer my burden.” 5

That is how it started a small suggestion snowballed up to a huge stupid suggestion that I couldn’t believe my father accepted. His least liked advisor, Bearton, snarled, “Yes, lets put the princess on a glass hill and have knights and other nobles make asses of themselves trying to climb it. Hell we can invite the commoners to try their hands at it too.” My father looked stunned for a moment and slowly began to chuckle. He slapped Bearton on the back, “GREAT IDEA” he bellowed laughingly. I’ll get Bearton for this if it’s the last thing I do.6

So the great task began, sand was melted down into thick glass and fashioned according to Bearton and the King’s specifications with a straight plain for me to sit on. The royal tailors and seamstresses were assigned to make a “proper yet provocative” dress that I would wear for THREE DAYS! Then he commissioned the goldsmith to forge three hollow golden apples for me to give to the men who reached me or got close. Afterward, they will have a tournament and who ever of those three isn’t dead at the end will be my husband. Great, nursing wounds on my wedding night.7

After two months of this craziness I quit trying to convince the King against it; I couldn’t seem to make any headway with him. I had tried everything from yelling to begging and even attacking him out of pure frustration, all to no avail. The only thing I got out of him was a sound beating. He would grin his grin and leave me in a heap on the cold stone floor. I never cried that only egged him on. Often he yelled that I was too strong-willed for my own good. I never knew that was a bad thing until mother died.8

One afternoon, while I was healing, Bearton came in to my room; my sanctuary; and told me that he planned to win my father’s kingdom and was going to do everything in his power to win the contest and my hand. The thought of his cold knobby fingers on me or his rancid breath and lipless mouth anywhere near mine made my stomach twist. I guess he misconstrued my expression because he leered in a disgusting way. 9

“That rouge is very becoming on you. I think you will wear it more often when we are married”, he traced his horrid little finger around one of my more prominent eye bruises. 10

“I will never marry you; you stupid man. If no one else can complete this task then what makes you think that you can. You arrogant little bastard. Even if you did win I would kill myself before marrying you,” I screamed. His hand was fast and sharp to my already battered face knocking me to the bed. 11

“Mark my words Princess this is not the last time you will view me from this position; nor is it the last time you will be this frightened when you do,” Bearton spat and stormed out of my chamber. I picked up the empty carafe from the side table and threw it at the door. My hands shook with anger and fear and pain. Tears streamed down my face even my father had the decency to assault me anywhere but in here. I had to find a way to ruin Bearton’s plans…. somehow. 12

Jaren, my closest friend and personal maid, walked into the room and shook her head at the broken glass. As she did her red hair floated down like bloody snow on her bare shoulders. Jaren hated the more confining clothes that the other servants wore and made her own more “comfortable” most likely meaning that they were easier to get off. She was very popular with the stable men and the smithies. She told me of her escapades, often saying that I would only ever know the soft touch of noble hands and never the strong calloused hands of real men.13

As I helped her clean the broken glass I told her what Bearton had told me. Jaren just shook her head, “That mans real mean, he got his hands on one of the kitchen girls and not even the one who birthed her could recognize the body.” Her long hair covered her pale freckled face. I knew she was trying to hide her tears, I had seen her crying the day a girl’s body had been found broken in one of the old stables. Jaren and I had a silent agreement to let the other mourn and heal privately but it was times like this that I wanted more than anything to break that invisible contract. 14

“Well we won’t let him get you. Since we’re only seen when your people need someone to yell at or something fetched I’ll ask some of the others if they heard anything about this and we’ll get you out of this I promise...15

Several weeks later Jaren had the information I needed. Bearton had planned to use specially made shoes to climb the hill. One of Jaren's friends had risked her life to steal them for me. The servants knew that when I became Queen things would change because of what my father called my "weakling softness". They had helped me to scare off the suitors my father had brought home. If they didn't want me he couldn't force us to marry. So we devised ways, from the things that were said lightly in front of "the help" to get rid of the bastards. They tried hard to stay but when you scream like a little girl at the sight of a little spider. Well we can't control if they decide to nest in your favorite hat.16

I told the smith to make horse shoes with that pattern, three sets, I had a plan. We spent the rest of the time between the shoe find and the event making plans. We were going to have three different people dress in some armor that I’d had made and have those people ride the special horses up the hill each day one after the other. Then when my father called the knights forward they would not come and my father would either have to let me choose who I would marry or marry me to someone of his choosing who would have me. Aside from Bearton, who is far below my status, there is no one who would want the task.17

Unfortunately, as always happens something went wrong. The day that the horses were to be sent (armor and all) to the people I had hired; they disappeared into thin air like they had never existed. This all reeked of a familiar rat, Bearton had to have found out but then where had he put the horses? Had my father found out my plan to thwart him? Worry racked my mind for days. Fear for my life gnawed at my stomach causing me to be nearly unable to eat the entire two weeks leading up to the dreaded event.18

What had become of those stupid horses!? The day before the contest would begin and they still hadn't been found. No one was permitted to see me because my father thought I would try and run off or kill myself. Maybe they had been found and no one was able to tell me. No, that was far too much to hope for.19

After a day of worry and no food I fell into a fitful sleep and dreamed of my life if Bearton won the contest. I woke in the night covered in sweat vowing to never let that happen. The rest of the night I tried to think of ways to get out of it and remembering my father's threats of what would happen to me if I didn't give one apple everyday. I then thought if I can just toss the apples to anyone but Bearton. But that would be hard as Jaren told me that Bearton was working on a secret costume and none of the servants could seem to find it when they searched the room.20

I decided then that I should rest for there would be even less sleep on that infernal hill. Once again I drifted into a fitful, worried sleep.21

The next morning was even worse as I was dressed and dragged out to the glass hill that would be my undoing. It gleamed in the sun brightly mocking me. The hill was about fifteen feet tall with a soft slope on one side and a slightly steeper slope all around. At the top there were pillows and quilts for me to sit and sleep on with a bedpan for my “convenience”. A large basket sat next to the pillows full of breads and fruits with a pouch inside that held water and a pouch with watered down wine. I was placed on top of the monstrous thing using a pulley system like they used to put the hay bales in stacks. 22

As I sat on my perch and waited for the first challenger to make his intentions known I hoped with all my heart that the horses were found by my people.23

Hansol24

The crowd screamed for their champion and I didn’t want to disappoint. Their voices could be heard for a whole mile outside the walls of the city and here I was trying to figure out what suit I should wear. The three golden apples weighed heavy in my pouch and I remembered that fateful day a week and a half ago that lead to my success.25

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The thundering noise had woken me out of my usual dead to the world, deaf as a stump sleep. The next morning my father started screaming as a large chunk of our wheat field was now missing.27

“Gunter you must go out to the field tonight and see what has been eating our crops or else we won’t make enough to live through the winter.”28

“Yes Papo” my oldest brother grinned. I am sure he was thinking about that maid at the palace he spent the night with otherwise he would never have agreed so readily. By the time night fell he realized his mistake. As I packed him a basket with a bottle of good wine, four loaves of bread, six fat sweet apples and a thick stew that had what little venison we still had left in it.29

“Um, Papo what should I do when I find the creature?”30

“Kill it my boy the scent of its blood on the ground may discourage others.”31

What Father didn’t know was that Gunter spent more time hunting the vixens about town than the game in the woods. I’ll bet he still couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn from two paces.32

“Do not worry brother you will destroy the fearsome beast.” Neils said with his eyes full of humor. He was always joking with Gunter who, so far, seems to be as dense as a box of rocks. Poor Gunter actually thought that Neils looked up to him and saw him as some sort of mythic hero… whatever got him out the door was fine with me.33

Later that night I was woken once again by the thundering sound now accompanied by a gunshot and a piercing scream that just had to have meant that my poor stupid brother had been startled enough to have fired the gun. Father, Neils and I ran out into the night as the thundering sound retreated. With lanterns in hand we headed to the barn where Gunter had set up for the night. The gun was lying on the ground outside and the barn door was wide open. He was cowering in the corner crying about how the monster was trying to destroy his handsome face. When I got a look at him it looked like splinters were in some of the cuts. 34

As the sun rose a howling laugh broke through Gunter’s whining about having lost his shining glory. I went outside and found Neils rolling on the ground laughing himself purple. I looked where his shaking hand was pointing and felt the laughter rise in my throat and soon we were both on the ground holding onto each other struggling to breathe. When Father and Gunter came out to see what had tickled us we pointed. Father was mildly confused and Gunter was red-faced and foot-focused. 35

“I…I told you he could hit the broad side of it,” Neils cried breathlessly then swept the gun from the ground where it lay surrounded by bits of barn wall and presented it to our embarrassed brother, ”Go on brother get revenge on the beast that has ruined your perfect complexion.” Then he fell again.36

We spent the rest of the day looking over the damage to the fields, which was less than the night before, and planning for the faire that the King was having in honor of the newest way he had found to embarrass his daughter. Since we have been baking bread for the King since before I was born we knew what he was like before his wife died no one really knows why he changed but I had heard from a kitchen girl that he beat Princess Kella regularly and she fought back like a trapped cat. 37

Once I saw her in the hallway whispering to her maid the women on their own were enough to stupefy, but together they were enough to blind. The maid was all curves, red hair and mischief while the princess was sleek with just enough in just the right places and hair like a river of molten gold flowing down her back and caressing her bottom like the perfect frame on a glorious painting. Both women had angel faces with big eyes and soft lips but when the princess turned to go down the hall, I saw a bruise on her cheek. I later found out that it was common for her to be sporting at least one visible bruise. 38

She is good to her staff and a caring person like her mother was. It was a shame that she died instead of her husband.39

We had decided to make a little extra money and see the spectacle ourselves by selling bread and little meat pies to the people. As I am the youngest my mother taught me how to cook since I would inherit a little money and nothing else. She thought I could open a shop with the knowledge then she died giving birth to my baby sister Hilde. We lost Hilde a couple years later when she got a sickness that wouldn’t leave her. We buried her next to our mother and our other brother Jorn who was stillborn. 40

Everyone loved Mother’s meat pies and I had mastered the recipe. As we planned the products and discussed stands versus trays my father announced that since Gunter was injured that Neils would be staying out to kill the mysterious creature that night. After a brief argument ending in a cuffing Neils agreed to go out. After dinner I packed Neils two loaves of bread, three apples, a bladder of watered down sweet wine and a meat pie.41

“Remember me as I am dear family. Tell Greta that I loved her more than she ever knew and if she wants proof to look on the third branch of the tree outside her bedroom window.” Neils said in a mock courageous voice then charging off into the dimming yard.42

Once again I was woken up by the loud noise but nothing happened soon the noise retreated and I snuck off into the barn to see why he had not killed the beast and found him sleeping in the arms of Tilde, our housekeeper. She was at least fifty with a hearing problem and a massive bosom in which Neils had his head buried. I woke the two and told Tilde to return to her room and informed my brother of his mistake (in missing the monster; it would have taken months to explain to him fully what was wrong with sleeping with an ancient woman). To help him look better I suggested that he let me beat him to make it look like the monster had gotten a few licks in. Fool that he was Neils thanked me as I pulled the burlap sack over his head and beat him with a pole. Chuckling a bit, I returned to my bed and when morning came I was greeted by a bruised and bloody Neils who grinned and announced, “I almost had him then the bastard shoved me in a sack and beat me.”43

We milled our wheat for the breads we were making for the event and I went up to the palace to deliver the bread for the day’s meals. When I got into the kitchen it was in chaos. Something important had been lost earlier that week and everyone was in a frenzy trying to find it. I was confused but it was none of my business so after collecting the money for the breads I returned home.44

Father was upset as he knew the creature would return that night and the night after and so on and soon we would be living on the street begging as we would have no livelihood within a week.45

“Papo I can sit out and watch for the creature,” I said.46

Laughter erupted from my family. 47

“Not Simple Hans,” Gunter snickered, “You would be eaten in a second little brother.”48

“Poor Silly Hans,” Neils grinned, “We are much bigger and stronger than you baby brother and we were beaten by it.”49

“Hans you are truly stupid if you think that you could kill it when your brothers could not,” my father sighed.50

I am not simple, weak or stupid but my family wouldn’t believe that. I am not even an inch smaller than my two towering brothers and I have a few less muscles than them. I am also the only one who can read, write and do arithmetic. There has been many a young woman who remarked on my dark blonde hair shining like a gem when standing between my two brown haired brothers. They have also remarked on my body as being not entirely displeasing. Though I was a sickly child I have grown to be a strong man of twenty-two.51

“Please father,” I asked trying to look as innocent and dim as they saw me, “I really want to prove that I can be brave like my two big, strong brothers.”52

“Fine, pack a supper and get to the barn before dark.”53

“Thank you Papo. I will make you proud of me.”54

I packed a basket with one loaf of bread, two apples that had some worm holes, one meat pie and a bladder of water. Then with a wave to my family, who were making wagers as to how long I would last out there, I went out to the barn and within an hour I fell asleep.55

In the middle of the night I heard the rumbling. I softly walked out to the field and found a beautiful black horse grazing. I returned to the barn and retrieved the bag with my supper after removing the apples and bread I went back to the field and found that the black horse had been joined by a white horse. Moving slowly, as not to spook them, I reached for the animals. After retrieving the reigns I led them both into the back of the barn where we had once kept an old plow horse until that horrible winter two years ago. 56

I looked in the saddle bags that the horses carried and found black armor in the black horse’s bags and silver in the white horse’s bags both were beautifully made. Then I finished unsaddling the horses, brushed them and covered them in two of the blankets that I had brought out with me then I fed them each an apple. Suddenly, the ground shook and I heard the thundering of what I now knew were those horseshoes. I went out to look and saw a golden horse grazing in the field. I retrieved it like the others and after inspecting the golden armor in its saddle bags I unsaddled, brushed it and fed it the loaf of bread that I had still in my pocket. After a little thought I brought out my last blanket and covered the third horse. I closed the stable door and crawled back up into the loft after eating my pie and drinking my water I burrowed into the hay and fell asleep.57

When dawn arrived I checked on the horses, gave them a little water and some hay with some oats mixed in. I went into the kitchen and helped Tilde with the morning meal and when my father and brothers came down for breakfast I played dumb and told them that the creature didn’t come last night but that I would go out again that night. After the morning meal (and Gunter collecting two coins from his wager), I baked the bread for the palace and delivered it to their kitchen. On the way out I heard a young woman yelling at a large man who looked as though he were in fear for his life.58

“You idiot! If you were going to look at them you should have made sure the door was locked now he will win and we will die. If we tell her she may understand but it is her life too so you have to leave and never speak of this to anyone.” The girl said harshly and with great tears in her eyes. She must have really loved the dense oaf.59

“Please miss I can help him get away safely,” I whispered, “Get your things and I will sneak you out of here.”60

“Why would you help? You could just turn him in yourself.” She sniped.61

“I am but a simple boy Miss. No man takes my word for true and it would be a terrible thing to harm someone that has done nothing to me.”62

“Go get your things Knud. You will leave with the baker boy,” Knud ran off as the girl turned on me, “You will take him somewhere safe and come back tomorrow to tell me where he is. Care for him well he is the father of my child and I will have your head if harm comes to him.”63

“Of course Miss. I will be sure to take good care of him.”64

All the way back to the barn the poor fool cried like a child who’d had his pet rabbit for dinner. I settled him into the room at the back of the barn and brought him a bit of food. By the time he had finished the meal, he drifted off and mumbled something about pretty horses and how he hoped the Lady would forgive him. I slipped out of the room quietly and went to the kitchen to help Tilde.65

I was helping cook our evening meal when I put it all together. The horses, the lady, what the girl had said about it being someone else’s life too. I felt as dim as my brothers. The princess must have planned a way to beat her father at his sick game and Knud, simpleton that he is, had accidentally released the horses that would have given the princess her freedom. I decided to try to find some way to speak to one of her servants and help her in anyway I could. After I put supper out for my family, I told Tilde that I was to see my girl that night and to let my father know where I was. 66

The trip to the castle seemed to take longer usual. When I finally arrived, I couldn’t find anyone who would speak to me. Whispers of how the princess was locked away until the contest the next morning reached me and my heart fell. I tried to find the princess’s maid but everyone who heard me hung their heads and finally I was told that she had been taken to the dungeon for conspiring against the king. One of the tearful scullery maids sobbed about one of the king’s advisors having found something out. Put out by the revelations I slunk back home and after no little teasing by my brothers, I went to bed. 67

Early the next morning I snuck some more food out to Knud and went back to cook for the event. My brothers and I stacked boxes of food in the cart and I helped them and my father pull it to the sight of the Princess’s Shame, as everyone in the kingdom was now calling it. After we set everything up I was sent back home to take care of the daily chores, but not before I caught sight of them lowering the “prize” to her display. She wore a dress that was nearly as golden as her hair and cut so low it was almost showing everything. Her eyes were wet with tears but there were no bruises on her skin. At the bottom of the hill was her maid chained to a post and severely beaten. My skin tightened with anger at how she was being treated but if she was a traitor it should discourage anyone else. 68

As I walked back home I was struck with the idea that would change my life. I would dress in the armor on the horses and ride them up the hill. If nothing else, I would know that I had taken the chance. Nearly tripping over my feet as I ran as fast as I could back home, I was on the verge of leaping for joy. By the time I got there I had even decided on the order I would ride the horses in. I prepared the black horse and dressed as best I could in the black armor when Knud came into the barn to investigate the noise. His eyes widened when he saw me. 69

“You found the horses?! What are you doing?”70

“I don’t know what the plan was originally but I have to help the Princess. Her maid has been taken from her and she is frightened but if this truly was a plan she had then I must do what I can.”71

“I understand. Let me help you with the armor.”72

While he helped me, Knud told me how the princess had planned to have a few people take the horses up the hill and not show up for the final ceremony. This would force the king to try something else or let the princess choose for herself. Knud hoisted me onto the horse and smiled. He probably realized that he could return to his sweetheart soon. If all went according to plan, he would be with her soon. 73

Kella74

The crowd’s cheers went from a loud roar to a medium and on into silence. My heart leapt. No one came forward. I had to fight to keep from grinning wildly. My father’s face was slowly turning red as murmurs arose from the crowd below. 75

Suddenly a cheer went up from the far end of the field and grew as a rider came forward. My stomach dropped to my toes when he came into sight of the platform my father and I sat on. He was riding the white horse I had been preparing for the contest and leading the black and gold horses toward us. Bearton had been sitting on the other side of my father but was now standing at the banister gripping it with white knuckles and his face contorted with rage. I nearly laughed at his chagrin. 76

The rider stopped, reached into the bag at his waist and pulled out the three golden apples. Applause rang from the sidelines and escalated to a deafening roar when the rider removed his helmet. It was the baker’s son, the youngest one. He grinned madly and shouted out that he had come to claim his bride. Even though I hated being referred to as such, I flew down the stairs to him. I remembered how sweet and kind he had been to me. Jaren had told me that he would stare at me often. She called him simple Hans but I could see the intelligence in his eyes.77

“What is your name boy?” My father called to him.78

“I am Hansol Baker, your highness.” 79

“She has taken a shine to you Baker!” he laughed.80

“Of course sir,” Hans answered as he pulled me up to him.81

“He is a thief! A cheat! He stole her from me Highness!” Bearton screamed.82

“If the only thing the boy has stolen was the girl then he is not much of a thief.” Father laughed. Bearton did not like being laughed at. He attacked my father and the king’s thirst for blood was sated when his knife met the advisor’s belly.83

“They shall be wed by noon!” Father shouted to the crowd causing the awed spectators to roar their approval. We were wed by lunch and bedded that night. That night Hans told me his story and I told him mine. Then we made a new plan. Now that we were together, we had only one obstacle to be rid of and two heads are far better than one. My father would be so proud of the ruthless creature he had made and the cool, calculating man with which he had united me. Poor planning on his part really. If he had paid any attention, he would have known that my Hans was his enemy as much as I was. It’s time for a change. 84