Moonroot (Part 3)
Elias entered the village with the quiet rumble of rumor surrounding the men. The widows, including Inge were ready and came forward to meet their new husbands. Each man took their respective widow into their arms and offered them their love. The bishop was called and a huge wedding ceremony was hastily put together.
“Inge,” Elias approached the smiling woman. “I hope you will consider this feat I have preformed as proof enough of my kindness. Will you accept me as you husband?”
“I look at these remarkable men you have found and can only marvel at the love they have for these widows they have only just been introduced to. If you show me half as much then we will be quite content. But where did you find these men?”
Elias leaned forward and kissed Inge. He whispered into her ear. “They have been fashioned from animals by the magic in my staff. I am a wizard will you accept me even now?”
Inge looked Elias in the eyes. “You have brought hope to these woman. My womb is closed and someday I may yet desire a child. Will you teach me what you have done and then promise me never to use it again?”
Elias laughed out loud. “Only if you promise to inform me before I am to become a father!”
All five couples were married that day and everyone seemed content. A sense of wholeness cast the dark pallor that had settled on the village away. The village prospered along with the growing love between Elias and Inge.
Almost a year passed before Brena arrived at Elias’ door. She was upset and angry.
“The husband you gave me is stupid! He may be strong enough to drag logs but isn’t smart enough to tie the harness! I’m weary of helping him think through everything. What can you do about it?”
Elias gave Brena a hard look. How dare this woman complain to him? What was he to do now? “You asked for a strong and healthy husband and that’s what you have received. I promised nothing else. Does he not love you?”
“Yes, he loves me but his slow thinking makes him so much trouble!”
“Leave me woman!” Elias found her ungratefulness upsetting. “He is strong and under your guidance he will work your farm. And above all else he loves you! Leave me!”
Only three days later, Rachel came to see Elias. “The man you brought me is cheap and thoughtless of other people! He has cut so many one sided deals that no one trusts him. I have lost friends to my husband’s profitable approach to everything. He does nothing before considering who will come out on top!”
Elias scowled and bit on his anger. “You wanted a clever and organized man. I can see by the fine linens you are clothed in that your inn has prospered. Does he not still love you?”
“Oh yes, he spends on me lavishly but is so cutthroat with everyone else. I don’t like the way the other women look at me anymore.”
“Be gone! Everything you asked for was given to you!” The wizard finished before closing the door in her face. “Be grateful and temper your husbands actions with good gifts to those who may be offended!”
The next day, Trena found Elias picking berries from the bushes behind his cottage. “Why have you burdened me with such a man? Our neighbor’s hounds wandered into our sheep pasture last week and my husband killed them all! A man pushed past me near the commons yesterday and my husband beat him! It caused a terrible scene. He is so suspicious of others that we cannot even offer guests our hospitality.”
Elias clenched his teeth. They did not understand the toll such powerful spells take on a wizard and he had been under no obligation to help them! “You as well!? Months ago when a small party of pillaging Saxons attacked the village, it was your husband that took his spear killing two and driving the others away. Does he not guard your heart with equal diligence?”
“Yes, however…”
“Then leave me! My gift was everything I promised and much more than you deserved!”
Elias had not finished picking from his berry patch when Catherine approached him only hours later.
“Sir,” she began. “My husband does not work as he should. He prefers to explore the woods, but not to hunt. He just walks through the trees lounging. And when he is in the town he is wrestling and playing with the young men and boys instead of minding the mayor’s business.”
The old wizard could hardly contain his anger. He was above questioning. “You are the envy of this village! Your husband has women half your age swooning at his approach! He is the caretaker of the forest and disciples the young men! Has one of the younger girls taken his eyes?”
“No, they stay filled with visions of me.”
“Then your ungratefulness cannot be ignored!” Elias dropped his thatch basket of berries and pulled the moonroot from the belt across his waist. He struck her with the end of his wand and she transformed into a doe. “No go!”
The doe turned and bolted into the woods. Then the wizard stuck the ground with the moonroot altering his spells. Brena became and ox and her husband returned to his original form, Rachel and her husband became foxes, Trena and her husband were bent into badgers, and Catherine’s husband became a stag once again.
Word spread though the village of the missing people and the strange animals left in their place. Everyone was confused except for Inge. She knew what must have happened. She hid and did not come home until late that evening after Elias had gone to bed. She crept into the bedroom and took the moonroot wand.
Elias woke with the sounds of the front door closing. “My wand!” He looked at the other side of the bed and realized that Inge had not returned.
The wizard sprinted outside and found his wife standing in the moonlight with his wand outstretched. “Inge! What are you doing? Come to bed that wand is not to be played with.”
“I thought you were kind but your vengeance today has stripped away your previous deeds and created a state worse than when you found it. Your actions have destroyed my trust in you. I’m leaving.”
Elias fell to his knees. “Inge my dear, I am sorry! Forgive me and tomorrow I will search every forest and glen until I find the animals.”
“Elias, you know that is impossible. You have lost them and now you have lost me.”
Inge tapped each shoulder with the moonroot and a second later a great owl stood in her place. It took the moonroot staff in its talons and flew over the trees in the direction of the full moon.
The last of the wizards was left broken hearted and powerless.
May 21st, 2008 at 1:51 pm
This is a great story. Not the ending I expected but a good story. I think its tragic that he lost his moonroot and his woman. Or should I say owl…
May 27th, 2008 at 10:49 pm
what a surprise ending!! I’m impressed with your creativity, Matthew Teply!
May 28th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
Great story!!!!! I think everyone but the wizard got what was coming to them. I love your stories.
June 2nd, 2008 at 12:58 pm
Another fine fable. Great work.