AN: I choose to rewrite the fairy tale, The Marsh King's Daughter by Hans Christian Anderson. 800Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0DbsGyloN0
A stork stood tall surveying the marsh from his favorite spot. His long beak tussled white and gray feathers absentmindedly. Idly angling his head to the side, Stork caught a flash of flesh. Stork was curious as he leaned his tall legs forward trying to see better. He had not seen a human wade through the marsh in many years. The Marsh King ruled the lands with a crazed grip. The closest humans, the Viking people, did not venture into the wetlands too warily to offend the King and their Gods. Stork stretched his large wings and leapt swiftly into the air. Landing on a tuff of grass with a better view, Stork gazed at the human.
The young woman drudged through thick mud of the marsh. Even stripped of her cloths, Stork could tell she was from a far away kingdom. With stark black hair dulled by the gloom and bare sun kissed skin smudged with dried clay, Stork knew instantly she was from his homeland of Egypt. Sadness flushed over him as she bore a striking resemblance to their ailing Pharaoh. She was very beautiful and it was hard for Stork to take his eyes off her form. Stork could tell from her determined gaze that the princess was searching for a rare lily that often grew in the marsh. She searched for the enchanted flower known for its ability to heal any illness.
Concern washed over Stork. Thick vines twitched to life behind her. He watched as they grew thicker and reached out towards the beautiful princess. Yelling out Stork ran towards her in fear and waved his large wings attempting to catch her attention. But, he was too late. Dark green vines grabbed at the princess and wrapped slowly around her body. The princess screamed out and struggled but could not break free. The young bird watched helpless as the princess sunk deep below the marsh. Screams and moans echoed up through the murky water.
Several months later, Stork flew through the night sky silently. The moon hung bright, casting a silver screen onto the wetlands below. Stork heard a baby’s wail while deep in sleep. Searching for the source, Stork dived towards the ground. A large flower shimmered a short distance ahead. Blooming in the moonlight, a large white lily slowly unfolded its petals. Stork gasped as he peered over the edge of petals.
Staring up at him a little babe cooed happily. Tears filled his eyes. He spent many nights mourning the loss of the princess to the Marsh King who had claimed her. Even though the baby’s eyes mirrored the princess’, Stork knew in his heart this was her daughter; the Marsh King’s daughter.
Stork began to panic. The child could not go into the hands of the king. Gently folding the baby up in the soft linen she lay on, he carefully flew home. After much debate with Mother Stork, they flew her to the land of the Vikings. Knowing of a lovely pair that longed for a child, the princess’s daughter would be safe far from the Marsh King’s touch. The Viking lord and his wife took the child into their home, named her Helga, and raised her as their own.
Despite his attempt to keep the princess untainted, it soon became clear that the Marsh King cursed Helga. The more lovely she grew like her mother, the more darkness seeped into her heart. She became twisted and cruel. During the day Helga was beautiful but heartless. By night she was hideous yet kind. Transformed into a hideous toad at night, Helga became gentle and compassionate.
Over the many years as Helga grew, Stork became enamored with her tender heart of night and beauty of day. During her sixteenth summer, beautiful Helga demanded the execution of a foreign priest, calling for blood to please Odin and Thor. It warmed Stork’s heart when the gentle Helga set the priest free before he could be sacrificed. Stork loved the unpleasant looking Helga deeply.800Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8mOaAqjLP
The priest took ugly Helga with him as he rode off. Stork quickly followed. He feared the outcome when the sun rose. Stork watched as the priest nearly escaped death when an enraged Helga charged at him. His heart fell heavy when the panicked priest enchanted her mind and she became dumb and drooling. Sluggishly strutting behind the pair, Stork felt a responsibility to witness Helga’s journey to the end. Stork, who never left her side all these years, would not abandon her now.
Stork shifted out of his grief when robbers ambushed the priest. With an axe to the skull the priest fell dead upon the dirt path. Stork froze in horror. Fearing for the slow Helga, Stork raced forward. Stork did not want to make the same mistake. Hovering in the air, Stork lashed out his long legs at the men. Crying out in pain as an axe cleaved at him, he continued his attack.800Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNQewp2rdb
Just as the sun set and before the men could take advantage of the dumb spelled Helga, she morphed into the ugly toad. As the priest’s spell broke with his death, Helga the frog jumped towards the wounded Stork. She grieved for him watching him begin to fade.
Forming a cross the same way she witnessed the priest do multiple times, she tried to pray for him. Then Helga gasped in shock. Wart-ridden skin began to slide and molt off her body. Stork watched in awe as gentle Helga’s mind seeped into her beautiful human body. No longer did the cruel Helga exist. The priest set her dark heart free.
With the guidance of Stork’s spirit, she found her sleeping mother below the marsh and freed her. After greeting her mother Helga followed Stork into the heavens. Helga began to weep when Stork showed her what laid in the beyond. Her body slowly withered away and wilted into the murky water. An ethereal white lily grew from her ashes and bloomed in the moonlight.
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