Fairy Tales?

By Eri Erens

Fairy Tales is my fourth eBook. Some stories go back hundreds of years but will still get young readers to love them. Others are more for teenagers, but nearly all are also for grown ups and even their parents. The stories are about Kings and Queens, Princes and Princesses, Knights and Edelman, Cowboys and Indians, as well as good people and bad people. Of course, children are also involved. Fairy Tales is something for everybody and has something for everybody. After all, the older generation, like myself, had their own Fairy Tale books when they were young. It is time you get one too. My first eBook, Rock Talk Canada, is the story of two pebbles who managed to travel to all the provinces and territories in Canada. They fought and conquered incredible situations on their journey. The second one, I will be back, is about a young girl who has cancer. She is not at all afraid of dying because she knew everything about reincarnation and is looking forward of returning to earth as a healthy girl. The third eBook ‘Big Doug’ is about the stories a thousand-year-old Douglas Fire tells. Of course, this giant survived many dangerous situations but also has seen incredible bravery done by people and animals.
All the best to you,
Eri

• Language: English
• Publisher: Eri Erens
• Release date: Dec 10, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005946944

Eri Erens

Hi there, I am Eri,I came to Canada a long time ago. My degrees in architecture and structural engineering, which I achieved in Europe, are not recognized in Canada. Therefore, I started and worked in my restoration business.In my free time I drafted several books, mostly for children. Why for children? Well, I grow up with two older sisters who read fairy tales to me to shut me up from asking too many questions. When I was finally able to read on my own, I am absolutely sure the party they had was to celebrate their newfound freedom from me and my pestering.Anyway, it got me hooked on fairy tales. So far, I wrote four children’s books. The first one is ‘Rock talk’. The main characters, Francis and Lorie, travel all over Canada and have lots of fun doing it.The second one, ‘I will be back’, is about a little girl. Jenny is in a hospital, dying of cancer. She is, however, not at all afraid of dying. The young girl believes in reincarnation and is looking forward to returning to earth without the pain she has now. And she is right! She will come back. Just not exactly like she hoped. But most important, Jenny loved where she is and what she has to do.Number three is about ‘big Doug’, a thousand-year-old Douglas Fire who used to live on the West Coast on Vancouver Island, Canada. Many, many years ago, high up in the sky a tiny seed was blown miles and miles to the shore of the Pacific Ocean. It flowed down toward the sandy beach and before the tide could sweep it away, a raven picked it up, and carried it a short distance away from the wild ocean waters. From great heights he lost interest in it and let it go again. Finally, this petite seed reached the rich earth in the rain forest where it took root. Thanks to the raven, this young sapling grew to became one of the tallest trees on the West Coast of Canada and has countless stories to tell.The fourth book, ‘Fairy Tales’, tells stories about long forgotten times. Like kings, princes and princesses, cowboys and Indians, knights and soldiers, as well as rich people and bandits. It has something for everybody, children, grandmas or grandpas.I know you will love each one of them.All the best to you,Eri

Book preview

Fairy Tales?

Published by Eri Erens at Smashwords

Copyright 2021 Eri Erens

A long time ago there was a master hunter. His son just loved his father’s work and kept begging him to teach him his craft.

The master hunter finally gave in and taught his only son, to be a skilled marksman.

As time went by, the young hunter wanted to go out in the world and prove himself.

"Yes," the father said proudly, I like that very much. You are ready to show the world what you can do.

As a go-away present, the father gave his young son his own, old, and shabby-looking hunting gun, which was so accurate that anybody who pulled the trigger, would always hit the mark.

Early in the morning the boy hugged his mother and father, asked them to wish him luck, and with a smile on his face, he left the home he grew up in.

After walking all day long, in the evening he reached a forest, with trees as high as he had never seen before. Shortly before darkness surrounded him, he found an old pine tree with branches reaching to the ground.

He ate the last of the food his mother had given him in the morning and made himself a comfy bed out of moss. Protected by the ground-reaching branches, the young hunter fell asleep the moment he lay down.

*

Even before sunrise - just for a moment - he was awaked by the love song of a bird, which was telling everybody in the forest that it was looking for his mate.

Unfortunately, the love-hungry bird was not the only early riser.

A giant man, more than eight feet tall, with only one eye in the center of his forehead, was looking for his breakfast when he lifted the branches to see what was hiding underneath them.

He was surprised to see the boy peacefully sleeping under the tree. Easily – with one hand - he lifted the young man by his neck to have a close look at him.

"Well..., well," the giant said, what do we have here? You’ll make a nice breakfast for me.

"If you eat me, big man, you may have one breakfast," the young hunter answered, "but if we travel together, I can shoot your breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day and you have not to look for food ever again."

"Are you sure about that or are you just pulling my leg?" The giant asked skeptically, Your rifle looks like you cannot shoot anything with it!

He looks up in the sky and said, Shoot me that bird up there, high in the tree. It is going on my nerves anyways with its singing… If you can do that, I will spare you and we travel together.

The hunter knew that he could shoot the bird, but it was singing so nice, and he did not want to harm it.

"Killing the bird is not much of a challenge," he said, but shooting the little branch it is sitting on, well, that would be something.

"The branch it is," the giant said, and if you miss, I will have you for breakfast.

The young hunter took his gun, aimed, and shot. The bird flew even higher into the sky and the branch trembled to the ground.

"Well done!" The giant acknowledged, "Well done, I must say."

In the evening, the big man told the hunter boy. In the center of the forest is a castle. In the castle is a young and beautiful princess. I want to rob the princess and keep her for myself.

"I can help you with that," the hunter said.

"There is only one more problem", the giant continued, at night there are two exceptionally large tigers running free in the inner yard, right in front of the princess’ bedroom. They would kill and eat anybody, who would come too close to the castle door. But that should be no problem with your fancy shooting; you could kill the tigers easily, right?

"Absolutely!" The hunter replied. Don’t worry anymore. They are as good as dead already!

Of course, the young hunter would never just kill an animal so the giant could rob the princess. But he needed some time to come up with a plan to trick the giant.

So, he told him that it would be best if he would go alone to the castle to kill the tigers, and the giant should hide, and watch the hunter.

The giant liked the hunter’s idea. He would have nothing to do, but to watch, and still get the prize. What could be better than that! As expected, he agreed with the hunter’s suggestion.

Together they walked to the center of the forest, where they found the castle. The giant stayed at a spot where he could overlook the scenery, while the hunter moved a little bit closer toward the inner yard. He saw the tigers lying in front of the

door, closely guarding the princess.

Above them were two large hanging baskets, filled with beautiful flowers and plants: one on each side, just above the tigers.

The young hunter aimed at the heavy string that was holding the basket from the balcony above and shot. The bullet flew out of the gun’s barrel and hit the string right on.

But before the heavy basket fell on the first tiger’s head and knocked it out, the second bullet was already on its way to free the other basket to do the same to the second tiger. Everything happened so fast, that all the giant saw was the two tigers lying like dead in front of the door.

He raised his arms in victory and was ready to go and kidnap the princess. But the boy asked him to be patient a little bit longer and let him check out the castle first to make sure nobody heard anything, and there will be no surprises.

That made sense to the giant, and since the door to the castle was locked; he lifted the hunter up to the balcony where the door was a little bit open. It was wide enough for the skinny hunter boy to slip into the castle. Now he was in a spacious hallway, and thanks to the full moon he could see everything inside the palace.

There were large pictures of former kings and queens. And, of course, the largest picture was that of the residing king. There were also armors, once upon a time, worn by brave knights.

It was noticeably quiet and peaceful inside the castle, and finally, he came to the princess’ bedroom. Very slowly he opened the door and there she was.

Sleeping in her large, comfortable bed was the duchess. She was so beautiful; the young hunter had to stand there and watch her sleep.

He nearly fainted because he forgot to breathe. Never ever had he seen anybody, or anything that beautiful!

"I have to save her," he told himself. There is no way that I will help this ugly and scary giant to rob this innocent beauty!

He left the girl’s bedroom and looked for a weapon to kill the giant with. In the hallway, the hunter found a large combat axe, beside one of the armors.

Armed with the axe, he sneaked to the entrance door. The young man waited until a cloud covered the bright moon’s light and kept the hallway in darkness.

Now he opened the door and called the giant to come in. As soon as he entered, the boy told him to go down on his knees and crawl to the next door.

Without thinking, but shaking for excitement, the big man did what the hunter told him.

And since it was so dark that he could not see a thing, he also did not see the axe coming. His head came off in a split second.

The young hunter sliced the giant’s left ear off and stuck it into his pocket.

Now the boy went back to the princess’ bedroom and had a last, long look at the peacefully sleeping beauty. He knew she could never be with him, but at least he saved her from a terrible life with the giant.

Happy about that, but sad that he would never see the girl he fell in love with again, the hunter left the castle to go out in the world to find his place.

*

Early the next morning one of the king’s warriors found the headless giant, went to the king, and told him he killed the monster to save the princess.

The king hurried to his daughter’s bedroom and was incredibly happy to find her still sleeping in her bed. Because he was so pleased that his only child was not harmed, he promised this old and ugly warrior his daughter.

When the young princess heard her father’s wishes she started crying very quietly because the young girl did not want to marry an old man, but also did not want to upset her beloved father.

The word was spread over the entire country, that the lovely princess would marry her lifesaver on the day of the next full moon.

*

The master hunter was at his home village when the news about the Royal Wedding was pronounced.

As it happened, the young hunter was visiting his parents and, of cause, the son had proudly told his father the story about the giant and the princess.

The master hunter hurried home to tell his son what he had heard:

"Listen, my son, our king is planning a wedding. He is giving his daughter to an old man who claimed of saving her life by killing a giant. Well, you have to go to the castle, tell the king the truth and save the princess again."

The young hunter was terribly upset that the princess was in another danger but also glad that he would see his secret love again.

The boy had not even told his parents how he felt about the princess. His mother, however, had a good idea.

Since he only had a few days left until the full moon, he borrowed a horse from a good neighbor and hurried to the castle.

*

He arrived without an hour to spare. The large room in the center of the castle was filled with wedding guests.

The king was sitting on the very end of the large, oval table, his daughter on his left and the old soldier on his right. The boy did not have any experience with pompous surroundings like this and he was extremely nervous and could hardly move.

But, as soon as he looked into the princess’ eyes, he stood straight up and walked confidently to the king.

"My king," he said, I am the son of the master hunter, and I am here to tell you, your lovely daughter and this lying warrior the truth about what happened to the giant.

The warrior abruptly stood up: Are you calling me a liar? He growled.

"That is exactly what I call you. Because that is what you are!" The boy said in a strong voice.

Now the king himself talked to the young hunter: "I heard about the master hunter.

He is an honest man and well respected. Because of that, I will give you the

opportunity to explain yourself."

"I thank you, my king," the boy respectfully bowed to the Monarch, I have not seen the head of the dead giant since I killed him, but I know the head has only one ear. Why is that? He asked the warrior.

"He not only has one ear, but he also has only one eye," the warrior answered sarcastically, that is the way giants look like.

The king rose now and asked: Warrior, in your mind, what does somebody who lies about this situation deserve?

The warrior, looking at the boy, answered: There is only one way to punish a liar like that. Hang him on the highest tree in the country!

"What about you, young hunter? What do you think would be the right punishment?" The king asked, looking at the boy.

"I tend to agree with the warrior, but considering the beauty and kindness of the princess, I think the punishment for wanting her to be one’s wife would be too harsh. I would ask him to leave and banish him from ever coming back to your kingdom again." The boy answered.

"Well, quite different answers I got from you both. But now to the truth, what proof do you have that you killed the giant and not the warrior?" He asked the boy.

"The proof, my Lord, is right here in my backpack." The boy answered. And with that, he presented the ear he cut from the giant’s head.

When the warrior saw the ear, he knew he was exposed and tried to run away.

But before he could reach the door the young hunter grabbed his rifle, aimed, and without harming the soldier, he shot both heels off his boots.

He fell to the floor and in no time the king’s people had him captured and brought before the king.

"I asked you earlier what the punishment for somebody who lied and acted as you did should be," the king said to his warrior, and you answered and by doing so you also sealed your faith. But since I must choose between your answer and the answer I received from my daughter’s real savior; I leave it to the princess to hold judgment over you.

With that, the wise king held his hand out to his daughter. The beautiful princess raised and looked at the young hunter.

Her eyes became soft, and a warm smile lightened her face. It became clear she was falling in love with the young boy. Now she looked at the old warrior whose life was in her hand.

And she said: "One person, the giant, already died because of me even if it was not my fault… But if I send you to death, it would be my responsibility and I do not want anybody to die because of me.

Therefore, I agree with the hunter’s decision and ask you to leave the kingdom and never come back."

The king raised his arm and pointed to the door. So be it, he said, leave at once!

And he continued: Since I promised my daughter’s savior to marry her, I ask you, my young boy, are you ready to marry the princess?

"I would be honored and the luckiest man in the whole world. But I only would marry your daughter, my king, if this wonderful and kind woman also would love me as I love her." The young hunter answered.

Tears were running down the princess’ lovely face and she said:

"Yes, yes, I love you now and forever my great hunter."

And with that, she fell into the boy’s arms, and they kissed for the first time.

The king sent for the young hunter’s family and friends, and the wedding went on for four weeks to give everybody in the land the chance to come and congratulate the happy couple.

**

Once upon a time, a witch came into a small village. It was a nice sunny day when she saw a little baby girl lying in her crib.

The little girl was smiling in her sleep, and she just wanted to have it. The witch’s tiny, dark eyes looked left and right, but nobody was around.

With her bony hands, she grabbed the baby, put it under her jacket, and as fast as her skinny legs could carry her, she disappeared deep into the woods to make sure that nobody would find her and the cute little baby girl.

*

Over the years the witch looked very well after the little one and called her Pumpkin. And Pumpkin grew up to be the most attractive and kind 18-year-old human being that ever lived.

The old hag wanted her just for herself and could not share her with other people.

Pumpkin’s room was on the top floor in the witch’s house, and every day the old woman went to town to buy or steal something. She always made sure all the doors and windows were closed so nobody could go inside. As soon as the witch was gone, Pumpkin started to sing. She had a truly clear and lovely voice.

One day the king’s son was on a hunting trip near the witch’s house. One of the hunters followed a deer to the house and heard the girl’s heavenly voice.

But the deer got away, and the hunter went back to the hunting party. Here he told the king’s son what he had heard, and since it was still early in the day the young lad wanted to check it out himself.

Before they reached the house, they already heard the young woman’s strong singing voice. The prince never had heard anything more lovely, and he wanted to meet this girl. He went to the entrance door, but it was locked.

So, he just stood there and listens to her voice until sunset, and the girl stopped singing.

*

Back at the castle, the prince could not stop thinking about the warm and beautiful voice he had heard, and in his imagination, he saw an incredibly attractive girl, just as lovely as her voice.

The next day he had to go back to the old house, and this time he was not going to leave until he saw the girl behind the song.

Just like the day previous, he heard the girl singing before he even saw the house. But this time he was prepared. When he reached the house, he started singing himself. Turned out, he also had a good voice.

The girl heard him and since she never had heard anybody singing but herself, she was confused and did not know what to do.

She very carefully sneaked to the window and for the first time she saw somebody else than the old woman. A handsome young man was standing underneath her window, looking up to her and said:

"I am the king’s son. They call me Prince Albert, what is your name, my dear?"

He had a strong but warm voice which Pumpkin liked very much. But she was still befuddled and was not able to answer him. However, she was also a woman, and therefore, she was a bit curious and showed him a little bit more of her.

The prince now saw that she had long, curly blond hair,

gorgeous blue eyes and, altogether, the prettiest face he had ever seen.

Now he himself was speechless and gasping for air. All he could say was:

"I will be back tomorrow."

When the