once upon a time, three brothers went out into the world to seek their fortunes. in their hearts, they carried great good and great wickedness. the oldest of the brothers sought only to protect, but had a weakness for the wine. the youngest brother sought out the purest love, but had a weakness for the fairer sex. the middle brother sought only to support his brothers, but had a weakness of will.
as they traveled, they came upon a magical wood and stopped for the night. as they laid quietly, against the light of the pale moonlight, they watched a vast multitudes of maidens crept out of the woods and begin to perform a wide assortment of tasks to keep the forest clean and in order. some healed and righted trees that had fallen in the wind. others brought life to dead leaves and put them back on the branches. others touched animals too heal, others touced to ressurrect. what struck the brothers most was that each maiden looked starved and beaten. each maiden looked themselves on their last legs, yet each worked tirelessly and diligently. as they neared completion, a stiring caught the brothers' eye. a witch slumped from out of the darkness and herded them back into the woods. the brothers followed behind silently.
the brothers came upon a dismal camp that unlike the forest around them was in complete disarray. the attention that was shown to the local flora and fauna was not shown here. the witch lead them to building, filed them in, and put them to bed dirty and smelling of their night's work. the brothers crept closer.
inside, the brothers witnessed wanton beatings and tortures for pleasure, as the witch took out her sadist tendencies on the defenseless maidens. the oldest brother could take no more. as his righteous anger grew, it was met by the anger of the forest. it had found a champion and it was going to use him. the brother transformed into a protecting bear, charged through the doors, grabbed the witch by her throat and tossed her several miles in the sky, hopefully, to never return. he became a man again. a man of the forest.
knowing not what to do, the brothers comforted the maidens and tucked them each into their beds. while they slept, the brothers discussed what to do. the oldest was staying because he had found what he sought. his brothers agreed to stand with him. the middle brother because he always supports. the younger brother because he also found what he was looking for.
the brothers searched the camp and found the dwelling of the witch. on the outside, it was just as dismal and dirty as the rest of the camp, but inside, it will was filled with riches and gold; money and jewels. at the center of her dwelling were two chests and a sign above them both that read "open one each night". the chests were identical, except one was marked "what you want" and the other "what you need". the chest of need was covered in cobwebs. the brothers marveled at what they found.
the oldest brother, curiousity getting the best of him, swung open the chest of want and saw only a bottle of wine. he slammed it shut and refused to speak of it to his brothers. the middle brother went to open the chest of need, cleaned off the cobwebs, but found it locked and immovable. they agreed to come back the next night and see what there is to be seen. the slept in the room of the two chests.
the next morning they were awakened by the stirring. they went out and saw the maidens filing into the forest. they followed and like the previous night, the maidens tended to the needs of the forest. as they walked, the youngest brother commented on the great beauty of the tallest one and how she could pass as a woman. the middle brother agreed. but the oldest brother, catching the bend of his brother's comment, grew in size to blot the sun and growled at his brothers. it was clear, the forest prohibitted mortal man to touch its maidens. a darkness of spirit fell between the brothers.
as the maidens finished their tasks, the brothers led them back to camp and put them to their beds. the youngest brother reveling in the task allowed his hands and eyes to roam. they then returned to the room of two chests. this time when the middle brother opened the chest of need, it opened easily. inside, there were brooms and dustpans, mops and shovels, and all sorts of cleaning implements. the brother not being unfamiliar with hard work, went to task, and cleaned up the camp. they returned and slept in the room of the two chests.
the next day, after tucking the maidens into bed, they opened the chest of need and found personal cleaning amnenities and grooming devices and dresses of various color and size. as many as they pulled out, there was always another, until there were enough for each of the maidens. they set them aside and got some rest.
the next day, after the maidens completed their tasks, the brothers led them down to the river to cleane and groom them. the oldest brother worked like a father to the maidens and the warmth of his smile enchanted even their magical spirits. the middle brother worked like a son to his oldest brother, seeking only approval. the youngest brother fumbled in his tasks, his heart and body distracted by their mission. his mind whirled and a plan was hatched because despite his brother's quickness, he did see what was in the chest of want. he grinned at the maidens.
as the brother's neared completion, the youngest brother pulled his middle brother aside and wondered alllowed. why must we always open the chest of need? why not open the chest of want, just once? have we not worked hard? are we not deserving? the camp is clean. the maidens are cared for. he convinced his middle brother to take their oldest brother aside and have him open the chest of want. he knew his middle brother was weak of will and would not think it through. he knew his oldest brother had a weakness he couldn't resist.
the girls cleaned and dressed were led back to their rooms. the youngest brother tarried a bit and bid his brothers to go ahead without him. and they did.
the middle brother parrotted his youngest brothers wishes and his oblivious sincerity combined with the older brother's weakness for the bottle made for a short debate. in the end, the chest of want was opened and the bottle was cracked. in short time, the oldest brother was singing and regaling the shadows with his great feats of strength. in short time, the oldest brother couldn't feel the pull of the forest to protect. it was a cry to his heart that broke through his stupor. it was a cry of pain and despair. he ran.
when he came to the rooms of the girls, he found his brother hunched over one of the maidens. it was very clear what he had done. against his will, the transformation took place. he took one step forward. his brother looked at him, with smug surity that he would never harm his baby brother. the beast nearly touching the ceiling took another step forward. it looked at the disheveled maiden on the floor. already, her innocence was fading.
with one masssive paw, he grasped his brother around the throat. with the other, he scooped up the maiden. one, he held at arms reach; the other he held to his bosom. he walked out into the moonlight.
in the moonlight, the maiden appeared transparent. in the moonlight, the youngest brother began to shake. his bravado now fading as he is witnessing the consequences of his actions. he begins to plead for mercy, but the old magic of the forest predates such man-made concepts of mercy. it is the love for a brother that delays justice from being served.
the maiden fades; a paw tightens. a life for a life. |