In Ectopia, a kingdom far away in time and space, Windy Oakwillow, surveyed the devastated village of Honeyhaven. Bands of thieves scurried about the smoking ruins carrying away anything of value that the dragon, Ryrdenth, had not consumed with fire. The good fairy hung her head. King Goodfellow, well-loved by his subjects, had ruled the kingdom well, but he grew old as do all men. When he died, he no heir, leaving a ruling council of nobles to control the kingdom. Headed up by Count Smythemore, the divided council seldom agreed on anything. Bands of thieves, dragons, goblins and wild beasts had free reign to wreak havoc among the citizens of the land. Pain and misery tugged at the fairy’s heart, but one fairy could do little to change things.
Malevolent forces easily overwhelmed the few villagers that banded together to fight back forcing them to leave their homes. If only, thought the good sprite, the good people of Ectopia could be united to work together to fight off the evil in our land. If only we had a true king to bring us together.
Windy went to the ruling council and pled for them to unite in one purpose so they could effectively return order to the land. Despite her impassioned plea, Count Smythemore stood against her. Fingering the frills on his splendid vest, he said, “What need do we have of hearing from this insignificant creature? The time for relevance for her kind has passed. If she had any real power, she would rid us of all our troubles by herself.” With that, he picked up a riding crop and drove the fairy from the meeting chamber.
With drooping wings, Windy returned to her meadow, the one place where her powers kept the evil at bay. She frowned. Doesn’t anyone realize that things don’t have to be as they are? Am I the only one that really cares?
And so, Windy searched far and wide for a man with a true heart, a man of valor willing to take a stand against the darkness that hung like a cloud over the land. Since long days of searching gave no positive result, she retreated to her secret garden of precious wildflowers and lamented the state of her beloved Ectopia. She thought, Only in my precious garden can I find peace. I will just stay here and live out my days.
But on the first day of Spring as she sat on an exceptionally large toadstool, the bleating of sheep interrupted her thoughts. Oh, no, Sheep and gardens are not a good combination. This flock will ruin my precious refuge. She flew to the fringe of her garden and blew smoke in the faces of the sheep as they drew near. She kept up the smoke until the woolly animals settled in a nearby field where they could graze harmlessly to their hearts’ content. This done, she wondered, These sheep look well kept. Obviously, someone will be looking for them. I will wait for him to make sure these lost sheep get back to where they belong, for they don’t belong here in this wilderness.
Windy did not have to wait long. A tall powerful looking young man burst into sight. Whistling a happy tune, he stopped when he saw his animals. “Oh, there you are my sheep. I’ve been looking for you all day,” he said. “It’s time for you to come home with me.”
The fairy flew to the young man. As a test, she asked, “And who are you and how do you show your claim to these sheep?”
The newcomer stood his ground. “I am Bertel. I live in yon valley and you can know these are my sheep because they hear my voice and follow me.”
Ah, thought the fairy. This young man is not easily rattled. “But how do you expect to get these animals home safely? Do you not fear the wild beasts and robbers, not to mention the dragon Ryrdenth, who is known to be about, between here and where you say you live?”
“Any foe I face flees from my sword.” And with this, Bertel drew out a large sword from a scabbard on his hip. The sword and the muscles on his mighty arms glistened in the sun. His voice rang out, “I fear not man nor beast.”
Windy’s fairy heart leapt in her chest. Have I last found the one I have long looked for? She fought to contain her excitement. “I see you can command sheep, but can you command men?”
“I have friends, if that is what you mean. They are all mighty men and are good with swords. There are twenty of us and together with my lead, we have driven off intruders three times our numbers without losing a man. Even a giant fled from us.”
“Then you may be the one I have been looking for to rid this kingdom of the evil men and beasts that ravage this land.”
Bertel smiled and shook his head. “I don’t know about that. It is enough for my friends and me to take care of our own. Besides, to do what you ask would take an army.”
Now it was the fairy’s turn to smile. “I am the fairy that once stood by King Goodfellow’s side as he went into battle. The men in his army knew me and many of them still dwell in this land. I can raise that army. We just need someone who is mighty to lead it.”
Windy appealed to the young man’s love for his country, but her efforts fell on deaf ears. Bertel had concern only for his own wellbeing. He smiled. “I know you are well meaning, good fairy, but you have kept me overlong.” Gathering his sheep, he returned in the way in which he came.
But the fairy refused to give up. She followed his comings and goings, observing him and his cohorts, and became more convinced this was the man who could rid Ectopia of its foes. This is a mighty band of men, she thought. If only I could get them to lead 0thers. Maybe if I enlist the help of General Raymundus, the commander of King Goodfellow’s army, the two of us can convince this valiant young man to rally the old king’s disbanded army and lead them to victory.
She went to the home of the General Raymundus. She told him she had found someone who capable of leading men in battle.
Raymundus scratched his head. “You know, I was a faithful follower of our old king. But it would take a man with kingly bearing now to rally our troops. This I was not able to do. The army I commanded disbanded without a king. They are scattered throughout the land. Only someone with kingly bearing can bring them together. Is this man worthy?”
“Come and see for yourself. He is tall, strong, fearless, and mighty. What else could a king be that he is not?”
When the fairy brought Raymundus to see Bertel he became convinced. ”I see in this young man the leadership qualities I have seen in no man since King Goodfellow died.”
And when the young man realized that Raymundus had the contacts to gather men and make him king, he accepted their offer. In the days that followed Bertel, Ramundus, and the fairy raised an army such as the kingdom had not seen since the days the old king walked the land.
With an army at his back and the good fairy at his side, Bertel wasted no time setting out to free the kingdom of its tormentors. They slayed the dragon, Ryrdenth, in his lair and scoured the land for all the rogues that had ravaged the countryside. They found the giant, Bigamor, and chased him from the kingdom. The good people of Ectopia sang the praises of this newly discovered hero who, in their sight could do no wrong. Talk arose among them about making him king.
However, such talk did not please the ruling council as they saw their influence slipping away. Count Smythemore openly voiced his concerns. “Let’s not be hasty in going against the traditions that have served our kingdom well. The office of king has been reserved for those of royal blood, and while this leader of men has done us a great service, there is no evidence that he is in the line of kings and until there is he should not be elevated to that station. If he wants to show his loyalty to our kingdom, let him submit himself to the authority of the ruling council.”
The count’s words reached the ears of Bertel who gathered his captains around him. “Why should I submit to a council of old men who have done nothing for us? Should they get the glory for what we have accomplished? Nay, let them submit to us acknowledging our accomplishments and my authority.”
At this, Raymundus objected, advising the would be king to submit to the council’s request.
Bertel would not be persuaded to change his mind and neither would Count Smythemore who gathered the palace guard around him. Bertel declared this an act of defiance and after dismissing Raymundus, marched his army against the council. The badly outnumbered guard gave up without much of a struggle. The ruling council’s last act was to declare Bertel king. Count Smythemore left for parts unknown.
With no one to stand in his way, the new king became a tyrant, making life miserable for the citizens of Ectopia. Soldiers took from its people as much as thieves and robbers had before them. The new king imposed heavy taxes to provide protection from giants, wild beasts, and such even though none roamed the land.
Windy, the fairy, hung her head. What have I done? This is worse than before. If only I had help from others of my kind. Maybe things would have turned out better if I was not left to handle things alone.
As she sat in her special field of flowers thinking these things, a glow began in front of her. And in the glow, the king of the fairies appeared. She hid behind a large sunflower plant, but the king of fairies beckoned to her. “Come out, little one. You are not alone and never have been.”
“But I’ve never seen others of my kind to help me,” Windy protested.
“That’s because you never asked for help, but tried to solve things on your own.”
“But where did I go wrong? I looked for someone to deliver the people from their foes and found someone valiant and able to lead men.”
“Ah, yes, but you looked on the outside but failed to see what was in the heart. The man you chose had a hunger for power that you did not see. When he became king, there was nothing to restrain him. And now he is the monster you never imagined he could be.”
“But how can I be blamed? You were silent all these years. I thought I was the last of my kind.”
“You never looked for me. If you had, you would have found me. But putting all that aside, it is time to set things right.” The king of fairies waved his hands and a multitude of his kind appeared. “Our folk will scour the countryside unseen by human eyes, and wherever citizens are wronged, make it right.
In the days that followed Bertel’s army became stymied. The taxes they imposed and monies the extorted turned to dust in their moneybags but reappeared in the homes of their victims. Swords became as paper when drawn. When they tried physical force, their beatings became as love taps. This once feared fighting force became a laughingstock. Citizens ignored their authority. The ruling council reconvened with the approval of the people. They sent emissaries to locate and bring back Count Smythemore.
As you might figure, Bertel would have none of this and summoned his elite band of soldiers. They marched on the council’s chamber. As they entered, Bertel’s voice rang out. “What is the meaning of this rebellion? Do you defy your king?” He stood as tall and defiant as he had on the battlefield. He raised his sword as did his men.
Count Smythemore and the council looked for a moment that they might break and scatter, but the walls of the palace shook and in a ball of light, the king of fairies appeared above them all with Windy Oakwillow at his side. “Swords to dust,” the master of fairies cried with outstretched arms.
Men stared at empty hands as their weapons crumbled. Bertel stepped forward to challenge this newcomer and fixed his eyes on him. But when he gazed into the master fairy’s eyes his heart filled with terror. He turned and wound his way through his men, leaving the palace. He returned to his farm where he became a hermit for the rest of his days.
As for Bertel’s army, the king of fairies received pledge from them to return to peaceful ways. Count Smythemore and the council put aside their differences determined to rule wisely as one until a new king came. An army of honorable men kept peace in the land.
Days passed and when all had been put in good order, the king of fairies announced his intention to return to his own abode. Windy pled him to not go. He smiled at her and said, “You need not fear. Now you know I am only a call away. The day is coming. A king will be born from King Goodfellow’s line. He will rule the kingdom well. Look for his coming.”
Windy Oakwillow returned to her field of wildflowers to wait for the king who was to come with the assurance she was not alone.