Rowena, a fair maid, lived in the smallest village of Highland, a country long ago and far away. Her parents died of a fever when she was but a toddler, and her grandfather took her in and raised her on his farm. She worked side by side with Gramps until he became unable to care for himself.
One Autumn day in her twenty-first year, the old man insisted, “Rowena, you are grown now and ought to have a family of your own. You will never meet the man you deserve if you spend all your time fussing with me.”
Rowena smiled and brushed her golden hair from her eyes. “But Gramps, this is the life I choose. I do not consider it a waste. Besides, you need me. Who else will milk the cow, feed the chickens and tend to the garden. On some days you can’t even get out of bed. Nothing you can say will make me leave you.”
The next day the old man decided to take matters into his own hands. Gathering up his little remaining strength he left his cottage and walked into the forest. He had always loved the smells and sounds of the woods, feeling their calming power upon him. He determined to locate a pleasant place where he could lay down, go to sleep, and never wake up. Finding a grove of beech trees, he sat against one and closed his eyes. He thought, With me gone, Rowena can life her own life.
However, when Rowena finished her chores, she went to the old man’s room and found him missing. Her heart jumped in her throat. Where could Gramps be? He never leaves his room without me to lean on. She began a frantic search. The sun set, evening came, and still Rowena looked throughout the forest for her grandfather calling his name in the dark.
Morning broke. The sun appeared on the horizon. Rowena collapsed against a tree shedding bitter tears.
Why are you weeping precious little one?
Rowena heard the words in her head rather than with her ears. She looked up. What she had mistaken for a tree looked down on her with a face like that of a fair lady.
More than double a man’s height the creature had a long slender torso, arms, and legs. Its vesture, composed of leafy vines woven together with beech leaves that covered most of its light green skin, added to its tree-like appearance. Strands of white resembling fine tree roots that streamed from its head like hair, framed a fair face that resembled that of a beautiful woman. On its head it wore a band of laurel.
“Oh,” said the maid taking a step backwards. “Who-What are you? I thought you were a tree.”
I am a caretaker of the forest. I watch over things in my charge. But you were weeping, Why?
Rowena gathered her wits. “I’m looking for my sick grandfather. I love him so, but he has wandered off so far I cannot find him.”
Maybe he has not gone as far as you think. Look under that tree over there. The caretaker pointed with her limb-like arm and hand.
Rowena climbed over brush and twigs to where the tree creature indicated and saw Gramps sleeping peaceably with his back against the tree’s trunk. There he had settled in to rest content to surrender his life. The maid tried to rouse him but could not. “Oh, no, this is no good. I can’t wake him, and he’s too heavy for me to carry home. I dare not leave him here.”
But he’s not too heavy for me. The fair tree creature bent and gathered up the old man who opened one eye but remained relaxed in her grasp.
Rowena stared at the fair tree lady. “What? Where are you taking him?”
Follow me to my valley.
Rowena followed up the mountainside to a hollow between two mountain peaks. The small valley resembled nothing the girl had seen before. Autumn’s chill had not touched this place. Flowers of strange variety and indescribable beauty bloomed, bursting with color. The leaves of the trees shined with a pure green hue. The smooth bark of the trees glowed. Songbirds sang among their branches. Sweet aroma filled the air. Rowena could see no hint of decay in that fair place.
The tree creature set the old man down in a bed of fragrant ferns. Placing her hand on him she swayed. A song about new life and the coming of Spring entered Rowena’s mind. The old man stirred, opening his eyes. He sat up and looked around at his splendorous surroundings and smiled. He looked up at the tree creature and then to Rowena and said, “A person could not wish for a better place to spend his final days. Surely you do not have to worry about me now.”
“I still won’t leave you.” The girl stood resolute.
The tree creature swayed slightly. And you don’t have to until you choose to do so.
Time passed. Rowena spent her days walking among the magnificent trees, drinking in the fragrance of the blossoms, and singing lullabies she had learned as a child.
And that’s what the Prince of Highland dressed in traveling clothes found her doing on a visit to the fair valley. Prince Egmond had been stolen from his father’s palace shortly after his birth. He had lived in several foster homes until being discovered and restored to his position. Being more comfortable in the forest than in the royal court, he often wandered there. During his excursions he had discovered this wonderful retreat. And so, on one day he came he heard Rowena’s singing. He marveled at her melodious voice and simple beauty. He walked toward her.
This startled the fair maid who had not yet seen him. “Stop. Don’t come any closer. I am not alone.”
The tree creature’s thoughts entered their minds. Yes, you are not alone. Nor need either of you be ever again. Rowena, I have welcomed this lad here as I have you.
The maid relaxed. “I guess if the fair lady approves of you then so should I.” She found the young man as handsome as he found her beautiful. The two of them strolled through the valley together. The prince picked flowers for Rowena’s hair. She protested that he should destroy such loveliness.
“But what are such blooms for but to grace one such as yourself?”
The year went on. Spring became Summer, Summer became Fall but the weather in the fair valley never changed. Prince Egmond returned to the hollow as often as he find excuse to get away from the royal court. In all his visits he never told the maid his station in life, giving only his name as the one he had as a farm boy.
In the first month of Winter, King Hemrick pressed his son to take a bride. The monarch set a date for a royal ball and invited all the maidens from noble families. Surely, the prince from them would find one to his liking. However, Prince Egmond’s heart had fixed on the girl in the fair valley. But how could he tell his father, since the king expected his son to take a wife of royal worth?
Egmond struggled with this. The day of the gala approached. He would be forced to take a bride.
On the day before the grand event, the prince heard the tree maiden’s call. Come to my valley.
He put on his traveling clothes and left immediately. At the beautiful hollow he found Rowena and her grandfather in their usual place. His heart raced as he saw the fair maid. “I’m here. What’s so important that the queen of the tree maidens called me?”
Rowena shook her head. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. Which one is the queen?”
Egmond stared at her. “The one that brought you here. She is the queen. Queen Galine. You didn’t know?”
Rowena shook her head.
Come inside. They each heard the call.
The prince led the others to the entrance to the underground world for he had been there before.
The beauty of the subterranean realm surpassed even that of the fair valley. It overwhelmed the maid and the old man. A tree maiden who’s appearance reminded one of an oak tree, led the prince, Rowena, and the maid’s grandfather through the underground forest and gardens. The girl uttered words of delight at each turn in the splendid woods. A holly-like maiden summoned Egmond to Queen Galine’s hill. He left his companions in good hands.
The fair lady stood waiting for him. The prince smiled, “Well, we’re here.”
The tree maiden queen looked into the former farm boy’s eyes. I have been preparing you for this day.
The prince furrowed his brow. “I don’t understand.”
Your father has pressed you to take a bride. Now take one. Galine pointed to Rowena as she came up the hill.
Egmond shook his head and frowned. “I would love that this maid be my bride, but alas, I am subject to the demands of royalty and must marry someone of royal worth.”
Galine touched the prince’s shoulder. You know the girl’s heart. You have walked and communed with her these many months, and yet you doubt she is worthy to be a queen?
Rowena had not prepared herself for this. She had grown to love this young man as he had grown to love her, but she would not leave her grandfather.
The old man saw her hesitation and took her hands in his. “You need not worry about me. The fair lady has told me I have a home here for as long as I live. You go and live the life you were meant to have.”
Rowena fixed her eyes on her beloved. “Yes.”
Diggs and Rowena left hand in hand. As they passed through the valley, the fair maid said, “I sort of dislike leaving all this beauty behind.”
The former farm boy answered, “Me too, each time I leave it, but it’s enough to know it is there waiting for me.”
When they reached the palace, they passed the sentry at the gate. Rowena wondered why they hadn’t been challenged.
The prince beamed. “Because this is where I live.”
“That explains why you were not challenged. I get it. I assume you work here as a servant. But they don’t let servants bring in anyone they want.”
“They do, if the servant is not a servant but is the king’s son.”
The maid’s face grew red. “You mock me. All this time you’re Prince Egmond? You lied to me, telling me your name is Diggs (the name he had given her) and coming to the valley in pauper’s clothes.”
“No, I did not lie to you. I’ve been Diggs far longer than I’ve been Prince Egmond. As for the clothes, what else would one wear when traveling through the forest?”
Rowena shook her head. The red in her face faded. She frowned. “Okay, but I can’t marry you. A prince must marry one from noble class.”
Egmond opened his satchel to reveal the finest collection of rubies, emeralds, and diamonds ever seen. “These are a gift from Queen Galine. Now, since a noble is counted as one by his possession of such as these, you are now of nobility.”
“But what will your father, the king say?”
“He will not have anything to say. With these jewels you have as much right to be called a daughter of nobility as anyone.”
He squeezed her hand, and they entered the palace.
Egmond stepped forward. Everyone held their breath. The prince smiled, “I want to introduce my bride to be–Miss Rowena of Fair Valley.”
You can imagine the disappointment that rippled through the crowd among the nobles that thought their daughter would be chosen. Rumblings of “Who is this Rowena? and where is Fair Valley?” circulated around the room.
The king started to protest until Rowena walked into the ballroom. The royal dressmaker had worked all night and day fitting Rowena with the finest dress in the kingdom. Blooms of indescribable beauty from the fair valley adorned her golden hair. The most magnificent ruby glittered at her throat.
The royal guests marveled at her beauty and all began to utter congratulations to the prince on his choice. Egmond went down to the ballroom floor to stand by his beloved. She slipped her hand in his. He squeezed it gently.