Mirror, Mirror

by Laura McConaughay

  He later disclosed that a former servant of hers had apparently taken a job in a tavern in some small town in his holdings. Within days, it seemed, Rosamund‘s romantic history had become the only topic of conversation for miles around, and it had reached his own ears within a week. Only the knowledge that his good friend Randolph was away in the north had prevented Felix from immediately paying his new relative a much belated bridal visit.

  In these genial beginnings, it was easy for Randolph to make it clear to Felix that neither he nor his son would ever attempt to dispute Felix’s claim to Rosamund’s parents’ kingdom. Though he would never have admitted to having any such fear, this avowal quite naturally only increased Felix’s regard for Randolph and his family, and the two kingdoms entered a period of great peace and cooperation that was to last two lifetimes.

  In time even the ban on magic was lifted, and within a few years the wise-women, the spell-casters, and the fairies had all returned to the two kingdoms. It was a time of great happiness and prosperity, and although they probably could have done so without assistance, the grateful fairies made sure that Randolph and Rosamund and their children lived happily ever after.

  The Tinderbox

  I

  Once upon a time, in a far away land, a gallant soldier was marching down an old highway. Left, right - left, right - his pace was steady and familiar, with the time being kept both by the tune he whistled and the light clatter of his sword as it swung at his side.

  His pockets were empty, his knapsack was woefully bare of supplies, and his boots were falling apart. Still, he moved briskly and in good cheer, for he had survived the war and was determined to seek his fortune and his future.

  The rhythm of his marching was so regular, and his thoughts so full of the many things that he wanted to do and see, that at first he did not even notice the old woman calling to him from the side of the road. It wasn’t until she had called out to him a full three times that he heard her.

  “Stay, please,” the old woman said, shambling forward from the trees.

  The soldier halted his march and looked over at the old woman in curiosity. Her back was twisted and she leaned heavily on a length of stout ashwood. She was wrapped in many layers of shawls and scarves, from which hung small charms and many-colored beads, and which covered her from head to toe. He could not see her face, for she stood in shadow.

  “Good morning, old woman,” the soldier said. “What do you halt me for?”

  “Ah, you are a straight-forward lad, I see,” the woman said, stopping just short of the road and bracing herself with her stick. “A good thing in a soldier. I hope that you were rewarded as you deserved for your service in the war?”

  “No soldier is ever rewarded enough for his service,” the soldier replied with a grin. “But never fear, old woman - I shall make my own way in the world.”

  “Yes, yes,” the old woman replied. “I can see that you shall. I could tell at a glance that you were a brave fellow. Quite stout-hearted, no doubt?”

  The soldier bowed. “You’ll not find a more courageous fellow for seven leagues.”

  “Wonderful!” the woman said. “I knew that you were - I was quite certain of it. So certain in fact that I stopped you on the road, for I’ve ever had a soft spot for a brave soldier, and I would like to help you find the reward that you deserve.”

  “I don’t see how you’re going to do that,” said the soldier, looking at the old woman in amusement. “Perhaps if you were forty years younger...”

  “Pssh,” chuckled the old woman. “None of that now. No, I mean to make you a rich man, a very rich man indeed.”

  “Well, that would be very pleasant,” said the soldier cheerfully.

  “Yes, yes,” the old woman said again. “All you need do is one small favor for me, and you shall have as much money as you like.”

  The soldier laughed. “I will help you, old woman, if I may, though I do not see how that will lead me to riches.”

  “Do you see that tree?” the old woman said, pointing a gnarled hand into the woods behind her. The soldier looked, and saw a very large tree indeed. He nodded, and the woman continued. “It is quite hollow inside. If you climb to the top of the tree you will find a hole, and if you climb through that hole you can then descend down through the tree, past its roots and into a large hall that lies beneath the ground.”

  The soldier began to smile, for he thought the woman was teasing him. “And what am I to do, when I arrive at this underground hall?” he asked.

  “Find your fortune,” the old woman said. “From the hall you will find three chambers, in which there is more money than you could count in your entire lifetime, or your children’s lifetimes. You may have as much of it as you want. All you need to do is fetch my tinderbox for me, which I left down there the last time I visited the chamber.”

  “Why do you not fetch the tinderbox yourself?” the soldier asked.

  “I am, alas, not as young as I once was, and I can no longer scramble in and out of trees,” replied the woman. “But you are young and strong, and will surely have no difficulties.”

  “But if I am weighted down with all the wealth in the world, how will I be able to climb up again?” asked the soldier, still thinking that the old woman was not serious.

  “I shall tie a rope around your waist before you go,” the woman said. “When you are done, you can call to me, and I will help pull you out.”

  The soldier saw that the woman was in earnest, and his grin changed into a look of puzzlement. “And what else would you want in exchange? You cannot expect me to think that you want nothing in return.”

  “No, no,” the old woman said. “But I do not want so much as a penny. I have enough for my own needs, and at my age there are few things that I want. Only fetch the tinderbox for me, which was my grandmother’s before me, and her grandmother’s before her, and which I would be very glad to have back again.”

  The soldier frowned a little bit. “Why would you want this tinderbox so badly, that you would part with so much in order to get it back?”

  “I part with what I do not care about, in order to secure that which I do care about,” replied the woman, shrugging a little and setting the chimes in her scarves to ringing. “That should not concern you. What should concern you is the fortune that awaits you.”

  The soldier thought about that, continuing to frown a little, then he nodded. “What else is in the hall and chambers?” he asked after a moment.

  “Ah, a clever lad,” the old woman said approvingly. “Yes, there is more to the task than the climbing of a tree. Only a very brave soul indeed can fetch this wealth, for it is watched by three guardians.”

  “What kind of guardians?” asked the soldier, fingering his sword.

  “In the first chamber there is a great dog, with eyes as big as teacups,” the old woman said. “If you truly are as brave of heart as you have claimed however, you need not be at all afraid. I will give you one of my shawls, which you must boldly cast over the dog’s eyes. Do this, and it will let you take as many copper pennies from the chamber as you can carry.

  “If you prefer silver however, you must go into the second chamber, which is guarded by another dog, with eyes as big as supper plates. You must not let his gaze disturb you, but simply cover it with my shawl, and take as much silver as you choose.

  “Or, if your dreams are truly grand, then you can proceed to the third chamber, which is filled with gold. Though the dog who guards it has eyes the size of windmills, you must not be afraid if you wish to carry away his gold. Cover his eyes with my shawl, and take what you will.”

  The soldier hesitated for a moment, then he laughed again. “Very well, old woman. Give me this shawl you speak of, and I will fetch this fabulous fortune.”

  “And my tinderbox,” urged the woman.

  “And your tinderbox,” agreed the soldier.

  The old woman nodded, and the charms and beads that hung from her many shawls and scarves tinkled and c
himed against each other. She unwound a pale blue shawl from among the many draping her arms, and handed it to the soldier. Then she held out her hands and the soldier saw a smooth, narrow rope in it, though he would have sworn that she did not have such a thing a moment before.

  He did not like it, but he let the old woman tie the silken rope around his waist. He twisted the shawl around his head to leave his hands free for climbing, then left the road and began walking towards the tree. When he reached it, he looked back to the old woman to make sure that it was the right one.

  The old woman had followed him, more quickly than he thought she should have been able to, with her shambling gait. Hovering at the base of the tree, she reassured him eagerly, and urged him to be quick about his task. The half-light of the woods cast strange shadows on the woman, who seemed taller and more twisted than before. Even her walking stick appeared warped now, though it had looked straight and smooth from the road.

  The soldier shook off such fancies, and began climbing the tree. A very few minutes later he had reached the top, and soon found the hole that the woman had spoken of. He glanced back one more time, but the branches and leaves of the tree were thick and he could not see the ground below him. “For fortune and fame, and favors for strange old women!” he muttered to himself half-mockingly, then ducked into the hole.

  It was very dark inside the tree, and the soldier felt around the inside of the trunk carefully, trying to figure out how he was supposed to get down. He soon found a handhold however, then a second, then a third, and before long he was climbing steadily down the inside of the tree.

  It was not long at all before the soldier realized that the way down was much longer than the climb up had been. After a moment though he remembered that the old woman spoke of the hall being under the roots of the tree, and concluded that he simply needed to keep going.

  Down and down he climbed, but no matter how far he went there always seemed to be more handholds and no bottom. Further and further he descended, until his arms and legs began to ache, and he began to puff in exertion. The only thing that kept him going was the constant thought that he must surely be closer to the bottom than to the top at this point - but still there was always further to go.

  Then suddenly, when he had started to fear that there was no end, he felt stone beneath his feet. He reached out his toes carefully, following the lines of the stones, and found that he was at the top of a narrow staircase. The soldier released his grip on the handholds and breathed a great sigh of relief.

  He twisted the rope around his belly to reach the knot. Following the line of the rope upwards with his hand, the soldier was surprised but pleased that it was still taut. He had been climbing for so long a time that he had feared that the rope would not extend the entire way, for at first glance it had not looked to be able to stretch that far. With his cheer returning, the soldier began to wonder whether the climb had really been as long as it had seemed.

  He untied the rope from around his waist, and quickly knotted it to a nearby root to keep it secure. With his hand extended in front of him to keep his head from hitting the low ceiling, he began descending the narrow staircase.

  Before he had taken many steps, the soldier noticed that the tunnel was growing brighter. At first it was just a lessening of the dark, but soon there was a decided gleam in the air, and then a clear and steady glow. He was able to move more quickly, now that he could see, and he skipped rapidly down the rest of the stairs.

  He reached the bottom and emerged abruptly into a cavernous hall, lit by hundreds of lamps suspended in the air. The soldier stopped and stared, for he had never seen anything like this hall before in his life, not even at the grandest ball held by the highest general in the army.

  The blaze of light extended to every corner of the great room, which was filled with beautiful things. Bolts of gorgeous fabrics were draped negligently over finely carved furniture, and the floor, tables, and even the chairs were littered with statues and delicately tinted porcelains. Richly hued paintings leaned against the walls, and brass gleamed back bright reflections of the lamplight from dozens of urns, fixtures, and incense burners.

  After a moment the soldier recollected himself, and moved forward again. At the far end of the room he saw an arched door, and he resolutely began striding towards it, ignoring the lure of the fine things surrounding him. The door was not locked, and he straightened his shoulders and pushed it firmly open.

  The soldier entered the room boldly. The first thing he saw was a great pair of yellow eyes, as big as teacups, staring at him. As the light of the great hall spilled into the chamber from behind him, he saw that the eyes belonged to a dog - the biggest dog that he had ever seen. The soldier was not daunted however, but continued to move boldly forward.

  “You’re a handsome fellow, aren’t you?” he said. As he spoke, the soldier pulled the blue shawl off his head, shook it out, and tossed it over the dog’s head. When the dog’s eyes were covered, the soldier quickly moved about the room, which was almost overflowing with piles of copper pennies. The soldier filled his pockets and his knapsack with coppers, then began whistling as he moved towards a door in the far wall of the first chamber. Just before he left the room, he reached out and snatched the shawl from the eyes of the dog.

  The second chamber was darker than the first, for less light reached it from the brightly lit hall. It was also larger than the first, and when he first entered the room the soldier could not immediately see the room’s guardian. He moved cautiously forward, looking around himself.

  He paused for a long moment when he saw that the floor was littered with old bones, and he felt a small lick of fear when he saw that near the bones were rusted old swords and helmets, and some scraps of what had once been heraldry. The soldier was not faint of heart however, and he continued to move forward. As his eyes adjusted to the dimmer light, he began to see large crates and boxes standing about in groups, each of them filled to bursting with silver pieces.

  The soldier pulled his knapsack off his back and unceremoniously dumped out the pennies, which poured to the floor with a bright clatter. He quickly emptied his pockets as well, and was reaching out to pick up a first handful of silver pieces when he heard the growling.

  Turning around, he saw a massive dog, staring at him with glowing white eyes the size of supper plates. The dog had emerged from the shadows of the room, and was pacing forward menacingly, making it perfectly clear that the soldier was not going to be permitted to remove so much as a silver piece.

  “There you are!” said the soldier gallantly. “It’s not nice of you to hide.” As he spoke, he began approaching the dog with the old woman’s shawl. The dog watched him coming with its unblinking stare, while its enormous head tilted to one side.

  “You shouldn’t stare like that,” the soldier said. “Or your eyes will get stuck.” As he spoke he flicked his wrist and tossed the shawl over the dog’s eyes, which stopped growling and sat down. The soldier nodded, very well pleased with himself, then went to work filling his knapsack, his pockets, and his cap with silver pieces. Right before he left the room, he snatched the shawl off the second dog’s head.

  The third room was very dark indeed, for almost no light could reach it from the far-away hall. The soldier walked a few steps inside, and could hear his bootsteps echoing in the vastness of the space, but he could not see anything. After a moment he shrugged, then turned around and began walking back towards the brightly lit hall.

  He walked through the second chamber, past the dog with the eyes the size of supper plates, and into the first chamber, where he passed the dog with the eyes the size of teacups. Both dogs turned to watch him as he marched past, but did nothing to impede his progress. In the hall, the soldier shoved a pile of exquisite fabric off of a chair, then used the chair to climb up and take down one of the merrily-burning lamps.

  He carried the lamp back through the first two chambers, and then into the third chamber. From the glow of his lamp, the soldi
er could see a large brazier not far from the door, which he moved towards and then lit. As the oil caught the flame there was a great rushing sound and the air moved as if with a wind, as a great circle of lamps and torches all took flame in a great wave of sudden fire.

  As the room was suddenly flooded with light, the soldier looked around with such amazement that he dropped the lamp he carried, and was burned a little by the splashing oil. Marble columns marched in rows down the length of the room, which was even larger than the cavernous hall, and between each of the columns stood a massive chest, and each of those chests was overflowing with gold coins.

  At the end of the chamber, on an enormous dais, lounged the third guardian - a creature so large that the soldier thought it didn’t look so much like a dog as a dog-shaped mountain. Swallowing, the soldier realized that there weren’t any bones in this chamber, and he reflected grimly that a full-grown man would be but a small mouthful for this animal, whose eyes truly were the size of windmills.

  The soldier stood there for many moments, as he gathered the courage that he had boasted of to the old woman. Then, ignoring the piles of gold coins, he marched down the length of the room towards the dog. It watched him come, and as he approached he saw to his disquiet that its unblinking green eyes whirled in its head like coach wheels.

  “Good morning,” the soldier said politely, bowing a little and touching his cap respectfully. He studied the dog a bit longer, but then decided that he had nothing to gain from waiting, and without further ado he threw the blue shawl up at the dog’s head.