The Girl and the Golden Bird

There was once a girl who lived in a far away city in a far away land. She was very lonely, as she was not allowed to have friends for fear she would come to harm. Her only companion was a golden bird that lived in a golden cage. The golden bird sang sweet songs to the girl every night and every morning and as the bird sang the girl dreamt of far away places where friends surrounded her and where she was very happy.

One afternoon the girl was listening to the bird’s sweet song when her Mother called for her. When the girl left the room the golden bird continued to sing unaware that a dark and sinister raven sat on a nearby branch staring intently at the bird. The raven had been sent by the wicked Raven Queen of the bird kingdom to steal the golden bird from the girl as it held magical powers and could grant a thousand wishes. As soon as the girl left the room the raven approached and suggested to the golden bird to fly away from his golden cage and follow him to a magical forest where he will be free. At first the golden bird did not want to leave the girl as he had grown very fond of her and liked his golden cage but the raven was persuasive and the little bird was curious so it flew out of its golden cage and followed the raven towards the dark, forbidding magical forest. When the girl returned she discovered that her wondrous friend had flown away and that all that was left was a golden feather. She placed the feather under her pillow and finally cried herself to sleep.

She awoke the next morning took the feather from her where it lay under her pillow and sat quietly by the window where her golden bird used to live in its golden cage. She thought about the dream she had, it seemed so real. She had dreamt she had found her golden bird locked up in a tiny cage in a dark and scary place. Her golden bird was unhappy and frightened and called out to her to help him. She looked beyond her home in the city and could just make out the forest in the distance. Something stirred inside her she knew this is where she would find her golden bird; she knew this is what her dream had been telling her.

THE FOREST AND THE MYTHICAL WHITE CREATURE

She waited until her Mother and Father left for the day before leaving her home to make her way through the familiar streets of the city towards the mysterious forest on the horizon. She was surprised at how quickly she arrived at an old and gnarled tree. It seemed to take no time at all but then she wondered what she should do now, which direction should she take? She sat down under the spreading branches of the tree to catch her breath, the afternoon was warm and the sunlight filtered through the thick branches and lush foliage. As she sat and gazed back towards the towering skyscrapers of the city she spotted something glittering amongst the long blades of grass in front of her, she stretched her hand and gently picked up a feather, it was another golden feather, she smiled as she knew she was on the right track to find her golden bird. The breeze rustled the leaves of the tree and closing her eyes for a moment the girl drifted off in thought. Was she dreaming as she listened to the wind rustling in the trees she thought she could hear music coming from the depths of the forest? It was beautiful, mysterious and enchanting.

She wasn’t afraid as she headed towards the melodic sounds, and soon found herself in a clearing in the trees. As she peered ahead she could just make out a figure sitting in a large oddly shaped chair. The creature seemed to take no notice of her as she crept closer.

It was as if he was in a trance as he played his golden flute. He was more bird than man and was exotically dressed all in white with an elaborate turban decorated with long white peacock feathers. His face was white as white with piercing black glittery eyes and his long claw like fingernails were painted gold. She carefully approached him, he looked up, stopped playing and smiled at her warmly he did not seem at all surprised to see her. He spoke quietly and asked the girl what she was doing in the forest all on her own. She told him of her golden bird and her quest to find him. He was quiet for a moment and then suggested they go visit a friend who would very likely know where the golden bird could be found. His friend was wise and knew everything there was to know about what was going on in the world. This made the girl happy; she had found a friend who was willing to help. She hadn’t like to admit it but she had been a little scared of starting her quest and the dangers that may lie ahead. The mythical creature stood up from his chair and offered his hand, in it was a golden feather. He explained that he had found it close by and that as it was similar to the two she was clutching so hard he thought it must belong to her. The afternoon light was beginning to fade so he took with him a curious looking lamp; it was a magic lamp and would guarantee their safety as they walked deeper into the forest.

As they walked together the girl couldn’t help but ask her companion a thousand questions. She was curious to find out who he was and where he came from. He explained how the Raven Queen had bewitched him. She had been angered by his beauty and became so enraged with jealousy that she cast a spell on him so that only in the magic forest was he able to return to his human form. Whenever he left the boundaries of the forest he became a rare and beautiful white bird and was hunted wherever he went. He told her of the many others that lived in the forest that were also under the spell of the Queen. Indeed his friend that they were going to meet was also a victim of this cruel fate. She listened intently to his story beguiled by the mystery and wonders of his tale and became excited as to whom she would meet next. It didn’t take long before the mystery was revealed.

FINDING THE OWL WOMAN

A while later her companion gestured; they had arrived. With her mouth wide open the girl stared rather impolitely at the exquisite creature sitting on a branch of what must have been one of the biggest trees she had ever seen. The creature stared down through a single eyeglass with a look of disdain for the apparent interruption. The creature was a beautiful woman with milky white skin and eyes as round as the moon. Her deep brown silk dress flowed down from where she was sitting; the girl thought it was very strange thing to be so dressed up whilst sitting in a tree, the creature looked more like she should be attending a grand ball but then the girl considered that everything she had encountered in this place was strange and odd so perhaps she shouldn’t be surprised at anything. As she looked again she noticed that surrounding the tree and hanging from its many branches were books, old books big and small, she wondered why but decided it was not worth the question.

Her travelling companion explained her story to this beautiful creature; he told of the loss of her precious bird and her journey to reclaim him.

The woman was pensive and then spoke of the Raven Queen and how she would be the one guilty of such a crime, indeed only that day had she seen a flock of black ravens flying high with such strong purpose and direction she supposed now in hindsight that amongst the flock they were hiding the golden bird. She explained the only way to retrieve her bird was to go to where the Raven Queen and her flock of loyal ravens lived which was deep into the forest, a place where few would dare to go. The girl looked dismayed thinking this was the end of her quest and that she would never see her golden bird again. The woman climbed down from the tree and took her friend aside. They walked away from the girl and remained deep in conversation for what seemed like hours.

Returning to the girl’s side they explained their plan, a daring plan and one that would take great courage. They would fly to the place in the forest where the Raven Queen and her evil entourage lived and once all were asleep they would steal back the golden bird. Explaining to her that the ravens sleep for one hour every night and in that hour they would be unaware of anything that was happening around them; so deep was their sleep. The girl looked at them both in disbelief and was told that this was a magic hour in the forest when all that lived within it slept like the dead. This hour was approaching and the mythical white creature and the owl woman would need her magic to prevent them from falling into this deep slumber. The girl had been unaware of the magical powers the golden bird held and that the three feathers she clutched carried the same magic so was surprised as they explained to her that it was no accident that the golden bird had left the three feathers for her to find and they should be used for this very purpose; each held one wish. The beautiful owl woman gestured to the girl to make the wish using one of the golden feathers and no sooner had the girl spoken the words one of the feathers she had held so tightly disappeared. Feeling slightly awkward but doing as she was told she climbed onto the back of the mythical white creature she watch as both he and the woman outstretched their arms and were immediately transformed into magnificent birds who took flight through the trees to the sky above. They flew in haste across the top of the forest in the glow of the moonlit sky. Never had she seen such beauty or experienced anything like this before she caught her breath and shivered with excitement.

THE RAVEN QUEEN AND THE END OF THE QUEST

In the distance she could just make out a clearing in the forest the two birds carefully navigated their way back down the forest landing just beyond this place, which she knew must be the ravens lair. No sooner had they landed the birds turned back into their human form and began to explain to the girl what was to happen next. It was up to the girl they explained to creep as quietly as she could to the raven’s lair where she would need to find the golden bird as quickly as she could. The hour had come when all the creatures that belonged to the forest fell into a deep sleep. Her two companions were protected by the golden birds magic and urged the girl to hurry.

The girl was nervous but found strength in her quest knowing that all in the forest slept and no one would hear her. The clearing was ahead and the girl noticed how black and ugly the trees were they looked like monsters in the dark. She could see that on all the branches were hundreds of black ravens all with heads bowed and hidden in their wings. By the furthermost tree she saw what could only be the Queen as she was much bigger than the other birds and in human form. Although the girl knew she was an evil queen she couldn’t help but be awed by her incredible dark beauty her hair as black and glossy as a moonlit night, lips ruby red and she had the palest of skin. She lay asleep in the crooked roots of the tree, which was hung with hundreds of tiny birdcages and amongst these the girl could just make out the golden bird.

Using another magic wish the girl spoke to the golden bird wishing it to wake and to open its eyes. Again the magic worked immediately and as the golden bird opened its eyes it called to the girl. His voice was shrill and piercing and woke the evil Queen from her sleep. She stood towering over the golden bird in its cage with such anger and hatred in her eyes the girl let out a shriek. The evil queen turned her head quickly and stared in her direction. It all happened in a second, the girl had no idea what to do next she was holding her last golden feather, her last wish. She quickly whispered the words and in a flash she was standing back at the tree where the owl woman lived. She looked down to the cage she was holding in her hand there was the golden bird and standing beside her in disbelief were her two companions. This would not be the end they explained, as the Raven Queen would track them down. A tiny voice spoke; it was the golden bird. The girl had never heard him speak before but she was quick to understand in this magic forest anything was possible. The golden bird offered each of them a wish. This is what they wished for; The mythical white creature wished that all the bewitched creatures in the forest would be released from the spell. The owl woman wished for the Raven Queen to be banished forever and the girl wished to be home safe and sound. They were all granted their wishes and they all lived happily ever after.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

The girl was pleased to be back in familiar surroundings although she did miss her golden bird, her parents were so happy to have her home they allowed her to have as many friends as she wished so she was never lonely again. From time to time as she walked to and from her school in the city she would often think she saw her two companions but they never seem to recognise her so she just continued on her way smiling and remembering her wonderful and exciting quest in the magic forest. And just in case you are wondering the golden bird remained in the magic forest to ensure the evil Raven Queen never returned. From time to time he would visit the girl and together they would talk about their wonderful adventure.

The End