The Rose:
'"There was once a poor woman who had two children. The youngest had gone every day into the forest to fetch wood. Once when she
had gone a long way to seek it, a little child, who was quite strong, came and helped her industriously to pick up the wood and
carry it home, and then before a moment had passed the strange child disappeared. The child told her mother this, but at first
she would not believe it. At length she brought a rose home, and told her mother that the beautiful child had given her this rose
and told her mother that when it was in full bloom, he would return. The mother put the rose in water. One morning her child would
not get out of bed. She went to the bed and found her dead, but looking very happy. On the same morning, the rose was in full bloom.'"
had gone a long way to seek it, a little child, who was quite strong, came and helped her industriously to pick up the wood and
carry it home, and then before a moment had passed the strange child disappeared. The child told her mother this, but at first
she would not believe it. At length she brought a rose home, and told her mother that the beautiful child had given her this rose
and told her mother that when it was in full bloom, he would return. The mother put the rose in water. One morning her child would
not get out of bed. She went to the bed and found her dead, but looking very happy. On the same morning, the rose was in full bloom.'"
The Rose King
Many years later, a princess was riding through the meadow when her horse became unsteady. She fell off and hit her head. When she
awoke, a handsome man was looking down upon her. He helped her stand and she smiled gratefully, but could not help but laugh at
his clothing. When asked of her laughter, she replied " My good sir, how does one come to be in my father's meadow this fine day
whilst covered entirely in roses?". The handsome stranger only smiled. They lay there together on the cool grass until the sun began
to set. The princess needed to return to the castle, but asked the stranger to meet again the next day in the same spot. The stranger
agreed and the princess departed with her horse. When the princess returned to the castle, she went to her father directly and told
of her accident and of the stranger. Her father did not believe her. The king laughed a mighty laugh and said "My fair daughter, as
heir to my throne, one must not entertain such fancies! You hit your head and t'was all that happened! Now, let us have supper".
The princess felt quite foolish for believing such a story herself, that her meeting must have been an imagining. After a weeks
passing, the princess went strolling through the very meadow again. There she came across the stranger again. "I came the day after,
but you did not. I came again every day but to no avail. What has kept you, my princess?" the stranger asked. The princess explained
what had happened the night they met and the stranger understood. After weeks of secret meetings, the stranger gave her a rose. When
the princess returned to the castle, she was no longer able to contain her excitement and , once again, went to her father. "My father,
look upon the gift I have been given from my handsome stranger who I had past spoken of. We have been meeting in secret. He has told me
to wait and, when it is in full bloom, he shall return for me!" The king was more worried than outraged at his daughter's confession.
He forbade her to leave the castle and would not allow visitors until the stranger was discovered. One morning, the princess was not to be
found. Guards were dispatched to search the areas around the castle. The princess was found in the meadow, lifeless yet smiling. She lay
entwined in soft ivy upon a bed of red roses. The white rose she had been given was within her grasp, and was in full bloom.
A simple note lay upon her breast:
awoke, a handsome man was looking down upon her. He helped her stand and she smiled gratefully, but could not help but laugh at
his clothing. When asked of her laughter, she replied " My good sir, how does one come to be in my father's meadow this fine day
whilst covered entirely in roses?". The handsome stranger only smiled. They lay there together on the cool grass until the sun began
to set. The princess needed to return to the castle, but asked the stranger to meet again the next day in the same spot. The stranger
agreed and the princess departed with her horse. When the princess returned to the castle, she went to her father directly and told
of her accident and of the stranger. Her father did not believe her. The king laughed a mighty laugh and said "My fair daughter, as
heir to my throne, one must not entertain such fancies! You hit your head and t'was all that happened! Now, let us have supper".
The princess felt quite foolish for believing such a story herself, that her meeting must have been an imagining. After a weeks
passing, the princess went strolling through the very meadow again. There she came across the stranger again. "I came the day after,
but you did not. I came again every day but to no avail. What has kept you, my princess?" the stranger asked. The princess explained
what had happened the night they met and the stranger understood. After weeks of secret meetings, the stranger gave her a rose. When
the princess returned to the castle, she was no longer able to contain her excitement and , once again, went to her father. "My father,
look upon the gift I have been given from my handsome stranger who I had past spoken of. We have been meeting in secret. He has told me
to wait and, when it is in full bloom, he shall return for me!" The king was more worried than outraged at his daughter's confession.
He forbade her to leave the castle and would not allow visitors until the stranger was discovered. One morning, the princess was not to be
found. Guards were dispatched to search the areas around the castle. The princess was found in the meadow, lifeless yet smiling. She lay
entwined in soft ivy upon a bed of red roses. The white rose she had been given was within her grasp, and was in full bloom.
A simple note lay upon her breast:
"A rose given, a soul taken. Eternal peace and happiness granted."
William Baffin, the Rose King
"The Rose" Grimm's Fairytales, G. Reimer 1819 Edition Volume 2
"The Rose King" Joshua Kyle, 2012.
