A/N: Another oneshot fic to be sure, but I wanted to write something simple and with an assumed backgorund. I drew inspiration for this story from the tarot card 'Nine of Cups' which is also known as 'the wish card.'
I named the guardian after my Mother, Alma, for she ahs always looked after me in my life, and I lvoe her dearly. A story for you Mum.
Percy's Feast
Once upon a time there lived a jolly man named percy and his wife Nancy. Now while neither Percy nor Nancy had any great titles or splendid things to their name, the lived a very good life. Percy worked hard as a chef and his wife was his kitchen hand, and every day people came to their little shop to eat their food. There was nothing Percy enjoyed more than serving his guests and his wife enjoyed entertaining them with her skills on the fiddle.
It then came to the ear of the King of Percy and his wonderful cooking, so he summoned Percy and his wife to the Palace to cook for him and his family.
"It would be a pleasure and an honour," Percy said, and he and his wife set off for the Palace. Whn they met the King, he was taken in by Nancy's pretty details, although she was in her mid forties, and Percy's big build.
"My dear fellow," the King addressed him, "They tell me that there is no man in the world that can cook quite like you can, is that true?" the King asked.
"Indeed it is said," Percy answered, "that I have served many a splendid meal, but I do not think that I am the best cook in the world," percy answered jovilly.
"Nonsense my good man," the King replied. "I would like you to prepare dinner for me and my family. We will eat whatever it is you serve us, and my whole kitchen staff will be at your beck and call. Should your meal be satisfactory, I will give three bushels of money. If not, then I will have you sent from the village." The King then showed Percy and his wife the three bushels, and they agreed. So for the rest of the day, percy and nancy got a good idea of what the King, Queen, Princes and Princess liked to eat, and prepared the very best of those meals. Sure enough, when the dinner was served and the royal family saw what delicious options they had before them, they began eating while Nancy took up her fiddle and played.
When all was eaten, the wine drank and the evening drawing to a close, the King thanked Percy and gave him the money.
"I will call upon your services again good man," the King said, "for there is no one who can cook like that except my own chef."
'"Thank you my Lord," Percy and Nancy said, both feeling pleased with themselves but also a little mebarrassed ad such flattery. So the two of them returned to their home and had a wonderful night discussing what it was that they would do with the money. It was fnally decided th replace everything in their kitchen so that it was brand new and clean, and the have all the furniture in the public area fixed or replaced so that the customers could be more comfortable. The rest of the money was put aside for a rainy day.
A few weeks after serving the King and Queen, a messanger came down to Percy's shop and sked that he go straight to the Palace, for the King had some grave business to discuss with him. Percy, wondering what the fuss was about, headed straight to the palace. When he met his Majesty, he saw him in much distress.
"My Lord, what is the matter, if it isn't to bold to ask?" Percy inquired as he bowed deeply.
"Oh, percy, it is terrible. We have lost our chef to sickness and we have many guests coming to a feast in three days. All the foods they have ordered and requested and no one in the castle but our old chef knew how to cook them. We need your help, for you are the only man left who might know how to cook these things."
"Fear not my Lord," percy said. "For I shall cook these meals, or something very close to them that your guests shall have nothing to complain about. Present to me the lsit of things I should cook, and Nancy and I shall begin work tomorrow," Percy explained. The King, feeling releaved, took up a long list of meals and presented it to him. Percy read it over.
"This is indeed a challenge worthy of anyone who can cook, for there are many things on this list that appear, but nevertheless, I will not fail you your Majesty," Percy said, and he then returned home to tell Nancy about what they had been asked to do.
"My goodness dear, some of these things are difficult, and we do not have the means to make them neither here nor there," Nancy exclaimed.
"Let us go back to the palace and see what they have and what we must get," Percy answered. He sent a message to the Palace and then he and Nancy shut up shop early.
Once in the kitchen, they searched all the shelves and made a list of everything they could need and took it to the King.
"I will have my people find these things for you before the sun goes down tomorrow," he said, and summoned all his servants to search for the things on the list.
With two days to go, Percy and Nancy had made the beginnings of a feast. When all the servants returned. There were three things missing; the peach of the western fields, a red apple from a tree with gold leaves and a pear from the nest of a peacock.
"Where will we find these things in such short time?" The King disppaired.
"Well your majesty," Percy began, "have you a pet peacock here in the Palace?" percy asked.
"Yes, there are three," the King answered.
"Then take a pear from the garden and place it in the nest of the biggest male peacock there, and there it must sit for one day and not move. After this, the pear will have changed color to represent that of the peacock's bloom."
"So it shall be," the King said, and called for the tender of the peacocks and instructed him.
"The peach from the western fields must be retrieved from the edge of your kingdom. this dish, which is from a land far out to the west, can only be made from a peach that grows in the west. It is simply the way the dish is done. A peach from anywhere else simply ruins the taste."
Instantly the king sent for his councilors, and they found the place where the most western peaches of the kingdom were grown, and men were sent that night to retrive them.
"Lastly, the red apple from the tree of golden leaves is the most difficult to retrieve. I will have to go myself on the swiftest of your horses to the east to retrieve it," percy said.
"Very well. How long until you can return?" The King asked.
"I will be back a few hours before the feast, and do not fear, for Nancy shall cook the finest meals for the feast, for if I do not know how, she will, but I need a red ruby to get the apple." Percy reassured the King. The King sent for the swiftest of his horses and Percy took of immediutely, taking with him three bushels of money and the ruby. headed to the east. Upon the evening of the next day, without sleep nor rest, Percy reached the garden in which the tree of golden leaves was planted.
"Greetings sir," said a man at the edge of the garden.
"Greetings man in red," Percy said. knowing full well who guarded the garden.
"What brings you here this day?" asked the man.
"I am seeking the green apple from the silver tree," Percy answered. He knew that the Man in Red would only let you pass if you lied, for he saw and knew all.
"Welcome to the garden. proceed with caution," the man said.
Percy proceeded into the garden, which was so vast that you could not see the end of it for many a mile. When Percy had made it to the middle of the garden, a figure jumped out of a tree and stepped him.
"Halt sir, for what business have you here?" asked the figure.
"Greetings Mischief. I seek a prize from the earth," Percy answered, knowing full well that Mischief would not take a proper answer.
"I will let you pass if you can answer my riddle, or else I will take your gold for my prize." Mischief exclaimed, seeing the three bags of money hanging from percy's belt.
"Give me your riddle," Percy called.
"What is older than Adam if he were alive, but cannot go past four weeks old?" Mischief asked. Percy thought for a few moments, for he had not heard this riddle before.
"It is the moon," he finally answered. "For it has been in the sky since God created the earth, and the cycle of the moon lasts four weeks." Percy looked at Mischief who grew rather angry and then ran off into the trees.
Percy continued into the garden by the light of a torch he had until he came across a woman dressed in purple with a crown of flowers.
"Greetings percy, you have come to pick an apple form my tree," she said.
"Hello Alma, indeed I have come to take an apple form the tree of golden leaves."
"What have you to give me for this apple?" she asked.
"I present my lady with two bags of money and a large ruby to allow my passage to the tree and to pick the apple." Percy said.
"And your gift I accept," Alma said, taking the money and the ruby. From a bag in her belt, she took some dust and threw it on the ruby, which started to glow. She then went herself and from the tree she took an apple and replaced it with the ruby, which turned into a beautiful flower.
"Thank you Alma, for it is your gift that shall please my King," Percy said with a respectful bow to the Lady of the Woods. She nodded her head, indicating she had bid him farewell. Returning to the trees, he once again ran into Mischief.
"The Stars," Mischief said, giving him answer.
"What will come tonight without being fetched, and tomorrow be lost without being stolen?" Percy answered. Mischief, given a riddle to his answer.
Percy reached the edge of the woods, and stopped to see the man in Red.
"Where are you going, good sir?" he asked.
"To a pigsty to strangle a chicken," Percy answered. "And farewell." Percy raced off quickly and although tired, managed to return to the palace before the afternoon of the feast.
"How was your venture?" the King asked upon Percy's return.
"I have the apple of the tree of golden leaves. Have the pear and peach been retrieved?" asked Percy as he held up what was the reddest apple anyone had ever seen.
"Here is the peacock pear," said the king, holding up a shiny pear of deep blue. Percy took it and went to the kitchen to give them to Nancy, who had not slept in getting ready for the feast.
"Here is the apple my dear," Percy said, and he set it down upon the table.
"It is as beautiful as the last time we went after one, although I am sure that your journey was a lot less painful," Nancy said, admiring the apple.
"Yes indeed, Alma has remained as beautiful as the trees she protects," Percy exclaimed.
"And you also have the pear from a peacock's nest," Nancy exclaimed. "But where is the peach of the eastern fields?" Nancy asked.
"It has not yet arrived," Percy said. "We need to be ready in case it does not," he continued, and racked his mind for a dish that might replace the one he was meant to cook. But try though he might, he could not think of anything.
At last, the guests assembled in the dinning room, Percy, nancy and a hoast of other servants began presenting the dishes to the guests. There were many hungry faces and dazzled expressions as soups of many kinds, as well as breads and other entrees were presented. The people began to eat, but still the messangers who had gone for the pear did not show.
"This is most delicious," said the gusts. "You must have searched far and wide for the right type of pear to make this entree," the people exclaimed.
"It was nothing," percy answered.
Soon, it was time for the fish course, and many types of fish from flounder to whyting to lobster and crab were served. There was much discussion at this point of wanting the people who had cooked these great dishes to come to their kingdoms and realms to cook for them.
"These meats are cooked correctly and to perfection," the people said. "How do you do it?" they all wanted to know.
"It is a special secret," Percy answered with a smile. But still, the peach had not arrived. Percy had begun working on a peach pie, should he have no other choice.
Next was the main course, and meats, vegetables, potatoes and many other sides were placed upon the table and before anyone could ask what was in the gravy, people were serving themselves and eating, and not a word was spoken as people continued to eat.
Just as the people were given a short break between their main and dessert, the peach was delivered to the kitchen. It shined like the sun and was so tempting to take a bite out of to see how jiucy it was. Percy and nancy set to work very quickly to finish the dessert it was intended for, and just as it went into the oven, it came time to serve dessert. Taking the apple pie that the apple form the tree of golden leaves was plucked from, along with many other dishes, Percy and nancy wheeled the trolleys of food out and began to place them upon the table.
"Where is the peach dessert?" a guest cried. "I shall have nothing else but it, for there is nothing I like more than peach," she snapped at Percy.
"Forgive me madam, but the dessert is still cooking, but I promise that it shall be as sweet as you have ever tasted," Percy answered her bowing.
"It had better be, lest I have your right hand for this," she scowled, before sitting and pouting.
Percy raced back to the kitchen and was just in time to take out the peach dessert and let it stand for a few moments. But before he could serve it, there was a knock at the servants entry, and whom should be standing there but Alma, the guardian of the trees.
"What is this, some trickery?" Percy exclaimed in shock.
"No trick dear Percy, for you have a most mischevious guest in your midst. I have come to teach her a lesson," Alma answered, before walking over to the pie and, as she had done to the ruby, sprinkled some of her magical dust over the top. Before Percy could ask what or where, Alma walked out the door, and Percy had no choice but to serve the bespelled pie to the kings guest, and hoped it was indeed one in the same,. However, when he reached the dinning room, he could not go near the angry woman, so he asked of nancy to serve her, and she did so.
"What is this upon my dessert?" she asked, seeing the darkened flecks of dust.
"It is cinnamon," Percy answered. "It is to enhance the taste of your beloved peach," Percy answered.
"Will it now?" asked the woman. She took a large slice of the dessert and gobbled it down rather quickly, it was almsot like magic. Licking her lips, the woman was about to have another slice, when suddenly she felt something upset in her stomach, and decided against it.
That night, Percy did not sleep, for he was not sure what trickery the guardian of trees had played. In the early morning, he was summoned before the King.
"What trickery is this?" he asked, leading Percy to what was a large tree in his garden.
"I do not understand my Lord," Percy answered.
"This was the young lady that was served the peach dessert, and now she is a tree. Explain yourself!" the King demanded.
"I cannot, except to say that I served the dessert as I would have done anyone else," Percy explained.
"This cannot be true," the King exclaimed.
"But it is," said a voice, and out from behind the tree stepped Alma. "I bespelled the pie to teach this horrid woman a lesson. She has cut down many trees in my beautiful garden, and she has robbed my precious trees of many things," she explained. "And now she must return the favor. She will grow many fruits and flowers, all of which you may use frely in your court and meals. When her debt is paid, the tree will wither and die, and she will be free, perhaps a little less selfish for the wear." She turned to Percy. "And dearest Percy, who has helped me, shall have a tree just like it at his house, and it shall bloom the year long, for I never met anyone who could cook my fruit into something as tasty as that peach dessert," she said.
"Then let that tree grow here in the castle," the King exclaimed, "for I am moving Percy and nancy here to work for me." And so it was that Percy and nancy moved the castle to cook for the king, his family and many guests. Alma grew the tree she had promised in the castle grounds, and every day of the year it bore the most beautiful flowers or tasty fruits.
Percy and Nancy, now retired, have taught people how to cook their great meals, but have sworn off going to the garden in the east, for it is too far to travel, and they did not wish to upset Alma, their friend, but live peacefully until the end of their days, which they did.