This is a rewrite of the story of The Writer and The Sparrow, please enjoy!
"The story goes," Jemma said with a deep breath as she settled back for what I could tell would be a long story. "There was once a kind king that ruled over this valley. He had only one child, a young daughter whose beauty rivaled that of the setting sun. Her hair was compared to the last orange rays of the sun and her eyes shined with a love for every human and creature of the valley. Her heart was bigger than even that of her father and fearing that her heart would one day get her into trouble her father did his best to keep her away from the public. Because of this the princess spent many of her days wandering the palace gardens and speaking with the plants and animals within. Despite how careful her father was the princess was still visited from time to time from people who had managed to sneak into the large garden.
One of these such guests that had wandered into the garden to witness the princess's beauty for themselves was a traveling writer. This man had come from very far away with the hope of gaining inspiration from the princess, he had fallen on hard times and struggled to write stories with happy endings and he hoped such beauty would inspire happiness in his writings. So he sat and waited for the princess in a corner of the garden surrounded by roses.
When the princess spotted the writer she was thrilled for the company and immediately sat with the man to hear stories of his travels. Pleased she had not sent him away the writer told the princess everything he could think of, even the fact that he could write things into reality. The princess was excited by this and immediately asked if the writer could make something appear. The writer hesitated knowing his luck hasn't been very good lately but still wrote for her and a moment later he handed her a solid golden rose. Amazed the princess took the rose from him with a soft word of thanks, she had never seen such amazing magic and immediately insisted that the writer show her father his skills and the writer agreed.
When the writer appeared before the king he was so nervous that he was unable to make anything come of his writing, however seeing how adamant his daughter was about this man's skill the king gave the writer three days to prove that he had the magic that the princess spoke of. The writer happily agreed and appeared the next day again before the king however he again could not prove his magic.
Seeing how nervous the writer became before her father the princess offered to help the writer before the man was to appear before her father the next day. The writer happily agreed and met with the princess in the garden the next day where with her help he wrote a beautiful tale and brought a fairy into the world. Confident in his skills the writer once more appeared before the king but yet again he could not make anything come of his writing for the king. Knowing he had the skills but needed help the writer requested that the princess come into the room, a request that the king immediately rejected. The writer was not deterred and asked again but the king threatened to throw the man out so the man made one last desperate plea to get to work with the princess; he offered the king as much money as he wanted if only he could work with the princess. The king was infuriated and had the writer thrown out, as he was being pulled from the building the writer vowed that the king and his people would pay for their mistake.
That night in the shadow of the castle the writer began to work on a horrible story to punish the king and his people for keeping him from the princess. In the darkness a cloud formed over the castle and black rain poured out onto the occupants changing them into ravens. Amazingly the fairy that the writer had created earlier that day had become attached to the princess and seeing what was happening she used her magic to save the princess and turn her into a sparrow to save her from the life of a raven. Then with the rest of her magic the fairy stopped the curse from spreading out of the castle walls and curse the writer and all of his kin to only write tragedies that will be haunted by the very ravens that he had created until the day that the wrongs have been righted. It is this story child that I believe is the story of your ancestor. I believe that you are stronger than those before you yet you still struggle with the curse and will until you break the curse of the fairy."
I just looked at Jemma for a very long time, I had never heard a story like that nor one that had ever made so much sense as to why I am the way I am. "So you believe that I have to figure out how to break this curse? But how long ago was that?"
"That was a very long time ago child but magic is a special thing, it knows when to wait and when to move on." Jemma said carefully, there seemed to be more but I really didn't want to push her when she was already being so kind to me and helping me so much.
"So your friend, the knight, did he try to go break the curse on this town?"
"I suppose he did, he rarely liked to speak of anything having to do with that kingdom. I know he had some sort of tie to it yet he would never tell me what."
"I guess I can understand that, thank you Jemma for all your help." I said softly just as there was a knock on the door. I knew it was coming, it was my way of thanking such an amazing woman.
Jemma looked over at the door and after a slight hesitation she went to open it and speak to the men from the kingdom that brought with them supplies to help the village and Jemma herself. While she spoke I quietly packed up and prepared for the next part of my long journey. By the sounds of it this next part was going to be very taxing.
"Before you leave child let me help you gather fresh supplies for your quest, consider it my thank you." Jemma said softly as she stepped back into the room and saw me packing.
"I'm fine really, you have already done so much for me."
"I insist child and if you really feel like you must pay me for this then do me a favor and come and visit this old lady once you have saved your princess. I would like to meet this young lady that inspires such a brave knight."
I smiled slightly at that and finally agreed. She then took me out into town and helped me restock before handing me and old compass and sending me out to find a long lost kingdom with the hope that I could break it's curse and finally free myself.