Caught in the Web
Rose moved swiftly through the forest to keep up with the sprightly, little man. She was glad for the moonlight that lit the path through the trees, and for the warm blanket protecting her from the scratching branches...
(Read the previous episode here)
Rose moved swiftly through the forest to keep up with the sprightly, little man. She was glad for the moonlight that lit the path through the trees, and for the warm blanket protecting her from the scratching branches.
Finally they arrived at a small clearing in the woods. In the centre was a large stump covered in bits of fur, blood and bones.
Rose shuddered. She wanted to run from the clearing as fast as she could, but Lucky stopped her.
“The Old Woman will soon be here. Quick, throw your blanket up into the trees!”
Rose did as he told her and threw it as high as she could. The blanket opened and stretched across the clearing like a huge web, it’s silvery-blue yarn invisible in the moonlight.
Just then they heard branches snapping and the Old Woman came traipsing along, dragging a squealing pig by the tail. As she came into the clearing, she let out a horrendous shout and the little pig, suddenly free, darted past Rose and disappeared into the woods.
“Look!” said Lucky, "The Old Woman is caught in the web!"
It was a sight to see! The more the Old Woman struggled, the tighter the web wrapped around her. Soon she was motionless but for her screeches and venom-filled rants.
Rose was terrified, but Lucky reassured her.
“The sun is coming up,” he said, “she can’t live in the light.” And sure enough, as the sun came up and lit the clearing with it’s golden rays, the Old Woman began to melt until she disappeared completely from the web...
Rose Gets Lucky
“Up here,” said the voice, and Rose glanced up towards the light and entrance to the cave. There she saw a little man no bigger than a few inches tall. He had a long, pointy nose that stuck out from his green cape and hood. He looked like part of the earth and roots so Rose would not have seen him but for his madly waving arm.
“Oh, hello,” said Rose, “Who are you?”
(Read last week's episode here)
“Up here,” said the voice, and Rose glanced up towards the light and entrance to the cave. There she saw a little man no bigger than a few inches tall. He had a long, pointy nose that stuck out from his green cape and hood. He looked like part of the earth and roots so Rose would not have seen him but for his madly waving arm.
“Oh, hello,” said Rose, “Who are you?”
“They call me Lucky,” said the little green man, with a twinkle in his eye. “Good luck comes to those who follow what I tell them. I’m here to help you, but you have to trust what I say.”
“Will you help me escape? I’m afraid the Old Woman will catch me and then I’m done for,” cried Rose fearfully as she watched the Old Woman snoring heavily in her bed.
“Listen carefully and do exactly as I say,” said Lucky. “In the cloth bag from your father is magic yarn that was given to your mother by the fairies. Every day when the Old Woman sleeps, you must weave it into a large web until it is seven feet high and five feet wide. Keep the web on your bed as a blanket, for the Old Woman is blind as a bat. When you sleep your dreams will weave themselves into the web.
“In seven days and seven nights I will be back,” said the little man, and with that he disappeared into the light of the day...
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Rose and the Old Woman
The Old Woman took Rose deep into the forest where there stood an enormous tree. Under the tree, beneath the roots, was a door to a long, deep tunnel. In they went and down, down, down, until they came to a small clearing on the earthen floor...
(You can read the previous episode here)
Tree of Life - detail
The Old Woman took Rose deep into the forest where there stood an enormous tree. Under the tree, beneath the roots, was a door to a long, deep tunnel. In they went and down, down, down, until they came to a small clearing on the earthen floor. It was cold and barren with only the dimmest of light coming in from above. There was a small table with two chairs and two beds on either side of the room. In one corner was a large pot on a stove with bones and remnants of yesterday’s meal scattered about the floor.
The Old Woman ordered Rose to make dinner, then hobbled over to the smallest bed and went to sleep.
Every day while the Old Woman slept, Rose cooked and cleaned and plotted her escape. And at night when Rose lay sleeping, the Old Woman disappeared, returning each morning before dawn.
“Try to escape and I’ll catch you and eat you!” the Old Woman cackled, and so Rose did as she was told.
One day, when the Old Woman was fast asleep, Rose heard a small voice calling her name...
The Old Woman of the Forest
Just then there was a knock at the cottage door.
The Woodsman opened the door and an old woman entered. She was as ancient as the trees with her leathery skin, and stood just three feet tall. As she came in the room her dark, green cloak trailed bits of branches and tree roots behind her. She smelled of earth and moss and had a long dirty tail...
(You can read part one from last week here.)
Just then there was a knock at the cottage door.
The Woodsman opened the door and an old woman entered. She was as ancient as the trees with her leathery skin, and stood just three feet tall. As she came in the room her dark, green cloak trailed bits of branches and tree roots behind her. She smelled of earth and moss and had a long dirty tail.
The old woman gazed around the cottage until her small, beady eyes rested on the sleeping Rose.
“The forest folk will mind your roses, but on one condition. You must promise me your daughter when she turns thirteen."
The Woodsman was at a loss without his wife and in anguish he thought to himself, “I cannot look after her. She will be better off without me.” And so he agreed.
With that the old woman disappeared into the forest as quickly as she came.
Soon it was Spring. The Woodsman went off to the forest every day to do his work, while the fairies and other forest folk minded the baby and tended to the cottage and garden. When summer arrived the red, yellow and white roses blossomed around the cottage once again and little Rose played happily in the garden alongside the animals, birds and flower fairies of the forest.
The Woodsman and his daughter lived happily in their cottage in the woods and the years passed by until one day Rose turned thirteen...