Na oh free !

critisize as you like but do not copy.
this is my work

Synthea Renee Paarup

Once upon a time in a far away land there lived two rich men. The one man Darius had a wife, Lillianna. She was lovely both in body and in soul. The second man died young leaving his pregnant wife Desiree, in Darius’ care. Though strikingly beautiful, Desiree was evil. Desiree had many children, whose hearts she worked to fill with malice, but Lillianna had no child of her own. Desiree often taunted Lillianna with this curse “No heir will come from your bosom” that year, as both justice and mercy, Lillianna conceived. Darius rejoiced that his barren wife was to have a child. Hatred built strongly in Desiree’s heart. One night in her room, Desiree cursed Lillianna’s child, saying “Lillianna’s child will never live to speak a word.” All went well with Lillianna’s pregnancy, yet the curses had been uttered and were not to be broken.

It had been apparent from birth that Lillianna’s child was born both a girl and a mute. No cry was uttered at birth no sound of life, yet Naofri’s lungs worked and her mouth opened in silent wailing. Naofri was beautiful even as a baby. Her mother and father rejoiced in her coming. Naofri smiled when her mother held her.

Desires child was a boy; he also came into the world quiet. He never moved when Desiree held him, his little chest never lifted or fell in breath. His mouth never fluttered in recognition.” Stillborn” rang in Desiree’s ears “stillborn” echoed in the halls, “Stillborn” whispered in the trees, “Stillborn” ran a sour river in Desiree’s heart. Desiree’s mind went to the grave with her baby son. She wondered off one day and was never seen again. Lillianna took Desiree’s children as her own, never forgetting to tell them all the good things their true mother had been, and how much both she and Desiree loved them.

Desiree had two boys and one girl the, oldest a boy, only 4years old.

They grew up happy. Naofri, though confused with her inability too speak, learned well, she read all sorts of things. One day when she was 11 she stumbled upon a story about a fairy. The fairy enjoyed blessing people, she helped a poor hunchback stand tall, and a blind man see. Maybe she could help Naofri speak. She left that week never telling anyone of her journey. The family went searching for her, but never found her. When Liam, Desiree’s eldest boy turned sixteen and they still had not found Naofri, they sent him out looking for her.

Naofri walked along ocean surf, beside towering trees, through rough mountains, and across rushing rivers. She walked under sunny, rainy and snowing skies. Yet she never gave up the hope that at the end was a fairy that would make her speak. Liam followed his heart, it lead him to the same destination as Naofri.

Naofri grew week and fragile, she could not call for help when any passerby came. She could not ask for food or drink. She walked with her head down. Finally one day she stumbled upon an old cottage she walked slowly, wearily into the cottage. An old woman sat in a rocking chair.

“Come here pretty one, rest your head upon my lap and dream.” Naofri obeyed without hesitation. She slept peacefully. When she woke the woman didn’t seem so old.
”Ah pretty one I know your thoughts, yes I’m not as old as you thought I was.”

Shocked Naofri gasped.

“I would ask you why you left your home, but I already know that. I will tell you now; there is nothing that will make you speak. But you can communicate. Here I will show you how to talk with you hands.” For a year Naofri listened to the teaching of the woman. Every day the woman grew younger. And one day when Naofri went out to fetch water she caught her reflection. She was no longer a child of 11 for she had been gone from home for two years. But she had aged more than those two years, she had filled out she had become a woman. The old woman came up behind her. Sadness was in her voice

“I have that effect on people, you can’t stay here any longer Naofri, you will grow older than your years, until I am the one that is young and you are the one that is old. Go now and walk three days east until you meet someone. Here is some food. I love you Naofri, and thank you, now go!”

Naofri walked those three days. As the sun set on the third day she came across a young man lying sick at the base of a giant tree. He was handsome and lithe but underfed.

Naofri knelt by him and held his head in her lap. She fed him her bread when he woke, and brought him water to drink. Though when he asked questions all she could do was smile.

Synthea Renee Paarup