The Smiling Beast
It was a sunny day. The wind was blowing back and forth, causing the maiden's hair to sway.
She was sitting by a lake, at the center of a grove, far above her could be seen, the flight of a white dove.
She had gone for a walk, into the forest so dark, for she desired to hear the song of the lark.
But the grove had been so nice, so lush and green, that her walk had ceased and the trees she now sat between.
However, as she enjoyed the sun's light, came into the grove a forest sprite.
A creature of the woods, it was an olden troll that came, and little did the maiden know this was a troll of much fame.
When she saw it her heart froze, fear overcoming her brain, for she was afraid she would not see her home again.
Immediately she decided, that in this forest she would seize her strolls, for believe it or not, she had heard some bad things about trolls.
The troll smiled and sat down, next to her by that lake, making it clear that her life was not at stake.
“Fear not my child. I may be a troll, but I am past the age of being wild.”
The maiden couldn't help but smile, for despite the rumors this creature did not seem vile.
The olden troll started telling stories, of countries far away, of places that he had seen while he had sailed from bay to bay.
Soon the maiden laughed, as the troll told his tales part by part, for at this point it was clear that no evil dwelled in the troll's heart.
Alas, the harmony was broken, as a knight entered the grove. His heart was light, his hair was bright, but his righteousness was token.
Seeing the troll, he was quick to judge, and he drew his sword to make the beast budge.
The maiden screamed as the sword flashed, the troll caught by surprise as the knight dashed.
With a thundering sound into the lake the troll fell, the knight letting out a victory yell.
His sword however was stuck in the creature's back, and despite the knight's best attempt he could not move it a tack
As the troll hit the water the knight grabbed the maid, his rough grasp unfurling her braid.
“We must leave here now, before more come!”, he yelled as he feared the troll's war drum.
Before the maiden could protest, they had left the wood. As they ran she yelled and screamed, but he never understood.
However, during their flight, back in the grove occurred something quite a sight.
In the middle of the lake the troll stood up, as his muscles tensed the sword came free.
“I won't die that easily.”
Back at the knight's castle the maiden told her tale, but when she sided with the beast the castle's priest did wail.
She was accused of witchcraft, on a fire she was to burn, although she cried and pleaded, her words she couldn't turn.
The fire was lit, it seemed to be her fate, but the execution halted when a troll broke down the gate.
Men from the castle rushed toward the troll with fire, but he walked past them as a fight he did not desire.
As best they could they tried to kill the beast, but their torches and blades didn't hurt it in the least.
He reached the pyre and freed the maiden, then turned around to leave. As the two walked out of the courtyard, the maiden did not her eyes believe.
Alas, before they could escape, the knight blocked their way. With sword in hand and helmet on, he inquired the maiden to stay.
The troll did sigh, then knocked the knight to the ground. And once he was down it took his sword, and snapped it in two without a sound.
As they were leaving the knight yelled at the troll “Why do you not take my life?!”, as to him it all seemed pointless, as he had failed his strife.
The troll turned to him, with a smile on it's face, as he lay there flat, then said with an overbearing voice “What good would I gain from that?”.
Then they left, the maiden and the troll, back to the forest's deep. There, under the shade of the leaves, the maiden was soon fast asleep.
The troll carried her home, to her village on a hill, where he was greeted by her father, at the mill.
Her father, who knew the troll, inquired him to stay. But with a smile the troll said no, as he had things to do far away.
Now, when the troll walks in the forest, he sometimes hears the maiden's call. But for her sake he now sticks to his own kind, as he is a troll after all.