Once Upon A Time

Rose Wife

Once upon a time, a middle-aged farmer lived near a village, and spend his life on harvesting. His day was always the same, and the townsfolk knew all about him and his life, and he knew all about theirs. He was just like everyone else. Noting extraordinary, no special talent or a beautiful appearance. But still there was one single difference between him and the townsfolk. He was lonely. Everywhere there was blooming love, but the sweetness and love stopped right at the end of the village. The farmer, who's name was Arthur, felt an empty hole in his heart. Everyone thought big thoughts of him, and accepted and befriended him wherever he went. But no one thought he could find his one true love.

At the farm he sadly sat on his bench and dreamt of that day his one true love would come, and live with him at the farm. While the wind flew by, horses ran by the field and the heat heated his shoulders, his little dog arrived and lied down on Arthurs feet. The so called beautiful sunset became more depressing in the lonely Arthur's eyes. The wish of a wife was gigantic, and he didn't get any younger

One day, on an ordinary day, he pushed his wagon filled with melons, carrots and letuces down to town, a strange path crossed him. A road he had never seen before, and he walked that trip every day. Beside the new road, there was a big bush, with the most colorful and blooming flowers he had ever seen. Out of the blue, a snake came out of the bush, and scared Arthur, so he lost touch of the wagon, and it rolled down the new and unknown road. Arthur ran and ran, until he made it till the end, where the wagon stood. At the edge there was a big treehouse decorated with beautiful plant and flowers from every corner of the world. The ground was surrounded by a big black pointy fence, to keep everyone out. When Arthur walked near the fence, the door opened slowly with a dramatic touch. It creaked so loud, that the beautiful young woman, who lived there heard it, and came out of the house, to greet Arthur.

He stumbled towards the lady, and she had a very welcoming smile on her lips. She was standing there in a gorgeous white dress, with pink flower patterns at the bottom. Her brown hair was curly and was decorated with a beautiful wreath. She was holding her hands, and looked down at the nervous Arthur. "I see the destiny has been leading you to me." Arthur looked at her with distant eyes, and with confusion. Her smile went upside down, and she analyzed Arthur with very upsetting eyes. She her head, and said: "You are unhappy. You are... lonely. My name is Tempus, and you have come here, to grand a wish. Now, what is your wish?" she asked politely. Arthur still looked confused, and he looked around. He didn't know what to do, and he just sat there and were quiet. "I can give you what you want Arthur. You wish for a wife, and I can give you that," said Tempus. She gave him a pot, and told him, that he could pick any flower in her garden, and if he nursed it well all the way, he would earn a wife on full moon. She grabbed his shoulder, and followed him to her garden, where every flower bloomed in their own different way. Ice flowers grew in the snow in the northern part of the garden. Dandelions shined everywhere in the eastern part, where the grass was as green it could be. "go ahead. Find your flower, but be careful of which you choose. And you need to nurse the flower all the time, so it stays alive." She disappeared in a little storm of leafs.

Arthur walked with a hidden smile on his face, and analyzed every single little flower, from east to vest.

No flower was, in Arthurs eyed, worth a wife, but suddenly. All the way at the edge of the garden, there was an exceptional rose shrub, covered in the reddest roses he had ever seen. The sunlight shined so bright on those roses, and it gave a spark in Arthurs eyes. He walked filled with hope towards the bush. 3 roses were blooming the most, And Arthur grabbed the biggest, which had 3 thorns, and one of them pricked a hole, so Arthurs finger began to bleed. He placed it in the white pot, and brought it with him home.

When he went back home, Arthur placed the pot on top of a garden table, and let it stay in the sun. "Soon, you will grow and you will be my blooming wife," Arthur said. He went inside to sleep, and wait until the day, his wife would stand in front of the doorstep.

On the 1stday he nursed the rose, and talked to it. Nothing had changed, but Arthur was patient. He gave the plant water, and he saw how the rose grew and shined even more.

On the 2ndday he did it all again, and the flower kept growing. Arthur began to be uncertain if he did something wrong. Nothing happened, and the days went by.

Then the magic happened on the 3rdnight. A huge storm raged against the village and gave a big amount of rain. The thunder and lightning kept Arthur awake, but nothing beat the one stroke he heard. It sounded like it came from right outside. The stroke shook the bed, and made it all bright inside the house. He grabbed his oil lamp and carpet, and he sneaked outside, and as he always thought, his outstanding wife stood there, wet from top to toe, and were almost freezing to death. She looked so confused in her long white dress, red hair and freckles. Thrilled Arthur ran against her and gave her the almost wet blanket, and brought her inside.

She sat on a chair, cold and wet, and she didn't understand a thing. But she knew who the dear Arthur was. When she calmed down, and looked around, she took a look at Arthur and said, "Thank you for taking so good care of me." He smiled at her, and told her, "You are welcome. If I may ask, what is your name?" She answered in the politest way, and her name was Rose. Right ahead the two lovebirds fell in love, and spend every single hour together. Arthur invited her outside, and beside the blooming rose, they sat and enjoyed the beautiful sunset they were gifted with. Roses beauty were shining everywhere. Both with people, animals and appearance. She loved to cook, play with animals and talk with others. She always made Arthur laugh, and she loved to help Arthur with his work.

After many days of not nursing the rose, the leafs slowly began to fall off. One day he invited Rose to town, and everyone was stunned, when they saw the lucky Arthur walking hand in hand with the gorgeous Rose. Everyone wanted to greet her, and she was polite as always. Rose wanted to look around herself, and then she did. Arthur contemplated Rose, as she walked around. Rose walked around, and suddenly he saw Rose stealing an apple from a poor applelady, a bouquet and a ring. Outraged walked Arthur against Rose, and asked her to give it back. Rose just smiled at him, and whispered to him, "It doesn't matter. It only this once. I promise" She jumped happily home, and as a blind mouse Arthur walked happy after her.

When they arrived at home Rose gave him a gentle kiss on his lips, which made Arthurs legs soar. He began slowly to cook dinner, and Rose happily helped him. They enjoyed their dinner, and had a fantastic time, just those two together. "Arthur, I think I'm in love with you," Said Rose with a happy but confused look. Arthur smiled the brightest he could, and told her, that he's was in love with her to. Rose looked happily on the ring she stole, and then a grumpy face came on her face. She started to yell and scream about why he never gave her a ring before. She began to cry, and smash a lot of stuff in the house. More leafs fell of the rose. Arthur started to comfort her, and tried to say sorry, but she wouldn't listen. She ran outside, and only walked away with face directed the opposite way of the house. Heartbroken Arthur closed the door, and he thought everything was over.

The morning after Arthur was filled with sorrow. Rose wasn't there anymore, and He was devastated. He began to start work as soon as he could, but he stopped right away, when he saw Rose sitting beside the half withered rose. She was very sad, and wanted Arthur to forgive her. She felt so bad leaving him, and she didn't understand her actions at all. As so kindhearted Arthur was, he forgave her right away, and walked over to hug her. They hugged for a long while, when Rose started to grab his head, and point it in front of hers. "I love you Rose," Arthur said, and a tear fell down from Roses eyes. "It's too late Arthur. The rose, it's almost dead. There's nothing you can do," Rose cried. Filled with panic, Arthur poured water on the rose, but it didn't help. The one and the last leaf fell slowly down on the table. Rose stood up, and began to fall. To her luck, Arthur cached her in time. All pale, she was laying in his arms. She stroked Arthurs cheek, and said thank you for a perfect short life. Arthur couldn't hold the tears away, and cried on her pale and weak face. The wind flared and Rose became to Rose leafs, and flew with the wind. He sat on his knew, and cried for whole 3 days. The sorrow hit him hard, and he decided to place all the leafs from the rose, and putted it in a jar with the rest of the rose.

Every day he admires the glass, and missed Rose who gave him the happiness back. Never more did he feel lonely, but in fact felt more home. Sometimes when he takes the jar outside, he hears her beautiful voice in the wind that says she loves him. Rose Will never leave Arthur, and Arthur will never leave Rose.