Three Wits and a Fool

Three Wits and a Fool By ashton15

Better a witty fool than a foolish wit.

-William Shakespeare

In a village south of the Great River, lived merrily four brothers. They each were successful in their own unique careers. The oldest named Arthur was a doctor: he had cured some of the most retched diseases known to the land.

The next brother named Carlos, was a well-respected hunter. They say that his arrows always landed in the eye of the beast he slayed, and produces the tenderest meat that any royal had the blessing of tasting. Even the king himself used many of his beautiful beasts for his feast and balls.

The second youngest who went by the name of William the Thorn of westerns. He was a prestige and gallivant warrior. He was noted for his strength and axe blade. That the commoners say was forged by the gods themselves.

Finally came the youngest brother, he was simply known as Fool. He was simply a jester for the court. He wasn't regarded as the best but none could say he wasn't funny. He kept to himself, yet the love for his brothers was as strong as the mountains to the north.

The four brothers lived together in a large house near a flowing river that supplied then with all they needed. They loved to just laze around the river on hot days when work was scares to none. On a day when the sun was blistering hot and the river seemed to call to them. The brothers decided to take a dip in the river.

As they were swimming and cooling off in the crystal water something caught one of the brothers eyes: a make shift raft. On the raft laid a fair maiden. With skin as white as a doves feathers, and her hair the shade of charcoal. She wore a simple plum coloured dress that fell down to her ankles. The brothers were baffled as to why A beautiful woman such as she was merely drifting down the river. In an instant the one of the brothers swam to the raft and carefully plucked the girl from it. She looked to be light but when they lifted: she felt like dead weight. Together all four brothers lifted her into the house.

For days the Maiden slept. Arthur nursed her back to consciousness. Carlos made sure that when she woke, fresh meat was ready for her to eat. William set out on his noble steed in search of the family of the girl. But Fool could do nothing to help her recover.

On the fifth day she rose from her slumber and awoke to three men staring at her. They sent word to William that she had awakened; he arrived at the large house near the evening. But during his ride home: the woman had regained her appetite and seemed to grow in beauty tenfold.

When all the brothers were present she spoke for the first time. "I am Bacia, Daughter of Kritanta, and who might be my rescuers?"

The oldest brother went first. "I am Arthur eldest son to Matthew: the finest doctor this side of the eastern sea." He kissed her hand pleasantly.

Then the second brother introduced himself "I am Carlos second son to Matthew: the most prolific hunter in all the lands!" He bowed and kissed both hands.

Next the warrior went. "I am William the Thorn of Westerns third son to Matthew. I have slain many monsters and enemies in far off lands with this mighty axe." He swung his axe around wildly and set the blade I front of her. "You may touch it if you wish." He spoke narcissistically. The maiden shyly touched it.

Finally the youngest brother introduced himself. "I am Fool youngest son of Matthew. I am merely a simple jester." He bowed slightly and raised his head. He tried to smile his cheeky jesters grin, but couldn't seem to bring both sides up. He just nodded politely.

Weeks went by and the brothers kept Bacia as company. She was delighted to stay. At the end of her fifth week with the brothers, she announced that in thanks for their rescuing, nursing and their hospitality, that she would marry the brother who proved himself the most.

Upon hearing this, the brothers all agreed to fight for the beautiful Bacias' hand. The eldest brother went first. "I shall prove that I am the most skillful doctor in all the lands, by curing the plague." So Arthur left for the nearby village that had been cursed with the plague. He worked for days trying to cure the victims, but in turn he himself caught the sickness and promptly died.

The next brother saddened but not discouraged by the news of his brothers passing continued the fight for the hand of Bacia. "I shall go into the forest and seek out the largest boar you or the rest of the world had ever seen." He announced. He left and searched the forest. After what seemed like days of searching, he finally came across a boar the size of cow. He put many arrows into the beast but it was useless. It simply made the boar angrier. When he shot his final arrow into the boars hide: it charged. The hunter was trampled by the beast and died slowly.

When William heard of both his brothers passing, he gloated at their failures. "They were not worthy of your hand." He bellowed. "I, and I alone shall win your hand by slaying the monstrous Dragon of the North. I will bring you its head in triumph." He rode off on his noble steed, searching day and night for the Dragon. When he found its lair: the dragon emerged. The monster shot fire from its mouth hotter than the sun. The monster had frost covered scales the size on men's hands. William was filled with fear but he faced evil and rose to meet its face. The fight went on for many minutes with each lung William came closer to landing a strike. But one lick of the Dragons flames touched his skin and melted his flesh to the morrow. In anger he took his axe in a final attempt and drove it into the monsters neck. With another slash its head fell to the ground.

The brave warrior returned to the large house, where he placed the dragons head at her feet. "I, William the Thorn of Westerns ask thee 'Will you be my bri--.'" He stopped and collapsed in pain. Three day he drifted in and out of conscious. His wounds from the dragon: festered and pussed. He cried out for Arthur to heal him: he never came. He called out for Carlos to bring him meat: he never came. He called out for Fool to make him smile: Fool was at his side day and night comforting him. He told his best jokes and rhymed his funniest songs. But nothing made his brother smile: for no one can smile when death is near and has you in its grasp.

He died on that night in tearful agony. Fool mourned for each of his brothers. He had loved them and cared for them. But Bacia was growing impatient. She begged for him to prove himself. She brought him into and embrace and looked at him, she asked him to prove himself, so that she could marry him. Fool was reluctant but told her his funniest joke. One that made all people blessed with good health and mind, in the gods eyes laugh. He expected her to keel over in whimsical laughter. Nothing. No emotion. Then he realized. She, not once had smiled. Nor had his brothers in the weeks she had stayed.

He knew what she was at that moment. He broke their embrace and prayed to the gods for help. At that instant Bacia transformed into a thin and skeletal like figure with a black targeted cloak scrapped over 'her'. She was death. "I wanted you and your brothers to prove yourselves to me." Her voice now cracked and haggled. "So I'd know that your soul would be pure enough for me to marry." She gave slight sigh in relief. "You win." With that she faded into the shadows of the house.

Years later, when Fool had grown old and grey. Death... no Bacia, came to his side once again. She looked the same as the maiden he and his brothers had saved from the river. Her skin as ghostly white and her hair the colour of a mourners cloak. She wore a morrow coloured dress that framed her well. He simply nodded once again to her and said calmly "It's time.". Bacia nodded, and with that she took his hand and led him to the door. On the other side of the door they entered to a chapel. Near the front sat an alter: in the pews to the right sat three men all dressed in fine suits.