Those Darkling Elves
A Tale Inspired By An Illustration by Arnold Lobel
Introduction
This is a tale inspired by this amazing illustration shared by The Enchanted Booklet on Facebook.
The music is "Seven Hundred Elves" by Steeleye Span
Those Darkling Elves
Her mother had sent her to get bread and cheese from the grocer's that she had neatly packed into her shopping basket with her book of poems. Walking back through the woods, as she had done many times, she sat under her favourite tree, put her basket down and took out her book of poems to read.
She thought she heard something in the branches of the tree, and thought it must be a bird, so she continued reading her poems and relaxing.
What she did not know was that the rustling was a gang of darkling elves in the tree above her, looking down and contemplating mischief, as is the wont of darkling elves. They saw she had bread and cheese, and they were salivating at the thought of stealing and scoffing her groceries.
The other problem with darkling elves is that they can never agree or make up their minds, so they bickered and sniped at each other, but all she heard was rustling in the tree.
Eventually, they decided they would just take the girl's grocery basket. There were twelve dark elves. They came down the tree and were shocked.
They had taken so long to decide what to do that the girl had packed up and gone home with a full basket of bread and cheese.
About the Creator
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Comments (2)
I howled. They argued so long she left lol. This was so good. I love the folklore atmosphere again, the elvish mischief and the way you created this almost childlike mood whilst keeping it dark enough for interest. It felt very Perrault's Red Riding Hood.
hahaha, indecision is a deal breaker. awesome for her.