Ewan the Elf and The Shoemakers

There once was a shoemaker who was down on his luck. Business had been slow, and his health was waning. His wife tried to keep things afloat. She worked through the night to cover their orders. One night as she worked on a large order of shoes, she started to feel drowsy and collapsed in the workshop.

To her surprise, when she woke with a piercing headache, the order had been completed. She figured she must have finished it before she fell asleep, though she couldn't remember doing it.

This happened a few times for the next few nights. Orders were completed, while the old woman slept like a log. After a week of long sleepy nights, came mornings of sickness and strange changes. She couldn't explain it, so called for the doctor, who examined her and found she was pregnant

The couple argued because as the shoemaker was infertile, so couldn't be the father. His wife pleaded her innocence. Just as he was about to leave, they found a note under the rug at the front door. "We helped you, and as payment, impregnated your wife. Look after the little one until it is born and then we will collect it. yours sincerely, Ewan the Elf"

Left confused, disgusted and afraid, the shoemaker's wife cried as the shoemaker called down evil on the elves’ abuse of his poor sleeping wife. Over the next 9 months, the shoemaker and his wife let the elves continue to work and build their business, so they could afford to hire more staff.

The elves, in their devious arrogance, believed their plan was working. Until one beautiful night when his wife's water broke and she went into labour, they called for the doctor and welcomed a handsome little boy into the world.

With a wicked laugh and smirk over his little face, Ewan appeared and demanded the boy. What he didn't count on was the shoemaker's deal with Rumpelstiltskin, who had wanted revenge for the death of his wife at the hands of the elves. He had protected the shoemaker and their baby, so that if the elves laid even a finger on either, they would be turned to dust.

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Thanks for reading!

Author's Notes: This is another entry into LC's amazing unofficial Fairytale Challenge. You can find out more below.

Here are more of my entries: