The Magic Apple

Talwin had always been a dreamer. He had always heard the story of the magic golden apple that granted wishes to whoever held it. Now unfortunately Talwin was supposed to be doing his chore of sweeping up the shop instead of simply holding up his broom. A harsh word and sharp look from his father got him moving again, temporarily, as soon the image of the magic apple reappeared in his head. At the heart of it Talwin was a good boy but he was unforgivably lazy. So Talwin took the short cut as always. Peeking over his shoulder for his father, he lifted the corner of the rug and quickly swept the dust underneath, tossed the broom in the corner and bolted out the door.

Talwin skipped along the path for a while, stopping to put a line out by the pond because Roland in the blacksmith shop had told him about a magic fish. One does not want to miss any opportunity to find magic. One of the problems with a dreamer is they get bored fast as can be, who wants to wait for dreams, keep chasing till one comes true. So with nary a nibble on the pole, Talwin left it cast in the pond and leaned the pole against the tree and ventured on. He had barely turned his back when the pole began to bend but with no one there to grab it, the pole simply splashed into the pond. A large golden fish leapt out of the pond and if you looked close enough, one would swear it winked at yea.

So Talwin headed to the forest, and he knew he was forbidden to enter but he also knew that this is where the golden apple was seen. The brush got thick and it was harder and harder for Talwin to make progress. Now since Talwin was both lazy and stubborn, the lazy took over. He was stuck in a sticker bush and it would take some work to get out but Talwin decided to rest and eat a portion of breadbeat that he had in his pocket. Breadbeat was a special mix of bread and a special sweet root that kept the loaf fresh for long journeys and almost tasted like candy. Talwin always had a portion of breadbeat wherever he went. Having eaten half the loaf Talwin decided to kick in his stubborn side. He took out his small pocket knife and started whittling away at the thorns that had him trapped. Now freed his thoughts returned to the magic apple. If he could just find that treasure he would never have to sweep again or tend to the horses or yuck, the thing he hated most, feeding the pigs.

Ahead through the trees Talwin thought he saw a glimmer! Could this be the magic apple tree?? As he approached the clearing, he gazes up and to his amazement there high up in the tree there is indeed a shiny gold apple. Talwin started to approach the tree but he heard men on horseback approach so he hid. There were four large men in very ratty armor and they did not sound very happy. After as moment of chatter between the men, three road off north, the direction Talwin had come and the other road west. After they were out of sight Talwin went to the tree but there were no branches low enough for him to climb.

Then he heard a husky voice, “Yo, boy. What are you up to? Where are you from?” The single rider had returned and he had his sword raised and began to charge towards Talwin. Talwin let out a scream and began to run and as he did he thought, if I only had that magic apple I could easily escape!!” As the horseman approached, ready to sweep his sword and kill Talwin, something that seemed by magic happened. The golden apple apparently sat on a rotten branch and it snapped just as the rider was beneath it, knocking him off his horse and impaling him on his own sword. Talwin was still scared but both relived that this man was no longer a threat AND he could now retrieve his magic apple that had saved his life!! Talwin reached for the apple, it was soft and rotten and simply melted away at his touch.

He ran back to his village all the while thinking how it must have been luck that he was saved and that there is no magic apple or magic fish or magic anything. He decided the first thing he would do when he got back would be to finish his chores properly and stop his day dreaming. As he got closer to the village he could see smoke. Talwin broke out into a sprint, his sides aching as he ran as fast as he could. When he got there he could see three horsemen riding away in the distance. The village was in flames and his family had been slain. Now all Talwin could think was if he had run when he first heard the horsemen, he might have been able to warn the village that they were coming but he daydreamed about that rotting apple. Talwin spent his remaining days ever sorry for that day and vowed to become a brave knight who would defend the oppressed and he never, ever believed in magic again.