Free Sir Finn of Glenrydlen by Rowan Blair Colver

Sir Finn of
Glenrydlen
     
    A children's
tale of knights and castles
     
    By
     
    Rowan Blair Colver
     
    Cover image by
Vanna Alberti
     
    Copyright © 2015
     
     
    Sir Finn of Glenrydlen (A Friend for Princess
Bracken)
     
    In a kingdom
far away, over the horizon and past the misty mountains of nowhere,
was a land called Glenrydlen. It was a small part of a much greater
kingdom, ruled by the firm but fair hands of the King and Queen who
lived in the captial city. The King and Queen had three children
and their eldest son, Prince Hans, was the heir to the throne.
Because he had a great responsibility waiting for him, his parents
gave their son the crown of Glenrydlen and asked him to rule over
the people there. He did this with the help of a league of knights,
wise people, advisors, and a direct embassy to the King and Queen
themselves, whom he could call upon in times of greatest need.
     
    Prince Hans
lived in a grand stone castle, built on the top of a hill that was
surrounded by rivers and forests. The castle was enforced with
large circular towers at the corners and these were dug deep into
the ground. On the towers were tall brightly coloured flags which
were embroided with the Royal Standard, the symbol for the kingdom.
The flags were stiched with a serpent and a sword, surrounded by a
wreath of leafy blackthorn. The front gate had a large port cullis
which although was usually open, had to be closed from time to
time, when there was trouble in the lands below. His trusted
knightly guard would often venture out and settle any unrest that
would become too much for the sheriffs and towns-people. Often
however, it was a peaceful and friendly place where Prince Hans
could go fishing in the river and hiking through the forest.
Sometimes he would go hunting with some friends to catch a deer or
a wild boar for dinner, he did enjoy this but more often than not
he would have more Princely duties to attend to.
     
    A long time had
past and many torrents of water had run under the bridge. The trees
had grown shoots, bloomed, fruited and shed their leaves a many
number of times and Prince Hans had become a fair and firm ruler
like his parents. He had found a beautiul wife, a Princess from
another kingdom, whose parents lived past the starlight forest and
across the sea of clams. Her name was Princess Serene and after a
few more years, she and Prince Hans had a child. The royal couple
called their daughter Princess Bracken and soon she had grown to be
almost ten years old. While the Prince was attending court with his
chief knights and his advisors for his stately affairs, Princess
Bracken wandered in and tugged at his luxurious, red tunic. Her
father was talking to an important member of his meeting and he
wasn't pleased to be interupted by her, but then he looked down and
saw his daughter. She stood there in her beautiful green and white
velvet dress with her face looking up at him with wide, beautiful
eyes. The Prince calmed his spirit then gently asked her what the
matter was.
     
    "I have nothing
to do" she said, twisting her foot on the wooden floor.
     
    "Nonsense,
where is your tutor? Surely he has some lessons prepared for you?"
asked Prince Hans, who was at a loss for what to suggest. He was
busy with his work and wouldn't be free until after dinner.
     
    "He is busy,
instructing for the dance tomorrow. All the young men are preparing
in the barns."
     
    "Ah yes, I see.
We can't interrupt them, it is a most important occasion. Right, I
think you need a friend, someone your own age. What about one of
the girls from the courtyard? Many of my attendees have children,
surely there are some to play with?"
     
    "Yes, I do,
but, they are always coming and going, they are really nice to me,
but then once their mother and father have done their work, they go
home and I hardly see them again, unless they have more work."
     
    Prince Hans
thought about what she was saying, and then he understood. She
wanted a friend who was here