Fairy Tales

[Asila]

I have decided that we need a fairy tale thread, since Seven absolutely loves them and I enjoy reading them as well. Heck, everyone loves fairy tales, right? Either way, I've decided to post my favorites here and hopefully I'll get some others to do the same.

I am going to start with the The Nixie of Mill-pond, since I really like this one. A lot.

And so, this is The Nixie of Mill-Pond and is one of the tales written by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm.

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ONCE UPON a time there was a miller who lived with his wife in great contentment. They had money and land, and their prosperity increased year by year more and more. But ill-luck comes like a thief in the night; as their wealth had increased so did it again decrease, year by year, and at last the miner could hardly call the mill in which he lived, his own. He was in great distress, and when he lay down after his day's work, found no rest, but tossed about in his bed, full of care.

One morning he rose before daybreak and went out into the open air, thinking that perhaps there his heart might become lighter. As he was stepping over the mill-dam the first sunbeam was just breaking forth, and he heard a rippling sound in the pond. He turned round and perceived a beautiful woman, rising slowly out of the water. Her long hair, which she was holding off her shoulders with her soft hands, fell down on both sides, and covered her white body. He soon saw that she was the Nixie of the Mill-pond, and in his fright did not know whether he should run away or stay where he was. But the nixie made her sweet voice heard, called him by his name, and asked him why he was so sad. The miller was at first struck dumb, but when he heard her speak so kindly, he took heart, and told her how he had formerly lived in wealth and happiness, but that now he was so poor that he did not know what to do. "Be easy," answered the nixie, "I will make thee richer and happier than thou hast ever been before, only thou must promise to give me the young thing which has just been born in thy house."

"What else can that be," thought the miller, "but a young puppy or kitten?" and he promised her what she desired. The nixie descended into the water again, and he hurried back to his mill, consoled and in good spirits. He had not yet reached it, when the maid-servant came out of the house, and cried to him to rejoice, for his wife had given birth to a little boy. The miller stood as if struck by lightning; he saw very well that the cunning nixie had been aware of it, and had cheated him. Hanging his head, he went up to his wife's bed-side and when she said, "Why dost thou not rejoice over the fine boy?" he told her what had befallen him, and what kind of a promise he had given to the nixie. "Of what use to me are riches and prosperity?" he added, "if I am to lose my child; but what can I do?" Even the relations, who had come thither to wish them joy, did not know what to say.

In the meantime prosperity again returned to the miller's house. All that he undertook succeeded, it was as if presses and coffers filled themselves of their own accord, and as if money multiplied nightly in the cupboards. It was not long before his wealth was greater than it had ever been before. But he could not rejoice over it untroubled, the bargain which he had made with the nixie tormented his soul. Whenever he passed the mill-pond, he feared she might ascend and remind him of his debt. He never let the boy himself go near the water. "Beware," he said to him, "if thou dost but touch the water, a hand will rise, seize thee, and draw thee down." But as year after year went by and the nixie did not show herself again, the miller began to feel at ease.

The boy grew up to be a youth and was apprenticed to a huntsman. When he had learnt everything, and had become an excellent huntsman, the lord of the village took him into his service. In the village lived a beautiful and true-hearted maiden, who pleased the huntsman, and when his master perceived that, he gave him a little house, the two were married, lived peacefully and happily, and loved each other with all their hearts.

One day the huntsman was chasing a roe; and when the animal turned aside from the forest into the open country, he pursued it and at last shot it. He did not notice that he was now in the neighborhood of the dangerous mill-pond, and went, after he had disemboweled the stag, to the water, in order to wash his blood-stained hands. Scarcely, however, had he dipped them in than the nixie ascended, smilingly wound her dripping arms around him, and drew him quickly down under the waves, which closed over him.

When it was evening, and the huntsman did not return home, his wife became alarmed. She went out to seek him, and as he had often told her that he had to be on his guard against the snares of the nixie and dared not venture into the neighborhood of the mill-pond, she already suspected what had happened. She hastened to the water, and when she found his hunting-pouch lying on the shore, she could no longer have any doubt of the misfortune. Lamenting her sorrow, and wringing her hands, she called on her beloved by name, but in vain. She hurried across to the other side of the pond, and called him anew; she reviled the nixie with harsh words, but no answer followed. The surface of the water remained calm, only the crescent moon stared steadily back at her. The poor woman did not leave the pond. With hasty steps, she paced round and round it, without resting a moment, sometimes in silence, sometimes uttering a loud cry, sometimes softly sobbing. At last her strength came to an end, she sank down to the ground and fell into a heavy sleep.

Presently a dream took possession of her. She was anxiously climbing upwards between great masses of rock; thorns and briars caught her feet, the rain beat in her face, and the wind tossed her long hair about. When she had reached the summit, quite a different sight presented itself to her; the sky was blue, the air soft, the ground sloped gently downwards, and on a green meadow, gay with flowers of every color, stood a pretty cottage. She went up to it and opened the door; there sat an old woman with white hair, who beckoned to her kindly.

At that very moment, the poor woman awoke, day had already dawned, and she at once resolved to act in accordance with her dream. She laboriously climbed the mountain; everything was exactly as she had seen it in the night. The old woman received her kindly, and pointed out a chair on which she might sit. "Thou must have met with a misfortune," she said, "since thou hast sought out my lonely cottage." With tears, the woman related what had befallen her. "Be comforted," said the old woman, "I will help thee. Here is a golden comb for thee. Tarry till the full moon has risen, then go to the mill-pond, seat thyself on the shore, and comb thy long black hair with this comb. When thou hast done, lay it down on the bank, and thou wilt see what will happen."

The woman returned home, but the time till the full moon came, passed slowly. At last the shining disc appeared in the heavens, then she went out to the mill-pond, sat down and combed her long black hair with the golden comb, and when she had finished, she laid it down at the water's edge. It was not long before there was a movement in the depths, a wave rose, rolled to the shore, and bore the comb away with it. In not more than the time necessary for the comb to sink to the bottom, the surface of the water parted, and the head of the huntsman arose. He did not speak, but looked at his wife with sorrowful glances. At the same instant, a second wave came rushing up, and covered the man's head. All had vanished, the mill-pond lay peaceful as before, and nothing but the face of the full moon shone on it.

Full of sorrow, the woman went back, but again the dream showed her the cottage of the old woman. Next morning she again set out and complained of her woes to the wise woman. The old woman gave her a golden flute, and said, "Tarry till the full moon comes again, then take this flute; play a beautiful air on it, and when thou hast finished, lay it on the sand; then thou wilt see what will happen." The wife did as the old woman told her. No sooner was the flute lying on the sand than there was a stirring in the depths, and a wave rushed up and bore the flute away with it. Immediately afterwards the water parted, and not only the head of the man, but half of his body also arose. He stretched out his arms longingly towards her, but a second wave came up, covered him, and drew him down again. "Alas, what does it profit me?" said the unhappy woman, "that I should see my beloved, only to lose him again!"

Despair filled her heart anew, but the dream led her a third time to the house of the old woman. She set out, and the wise woman gave her a golden spinning-wheel, consoled her and said, "All is not yet fulfilled, tarry until the time of the full moon, then take the spinning-wheel, seat thyself on the shore, and spin the spool full, and when thou hast done that, place the spinning-wheel near the water, and thou wilt see what will happen." The woman obeyed all she said exactly; as soon as the full moon showed itself, she carried the golden spinning-wheel to the shore, and spun industriously until the flax came to an end, and the spool was quite filled with the threads. No sooner was the wheel standing on the shore than there was a more violent movement than before in the depths of the pond, and a mighty wave rushed up, and bore the wheel away with it. Immediately the head and the whole body of the man rose into the air, in a water-spout. He quickly sprang to the shore, caught his wife by the hand and fled. But they had scarcely gone a very little distance, when the whole pond rose with a frightful roar, and streamed out over the open country. The fugitives already saw death before their eyes, when the woman in her terror implored the help of the old woman, and in an instant they were transformed, she into a toad, he into a frog. The flood which had overtaken them could not destroy them, but it tore them apart and carried them far away.

When the water had dispersed and they both touched dry land again, they regained their human form, but neither knew where the other was; they found themselves among strange people, who did not know their native land. High mountains and deep valleys lay between them. In order to keep themselves alive, they were both obliged to tend sheep. For many long years they drove their flocks through field and forest and were full of sorrow and longing. When spring had once more broken forth on the earth, they both went out one day with their flocks, and as chance would have it, they drew near each other. They met in a valley, but did not recognize each other; yet they rejoiced that they were no longer so lonely. Henceforth they each day drove their flocks to the same place; they did not speak much, but they felt comforted.

One evening when the full moon was shining in the sky, and the sheep were already at rest, the shepherd pulled the flute out of his pocket, and played on it a beautiful but sorrowful air. When he had finished he saw that the shepherdess was weeping bitterly. "Why are thou weeping?" he asked. "Alas," answered she, "thus shone the full moon when I played this air on the flute for the last time, and the head of my beloved rose out of the water." He looked at her, and it seemed as if a veil fell from his eyes, and he recognized his dear wife, and when she looked at him, and the moon shone in his face she knew him also. They embraced and kissed each other, and no one need ask if they were happy. - -

THE END

[Rojo]

*Reads*
Interesting...

[Seven]

Aww...that was so sweet! I've noticed that in a lot of fairy tales, years will pass at a time, and yet it never really feels like the characters have gotten older. But then again, maybe that's just because in these kind of fairy tales, despite how long they've been seperated, they're feelings for one another never change.

Though there are some weirder types of fairy tales, in which random abuse = everything gets fixed and the wife suddenly becomes pretty.

I really liked it though. It had lots of different aspects to it. Thanks for the story.

[Asila]

*grins* I really liked it. Most of Grimm's fairy tales are a bit too simplistic for me, but this one was good, as was the Godfather Death story. I've been browsing through a few other books that have been languishing unnoticed in my unruly collection and have found tales that I like a lot more. When I have time, I'll start posting them. Have you heard of the story of Tam Lin?

[Seven]

...Which version? There's like, a ton of them. Yes, I know the general summary of the story, there's actually a novel I want to read that I think might be based off of it. Roomie was telling me about it, except there's another female character a part from Janet (I think her sister), and Tam Lin (no longer named Tam Lin) had known Janet and her sister before he was captured by the fairies.

The thing is, everyone thought that the Tam Lin character was in love with Janet's frivilous, prettier, ditzy sister, even though Janet was secretly in love with him. When he's captured, she goes into the fairy underground in hopes of rescuing him.

I haven't read it, but roomie made it out to be really interesting. Like, they describe the life underground is so painful, a normal person would go insane immediately. Faires consider themselves above humans because they not only endure it, but they live enlightened because of it, eating from wooden, shabby bowls and living in shabby quarters. They're human maids are given golden bowls and luscious bedrooms, and psychotic medications (to keep them perpetually happy), just because in they're frail minds would already collapse (further than they already are) if they didn't give them these things.

Janet, however, refuses all of these things, maintains her sanity, and starts to gain the approval of the fairies, who decide to embrace her and allow her to join their ranks, not realizing her true intention. The thing is, that for fairies to exist as they do, they have to have sacred lands, all which have been destroyed by catholicism and humans, and there's only ONE left at this point. To keep it sacred, they must sacrifice the Tam Lin character. But of course, through Janet's trickery, she saves him and escapes. All the fairies are pissed since she ruined their lives, and turn into gyspies.

Then, it shows Janet and the guy come back to their homes, when she Janet comes to the knowledge that Tam Lin is going to propose, probably to her younger sister, since it seems that as soon as he got back, he was showering her with sweet words and gifts. Heartbroken, Janet remains silent, only to see the ex-Fairy Queen, now a gyspy come to her.

The Gyspy-fairy queen says that (since she is so above vengence) she holds no grudge against Janet, and figures she might as well be happy. So she offers her a potion that would make Tam Lin fall madly in love with her, just long enough that they would be married. But as much as she would like to take it, she says no. The gypsy stares at her in disbelief, then bows to her, leaving.

But it then turns out that Tam Lin had actually been in love with her all a long and meant to propose to her (his apparent 'sweet words' to her sister were just being kind to a child , or something...). In fact, the fairy queen had known this all a lont, and only wanted to give Janet a fake potion so she would forever live with the guilt of knowing that her husband didn't truly love her, without ever being able to know if he ever had or would love her. So, they get married and live happily ever after.

[Asila]

Oh, the book sounds interesting...do you know the title?

As for which version I read, it was very similar to the book summary. Except that there was no sister(of course) and Janet never went to the world of Faerie. She had to wait until they crossed over into our dimension in one of their Troops in order to try and free Tam Lin.

I love stories in which the girls do the rescuing. I'd begun to think that all fairy tales involved princes and damsels in distress, but that's what I get for letting the early Disney movies get to me and not reading actual fairy tales as a result. *shakes head sadly* I had an impressionable young mind...in a reverse-psychology sort of way.

I love the faerie stories so much, though! (and I love that spelling. Faerie. It looks cooler than the wimpy 'fairy'. *rolls eyes at self* I can be terribly superficial) They are so beautiful, and even though they are often portrayed as malicious they are still made out to be enchanting beings, and that is the most interesting thing of all. In nearly every other legend, something that is bad has to be ugly, too, and that's just annoying after a while.

[Rojo]

I HAVE ONE!
By Le Brothers Grimm! I read this a while back. I don't know why, but even know I didn't get it, I thought it was bloody brilliant, so without further adieu...

Cat and Mouse in Partnership

by The Brothers Grimm

translated by Margaret Taylor (1884)


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A certain cat had made the acquaintance of a mouse, and had said so much to her about the great love and friendship she felt for her, that at length the mouse agreed that they should live and keep house together. “But we must make a provision for winter, or else we shall suffer from hunger,” said the cat, “and you, little mouse, cannot venture everywhere, or you will be caught in a trap some day.” The good advice was followed, and a pot of fat was bought, but they did not know where to put it. At length, after much consideration, the cat said, “I know no place where it will be better stored up than in the church, for no one dares take anything away from there. We will set it beneath the altar, and not touch it until we are really in need of it.” So the pot was placed in safety, but it was not long before the cat had a great yearning for it, and said to the mouse, “I want to tell you something, little mouse; my cousin has brought a little son into the world, and has asked me to be godmother; he is white with brown spots, and I am to hold him over the font at the christening. Let me go out to-day, and you look after the house by yourself.” “Yes, yes,” answered the mouse, “by all means go, and if you get anything very good, think of me, I should like a drop of sweet red christening wine too.” All this, however, was untrue; the cat had no cousin, and had not been asked to be godmother. She went straight to the church, stole to the pot of fat, began to lick at it, and licked the top of the fat off. Then she took a walk upon the roofs of the town, looked out for opportunities, and then stretched herself in the sun, and licked her lips whenever she thought of the pot of fat, and not until it was evening did she return home. “Well, here you are again,” said the mouse, “no doubt you have had a merry day.” “All went off well,” answered the cat. “What name did they give the child?” “Top off!” said the cat quite coolly. “Top off!” cried the mouse, “that is a very odd and uncommon name, is it a usual one in your family?” “What does it signify,” said the cat, “it is no worse than Crumb-stealer, as your god-children are called.”

Before long the cat was seized by another fit of longing. She said to the mouse, “You must do me a favour, and once more manage the house for a day alone. I am again asked to be godmother, and, as the child has a white ring round its neck, I cannot refuse.” The good mouse consented, but the cat crept behind the town walls to the church, and devoured half the pot of fat. “Nothing ever seems so good as what one keeps to oneself,” said she, and was quite satisfied with her day's work. When she went home the mouse inquired, “And what was this child christened?” “Half-done,” answered the cat. “Half-done! What are you saying? I never heard the name in my life, I'll wager anything it is not in the calendar!”

The cat's mouth soon began to water for some more licking. “All good things go in threes,” said she, “I am asked to stand godmother again. The child is quite black, only it has white paws, but with that exception, it has not a single white hair on its whole body; this only happens once every few years, you will let me go, won't you?” “Top-off! Half-done!” answered the mouse, “they are such odd names, they make me very thoughtful.” “You sit at home,” said the cat, “in your dark-grey fur coat and long tail, and are filled with fancies, that's because you do not go out in the daytime.” During the cat's absence the mouse cleaned the house, and put it in order but the greedy cat entirely emptied the pot of fat. “When everything is eaten up one has some peace,” said she to herself, and well filled and fat she did not return home till night. The mouse at once asked what name had been given to the third child. “It will not please you more than the others,” said the cat. “He is called All-gone.” “All-gone,” cried the mouse, “that is the most suspicious name of all! I have never seen it in print. All-gone; what can that mean?” and she shook her head, curled herself up, and lay down to sleep.

From this time forth no one invited the cat to be god-mother, but when the winter had come and there was no longer anything to be found outside, the mouse thought of their provision, and said, “Come cat, we will go to our pot of fat which we have stored up for ourselves—-we shall enjoy that.” “Yes,” answered the cat, “you will enjoy it as much as you would enjoy sticking that dainty tongue of yours out of the window.” They set out on their way, but when they arrived, the pot of fat certainly was still in its place, but it was empty. “Alas!” said the mouse, “now I see what has happened, now it comes to light! You are a true friend! You have devoured all when you were standing godmother. First top off, then half done, then —.” “Will you hold your tongue,” cried the cat, “one word more and I will eat you too.” “All gone” was already on the poor mouse's lips; scarcely had she spoken it before the cat sprang on her, seized her, and swallowed her down. Verily, that is the way of the world.

[Seven]

Oh! I remember that story!!! Poor mouse, it's always so sad....

I remember the only story my horrible father once told me after hours of begging. I haven't heard it elsewhere, but I've always remembered it from childhood. It explains why cats hate mice, and dogs hate cats. It's a Greek story, I'm pretty sure.


All the dogs got together at a meeting to discuss their current poverty. If only one of them could become successful, they wouldn't have to roam the streets poorly, begging for hand outs and dying of illness. So the dogs brainstormed what they could do, and they finally agreed that they should pool all what little money they had, endure a few years of poverty, all so they could send their smartest pup to school to become a doctor. This way, when he returned, he could help take care of them with his wealth and his knowledge in medicine (for when they became ill).

So the dogs did just that, and one lucky pup in the village got to go to medical school. He was a good and smart boy. He studied very hard, and he graduated. All the dogs rejoiced, since now, after all their starving, the young pup would lead them and take care of them.

But they needed to find a safe place to put the young dog's diploma, or else no one would believe he was a doctor once he set up his practice. So the pup went to the Cat, who had a lovely little house, asking if the Cat would put it in a safe place.

"Sure," said the Cat. "I'll put it in my Attic, so no thief or burglar will find it, even if they tried to rob me." And the cat did just that. Little did the Cat know, there was a Mouse in his attic. The mouse was looking to make himself a bed, when he saw the piece of paper. He couldn't read, and just thought "Oh this is perefect!" So the thoughtless mouse ripped up the paper into lots of shreds to make a bed out of it.

So when the dogs came back to ask for the diploma, the Cat went into his attic to get it. But in place of the diploma was a pile of paper rubbish with a mouse asleep on it. The cat came down nervously, saying that he was sorry, but he misplaced the diploma, and that he didn't have it. The dogs became furious, chasing the cat from his house, and to this day, always bark and chase cats. Cats, furious at the mice for ruining their relations with dogs, will always pounce upon them and eat them. The dogs are always still trying to find the diploma, and that's why wherever you go, you'll see dogs sniffing around.

[Asila]

*frowns* I'm pretty sure I don't like your father, Seven. Still, I guess one story is better than none.

And now is the time to make up for it! Here's another:

Near Corinth once, a young man named Lycius came upon a woman of such glowing beauty and sinuous charm that his heart was captured instantly. She gazed at him with adoration, and before long, the woman became the young man's mistress. Their hours together were so full of joy that Lycius determined to marry her.

He arranged a splendid wedding feast. But at the height of the festivities, he saw that his bride was pale and almost swooning. She trembled ceaselessly where she stood, and her breath came in hissing sighs. As he went to her aid, she gestured dumbly at an aged man who stood among the guests. That man was Lycius' mentor, a philosopher who had guided him faithfully. His gaze was fixed on the bride, and his expression was grim.

At length the wise one turned to Lycius and said, "I will not see you made a serpent's prey. You will die in this creature's coils."

A howl of pain tore through the crowded chamber. The woman writhed, and then, in the spot where she had stood, the guests saw a shimmer of sapphire and gold and green- the scales of a jewel-like snake. An instant later, the bride had vanished.

The philosopher had recognized the fairy threat too late, however. Bereft of his love, Lycius died. His marriage robe became his winding sheet.

[Seven]

Aww...that's so sad. I always wonder about the animal-brides in these stories. All the humans always assume that the animals are up to something cruel. Isn't it possible that they just loved the person, so much and so strongly it transcended species? (Beastiality? I don't really think so, since all the humans never realize they're not human themselves...that and they have human characteristcs. Could you imagine how complicated love would be if animals were as human-ish as in stories? Anyways...)

This story reminded me of a Chinese legend called the Story of the White Snake. I wanna see if I can go find it....

[Asila]

*nods* I think she loved him. I think her fear upon seeing the old philosopher is evident of that. She knew that she was going to lose the one she loved well before he understood what was going on.

Yet I like how it implied love. You're right, the animal brides in these stories are usually up to no good, and I think it's charming that this one is different.

I hope you find the story that you are looking for as well! It sounds interesting.

[Seven]

The problem isn't finding it, the problem is that it's actually fairly famous in China, so there are LOADS of alternative stories, some which end happily, others that end sadily. I'll post one version up.

This one is the version I found most similar to the one I read, except for some reason they call the Green Snake the Black Snake. It's the only version that I've seen that does this.

Once upon a time in the Mountain E-Mei, there were White Snake and Black Snake. White Snake changed into a very beautiful girl, named BAI Su-Zheng (Qing Yi). Black Snake also became a lovely maid, named Xiao Qing (Wu Dan). They came to West Lake of Hang Zhou (Hangchow) for a visit. They were attracted by the beauty of the scene. There over the Duan-Qiao bridge came a young man named XU Xian (Xiao Sheng). BAI immediately fell into an unrequited love. To help her sister, Xiao Qing set a trick to let it rain and they took a tree as shelter. XU Xian opened his umbrella and came near. When he saw them, he offered his umbrella and asked them where they lived. On a quick action, Xiao Qing told him they lived somewhere near West Lake. A boat was then in sight. XU Xian called, paid the boatman and asked him to ship the two ladies to their destination and himself home. He lived with his sister's family. On the boat, they talked a little. BAI Su-Zheng began to know XU Xian a little more. The rain gradually stopped. When the boat made its first stop, Xiao Qing made it rained again. So XU Xian told them to keep the umbrella and he would take it back next day. Xiao Qing told XU that nearby there was a red mansion, which was their home.

Next day, BAI made a red mansion by her magic. XU went there as promised. Having him seated, Xiao Qing made him and BAI some tea. They exchanged a few sentences. And Xiao Qing asked XU whether he had married. When receiving a negative reply, Xiao Qing told him that BAI was also unmarried and suggested they two got married. When the three-attendee wedding ceremony was on, the Abbot, named Fa Hai, of a remote Buddhist temple, Jin Shan (Golden Mountain) Temple, sensed something and then found what was going on. He pledged to capture the white snake.

After the marriage, the three of them moved to Zhen Jiang, a city on the Yangtse River where BAI provided her husband with a medicine shop. She used her magical powers so that all medicines became especially potent, and the business in consequence prospered exceedingly. Fa Hai found Xu Xian there and warned that his wife was a snake. He suggested Xu a way to find her real self, a festival alcohol drink for the September 9th Day. September 9th was crucial for the two snakes. There would be a moment when they had to change back to their real selves. Xiao Qing suggested to BAI that they both went back to Mountain E-Mei for the day. BAI did not want Xu sense any unusualness. She believed that her magic power could prevent her from the changing and told Xiao Qing to go alone. Xu Xian bought the festival alcohol to celebrate the day and asked BAI to drink with him. Did not want to disappoint her husband and thought she still could control herself, she agreed and finished a cup. But XU asked her a second cup. The second cup made her feel awful. She rushed to the bedroom and warned XU did not get in. Xu Xian saw her in her old form in the bed, and simply just died of fright. When Xiao Qing came back, she waked BAI up. Then risking her life, White Snake went to steal the glossy ganoderma, which was heavily guarded. Moved by her brave and true love, the owner of the drug released her and gave her the drug.

The life of Xu Xian was restored. He suddenly remembered what the Abbot said to him. Recovered from the illness, XU Xian went to the Temple. To separate him from his wife, Fa Hai forced him to become a monk. BAI, along with Xiao Qing, chased to Jin Shan Temple and begged Fa Hai to let her husband go but got refused. Then in anger, she gathered together a great army of underwater creatures to attack the monastery and used water to submerge the temple. Fa Hai had a magic outer vestment, which made the mountain to grow so that the waterlevel was kept under the temple. Fa Hai also had the magic to command heavenly solders. BAI had been pregnant. She could not fight the battle any longer.

BAI and Xiao Qing fled to West Lake to where they first met Xu Xian. Xiao Qing was very angry at Xu for his unfaithfulness and pledged to kill him when she saw him. XU was secretly released by a young monk when the two sides were fighting and happened to come to the same place. When they met him, Xiao Qing was for attacking him with her sword, but BAI held her back and told XU the truth. With fully understanding each other, they went home.

Fa Hai went to the heaven and asked the heaven emperor to help him. A powerful fighter with a magic lantern was commanded to assist Fa Hai. BAI was given birth to a son. One day, XU Xian went to buy a hat for his son. The hat was actually the lantern, which made BAI Su-Zheng physically under the spell of the fighter. The White Snake was then imprisoned under the Thunder Peak Pagoda by West Lake. Black Snake fled to her original place and practiced her magic. Several years later her magic was strong enough to take the revenge. She managed to destroy the Pagoda and rescued White Snake. White Snake reunited with her husband and her son. Black Snake then defeated Fa Hai and had him swallowed by a crab. They live together happily forever.

Some alternate endings say that Green/Black Snake was imprisoned with White Snake, and they were trapped for all eternity.

Another says that the Son grew up and defeated the monk, freeing his mother. Another says it was both the son and the Green/black snake. Another says that the Son paid respects and freed his mothers soul, allowing her to be reincarnated.

Other versions say the White Snake and her Husband were actually a God and Goddess in their past life, who were forced into the mortal realm as punishment (not so common)

Another says that the husband had saved the White snake when he was a little boy (or in a past life) from the river, and she had loved him since then.

There's a lot of them....

[Seven]

OH! I just found this story (brother's grimm). The ending always makes me laugh. I can just picture it. I figured we needed some happy fairy tales too.

The Story of the Youth Who Went Forth to Learn What Fear Was

A certain father had two sons, the elder of who was smart and sensible, and could do everything, but the younger was stupid and could neither learn nor understand anything, and when people saw him they said: ’There’s a fellow who will give his father some trouble!’ When anything had to be done, it was always the elder who was forced to do it; but if his father bade him fetch anything when it was late, or in the night-time, and the way led through the churchyard, or any other dismal place, he answered: ’Oh, no father, I’ll not go there, it makes me shudder!’ for he was afraid. Or when stories were told by the fire at night which made the flesh creep, the listeners sometimes said: ’Oh, it makes us shudder!’ The younger sat in a corner and listened with the rest of them, and could not imagine what they could mean. ’They are always saying: “It makes me shudder, it makes me shudder!” It does not make me shudder,’ thought he. ’That, too, must be an art of which I understand nothing!’

Now it came to pass that his father said to him one day: ’Hearken to me, you fellow in the corner there, you are growing tall and strong, and you too must learn something by which you can earn your bread. Look how your brother works, but you do not even earn your salt.’ ’Well, father,’ he replied, ’I am quite willing to learn something– indeed, if it could but be managed, I should like to learn how to shudder. I don’t understand that at all yet.’ The elder brother smiled when he heard that, and thought to himself: ’Goodness, what a blockhead that brother of mine is! He will never be good for anything as long as he lives! He who wants to be a sickle must bend himself betimes.’

The father sighed, and answered him: ’You shall soon learn what it is to shudder, but you will not earn your bread by that.’

Soon after this the sexton came to the house on a visit, and the father bewailed his trouble, and told him how his younger son was so backward in every respect that he knew nothing and learnt nothing. ’Just think,’ said he, ’when I asked him how he was going to earn his bread, he actually wanted to learn to shudder.’ ’If that be all,’ replied the sexton, ’he can learn that with me. Send him to me, and I will soon polish him.’ The father was glad to do it, for he thought: ’It will train the boy a little.’ The sexton therefore took him into his house, and he had to ring the church bell. After a day or two, the sexton awoke him at midnight, and bade him arise and go up into the church tower and ring the bell. ’You shall soon learn what shuddering is,’ thought he, and secretly went there before him; and when the boy was at the top of the tower and turned round, and was just going to take hold of the bell rope, he saw a white figure standing on the stairs opposite the sounding hole. ’Who is there?’ cried he, but the figure made no reply, and did not move or stir. ’Give an answer,’ cried the boy, ’or take yourself off, you have no business here at night.’

The sexton, however, remained standing motionless that the boy might think he was a ghost. The boy cried a second time: ’What do you want here?–speak if you are an honest fellow, or I will throw you down the steps!’ The sexton thought: ’He can’t mean to be as bad as his words,’ uttered no sound and stood as if he were made of stone. Then the boy called to him for the third time, and as that was also to no purpose, he ran against him and pushed the ghost down the stairs, so that it fell down the ten steps and remained lying there in a corner. Thereupon he rang the bell, went home, and without saying a word went to bed, and fell asleep. The sexton’s wife waited a long time for her husband, but he did not come back. At length she became uneasy, and wakened the boy, and asked: ’Do you know where my husband is? He climbed up the tower before you did.’ ’No, I don’t know,’ replied the boy, ’but someone was standing by the sounding hole on the other side of the steps, and as he would neither gave an answer nor go away, I took him for a scoundrel, and threw him downstairs. Just go there and you will see if it was he. I should be sorry if it were.’ The woman ran away and found her husband, who was lying moaning in the corner, and had broken his leg.

She carried him down, and then with loud screams she hastened to the boy’s father, ’Your boy,’ cried she, ’has been the cause of a great misfortune! He has thrown my husband down the steps so that he broke his leg. Take the good-for-nothing fellow out of our house.’ The father was terrified, and ran thither and scolded the boy. ’What wicked tricks are these?’ said he. ’The devil must have put them into your head.’ ’Father,’ he replied, ’do listen to me. I am quite innocent. He was standing there by night like one intent on doing evil. I did not know who it was, and I entreated him three times either to speak or to go away.’ ’Ah,’ said the father, ’I have nothing but unhappiness with you. Go out of my sight. I will see you no more.’

’Yes, father, right willingly, wait only until it is day. Then will I go forth and learn how to shudder, and then I shall, at any rate, understand one art which will support me.’ ’Learn what you will,’ spoke the father, ’it is all the same to me. Here are fifty talers for you. Take these and go into the wide world, and tell no one from whence you come, and who is your father, for I have reason to be ashamed of you.’ ’Yes, father, it shall be as you will. If you desire nothing more than that, I can easily keep it in mind.’

When the day dawned, therefore, the boy put his fifty talers into his pocket, and went forth on the great highway, and continually said to himself: ’If I could but shudder! If I could but shudder!’ Then a man approached who heard this conversation which the youth was holding with himself, and when they had walked a little farther to where they could see the gallows, the man said to him: ’Look, there is the tree where seven men have married the ropemaker’s daughter, and are now learning how to fly. Sit down beneath it, and wait till night comes, and you will soon learn how to shudder.’ ’If that is all that is wanted,’ answered the youth, ’it is easily done; but if I learn how to shudder as fast as that, you shall have my fifty talers. Just come back to me early in the morning.’ Then the youth went to the gallows, sat down beneath it, and waited till evening came. And as he was cold, he lighted himself a fire, but at midnight the wind blew so sharply that in spite of his fire, he could not get warm. And as the wind knocked the hanged men against each other, and they moved backwards and forwards, he thought to himself: ’If you shiver below by the fire, how those up above must freeze and suffer!’ And as he felt pity for them, he raised the ladder, and climbed up, unbound one of them after the other, and brought down all seven. Then he stoked the fire, blew it, and set them all round it to warm themselves. But they sat there and did not stir, and the fire caught their clothes. So he said: ’Take care, or I will hang you up again.’ The dead men, however, did not hear, but were quite silent, and let their rags go on burning. At this he grew angry, and said: ’If you will not take care, I cannot help you, I will not be burnt with you,’ and he hung them up again each in his turn. Then he sat down by his fire and fell asleep, and the next morning the man came to him and wanted to have the fifty talers, and said: ’Well do you know how to shudder?’ ’No,’ answered he, ’how should I know? Those fellows up there did not open their mouths, and were so stupid that they let the few old rags which they had on their bodies get burnt.’ Then the man saw that he would not get the fifty talers that day, and went away saying: ’Such a youth has never come my way before.’

The youth likewise went his way, and once more began to mutter to himself: ’Ah, if I could but shudder! Ah, if I could but shudder!’ A waggoner who was striding behind him heard this and asked: ’Who are you?’ ’I don’t know,’ answered the youth. Then the waggoner asked: ’From whence do you come?’ ’I know not.’ ’Who is your father?’ ’That I may not tell you.’ ’What is it that you are always muttering between your teeth?’ ’Ah,’ replied the youth, ’I do so wish I could shudder, but no one can teach me how.’ ’Enough of your foolish chatter,’ said the waggoner. ’Come, go with me, I will see about a place for you.’ The youth went with the waggoner, and in the evening they arrived at an inn where they wished to pass the night. Then at the entrance of the parlour the youth again said quite loudly: ’If I could but shudder! If I could but shudder!’ The host who heard this, laughed and said: ’If that is your desire, there ought to be a good opportunity for you here.’ ’Ah, be silent,’ said the hostess, ’so many prying persons have already lost their lives, it would be a pity and a shame if such beautiful eyes as these should never see the daylight again.’

But the youth said: ’However difficult it may be, I will learn it. For this purpose indeed have I journeyed forth.’ He let the host have no rest, until the latter told him, that not far from thence stood a haunted castle where anyone could very easily learn what shuddering was, if he would but watch in it for three nights. The king had promised that he who would venture should have his daughter to wife, and she was the most beautiful maiden the sun shone on. Likewise in the castle lay great treasures, which were guarded by evil spirits, and these treasures would then be freed, and would make a poor man rich enough. Already many men had gone into the castle, but as yet none had come out again. Then the youth went next morning to the king, and said: ’If it be allowed, I will willingly watch three nights in the haunted castle.’

The king looked at him, and as the youth pleased him, he said: ’You may ask for three things to take into the castle with you, but they must be things without life.’ Then he answered: ’Then I ask for a fire, a turning lathe, and a cutting-board with the knife.’

The king had these things carried into the castle for him during the day. When night was drawing near, the youth went up and made himself a bright fire in one of the rooms, placed the cutting-board and knife beside it, and seated himself by the turning-lathe. ’Ah, if I could but shudder!’ said he, ’but I shall not learn it here either.’ Towards midnight he was about to poke his fire, and as he was blowing it, something cried suddenly from one corner: ’Au, miau! how cold we are!’ ’You fools!’ cried he, ’what are you crying about? If you are cold, come and take a seat by the fire and warm yourselves.’ And when he had said that, two great black cats came with one tremendous leap and sat down on each side of him, and looked savagely at him with their fiery eyes. After a short time, when they had warmed themselves, they said: ’Comrade, shall we have a game of cards?’ ’Why not?’ he replied, ’but just show me your paws.’ Then they stretched out their claws. ’Oh,’ said he, ’what long nails you have! Wait, I must first cut them for you.’ Thereupon he seized them by the throats, put them on the cutting-board and screwed their feet fast. ’I have looked at your fingers,’ said he, ’and my fancy for card-playing has gone,’ and he struck them dead and threw them out into the water. But when he had made away with these two, and was about to sit down again by his fire, out from every hole and corner came black cats and black dogs with red-hot chains, and more and more of them came until he could no longer move, and they yelled horribly, and got on his fire, pulled it to pieces, and tried to put it out. He watched them for a while quietly, but at last when they were going too far, he seized his cutting-knife, and cried: ’Away with you, vermin,’ and began to cut them down. Some of them ran away, the others he killed, and threw out into the fish-pond. When he came back he fanned the embers of his fire again and warmed himself. And as he thus sat, his eyes would keep open no longer, and he felt a desire to sleep. Then he looked round and saw a great bed in the corner. ’That is the very thing for me,’ said he, and got into it. When he was just going to shut his eyes, however, the bed began to move of its own accord, and went over the whole of the castle. ’That’s right,’ said he, ’but go faster.’ Then the bed rolled on as if six horses were harnessed to it, up and down, over thresholds and stairs, but suddenly hop, hop, it turned over upside down, and lay on him like a mountain. But he threw quilts and pillows up in the air, got out and said: ’Now anyone who likes, may drive,’ and lay down by his fire, and slept till it was day. In the morning the king came, and when he saw him lying there on the ground, he thought the evil spirits had killed him and he was dead. Then said he: ’After all it is a pity,–for so handsome a man.’ The youth heard it, got up, and said: ’It has not come to that yet.’ Then the king was astonished, but very glad, and asked how he had fared. ’Very well indeed,’ answered he; ’one night is past, the two others will pass likewise.’ Then he went to the innkeeper, who opened his eyes very wide, and said: ’I never expected to see you alive again! Have you learnt how to shudder yet?’ ’No,’ said he, ’it is all in vain. If someone would but tell me!’

The second night he again went up into the old castle, sat down by the fire, and once more began his old song: ’If I could but shudder!’ When midnight came, an uproar and noise of tumbling about was heard; at first it was low, but it grew louder and louder. Then it was quiet for a while, and at length with a loud scream, half a man came down the chimney and fell before him. ’Hullo!’ cried he, ’another half belongs to this. This is not enough!’ Then the uproar began again, there was a roaring and howling, and the other half fell down likewise. ’Wait,’ said he, ’I will just stoke up the fire a little for you.’ When he had done that and looked round again, the two pieces were joined together, and a hideous man was sitting in his place. ’That is no part of our bargain,’ said the youth, ’the bench is mine.’ The man wanted to push him away; the youth, however, would not allow that, but thrust him off with all his strength, and seated himself again in his own place. Then still more men fell down, one after the other; they brought nine dead men’s legs and two skulls, and set them up and played at nine-pins with them. The youth also wanted to play and said: ’Listen you, can I join you?’ ’Yes, if you have any money.’ ’Money enough,’ replied he, ’but your balls are not quite round.’ Then he took the skulls and put them in the lathe and turned them till they were round. ’There, now they will roll better!’ said he. ’Hurrah! now we’ll have fun!’ He played with them and lost some of his money, but when it struck twelve, everything vanished from his sight. He lay down and quietly fell asleep. Next morning the king came to inquire after him. ’How has it fared with you this time?’ asked he. ’I have been playing at nine- pins,’ he answered, ’and have lost a couple of farthings.’ ’Have you not shuddered then?’ ’What?’ said he, ’I have had a wonderful time! If I did but know what it was to shudder!’

The third night he sat down again on his bench and said quite sadly: ’If I could but shudder.’ When it grew late, six tall men came in and brought a coffin. Then he said: ’Ha, ha, that is certainly my little cousin, who died only a few days ago,’ and he beckoned with his finger, and cried: ’Come, little cousin, come.’ They placed the coffin on the ground, but he went to it and took the lid off, and a dead man lay therein. He felt his face, but it was cold as ice. ’Wait,’ said he, ’I will warm you a little,’ and went to the fire and warmed his hand and laid it on the dead man’s face, but he remained cold. Then he took him out, and sat down by the fire and laid him on his breast and rubbed his arms that the blood might circulate again. As this also did no good, he thought to himself: ’When two people lie in bed together, they warm each other,’ and carried him to the bed, covered him over and lay down by him. After a short time the dead man became warm too, and began to move. Then said the youth, ’See, little cousin, have I not warmed you?’ The dead man, however, got up and cried: ’Now will I strangle you.’

’What!’ said he, ’is that the way you thank me? You shall at once go into your coffin again,’ and he took him up, threw him into it, and shut the lid. Then came the six men and carried him away again. ’I cannot manage to shudder,’ said he. ’I shall never learn it here as long as I live.’

Then a man entered who was taller than all others, and looked terrible. He was old, however, and had a long white beard. ’You wretch,’ cried he, ’you shall soon learn what it is to shudder, for you shall die.’ ’Not so fast,’ replied the youth. ’If I am to die, I shall have to have a say in it.’ ’I will soon seize you,’ said the fiend. ’Softly, softly, do not talk so big. I am as strong as you are, and perhaps even stronger.’ ’We shall see,’ said the old man. ’If you are stronger, I will let you go–come, we will try.’ Then he led him by dark passages to a smith’s forge, took an axe, and with one blow struck an anvil into the ground. ’I can do better than that,’ said the youth, and went to the other anvil. The old man placed himself near and wanted to look on, and his white beard hung down. Then the youth seized the axe, split the anvil with one blow, and in it caught the old man’s beard. ’Now I have you,’ said the youth. ’Now it is your turn to die.’ Then he seized an iron bar and beat the old man till he moaned and entreated him to stop, when he would give him great riches. The youth drew out the axe and let him go. The old man led him back into the castle, and in a cellar showed him three chests full of gold. ’Of these,’ said he, ’one part is for the poor, the other for the king, the third yours.’ In the meantime it struck twelve, and the spirit disappeared, so that the youth stood in darkness. ’I shall still be able to find my way out,’ said he, and felt about, found the way into the room, and slept there by his fire. Next morning the king came and said: ’Now you must have learnt what shuddering is?’ ’No,’ he answered; ’what can it be? My dead cousin was here, and a bearded man came and showed me a great deal of money down below, but no one told me what it was to shudder.’ ’Then,’ said the king, ’you have saved the castle, and shall marry my daughter.’ ’That is all very well,’ said he, ’but still I do not know what it is to shudder!’

Then the gold was brought up and the wedding celebrated; but howsoever much the young king loved his wife, and however happy he was, he still said always: ’If I could but shudder–if I could but shudder.’ And this at last angered her. Her waiting-maid said: ’I will find a cure for him; he shall soon learn what it is to shudder.’ She went out to the stream which flowed through the garden, and had a whole bucketful of gudgeons brought to her. At night when the young king was sleeping, his wife was to draw the clothes off him and empty the bucket full of cold water with the gudgeons in it over him, so that the little fishes would sprawl about him. The young king woke up shaking, the sight of his queen at his bedside with her hands at her hips. "There!" she exclaimed with exasperation. "Now you know what it is to shudder!"

[Asila]

Oh, that was a fun one, though I must admit that I like the version with the happy ending. ;D I'm just a big softy at heart.

Though I am kind of confused. If XU loved Su-zeng, why did he try to get rid of her? And I can't believe he would love a creature that had literally frightened him to death...yet if he didn't love her why did he return to her? It's so confusing...

Hmm, I was thinking of posting another fairy tale, but it's kind of long. A bit longer than the first actually. *ponders*

[Seven]

Sorry, this version didn't do a very good job of explaining the details. I have a bit more knowledge since i read it in a book, as compared to the online summary.

The thing is that Xu didn't know that his wife was a snake, but the monk did. He was actually the one who suggested to Xu that he should give his wife lots of alcohol. Xu naively does this, not expecting his wife to change into anything else. So when he saw a big white 'monster' sleeping on his bed, he died of fright. Of course Su-zeng then goes to win back his life, and her courage and love is rewarded by the keeper of the plant of immortality (which can be used to revive him.)

Su-zeng manages to convice him that the white thing was actually a sacred dragon, a good omen in China, and they remain happy for a bit, until the monk shows up again, questioning if he now knew his wife was a spirit/demon. He says no, but a dragon showed up, to which the monk informs him that dragons only live in mountains and beneatht the sea.

The thing is, spirits are thought to be tricky, known to manipulate, use, and harm humans. So even though he was in love with her, the monk manages to convince him that she doesn't feel the same way. But when she comes to fight for him, he realizes that he was wrong.