~ by Amanda Pizzolatto (Aurora Mandeville)

Once upon a time, in the quaint little riverside town of Asillini, lived a merchant and his son Francis. Francis enjoyed working with his father in the merchant business, but hoped to go on an adventure one day for the King. His wish came true when, one day, the prince of Asillini sent out a proclamation seeking brave men to solve the mystery of the theft of the golden apples. These apples had been given to the town of Asillini by the King himself to be distributed to the people, especially the poor, during the harvest festival of Halloim. The apples had the power to heal and to sustain a person for many months. But, if there were no apples to be given out, then many would likely starve. 

Francis wanted to help solve the mystery, but his father was primarily against it, thinking it best that the people of Asillini learn how to be fully prepared for the long winter months. But Francis kept on insisting, and finally convinced his father to let him join in the hunt for the thief. He was received at the castle with great enthusiasm and, after being blessed by the priest for a safe journey, he was sent off with just as much excitement and well wishing. 

It was on the second night away from the town that Francis heard a voice in his dreams, telling him to head into the woods and befriend a wolf. Francis went into the woods, a lean wolf was waiting for him by the roadside. Francis fed him, and the wolf offered to lead him straight to the thief. Francis accepted the offer and followed his new friend through the woods to the bustling city of Florengia, where they sought an audience with the prince. 

There, Francis discovered that the golden, singing bird gifted to Florengia by the King was the true thief of the golden apples. The prince of Florengia was shocked and displeased with the news. Francis insisted on the prince returning with him to Asillini, bringing with him the bird, and speaking to the prince of Asillini. The Florengian prince said he would think it over, if Francis could persuade the golden maiden to come to court. 

Francis set out to find the golden maiden, eventually finding her at a convent, and finding out that she was actually the prince’s daughter, Clare. With the wolf’s help, Francis did persuade her to rejoin her father’s court, if only to help him with the situation with the apples. 

Upon arriving back at the palace, the prince of Florengia readied everything for the trip, and they were soon on their way. Along the way, Francis helped the Florengian prince with ideas for a truce, and helped him gain insight into what he could expect from the Asillini prince. 

Francis and Clare also got to know each other better, finding out they had much in common. Once at the palace in Asillini, talks were underway to figure out a solution that would benefit both Asillini and Florengia. It was Francis who came up with the idea, and Clare who seconded it, that the two towns would cooperate in the Halloim festival. The prince of Asillini would give some apples to the bird of Florengia, and the bird would sing for the festivities. 

The agreement was made, and the parties returned to their homes. The wolf remained a good friend to Francis, even after Francis became a friar. Clare too remained a dear friend, though she became a nun. Long after they passed, the festivals were still celebrated in honor of their great friendship and love of God, who they no doubt were now seeing face to face. 

Image Credit