A Fairytale - The Enchanted Woodland

In a place far away lived a humble woodcutter and his young wife. They were not well off and lived a meagre existence but were rich in their love for each other.

Hendrick and his wife Lena worked hard. Having followed his father's business in woodcutting and carving, Hendrick chopped only trees enough for carving to make a living and fuel for heating and cooking. Lena spent her days cooking, nurturing and tending her garden of vegetables, herbs and flowers. 

The horse and cart handed down from Hendrick's father was used to take the carvings, vegetables and flowers to the market some miles from their woodland home which in turn reaped the benefits in exchanging their goods in the nearby village for items required to maintain their humble life together.

Early each morning Hendrick and Lena would take their foraging baskets and go into the woodland to collect the wonderful herbs and berries that nature provided. They would sit by the small stream surrounded by all kinds of greenery and wild flowers to enjoy the singing of the birds and drink the crystal clear waters from the stream. 

Life although hard at times, was welcomed each day with warm sunshine and at night, a sky filled with twinkling stars and an ever changing moon. Peace and tranquility filled this woodland with wonder and enjoyment.

As the years passed there came the day when Hendrick and Lena felt something missing in their lives........a child, and they both began to despair that they would be without a child to share their love.

It came to pass that on one of their evening walks to the stream deep in the woodland, they sat on the bank holding hands, looking at the display of stars and tonight a huge yellow moon with the slightest wisp of clouds embracing the sky.

There was a fine mist floating over the stream making it difficult to see the other side, when suddenly there in the smallest of clearings was the most magnificent stag looking straight at them.

He stood completely still in all his glory with his large brown eyes taking in the scene before him. Hendrick and Lena were in awe of the beauty of this gentle beast and they too were as still as the balmy evening, feeling a strange sensation of something magical.
Then, just as quick as the stag appeared, he turned and vanished into the night.

Hendrick and Lena looked at each and they both felt for a moment elated and trancelike after the brief encounter.

They made their way back home and fell into each others arms and that night both dreaming of the wonderous sight they saw in the woodland.

A few months passed after that evening and although Hendrick and Lena walked many times to the same spot in the woodland they never again caught sight of the stag.

One day, whilst Hendrick was delivering his wares to the market, Lena felt a sharp pain within, a pain she had not felt before and decided to lie down for a moment to let it pass. She closed her eyes and drifted off in a dreamlike sleep. Her dream took her back to the stream where she saw the stag in a hazy mist, and he was looking at her with such gentleness.

A strange feeling awoke Lena and with a start she came to, she looked and saw the most beautiful baby boy lying beside her. At that very moment, Hendrick walked into the house and saw this infant that had entered their lives. He went to Lena and took her in his arms and they both cried tears of pure joy, giving thanks to their enchanted woodland and the magic that it bestowed to them, giving them a miracle, baby Henry.

Life was indeed rich and filled with much love and happiness for this little family and they all lived happily ever after.