AN ALTERNATIVE ENDING

And they lived happily ever after …. to begin with. They had met in the forest. Ermingild was a peasant girl out hunting with her bow and arrow. So able she could provide adequately for herself, sisters and mother. Prince Aethelstan was at sport with his merry band of men. They had pursued a deer and lodged several arrows into her torso, but still she continued to run. Ermingild saw the injured hind coming her way. With a skilful shot she put it out of its misery. She walked over to the kill as Aethelstan descended from his horse. Together they gazed at the beast. Her arrow had pierced the left eye and the point protruded out of the right. From the bleeding brown eyes they looked to one another. Transfixed they struggled to bring words to the fateful moment. Remembering her status Ermengild tactfully apologised for having denied his royal highness the final shot. Still dumbfounded Aethelstan lay aside his royal elevation and praised her fine archery. If she had no objection the meat would be prepared as the main dish for the beltane banquet in three days time to which she was cordially invited. The date was set and she humbly accepted the gracious offer and retreated. Aethelstan and his men returned home in a quieter than usual mode. Ermingild’s sisters and mother were overjoyed. The feast was joyous and their love cemented. A month later they were married. They revelled in one anothers beauty and the adoration of formal occasion. Aethelstan felt fully satisfied with their society but Ermingild needed a break from their constant involvement. They did not conceive a child. When they were not at court Aethelstan would enjoy the hunt with lifelong companions but Ermingild preferred to make trails alone and return to her mother’s humble abode with her kills. With Ermingild’s help her attractive sisters were soon married to local nobility. Her mother found accommodation in one of their mansions. They bore children and unlike Ermingild both became totally absorbed in their stately lives. With no duty to care for anyone Ermingild began to wander. Aethelstan provided her with strong horses and gold but she travelled as a rustic hunter and camped in the woods on her solitary treks. Appearing as a young man she entered country towns to sell her rabbits, hares, pheasants and pigeons and bought goods with small coinage. Aethelstan amused himself with the pleasures of the palace and found solace with his oldest friends. Ermingild sold her horse and crossed over to Europe on foot. She travelled through the continent and disappeared into Africa. Aethelstan was happy that his brother’s marriage bore a son as heir to the throne. He lived to an old age and never forgot the beautiful Ermingild who could shoot an arrow better than any man he had ever known.



PETE EASTHAM'S SHORT STORIES