In Defense of Honor
A new Fairy Tale
by Sarah Alyssa McCown
Copyright 2013 Sarah Alyssa McCown
Cover Photo Copyright 2013 Sarah Alyssa McCown
Cover Copyright 2013 Sarah Alyssa McCown
A long time ago, there was a woman named Goodness. Having lived, since her birth, in the valley of Optimism, she had seen little, and helped few, for those in her village needed very little in the kind of help that Goodness could offer. And so, she set out, determined to help those where she could.
On her journey she met the man that would soon be her husband, Strength. He was drawn to her for many reasons, but was enchanted by her never failing determination to help those less fortunate. Following their wedding, Strength and Goodness set out to see how they could help a world in need – together.
Nestled between the dry desert of Pessimism, where the sands grate at the nerves, drying out all hope, and before one reached the dark foreboding forest of Confusion, there was a small village called Hesitation. It was not long before Goodness and Strength arrived there, tired and weary from their journey. After recovering, they would have moved on, but Goodness discovered she was with child.
The young couple decided to settle down in Hesitation until the babe was old enough to handle the harsh traveling life. After nine long months of settling into their new home, and adjusting to a life where people were none too quick to trust, Goodness birthed a daughter. She was born with a shock of dark hair already covering her head, her skin pink, her eyes bright. They called her Honor.
Despite Goodness and Strength's promise to leave Hesitation, they found many reasons not to, and so, before they could believe it, Honor was grown into a young woman. She was small, willowy, and lovely, with dark brown hair that she tied low down her back. She had a stubborn chin, and eyes of a pale green that seemed to capture the beauty of the forest she lived so near to in one sinfully simple glance.
Just before Honor's sixteenth birthday, a stranger arrived. He was inordinately large, towering above most of the people of Hesitation. He had a great belly that protruded away from his body so that one could not see his face except from very far (for he would certainly never bend over to see or speak with someone). The villagers could sense that he was not so amiable.
The stranger settled in quite comfortably, even going so far as to build himself a home. So it was not terribly long before he made himself a common fixture in town events. But the people of Hesitation were not quick to trust, and soon, they began noticing something: their food stores were running low. Venison, the primary meat, was growing scarce, the normally full and healthy herd moving farther into the forest of Confusion. Chickens were disappearing from their coops or simply dying. The land was refusing to allow the village to glean anything worthy of being placed on a table. There were even seeds disappearing, dooming the future crop production.
The only one in town who did not complain about this turn of events was the stranger, not that anyone tried speaking to him. They could not help but to notice that he seemed to grow even more plump, despite the lack of food that kept their own tables bare. But in Hesitation, no one was quick to accuse.
Snitch was a small, ornery child that lived near the edge of town. Her parents were Eager and Curious. Hearing much talk of the stranger, Snitch decided to take it upon her small young shoulders and find out who he was. Or this was what Honor could discern when Snitch approached her on the main road running through Hesitation.
“Miss Honor!” cried Snitch, running up to her, hand extended out in front of her, as if she could not reach Honor fast enough.
“Snitch? What is this?” Honor took the envelope and opened it, shocked when she noted the letter was not intended for her.
Nor was it intended for any citizen of Hesitation she knew.
“I found it at the big man’s house.”
“You went to see the stranger?” Honor asked her, brows drawing together in worry.
“Yes, miss. You see mum and da were-”
“There’s nothing that can possibly excuse stealing.” Honor placed her fists on slender hips. “Snitch, you and I are going back to his house and returning it to him right now.”
Snitch blinked her big blue eyes, a trick that typically worked to have adults see her way. “His name, miss Honor.”
“What about it?” Honor stepped forward to take Snitch’s hand, but the child snatched it away expertly.
“It’s…it’s…Famine.”
Honor paused, taking in this newfound information.
Was this why Hesitation was suddenly wanting for food? Pressing her lips together worriedly, she debated what to do. Despite the difficulty this new visitor was causing for them, Honor knew the right thing to do was to return the letter to…Famine.
“Regardless, Snitch, we need to return the letter. Are you coming with me?”
“I…I…I don’t wanna!” With a cry of agony, as if Honor were torturing her as opposed to requesting she make up for her indiscretions, Snitch turned tail, raising dust behind her in her haste to return home. It hung in the air, clearing slowly, leaving Honor feeling as if she had done something wrong rather than Snitch. She felt alone in her singular determination.
Steeling herself, Honor turned back toward the stranger’s house, which looked like a rough-hewn stack of logs, situated discretely behind a row of homes, one might miss it if they walked by too quickly. Moving to the door, Honor raised her hand to knock, but it was thrust open before she could, knocking her back to the ground. She coughed, waving away what dust she could, and very likely swallowing the rest.
“Wha’ is it you be wantin’ here, girl?” His voice boomed, his great figure looming over her, filling the doorway.
“I believe – this was just found – is yours?” She scarcely knew what she was saying. Honor felt as if a sudden weight were pressing upon her chest and stomach, even as she outstretched the letter to him – it took effort to keep it up.
Suddenly, her hand was empty, the letter ripped from her fingers. Honor wondered how it was that paper could suddenly hurt so much.
“You robbed me!”
The accusation stung, and Honor felt hot liquid flowing down her arm. She looked at her wrist, still extended toward him, surprised to see blood – her wrist cut. Famine held a dagger in his hand now, and Honor briefly wondered where it had come from, but her mind was fogged, hurting with something that felt sharper than a blade, something she couldn’t quite define.
Pressing her skirt to the wound, Honor stumbled up and away from the stranger.
“Malady be comin’ to visit you first,” he told her darkly. “She’s waitin’ beyond them trees, just searchin’ for a nice little morsel like you!”
Honor ran, unable to do much else, but his laughter followed her, booming down the street, bouncing off the trees overhead. The branches sang with the end he promised her and the leaves wept dew in their sorrow.
--
“Well, someone must go into the forest,” burst Eager.
“Yes,” chimed in Persistence. “It needs to be her. Honor is the one who brought Famine’s wrath upon us!”
It was two hours following Honor’s run-in with Famine, and not ten minutes later, he had attacked the households of Hesitation on his way out of town, screaming much like he had at Honor, promising a destruction that would wipe their very existence from the land. The arrival of Malady, he promised, would ensure sickness, plagues and death. Malady would bring with her illnesses that no one could outrun.
With this threat looming over their heads, the town had quickly gathered, determined to send someone into the forest of Confusion.
They all knew it was either to kill Malady or be killed themselves.
“It should be her! Honor, I tell you!” Persistence cried again.
This entire attack, Honor knew, with no sense of irony, was very much against the nature of the village of Hesitation. However, it was happening, and Honor knew she would have to speak up soon.
“I will go,” Honor finally said, standing. Her wrist was wrapped and she was still dusty, shaken
by how cruelly Famine had treated her.
Distrust leapt forward, offering his shield, which he made sure to keep on him always. “Take this, Honor, daughter of Goodness and Strength. I always find that my shield keeps danger at a distance.”
Stepping up onto the small town dais next to Honor was Disgust, who thrust his bow out to her, not saying one word before stepping down again and disappearing into the crowd.
Anger was next, and offered her his arrows. “Attack