The Singing, Springing Lark Retelling (Part I)
Many centuries ago, in a faraway kingdom, there once was a humble merchant who lived with his three daughters — Celestria, Carragh, and Calliope. They dwelled in a small but lovely cottage near the edge of the forest.
The merchant was called to embark on a week-long journey across the kingdom. He would miss his daughters dearly, but he could not back out on this trade agreement, so the best he could do was offer to bring each of his daughters anything they wanted (that was within reason, of course).
Celestria, being the fairest of the sisters and most like her mother, desired a lavender dress made of the finest silk and lace. Carragh, as the pragmatist, just wanted a new clock (and didn’t specify a particular style because all she wanted was one that would last for a long time and functioned better than her old one).
And Calliope, known for being the most unusual of the three sisters, requested a lark.
The merchant was bemused by this strange wish, but he was certain that he could find a lark easily along the way.
Their father left the next day and promised to bring back gifts from his travels.
His daughters bid him farewell and commenced to talk about the upcoming ball, which all of them were excited about to a certain degree. Despite their personality differences, they got along quite well, though at times, Celestria and Carragh would argue about aesthetics vs. utility and how the household should be run.
Calliope, however, would simply disappear for hours and spend some time wandering either through the forest or sitting by the pond where she would get lost in a daydreams, sing the songs that her mother used to sing to her before she passed away, and sketch flowers and birds to her heart’s content. She cared neither for material finery nor pragmatism. All she wanted was to explore the picturesque setting around her and turn that into something beautiful that was uniquely hers.
A week later, the merchant found himself wishing that he had asked his youngest daughter for an alternative gift idea.
He found a dress that suited Celestria perfectly. He also found a clock for Carragh for a relatively small sum and admired its fine craftsmanship. However, he had yet to find the lark for Calliope and did not want to return home empty-handed.
So he veered off-path for a while as soon as he entered the forest.
“There must be a lark somewhere. Even any old bird would do!”
He wandered but there was not a single lark in sight. He did not even see any other songbird.
It was getting dark. He had planned to return home by sundown and his cottage was not too far away, based on his estimations, but he didn’t want his daughter to be heartbroken. He didn’t want to give her a gift that she did not request either.
His night vision wasn’t very good and he was well-aware that trying to find his way back to the main path would be insanely difficult and he’d get stuck in the forest at night if he didn’t make it back on time.
“Just half an hour more and then I’ll go back if I don’t find it,” he said to himself.
But sundown arrived sooner than he thought it would. Still, he refused to turn back.
He walked along further where there was no path and to his surprise, he heard chirping from a tall tree to his left.
Sure enough, it was not just any bird. It was a beautiful lark singing a sweet melody.
The merchant got closer to the tree and realized that he had to climb it in order to reach the lark.
He finally did, but as soon as he grasped the lark and climbed down from the tree, a lion sprung out of nowhere, causing him to scream in terror and collapse onto the ground.
“How dare you steal my singing, springing lark. This is punishable by death!”
The man was aghast, not only by the lion’s terrifying form but by his speech.
The lion looked like he was about to pounce on him, but he started pleading, “Please! I will do anything, sir. Anything if you just spare my life!”
The lion backed down, but his eyes were still full of fiery rage.
“Very well, I will spare your life. But I cannot let you get away with this — this is something that you must agree to, if you wish for your life to be spared.”
The merchant felt a tad relieved, but he was worried about falling into another trap. Still, he had to know the conditions and then he’d decide.
“Yes,” he said, his voice quavering.
“You must bring back to me the first living thing you see once you return home.”
The merchant hesitated, knowing very well that his deepest fear could come true — that his youngest daughter would be the one he had to surrender.
But the other alternative was death.
The lion, sensing his hesitation, added, “However, it can be anything you encounter close enough to your home, not necessarily restricted to those residing in your home.”
“I… need more time… to think. Sir.”
“I was being merciful! And gracious! But you want to think about it? And at this time of night?” The lion roared with laughter. “You, little man, are more foolish than I thought.”
The lion edged closer and gave him a terrifying glare. “If you don’t agree to this, you shall die right now.”
“Yes… I… will agree!” The merchant could not help but feel he was coerced into accepting this deal. “Please, just let me go and I will return tomorrow morning with the first living thing I see!”
The lion’s mouth curled into a smirk. “Good. I will see you tomorrow. Go on… you may keep the lark, but you still owe me, you understand?”
“What price is too high to pay for my daughter’s happiness?” the merchant wondered.
“Very well.” The merchant turned around and stumbled through the darkness, taking a long time to get back on the main path towards home. He did not bother looking behind him but was sure that the lion was still watching him.
Calliope was pacing back and forth in the kitchen. Celestria was by her side, trying her best to ease her worries.
“Papa should’ve been home hours ago! What if he fell ill? What if he got captured by swindlers or worse, put on trial for a crime he did not commit? What if he got tricked? Or what if he lost his way and became unconscious? Or… or…” Calliope lost her train of thought.
Celestria stroked her sister’s hair. “Perhaps he stopped by an inn for rest. He could be here by morning. After all, it is quite a long journey and he’s not getting any younger.”
Calliope knew there was nothing that worrying could do, but still, she was concerned for her father’s livelihood and safety.
Celestria continued, “Now, I must admit, I am growing weary.”
“You can go back to bed. I don’t care if I stay here waiting all night. I can’t sleep.”
“See you in the morning.” Celestria got up and went to her room.
Calliope suddenly felt very guilty and intuitively thought that her father was searching far and wide for a rare gift that was near impossible to find. She wished she asked for something more common, but it was too late to change that now.
“Father, you probably can’t hear this, but please return home. You do not need to find the lark for me. Any bird will do. Or perhaps a wildflower. Even a humble, little pebble would suffice! I can paint it in blue and gold and beautiful colors. I just want to know that you’re safe. I just want you to come home.”
Moments later, Calliope drifted off to sleep and in her hazy dreams, she saw the face of an angry lion, yet she was unsure what that meant.
The next morning, Calliope was the first to arise. She sat in the same spot as she did yesterday night.
She heard a knock on the door. Calliope bolted up from her chair and immediately swung open the door.
It was her father, with a beautiful chirping lark in his hand.
“Papa! I was worried about you. And you found the lark! I love this bird very much and promise to take good care of it.”
It took her a moment to realize that her father had a look of utter devastation on his face.
“Papa? Are you not happy to be back?”
He started to weep.
“You have no idea what I had done…”
She did not understand. “Papa, what have you done?”
“The lark you have in your hand was bought and paid for at a price that I fear will be too much for me to bear.”
Calliope was disheartened. The bird was so lively and beautiful that she could not bear to part with it.
She sighed. “Papa, if you must, you can return the lark. I’d be happy with a pebble instead.”
“You shall do no such thing!” roared a voice from outside. “You promised the very first living being you see and there is no way out.”
“No! You cannot take my youngest! Anyone but her!”
Her father started weeping uncontrollably and Calliope suddenly found herself face to face with the same lion from her dreams.
She looked at the lion in the eyes and understood that she must fulfill her part of the promise in order for her father to live…