12 Days Blog Hop: Moon... AND A NEW CONTEST

Ladies and gentlemen!  It's day ELEVEN of Stacy Bennett-Hoyt's (AKA @rowanwolf66) festively fabulous 12 Days of Christmas blog hop.

Do not fear.  Do not weep. We've had 12 solid days of writing. We're read some wonderful tales from some fantabulous writers.  Now it's time for a PARTY!

Yes folks, it's 12th Night and that means it's time for a Ball.  A masquerade ball.  And YOU'RE invited.  Just click here to find out more!

Okay, back to the blog hop: 12 Days, 12 Stories, each 200-300 words.  The contest theme is gifts and each day has a prompt.  Today's is:

MOON

“I want a star,” the King shouted.  “My heir must be brave and bold, fearless of obstacles.  Bring me a star on a plate.” 

His two sons looked at each other.  They had found princesses, slain wild beasts but now the man dealt in impossibilities.  Courtiers whispered of madness.  His sons did not disagree.

“I will fetch you a star,” said Garth.  Handsome and rich, he would pay the court jeweller a million gold marks to create the most beautiful star the world had ever seen.

“As will I,” said Henry.  Strong and fearless, he would journey to far off lands in his quest for the King’s pleasure.

His daughter, Jusanna, shrugged.  Plain and clever, she was despised by her arrogant sire.  “Why bother with a star?” she said.  “There are dozens of stars in the sky.  Do you not wish for something unique?  I will fetch you the moon and give it to you this very night.” 

The King roared with laughter.  “A woman?” he scoffed, glancing at his sons.  “Very well. Bring me the moon and the kingdom is yours.”  His smile faded. "Fail and a convent is your fate." 

“Meet me in the courtyard at midnight,” the girl said.  “The moon shall be yours.”

No braziers flickered to light the King’s way, nothing but the icy brilliance of the stars.  His daughter stood in the courtyard.  “Behold,” she said, her hand sweeping the air.

At his feet lay the bright sphere of the moon, glowing white and dappled with silver.  The King fell back, words stuttering on his lips.  “Sorcery,” he whispered. 

“If I can pull the moon from the sky, imagine what else I can do?” Jusanna said.

The King ran inside.

Jusanna smiled and stirred the courtyard pool.  The moon shattered into a thousand pieces. 

CC image by the Dull Fig

When I originally wrote this story and read it to my five year old daughter, it was a story about three sons.  "What about the princesses?" she asked.  "Where are they?"  That was a wake up call - why not have a strong and clever heroine?  Thus Jusanna was born - named by my daughter.