The Quest for TRUTH - a very short Story / Fable

There Once was a Young Knight, who seeking a Righteous Quest, choose to Find the Meaning of Truth itself. Everywhere he went, he asked after the Truth.

Years passed, he had many Adventures and some degree of Hardship; but he never gave up HOPE, and he Never abandoned his Quest;

Eventually he heard about the Most Beautiful Maiden, with Golden Hair, and nearly inDescribable Good looks; She was gifted with the Truth of All Creation..

He immediately went in search of her; and, after many months of Seeking the Maiden of Truth, the Knight met a Fisherman, who said he had heard of the Radiant Beauty.

He knew of an Old FireWood gatherer who had once been a Pirate;

indeed He might have more information as to her whereabouts. The Valiant Knight met with the FireWood gatherer; who told him, that in his youth, he had chanced to meet The Maiden of Truth in person, and immediately proclaimed Her beauty to be incomparable to Any Mortal Woman;

and that, even through repeated attempts, he was unable to ever see the Magnificent, Celestial Beauty again.. Being an Old Pirate, He had long since Lost the Purity of Youth, and, he reckoned, it might be because only the Purest of Heart are able to see her; but he knew of a Righteous Healer who was said to be Blessed by the Golden Haired Maiden of Truth… The Knight was given directions to a Haggardly Old Woman who lived High in a Mountain Valley, She gathered herbs from the Mountain and Healed those who came to her in Humility..

The Knight followed the meandering Mountain trail and found the Old Lady's cottage beside a small Lake, in a meadow speckeled with the most Brilliant yellow flowers.

Wanting to seem as Humble as possible, He got down on bended knee and knocked upon the Door.

The Old Woman was truly Ugly, and Weather beaten, with a crooked, wart covered nose, set between two big bushy eyebrows, her shriveled breasts sagged, and her Smile revealed a toothless mouth..

Try as he might the determined Knight could NOT Hide his look of disgust. So that when he finally came to ask the Old Gnarled Woman for Help on his Quest, He was denied..

Pleading, and still on bended knee, The Old Woman struck a bargain with the Young Knight; 2 years servitude, and to see every task through to it's dutiful end; in exchange for a meeting, with the Golden Haired Maiden of Truth.

So be it..

The Knight toiled, day after day, putting in a garden, gathering wood, and herbs, hunting fresh game, fishing, and rebuilding the little cottage;

each evening, over Dinner, the Old Woman left the Knight with a bit of useful Wisdom, truly she was knowledgeable of many, many things. One Night, After a Years time had passed in this manner; She revealed to him that she was in fact none other than the Fair Maiden of Legend;

and though the Knight was disappointed, He, by now knew the Old Woman to be Pure of Heart, and having witnessed her Heal others, time and time again, never asking for thanks, or Reward; he steadfastly remained duty bound to their Bargain. After the second year had passed, the Old Woman released him from his vow; but not before asking One Last Thing from him..

This is what she said …..

"If ever you speak of me; you must Always Say that i am the Most Beautiful and un-blemished Maiden in all the World" ….

HolySmoke! 2017