feste_sylvain

Surprise! As part of gwynraven's effort to get to Thanksgiving in the proper place, she and shadesong are posting Fairy Tales for Family, based on reader prompts. I prompted for Grimm #108, Hans-My-Hedgehog

But when I suggested the kinds of problems with the story I wanted fixed, it occurred to me that I could write it. So, accidentally, I did:

The Ballad of Hans-My-Hedgehog

My father wished for me out of spite
My mother rejected me at first sight
My father could not even make me a bed
My mother would not even stroke my head

For them, I will sleep by the stove
For them, I will keep out the way
For them, I will tend to the rooster
For them, I will pitch all the hay

My quills are certainly not all I am
My bagpipes are lovely to hear
My talent with husbandry raises much ham
I'll take swine away with me now

For me, I will ride on my rooster
For me, I will live in the woods
For me, I will play from the treetops
For me, I will do myself good.

She headed a party, bewildered, forlorn
She heard my pipes, followed their tone
She offered me, oh, the first thing I should see
If I would but show her to home

For her, servants do her bidding
For her, a nation's at her call
For her, she gives anything
For her, her word is the law

I showed her the way out the forest.
The first thing that I saw was her hand.
So I said that I'd have it in marriage
I'd want nothing but her in her land.

For me, she went back on her promise
For me, she saw only my quills
For me, she'd raise armies to stop it.
For me, she'd risk High Courtly ills.

So I sadly returned to my forest
But I gaily then tended my swine
And I played once again on my bagpipes
And I rejoiced again in what was mine

You headed a party, bewildered, forlorn
You heard my pipes, followed their tone
You offered me, oh, the first thing I should see
If I would but show you to home

For you, servants do your bidding
For you, a nation's at your call
For you, you give anything
For you, your word is the law

I showed you the way out the forest.
The first thing that I saw was your hand.
So I said that I'd have it in marriage
I'd want nothing but you in your land.

For me, you saw past my affect
For me, you ignored all my quills
For me, you ordered a grand wedding
For me, you ordered all the frills

I went back to the first lady's queendom
I demanded the prize I was due
Her subjects were not able to stop me
So she went with me; away we flew

For her, I stripped off her fine raiment
For her, I rolled over her face
For her, I marked her with punctures
For her, she can bleed every place

I returned her at last to her queendom
Her deceit was now plain to the eye
No one now would believe her stale promise
No one now would listen to her lie.

Then I gaily returned to your queendom
With my mind set on both our rewards
We exchanged binding vows for our freedom
But you worried, which I'd not afford.

For you, I will strip off my own skin
For you, I'll cast it in the fire.
For you, I'll remake my very self
For you, I'll be what you admire.

Bring gwynraven home for Thanksgiving!