Week 2 Story: The Lion and the Maiden

The Lion and the Maiden

In a far away land, a young girl and her older brother lived in a town just outside a large city. The youth's parents visited the city often and one day, a tragic accident occurred and just like that, the young children lost their parents. 

The brother, Jacob, took care of his younger sister, Allison, the best he could. Jacob was now the man of the house and the provider for the family. Because of the accident, Jacob and Allison were too scared to go to the city, so they decided that a dark trench to a neighboring town was the better route to use to get supplies. 

One day, Jacob wanted to surprise Allison with her favorite toy from the market in the next town over. Jacob said, "I am going to go visit our distant cousin, but I will be back this evening. Please stay with the neighbors and do not go far." Allison did as she was told.

Jacob took the long, dark trench all the way to the next town. He got there and the toy was unavailable, so he headed home in despair. 

As he walked the trench home, he heard some strange noises off in the distance, and out of curiosity, he headed towards the sounds. He saw this little cottage inside a huge cave and in the front of it was a little garden gnome. He thought to himself, "WOW! This would be a perfect replacement for the toy I was going to give Allison," so he went right up to it and put it in his satchel. Before he could even get 10 steps away, the owner of the caved cottage appeared with a roar. Jacob turned around trembling with fear. 

The dark, large figure roared out to him, "How dare you take something that is not yours!!" Jacob explained that it was a gift for his sister, but the lion was not pleased. He threatened pain on Jacob and took him as a hostage. 

The lion himself, went into the village to retrieve Allison and propose a trade for her brother's life. He said to her, "If you live with me for the rest of your life and do anything and everything I say, then your brother can keep his life and return to the village." Allison, having no choice really, accepted the offer and accompanied the lion home, and Jacob was released. 

Allison held up her end of the deal, but the lion was ruthless. He demanded compliments every hour of the day. The lion also demanded that he look and feel good all the time; he did not care if Allison slept or ate, he just wanted his perfect life. 

A few years passed by and Allison finally worked up the courage to talk to the lion about a visit home. She said, "Please Mr. Lion, I promise I will come back, just please let me go see Jacob for this one day." The lion roared a loud no and Allison cried and cried the rest of the day.

Surprisingly, the lion felt bad. His first experience of humane emotion. All the sudden, his guilt increased and increased until it was too much to handle. He roared out, "What is happening to me? What is this feeling?" A bright light flashed and the lion was transformed back into the young man that he once was. 

He immediately went to Allison to comfort her. He told her, "I have had a realization. I can no longer be the way I used to be. You are free to go and be with your brother." Allison thanked him profusely and headed home to the village. Since that day, every week, Allison and Jacob visit the new and improved young man that the lion changed in to be. 

A maiden pampering a lion by Fredrick

Stuart (1842)

Author's Note:

This story is based on the original story Beauty and the Beast. The story line is similar in the fact that the girl trades her life sentence for a loved one's. Although, this story does not use roses or a beast, there are substituted objects/beings for those important details. This story also does not end in marriage or love, instead the lion finds something in himself that he can love rather than a person to love. The sister and brother visit the now man, and find a friendship within him. 

Story Source: Belle's Story from Disney