The Bride Well by David H. Keller
1930 Weird Sword & Sorcery Tale
Weird Tales, October 1930
It was not till we came well within the boundaries of my beloved Cornwall that I realized the fact that my appearing before my subjects with a Welsh lady might not be either understood or acceptable to those sturdy knights who had been so faithful to me during the early days of my reign. It was all well enough to rescue the lovely Ruth and even spend long minutes driving the Devil back into her body with long, lingering kisses, but to boldly bring the same lady back to my domains might cause political disturbances of the direst nature. At the same time there was Ruth, on the horse, in front of me; and from certain clinging habits she had spontaneously developed, I had every reason to believe that she intended to remain within the curve of my left arm, waist-bound, for the rest of her life.
"I am Overlord of Cornwall," I at last made bold to say, "and much of my support comes from nobles with marriageable daughters. So long as I am a bachelor, these nobles will remain my friends, but if they saw you, and found out you were from Wales, then at once there would arise jealous dissensions. So, we stop at the first chapman's and buy masculine apparel for and you, will go you to my castle as a page."
"Shall I be your page?" Ruth asked.
"Oh! I presume so. At least I will have no other, and you can run my errands for me, and bind on my armor when I go giant-hunting."
"That will be nice. I think that I will look well in boy's clothes. I used to wear them when I was much younger. Will you give me a boy's name?"
We talked it all over and decided to call her Percy. Later on in the day we met a Jew who was selling clothing to those who would buy, and with him I made a shrewd trade; so, when Ruth came out from behind the bushes she looked like a young lad, not yet shaven. The Jew took her clothes, and some silver, and left us.
Now after that I made Ruth ride behind me, and if there was any holding on to do, she could do it. All that day and one more day we rode, and that night we arrived once more at my castle. Giving orders that my faithful charger be well fed and bedded, and that the treasures I brought with me be safely secured behind lock and bar, I trudged rather wearily to my rooms to remove the iron and leather harness that seemed to be so necessary for a ruler to wear when out on the lonely roads of my country. I bethought me of King Arthur who made the land so safe that a gold bracelet hung on a thorn-bush for three years without being disturbed while it waited for its rightful owner. That was the kind of country I wanted Cornwall to be, some day.
Percy came after me into the privacy of my rooms, and ere I was aware she started to take off my armor, and cleverly found sweet oil to rub me with and my silks and soft leathers; so, before I realized it, I was in comfort before the fire, and she holding out to me a horn of spiced ale, which it seems she had ordered for my comfort on her way up the stone stairs.
After that, came some pleasant days in the library. Of course, Ruth could not read, but she had a clever understanding of the pictures, and her willingness to acknowledge that I knew more than she did was decidedly refreshing to my masculine pride. In my astonishing adventures in the Apurimac Valley, the Blessed Islands, Cabel and Dahomey, I had met many women, but never one who willingly, acknowledged my intellectual supremacy. So, as the simple child seemed anxious to learn, I permitted her to look through many of my books and even spent long hours in reading to her. Of course, she wore her boy's clothes and I was very careful to call her Percy, but occasionally when we were alone I graciously gave her osculatory treatment for the Devil I had forced to enter her.
It was all very lovely and might have continued for an infinity of pleasant evenings, at least for a month or so, had it not been for an unexpected and slightly embarrassing visit from several of my mightiest nobles. There were but three of them, but so powerful were they in the affairs of Cornwall that they might as well have been thirty or three hundred. I received them in the library, first telling Percy to begone and stay begone till she knew they were safely out of the Castle. To help the page pass the time while away from me I gave into his hands a boy, wherefrom he could learn the letters, and thus come, some day, to be able to read.
Before the fire the good knights Bevidere, Arthur and Mallory sat warming their shins and drinking my wine, the while looking at each other and then sidewise at me as though uncertain as to who should begin the conversation or as to the effect it would have on their Overlord. At last Mallory coughed and started to tell me what was on their minds.
"You must be willing to acknowledge, Cecil, son of James, son of David, son of John and even back to the son of Saint Christopher, that your arrival to our country and you becoming Overlord has been a matter of deep mystery to all of us."
"There is no doubt that it was most unusual," I replied.
"We admit that we needed a strong man to rule us. There were robbers and giants and demons within the realm and many strong and jealous countries around us, anxious for our downfall. You arrived here at an opportune time, and, thanks to your ability as a giant-killer and politician, you have given Cornwall a sense of security that before your advent it strangely lacked."
"My record speaks for itself," I almost boasted. "Five robber gangs dispersed and from these over a hundred killed in battle or hung on dead limbs to warn all folk of the danger of acting thus in my confines. Three giants, seven deadly serpents, one dragon, and a number of salamanders and ogres have been sent to Limbo. Ireland, thanks to my magical powers, is more than friendly to us. Wales can not attack. In fact, only within the last few weeks I adventured there and rid their land of a most horrific curse, following which adventure the King of Wales himself gave me many jewels and other presents of great value. Thus there is no doubt, at least in my mind, that Cornwall hath profited mightily by having me to take charge of the affairs of state."
Bevidere swore a mighty oath!
"By the bones of the eleven thousand and one virgins of Cologne, no one can gainsay the truth of all you say, and, speaking for the three of us, and we represent the country, I am sure that we value your services as Overlord, though your bookish ways are beyond us—“
"Ah!" I interrupted, "but you have not seen all my books. Now I am sure that if you looked through my copy of Elephantis— Where is my copy? I always keep it right there. That dog of a page must have taken it. Anyway, I anticipate that you would have keen enjoyment from its inspection."
"That may be, but we are not monks. None of us understand the art of reading."
"You do not have to read. The book of Elephantis is simply one of pictures."
"That would be different. But to go on where Your Worship broke into my argument. We like you, and value your ability to rule a country, but what will happen to us should you die, of the Black Plague or of the Pox? You have, as far as we know, neither kith nor kin, and, being unmarried, no children to render your dynasty secure. This is why we come here. To urge your marriage."
I lost no time in making the answer. "This is no new problem to me, my lords. I know that I owe it to my country to marry and have children, sturdy sons to carry the burden and beautiful daughters to make fortunate alliances. But how can I marry? I am wise but not wise enough to select a wife from among the beautiful virgins of Cornwall. I met Elenore, daughter of Sir Bevidere, and lost my heart to her, but the next day Sir Arthur rode by with his daughter Helen, and I realized that she was blond where Elenore was brunette. Then, the same week chance led me to the home of Sir Mallory, and his daughter Guinevere graced the banquet table. Tell me, my lords, with three such beauties to choose from, how can a man decide? Shall I take Helen and offend the fathers of Elenore and Guinevere? If I marry Elenore, how can I bear to keep the mystical beauties of the other two graces from haunting my nights? That is why I am still a bachelor. Am I right? Only by remaining single can I keep my beloved knights at peace and these darling girls at least with some degree of hope, for so long as I am single I am the rightful property of any woman brilliant enough to win me."
Sir Arthur smiled:
"Very clever. That speech is on a par with your general performance since dropping into our country from nowhere. We know how you feel. You want to be fair with all of us. But at the sametime you must marry. I hear that you are a worker of magic; that by your demoniacal powers you became Overlord, and later on secured the friendship of Ireland by removing the tail from the husband of Queen Broda. We are asking you to use this magic in selecting your bride. To the west of this castle, in the dark forest, centering a fairy ring is a bride well. A single man looking into that well, sees the face of his future bride. We will gather there, the Cornwall nobles and their eligible daughters. You will look into the well, compare the picture you see there with the lovely damsels, and announce your decision. It is an ancient custom, and, as we know you are honest, will provide a satisfactory answer to our dilemma. For many hundred years our Overlords have thus selected their brides. So, the next night of the full moon we will gather there, with a priest, and the selection and the marriage will all be the work of a few minutes. Are you satisfied with the plan?"
"It is perfect," I replied. "It has all of the elements of white magic of the finest sort."
"Then," said Arthur, "Bevidere and I will be riding on through the night. Mallory remains, I understand. He hath a wife that is a shrew and the poor lad lets no opportunity slip to remain a night away from her, especially when he hath a leman with him." So saying he slapped Sir Mallory on the back, laughed heartily at his discomfort, and he and Sir Bevidere went out into the night.
"Tis an odd way of selecting a Queen," I remarked.
"So it is," agreed the grizzled old knight, "but hath no more gamble to it than any other way. Hundreds of years ago, 'tis said that the nobility gathered to see the selection of the bride, and when the Overlord looked into the well, there he saw, instead of a reflection of a woman, a real woman, named Melusina, a daughter of a French fay, called Pressina, and she, coming from the well, demanded that she become the Queen and none could gainsay her right. They married, and, her clothing off, the poor Overlord found that she was half woman and half snake. It was a great scandal, and created new styles in clothes and slippers. Many women claimed to be deformed just to be in the style."
"Horrible! But how came she in the well?"
"No doubt placed herself there to marry the Overlord. Ha! Ha! It would be bad for that old tale to be spread over Cornwall just now. A dozen wells would not hold the lovely women who covet you." And the old rogue poked me in my royal ribs, as he drank another horn of wine. At last I had him taken to his room, there to be cared for by his leman.
A wanted to know where my copy of Elephantis was. As I suspected, she had taken it with her when she left the library; and all the time I thought she was studying her letters. I scolded her: "How can you ever hope to become learned when you look at such pictures instead of studying your letters?"
As soon as he left I called for Percy.
"I do not want to become learned," she sulked.
"What do you want to become?" I demanded.
But she simply started to cry; so I cuffed her on the ear and bade her begone for the night. It would be one week before the night of the full moon. If I was going to have a wife, then the best place for Percy, or Ruth, or whatever his or her name was, well, anyway, the best place for her to be would be back in Wales. So, I waited till morning and had a palfrey packed with silken gowns and jewels and placed her on an the one whose image you saw in the Bride Well."
"I can not! She resembleth none of these waiting ladies."
My people murmured when they heard me. It was a hard thing I said and one they could not understand. But I waved my hand regally as I demanded silence.
"Here is a magical happening," I cried. "There is no image in the well, but rather a real woman. Priest, bid her come forth and tell her name and station in life. Have her explain how comes she here."
The Priest did so. In seven different languages and five distant dialects he called down the well to the one in the well to come forth. She came; slowly, almost as though floating upward she came, stepping gracefully over the stone curbing, came toward me and made a deep curtsy, and then, in clean commanding voice, she spake:
"I am Leonora.
Royal daughter
Of most royal parents.
I come from a land most noble, Among men renowned.
That tract of earth is not
Over mid-earth
Fellow to many peopled lands,
But is a celestial Paradise.
Beautiful is all that land,
With delight blest.
I come from there to Cornwall,
To mate with him who reigns,
And shower love and riches
All over his domain."
Then, stretching her hand toward me, she cried to the Priest:
"Marry us forthwith, so we can, united, bless this fair land of Cornwall and its beloved people. Why should I care about leaving Paradise when I can spend an eternity in Cornwall?"
She was regal. From the golden crown which held her glorious locks together down to the silver slippers on her little feet she was a rare mate for any Overlord. Something of this must have impressed my people. Perhaps they felt that it was a happy ending to what might have turned out to be a difficult situation. At least they cried aloud their approval of the marriage.
But through the forest came the sound of silvery horns, and the neighing of horses and the dull roll of chariots. Who should it be but Queen Broda in her golden chariot with my friend, and her husband by her side? What fortunate magic secured her arrival at this time? I looked at the Priest and he winked at me. Good! With such a partner I would go far.
"Hail, Cecil, Overlord of Cornwall! Hail and thrice hail! I heard that you were adventuring into the land of matrimony tonight, and if this lady by your side is your bride, then your adventurings will be sweet indeed. But you have many maidens here who are unwed. It came to me to select fifty of my young nobles and offer them in marriage to your lovely girls. With such marriages the friendship of Ireland and Cornwall will be truly made too strong to break."
Then into the moonlight came fifty Irishmen in purple robes and golden armlets and gold chains around their necks and golden curls on their heads, and between them it was hard to choose. The Cornwall maidens could hardly wait till proper introductions were made. Then by the same magic that had ruled the entire evening, the couples instantly fell in love, and agreements were soon made so that after an hour of merrymaking there were fifty-one couples to be married by the Priest instead of one.
Naturally, every one went away happy. I entertained as many as I could in my Castle, but at last came the hour when I was alone with my bride. She had slipped off her regal robes and placed upon her lovely body a silken gown that showed in every part the truth of her statement that she had come from Paradise. I determined to be stern with her. Now was the time to find out who was to rule.
"Why did you do it?" I asked.
"Why should I not? That night when Sir Mallory talked to you I hid behind the velvet curtains. What one woman can do, another can. You gave me the dresses and jewels and I made up my mind to use them. Of course, you remember the poem? You taught me that yourself and I just made a few changes in it."
"I recognized the poetry at once," I admitted. "I read it to you from the Exeter Book and the name of it is De Phoenice. Of course, it was clever of you and you looked more than beautiful as you rose out of the well."
"Of course, I had to practice that. It was rather hard to climb the ladder, but I would do anything for you, Cecil dear. And it all ended just perfectly lovely. Just like one of those stories you used to read to me."
She smiled at me so sweetly, she clung to me so graciously, she looked so adoringly into my eyes that all my reserve melted. I crushed her to me.
"Oh, Ruth, Ruth! I am so glad that it happened the way it did. No other woman would have had the courage to do it. I am glad that you are going to be my Queen. I do not believe that I shall ever be able to stop kissing you."
We heard a little laugh. Turning, we faced the Priest.
"I just dropped in to say good-bye, and wish you all kinds of happiness. You are going far in the world, Cecil, Overlord of Cornwall, with such a woman for your wife. By the way, would you mind if I borrowed your copy of Elephantis? There is a Cardinal in Italy, a friend of mine, who has expressed the desire to see it."
"That is all right," I answered. "Just take it with you. Now that Ruth and I are married, I do not believe I shall care to spend as much time with Elephantis as I did."
"You are going to find me much nicer," cooed Ruth, as she clung closer to me.
END
