Good evening, children. It's Granny Madduff, ready with a story. So make yourselves comfy,

and I'll begin.

Once upon a time, it was a beautiful autumn day when Princess Gilda decided to take a ride through the forest.

She was quite a horsewoman and especially talented with a bow and arrow.

This was something her parents were proud of.

They wanted her to be a good ruler when the time came

and to them a good ruler should know about all things

but above all must be a fierce warrior

they were Vikings and this was the way

but Gilda was most interested in exploring. She would find new places in the

forest and hide there, enjoying some time to herself, for in town, Gilda was never alone. Her

ladies' maids always following, guards always watching.

In the forest, it was just her and her horse who was dapple grey and as weagle as any horse could be.

His name was Fradis, which meant protector. Gilda's bow and arrow were fastened on her saddle.

She never went anywhere without them. She settled into a little glen on the soft moss and watched

the leaves fall from the trees. They danced in the breeze as if swaying to an unheard song. Her grandmother had always told her

stories of old, of witches and sorcerers, of a time when horses had wings and dragons breathed fire.

When gnomes and elves roamed the earth, when magic was all around.

Gilden knew they were stories, but she dreamed anyway, of flying with Freides through the air,

of vanquishing a sorcerer with her bow and arrow,

of dining with gnomes in their underground palaces.

But they were only dreams.

...