Tales From The Hearthfire
A Collection of Medieval Stories and Fairytales
Black is the Colour and Rain are medieval fairytales and Beltane's Bride is a free short story.
Tales From The Hearthfire is a collection of my medieval stories. Some of the stories are straight historical, while others are fairytales and fantasy. Harking back to oral history and storytellers, I wanted this series evoke the feeling of sharing a tale around a fire on a cold winter's night.
Rain
Rain is one of my favourite stories. It's a medieval fairytale and was first published by a small press back in 2013. It's been out of print for awhile but as the rights reverted back to me, I've decided to republish it.
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I hope you like Maras and Nuri's story, it's about prejudice, love and belonging.
1216 AD
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On the mountain, high above the village of Farran – Nuri is caught between heaven and hell. Two men fight for her love and her soul. The first is Maras, an elemental being who follows the storms.
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Nuri knows that he is not human, he’s something more. She believes he is her beautiful fallen angel. But he is transient and is bound to the elements and their love may be as fleeting as the storm itself. The second is Brother Erebus, a pious monk whose tortured soul is twisted by his desire for her.
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But Nuri may sacrifice more than her heart when the Church brands her angel a demon. As Brother Erebus will do anything to protect her soul from the silver haired devil, even if he has to crush her body to do it.
Here's a link - www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07H23QXD6
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Black is the Colour - Tales from the Hearthfire
Ciana has loved Oran all her life and nothing, not even her father will prevent them from being together. But the Mayor of Stonemark has higher aspirations for his daughter than the village blacksmith. He engages the help of a witch and dark magic to bend Ciana to his will.
Oran knows that he doesn’t deserve Ciana. But their love is stronger than the metal he forges and welds. She has his heart and he will never turn from her no matter the cost.
Separated, Ciana will need all her strength to journey through the deep forest and save Oran from the witch’s curse. Alone and with only a trail of black feathers to follow, Ciana will fight against the odds and attempt to bring her lover home.
Here's a snippet
The sense of freedom and weightless surged through Oran as he flew through the sky. He could fly forever, nothing could stop him – nothing would tether him to the ground. He soared upwards and then he let the wind currents carry him over the great forest below.
Kraaah! He called out in joy as the wind ruffled across his feathers and gently buffeted his body. The world stretched out before him. Past the forest sat the grey marsh and beyond that the purple haze of the mountains. The world was his and he could see forever. Why had he ever limited himself to one small plot of earth – when this had been waiting for him?
But something had stopped him from leaving when he had been a man. Oran tried to recall what it was – something had hold of him and would not let him go. Oran turned slowly and circled over the forest – something or someone wanted him to stay; but why?
His gaze fell back to the distant mountains; they beckoned him with their stillness. He couldn’t stay here; he needed the cold wind and wild. His heart soared as he turned his back on the old forest and flew towards the desolate marsh.
Oran swooped down and flew over the boggy mud, water and reeds. There was a sense of desolation and sorrow which seemed to permeate the marsh. It seeped over him like a fine, misty drizzle of rain on a winter’s day. It pulled him down as if it wanted him to stay but Oran could see the mountains and he pushed on.
Ahead, in the middle of the marsh was a half toppled ring of standing stones. Oran’s interest was snagged; they looked as if they were covered in something black.
As he neared he saw the stones were covered by a multitude of ravens. They called to him – Come brother join us – you are home.
My brethren! My brothers! Oran thought as the ravens took to the sky. The air was filled with a dark blanket of black feathers as the ravens spiralled upwards.
Join us brother. Join us and be free!
Oran hesitated for an instant as he watched as the ravens flew above him. His heart bubbled with belonging as he flapped his wings and took his place with his brethren.
Masquerade To the outside world she’s referred to as Lord Tressely’s child bride – but nothing could be further from the truth. Sophia’s entire life is a lie. For her protection she has hidden within a sham of a marriage for years. In a desperate gamble to save all that she loves and repay a debt of kindness to her dying husband, Sophia must produce an heir.A night of passion is all she wants and the masquerade ball may be the opportunity she’s been looking for. An illicit tryst with the wickedly handsome Lord Mathias Eldridge appears to be the answer to her prayers. What she didn’t expect was for Mathias to spin her senses and make her wish for a different life. But Sophia discovers that the repercussions of her actions could threaten to destroy not only her entire world but also her heart.
Beltane's Bride
At the end of her life, Alvina finds an unexpected gift during the fires of Beltane.
This is a free short story about kindness, forest, fires and old magic.
Approx. 5,000 words