Riding to Elfland
“Don’t you see on bonny bonny road
That lies across the ferny brae?
That is the road to fair Elfland
Where you and I this night must go.”
Thomas the Rhymer*
“I would have thought the road in Elfland would be more captivating.” Thomas said as he clung to the back of the Queen of Elfland’s milk-white steed.
“True Thomas we are not yet in Elfland. The road will be broader when we do and you will see the true beauty of Faerie.” The Elf Queen replied. “This is still the road to fair Elfland. You will know when we pass the gate.”
The Queen’s steed continued jingling on with the silver bells on it’s mane as it flew swifter than the wind. Thomas knew he was leaving the mortal lands behind and that he may never see them again. He had no regrets.
Joanne Fisher
Word count: 144 words.
This was written with the photo prompt provided by Crimson’s Creative Challenge #35.
*The ballad Thomas The Rhymer, or True Thomas as it is also known, is one of my favourite ballads. The quote above is from the version that the folk group Steeleye Span sing. It’s the Queen of Elfland showing True Thomas the road to Elfland. The version I have in my Penguin Book of Ballads is like this:
“And see not ye that bonny road,
Which winds about the fernie brae?
That is the road to fair Elfland,
Where you and I this night maun gae.”**
** The Penguin Book of Ballads (Penguin Books, 1975).
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A great piece of flash fiction, Joanne.
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Thank you 🙂
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Brilliant. And you didn’t even know that Thomas the Rhymer has long been one of my favourite songs of the ilk, and particularly as performed by Steeleye Span. Reading your take on it sent shivers through me. 🙂
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I did wonder if you liked Thomas the Rhymer too when I was writing it 🙂
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I am so transparent in my musical tastes? So, what’s you opinion on Omnia, and Damh the Bard?
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I don’t know those. I’m going to have to look them up. But I was glad you had a reaction to my flash fiction.
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Tingled and shivered.
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Cute story! I hope he enjoys his time in faerie.
When I first read the title of your post, I read “Efland,” which is a town in my state, haha.
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Great take on the image Joanne, enjoyed it very much.
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Thanks 🙂
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