A Tale of Two Sisters

Once upon a time, in the kingdom of Valamire, twin sisters came into the world. Fern and Fawn. They weren’t identical; Fern had raven black hair, and Fawn’s hair was golden.  Fern was the firstborn and considered herself the oldest, so she had assumed authority over Fawn. Fawn is gentle and kind, as well as unassuming. She willingly gave in to Fern’s demands. Their mother was happy the girls didn’t argue or fight and seldom saw any need for correction. On the other hand, their grandmother didn’t approve of either’s attitude but viewed them as character flaws. When the girls were approaching eight years of age, she addressed the issue with their mother.

Grandmother put down her porcelain teacup and cleared her throat. “Helena, dear. I have to say that I disapprove of how you handle your daughters.” Helena’s hand flew to her chest as she gasped, “Mother! How can you say such a thing? My girls are perfect! They don’t argue or bicker!  They get along sensationally.”

Grandmother closed her eyes and bowed her head. “Helena, I’m not criticizing you.  I’m not even criticizing the twins. It’s just that I see something in their personalities that I perceive as harmful. I believe because you love them you don’t see the situation as I do.” 

Folding her arms across her chest, Helena jutted out her chin. “ And just what is it about their personalities that is so dangerous?” Grandmother sighed and paused to think. “Well, for one thing, I think Fern is too domineering and manipulative. I see that Fawn is gentle and passive to the point of being submissive. Neither of these traits is good.”

Helena knitted her brows together. “How can I change that? They are who they are, aren’t they?” Grandmother smiled, “Not necessarily. What I would like to do is to take the girls with me and teach them a trade. That way, they will have to work together and perhaps, in doing so, they will learn to appreciate one another more.”

Helena thought about it for a minute. “If you think it will do some good, then I suppose we can try your plan. What trade do you have in mind?”  

Grandmother smiled, “Mine.”

“Yours! You mean potions?”

“Yes. And what’s wrong with that? The girls will learn a useful craft. They’ll also learn all the different uses for the forest and meadow plants needed to be a good…” 

Helena burst in, “Don’t say it! All I ask is for you to be very careful, that’s all.” Grandmother smiled and nodded. “I will.”

                                                                     …

Granny’s lovely little cottage is located just outside of the kingdom. It sits on the edge of the forest by a mountain stream that runs into a meadow, finally emptying into a crystal clear pond. The twins loved Granny’s house. It was full of strange and exciting things. 

Granny informed the twins, “We’ll get the boring part out of the way first!”   She proceeded to drop three hefty ancient potion tomes down on the table with a mighty thud. The girls coughed as dust filled the room. “Granny! If you use these books to make potions, why are they so dusty?” Granny cackled. “Oh goodness, girls.  I don’t read them no more.” She taps her temple. “I’ve got them all up here!” The two girls’ jaws drop as they turn to look at one another. “Memorized? How many potions are there?” Granny scratched her chin and pulled out a long whisker. Wincing, she answered, “Oh, about a thousand, I suppose.” The girls’ eyes widened as they looked back from their grandmother to the books. Granny reprimanded, “Oh, don’t look so surprised. You’ll learn a little at a time and one book at a time. That way, by the time you’re my age, you will have them memorized, too!” She cackled again.

It’s not all reading and memorization for the girls. Granny takes them on plenty of what she calls ingredient hunts. The twins love these forays into the forest. They see plenty of woodland animals, wildflowers, and beautiful vistas. They gather plants and flowers that are good for healing wounds, tree bark that helps with aches and pains, and roots that encourage sleep. Constipation was the ailment the girls found humorous when they learned what it meant.

Granny’s plan was working for the most part, but Fern still forced her will on Fawn. For her part, Fawn established an attitude of passive-aggressiveness to accomplish her own will. Granny wasn’t entirely happy with it but considered it an improvement.

The years passed swiftly as the girls grew into lovely young ladies. They quickly identify St. John’s Wort, Monk’s Beard, and many other plants, roots, and mushrooms. But when it came to preparing the potions, Fawn was best. No matter how often Granny reprimanded her, Fern would rush the process.

“Fern! Slow down and read the recipe. It tells you right there that the preparation time is fifteen minutes. Watch the amounts! In this potion, you must use just the tip of a field mouse’s tail. You threw in the whole thing! If you don’t follow the directions, it won’t work. Too little, and it will be weak. Too much, and you may have harmful side effects that can’t be reversed. That’s why Fawn’s potions come out perfect every time.”  Fern would roll her eyes and puff out her cheeks. And, as a result, would come down harder on poor Fawn.

One day, news arrived at the cottage that the kingdom potioneer had died, and they were taking applications for a replacement. To qualify, one had to make a potion that was harmless and pleasing to the Queen, especially if it were a beauty or invigorating one.

Granny hitched Bernard the burro to her small two-wheeled cart and filled it with the necessary staples. When they arrived in the kingdom, a small group of folks, mostly men, had gathered for the position. They were milling about and chatting among themselves, but all that stopped once they saw the twins.  They saw the girls’ beauty and knew the King’s fancy for pretty women. They felt their chances slip to nil.

The contestants entered a kitchen where they would make their potions. They were given half an hour to concoct and present their offering before the Queen. As usual, Fern was done ahead of the time allotted and started to fret. She feared her potion wasn’t good enough and that Fawn would win.

 Everyone’s small measure of brew was in a line on the table with their name tag in front of each vial. Fern knocked a spoon on the floor to distract Fawn and ordered her to pick it up. When Fawn did so, Fern switched the vials.

Trumpets blared as the Queen entered the room.  Starting at one end of the table, she sipped each potion as she went. Sometimes, she’d lift her eyebrows and nod approvingly. Others, she’d scrunch up her nose and push the potion away.  Her face lit up when she tasted Fern’s drink, and her eyes sparkled! The Queen enthusiastically drank the rest of the potion. “ I declare this competition over! I have found my new potioneer!” 

Fern curtsied and addressed the Queen, “Your Highness, if I may. I would like to have my twin sister as my assistant. We have worked together since we were young, and I don’t know what I’d do without her.” The Queen smiled sweetly. “Of course. Whatever you need just ask.” Fawn stared at Fern with one brow raised and the corner of her mouth curled upward. She considered refusing the offer but decided to stay to observe the outcome.

A short while later, they received an order from the Queen that there would be a banquet in honor of her sister, Princess Maryann. The Princess had just given birth to a son, so a celebration was in order. The Queen wanted the same potion she had first tasted, making her feel so happy and lively.

Fern summoned Fawn and, in her boss-like manner, informed Fawn she would need to gather all the necessary ingredients to make the potion. An amused smile slid across Fawn’s lips. One that she tried to conceal.

Glancing away from Fern, Fawn stated, “I’m going to the forest on behalf of one of the King’s servants. I shall gather everything you need then.”  Fawn’s tone was different. There was something in her voice that Fern did not trust. It sounded suspiciously like that passive-aggressive tone Fawn had adopted, so she sent another assistant to accompany Fawn.  Taking the woman to one side, she whispered,  “If you see an item you’re not sure of, ask.”

Fawn rushed through the forest, quickly plucking up the items she needed for two potions but placed them in separate baskets. The poor helper could barely keep up and, pointing to the basket on the right, asked, “Pardon me, Miss. But what is that you’ve just put in the basket?”Fawn feigned, “ Hum? What?” Then, without turning to see which basket the helper was referring to, she said, “Oh, that’s “hen in the woods.”  But before the helper could ask about the other basket, Fawn cut her off, “I’m done here. We must hurry back to prepare the potions. Time is of the essence.”

Fawn placed the two baskets on Fern’s work counter and left. Fern entered, saw the two baskets, and then called the assistant she sent with Fawn. “Tell me, did you see anything suspicious put into the baskets?”

“ I only had one chance to ask a question. I asked her what she had placed in the righthand basket, and she told me it was “hen in the woods.” Fern looked at the cinnamon and gray colored mushroom and decided that it must be the hen in the woods mushroom. She then used that basket to prepare the potion.

The dining hall was full as Fern entered with a decanter of her potion for the Queen.

“Your Majesty, I have brought the potion you desired.” Fern then proceeded to pour a cordial glass for the Queen. The Queen lifted the glass in anticipation of the enjoyable potion, only to frown. “I don’t understand. It tastes different, a bit bitter.” The Queen had no sooner said this when her right eye fluttered shut while her left eye made large circles in its socket. She began quivering all over until it looked as though she was having a seizure!  The King dropped his wine glass and shot up off his throne. He looked to Fern. “Good God! What is happening to the Queen?"  As everyone stared, the Queen suddenly disappeared into a puff of smoke!  Several of the ladies in waiting screamed.  Some swooned. The dining hall erupted into chaos. The King called for silence. Pointing his quaking finger at the pile of clothes that had been his wife, he demanded, “Fern! What’s the meaning of this?” Fern, in turn, cast a desperate eye on Fawn for help, only to see Fawn shrug.

Suddenly, a strange noise filled the hall.  The King took a hesitant step toward the pile of clothes and saw a green spotted frog with yellow eyes inside the Queen’s crown. “Ribbit! Ribbit!”  With the back of his hand pressed to his forehead, the King staggered backward and fell into his chair.

Fawn calmly stepped forward, “Your Majesty. If I may speak, I think I can explain what happened. “Oh, please, please do! I beg you!” the King gasped.

“A few days ago, Fern told me to go and get the ingredients to make the potion for the Queen. I told her I would go but would also get some ingredients for one of your servants, who was exhausted due to his neighbor’s dog. The man’s dog was barking day and night and, no matter how much the servant complained, the man did nothing about it. That’s when I decided to concoct the “dog-to-frog” mixture. This mixture is only temporary, but I thought it would frighten the dog’s owner enough that he would be forced to comply. I left the two baskets on the preparation table, knowing my sister would realize which basket was hers.  Truthfully, I’m surprised she made such a simple mistake!” Fawn turned to Fern, “After all, you made the potion before, right?” Fern remained mute for some time. Eyes downcast, she responded in a low voice, “No. On the day of the competition, I switched vials with you when you weren’t looking.” The King’s eyes stormed. “What! You’re saying that you cheated?” Fern whispered, “Yes, your Highness, I did.”  “Fawn, “said the King. “I did hear you say the effect is only temporary. Please say it’s so!” Fawn smiled, Yes, it is true. And by the amount the Queen drank, I say she is due to return to normal any minute now.”

The King boomed! “Fern! I’m replacing you with your sister and banishing you from my kingdom forever! Guards! Take her away!”   To Fawn, he asked, “How is it that you came to prepare such a mixture as the “dog to frog” in the first place?” Fawn smiled, ‘It’s because we’re witches. We’ve learned thousands of recipes.”  The King nodded his head. “So, there won’t be any lingering side effects to this one, will there?” Fawn reassured him there wouldn’t be, just as the Queen’s clothes began to stir. Then, in a second cloud of smoke, “Poof!” The Queen returned to normal. All the people in the banquet hall stood and applauded as the confused Queen asked, “What happened?” The King patted her hand, “Oh, nothing, dear. You must have dozed off for a moment.”

 The evening continued as if nothing had occurred. The Queen scooped up a fork full of potatoes and noticed a fly sitting on them.  Her eyes focused as they had never focused before. The Queen took in every detail of the fly. She watched him rub his back legs together and then clean his wings. She slowly drew him closer as he washed his front legs and rubbed them on his head. Still, she drew him closer, watching him sit on the snowy white mountain of mashed potatoes with melted butter oozing down. The fly looked so big and fat. The Queen inhaled a deep breath of air and held it. She moved the fly closer still! She moistened her lips before parting them! Then suddenly, she blew him away. Turning to a servant, she asked, “Could you bring me another fork, please?”