Storytelling for Week 11: Man's Best Friend

(Greyhound In An Extensive Landscape. Web Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Prince Llewelyn's horn blew signaling that it was time for Gellert to join his master for a hunt. Gellert jumped to his feet from his cozy resting area on the porch and gave a long stretch. Just as he was about to race towards the origin of the horn, Gellert saw a large shadow  in his peripheral vision. With his attention diverted, Gellert trotted over to where he had seen the swift shadow.

Gellert arrived at the corner of the house just in time to see a course brown tail disappearing into his master's home.

Just then, the prince blew the horn again and shouted Gellert's name. Gellert knew that he would be in trouble for not responding to this call, but the creature that had just entered the house was of more importance.

Gellert bravely rushed into the house in pursuit. He searched and searched, but was having no luck until a loud crash came from the second story. Gellert bounded up the stairs frantically. His master's one year old son was in his nursery on the second story and that crash could have been nothing else but the sound of his cradle falling to the floor.

Gellert burst into the infant's room to see the young boy hiding under his over turned crib screaming in fear. Across from the boy was a large snarling wolf gazing hungrily at the child.

Gellert leap on top of the beast with bared fangs and sunk his teeth into the wolf's neck. The battle lasted several minutes with injuries being inflicted upon both four legged animals. Finally, the wolf lay dead and Gellert stood over it's body with a grin. He had saved his master's son. His best friend would be so proud of him.

Moments later, Gellert heard the fast beats of a horse's hooves. The hunt was over and his master was home! Gellert could not wait to show his master what he did! He raced down the stairs, out of the house, and when right up to his master's feet.

Prince Llewelyn leap back from Gellert in fear and the dog coward at his master's feet in utter confusion.

Author's Note: My story is based off of the tale Beth Gellert from the Celtic Fairy Tales Unit. In the original story, we read from the prince's point of view. When the prince arrives home from his unsuccessful hunt, he is mad at Gellert for not joining him. When Gellert comes bounding up to the prince in greeting, he is unaware that he is dripping with the wolf's blood. Since the prince had no idea why Gellert was covered in blood, he is fearful of his favorite greyhound. The prince then follows the trail of blood all the way back to his son's room. In the room, all the prince sees is an over turned crib, a large amount of blood, and a missing child. In a moment of utter panic, the prince places the blame of what he perceives as being his son's murder on Gellert and then kills the dog. Once Gellert is already dead, the prince hears his son cry out and then sees the dead wolf. He realizes that he just killed his best friend and the animal that had actually saved his son's life. My tale gives the story from Gellert's prospective all the way up until he greets his master.

Bibliography: "Beth Gellert," by Joseph Jacobs from Celtic Fairy Tales