Sunday Photo Fiction is a weekly challenge presented by my old friend Al Forbes.
The idea is to write a short story (200 word max) inspired by what you see in his picture (below).
When I saw Al’s photo today I started to sing, quite badly, that old Vera Lynn favourite ‘Girls just want to have fun’.
Or maybe that was someone else, and the Great Dame warbled about bluebirds and things.
Click on this link to enter your tale, and see what others have written.
Copyright Al Forbes
Click on this to hear me read the story.
The Siege
The siege is long and wearisome with too many deaths on each side.
The general looks disbelievingly at the strange little man who says he can get him into the city.
I am a magician, he says, and I am expensive.
Deliver the fortress, says the general, and I will pay your fees.
So he charms the princess in the great tower, but of course is an unwelcome suitor.
He gives her a magic mirror through which he can enter her chamber from the forest below.
He tells the general all is prepared.
He is thrust aside unpaid and the troops pour through.
Anticipating treachery, he has told the princess to turn the mirror.
The attackers plummet into the moat far below.
Soldiers charge from the gates and rout the remainder of the general’s men.
And the magician?
Well, that is me, of course.
I am rewarded with the only thing I ever craved.
The hand of my beloved princess.
Sound Bite Fiction 
I love a happy ending! 🙂 And I love the audio feature you have included! Read me a story! 🙂
LikeLike
Of course, dear lady, my pleasure:
LikeLike
This is a true classic fairy tale, C.E. Good triumphed and evil paid the price for bad behavior. I feel sorry for the poor soldiers, though following such an evil leader. Good writing yet again. 🙂 — Suzanne
LikeLike
I love this fairytale with quite a bit of reality in it. A clever magician indeed and a terrible general, not worth his word. Happy the magician got what he most desired and their land is safe.
LikeLike
Hi Amanda, I somehow managed to miss your comment here, my apologies.
Yes, I don’t do a lot of happy endings, do I, so enjoy this one while you can!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha I did. I figured out how to do sound on an iPad app. It allows me to do what you said all in the one app. So thanks for your help. I have done a couple poems with audio. Hugs
LikeLike
You have written a happy ending! Are you ill?! I love the idea of the Rapunzel -like figure dwelling in that house. Great story 🙂
LikeLike
Laughing, Angie, thank you for that!
Bouncing with health (apart from the non-functioning paw).
Glad you enjoyed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLike
Great fairy tale read to this, and great story telling voice 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you, Helen, you are very kind.
It is nice when all the elements are appreciated.
LikeLike
Dear CE,
This story has ut all, treachery, intrigue, magic and romance. Happy to see you wrote a protagonist who realized the desire of his heart. I love to hear you read.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLike
Thank you, m’lady, happy you found so much to please you in my little tale.
And there is not much point in writing fiction if I can’t get the gal occasionally, is there?
Let that be a lesson to Pinky!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha you got the girl. Have you been approached for the film rights? Maybe Pixar would be interested 🙂
LikeLike
Yes, how about that, puts me one up on my alter ego and his Saturday Sob!
I am expecting a call from Harvey Weinstein any day now.
Ask Graham to give him a nudge, would you?
LikeLiked by 1 person
He’s on the other line. I’ll tell him later
LikeLike
Well, you can’t say the general didn’t deserve that. Had a sniff of the Arthurian about it, this one – didn’t Merlin bewitch Arthur’s mother so Uther could do his wicked business with her?
Loved the twist and the use of mirrors. They’re supernatural things, mirrors, reflecting a version of the world, but not quite the world. Magical stuff.
Love your wizard – smart, ruthless and a romantic at heart! Great story, C 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you, Lynn, I love Arthurian legend, wizards and mirrors, so it is fun to weave them all together.
And you have spotted my darkest secret, a romantic at heart!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Will a dark romance be next on the cards then? Murder, intrigue and a hot love story thrown in? 🙂
LikeLike
That’s awesome. I love it. Plenty of death there as well so you didn’t miss that out 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s okay, Al, you can laugh now, no mirrors were hurt in the creation of this story.
LikeLiked by 1 person