OK, so it became Tuesday... (It's not my fault, I had a three-day weekend because yesterday was bevrijdingsdag, liberation day.)
Rhiannon, I have an answer, but I feel the need to somehow apologise for it. I don't think it would be fair to say: this isn't my fault, this is what the cards came up with, because all the cards do is give me three words. I then sit and wait until they turn into a story. If you understand the story, you know the answer to the question. I could try and give you just the interpretation, which might be something along the lines of: "don't sell yourself too cheaply" or "appearances can be deceptive", but that would not cover it even nearly. I have to give you the story as it was given to me, even though it is a bit... nasty. I believe I mentioned this experiment has to do with Faeries. I'm sure you understand you can't expect them to be nice, especially when they're being helpful. I hope they are helpful, and not just nasty. It's hard to tell sometimes... Anyway, here is your story.
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The sons of Stallion
A young woman walked through an outstretched forest, and came upon a dappled mare. It was one of the finest horses she had ever seen, and carefully, she approached it. The beast did not have any trappings, but it was perfectly friendly, and even allowed her to climb onto its back.
What the girl did not kow was that the mare had strayed from the herds of Hengest, who was widely known for his fine horses, and his jealousy of them. When he saw a stranger sitting on his prize mare, his blood boiled with rage. Like a stampede he came thundering down the hillside, and, terrified, the girl sent the mare into a gallop. "Thief!"it thundered behind her, and Hengest pursued her in the guise of a horse. He overtook the mare, dragged the girl to the ground and forced himself on her.
This was her punishment for trespassing, and the bore the result with shame, but without complaint. Three sons she had; one had the head of a horse, the second had a tail and legs of a horse, but the third was perfect, and grew up to be a handsome boy. Him she loved most dearly, and she could not refuse him anything.
One day, he announced he wanted to meet his father. She warned him against him, told him he was a savage man, she begged and pleaded to stay at home with her, but he was fast decided. Finally, she told him where he could find him. Three times she reminded him not to touch his father's horses, but her son paid no heed and set off to find his father.
He came to his farm, and greeted him. "Father, I am your son. Years ago a young woman stole one of your horses, and she is my mother. Do not forget the sacred bonds of blood and let me have one of your steeds as my inheritance."
Hengest laughed whole-heartedly and said: "If you are my son, I will not deny you this gift, but I must have proof. When I met your mother she woare a gold ring around her neck; bring me this ring and you may choose any horse from my herd."
The son returned to his mothr and asked for the ring. "No my son, I cannot give you that," she answered. "It belonged to my grandmother, who got it from her grandmother, who was a fairy child. It has protected our family for generations. Ask me for anything but this." But he would have no other gift, and in the end, she gave it to him.
He returned to Hengest and handed him the ring. In return, he could have his pick of proud strong horses from the herd. He picked a tall black stallion, and rode it home as swift as the wind. "Mother," he called outside her door. She came out, and seeing him high and mighty on that beautiful animal made her heart swell with pride, and with grief, for she knew at once he would leave her for good.
His brothers had come out too, and now tried to persuade him to stay. "You cannot leave us now, who will take care of your mother? My brother and I are misshapen, who will hire us, who will protect us?"
But the third son had a high destiny to fulfill. He took leave of his mother and rode away, leaving her with her two misshapen sons, alone and heartbroken.
