Valentines Day Short Story Competition Winner!!!!!

I would like to thank all of you that entered, and also Leah Larkspur for helping with the prize!

And the winner is......... wait for it............. Abygayle Wynderas!

Here is her story:

Once upon a time, in a little town called Ambredelle, lived a kindly baker named Samuel. This baker was the most talented baker in all the land. He was so good at baking, in fact, that some said that his talented, caring hands kneaded into the dough his love, making it plump with a special goodness.

Every year, the townspeople of Ambredelle came together to celebrate the Festival of Love, a time where every citizen would show how much they appreciate one another. It became a contest to see who could be the most generous and noble citizen in Ambredelle, and everyone tried to outdo the other.

But this year, something happened that no one ever expected. Something magical that would change the town’s perspective on love forever.

It all started when Bread day came at the bakery. Mabel, the baker’s little daughter, asked her father if she could go on her first bread delivery. Her father agreed, but first had to make the bread. He began to prepare the dough, when he asked Mabel to go down to the cellar and find some flour. Mabel obediently went and found not a bag of flour, but a beautiful silver box. This box was engraved with the intricate symbol of a heart, perfectly etched along its side. When she opened it, she saw the most sparkly white flour she had ever seen. Actually, what she found was not flour but a magic powder given to her great grandmother from a fairy long ago. Not knowing this, she carried it back to her father, and told him she’d found “ special flour” for the bread. Distracted, Samuel began pouring this “ special flour” into the mixture, and stirred it until it was ready to put in the oven. Mabel impatiently waited as the lump grew bigger and browned. Once the bread had risen just right, the baker put it in a basket and handed it to Mabel, charging her to be careful. She assured him she would and then she set off into the bustling streets. The town was alive with color and activity as the day of the festival approached. Colorful streamers hung from every building. Flowers of every kind dressed the windows of the stately cottages. Mabel awed at the spectacle when she spied a beautiful, dark blue butterfly setting itself on a flower. Mabel admired it until it flew off into the street. She started to chase it as it fled towards the poorer part of town. She stopped to catch her breath when she spotted a poor, older boy, starving and alone, leaning against the wall of a house. Mabel felt sorry for him and decided to give him a piece of bread. The boy, Ardley, took it desperately and when he ate it, it was the most wonderful thing he had ever tasted. He felt so strange and so good inside. Joy burst through his heart like a spring, and suddenly he realized he needed that bread. He tricked the girl and fled down the alleyways with the basket, laughing as he went. Running free through the streets, the boy never felt so alive. He wanted to share it, and he knew exactly who to share it with: Gwendolyn. For her, he would do anything for his one true love. Of course his true love wasn’t her, it was a heart shaped necklace made of pure gold. Ever since he saw it, he had been wooing her and charming her until he found something that he knew she couldn’t resist. When he arrived, he knocked at her door and the girl answered, happy to see him. She laughed and joked with the boy until he told the girl he’d brought her some bread. Gwendolyn thought it was nice and told him she didn’t need any more bread, until he told her that the bread was magic. She started to reconsider, and decided to take a bite to prove it. She felt so filled with love and happiness that she agreed to give Ardley anything he wanted. Ardley asked for the necklace, and the girl gave it to him for half a loaf. Triumphant, the boy started to leave, when Gwendolyn asked when he would visit again. Wanting to be done with her, Ardley asked why and she explained that she liked having a friend around. Not sure what to say, Ardley only said he would try. He ran off, wondering if Gwendolyn actually loved him. Suddenly, he felt a little guilty, and kept going on his way. The next day, Ardley woke up in an alley and decided to go for a walk. The town looked more colorful and lively than ever, bustling with activity, getting ready for the Festival. The pawnbrokers were closed for the holiday, so he decided to amuse himself gazing at the festivities. He spotted a girl he used to like and walked up to her, smoothing his hair, asking if she could spare a penny for milk. She refused, saying she was saving it for her boyfriend. Ardley tried to convince her he can be better than him, but the girl wouldn’t buy it. Ardley stopped her from walking away and asked if she wanted something that would make her boyfriend love her forever. She was curious and Ardley gave her a piece of the bread. She felt so good inside that she asked Ardley about what he had wanted, and Ardley smiled mischievously. All through the afternoon, Ardley swindled four more girls until the precious plump of bread was no more than a slice. He decided to save that for later, and he took out his prize necklace to admire it. It sparkled in the sun as he thought about Gwendolyn. He started daydreaming about her pretty face and her beautiful laugh, and stopped, telling himself he was better off without her. Suddenly, a man came up behind him, furious and blaming him for poisoning his daughter. When Ardley denied having anything to do with that, another man showed up, accusing him of the same thing. Soon, an entire mob collected, and Ardley fled outside of town towards the distant hills. When he couldn’t run anymore, he collapsed from exhaustion, and a strange, kind old woman rode by in her wagon and helped the poor child to her hut. She fed him some soup and he asked who she was. She said her name was Wisdom, and that she was an outcast from the town. Ardley wondered why that was, and Wisdom simply told him that she was too ardent on the fact that the town was selfish and that the people only thought about themselves. She told him love was not something you give just so you get something in return, love is free, it is sacrifice. She told Ardley if you love for the wrong reason, you’ll spoil it. Suddenly, he realized what he had done and was ashamed. He not only spoiled the bread, but a chance for true love with Gwendolyn, forever. When he thought this, he heard the sound of people screaming in the distance. He rushed outside to see Ambredelle in flames while Raiders from the North invaded. He had to go down there to save Gwendolyn. He thanked the old lady, and raced down the hill. When he arrived, the town was hazy with smoke and fire. He tried to search for Gwendolyn, but he couldn’t find her. The townspeople were protecting themselves with anything they could find. Axes, hammers, shovels, even throwing cakes for the festival. Ardley found Gwendolyn trapped in an alley while a Raider aimed a spear at her, ready to strike. Without hesitation, Ardley jumped in front of her, and fell. The townspeople drove out the invaders, cheering. They raised their voices in victory until a sudden cry led them to the alley. They saw the girl weeping as the boy lay slumped against the wall, struck by a spear. Grieving, they took off their hats in respect and the old lady came riding up in her wagon. She jumped down and walked towards the weeping girl, put a comforting hand on her shoulder, and said, “The greatest thing any man can do is lay one’s life down for his friends.” Suddenly, Gwendolyn remembered the bread and the magic it held. She gave him his last bit, and waited anxiously. For a moment, it seemed as if he would never wake up, until he did, and the girl kissed the boy and they all cheered. The next day, the town celebrated at the festival and the boy danced with the girl all night. The people gave true gifts of love and repented for all the selfish things they had done. Wisdom remained ever present in the town, even after her dying days. Ardley and Gwendolyn were married, and they were said to be the most loving couple in all the land.