by
Ambyrhawke Shadowsinger
Copyright © March 11, 2000 Ambyrhawke Shadowsinger
All Rights Reserved
tale. My characters are not based upon any other characters.
Subtext: As I stated above, this is a lesbian faery tale. That means that there are depictions of a loving
relationship between two women. If this offends you, is illegal in your state, or you are under the age of
18, then don?t read it! Alas, for those of you looking for explicit sexual scenes, you won't find it in this
particular tale. If anything I?ve said makes you decide to not read my story, you are free to look for
something else. It?s just too bad for you because you?ll be missing a rather good story.
General Info About the Story: In writing this story, I have attempted to create a feeling of something
from the Middle Ages. In doing so, I have used a more archaic sounding sentence structure than what we
generally read in today?s time. I have also made use of kennings and formulaic adjective phrases
throughout the piece. What are kennings? They are metaphors that are used as nouns and are made up of
two words. One example from the story is the use of ?songsmith? to mean ?bard.? Formulaic adjective
phases are ways of modifying nouns?except that the same phrases are used over and over again, rather
than coming up with something new. They were used to a great extent in epic poetry to help the singers
remember what came next. Ovid used things like ?rosy-fingered dawn? as formulaic adjective phrases?so
?dawn? was always ?rosy-fingered.?
Educational Disclaimer: If you?ve gotten this far, be warned that you just got an English lesson in the
paragraph above.
Dedication: Whether I ever have children or not, one of the many reasons I began this story was because
I want to have something I can read to my future daughters, and that my friends that want or already have
children could read to theirs. I wanted to have a story in which the children could see a couple that looks
like their mommies. In extension, To Melt a Frozen Heart is especially for anyone who reads it to a child
with whom they have some sort of relationship.
Comments may be sent to Ambyrhawke@ambyrhawke.com
Pronunciations
Ælfwynn : 'Ahlf-wen
Ceinwen : 'Cane-wen
Emric : 'Em-rick
chirurgeons : Kie-'ur-gens (doctors)
Once upon a time, there was a small kingdom which had a noble ruler. The king and his queen were
kind and well loved by their people. For many years the gentle-hearted queen remained barren, and the
royal advisors feared there would be no heir to the throne. But the noble king never spoke the smallest
word that would cause distress to his lady, for he loved her more than throne, duty or life itself. She was
his world, and he made sure everyone knew it.
The bard of the realm was a close friend of the king's. They had grown up together and kept their
friendship in spite of their differences in station. The bard and his lady would often spend evenings alone
with the royal couple laughing and singing in the woods where the fae folk gathered.
On one such evening, the four were in the woods with the fae folk listening to the elf bard sing songs in
honour of her wise queen. When she paused for a moment, the king's friend stood and asked if he might
sing a new song of his own, to which the elf queen eagerly agreed. The man sang a beautiful ballad about
the faery ruler which he had toiled on night and day for a full turning of the moon. So delighted was she
with the song that she granted him a boon...anything he desired. The bard looked to his friend. He asked
for his queen to be blessed with a child, that the royal advisors might stop bothering the couple.
This show of love moved the sovereign of the faeries, and she agreed to give not only the mortal queen a
child but also the bard's own wife. At her word, the elf bard knelt before the two women and Sang a
Song of Quickening to their wombs.
Thus it was that in nine month's time, on the same day, both the gentle-hearted queen and the bard's sweet
wife bore baby girls. The bard's daughter came into the world first and was named Ælfwynn, meaning "Elf
joy," for it was the joy of the faery queen which brought about the blessing. The baby princess was named
Ceinwen, meaning "fair and beautiful jewel," for she was as precious as any gem to her parents. Though
the advisors grumbled that the child was not a boy, the noble-minded king proclaimed her the heir
apparent and said the matter was closed for good.
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Ælfwynn and Ceinwen were reared together from the start. At first, it was the king's wish, however, in
time the princess would not tolerate a separation from her friend for long. The two girls spent almost all of
their time together making mischief, climbing trees, or hiding from their nurses. Most nights found them
both sleeping in one or the other's bed.
