Legend of Princess Allerleirauh

Once upon a time there was a princess named Allerleirauh.

Once a happy girl she lived happily alongside her father, the King, and mother, the Queen.

But once her mother fell ill and her father promised only to marry someone with her golden locks.

For years they searched but no one could find such a woman. The Kingdom fell into despair.

The King driven to madness by grief and sorrow let his glorious Kingdom fall into disrepair.

A vile viscount of ambitious aspirations made a bid for the crown of the downtrodden ruler.

He wanted to take all from the Kingdom; to have everything he would he would pilfer and butcher

All of those in the Kingdom.

Allerleirauh was to be married to the Viscount in an attempt to reestablish the Kingdom and continue the royal lineage.

Knowing of the Viscount’s intentions for her beloved home; she formulated a plan.

Stoutly refusing any offer of marriage, she told the Viscount,

“I will require gifts for my dowry if I am to comply with any engagement.”

First, she asked for a dress made of golden sun.

Once it was given to her, the Viscount asked, “Will you marry me now?”

She said that, “No, I will require much more than this.”

Later she took the dress to Kingdom’s goldsmith and made it into gold coins,

and handed one to each of her people who all thanked her.

Second, she asked for a dress made of starlight.

Once it was given to her, the Viscount asked, “Will you marry me now?”

She said that, “No, I will require much more than this.”

Later she split the dresses seams to give light to all of the homes of her people who all thanked her.

Third, she asked for a dress made of silver moonbeams.

Once it was given to her, the Viscount asked, “Will you marry me now?”

She said that, “No, I will require much more than this.”

Later she took the dress to the the Kingdom’s silversmith and made it into plates, “If you need food or water bring this to the palace and they shall know that you are welcome,” she told her people who all thanked her as she handed out the plates.

The viscount was livid.

His plans to woo the princess were draining more time and money than he had expected.

Angrily he demanded the princess marry him immediately.

She told him that he would do so soon, as long as she was given her last request.

Lastly, she asked for a coat made of a thousand furs.

Once it was given to her, the Viscount asked, “Will you marry me now?”

She said that, “Yes, but first I must seek the blessings of my people.”

Later with tears in her eyes, she went to her people

and gave them each a blanket made from one of the furs from her coat,

they all thanked her.

The night before the wedding with a remaining part of the coat,

Allerleirauh escaped into the depths of the night.

The people, upon seeing their beloved princess gone, revolted.

The Viscount was beheaded and a search began for Allerleirauh

Weeks past but the princess could not be found

But every night a golden haired nymph could be seen her gown glowing

She came and tucked the children in bed and left covering her beauty with a fur coat

Eventually the village hunters came across the woman in the coat

They took her in and fed her and cared for her

The woman cried, “My people you have been so good to me!”

And revealed her true self as she removed her coat

Revealing a dress of ethereal beauty made of starlight, moonbeam, and sunny gold

She was pronounced Queen, not for her Royal lineage nor her fair brow

But for the love she had shown her people

She reigned rising above the rocky road any leader faces

And led her people to prosperity and happiness.