Tales of Beedle the Bard
The Fountain of Fair Fortune from: Tales Tales of B eedle the Bard Characters: Narrator 1 Narrator 2 Asha Athelda Amanta Sir Luckless White Worm
Athelda: I, Athelda, have been robbed robbed of my home, my gold, and my wand by and evil sorcerer. sorcerer. I hope that the fountain might relieve me of my powerlessness and poverty. Amanta: I, Amanta, have been deserted deserted by a man whom I love dearly, dearly, and I think my heart will never mend. I hope the fountain will relieve me of my grief and longing. Narrator 1: Pitying each other, other, the three women agreed that,
Narrator 1: High on a hill in an enchanted garden, enclosed by tall
should chance befall them, they would unite and try to reach the
walls and protected by strong magic, flowed the Fountain of Fair
Fountain together.
Fortune.
Narrator 2:The sky was rent with the first ray of sun, and a chink
Narrator 2: Once a year, between the hours of sunrise and sunset
in the wall opened. The crowd surged forward, each of them
on the longest day, a single unfortunate was given the chance to
shrieking their claim for the Fountain’s benison. Creepers from the
fight their way to the Fountain, bathe in its waters, and receive
garden beyond snaked through the pressing mass, and twisted
Fair Fortune forevermore.
themselves around the witch, Asha. She grasped the wrist of the
Narrator 1: On the appointed day, hundreds of people traveled
second witch, Altheda, who seized tight upon the robes of the
from all over the kingdom to reach the garden walls before dawn.
third witch, Amata.
Male and female, rich and poor, poor, young and old, of magical means
Narrator 1: And Amata became caught upon the armour of a
and without, they gathered in the darkness, each hoping that
dismal-looking knight, who was seated on a bone-thin horse.
they would be the one to gain entrance to the garden.
Narrator 2: The creepers tugged the three witches through the
Narrator 2: Three witches, each with her burden of woe, met on
chink in the wall, and the knight was dragged of his steed after
the outskirts of the crowd and told on another of their sorrows as
them.
they waited for sunrise.
Narrator 1: the furious screams of the disappointed throng rose
Asha: I, Asha, am sick of a malady no healer healer can cure. I hope that the Fountain can banish my symptoms and grant me a long
upon the morning air, air, then fell sil ent as the garden walls sealed once more.
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Narrator 2: Asha and Althea were angry with Amata, who had
Sir Luckless: We shall do no such thing, oversized worm! (sword
accidentally brought along the knight.
sfx)
Asha: Only one can bathe in the Fountain! It will be hard enough
Altheda: Eat rocks! (sfx)
to decide which of us it will be, without adding another!”
Asha: Expeliarmus! (sfx)
Sir Luckless: Now, sir Luckless, as the knight was known in the
Amata: Incarcerous! (sfx)
land outside the walls, observed that these were witches, and,
Asha: Confringo! (sfx)
having no magic, nor any great skill at jousting or duelling with swords, nor anything that distinguisehed the non-magical man,
Sir Luckless: (sfx) oh dear! My blade has snapped in two. Altheda: this is no use!
was sure that he had no hope of beating the three women to the
Narrator 2: The rock, the spells, and the swords were of no use,
Fountain. He therefore declared his intention of withdrawing
the worm would not let them pass. The sun rose higher and
outside the walls again.
higher in the sky and Asha, despairing, began to weep.
Narrator 1: At this, Amata became angry, too. Amata: Faint heart! Draw your sword, Knight, and help us reach
Asha: *weeps* Narrator 1: Then the great worm placed its face upon hers and
our goal!
drank the tears from her cheeks (sfx). Its thirst assuaged, the
Narrator 2: And so the three witches and the forlorn knight
worm slithered aside (sfx), and vanished into a hole in the
ventured forth into the enchanted garden, where rare herbs, fruit,
ground.
and flowers, grew in abundance on either side of the sunlit paths.
*cue cheering*
They met no obstacle until they reached the foot of the hill on
Narrator 2: Rejoicing at the Worm’s disappearance, the three
which the fountain stood.
witches and the knight began to climb the hill, sure that they
Narrator 1: There, however, wrapped around the base of the hill,
would reach the Fountain before noon.
was a monstrous white Worm, bloated and blind. At their
Narrator 1: Halfway up the steep slope, however, they came
approach it turned a foul face upon them and uttered the
across words cut into the ground before them:
following words; White Worm: Pay me the proof of your pain.
Amata: Pay me the fruit of your labours. Sir Luckless: will this coin suffice?
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Narrator 2: Sir Luckless took out his only coin and placed it upon
then tried to leap the brook themselves, but it would not let them
the grassy hillside, but it rolled away and was lost.
cross, and all the whil e the sun was sinking lower in the sky.
Narrator 1: The three witches and the knight continued to climb
Narrator 1: So they fell to pondering the meaning of the stone’s
but though they walked for hours more, they advanced not a
message, and Amata was the first to understand. Taking her
step; the summit came no nearer, and still the inscription lay in
wand, she drew from her mind all the memories of happy times
the earth before them.
she had spent with her vanished lover, and dropped them into the
Narrator 2: All were discouraged as the sun rose over their heads
rushing waters. The stream swept them away, and stepping
and began to sink toward the far horizon, but Altheda walked
stones appeared and the three witches and the knight were able
faster and harder than any of then and exhorted the others to
to pass at last onto the summit of the hill.
follow her example, though she moved no farther up the hill.
Narrator 2: The Fountain shimmered before them, set amidst
Altheda: Courage, friends, and do not yield!
herbs and flowers rarer and more beautiful than any they had yet
Narrator 1: As the drops fell glittering onto the earth, the
seen. The sky burned ruby, and it was time to decide which of
inscription blocking their path vanished, and they found that they
them would bathe.
were able to move upward once more.
Narrator 1: Before they could make their decision, however, frail
Narrator 2: Delighted by the removal of thi s second obstacle, they hurried toward the summit as fast as they could until at last they
Asha fell to the ground. Exhausted by their struggle to the summit, she was close to death.
glimpsed at the Fountain, glittering like crystal in a bower of
Altheda: Asha!
flowers and trees.
Amata: we should carry her to the Fountain.
Narrator 1: Before they could reach it, however, they came to a
Asha: no, please. The pain is unbearable, do not touch me, I beg
stream that ran around the hilltop, barring their way. In the depths of the clear water lay a smooth stone bearing the words; Asha: Pay me the treasure of your past. Narrator 2: Sir Luckless attempted to float across the strem on his shield, but it sank. The three witches pulled him from the water,
you. Altheda: I know, the herbs may be of help. Sir Luckless, lend me your gourd of water, please. Sir Luckless: Aye. Amata: quickly pour it in Asha’s mouth.
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Narrator 2: At once, Asha was able to stand. What was more, all
none of them ever knew or suspected that the Fountain’s waters
symptoms of her dread malady had vanished.
carried no enchantment at all.
Asha: I am cured! I have no need of the fountain-let Altheda bathe! Altheda: If I can cure this disease, I shall earn gold aplenty! Let Amata bathe! Sir Luckless: My lady, please do. Amata: No, good sir. The stream had washed away all regret for my lover. I see now that he had been cruel and faithless, and that it is happiness enough to be rid of him. Good sir, you must bathe, as a reward for your chivalry. Narrator 1: So the knight clanked for in the last rays of the setting sun, and bathed in the Fountain of Fair Fortune, astonished that he was the chosen one of hundreds and giddy with his incredible luck. Narrator 2: As the sun fell below the horizon, Sir Luckless emerged from the waters with the glory of his triumph upon him, and flung himself in his rusted armour at the feet of Amata. Sir Luckless: My dear lady, you are the kindest and most beautiful women I have ever beheld. I beg for your hand and heart. Narrator 1: Amata, no less delighted, realised that she had found a man worthy of them. Narrator 2: The three witches and the knight set off down the hill together, arm in arm, and al l four led long and happy lives, and
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