Chapter Text
Once upon a time, in a small village, there lived an aging father and his three children. They were very poor, as the father had lost much of his fortune when one of his merchant ships sank. The family struggled for many months, until one day, when the father received word that his sunken ship's cargo had been retrieved, meaning he must make the journey to retrieve it.
* * * * *
Jimmy was going to miss his father. Though he knew it would be for the benefit of the family if he went, Jimmy had grown accustomed to his father always being present. He sighed and shook his head, knowing that regaining their fortune was worth a few days without seeing Father.
"Children, I shall be going now! Is there anything you three should want while I'm in town?" Father laced his boots tightly to his feet, and housed his pack on his shoulder for the journey.
"Oh, Father," Jimmy heard his oldest sibling, Pearl, walk into their front room with a distinct sadness in her gaze "there is no need to get me anything. But, if you're offering, I am in need of a new dress."
Grian, Jimmy's second oldest sibling, had previously been sitting on an armchair, reading a book, but perked up when he heard Pearl's request.
"May I have a new pair of fine boots Father?," Grian requested, "for mine are so old and faded, and severely out of fashion."
Father laughed, a warm booming thing, "Of course you two may have these fine things! I will do my best to see to it! And what about you, Jimmy? What do you want from town?"
Jimmy stood there silently for a moment, thinking about what he could possibly ask for. He could ask for a new coat, or a pair of gloves, but he really didn't need either of those things. After what felt like an eternity, he spoke.
"All I want is for you to return safely Father."
"Nonsense Jimmy! There must be something else you want?" Father laughed again.
"Fine, then. I want a yellow canary, to be my pet." Jimmy knew that this was a strange answer, but it had a logic to it. Canaries were commonly sold in marketplaces, as the area had many miners and mines. There was bound to be hundreds of canaries for sale in town, and for very low prices as well. It wouldn't send Father far out of his way, or cost him much money.
With that settled, Father opened the door and walked outside, waving goodbye to his children. He braced himself against the blowing winds as he walked away, his view of the house obstructed by the trees.
* * * * *
After making the half-day journey to town, Father was met with a crushing disappointment. The recovered cargo had been stolen by thieves during transport to town, meaning he was still unable to make back the money he had lost. Heartbroken, he started for home, sad that he was not able to buy the gifts he had promised for his beloved children.
As he made his way through the forest on the outskirts of town, a thick snowfall began to pummel down from the sky above. Father was forced to travel slowly, and he became colder and colder as he walked. He was also slowly becoming lost, and at this point was unable to determine where he was. Father thought all hope was lost, when suddenly a large stone castle came into view.
"Perhaps the inhabitants will take pity on me, and let me stay." Father muttered at he walked up to the massive wooden door and knocked.
The door swung open immediately, though strangely Father couldn't see who had opened it. Too cold to pay it any mind, he walked into the large hall and sat beside the fireplace to warm himself.
The walls were covered in large tapestries, and the stonework was the most exquisite Father had ever seen. After warming himself, he decided to roam the halls.
Father glanced into an open room, made curious by a cacophony of tweets and trills in an otherwise eerily silent castle. As he strode into the room, he was struck dumb by what he found.
It was the largest aviary Father had ever seen, with songbirds of all colors and patterns filling the room. Nearby, Father saw a small canary.
"Well, I'm sure the owner won't even know that hes missing one bird, and I'll at least be able to keep my promise to one of my children."
Just as his fingers gently closed around the small bird, he heard a loud voice, booming from behind him.
"What do you think you're doing?"