Member-only story
FICTION | FAIRYTALE | MONSTERS
The Monster Who Followed the Rules.
An unedited fairytale.
On the first morning of October, after he was done feasting on villagers Grendel the Ogre smiled to himself. Between the cracking of bones and the slurping of brains, he learned of a princess who wished to marry a great and fearsome monster. “I am an Orge. A perfect match!” Grendel declared, wiping a scrap of intestine from his lips. So, he left his lonely cave deep in the forest and journeyed to claim the princess’s hand.
Before long, he came upon a small village. With a mighty bellow, he terrified the people, seizing an old woman in his hairy grip in the panic. “I am Grendel, the dreaded ogre! Tell me the way to Castle Hagway!”
“Wait, stop! Don’t eat me!” The trembling woman cried out, “Because I can tell you, great ogre, about the princess you seek. You should know she will never have you looking like that.”
Grendel frowned. “Why not?”
“Well, you are too fearsome! We flee at the sight of you. She will be no different and drive you away. But, if you spare my family, I can share a secret to winning her heart.”
Grendel agreed resting the old woman on the ground, and she whispered her advice. That night, he snapped off his gnarled horns and…
