The Cobbler's Tale

The cobbler was a quiet, thoughtful man who said very little during our whole journey. He listened carefully to all that was being said, taking much of it to heart. We knew very little of him except for that his thoughtfulness made him to appear a very pretentious man, particularly for lowly status. So when it came time for him to tell his tale, I doubt that any of us were surprised when he began with this following interlude:

Fellow pilgrims, I, unlike many of you have little experience in love and marriage. However, I do know that if one were to be given the chance at true love you wouldn't have the courage to face it. You can defend your honor and say that of course you would have such courage or you can scoff at the very idea of true love, saying how could you, a lowly cobbler, know of such grand romance? Well, I might be lowly but I have seen love pass before my eyes and felt great sorrow for the man who shied from its calling. Take my story as a warning dear pilgrims and perhaps you will have the courage when it is required of you.

Once there was a poor, widowed cobbler whose only joy in life was his work. He had no children or family to speak of and the person closest to him was a lazy apprentice. Despite his misery, the cobbler was a good, honest man. He always charged the right price, made quality work and never cheated his customer. For this reason he was well-known throughout the land. If a passing stranger needed a quick repair he was the one the townsfolk recommended.

One day, while he was working on a pair a boots for the village's baker, the cobbler heard a heavy knocking on his back door. This surprised him for most customers came to the front door. Intrigued, he went to answer the knocking. Outside ...

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...about burning and fire in the square. The cobbler rushed out of his shop to see what was happening. There in the square a large crowd had gathered and were shouting loudly, “Burn her! Burn the witch! Burn her!” The cobbler pushed his way through the crowd to see a tall women tied to a stake over a burning fire. The women was dressed in a heavy outfit of silk and fur. She wore a wide brimmed hat. The cobbler's heart leaped in fear; it was the lady, his lady. Terrified, he looked up to see her eyes staring at him. He tried to cry out but felt as if he could not breath. Just then something hit him in the head, it was the boot he had fashioned for her last year. Slowly he bent down and picked it up. Inside was a note. After reading it he turned back to the gory scene and watched as his lady's face disappeared, as a sunset does, behind the flames of orange.