Once upon a time, although this isn't really a fairy tale, there is no romantic story or significant happy ending. The story begins in a faraway land, in a small kingdom surrounded by a forest. At the center of which was a humongous tree; said to protect all the creatures and people within the kingdom.

 

The very center of the tree was referred to by the people as "the mother's heart" and was said to have magical properties which promised power and protection to anyone that possessed the jewel that was nestled in the heart of the tree. Many tried to secure the jewel, but most ended up dead for the fierce magic that was rumored to surround the jewel and the tree itself.

 

No one was sure what this magic was; some said it was a humongous dragon, others said it was a fearsome witch, but no one could agree exactly what power protected the mother's heart.

 

One day a man sent his sons into the woods to retrieve the heart. The boys searched all day and well into the night before they came to the heart of the forest. There in a clearing surrounded by a crystal clear pool was the mother's heart. It was a bright red jewel big enough to fit comfortably in the palm of a man's hand, secluded on a small island. The boys watched from the bank of the pool with wide eyes, neither of them knew what would happen if they approached the mother's heart, there were only rumors; stories over many years they had to go on.

 

Finally, they plucked up the courage and began to cross the pool. They were about halfway across when a witch blocked their path. She was dressed in dark clothes with matted hair and a thin face. No one looking at her could determine her age nor was she ugly or beautiful simply whichever side she chose to show through her magical abilities.

 

"What brings you here?" She asked in a low voice.

 

The older boy spoke up.

 

"My family is poor, we seek the provision of the mother's heart!"

 

The witch seemed to consider this.

 

"Very well, if you can take it you may have it. Then I will know you are worthy of it."

 

Encouraged, the boys began to run towards the island. They were only a few steps away when a humongous dragon rose from the pool which had now become the size of a large lake. Water was quickly rising around the young boys and they could barely keep their heads above water. Still, the older boy fought his way through swimming under the water and through the dragon's legs. He reasoned if he could reach the jewel without the dragon noticing he and his brother would be safe.

 

This task proved to be harder than he thought and it took him several minutes before his hand closed over the jewel, which he tucked safely in his vest. He barely made it back to the shore while the dragon raged and roared spraying fire and water everywhere. The older son was lucky having escaped with his life.

 

It was only after the water calmed the older brother realized his younger brother was nowhere to be seen.

 

"Where is my younger brother?" He asked the witch who had since reappeared at the edge of the pool.

 

"In your haste you failed to see that your brother has drowned." The witch replied calmly.

 

The older brother, distraught, wailed and wept bitterly. Then heartbroken he returned home.

 

 

A short time later,  the older brother told his father what had happened. Like his older son the father wailed and grieved for his younger son. Upon seeing the mother's heart he suddenly became enraged.

 

"What is provision and protection worth if it has cost me the life of my youngest son?"

 

The next morning the father returned to the heart of the forest the mother's heart in his hand. Once there, he hid it in the hollow of a nearby tree. A tree deep in the forest which was hidden by roots and vines a place he was sure no one could get to. He was sure if he hid away the heart no one would ever find it and no one would ever befall the tragedy that he had experienced.