Once upon a time, in the days before The War of Roses, there dwelt in a small hamlet of simple farm folk and sundry tradesmen just nigh of the great forest of the north, a very beautiful and charming maiden of eighteen summers. Fair of skin, buxom of form, and blessed with self-bounty, this sweet maiden's name was Rose. The youngest daughter of a miller, she lived in peace and grace, cherished by her family and her neighbors as a vigorous soul and loyal friend. She was fondly dubbed by those in that shire as 'Red', not only for her lustrous mane of dark red hair, but for a long hooded cloak of red velvet her grandmother had made for her. Thus, she came to be known far and wide as Rose the Red.
Rose dearly loved and cherished her grandmother who lived in another small village to the east, on the other side of a vast and dark forest. She lived alone in her small cottage and wanted for little as friend or neighbor. It was common in those days for Rose to venture to her grandmother's to deliver things or to render aid and perform chores for the dear old woman. Rose was always happy to visit her and spend hours at her side. It was not a tremendous journey and it could be endured quite easily without conflict, except on certain occasions.
For it also happened that within the dark woods between the shire and the village there dwelt a great and terrible wolf. The stories told that the great, black wolf, if wolf it really be, haunted the dark depths of the forest and struck fear in the hearts of both village folk and travelers alike. Not many had seen this great beast. Those who did, spoke of a tremendous black beast, larger than a buck deer and that it sprang from the shadows with the speed of a horse and chased its prey with an unnatural cunning and relentless resolve. No brave huntsman could track it nor armed company capture it for it only haunted the woods at night and then only on nights when the moon showed full. To be certain, all townsfolk and farmer alike dreaded the dark woods on such times, and all who heard the chilling howl of the great wolf cowered in fear and kept their doors bolted against the night.
One late summer's day, her mother called Rose from her morning's chores and bade her take to her grandmother a restorative she had brewed for the old woman's rheumatic ills. Her mother placed the remedy in a strong basket woven of thatch and heather then told Rose to bear it to her grandmother but to tarry naught and be home ere dark for the night of the full moon was upon them. She kitted Rose with her red cloak and nubuck heels then sent her on her way.
It was a beautiful morning as Rose made her way past pastoral hedge and gate with a merry heart. She set herself to pass through the dark woods entirely in daylight and had neither concern of peril nor impasse. She was making good time and then just before she came to the woods she spied her dear friends Astrid and Addie, two charming maidens of Rose's age. They greeted each other warmly and began customary fain prattle.
It was well along when Astrid asked, "Where to, Rose? What chore calls you to the road with neither cart nor horse?"
"Nay, friend Astrid," Rose laughed. "Tis a visit on my Grandmater through the wood."
"Were it I in the wood, tis a certain handsome woodsman I would visit," proclaimed Addie with a mischievous smile.
"Why dear Addie, whoever could you mean?" asked Rose with a knowing smirk.
"Why Ulric the Fair, silly lass," chortled Astrid. "Who with shoulders so broad and arms so strong, a happy girl I'd be to just rest in his shadow."
"Tis his bed I would be happy to rest in," plotted Addie and all three laughed.
It was common knowledge among the cater-cousins that they all fancied Ulric. And true it was that Rose kept a special place in her heart for him. Dreamily her hours were spent in secret yearning for his sturdy build, his gentle spirit, and his considerably stern face with so wistful eyes. Rose would have loved dearly to bask in her friend's company and trade longing wishes over their favorite topic, but the day was wasting and to her grandmother's she must avail. She bade them a fond 'rest ye merry' and she ventured onward into the unchancy gloom of the Shirewood.
Rose passed through the forest with barely meeting another soul until she neared the far side. Then, whom should she meet but Ulric himself. The sturdy, strapping woodsman was clad in his leather jerkin and leggings and looked as a dream to any available maiden alone in the forest.
He was coming from the opposite direction and leading his yoked team of oxen. Her heart leapt with joy as he greeted her with the warmest of smiles and gallant bow. "Fairest of all, what brings Rose the Red to my humble forest?"
"Why, good neighbor Ulric, how long must a young maid wait for an invitation to your humble forest?" she responded with her practiced cureckitycoo comportment.
With a bemused look in his eyes, he advanced a step toward her and played into her sport, "Had I the time, I would have delivered one myself."