The Lost Maiden’s Ring

The maiden was an innocent little thing, until she found—and lost—her ring.

(Mf, nc, shape change)

By: Punchinello for Pulp Erotica

France, 1518

Once there was a lovely maiden who loved to stroll thru the woods alone. One day, she wandered too far from her good father’s estate and became lost in the depths of the forest. As the sun began to set, she sat down on a log near a shallow pool and began to cry.

After a short while, she noticed that in the middle of the shallow pool lay a beautiful shining oyster. The maiden became so amazed at its beauty that she forgot her troubles. She removed her shoes and stockings and, raising her dress to keep it dry, waded into the pool to recover the oyster.

The water was cool and soothing against her bare legs, which had walked so far that day. With one hand, she held her dress high, up to her waist, and with the other she reached down into the water for the oyster.

The lost maiden held the beautiful oyster in her hand. It’s shell was smooth and pink, and the maiden admired it as she set herself upon the log again. Then, wondrously, it opened itself, revealing a magnificent pearl in the shape of a ring. The maiden carefully put the oyster back in its bed and sat and stared at the pearl ring.

For a time, so amazed was she that the merely admired it in her hand, turning it round and round to see its beautiful pink pearliness reflected in the dying light of the sun. At last she could no longer merely toy with the ring and, with a quick glance about her, slipped it on her finger.

The beautiful ring fit snugly on her delicate finger and glowed with warm brilliance of its own. The beauty of the ring so amazed the maiden that it took her breath away.

Just then, there came the sound of an animal crashing thru the underbrush. The lost maiden turned to see a great black stag burst into the clearing. It had huge horns and trailed a great red cape. When it caught sight of the maiden with its huge black eyes, the stag came to a sudden, skidding halt. And, behold, the form of the stag became like vapor and drifted away, leaving only the shape of a man!

He stood tall and lean and beardless, his chin as bare as rest of him, but the long red cape swirled about his body, covering his nakedness as the form of the stag drifted away. His cape was a huge cloak of fine red velvet, but had become tattered, the maiden was sure, by being whipped along behind as he dashed thru the woods. The man brushed back his black hair and regarded the barefoot maiden with dark, deep-set eyes while he caught his breath.

“What are you doing in my woods?” he demanded gruffly.

“But these are my father’s woods, good sir,” the maiden replied timidly. “He lives in the fine estate not far away, and I have become lost.”

“These woods are mine, and mine alone!” bellowed the dark-haired man, “I live in the tower not half a league from this spot.”

Now, the maiden knew of this tower and knew also that its lord was a wizard who was a shapechanger. It was said that he could change into any animal, great or small, with no effort at all. ‘This must be his pool,’ the maiden thought, ‘and the oyster his as well. Perhaps, then, this ring is a magic ring.’

“Good sir,” she spoke, “I did not know that I had wandered so far. I am sorry to have bothered you, but if I may have a bite to eat I will be on my way.”

The wizard shook his head and made a little animal noise. “No,” he said. “It is evening and a dark forest is not a safe place for a maiden. You might be devoured by some wild animal.” He looked at her with sparkling black eyes. “You must come with me to my tower and eat a fine meal. Then, in the morning, I will help you on your way.”

The maiden protested but the wizard insisted, saying, “Climb upon my back and we shall travel by leaps and bounds.” His eyes grew wide and he smiled broadly, then his ears grew out and he fell upon the ground, arms and legs growing into strong, hoofed legs. He grew bigger and bigger, his chest growing as big as a barrel until little black hairs grew out all over, and before the astonished maiden stood a magnificent stallion, black as night, with a tattered red velvet cloak about it.

The horse bent down before the maiden and she was obliged to mount it, straddling, for there was no saddle by which she might ride side-saddle as a lady should. Holding on tightly to the mane, the maiden wrapped her legs around the animal’s chest and felt the pounding of its great heart. Its corded muscles rippled with readiness. Then, with a tremendous leap, the beast charged madly thru the woods, dodging trees, trampling saplings, and leaping over logs. The maiden clung to her mount with all her strength, barely uttering a word, her soft brown hair whipped wildly by the wind, her dress becoming tattered by the underbrush, and her bare feet dangling, for she had quite forgotten her shoes and stockings.

When they broke from the forest, there rose before them a great tower, a grand stone structure on a wide hill between two smaller hills. The horse carried the maiden right thru the gate and into the main hall. There, a fine table was set with silver plates and golden goblets and candles set in tall marble candlesticks shaped like the wizard’s tower.

The horse bent its forelegs before the table and the maiden slid off his back to the floor of intricately-carved dark wood. She caught her breath and pushed back her tangled hair, gazing in wonder at the beauty of the hall. The horse tramped once around the table, its withers glistening with sweat from the short gallop, then reared up on its hind legs and pawed the air. The maiden watched in awe as the wizard resolved himself, as tho thru thick black fog and, as his arms came down, the horse’s forelegs swirled away like smoke. He stepped forward and one leg came out, swirling the horse’s hindquarters behind it. The collar of the great red cape slid down the horse’s neck as the length of it slid off the horse’s back. It swept down in a great arc while the collar met the neck of the wizard as he bowed his head out of the chest of the horse. The horse’s hindquarters became a swirling mass of black smoke trailing in the wake of the cape and it swept the head aside as it bowed in tandem with the wizard’s head. The whole of the horse became a whirling black cloud which rose and slowly dissipated, leaving only the red-cloaked figure of the wizard.

The maiden stood awestruck at the spectacle. She could barely catch her breath before the wizard strode forward and took her by the hand. “The feast is set for this evening,” he said brusquely, dragging her to the tall window at the end of the hall. “You must choose the meal.” He pushed open the window and before them lay a wide lawn where many woodland animals grazed. There were deer and rabbits, sheep and pheasant, even a little pond where geese and ducks swam.

“Choose,” spoke the wizard.

The maiden stood silent, unsure. “Must I choose, kind sir, which of these harmless beasts will die?”

“Indeed,” the wizard said, “If none of these please you, there are fine fish in the pond.”

“A fish then,” the maiden said. “Any one of them,” she added, in case he would have paraded the fish before her and asked her to single out the very one.

“Two fish, then,” the wizard pronounced. And instantly, two fat fish leaped out of the pond and onto the backs of two large white geese. The geese turned with their load and waddled toward the tower. The wizard closed and latched the window.

“I must have a bath before dinner,” the maiden said, “and clean garments.” She stepped away from the wizard so that he could more easily view her at full length and see her tangled hair, her torn dress, and shoeless feet.

The wizard turned and pointed to a wide staircase that curved up the wall and continued up into the upper regions of the tower. “Indeed. You will find a bath at the top of the tower, vestments below, and brushes and mirrors below that. You will find in this tower all you desire.” He left her, gliding gracefully out of the hall, trailing his long, red velvet cloak behind.

As the maiden climbed the many stairs, golden lamps lighted her way. She hurried along at first but so many were there that she was nearly out of breath when she reached the top. She opened the door there to find a huge golden bathing tub filled with hot water scented with the petals of many beautiful flowers. Quickly, the maiden disrobed completely and eased her slender form into the water, feeling its wet delicious warmth envelope her.

She lay back against the side and stretched her aching limbs. The day had been full of walking, ending in a rough ride, and her back and thighs ached. As she relaxed, the maiden felt all her troubles and fears drain from her body. Finally, tired and hungry, she washed her beautiful hair thoroly and climbed out of the water.

She dried her lean and pretty body with a length of fine linen which lay draped over a nearby chair. Then she wrapped it about her. A little timid, for the linen showed the pinkness of her figure and covered her limbs not at all, the maiden descended to the floor below.

In the room below, the maiden found a beautiful dress of silk woven with rubies and pearls and a pair of slippers made of the feathers of a swan. She dressed quickly, savoring the delicate feel of silk against her skin; the swan slippers tickled her feet and made each step a new delight.

The giddy girl hurried down the stairs to the next chamber and found beautiful golden brushes, combs, and great mirrors. She combed out her hair before the big mirrors and brushed it long and carefully. Finally, she tied her hair up with a silk ribbon sewn with a single ruby and a single pearl.

Beautiful and elegant, the maiden wafted down the marble staircase and into the great hall. The candles and fireplace lighted the room brilliantly. The table sparkled with crystal and glittered with gold. Amid all this stood the tall, shadow-shrouded wizard dressed all in red velvet but for great black kneeboots and fine white linen shirt. His red jerkin was encrusted with rubies; diamonds decorated his boots; and his fine shirt had buttons of onyx. Atop his handsome head sat a sleek, wide-brimmed hat of red velvet, crowned with the iridescent blue feather of a peacock. He stood still, eyes dark, lips a thin red line. His eyes rose to meet the beautiful young maiden and his lips parted.

“You look lovely, my little bird,” said he.

The maiden blushed, overcome by the grandeur and the beauty, even her own. She crossed the floor gracefully to take his outstretched hand and took the seat he offered her upon a carved mahogany chair, cushioned with red velvet. He took his seat across from her, staring every moment at her beauty. In a moment, in came a little spotted pony, a serving tray of wine on its wide, flat back. The wizard took the wine and poured himself and the maiden a cup, and the pony departed.

Suddenly, a stream of geese glided in one open window. The maiden gave a little squeal, but the wizard only smiled. The geese arced gracefully toward the table, then arced away, a single fresh-baked biscuit rolling off each goose’s back and landing lightly on a silver plate. The geese streamed away, out another open window.

Soon, the pony returned, this time his back laden with a golden platter of magnificent fish. The wizard took the platter and put one fish on the maiden’s plate and the other on his own; then he returned the platter to the pony, allowing it to leave. Moments later, out waddled ducks with cups of sauce, followed by squirrels with shakers full of spice, and finally, the pony again, with all manner of vegetables upon his back.

When the meal was set, they ate, in silence and in unease. The maiden gazed often at her pearl ring, touching it briefly now and then, feeling rather helpless and alone.

When the meal was over, various animals came to remove the plates and dishes. Then half a dozen peacocks strolled in, followed momentarily by a like number of peahens. They all assembled before the fireplace to perform a slow and stately dance to music that seemed to come out of the roaring fire, the pretty hens outdone by the handsome cocks with their grand tails.

When they had gone, the maiden said her good evening to the wizard, for it was very late, and mounted the stairs to find the rooms all changed around. At the top of the stairs there was a room with a golden bed fitted with crisp white linen sheets and thick, soft furs. The maiden disrobed and dressed herself in a white silk sleeping gown laid across the bed. Then she slipped between the sheets and fell fast asleep.

Not long after, there came the nearly silent flutter of wings as a night owl alighted on the window sill of the maiden’s chamber. The maiden came slowly out of sleep to see, thru the veil of the bed curtain, the little form of the owl blossom into the full silhouette of a man. The wizard, without his great cape—for no bird could fly with a such a heavy burden—came down from the sill and strode across the floor toward the bed, naked and intent.

The maiden, frightened and bewildered, thought quickly and decided that her only hope lay with the pearl ring. She gripped it tightly and tried to draw the magic out of it to protect herself. As the curtains parted, she felt strange, light and airy, and shrank suddenly into a little dove.

The startled wizard snatched at the dove as she fluttered her way free of the nightgown and flew over his head and out the window. Without thought, he followed, leaping from the window in the form of a hawk and taking the wind under his wing like a master of flight.

The maiden fluttered to the ground, dizzy with her first taste of free flight, her feathers falling away as white rose petals. She struck the soft lawn as a doe and went bounding off into the night forest. The wizard hit the ground at a full run, his wings stretching into the strong forelegs of a buck deer. He chased the maiden’s very heels.

Deeper and deeper into the woods they went. The maiden ducked into a thicket and scampered out as a little brown hare. But the wizard knew her and turned himself into a dark gray hare. They dashed in and out of thickets until the maiden took to the trees as a little gray squirrel. The wizard followed, chittering in his pursuit thru the trees, ever deeper into the forest.

From the trees to the air again, the harried maiden dashed madly thru the uppermost branches of the trees as a brown and white swift, pursued by the dark form of a black raven.

Down amongst the bushes and vines again, the maiden ducked into the form of a quick little cat, her soft furry tail nipped at by a big black tom cat. With her last ounce of strength, the maiden shifted into a sharp-toothed vixen, but was pounced upon by a sleek red fox.

At last, exhausted from her wandering day and her evening flight, the maiden fell into a heap before a big oak tree. Beaten and weary, she collapsed into a quivering young woman, naked and pale upon a wide pad of soft moss.

In a moment, the wizard was upon her, suddenly huge in the form of a man. The maiden turned away and the wizard took her from behind, raising her to her hands and knees, pressing apart her weakened legs, mounting her swiftly. He thrust his manhood deep inside her; she arched her back and cried out. He sank himself into her maidenhood completely.

She bucked and moaned and tried to escape; she turned into a soft brown mare, but even as she did, so the wizard became the big black stallion she had ridden before. He remained inside her, thrusting into her with swift, bold strokes.

The filly stamped the ground with her forelegs, helpless, and again collapsed into a beautiful woman, the wizard one with her as a man.

The frantic girl turned and twisted, trying desperately to slip free; she changed into a gray wolf bitch and snapped at her attacker. The wizard pounded her relentlessly, a silver wolf—and then a lion as his lover became a lioness. Their strokes became rhythmic, forceful, passionate. Their bodies became entwined; they became a single animal.

The maiden at last surrendered to her own passion and collapsed into a naked, trembling girl, thrusting back against her lover with abandon. The wizard’s strong arms engulfed her from behind as he thrust again and again.

Her head turned, his bent, and their mouths came together in a deep kiss, wet tongues tasting each the other’s passion.

Finally, they reached the heights of passion; pure magic swirled about them, pulsating and pounding, lifting them into the air, and leaving them gasping for breath. They collapsed together upon the soft moss before the great oak, where they lay in each other’s arms the rest of the night and well past dawn.

The maiden finally awoke to the sound of her father’s voice calling to her. The wizard was gone; she checked her finger: the ring remained! Rising, she found her slightly-tattered dress hanging in the low branches overhead. As she dressed, she could see her father’s estate between the trees at the bottom of the hill. She had been chased so far in the night that she had nearly run home!

The maiden smoothed out her dress and started thru the woods to her father’s house, thinking hard of how to explain how she had gotten lost, how her dress had become torn, and how she had lost her shoes. She thought it wise to say nothing of the ring.

All models are 18 years or older, regardless of the text.