00:00once upon a time in the heart of medieval england there lived a young orphaned stable-boy named edwin and now this is a tale that's been told and retold around village hearths throughout the ages each telling more fantastical than the last for it was said that on nights when the full moon shone bright and clear above the rolling hills and dales
00:18one might hear the sound of harps and lutes echoing across the moorlands carried on the wind along with the soft murmur of voices like unto a choir and that if one were pure of heart and followed the sound they would find themselves beyond the reach of time and mortality journeying through enchanted forests filled with dryads and other mythical creatures into the very heavens to meet the moonlight queen in her celestial court it was old thomasina edwin's beloved grandmother who first told him these enchanting tales while she rocked him in his cradle during their long winter nights beneath the vast
00:48moonlit sky for thomasina knew the ways of old and her bloodline could be traced back to the ancient druids of these lands and so it was no surprise that one day when edwin had grown to the age of sixteen summers he too heard the haunting strains of music carried on the night breeze and so driven by youthful curiosity and a longing for adventure edwin resolved to follow the sound to its source trusting that his grandmother's tales would guide him safely on his way thus after bidding farewell to his gran and the rest of the villagers edwin
01:17edwin set out into the moonlit countryside alone and unafraid for he knew not only did the spirits of the land hold no malice towards him but many would aid him on his quest just as thomasina had foretold an hour's walk from the village just as the clock tower chimed midnight edwin found himself at the edge of a dark and ancient wood and as he stepped foot within its shadowy bounds he heard the rustle of leaves and the flapping of wings above and there perched upon a nearby branch regarding him with wise
01:47then as edwin watched in wonder the owl spread its great wings and let out a soft hoot which seemed to echo with a strange familiarity in his mind and taking flight the owl glided just ahead of edwin allowing him to catch glimpses of its luminous white plumage as it disappeared between the trees and thus it led him deeper and deeper into the forest until suddenly before them stood a clearing bathed in moonlight and in the center shimmering on the grass sat a single glowing silver feather
02:17he had been waiting for for thomasina had often spoken of the moon callers spirits of the air who served as messengers to the moonlight queen guiding travelers lost in darkness to hidden places of magic and wonder and sure enough as edwin reached out to take the feather it unfolded before his eyes revealing a message written in swirling script
02:47above with these words of encouragement edwin tucked the glowing feather into his tunic and continued his journey into the forest for the owl had already taken flight once more and beckoned for him to follow as he walked the trees grew taller and older their branches gnarled and twisted like the limbs of some slumbering giants and yet overhead the canopy was thin enough to allow the moon's soft beams to filter down through illuminating the moss-covered stones and roots that lay scattered around and as he ventured deeper into the woods he heard the distance
03:17a constant rush of water and soon came to a small stream babbling over pebbles in the clearing here the owl alighted upon a nearby stone and regarded him with a solemn gaze then dipping its head towards the stream it hooted softly once more and edwin understood that he must follow the flow of the water downstream until it joined with others to form a lake for there his path would become clear so following the stream edwin soon came to a weathered stone bridge that crossed over a deep ravine but pausing a moment he looked up and saw that the trees had given
03:47a magnificent view of the night sky and standing beneath the open heavens edwin felt a sense of peace and wonder wash over him like a tidal wave and in that moment he realized that the tales his grandmother had told him were not just stories but fragments of an ancient truth that had been whispered across the ages for looking up he saw the silvery feather tucked into his tunic shimmer with renewed brightness guiding his steps towards the moonlit lake in the distance so gathering his courage edwin stepped onto the moss-covered stones and began his journey across the bridge
04:17yet suddenly just as he reached the midpoint the ground trembled beneath his feet and a deep voice boomed out across the ravine then from the shadows on the far bank a pair of glowing red eyes emerged followed by the hulking form of a troll who blocked their way
04:31hold traveller the troll bellowed and explain why you intrude upon my domain and then with a start edwin realized that the troll was not merely an obstacle in his path but rather a test of character for trolls are known to dwell in dark places and prey upon the fears of those who wander too close
04:47yet though edwin was but a simple stable lad he had learned much from his grandmother for she had taught him that fear is but a shadow cast by the unknown and that courage is not the absence of fear but the triumph of light over dark
04:59and so taking a deep breath edwin stepped forward and met the troll's gaze directly with his own
05:04i mean you no harm he said steadily for i am but a humble traveller seeking only to reach the lake beyond your domain
05:11if you will let me pass i promise i shall not disturb your slumber the troll regarded him for a long moment weighing his words and then surprisingly a low rumble of laughter echoed from his throat
05:22well spoken little mortal the troll boomed you have passed my test of tongue and so i shall grant you safe passage to the lake and even show you a short cut through the whispering woods where ancient spirits linger still but only for those with pure intentions
05:37with that the troll gestured towards a narrow path hidden amongst the trees barely wide enough for edwin to fit through but he thanked the troll and stepped inside for the trees parted before him
05:47revealing a short and secret passage that led directly to the lake and as edwin emerged from the trees he found himself on the shores of a tranquil body of water surrounded by weeping willows that dipped their branches into the depths
05:59and from their rustling leaves edwin could have sworn he heard the faint whisper of voices greeting him and as he approached the water's edge he noticed something peculiar for the surface of the lake seemed to ripple as though disturbed by a gentle breeze even though the surrounding trees offered no shelter from the wind
06:16and then suddenly right before his eyes the surface of the lake parted as if by an unseen hand revealing a staircase of purest silver spiraling upwards into the sky
06:26then without hesitation edwin stepped forward and began to climb and as he ascended higher and higher the silver stairs hummed with a celestial light that filled him with warmth and peace and finally when he reached the top he found himself standing on a cloud that floated gently through the night sky and as the cloud sailed upwards edwin saw that the silver stairs had vanished from sight
06:45leaving him alone on his path to the moon now the closer edwin journeyed towards the moon the more wondrous and fantastical the clouds and sky lands he encountered at times he saw meadows filled with flowers that glowed with bioluminescence and at others rivers of starlight flowed like wine from crystal goblets suspended in the heavens and all around him mythical english creatures stirred in their slumberous lairs such as the dryad who hung from a nearby oak or the slumbering dragon coiled around an ancient abbey that had been forgotten by men
07:15but edwin stopped to help each of them on his way for he freed the dryad from a thorny thicket watered the dragon's den and woke the abbey's forgotten monks to say their evening prayers and in return these mythical creatures aided edwin on his quest for the dryad sang enchantments to keep him safe from harm
07:31the dragon lent him its fiery breath to light his way and the monks provided him with food and drink to sustain his journey
07:37at last after what seemed like hours upon hours the silver garden of the moon lay spread before him and in its center sat the moonlight queen upon her celestial throne
07:46and as edwin approached he heard the soft chime of bells and the murmur of voices like unto a choir and he knew he had arrived at his destination
07:53then the queen turned and regarded him with eyes as bright and clear as the stars above and she beckoned for him to come closer
08:00edwin son of hymer she said your deeds have brought you before my court and now you may ask of me a single wish for you have shown a pure heart and an unwavering determination to help those in need
08:12and as edwin stood before the queen he thought of all the riches and treasures he might ask for but instead remembering the plight of his people he wished for peace to reign across the kingdom and for all strife and discord to be forgotten
08:25the queen smiled for she knew that true happiness lay not in material possessions but in the bonds of love and friendship and with a wave of her magic wand she granted edwin's wish
08:34then as the sky filled with fireworks and celestial music echoed through the heavens edwin awoke in his bed back in the village none the wiser as to whether his adventure had been real or a figment of his imagination
08:46but soon word spread that the king and his counselors had come to a peaceful resolution and that joy and prosperity returned to the land and so though few believed his tale edwin knew in his heart that his adventure was true for he had seen the moonlight queen and felt the magic of the moon beneath his feet
09:02and thus the tale of edwin and the moon is passed down through the ages reminding us all that those who seek the moon with pure hearts shine brighter than stars
