The Cobbler and the Cursed Shoes
Once upon a time, in a land far away, lived a humble cobbler named Benjamin. He was renowned for his fine craftsmanship, pouring his heart and soul into each shoe he created. His shoes were so well made that it was said they could make even the most pitiful of peasants appear royal! And despite his popularity, Benjamin remained a humble and kind man.
In the same town, there lived a wicked warlock named Moros. Moros was envious of Benjamin's success and popularity, and decided to cast a spell on him. One fateful night, Moros crept up to Benjamin's shop and muttered a powerful curse - that the next pair of shoes Benjamin made would cause the wearer to dance endlessly.
The next day, Benjamin received a pair of beautiful crimson leather from the king himself. Seeing this, he decided to craft his finest pair of shoes yet, unaware of the curse.
When the shoes were taken to the princess, she loved them instantly, slipping them onto her feet. To everyone's shock, the princess then began to dance uncontrollably! Despite many attempts, they could not remove the shoes nor stop her dancing. News of the incident quickly spread, and the king, desperate to save his daughter, decreed that anyone who could break the curse would be rewarded handsomely.
Meanwhile, Benjamin was devastated when he heard what happened to the princess. Touched by her plight, he became determined to undo the curse. However, despite being an exceptional cobbler, Benjamin knew he had no knowledge of magic.
One night, he was visited by an old woman dressed in rags. Moved by his obvious distress, the woman revealed herself to be a fairy. She had heard of Benjamin's plight and wanted to help him. She told Benjamin that the spell could be broken if a shoe was made from pure gold.
The cobbler set to work, crafting the most beautiful golden shoes. The fairy lynched the shoes with her own magic to counteract Moros's spell. Once the shoes were finished, they were delivered to the king.
Fearful but hopeful, everyone watched as the princess slipped off the cursed shoes and put on the golden ones. Instantly, the dancing ceased. The princess, exhausted but overjoyed, hugged Benjamin tightly, thanking him for his bravery and skill.
The king rewarded Benjamin with all the gold he could ever need and named him the royal cobbler. Moros, having heard of his curse's failure, was filled with rage but also fear. He disappeared from the kingdom, never to be seen again, and peace was restored. From then on, Benjamin continued to aid the kingdom with his magnificent shoes, and he lived out his days in happiness and prosperity.
The story of Benjamin, the humble yet miraculous cobbler, spread through the land, inspiring everyone with the power of determination, humility and the righteousness of heart.