The Elder Tree is often regarded as a scrawny weed, not so, as you will find out but, first, here is a story based on an ancient folklore belief about harming this tree. It is connected with the ‘stop, look and listen’ site Hagalaz. Without thinking he stretched up and broke a bough from an elder tree and that is how it all started. Non, Neb and Luck lived in Beorgh, a small settlement. They had taken Black Boodie, a good hunting hound with them and had gone rabbiting as Neb’s mother was going to make rabbit stew for supper and Non and Luck were going to share. Beorgh was about a journey of new moon to half moon from the Saxon shore but rumours told of these fierce men moving inland and unease and fear hung like smoke over the settlement. The boys had been warned to be wary and watchful. Grandfather had told them the best thing to take with them was common sense. They set off following a path once made by claw and paw and hoof but long used now by those of Beorgh. It was late afternoon when the boys reached what was known as the Wild Wood, Black Boodie stopped, his ears cocked and he sniffed the air and , suddenly was gone, chasing fast. They called but the hound’s nose was down following scent and he was not for calling back. ‘We must get him back,’ said Luck, ‘If only we had a whistle.’ Without thinking he stretched up and broke a branch from an elder tree, his father had shown him how to hollow it and make a whistle. In the wink of an eye an old woman stood in front of the boys, she held Black Boodie by the collar. Her face was wrinkled as a long stored apple, her hair straggled limp and uncombed over her shoulders. A green gown, once fresh and bright as a leaf in Spring was tattered. Though bent and bowed with age she stared at them from sharp dark eyes. ‘Ha! You didn’t expect this, you forgot to ask if you could break one of my branches. If you bring me three gifts then I will return your hound and you have till the next sunrise to find them The first is a leaf from the Golden Elder Tree. The second is a box that holds the silver whistle of Annkin the Wise and the third is a Prince who knows how to make me young. Where will you find them? That’s for me to know and you to find out.’ With that the old Elder Mother and Black Boodie vanished into the elder tree. An elder tree and no ordinary elder but golden, Non, Neb and Luck had never heard of such a tree. They followed the path deeper into the Wild Wood, it was shadow haunted under the trees and they felt they were watched by many who kept themselves secret. The boys hurried on and in the heart of the wood surrounded by a shieldwall of dark holly trees they found the Golden Elder Tree. Every leaf, branch, flowers and berries were shining gold. Non, Neb and Luck stood and stared, they pushed between the holly trees. It was Non who stepped forward and spoke to the tree. ‘Golden Elder tree would you give us one of your beautiful leaves please?’ They waited anxiously and then they heard, ‘Riddle-me-ree and Riddle-me rye, what am I? I run all day but never get out of bed. I have a mouth but no teeth or tongue yet you can hear my voice.’ ‘It’s a river,’ shouted Neb and one golden leaf from the top of the tree drifted as softly as a snowflake to their feet. Neb picked it up and caged it in his hands, they bowed to the shining tree and on they went further into the wood and came to a huge standing stone that the villagers called the Giant. It was ancient, three times their height, webbed with lichen and strange signs carved on its rough face, who knows how long ago? Grandfather had told them these signs were runes but he did not know how to read them, he told them too that Merlin, enchanter to Arthur, the High King, had brought the stone there and raised it by magic. The moon was rising with its companion the Evening Star, it was a new moon, silvery gold and curved like the blade of a scythe. Non, Neb and Luck knew respect must be shown to a new moon and perhaps it would grant a wish so they knelt and each made a silent wish. ‘Look,’ whispered Luck, ‘there is a box by the Giant’s foot.’ Non, Neb and Luck went to the great stone, they felt its power, at its foot was a wooden box, quite small, made of some dark polished wood and on the lid was what they knew was a rune. They stood still for coiled round the box was an adder, Nathair the adder, handsome in black and white, his tongue flickering. Like the new moon, adders were shown respect. Neb knelt with Non and Luck standing one on each side. ‘Great and wise Nathair, the Elder Mother desires this box with the silver whistle of Annkin the Wise, will you let us take it?’ ‘Sssstay and sssay, how ssssharp are your witssss, ansssswer me this firsssssst,’ replied Nathair. ‘A box that had no lid nor hinges and no lock but a golden treasure is hidden inside.’ The boys stood silent, thinking hard. By chance a blackbird flew out of a tall hedge nearby and Luck’s sharp eyes saw a nest and that gave him a clue, ’It’s an egg, it’s an egg!’ he shouted. ‘Yessss,’ and the adder uncoiled and slid away, Luck snatched up the box and away they ran. They had gone but a short distance when approaching them was a man leading his horse. This man was no villager, he wore a robe red as rubies and carried a sword, he walked slowly for his horse, a great grey stallion had gone lame. Neb was the son of a blacksmith and he ran forward, ‘Lord, your horse is lame, I guess what the trouble is, I can help.’ He whispered to the horse and then lifted one the forefeet and wedged in the hoof was, as he had guessed, a stone.’ Using his knife he pried out the stone and patted and whispered to the horse. ‘See, my Lord, he walks well enough now.’ ‘I am Prince Anselm, my grateful thanks to you. Perhaps I can serve you in some way?’ Non, Neb and Luck looked at each other and told the Prince of the Elder Mother’s wish to be young again. Prince Anselm and his horse stepping proudly and the boys retraced their weary steps back to the elder tree and Non took the whistle from the box and blew on it three times. At once the old Elder Mother appeared and by her side was Black Boodie. Prince Anselm stepped forward and from the bag on the saddle took a garland of white elder flowers and placed it on the old woman’s head. In the twinkling of an eye she became a beautiful young woman in a grass green dress. ‘You have done very well boys. Here is your hound. Remember never break branches from me and my berries and flowers are a gift to Mankind.’ Non, Neb and Luck and Black Boodie raced away. ‘We still have a rabbit to catch and what a tale to tell!’ Pat Mlejnesky