In a small clearing at the edge of a large forest a woman lived in a small cottage with her daughter. They were not rich but they had everything that they needed. The girl was called Honey because she had eyes the color of raw honey. She had such a sweet disposition that everyone loved her wherever she went. Honey and her mother kept a small garden. In it grew all manner of herbs and vegetables. Every week, Honey would go into town with a basket of fresh herbs and vegetables to sell at the market. As she walked to the market place everyone stopped to say hello to Honey.

"Good morning, Honey," called the woodsmen near the path. Their axes glistened brightly in the sunlight as they chopped.

"Good morning,"she called back, smiling.

"Good morning, Honey," said the baker, as she passed. Sweet smells of apple pies and fresh bread followed him out of the kitchen.

"Good morning," said Honey cheerfully, as she skipped merrily along the road to town.

Honey saw a shepherd tending his flocks in a nearby meadow. "Good morning," he called to her as the sheep bleated a greeting.

"Good morning," she called loudly, so as to be heard above the sheeps' bleating.

It so happened that Honey always carried a small oil lamp with her, for it got dark quickly in the woods. Honey's lantern shone with a beautiful golden light. The flame danced and flickered merrily as Honey walked along. The little flame lighted even the darkest night. It never went out, for it was a magic flame. The little flame was beautiful and proud.

The little flame was very jealous of Honey and all the attention that she got. The flame thought she should get more attention. Wasn't it her that lit Honey's way back to the cottage at night? She was the one who filled the little cottage with warm, golden light. She chased away the shadows that gathered in the corners and scared Honey."Honey doesn't appreciate all I do for her," thought the little flame, "She doesn't even thank me." As the flame's jealousy grew, she grew smaller, her light weaker. Each day, the flame's jealousy grew until she thought she would go out entirely. One day the flame resolved to teach Honey a lesson that she would never forget. Day after day she thought about how to to teach Honey a lesson.

Every night Honey and her mother sat by the hearth, while Honey's mother read out of a large book. Honey's little lamp sat on a small table beside her mother, illuminating the book's brilliant pictures. On this particular night Honey and her mother were very tired because they had been walking in the woods, gathering mushrooms all day. Soon they were both fast asleep. The little flame saw her chance. She jumped out of the little lantern onto the open book which started to crackle and shrivel. Flames spreads quickly through the little cottage, consuming everything in their path. The shepherd Honey had greeted that morning was passing nearby the cottage just then with his flock. Seeing the smoke and glow from the flames he went to investigate.

The woodsmen, hearing his cries for help came running. They recognized the cottage as the one where Honey lived with her mother. Quickly they began to chop the down the door and raced inside to bring out Honey and her mother, who had both been badly burned. Honey appeared to be burnt over most visible parts of her body. Her mother's burns were mostly along her chest and arms.

"What should we do with them?" asked one of the woodsmen.

"Take them to the church?" suggested another.

"The barber?" offered one.

"Grandmother?" another asked.

Grandmother was the town witch. She also happened to be Honey's grandma. She was  a very wise woman, well versed in the ways of nature, and kindhearted toward everyone.The townsfolk all called her Grandmother because she was like a grandmother to the whole town. After some conversation amongst themselves, the woodsmen took Honey and her mother to Grandmother's house.

Honey and her mother spent that spring at Grandmother's house, recovering from their injuries. When they were well enough, their days were spent helping Grandmother tend to the sick and injured animals she cared for. The animals all loved Honey because she was so sweet and gentle. She played with them and brought them sweet treats from the kitchen. On warm days, Honey liked to sit under a sycamore tree that grew in the garden and sing. The animals would all gather around her while she sang, birds would perch in the branches to listen and the little fawn would curl up on her lap.

One day Honey had to go into town to get milk. She skipped merrily along the road, singing a cheerful tune to herself. She passed by a woman carrying a large pail of water.

"Hello," Honey greeted her with a smile.

The woman glanced at her but did not say anything, continuing on her way.

A little farther on, Honey came to a little farm by the side of the road. Some young children were playing by the front gate. "Hello!" she called, smiling.

"Hello," they called back, watching her pass. Their stares made Honey feel a little uncomfortable, but she just went on her way. "They're just children," she though, "naturally they're a little curious." Still, she had never really been concerned about how she looked since the fire. Yes, her dark hair was a little patchy in spots, her face a little pink and stretched looking, but she was still Honey, her golden eyes shone bright and clear. All the same, she was suddenly very aware and self conscious of her appearance.

When Honey arrived in town she made her way towards the dairy with her little jug. People stared at her as walked past them in silence. Everyone was friendly enough but there was just something about them that didn't seem quite right. One little boy out with his father stopped walking to stare at her. A little girl came and asked Honey what was wrong with her face. Honey thought it was a strange question but she answered it. The girl reached out to touch Honey's face, surprised by the smooth, uneven texture. Honey was seized by a longing to escape their prying eyes and probing fingers. At the dairy she filled her little jug and walked quickly back to the road that would take her to Grandmothe's, glad to be away from the town.

Back at Grandmother's, Honey went about her usual chores. She swept the cottage and cared for the animals, tended to the little garden, but rarely did she venture outside without a veil.

Summer came and went, the days grew colder and shorter. On the night of the first snowfall they were all gathered around the hearth, telling stories. The little fawn was fast asleep in Honey's lap. Suddenly there was a loud and frantic knock on the door. The fawn jumped out of Honey's lap and hid under a chair. Honey's mother looked up from her book, as Grandmother ran to open the door. Two men stood out in the snow, half frozen. Their clothes were torn and they appeared exhausted. Grandmother bid the two strangers to come warm themselves by the fire and sent Honey to get them some hot soup from the kitchen.

When the strangers were settled around the fire they began to tell their story. They had started out that morning with a large company, for a village some miles away. On the road their company was attacked by a band of thieves. The two men had been thrown from the carriage they were riding in and been separated from the others. Honey was fascinated by their voices, for these men spoke with an accent that she had never heard before. She busied herself bathing their many cuts and scratches with a tonic that Grandmother had prepared. The younger man looked at her and his eyes softened.

"Thank you kindly, lass. You have a gentle touch." Honey looked at him shyly and smiled. "And such unusual eyes. I have never seen such eyes, you must be a very special girl"

Blushing, she looked down. The fawn hid behind her skirts.

"It's not everyone who can talk to the animals." His green eyes twinkled.
"I just take care of them," said Honey, " they are my friends."

"My companion and I thank you for your kindness and hospitality, "said the older one, "we had been wandering for a long way when we saw your cottage."

"We do what we can," replied Grandmother, "You must be chilled to the bone. This is no weather for traveling." She had Honey's mother fetch clean white linens and make up beds for their two guests. The men, they learned, were an apothecary and his apprentice from across the sea. They had been driven from their home by the superstitious villagers and feared to return.

The older man spent much time conversing with Grandmother about the plants she used and their preparations. He wanted to know what herbs she used and if she used any special methods for harvesting them. His apprentice listened most intently to everything they said, at times he was scribbling notes. He talked to Honey about her way with the animals. They did seem very attached to her, he said, almost as if she were their mother. All the animals followed wherever she went. An owl with a broken wing came to visit the cottage that winter. The apothecary's apprentice teased Honey that they had the same eyes. Her said the image of her eyes followed him wherever he went too.

"Why do you wear that veil when we go out?"The apothecary's apprentice asked her one day as they prepared to go out looking for mushrooms. "For protection," Honey answered. She didn't really want to speak of it.

As the days grew warmer and longer, the day came for their guests to leave. They must travel onward, "In seek of new knowledge!" the apothecary said. Honey was sorry to see them go. "Fear not lass," the apprentice said to Honey, seeing her distress, "mayhap our travels will bring us this way again someday."

For Honey, time passed quickly. Grandmother had fallen ill that winter and never quite recovered her strength. Honey's many chores in the cottage kept her busy. Hunters filled the forest again and it seemed that more animals came everyday to take refuge at the cottage. A family of wolf cubs who had lost their mother demanded much of Honey's time.

Honey often sat in the garden under the sycamore tree after completeing her chores. On this particular day she was lost in thought, her fingers absently playing with the edge of her veil. "The fawn is getting very big and strong now. Soon his antlers will grow in and he will leave the cottage." she thought. This made her sad, for she loved the little deer. She hoped he would adjust to life in the wild. Honey worried about how he would fit in with the other deer after having lived with humans for so long.
 

The sudden sound of nearby hoofbeats jarred her out of her thoughts. The deer, who was standing near her, looked up from his grazing and froze. As the horse came closer she recognized her old friend the apothecary's apprentice. He was dressed very richly, in brightly colored velvet robes. He greeted her warmly and asked how things were at the little cottage, what had happened in the time he had been away. Honey told him how Grandmother had fallen ill and about the family of wolf cubs. He told her of his many adventures since he had left the cottage, that now he was an apothecary for the prince and he lived in the palace. Never having forgotten her kindness, he had always wanted to return and bring her to the castle with him. "On one condition," he told her. "You must remove your veil, for I want everyone to see the face of my bride. "Honey was very distraught over the idea of people seeing her without the veil.

"My lord I cannot remove my veil in front of so many people. They all point and stare. They touch my skin and marvel that it is real."

"I have told you my conditions. If you wish to go with me remove your veil. Then take this sponge and go bathe in the stream."

Honey hesitated but did as she was told. She took the sponge and stripped off her rough woolen gown at the water's edge. Gingerly stepping into the cold water she rinsed and scrubbed herself until her skin tingled. To her amazement, everywhere the sponge touched became a smooth golden tone. She stepped out of the water and the apothecary clothed her in a rich silken gown of a deep blue color. He placed her on his horse and they rode back to the castle. Everyone marveled at the kindness and beauty of the woman with the golden eyes. Honey and the apothecary were married in a big celebration at the palace, where they lived happily together for many years.