Her heart is driven by clockwork, and it is no longer hers to keep.

One thousand years ago she was beautiful, and much loved by all in the land; but she was careless, and she gave her heart to any that would have it. Her love she gave to any man that took her fancy, and many men fought to hold her heart close.

The Wise Woman of the land saw the pain she caused, and the mischief, and took the girl's heart from her. She deemed her unworthy and unfit for such a wondrous thing, that she would give it so freely without a care. For a heart is a precious thing; and must only be given with care, to one and one alone, who will look after it, and cherish it until the end of days.

The Wise Woman took the heart and turned it into clockwork, so that it could not love carelessly. She then built a mechanical horse to house it, so that it could not be given nor stolen away. The Wise Woman locked the heart deep inside the horses' chest, and cast the key upon the four winds. Since the girl could not take care of her own heart, the Wise Woman deemed that the horse would take care of it for her.

The key has been lost to the girl for centuries. Endlessly, she wanders the forests and lakes, searching, seeking, ever trying to find the key to her heart. She knows it is out there somewhere. She knows it is hidden it in a very special place, and only when she has found in herself the wisdom and the courage to love wholly, will she find the key.

So she wanders still, and maybe one day soon, her heart will be returned to her.

But it will always remain as clockwork; For there is no heart, once changed, that can ever be the same again.

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Pencil on paper, A3
© Meg Baker 2008