Hello,
My name is Rachel and my country is Scotland.
A country rich in legends and folklore.
Long ago Scots folk told stories to entertain one another around the hearth and bring families and communities together.
Scotland has a rugged and mysterious landscape which acts as a wonderful backdrop to tales involving magical creatures such as dragons,
Fairies,
Water horses known as kelpies and selkie seal women.
In my stories I will draw in elements of these traditional yarns told for hundreds of years but also add my own twist.
So please get comfy and coorie in,
Close your eyes and come with me to Scotland.
This story is called the Loch Ness Monster and the Hidden Treasure.
Once upon a time deep in the mystical waters of Loch Ness in Scotland's Great Glen there was said to be a treasure beyond anyone's wildest dreams.
It was rumoured that the Loch Ness Monster,
A legendary sea serpent like creature that had been sighted by many over the years,
Was the guardian of this hidden wealth.
As the story goes the treasure had been lost centuries ago when the McDonald's Lord of the Isles tried to capture Urquhart Castle which lies on the shores of Loch Ness.
It is believed that the retreating clan had sailed into the loch seeking refuge and in a desperate attempt to hide their plunder they entrusted it to the Loch Ness Monster believing that no one would dare to challenge the fearsome beast.
Over time the treasure became a source of fascination and mystery with many adventurers and treasure hunters attempting to locate it.
Some claimed to have glimpsed the glint of gold deep in the waters while others swore that they heard eerie calls of the Loch Ness Monster warning them to stay away.
Someone who knew all about these tales was Saoirse,
A 12 year old girl living in a wee croft house with her mum,
Dad and five younger siblings on the shore of Loch Ness.
Saoirse dreamed of finding some of that treasure as her and her family were very poor and life was very tough indeed.
One afternoon she was washing clothes in the shallow glittering waters of Loch Ness with her tummy crumbling painfully.
She let out a sigh and made a quiet plea out into the water.
I wish I weren't so hungry.
Oh to find some treasure and have enough food to fill my belly and stop my family from going hungry too.
A sudden ripple then caught her attention from the shallows.
Emerged a shimmering water sprite radiant with a soft glow which danced upon the surface.
With a mischievous twinkle in its eye it told Saoirse that it had heard her heart's desire and wanted to help.
The sprite told her that she would need to collect the treasure from the sea monster herself but that it knew a way for her to win it over.
The way to the sea monster's heart was food in particular sweet treats.
The sprite also told Saoirse the exact spot in which she should dive down into the loch to be able to locate the sea monster and the treasure.
Saoirse thanked the sprite and with a playful giggle it dipped back into the water leaving behind a trail of sparkling droplets which shimmered in the sunlight.
As Saoirse watched the little sprite disappear she felt a newfound sense of hope and joy blooming within her heart.
Could this change the fortunes of her and her family?
She ran into the tiny cottage to prepare her offering to the sea monster.
The cupboards in the cottage were nearly always bare but there were some oats,
Raisins and buttermilk and honey as they were going to be having bannock's for their tea.
A bannock is a bit like a flatbread that can be eaten plain sweet or savoury.
Saoirse hoped that her version would be sweet enough for this sea monster.
She stirred in the raisins,
Oatmeal,
Buttermilk and honey together and then rolled it out until it was the right thickness and shaped it out into one big round bannock.
She poured some fat into a cooking pan and set it on the fire.
When it sizzled hot she placed the bannock into the pan.
She immediately felt a pang of hunger as it turned toasty brown and emitted a lovely smell.
A soul who was not as brave as Saoirse would have likely just gobbled it up instead of taking on the daring quest to find the treasure.
But she took it off the fire and slid it carefully onto a wax cloth and wrapped it up and popped it into her smock pocket.
With her heart thumping fast she waded into the cold water of the loch.
Armed with her knowledge of the Loch Ness Monster's habits and a fearless spirit she plunged into the dark depths of the loch determined to uncover the hidden riches.
As she swam deeper and deeper navigating the murky waters a little glowing light appeared and it seemed to be guiding her.
Perhaps it was the sea sprite.
Then she heard a low rumbling sound echoing through the cavernous depths.
Heart pounding she followed the noise until she came face to face with the sea creature herself,
The Loch Ness Monster.
Its green scaly head was nearly the size of Saoirse's whole body.
And the two huge eyes were like rubby balls of glowing amber.
To her surprise the monster did not attack.
Instead it regarded her with those intelligent amber eyes as if assessing her worthiness.
Suddenly she remembered the bannock and scrambled around in her tunic pocket to retrieve it.
Thankfully it was in one piece and she clutched it in her hand and held it out as an offering to the monster.
It opened its mouth and she had to close her eyes for a second as the sight of its teeth made her very nervous indeed.
But she only felt a little nudge to her hand like feeding a very gentle Clydesdale horse.
And when she opened her eyes the bannock was gone.
With a gentle nod of its massive head the creature led Saoirse to a hidden cave where the treasure was gleaming in the darkness.
Overwhelmed with awe Saoirse beheld the glittering riches before her.
Chests overflowing with gold coins,
Jewel-encrusted artifacts,
Precious gems sparkling in the dim light.
The Loch Ness Monster had kept its promise as the guardian of the treasure,
Allowing only the pure of heart to discover its secrets.
Filled with gratitude and respect for the creature,
Saoirse offered a silent thank you before stuffing her tunic with some gems and coins and making her way back to the surface.
Her heart brimming with wonder at the magical encounter she had experienced.
From that day,
Her fortunes had changed and her and her family never had to go hungry again.
To thank the Loch Ness Monster,
Saoirse would often make bannocks and toss them into the loch and see the flick of a giant scaly tail.
Now I hope you enjoyed this story and can imagine sitting on the banks of Loch Ness,
Eating a tasty bannock and seeing the beautiful Urquhart Castle in the background.
Maybe you might even find a gem or a gold coin to take home with you.
Sweet dreams from Scotland.
