A Tinn’s tale

nce upon a time, there was a lake. People who came to visit it very often called it ‘The water between the hills’, as the grand lake was surrounded by hills.
 
 

At one side, there was land. Men who came fishing or walking down the shore on sundays’, enjoyed the pure water, and the green flora.

There was also a road, the Old road. Traders of neighbouring villages travelled along the road on their journeys.

One winter, a group of traders decided to build their camp there. They explored the land and discovered there was much more than only the Old road and the water between the hills. It was beautiful- even in winter when all the green leaves were gone.

They came across an old castle on a hill. It was a comforting thought that sometimes a lord came to live there for a while.

The fishers and the farmers, too, came to the unspoiled land on walks. They saw, with their nature’s eye, that the land was wealthy and fertile. It would be a nice place to live.

Duke William - of Locksley, where the people lived - told them the place was named ‘Tinn’. The castle on the hill belonged to his family and they came there sometimes.

These people - it were a few peasant and merchant families, some with faraway noble blood - were very excited about their discovery. So when Duke William said they could live in Tinn(Locksley was getting too big anyway, he said) the families were thrilled. With excitement, but also with uncertainty.

When the time for the removal came, Duchess Maartje found it difficult to say goodbye to her friends.

‘Come now, my love,’ said William to his wife, who was in tears. ‘You can always visit them, can’t you? Have a nice time, people- we wish you good luck!’

It was spring at the time and whether or not they may have had some doubts, when attending the bright spring sun enlighten the unfurling leaves, all they could do was smile.