"The Legend of Licq Bridge"

I would like to tell you about the legend of the Licq Bridge, a small village located in the southwestern corner of France, in the Basque country. The story takes place in the village of Licq (pronounced Leek), divided by a rushing torrent. On one side there is the village proper, with the city hall, the post office and café-bars, and on the other is the church surrounded by the houses and small farms of the inhabitants.

The inhabitants had to cross the river in order to attend to their needs at the local markets, city hall, etc. The rickety bridge was a simple combination of wood held together by ropes, and was permanently damanged by the moving waters of the river. The mayor, deploring the cost of constantly repairing the bridge, called the inhabitants together to decide on a more reasonable solution to the problem. It was finally decided that the best thing would be to build a solid bridge in stone, but the cost was prohibitive, considering the village was quite small and already suffered from a very tight budget.

One member of the village suggested that they should contact the Laminaks, a stange little people who lived just outside the village, and who were known to be very helpful for heavy laborous jobs. This suggestion created a great fear among the villagers, because even though no one ever actually saw the Laminaks, everyone knew that they lived hidden and came out only at night. It was finally decided that a courageous young man named Pette would deposit a letter stating their request at the entry of a grotto.

The very next morning the mayor found a answer to his letter. Gathering the inhabitants around, he read the reply of the Laminaks: the little elves agreed to build the stone bridge, in return they would like to have the mayor's daughter, Marie Therese, the prettiest girl in the village. With a heavy heart the mayor agreed, noting that his daughter was also willing to make this sacrifice. The agreement was accorded, and a very sad Pette, who was also Marie Therese's fiancé, went back to the Laminaks' meeting place to seal the agreement.

The Laminaks proposed to build the bridge the following night, to be completed before the first call of the rooster announcing the rising light of the new day. If they failed to complete the bridge by that time then Marie Therese would be allowed to stay in her village. That night the little elves went to work, gradually building the bridge from one side to the other. Meanwhile the villages had a very difficult time falling asleep; Pette andhis fiancée Marie Therese did not sleep at all, keeping each other company for the last time. As the light began to point in the East, there remained only one massive stone to put into place. Pette, at a lost to see his sweetheart leave him, suddenly had an ingenious idea. He rushed to the nearest farm, entered the chicken house and woke the rooster, who began his routine song welcoming the arrival of a new day.

The Laminaks, seeing that the dawn had arrived, scattered to hide away, leaving the bridge unfinished and the large stone in the middle of the road. Arriving at the scene the villagers found the bridge missing one stone but was still perfectly usable. They were also immensely glad that MarieTherese was still among them. In hommage to the elves, they named the bridge laminen zubia, the Bridge of the Laminaks. If you are in the area, you can see the bridge, and will wonder if it was really made by little elves, who inadvertly left out one large stone.

This lovely legende was brought to you by Joanne, Thank you sweetie, I love this story *S*