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echokyah · 2 years

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Seasons Origin-

"Tag, your it!"

"Oh, I'm gonna get you!"

The little girl squealed as the boy took after her, across the stone driveway and towards the relative shelter of the trees. The other boys and girls cheered respectively for their favorite, egging them on as they darted through the trees with the energy and speed of their age.

None of the children paid any attention to their surroundings, acting as though nothing in the world could hurt them, would hurt them. It was almost as if they knew their grandfather was watching over them. But they really didn't; it was childhood innocence that had them playing so recklessly.

The grandfather smiled at his rambunctious grandchildren from his rocking chair. From his resting place on the porch, he could keep an eye on the children. All of them. And with there being eleven of them, it was certainly a feat.

He watched as the boy, Mayson, caught the little girl, Bellinda. She squealed again and flopped in the grass at the edge of the woods. Mayson flopped down next to her a moment latter. They were both giggling as they tried to catch their breath. The rest of the children ran up to the pair.

"Again, again," the youngest, Julia, cheered.

Bellinda shook her head.

"I'm tired, Julie. Let's take a break."

Julia theatrically groaned as she sunk to her knees.

"But I'm boooooooorrrred. I wanna play!"

Another little girl, Lucindy, grumbled an agreement.

"Well," Mayson panted. "I won't be up to running like that for a while. If you want to play, it'll have to be something else."

Julia whined.

"But I wanna play tag!"

Their grandfather heard all of this. Even with his hard hearing, their words carried on the breeze right to him. He had an idea to solve their problem.

"Boys and girls!" His voice called, a merry boom always associated with a grandfather. It was a voice that portrayed high honor and deserving of deep respect. The children faced their grandfather at once.

"Come here!"

The children all scrambled to their feet, those who were sitting down, and raced to their grandfather's side, hope and excitement dancing in their eyes. None of them appeared shameful, a straight indicator that none of them believed they had done a wrong recently. They were only excited to hear what their grandfather said.

They all came to stand in front of the porch, waiting in anxious anticipation. Grandfather smiled at the barely withheld excitement in their eyes.

"Gather 'round," he said, gesturing to the porch.

"Story time!" Several of the children squealed as they sat comfortably on the wooden porch.

Once they managed to get their energetic jitters under control, Grandfather began.

"Its about time that I told you the story of this lands history."

Jacob opened his mouth to say something, but Samuel, knowing of his habit of interrupting and how rude it would come across, slapped a ready hand over his older brothers mouth. Jacob cast his brother a side glance and nodded. Samuel let his hand drop slowly.

Grandfather witnessed the disturbance. He nearly laughed at how comical it appeared.

"Jacob," he said, now curious as to what the boy had to say. "Do you have something to add?"

"Just a question, Grandfather." He replied. "Why this lands history? I'm sure its boring. Why couldn't you tell us a story about the war or how this farm came to be?"

"Because you have heard all those stories before," Grandfather answered. "And it is important to know of how the land you farm came to be. Wouldn't you like to know how the seasons came to be? How winter got its cold and summer got its heat? Wouldn't you like to know how the flowers bloom in spring or why the leaves and foliage die in fall?"

Jacob didn't want to be disrespectful, so he just nodded. "Yes, Grandfather."

The elderly man smiled again, leaning back in his comfortable rocker as he began.

"Long ago, before we humans had the very thought of recording history, the land was plain, and boring. Plants didn't grow or die, and every day was warm, with a clear sky. During these times, a great king ruled over the land. His rule and reign was just and fair. It lasted longer than humans have memories, so that his ancestry is unknown, nor is his age. But by the time we did think to start recording history, he had been ruling for five generations."

"How could he live so long, Grandfather?" Louanna asked. The little girls interruption was unexpected and, therefore, unhindered.

"No one knows, sweetheart. But with the strength of his power, it is not surprising. You see, he not only ruled over these lands, but he granted them life. With his incomprehensible power, he can tell the trees to live or die and they will obey. He could tell the ocean to evaporate and it would disappear. He could tell the land to quake and rumble and it would tear itself apart to please him.

"As I said before, this king ruled for centuries. But, of course, every king must have his heirs, princes and princesses, to fill the emptiness of his castle.

"The king married a fair maiden from the who, too, had odd powers and strengths that no one knew of. She did not exercise them, as she saw them as curses. When the king first met her, he sensed something different, something that stood her apart from all the other maidens of the land. He courted her and they fell in love. They were married a year later.

"This maiden, no one has record of her name, bore the king four sons. The first was named Jasperian, for how cold he was when he was born and how white his hair was. Jasperian is the eldest of the princes and the first to have his power discovered. Between the maiden and the king, each of the princes was born with a unique power. Jasperian's was a ability to manipulate ice and its many forms, not including water.

"The second prince born was born nearly a year later. He was named Dakota, for his exceptional strength as he grasped his father's finger in his tiny fist. As he grew older, it was discovered that he had a supernatural way with plants. He could grow them at speeds no plant can on its own, just by asking them to.

"The third prince born made his arrival known, screaming when he arrived. He was named Aiden, for his obvious fiery temper. Later it was discovered, to no ones surprise, that his power was that over fire, easily bent to his emotions and will.

"The fourth a final prince was born far too early and small. The queen and king feared for when he was born, that he wouldn't make it for his youth. It was a struggle for weeks to keep the boy alive, the boys hungry gasps could be heard echoing down the halls of the castle. The poor child couldn't even get the breath to breathe.

"But he did survive. His lungs recovered from their shock and were made healthy. Soon, the halls that once echoed with gasps now echoed with the child's joyful giggles. The king chose to name this prince Isaac, for the joy the boy expressed with every breath, nearly all of them coming out in giggles. It was latter discovered the boy had control over the wind. The king saw this fitting."

"Why, Grandfather?" Pansy inquired.

Grandfather met the girls unusual gold eyes.

"Well, dearest, if the world threatened to take away your very right for breath, and you managed to fight hard enough to keep it, wouldn't it seem right for the world to compensate for it with the right to master the very element that tried to abandon you?"

Pansy cocked her cute, frizzy head of curls.

"I guess."

"Now," Grandfather said, returning to his story. "The king, the princes, and the queen lived in peace for seven years, each boy growing and learning mastery over their elements.

"At the end of the seven years, a disastrous plague swept through the land. The king, for all his power and righteous wisdom, he could not cure the afflicted. Not even his beloved queen."

The children gasped in dread for the queen. Grandfather noticed, happily, that he had their undivided attention, many of them leaning forward.

"The queen grew sick quickly and was soon unable to leave bed for weakness caused by the illness. The king, fearing for his sons lives, sent them away, hoping the plague would not catch them if they ran fast enough. The king sent them away with hand picked special attendants and the fastest steeds in the royal stable. Oddly, these horses temperaments seemed to pair well with the prince they were to carry.

"The king feared for his sons so, that he would not let them tell their mother goodbye.

"The king sat with the queen for many days and nights before the illness took its toll. She died, embraced in his arms.

"The king had every inch of the castle scrubbed with lye soap, twice, and the body and linens burned. The queens ashes were placed in a special vase and given its own pedestal to rest upon.

"Only when the castle was completely purged and the staff culled so that not even a sniffle of illness could be seen or heard, did the king send for his sons return.

"Immediately, the boys asked to see their mother, who had surely survived. The king delivered the news and watched as each of his sons reacted. Jasperian grew cold and withdrawn, speaking only when spoken to, and no more then necessary. It was years before even the ghost of his past smile appeared again. Dakota burst into tears and ran through out the castle, calling and wailing for his mama. He was inconsolable, crying nonstop for days. Aiden burst in flame, unable to control his emotions or his fire. He screamed at his father his rage and nearly set several things on fire. Isaac just froze, not moving, not even breathing. He forgot to. He soon passed out and the king made sure that he breathed in unconsciousness before taking the boy to his room, stationing a nurse to keep an eye on the boys breathing.

"Nonetheless, the boys were furious with their father. Not so much Isaac and Dakota, as they mainly felt the pain and loss, but Jasperian and Aiden only remembered the goodbyes they were never allowed to say.

"Things went on like this for another two years before the pain dulled and another maiden appeared and captured the kings attentions. They courted for a year before they were married and Queen Jolia took her throne.

"She was kind and gentle, and so much like the first queen, with one exception. This queen was stronger, tougher than that of the first, more delicate queen. Queen Jolia had more attitude.

"The king loved his new wife. Isaac and Dakota excepted her almost immediately, seeing a fix for their fathers pain. Jasperian and Aiden however... Did not accept her. They loathed her for the position she filled, viewing her as a replacement for their lost mother.

"But Jasperian was smart. As much as he hated the queen, he never openly expressed it. He was too wise to insult her for her position, even with him being the heir. So he respected her for her position and hated her silently.

"Aiden, however, was never one for tactics. He taunted the woman at every turn, insulting and belittling her position. While he didn't do it much when his father was around, it didn't matter to the hot tempered prince. He did anywhere, anytime.

"He was belted and punished many times for these instances, but they only ever delayed his outbursts. It was only when Queen Jolia punched him and beat him in a fair fist fight that he learned to respect the fire in the woman. His outbursts faded and he learned to accept his new queen. On the outside, anyway.

"Queen Jolia became pregnant and gave birth to the first of four princesses. The first was born with difficulties, but pulled through and grew up to be a beautiful young girl. Her personality was much like the first princes, cool and collected.

"When she was born, the king felt something about her. He called in Jasperian. The prince listened obediently and entered the chambers with a bow. The king called him over and placed the princess in his arms. Jasperian's crisp mask melted instantly at the weight of the baby in his arms. He felt a connection even before the king said anything. 'You were born to protect,' the king said softly to his son. 'You were born to protect her.'

"As much as Jasperian was still angry with his father, he could not disagree. He could feel an unexplainable loyalty to the young child. The prince aided in the babies care from then on.

"The queen became pregnant again and gave birth to a second princess. This one squirmed the moment she got her breath and would not hold still. The king called in his second son and Dakota came running. The young boy actually cried as the baby quieted in his arms, the feelings of loyalty and love overwhelming.

"The queen went on to give birth to a third princess. She welcomed the world with an angry scream and the third prince was called in. Aiden was very reluctant to hold the child, but his curiosities finally got the better of him and he held her. He held her for hours in wonder before the king had to order him to give her back to Queen Jolia.

"The final princess was born another year later. When she did appear, she was not expected to live. She was so still and pale for a baby, and so thin. She almost looked dead except for the tiny pitter patter of her heartbeat and the soft whistle her lungs made with every breath.

"No one had to call in the final prince. Isaac appeared at his fathers side silently and gently gathered up the baby. The king, queen and royal doctors watched silently as the boy carried the baby to a nearby rocking chair. He sat in it and began to rock gently, talking to the baby and telling her exciting tales and funny stories. 'You're sick,' he told his little sister. 'I can tell. I was sick when I was a baby, too. But you'll make it. You're strong and alive. And I'm here. I'm not letting you go.'

"The king let his son rock the baby for hours, helping in her feedings for days. Isaac hardly even slept, so great was his worry and love for his beloved sister. It took weeks, but the princess recovered and grew up to be a fine young woman, although she still remained pale, her skin never acquiring a tan of any kind.

"For ten years more, peace returned and ruled the lands. Over the course of these years, it was noticed that the normal days began to change. Clouds, never seen before, were spotted and rain was discovered for the first time. Plants began to die, followed by a cold that killed them completely. The people panicked until they realized the cold eventually gave to warm rains in which the plants grew back. Then the warm season would hit and the days would be almost like before with one exception; some days were hot. Hotter than they'd ever felt. The people began to panic again, but then the hot days gave way to cooler days in which the plants died.

"The king watched this process with fascination. He also noticed that each of his daughters had a favorite time. Princess Winter, the eldest, especially liked the time when the white crystals of ice would fall from the sky and land on her tongue. Princess Spring, the second princess, liked the season in which plants were reborn and wildflowers chose to bloom. She loved the meadows so. Princess Summer, the third oldest, especially liked the hotter days, when the sun beat relentlessly and the rays made a swim in a mountain lake pleasant. She especially liked it when the heat dried her off. Princess Autumn, the youngest, liked the time that cooled off, when plants began to die, turning beautifully vibrant and rich shades of red, yellow, and brown. She would watch in wonder as a cool breeze would carry the dead away on its current.

"The king finally discovered, as the times, the seasons, grew stronger, that they were caused by his very daughters. He named the seasons of change after them and the seasons reflected their moods.

"For another five years, the princesses grew up with their brothers, born protectors, watching over them and helping train them to their seasonal powers. The brothers also found they could assist their sisters in control of the seasons. Jasperian would help Winter with ice and snowstorms. Dakota would help Spring grow the wildflowers and help them bloom. Aiden would help Summer heat the days. Isaac would help Autumn cool the days with a gentle breeze.

"Together, the siblings power was beautiful and strong. Each season was pleasant and dangerous in its own respects. The people adapted and learned to survive and thrive in each season. They began to even anticipate the seasons as they came.

"But, one autumn, a fire spread rampant through the land. It destroyed many villages and killed thousands of people. When Prince Aiden was finally located and brought before the king, the damage was done and the fire had faded.

"The king demanded to know what his son was thinking to have done such a thing. Aiden claimed he had nothing to do with it, that he was exploring some deep caverns and had gotten lost. That's why it had taken so much time to find him. The king turned to his other sons and demanded to know if they believed their brother.

"Jasperian stepped forward without hesitation, feeling protective of his younger brother. He stated that he believed the prince of fire. Isaac and Dakota were torn between loyalty to their father and their brothers, but after a heated argument, they joined their brothers, defending Aiden.

"The king accused them of conspiracy against the kingdom and, to punish them for their recklessness, they were to be imprisoned until the time was ripe to free them. Jasperian, Isaac, and Dakota froze at severity of the punishment, but Aiden's temper was sparked. He shot fire at the throne. His rash act just confirmed the king's decision. The princes were apprehended and split up to go to their prisons.

"The princes, because of their abilities, could not be locked in ordinary dungeons. They had to be held in dungeons that would guarantee their confinement for the foreseeable future.

"The king, using his sovereign powers, carved the cages for his beloved sons. His heart was heavy, but his kingdom had to come first, and he would not let thousands of innocent people go unavenged.

"He carved Jasperian's confinement deep in the belly of a volcano, to melt his ice. Dakota's confinement was carved in no man's land, far beneath dunes of life leeching sand. Aiden's confinement was carved out of a waterfall, where a perpetual stream of water would quench his eternal fire. Isaac's confinement was dug so far beneath the earth, no air or breeze would ever be detected.

"As the king was the only one with powers strong enough to restrain that of the princes', it was his duty to escort each prince to his prison.

"It was also his punishment.

"Jasperian didn't put up much of a fuss. He held his chin high, refusing to meet his father's gaze as they traveled down to his prison. He accepted the stone manacles without protest. The king said not a word. He didn't even look back as he locked the door behind him.

"Dakota sobbed. He was scared, and sad. He didn't want to be seperated from his power, stuck in some cage forever. He didn't want to not ever see his family again. He didn't want to lose his brothers. He didn't want to lose Spring. But he did everything his father asked and was locked in a chamber with only his sobs to echo back at him.

"Aiden fought like nothing else. He had been honest, as his father always taught him to be, and now he was being punished for it. His confusion came out in fury and he lashed out at his father. The king easily subdued him and locked his fuming son in the prison.

"Isaac was scared out his mind. Since his illness as a baby, he had always had a deep rooted fear for enclosed spaces and suffocation. Of course, his father wasn't leaving him without air. He didn't want to kill his sons, just punish them. But Isaac didn't really understand that, but he did understand his own fear. He screamed and begged his father not to do this, to put him in any other prison. The king ignored his pleas, and the last prince was locked away.

"Like the last time the princes were sent away, they were not given the chance to say good bye. The king did not want to run the risk of the princes 'corrupting' the queen or his young princesses.

"The princesses were outraged when they heard what had happened. Despite the order not to search for the princes, they did so anyway. But they could not find their brothers. The princesses had just barely begun to really control their powers under the tutelage of their brothers and their emotions were raging.

"Needless to say, the seasons were violent that year and the people suffered. Winters normal chill was replaced with a bitter, ice cold sting as blizzard after blizzard pummeled the lands, burying everything in snow so deep it could not be moved. There was no reprieve in the spring, as the people hoped for. When the snow melted away, the plants that grew were wilted and unhealthy. No wildflowers bloomed that year. Summer came like a rampaging bull, hotter than ever and burning to death so many of the weak plants. The people could not even find reprieve in the mountain lakes, for they evaporated quickly under the suns glare. When fall came, there was nothing left to die. But autumn still dampened the heat of summer. Horrible windstorms plagued this season, whipping trees up from their roots and flattening poorly shored buildings.

"The people got together a representative to appeal to the king, to beg him to restore the peace that once existed. The king said he would do all he could, but there would be little chance that the seasons would completely return to what they once were.

"The representative returned to the people with his news. The resolved to find a way to live with the new, harsher environment, finding no other alternative.

"The king left his daughters to their seasons, knowing that nothing he did or said, short of releasing the princes, would make them do as he asked.

"The princesses grew distant to their father, and eventually decided to leave the grand castle, to live elsewhere.

"The king argued with them that their powers would only work strongly enough in the castle to change the season, because of the stone that made the walls. But the princesses were final in their decision. If the king wanted them to continue changing the seasons and not leave the earth a barren wasteland, then he needed to find another way.

"So the king forged a magical amulet with the ore of the stone the castle was made of. Four times a year, he told his daughters, they would return to the castle to pass on the amulet for the next season. They were required to. Besides that, they could live their lives as they wished.

"The dates were set and Spring was given the amulet first, as her season was the next one. The princesses gathered what belongings they wanted to take and mounted their steeds. The kissed their mother good bye and left without another word.

"Since that day, the princesses kept their promise and returned to the castle every winter solstice, summer solstice, autumn equinox, and spring equinox, to pass on the amulet. But they never stayed at the castle, no matter how much their mother would plead. The castle wasn't their home anymore, not without their brothers.

"The seasons gradually lost their harshness; gentle snow returned in winter, wildflower blooms returned in spring, summers sun grew warm instead of blisteringly hot, and autumns winds became a gentle breeze.

"Every once in a while, you'll see an off season, when winter grows too cold, or summer grows too hot. When springs wildflowers do not grow, or when autumns winds grow too strong. When this happens, it is because the princess misses her prince, misses the brother that once complemented her so well. She is upset and releases her emotions into her season.

"That is how the winter got its cold and the summer got its heat. Why the flowers bloom in spring and the leaves die in fall.

The children sat in silence for a moment, digesting that the story was actually over.

"Was it real, Grandfather? Do they still exist?" Mayson asked.

"That is for you to decide. Does the king still rule over these lands, just in ways you do not see? Are the princes still captive for a mistake that was never made? Do the princesses still despise their father for the torture each prince has to go through with every year that passes? Does the queen still mourn, not just the loss of her adopted sons, but her princesses as well? Does the king regret anything that he has done? Does any of it exist? That is for you to decide, my dear grandchildren. I've told you the story as my grandfather told me and his grandfather told him. Now, it is up to you to decide."

The children didn't move for another few heartbeats, frozen in their indecision. The silence was broken when Julia leapt to her feet.

"Let's play! I call the spring princess!"

She leapt of the porch and ran to a patch of wildflowers blooming in the lawn.

"I'll be your handmaiden," Bellinda said, kneeling next to her sister. She began to braid a chain of flowers to make a crown.

The other children began to disperse, calling the roles of the princes, princesses, queen and king. And then, of course, Bellinda was Julia's handmaiden.

Grandfather watched his children play with sad eyes. The joy, the innocence they played with was refreshing to his old soul. But where there is a season of peace, there will be a season of turmoil to balance it.

That's thing with seasons. They were never made to last forever.

Fin.

Author's note:

So, guys, what do you think? Would you like to see this story continued?

#original work #original story #creative #seasons #seasonal #storytelling #author #potential #backstory

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