Goddess of Winter

 writing-prompt-s

You're a minor goddess who saved a mortal on the brink of death. A few months later, he came back with an army to pledge allegiance to you.

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Their lives are so brief; you could blink and miss one entirely.  Even the eldest are mayflies. 

So, when I noticed, near the end of my Season, one about to expire, one with such a bright life-force, it seemed a shame.  It was such an easy thing to reach out, bring him back, if only for another half-blink of time.  

“Go,” I told him.  “Time is short.  Spend it wisely.”

He left, and I forgot about him, and I slumbered until my Season began anew.

When I awoke, he was back at the same spot.  He had built a pretty little shrine.  And he was not alone this time – a legion of his kind stood ready, wearing thick hides and strong metal, bearing weapons.  I admit to curiosity.  I made manifest, and greeted him.

“My Goddess,” he proclaimed, descending to one knee.  “You spared my life.  I have raised an army in your name.”

“So I see,” I answered.  “You’ve been busy.  And what will you do with your army?”

He lifted his head, but averted his eyes.  “We will go forth across the lands, spreading your Word.”

“And the armor, and the weapons?”

“To smite the unbelievers in your name.”

Yes, of course they would be, but I needed to hear him say it.  Some of my siblings have no such compunction, but I try to be patient.

“Walk with me,” I said.

The fallen leaves, brittle with frost, crunched beneath our feet – his in heavy boots, mine bare.  I led him a little ways from his army, out of earshot, before posing my next question.

“Do you know why I chose the Winter as my domain?”

He seemed bewildered.  “I...I thought that you were born to it...that you created the winter, the cold, to bring an end to…”

“Oh, no,.  The Winter was here long before my birth.”  He still looked confused, so I continued.  “Without one of my family as guardian, the Winter was indeed as you thought.  Harsh, cold, unfeeling...killing.  One of my older sisters brought the Spring, Season of Renewal, long before my time of choice.”

I paused, gazing upon his face.  “We thrive on Life, do you see?”

He didn’t answer.

“My choice of domain, the Winter, surprised my family.  The Season most barren of life?  I was told that I would never thrive, that I would shrivel and come to resemble the cruelty of the cold.  But I was determined that I would, rather, give the Winter a kinder face.”

I stopped walking then.  We had come to an edge, a sheer face of the mountain.  Below us, a valley still clung to a bit of green.

“Look there,” I told him.  “Clinging to life in the face of death.  That’s how I found you.  Such strength, such sheer tenacity.  Struggling, against all hope, to survive.”

Finally, the message reached him.  I saw his face relax, his narrowed eyes open – just a bit.  I extended my hands to him.

“My friend, I have no interest in smiting the unbelievers – their deaths would not strengthen me.  Nor would I ask my most fervent followers to die in my name.  If you wouild spread my Word, then first you must know it.”

I waited.  Waited until he took my hand.  Waited until, finally, he met my eyes, and uttered in a hoarse whisper, “Then what is your Word, my Lady?”

I smiled.  “But I already told you.  My Word is Hope.”

The next few moments were of utmost importance.  His face contorted as one emotion chased another across his features.  Denial, as the thought of months spent in folly arose.  Disappointment, possibly in me for not immediately blessing his mission of conquest.  I watched carefully as shame caused his eyes to drop.  He took a deep breath...and released it.  His next emotion would either be rage, or...

“I will disband my army,” he said..  I’m...sorry to have misunderstood.”  There it was.  Acceptance, and resolve.  

“Oh, don’t do that,” I said.  “An army without a leader is more dangerous than an unbridled Winter – they would follow anyone who gave them a purpose.” Patting his hand, I said, “Rather, give them a better purpose.”

As he pondered this, I whispered, “Your lives are so brief.  Time is short.  Spend it wisely.”

A few moments later, he nodded.  I released his hands, thankful that I had not saved his life only to lose it to a pointless sacrifice.  He turned to go.

As I dissolved my manifest form, I called out, “Oh, and get them some warmer clothing.  Some of them are getting frostbite.”