A few years ago I wrote this and I think I shall share it again.
A short little story for you for the Holiday Season.
"Grandfather is ill, Ivy! What shall we do? " cried Holly. Poor little Holly sat down on the log and cried while tears dripped on to the ground and turned into glistening snow flakes.
Little Ivy began to sob as if her heart would break as she clung to Holly and their tears mingled.
Suddenly Ivy raised her head and said, "Oh Holly, perhaps Grandmother will cure him. She knows everything." They both stopped crying and felt hope spring into their minds. "There is suppose to be a celebration tonight, perhaps we can talk to Grandmother and see if Grandfather is feeling better, and I am sure he will be."
Holly and Ivy were both young Autumn fairies. They were just a few months old, having been born on the Autumn Equinox, they were just learning of the ways of the seasons and the Wheel of the year.
They went on with their chores when they heard a rustling of the wind and a voice whispered through the trees "He is gone, Grandfather has passed to the Summerland."
Holly and Ivy with tears in their eyes headed for their warm cottage when they saw the Maiden run by them running towards the area of the forest where Grandfather and Grandmother dwelled. Both little fairies were so upset they crawled into their bed and cried till they fell asleep.
They were suddenly awakened by a voice saying " Wake up sleepyheads! It's time to go to the celebration!" They opened their eyes to see the Dryad of the Oak tree. "Oh lady, do you mean even though we all sorrow, we are still having a celebration?" asked Holly as she and Ivy crawled out of bed.
"Of course! We are celebrating and the Mother has given birth to the new babe!" replied the Dryad.
"But we are sad because Grandfather passed to the Summerland. " sobbed Ivy
"Oh my dear little fairies, no one has explained to you yet! You are so young you have not learned yet the mystery. " said the Dryad as she sat down on the bed and patted the bed on either side of her and " Sit down and let me explain the mystery to you". Ivy and Holly sat down on either side of the Dryad.
"Little ones, everyone and everything dies. It is part of the cycle of death, life and rebirth. But we are ALL reborn. Grandfather passed on to the Summerland. But the Mother has just given birth to the babe who IS Grandfather reborn. The Babe will grow and age with the seasons to once more pass into the Summerland next Winter Solstice, and once again be reborn as a babe. Just as the flowers poke their heads out of the ground, and grow into a plant that blooms with color and blossoms and then withers and dies as the dark and cold season appears, and then sleeps over the cold dark season and wake up to regrow, so does all life."
Holly and Ivy begin to talk excitedly "Oh Lady, let us go see the babe! See Grandfather reborn!"
and they bounced up from where they were sitting and pulled the Dryad to her feet. With a tinkling laugh the Dryad led the little fairies to the clearing.
The Maiden and the Crone were standing on either side of the Mother who held a newborn wrapped tightly. Holly and Ivy edged closer to the Mother to peep at the babe. The babe opened his eyes and looked at the little fairies just as several stars started twinkling brightly in the sky.
The Dryad leaned down and said to Holly and Ivy "Tonight the night is longest night in the seasonal wheel, but with the rebirth of the Babe, each day will be longer than the one before. The dark and cold are passing, and the wheel is turning towards warmth and light. This is the reason we celebrate the Winter Solstice." At this the babe gurgled in delight as he looked up at the twinkling stars
Hope you enjoyed reading the story as much as I enjoyed writing it!!
