November feels like a story-telling kind of month - colder and greyer outside, cozier and snugglier inside.
Here's
one more post about the excitement of doing NaNoWriMo.
Today's little tarot-inspired tale comes from five different November-y decks, one card from each.
Once upon a time, in a friendly village far far away, there lived a courting couple. All the townsfolk loved this young woman and her young man, for they were kind and friendly and seemed well-suited.
One day, the young man, Martin, arrived bearing a beautifully wrapped gift. He could hardly wait for his intended to open it!
"The box is warm," Gemma exclaimed. "Is it a puppy?"
Warm? How puzzling. "No, it's not a puppy." Martin smiled as she carefully set the extravagant bow on a table and tipped the box's lid.
"Oh, it's wondrous! However did you manage it?" For the lantern inside the box was already lit. Lifting it by its wire handle, Gemma peered into the flame, then stiffened. "It frightens me, Martin," she said. "It's pulling me in and I don't want to go."
Something otherworldly is at work here, thought Martin, for of course he had not struck a match to the wick before carefully placing the lantern into the box. Fear slithered across his shoulders.
He reached for Gemma but too late; she had slipped into a trance staring into the flame. The hoarse voice as she spoke was not that of his beloved. It seemed to come from a great distance; he didn't understand.
"Come with us, Earth Girl, onto the path of the Sun. We ourselves cannot help her, but we will walk with you until you find her. Fear not; no harm will befall you if you do as we ask. Come; there is little time."
Gemma's voice changed again.
"My son, my beloved first-born, my darling boy. Daily I weep tears of stone." She was a woman now, older, and so sad.
"Will we ever be released from this curse? I alone am to blame; the spirits of the forest would never have taken you had I listened to them." The voice left off, Martin heard a broken inhale, then it continued.
"Oh my son, please forgive me. I was too proud, too hard, too unloving."
The flame flared, and the image of a beautiful young stag appeared. It burst from the lantern and bounded away in a wash of light.
And thus ends another November mini-tale. I wish for you contented cocooning, beautiful books, and of course, mugs of steaming tea.
In neighbourhood news...
We recently were treated to seven days of movie-going when
WIFF once again came to town. There were 143 films to choose from during this year's Windsor International Film Fest. Oh, the stories!
🎬🎭🎬🎬🎭🎬🎭🎬🎬🎭🎬🎭🎬🎬🎭🎬