The Green Witch

They killed her mother. It was the year 1098, the spring has passed, and the mid-summer season was in full bloom. The air was hot and heavy, and the wind was very low. But the flowers were in full bloom, there was green everywhere, and the sheep were bountiful. Crickets could be heard buzzing in the distance wherever they went, and butterflies were flying everywhere, making the fields a whimsical, beautiful place to frolic and play in as they walked to the village. As they walked Flora and her mother Aurora talked and dipped their feet in the creek. The lake was roaring and the water felt so nice on such a hot day. They passed deer, foxes, and so many beautiful birds! Flora played and ran on her way to the village, not thinking that such a glorious day could turn into anything other than glorious. She woke up and didn’t know that the day could change so quickly in so few moments, and her entire life would go from so much happiness and light to so much sadness. Flora, a 13 year old girl living with her mother, started the day like she would any normal day. Flora and her mother, Aurora, got up extremely early, since it was market day. Once a month, they would make their way to the local village to attend the market that takes place in the square. It was always a wonderful time for Flora. She loved going to the village. The village sits off the castle grounds, surrounding the castle like little children surrounding their mother. The river was off to the right - quite a distance away, but at the edge of the forest. The forest where Flora and her mother lived. There are surrounding farmlands, on the outskirts of the village/town, right before the edge of the forest. So there were occasionally sheep and goats scattered in the area that the farmers let roam freely until it was time for them to be sold. In the village, there are taverns, shops, and a blacksmith. The village was a bustling, busy place, and visiting the village was always a joyous time for Flora. She never understood why visiting always made her mother a little nervous. Flora was so young and naive, and so curious about the market, she never paid very much attention to the tension between her mother and the other villagers. The townsfolk seemed nice enough to her, but to her mother, it was very different. Flora and her mother attended the market in the square twice a month to purchase supplies and to trade or sell their wares. In the square, you can find vegetables, fruits, and many goods from merchants, who came to trade from all over the world. There were silks, wines, furs, spices, and other treasures, from as far away as Asia. Local farmers would bring animals and crops to sell. In the market, you could sometimes find a traveling performer or performers. Magicians, jugglers, storytellers, and musicians were all frequent visitors in the market and loved to perform in exchange for a token or two. You could also find treats and dishes such as meat stews with cheese, turkey legs, stews made with almond sauce, pastries, pies, and a variety of different cheeses and bread! Such joy in all the different treats and delicacies! Flora enjoyed and indulged in whatever her heart desired. The day her mother took her to the market was one of the few times that Flora was allowed to indulge and just enjoy herself. So on this day, Flora woke with excitement, as she always did on Market day. She and her mother left the cottage very early, they made their way to town and started purchasing what they needed. Their route to town started from their little cottage in the forest, past the forest lake, and through the thickest part of the forest. When they came to the edge of the forest, they walked across the lake and through the creek, into the clearing. After running through the clearing and the fields surrounding the village, they entered the market, and Flora's eyes opened in pure wonder. Almost upon entering, Flora’s attention was caught by an interesting-looking juggler who was doing tricks with as many as four or five kinds of fruit. She was mesmerized, so much so, that she didn’t hear the screaming in the square. What Flora didn’t know was that one of the townspeople, who were always very apprehensive about Flora’s mother visiting the village, questioned Flora’s mother about a sack of crystals that she carries around with her. Knowing all too well that if she told them what they could really do, it would be the end for her and her daughter, so she told them that the crystals were purely decorative. Beautiful to carry, and just trinkets for her to admire. The villager in question would not stop interrogating her and started to become aggressive, and soon there were others joining in the chaos and madness. She tried to leave, and they held her down, took her crystals, and started to perform a mock trial of their own. Flora came running around a corner when she spotted the horrendous scene, she yelled out “NO!” and “Let go of my mother!” But as soon as she ran up to them, her mother, head held down in the water trough lifted her head to scream “Flora! RUN! Run home now!” Crying, she fled. She could hear the villagers chanting and whooping, and there were two men running after her, but as soon as she got to the woods, they didn’t follow her in, thinking the forest will probably end her life anyway since she was just a little girl. Scared and alone, Flora made her way to their home. Flora and Aurora’s home was a cottage in the middle of the forest that was hidden magically from any prying eyes. In the past, no one really questioned Aurora or where she lived. The townsfolk knew she lived alone with her daughter Flora and they seeked her for her medicinal care every now and then. Aurora always met them in town, on the days that she visited the market and traded care for supplies. Until recently when newer townsfolk moved in, the townspeople started to question her services and branded her a witch. So on this sad day, Flora ran home to her cottage and stayed there crying for her mother, crying out of fear and anger. She cried for weeks. She vowed she would never help another person in town again, and she seeked refuge and peace in the forest where she stayed alone until she had a visitor follow her. In the weeks that followed her mothers death, Flora stayed in bed and cried. She could not eat, she slept. She slept a lot. She could not get out of bed, she slept. She did not care for herself, bathe, or brush her hair, she just…slept. Hunger would eventually force her out of bed, so she did get out of bed to eat whatever food was in the house. Her mother had gardens surrounding the cottage consisting of flowers, vegetables, fruit trees, berrie bushes, and herbs. Without care, the gardens would not flourish and die. Just like her mother. Flora realized that she needed to continue her mother’s work, and her life needed to continue. So one day, she prepared herself to leave the house and carry on with the daily chores. Aurora always had days full of chores and work, sitting idle was not something she practiced. Even when sitting, Aurora was doing something, usually knitting or mending their clothes. Aurora loved to sit and watch Flora read by the fire while they both sat quietly. Usually reading, knitting, mending, or some other quiet activity. It was like spending alone time, but together. She thought about all the times that she and her mother did these same chores, walking through the forest, collecting herbs, and helping creatures. Her favorite time with her mother was working in the garden though. She loved to see all the growing things and life in the garden. It made her feel alive too. Some of her best memories were walking around and learning from her mother. Her mother taught her to make the best potions, and medicines, and she learned the way of magic from her mother. As she does her chores, Flora recalls a conversation she had with her mom on one of their daily walks. “Mother, why do we do what we do?” Flora asks. Aurora, her mother, answers, “Because Flora, if we didn’t do it, no one would. The land we live on, and the creatures that inhabit this land, need us.” Flora looks at her mom, confused, “Why?” Aurora gazes at her young daughter, lovingly, “My darling....the world can sometimes be a cruel place, filled with cruel people. It is also sometimes a wonderful place, full of wonder, and love.” Aurora stops to pick some mushrooms and puts them in her basket, looking back at her daughter she continues, “There is a balance that must be kept, and we help to keep that balance. Without the work we do, and the help we give, the balance will tip toward the world of evil and cruelty, our job is to keep balance, or restore it.” Flora begins to understand and is proud that her mother, and inevitably, herself (one day) have such an important job. She runs toward some herbs and flowers, and Aurora watches her as she frolics in the forest. Aurora shouts to her daughter to be careful and continues on in collecting her important herbs. She needs to find some daisies, worm root, Rhododendrons, and dogwood. She also needs to find some of that special moss that only grows in the Healing Lake. The Healing Lake is located in the middle of the forest, almost next to Aurora and Flora’s cottage. It’s a beautiful lake, with moss topped rocks at the edge of it. The water is almost turquoise, and still seems to glow a blue/green color at night. The moon touches the water every night, just at the right angle, and this seems to energize the lake and give it it’s healing powers. Aurora gathers water from the Healing Lake to mix with her medicines and potions, this helps to heal. The lake also helps to cleanse. It has an ability to cleanse away anger, darkness, and feelings of despair. Aurora taught Flora how to make a concoction to drink whenever she feels unhappy, or feels like her light or aura is being taken away by darkness. Walking to the lake, Aurora is deep in thought, and she fears the day that she will not be with Flora to guide her and protect her, but she knows that one day, that will be Aurora’s reality. One day she will need to go on in the world to fulfill her own destiny, and continue the work that she learns today. Aurora silently hopes that she will find love, and a partner in life that will understand and help her in the work that is so important to the balance. She thinks to herself all that she must do in order to ensure that Flora is prepared as well, and will continue this work. Fast forwarding to the present day, Flora continues her chores, thinking about her mother, and what she learned about the balance that they help to keep in place. She thinks to herself about the importance of the work that they do, and all of a sudden, she was angry. She hurls her basket of herbs across the clearing and throws herself down on a log to cry. Why did this happen? Did those people know about all the good her mother has done? Did those people understand that now she is left alone? Did they care that her heart is broken into a million pieces and she is now left alone? Without the one person that cared for her? The one person that loved and protected her? Suddenly, Flora felt very alone. All alone in the woods and the sun was setting. She cried for a little bit on the log, and then stood up, collected her things on the forest floor, and made her way back to her cabin….alone. She would continue on, and live day by day. She would continue her mother’s work, because it was important to her mother, but she vowed that she would never help another person or set foot in the village again. She would become a recluse, never wanting to be around people. Until a certain someone walked into her life, and just couldn’t bring himself to walk out of it.