Page 6 of A Winter Admire

But that will never happen.

It seemed that meeting Sinoe had been enough to make Edwin break his promise to himself that he would never yearn for someone so far above him. But perhaps it wasn’t so bad to admire the oread. As long as he pined and perhaps even dreamed with the knowledge that there was no hope of Sinoe ever reciprocating.

As Edwin turned to leave, Odara’s grandchildren ran past him.

“Onnami! Onnami!” the youngest grandchild said. He tugged on her woollen dress. “Tell us the Solstice story again.”

“Again! Didn’t I just tell it to you last night?” She laughed. “Very well.”

Edwin stopped and listened on.

ChapterFive

“Many years ago, before even I was born, our human ancestors lived in a small village at the foot of the mountains,” Odara said.

Edwin had heard the story many times. Back when he was a child, he and his sister had sat on the wooden floor of the cabin at his father’s feet on cold winter nights, eager to hear the tale over and over again.

His mother rocked in her chair, a woollen blanket draped across her lap, sipping her fragrant lavender tea, as she, too, listened to the tale.

“Long ago, our ancestors lived at the foot of the Norend Mountains,” his father said, voice deep. “They grew their crops. Looked after the livestock. They loved their families. They were peaceful, hardworking people. But the evil bandits wouldn’t leave them alone.” He shook his head. “They attacked the village, stole their livestock and crops, and torched their houses. They had nothing left.”

Edwin and his sister seethed with anger at the bandits.

“But they would not give up,” his father said. “They decided to travel to Castle Evermore, where they hoped to start safe, new lives. But first, they had to travel through the Norend Mountains and get there before winter. But do you know what happened?”

“They got lost!” he and his sister cried out. They knew the story so well.

His mother laughed, and his father chuckled.

“That’s right.” His father reached forward and ruffled Edwin’s hair. “They got lost! And winter had arrived.

“On the shortest day of the year, on the winter solstice, all seemed lost for the humans.” His father leaned towards them, his voice dropping low. “They huddled together in the snow. Their bellies groaned with hunger.” He paused dramatically. “They prepared their souls for death.”

Edwin held his breath, as if he hadn’t heard the story many times before.

His father sat upright. “Then, from amongst the bare trees, the oreads emerged. They had come to the humans’ rescue!”

Tara gasped.

“Vines and branches pushed up through the snow, and the greenery grew up and over them, creating a barrier to the snow and wind.” His father mimed vines growing upwards. “Fruits, nuts, and berries sprouted amongst the leaves, and the starving humans fell on the food, filling their empty stomachs.” He leaned towards Edwin and Tara, pinching their bellies and making them laugh.

“The humans never made it to Castle Evermore. Instead, they decided to stay here. The oreads took the humans into their caves and looked after them.” His father leaned back and slapped his thighs. “In time, Ores was built. And on Winter Solstice, every year, humans remember their debt to the oreads.”

Edwin could still almost hear his father’s voice. He missed those long winter nights with his family.

“And that’s why we celebrate Winter Solstice,” Odara said as she finished telling the story.

“And why we give gifts!” one of Odara’s grandchildren yelled.

“Yes, we give Solstice gifts to remember the gift of life the oreads gave us,” Odara said. “Although, it used to just be fruits, dried berries, and spices, to remember how the oreads provided nourishment to the humans.”

“My mother gifts me sweets for Solstice, not spices,” one of the children said. “I don’t like spices.”

Odara nodded. “Times have changed. In fact, the tradition started with humans giving gifts to oreads. But the oreads liked the gesture and started giving gifts to humans. Now everyone gives gifts!”

“Will you give us sweets now, Onnami?”

Odara laughed, and Edwin walked away, keeping his head down as he made his way back to his cabin. The wind blew, and Edwin suppressed a shiver. His family had no nymph heritage, as far as they knew. Perhaps that was why he felt the cold so intensely.