The Honor of Brining Spring (976 words)

         

Shipton          1

The Honor of Bringing Spring

         The bright sun broke through the crack in Min's bedroom window. She jumped up with excitement, because today was the day Min would be in-charge of the planting for her family. She and her family had lived in the Cherry Blossom Valley, for several generations, growing vegetables for their village. She had helped her grandfather since she was young, but today the spring sun would warm the land making it good for the coming year's food.
         Min ran down the stairs and opened the door, but chilly wind blew the door shut.
         Her mother came from the kitchen, "Shut the door, and come eat your breakfast."
         Min turned and went to the table to eat her oatmeal, "But mother, today is the first day of spring. Grandfather said to start the vegetables on the first day of spring."
         "Wait until tomorrow," her mother said. "What is one more day? Today the Witch of the North continues blowing her icy winds over our land."
         "We can not wait," Min said as she placed her empty bowl in the sink. "Grandfather said the seeds of the of the Molly Roots must be in the ground on the first day of spring, or the harvest will be stunted."
         "You cannot stop the Witch of the North. She is powerful. The frost comes from her breath, and ice flows in her veins. She fears no one. You are still a child, but one day you will learn that sometimes things are out of our control. Now, go to your room and wait for a warmer day. The village will have to survive on whatever crops are grown for this year."
         Min went to her room and fell upon her bed. She heard her the voice of her grandfather, 'Min, you are growing to be a strong woman. You are now the keeper of the garden. You must remember all I have taught you. Planting the Molly Root is essential to our people.'
         "Oh, I wish I could change the weather. Grandfather, I am failing you in my first year," Min cried as she fell back on her bed.
         'Never give up Min,' she felt as if he were talking to her now.
         Min sat up, "Grandfather?"
         'You are stronger than you know. Work hard. Press on. Don't wait for tomorrow to do what must be done today."
         Min stood up and grabbed her jacket and gloves. She walked back down the stairs, where her mother was cleaning, "Where are you going child?"
         "Grandfather always said, 'never put off for tomorrow what must be done today.' If the Witch of the North insists on blowing her frost upon our land then I must convince her that today is the first day of spring and she should stop so we can plant our Molly Root today."
         Her mother laughed, which only made Min more determined, "You are just a child."
         "You'll see," Min shouted, as she went out the door into the chilly wind.
         Min walked through the large garden, past the barn, beyond the village, and up the side of the mountain just north of the village. The further she walked the colder it became, as frost turned to snow. The snow grew deeper the further up the mountain she walked, until she soon found herself outside of a large castle made of snow and ice. Min walked up to the large wooden door that was at the entrance of the castle and knocked as hard as she could.
         A few minutes later the door opened and a large man in a wool coat and fur hat stood looking down at the girl, "What do you want here?"
         "I have come to see The Witch of the North."
         "She sees no one."
         "I said, I have come to see the Witch of the North. I will not leave until I have seen her," Min said walking through the door and into the cold building.
         "Very well, she is in her throne room, but you will regret disturbing her," the large man said shutting the door and pointing her into the inner throne room.
         "Who disturbs my home on this beautiful winter's day?" a tall woman wearing a blue fur coat asked, as the man escorted Min into the room.
         "This girl wishes to speak with you, your honor."
         "Girl?" The woman said with a grin. "You are just a girl, and you disturb my home?"
         "I come to you with the boldness of all that I have been taught, the hope of my family, and the need of my village. I know you are a great and powerful witch, who brings winter to our land. Your great snows fill the mountains with waters to fill our fields for all of the summer. They blanket our land giving great nutrients and renewal. But, great witch, your season has come to an end. Today is the first day of spring and I have come to humbly ask that you cease your icy grip and let spring come. Today is the day to plant the Molly root. I beg of you to pull back your icy hold and let spring come."
         "You are bold, young one," the tall woman said standing. "Herman, what is this day on the calendar?"
         Fear covered the man's face as he looked down, "It is the first day of spring your highness."
         "My child, I am mistaken. You are bold and honorable. And, because of your honorable approach to me I will grant your wish. I will rescind my icy grip and winds from your land. Return to your village, plant your crops. And, may the rich waters of my mountain help the Molly Root grow to feed your people."
         "Thank you, your highness," the young girls said smiling.
         The sun sat as min planted the last of the Molly root seed that night. She knew she could rest and the village would be saved