My CCWC submission
After spending a week of picking my brain apart, I finally came up with something! I hope you enjoy!
Word count: 1155 words
**A Bedtime Story **
“A land divided by its views was never once this way. Centuries, perhaps even millennia ago, existed a land of peace. A land where all could belong. Where one would not be ostracized for his standing with the world.
For whom was the being at the helm of it all? The one responsible for bringing our broken homes together? United, under one roof? Her name is spoken like the subtlety of winter's breeze; as timeless as the Freljord itself. It flows beneath our frozen waters, giving life to our chilled home.
Avarosa.
With silken words, and a cast iron soul, the impossible became possible. Our people, worked together as a single unit. In the name of Avarosa. In the name, of the Freljord.
Some claim she is as divine as True Ice itself. A rarity within the mists of a harsh blizzard. A light for those lost in winter's wrath. No matter the being, she cleansed their soul. Seething with hate, corrupted by anger. None of these withheld her. For she knew, it was more than moral obligation, it was her own.
_She was more than a human being, maybe even more than any mortal themselves. A goddess, a guardian angel, sent from the heavens above. For the gods have heeded our cries, our pleas for salvation." _
A woman of frostbitten delicacy freezes her lips in time, catching sight of a raised hand within her peripheral. Crossing her legs, her hand rests among her knee, like a bird perched upon a windowsill.
“Yes?”
With her legs folded against a chilly, wooden floor, a girl no younger than age seven gleefully bounces to the sound of her acknowledgment.
“What was Avarosa like?”
Bewildered by the sudden formation of a smirk; our young, curious Freljordian's eyes sparkle with intrigue.
“Dear, I already talked about that.”
Her smile evaporates upon catching glimpse of a young Freljordian's furrowed brow. As her unease sunk in, a turn of her head ensured the girl's victory.
“I suppose I can continue.”
A radiating smile was enough to equal a thousand words. A shimmer of light from the Freljordian's pupils was enough to infiltrate her conscious. Hints of a minor sigh escape her lips, hanging her head with the slightest bit of dismay.
“If I continue on for a little longer, do you promise you will rest afterward?”
Her ears perked like a wolf hearing its prey nearby. Her smile shone brighter than the god worshiped by the people of Solari.
“I promise!”
Despite the concern that lay present in her eyes, she turned a blind eye. Her frost covered lips forming themselves into the softest of smiles, as she continued to entertain the young girl.
“There are speculations as to Avarosa's potential origins. For all one knows, she could have been one of us. A simple Freljordian. Though, most do not believe that was the case. Her ability to bring any one people together, was seemingly unheard of. Unnatural.
Though, if not Freljordian, than, what? What could she have been? Legends tell that she was that of an entity. An immortal, unnatural being. Someone who was... perhaps once mortal herself. Her unrequited love for our land, and our people, was one that could be understood by fellow Freljordians alone.
She knew the meaning of our land. She knew the true meaning it had for its people. She knew us, as a whole. Despite her higher status, she did not treat us any different. She did not see us any different. To us, she was a god. To her, we were her equal.
Like many she had encountered, she too, had lost someone dear to her. Someone of great importance. It is rumored that Avarosa had a sibling, potentially even more than one. No one is aware of her name. Although, because of Avarosa's fragile personality, it was more than unlikely her cast iron soul was a product of her own volition.
Whether this “sibling” helped her, or inspired her, it was clear their relationship was stronger than any blizzard; and its howling winds. While there were those who were caught off guard by Avarosa's brashness, it was a sight rarer than a solar eclipse over a full moon.
Avarosa was not one for conquest. Or violence, for that matter. She was capable of strengthening her forces through brute force, however, this was her last resort. This method was called for only in the most extreme of scenerios.
“Why inspire someone through blood lust and hatred, violence and terror; when you can inspire them through words alone?” Many assume this was her preferred method of inspiration. Not only did she appeal to the mind through reason and rationality, she also appealed to the heart, through emotion. It could be classified as emotional manipulation, even pity. Though, that is not how she saw us.
She sympathized with us. Our struggles, our issues. She used her own struggles, her own experiences, to show us that everyone has their problems. Everyone faces a downhill battle they must recover from. It's a matter of being strong enough to get over the mountain.
Unfortunately... time, does goes on. With that, so do people. While, I do admit, I too was a hopeless believer. Praying to the stars that someday, our glorious Freljord, would be united under one roof once more. A land of peace, as told in legend. Though, our individual beliefs, have torn us apart. Without Avarosa's guidance, our harmonious living withered away, like a flower during winter.
All we can hope for now, is survival. Somehow, some way, we must continue to live. With, or without guidance. May Avarosa watch over you, may we hope she watches over all of us.”
Forlorn as her story came to its end, a sigh lighter than any feather escapes her lips. Desperate, her fingertips run smoothly across her book's cover. For in her mind, she still clung onto her foolish dream. Knowing it would never come to fruition, was a reality she remained struggling to come to terms with. With no other option, she was forced to turn a blind eye.
A subtle noise warps her mind back into the present. Caught off guard by what she was left to find; our young Freljordian, sleeping soundly across the frost chilled floor.
Feeling warmth flow throughout her entire body at this marvelous sight, her hand is gently placed underneath the girl's back. Lifting her up cautiously, the hair covering the girl's eyes were no longer. Presented with her daughter's resting face, she could not resist the temptation of an ever loving smile.
Placing her within the safety and warmth of her own bed, she prepares to see herself out. Her fingertips stroke softly against her daughter's cheek; Motherly joy emits itself brightly on her face.
Her lips hover atop the young girl's forehead, pressing themselves lightly against the surface of her skin.
“Goodnight, Ashe.”
Nevermind, I fixed my boxing and Italics problem. I will make sure to have my review of the other entries out by tonight, or no later than tomorrow. I'm happy to be a part of the contest!
