Winter’s Eve
12.02.10
It is Winter’s Eve and I lie in bed, the blanket drawn up to my ears, with the wind starting to howl outside as the last bit of daylight creeps into the hut. My mother strokes my hair and tells me the same tale as she does every year on this night.
“Close your eyes, my child, and let Sleep take you from here. Let him take you with him to safety before it gets dark. For tonight the Ice Maiden is free to prowl, as she was a year ago to the day, as she has done every year before that since the eve of the very first Winter.”
I get my eyes to shut, though I have never felt more awake. My mother tucks the blanket tighter around my body and continues, her voice dropping a little lower, soothing but firm.
“She was once a child like you, you see. There was a time when all our days were warm, all our nights balmy. She would roam all the way to the north pastures, just like you and any child in the realm. But she was a wilful child, and would never heed her mother’s warning and set off for home in good time, while the sun was still high enough.”
I try not to smile at this – it is a new addition to the fable, no doubt inspired by my own late return from play a few days ago. It is to be my ninth Winter, and I have come to understand my mother’s ways better than she would like to think.
“One morning, countless years ago to the day, the girl decided to venture further than usual – she crossed the river and walked as far as the foot of the mountain. There were new sights to see, new places to explore, and before she knew it the sun had turned red and come down from the sky.”
I curl up to get comfortable, for this is my favourite part of the tale. My mother adjusts my blanket once more and caresses my cheek.
“When she realised how late it was, she set off with great haste. A wind stronger than any she had known picked up from the north, and she was glad of it as it helped her go faster. By the time she reached the river, the light was almost gone and the wind was howling enough to make her feel afraid; although of what, she did not know.
“The river was moving faster than when she had been over it in the morning. She tried to cross it but its force, combined with that of the wind, proved too much for her. She lost her footing and fell into the river. It swept her along quite a way, until her eyes had adjusted enough to the lack of light and she saw a big boulder to grab onto. She climbed onto the rock and sat there, pulling her knees into her chest, the wind feeling colder by the minute through her wet garments.
“And there she stayed all night, being whipped by both the river and the wind, until the cold reached her very core. Her skin turned white, her lips and fingertips blue, and she could no longer move. Just before dawn, the wind picked up even more. Its force shattered her into a million pieces which it blew towards here, and our people woke up to small white flakes falling from the sky.
“So Winter was born, and he has the Ice Maiden to thank for his existence. Thus, for one night of the year, he recalls all the pieces she broke into and she is born again and free to seek warmth.
“This is why you should not be awake after dark on this night, my child. For she was a child once, and it is this warmth that she seeks. While you sleep, you are in different lands to these and she cannot find you. If you stay awake, she will come and steal your warmth, and you will spend your life cold.”
My mother kisses me on the forehead, and I wait for her to leave. I bid my eyes to stay closed until she is gone from my side, but it is a struggle. The last two years I have failed to stay awake after dark, but this year I am confident I will make it. I have never minded the cold, and I dearly want to see the Ice Maiden.
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Tags: Fantasy, Flash Fiction, fridayflash, Ice Maiden, Winter
Oh. I hope she goes to sleep. Oo! Wonderful tale Maria.
Karen :0)
Fantastic story, Maria!
I’m so glad this had a happy ending Maria. For a while there I was afraid the dark might “get her”. Beautifully told, like a lullaby.
Sorry, I saw “Ice” and went “wheeeeeee!” Excellent tale though. Wonderfully dream-like feel to it. A splendid winter’s fairy tale.
And that sounds like the introduction to a very big and exciting novel! Love stories set in winter. This one is soothing and lovely and wistful and wonderful.
Really nice, language feels very epic and otherworldly somehow. The ice maiden is very much abroad this evening in south London.
I got chills reading this. Had to turn up the thermostat. What a lovely tale and I could see this branching into a longer piece. Great stuff.
You write with such a graceful rhythm; in its simplicity there is great depth. Remarkable.
Adam B @revhappiness
I got shivers, too. What a beautiful fable! I can almost see it illustrated. Gorgeous.
I really like the voice of this piece. It feels partly like a traditional winter legend and part, as others have said, like the opening of a novel. Nicely done.
Oh, this has such a fairy tale quality to it – both a bit scary and sweet!
Another exquisite tale you weaved. Well done!
YES! This one was great. I love these kind of tales… made me shiver (the cold kind of shiver!) as I read it.
🙂
Oh, I’m going to read this to my four year olds! Love it, and I love the little girl’s adventurous spirit!
A beautiful fable. I enjoyed reading it.
This is absolutely wonderful. A great winter’s tale.
Love the way the mother changes the tale. What a great detail.
Certainly a good one to read to young children.
Wonderful fairy tale!! I love it! Perfect to read as I sit here shivering in my office. 🙂
Every time I visit you, you reward me with a beautiful myth that makes me want a whole novel of it. Hans Christian Andersen would be quite jealous of this one, I think.
Love, love, love this story!
This is just wonderful. Feels like an authentic folk tale. I felt so cozy in bed with momma reading to me. THANKS!
Good story! I’m not sure if I want her to stay awake or not. The Ice Maiden would be a cool (forgive the pun) sight, but it’s probably a bad idea in the long run.
Great story and great that you’re writing again. It really did have the feeling of one of those old stories that’s passed down for generations. Gorgeous.
I agree with Rachel. It should be passed down for generations. Storybook material.
Despite the ice, this is a lovely heart-warming story, it reminds me of when I was very little, trying to stay awake to see Santa, but never succeeding. And there are very well written references to how adults try to control/guide children, with fables. Nice one Maria.
Really enjoyed this. There is a lovely metaphor here about growing up and breaking free from your parents, and the inherent risks that lie with being your own person. Great stuff.
I admire the simple beauty of this. Adam used the word “graceful” – I agree.
I really enjoyed “I try not to smile at this – it is a new addition to the fable, no doubt inspired by my own late return from play a few days ago.” I liked the mythic tale of the story within the story and the frame of the child trying to stay awake was fun.
Nice fairy tale well told.
A companion story to this one could be the one that tells the tale of how the Ice Maiden passed winter’s start on to a curious young girl.
Terrific myth, and gripping enough to be able to put a scare into the kid. Too bad she’s made of sterner stuff.
Delightful tale steeped in the rhythm of myth. At least, I hope it’s myth. Either way, even more I hope she falls asleep again this year. Thanks for this glimpse into another world.
What a lovely, timeless fairy tale and I liked the hint of a twist at the end.
I love the way this sounds/reads: it is like a classic fairytale, but has a contemporary edge in the girls voice. It is also beautiful and poignant. Thank you.
Such a soothing lilt to the story, despite it’s dire warning. I would advise her to give Ice Maiden hot cocoa!
Fairy tale wonderful. 🙂
Mazz – so glad you’re back to fridayflash! This is a wonderful tale and possibly explains why I’m always chilled 🙂
A good old lady storytelling voice. I agree with PJ – glad to have you back in the fold!
Ah, the willfulness of children.
Excellent storytelling Mazzz – I could hear the Mother’s voice clearly and could see the tale unfold (I could also see the young one and understood her desire to see this Ice Maiden).
Very well done.
Hi Maria! Thanks for coming by and commenting on my little child story too! I love this. You had me quite afraid of the dark for awhile! Beautiful expression/description.:)
Good to read your work again.
I loved this one.
Hi Maria – you have a good sense of mythology about this story. I liked it. Well done 🙂
“It is to be my ninth Winter, and I have come to understand my mother’s ways better than she would like to think.”
Maria of the gentle Myth ~ What cadence, what soft flow, what deep gleanings … your tale as all fairy-tale applauded up above was indeed like the articulate way you let the reader feel the mother’s caress, the willful child’s growing yearning ways … and of course … the frosty *magic* of it all ~ SPLENDID! ~ Absolutely*Kate seeing a breathless cherished little storybook come down off the favourite shelf, again and again and . . .
Enchanting!