19 Jan 2011

Ice Maidens

On a night when the snow whispers at the windows and the wind wanders in the wildwood, we huddle round our fires, and listen to the Story Teller. This is one of his tales...
"Many years ago, people were used to travelling long distances on foot, no matter how bad the weather. So one wintry afternoon, when three young women from hereabouts set out to walk to the next village, nobody thought it strange.
By early evening, the wind gained in strength and the cold grew in intensity and a veritable blizzard blanketed the countryside. Everyone assumed the girls would stay with kinsfolk overnight, or until the storm had abated.
When peace descended on the land, and folk once more went about their daily business, half way between our settlement and the next, as if by magic, they found three fir trees had appeared, full-grown overnight. But of the three girls, nothing was ever heard again..."

  Thanks to Willow for her  Magpie Tales #49, which inspired this flight of fancy, as well as another one, over on Napple Notes!

14 comments:

  1. Ooooh good one! love it- nothing like a fine myth to pass the time. Ever listened to A Child's Christmas in Wales, Dylan Thomas ? Thanks.

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  2. Love the mythical feel, the transitional thoughts going on in this one. Due we not all change through the seasons of time and when touched by things such as blizards, or even when we are left to ourselves for brief moments to let our thoughts evolve into stories as great as these.

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  3. Have you seen, "Picnic at Hanging Rock"? This brought that film to mind. I liked it!

    Kat

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  4. I really loved this! And the image is spine chilling!

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  5. Loved this, Jinksy, dark and brooding like a gothic fairy tale.

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  6. Mysterious. Well done! (like what you did to the image)

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  7. I wonder what happened to the girls :-)

    (only joking)

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  8. A grand frosty tale to curl up by the fire with.

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  9. In the midst of the cold we are experiencing right now, perfectly plausible! Enjoyed this very much.

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  10. Love the story! It reminds me of stories told to me when I was a child. Very mysterious and intriguing!

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  11. Wow what an interesting and haunting take with such a photo. I too love what you did with the photo.

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  12. Wonderfully imaginative! Three prickly pines they turned into.

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