Jane's Medicine Tree

(A Story About Taking Over The World -- Again)

by Jane and Gwynne

Lady Magic plays the harp and tends to beauty in her rhythmic way.

In another part of the forest Shell and Greyhorn SilverAntler reach Yeasta’s misty-swirl candle.  Yeasta (in case you don’t know) is God, the Ruler Supreme of The Universe.   Shell and Greyhorn pause to study the words on the candle.

“‘The world must be saved’,” reads Shell.  “And: ‘There’s only one person to do it’.”

“Who?” Shell wonders.  “And from what?”

“I have no idea,” replies Greyhorn.  “But we may find out all too soon.”

Santa races in, riding on the magical cat Spook.  “So here’s where you disappeared to!”

Santa’s sister Annie rides in as well.  “Hurrah, there you are Shell and Greyhorn!”

“Eek!” squeals Annie.  Emerging from the Green Chapel is a green garbed knight …. With a vicious laugh he calls out:  “Enter, and lose your head to my axe!”

Santa, Spook, Shell, and Greyhorn SilverAntler race to Annie.  “Who is this fiend?” shouts Santa.

Annie topples over in her fright.

“You are right to fear me,” roars the Green Knight.  “I serve Lady Magic, Queen of the Forest.  You have crossed into her domain, and for that, one of you must lose her head!”

“My oh my,” a quiet voice says.  “How things have mixed themselves up.”

Lady Magic calls the Green Knight to her.  He has no choice but to obey.

He kneels before her, with a candle almost burning off his toes.

Lord Golden Owl appears in the Green Chapel.  “Hm.  So what has that knight gotten himself into this time?”

“What indeed,” Lady Magic murmurs as she regards the Green Knight.

“Green Knight, you are going to have your own head chopped off,” says Lady Magic as she casts a spell.

All is transformed!  The Green Mask has vanished and a head is gone … No, it is firmly attached where it should be.   A young man kneels before Lady Magic.  He is Govan–Shell’s brother, and Santa and Annie’s cousin!   Lady Magic has released him from a dark spell.

Santa, Shell, and Annie gaze in amazement at the Green Knight’s transformation … into plain old Govan!  The last bits of darkness creep over them before vanishing forever.

Allyson the Fairy, herald to Lady Magic, enters the clearing.  “All is well,” she calls.  “Govan is freed and the world is saved!”

“Very fine,” says Lord Golden Owl.  “Very fine.”

Elsewhere the Green Knight’s head floats down the stream with the last trace of evil.

NOTES ON THE STORY:  The characters are from a mingling of family mythos–some from the children’s magical nature novel I’m writing, and other ideas from my daughters’ own mythic play landscape.  It’s a bit dreamy … who is the Hero in this tale?  Who or what is the Shadow?  And how are both the reflections of my nature?    Where do I find myself in the story right now?  Where do YOU find yourself in this tale … if anywhere?   And was the Green Knight’s head truly chopped off somehow?  As Lord Golden Owl said above: Hm!

This post is part of MotherHenna’s Solstice for Heroes and Shadows blogfest.  Click here to continue the adventure!