Then it became sultry.
Waves of warmth washed over everything, and the Earth exploded in
response. Everywhere growth was lush and
heavy and brimming with almost sinful abundance. The mornings were warm and welcome. The comforting warm breezes released the fear
of cold, and the people relaxed into the bounty of the summer. Every voice was raised in praise, singing
songs of peace and prosperity. The inner
growth kept pace with the outer growth, and the people relaxed into the land of
plenty.
 |
| At battle. |
But all things must change; that is the nature of
existence. When the people were
distracted, bright Sirius began to climb daily into the early morning sky
before the Sun King arrived to hold his court.
And he was brilliant! Yes,
beautiful! The people saw him and
wondered at this shining star in the morning heavens, and this news found its
way to the palace of the Sun King, who became jealous of Sirius. With a heavy hand, he fanned the flames in an
attempt to bring more to his people, and the land began to wilt and weep.
Sirius whispered in the ear of the Sun King and reminded
him of the Lord of Winter, that ancient foe the King had destroyed so long
ago.
“I have seen his sentries in the deep woods,” he
whispered, “keeping watch over the Gate.
You have not vanquished him. He
lives still.”
The King thought about his old enemy. He must
be destroyed completely. Enraged, the
Sun King sent every battalion he had to secure the land, and he, himself, set
out to mark the Earth once and for all. So
the fire began in earnest. Everywhere he
went, he blazed with heat and brilliance.
Beautiful, to be sure, but harsh and unforgiving as well. The land continued to wilt, and dry tear
tracks stained her face. But still he
came, with vengeance and jealousy and fury.
He marked his possessions heavily, and the people were burdened
exceedingly, sighing in the undying heat.
Yet still Sirius whispered in the early morning sky,
laughing at the Sun King and coveting his people. For forty days he ruled the morning heavens,
and the winds began to listen to him and swirl about angrily. They sought out the vast reserves of their
brother, the Ocean, and a secret counsel was held. The decision was made, and it was time for
the storms.
They came as light rains at first but soon picked up pace
in the Ocean along the edges of the land.
Sometimes they would come inland, and the scorched Earth would
gratefully accept their bounty. The old
battle had begun again, and the Sun King’s soldiers were everywhere. The people averted their gaze, but at night
they hoarded the water from the storms and danced in the moonlight. Wanted signs were posted: Dead or Alive, the enemy. The King combed the land up and down, peering
into every crevice, searching for the joy that was slipping through his own fingers.
And deep in the Underworld the Lord of Winter smiled on
his icy throne, his map of the battlefield before him. He pulled sparkling diamonds out of the Earth
around him and placed them in different configurations upon the field. The shape of a dog appeared among the diamonds,
and he knew this would keep Demeter very, very busy for quite some time, while
the Maiden of the Springtime, Persephone, searched in vain for her King.
The pendulum swings, always. At its farthest point it turns and looks back,
and seeing its own reflection in the mirror, it falls in love. How could I have left you? The descent begins again. The tides turn sharply and howl like a dog in
the night, baying at the moon.
