Stories: Jahera and the Treant |
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By: Arjan Wardekker Genre: Fantasy Wordcount: 1029 A long, long time ago, near the realms of Vilya, there were lands were the small folk dwell. In those realms, the time passes slowly and worries were still far to seek. It is the land known as Byrell, where the Thane of the Halflings rules. There it was, where a young Halfling girl, named Jahera, lived. Jahera was the only daughter of a hard-working farmer and his, also hard-working, wife. They all lived happily together in a small farmhouse near the Lake of the Butterfly, in the farming-community of Rána.
It was in the dark times of winter, in the seventh month, in Mihrívë, during the Days of Darkness. In those dark and cold days, the Halflings used to place candles all around and in their houses and decorate everything, to drive away the darkness. All the streets were cozily illuminated.
For some hours she went on, walking and picking up pieces of wood on the way. After a while, she reached a small river, with clear, unfrozen water, quietly flowing through the forest. She followed this river upstream until she reached an open place in the woods. Some white flowers had survived the cold and they just sat there to be beautiful upon some rocks. Jahera, happy about the surprise of the sudden beauty flowers in the frozen world, started picking them softly. Not too many flowers were picked, when the cold and frightening sound of a wolf, howling to the moon, brought her back to reality and fear struck her little Halfling heart, as she realized that she was lost.
After sitting there for some minutes, she heard a faint murmur in the distance. It seemed like someone was singing. The sound came ever nearer. Jahera curiously walked towards the sound and as she moved closer, she saw a tree, slowly walking among the other trees. It was a very strange sighting and it somehow frightened Jahera a bit. But the tree had friendly eyes, so she walked to this walking tree. "Hello there, little Halfling girl. What are you doing this far out in the woods?" said the tree slowly. "I'm lost, Mr. Tree," was her reply. The tree asked her who she was and where she was from. Jahera explained that she was Jahera and that she lived in a farm in Rána. "What's your name, Mr. Tree?" she asked. "I'm Christmas, a Treant and a protector of these woods," said the tree, "Shall I take you to your home, Jahera?" "Yes please, Mr. Christmas," was the little girl's reply.
Jahera had lost track of time, when they reached the edge of the woods. In the distance, the many lights of Rána by winter, could be seen. As they drew near the town, a crowd had gathered. Many halflings followed Christmas and Jahera. Upon reaching Jahera's farm, her worried parents came running out and warmly greeted Jahera and the Treant. The Halflings were grateful to Christmas and they brightly decorated him, as a thanks for returning Jahera. This was on the eve before the Mid-Winter Feast. Christmas stayed with the Halflings for the Feast and several days thereafter. It was to be a happy winter that year.
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