Story Time! (Violet)

'Far inland, in a cave, lived an old hunter and his wife,' I say, as I stroke the white blonde hair of Rocky's little sister, Petal who's sitting on my lap. 'Times were hard for them, they were the last surviving members of the once thriving cave but over the years, people had either died or moved on. Until there was just the man and woman living there. But though winter had set in and deep snow covered the ground, they had all they needed to survive for they were hardworking and industrious. They had everything but one thing.'

'What was that?' Tree asks, looking up at me from the group of children listening to me.

'Ah,' I continue. 'They had everything but one thing. They didn't have a child, they had never been able to have any which made them sad. Though they had each other, they longed for someone else to ease their loneliness. The days passed slowly that winter. And then one day, when they went out into the snow to chop down some wood for their fire, they decided to have some fun. They made a girl. Out of snow.'

'Oooh, I've done that,' Petal says. 'I like making snow girls.'

'With frozen fingers, they stepped back to admire their creation, the snow girl was amazingly beautiful.'

'Bet it wasn't as beautiful as Tulip,' Tree says, and then snorts. 'Though she'd look better if someone threw a snowball in her face.'

I smile at his joke. 'This girl was far better looking than Tulip,' I say. 'In fact, she was so pretty, it is impossible to describe her.'

'"See wife," the old man said. "She is our daughter Snowbell." The old woman smiled but as her husband turned away, there were tears in her eyes.'

'Poor woman,' murmers one of the young women, a child also on her lap.

'But,' I smile at my audience. 'They were being watched.'

'Who?' Petal asks, popping her thumb in her mouth and staring up at me with wide eyes.

'The spirits of winter, good and kind, they saw how upset the old couple were and how much they longed for a child. And they felt pity for them. So stepping forward, magic crackling around them, they touched the snow girl and turned her into a girl.'

Petal gasps.

'And when the old couple turned to admire once more their handiwork, they were astonished to see, standing where they'd made the snow girl, the most beautiful pale maiden with long flaxen hair. She was dressed in a long, snow covered white tunic, its neck and cuffs trimmed with soft white fur. And on her head was a hat of fur and snowflakes that looked as if it sparkled with an icy flame. Her shoulders were covered with a white fur, and on her feet she wore white boots. The old couple blinked in wonder and disbelief, for there in front of them was their longed for child. Snowbell hesitantly came towards them and their hearts leapt with joy as the young girl said, "If it pleases you, I have come to be your daughter and will care for you as my mother and father." The old woman grasped the snow girl's pale hand and with great joy led her towards their cave. As she followed the couple Snowbell felt the trees and the beasts of the winter forest bid her a happy life. And from that time, she helped with the chores and cared well for the couple. They could not believe their luck at having such a kind and beautiful child. But despite their happiness, her parents also worried about her, she was so quiet and pale and sometimes she seemed so frail as to be almost lifeless. However, there was always fire in her bright blue eyes and her smile could light up the forest. The snow girl loved the trees and the creatures of the forest. In her mortal form, she was a dutiful daughter to her new parents, never complaining or moaning but there was sometimes a distance in her eyes.'

'Why?' one of the children asks.

'Sssh, let her tell her story and we'll find out,' a young woman says, pulling the child onto her lap.

'Two happy months passed and it was time for the winter celebrations. As Snowbell sat in the mouth of their cave, she saw happy people walking passed as they travelled to a celebration at the nearest big cave. The old woman suggested that the snow girl should also go, and enjoy the celebrations, for it must be very dull living all the time with an old couple, but she assured them she was very happy. Then one day, as she was standing by the icy mouth of the cave, she saw Leaf, the son of one of the leaders of the other cave, and his intended Daisy. She saw them lark about and play in the snow and observed the very special bond that existed between the young couple, a bond that she had never known. Later that day, as she was out walking in the forest, the winter spirits that had created her came to her and warned her that she must never form such a friendship with a human or disaster would befall her. Nevertheless poor Snowbell could not stop thinking of the strange bond between the two young people. Wanting to understand more, she could resist no longer. The old woman, helped her put on her white fur, and she went out to join the people walking towards the cave. It was not long before somebody saw the beautiful young lady standing in the snow covered meadow by the celebration cave and Snowbell was bid welcome. She saw Leaf and Daisy in the crowd and went to talk to them but a jealous Daisy pulled Leaf roughly away. Despite this, the crowd was captivated by her beauty and innocence. From then on Snowbell travelled each day to the celebrations. One day, as she enjoyed the bustle of the throngs of people, she heard strains of the most charming music. It was the songs of a young man named Sparrow. Snowbell moved closer to hear more and when Sparrow saw the snow girl watching him play his flute, he thought her very beautiful. He fell deeply in love with Snowbell and they soon became inseparable.'

'Oh dear.'

'As the weeks passed, the weather grew warmer, which alarmed the winter spirits who warned Snowbell to stay inside, away from the bright rays of the sun. But as spring approached the people left their cave more often. Sparrow would often go to the cave of the old couple to ask her to walk with him and his friends, enjoying the sun. "Beautiful Snowbell, do come and join us." And once she appeared, he never left her side. They would dance in the shade of the trees but Snowbell knew there was still something missing, she knew she did not feel the way the humans did. The more she liked Sparrow, the more pale and weak she became but, despite this, she sought out the spirits of spring and asked if she could feel the special bond the humans felt. The spring spirits said they would grant her wish but, if she followed this path, she would surely perish. Snowbell went sadly home.'

'Poor Snowbell.'

I nod. 'The winter spirits continued to watch her from a distance for they knew what would soon happen to her. For a while she stayed away from the cave and Sparrow, but one beautiful morning, he came to visit her and pleaded with her to come out with him, just once, just for a moment. For a long while Snowbell refused to listen but, finally, her heart could no longer resist. She realised she could hide away forever or enjoy, if only briefly, what it was like to be really human. So she left the cave with Sparrow. "Sparrow, play your flute for me!" she asked. Her heart felt warm. She stood before Sparrow, there was so little life left in her, her pale face looked bloodless and her arms and legs tingled. The young man played his flute. She listened to the song and felt love for the first time. Tears rolled down from her eyes. However, she was a creature of ice and snow and could not survive the warmth she felt in her heart. With the faintest sigh, she began to melt. As they stepped from the shade into the rays of the sun, Sparrow went to hold Snowbell but, as he did so, her feet melted beneath her; she fell onto the damp earth and suddenly vanished. There was nothing left but an icy mist, drifting upward into the blue sky. As the snow girl faded away, spring spread over the land: the frost retreated and the small flowers of the fields began to bloom. Everyone was cheered by the return of spring. Everyone that is except for Sparrow who felt desolate and cold, despite the warmth of the sun. As for the old couple, they felt their loss deeply but, in their hearts, they had always known the magic could not last. They were just thankful for the beautiful snow girl who had brought such warmth and joy to their lives and given them hope in the depths of winter.

'That's so sad,' Petal says. 'Did she die? What happened to her?'

'As she melted away, her spirit was caught by the winter spirits who retreated to far lands with the advance of the spring spirits. They took the spirit of the snow girl across the glaciers to the frozen lands of the north, where she again took the form of a beautiful young woman. Here she plays all through the summer - on the frozen seas. But, each year in winter, on the first day of the New Year, the winter spirits and the snow girl returned. And she helped them with their magic, creating joy in the lives of humans, helping those that were good and kind, particularly children, bringing them small gifts and helping to make their dreams come true.'

I smile. 'And some say, that when Sparrow died many years later, she came for him and now they are together forever. And sometimes, in the depth of winter, if you listen very hard, you can hear Sparrow playing his flute while Snowbell sings.'

'What utter rot,' a spiteful voice shouts, from the other side of the tent. 'You're a terrible storyteller Violet.'

I look across to where Tulip is sat on a chair, arrayed with furs, with her mother crouched on the floor rubbing her feet.

'And you could do better?' I ask.

'Of course.'

'Well come on then.'

She shakes her head. 'I'm too tired.'

'More like too rubbish at telling stories' Petal says.

To which I smile.