The Witch and the Fool - Part 1

Note: I submitted a flash-fiction of this tale to a contest a while back and received a lot of positive feedback. I am now fleshing out the story a bit. The main character is in fact the witch that has appeared in the CD projects in the past. She was always one of the more fun characters to write, so I thought I'd do a little backstory tale on her. I realized no one looks at this, but it does my heart good to put something out. Work has burned me out, and I need something away from the job to engage me again.

The Witch and the Fool

I loved once.

It sounds absurd to say all these ages and worlds later, but it is true nonetheless. It might be absurd, but I’ll say it again and my heart shall rejoice in it. I loved once.

His name was Isad, a slave of some lord whose name has disappeared into some deep cavern in my ancient mind. They called my Isad a fool, and it is true that his mind was not sharp, but he made up for it in spades with heart. The kind of heart that the divine surely meant for all men, but only remained true in those without designs for power.

That was my first world, when the divine birthed me unto existence. The process was painful and bloody like any other birth, but I assure you that I sprang forth more from the loins of the cold, unforgiving earth than from any woman’s womb. For I am Matris, daughter of the Green, witch sister of the eternals and mother of the Dragon’s breath.

As if my birthing ripped the last of the power of the Green from that place, a bitter drought gripped the land. Skeletal trees stood barren of leaves and fruit. Rivers dried, crops failed and lush, fertile farms gave way to dust. Like the land, the hearts of man dried of love and pumped vengeance into willing veins.

Of course the fruits of that malice spawned my only true love, and for that, I give thanks. For love – even love doomed from the start – mends even the most scarred soul. It’s a salve for the wounds of loss, the lingering sores from encounters with the Dark and the ache of countless years.

 Let me say it again.

I loved once, and this is the tale of my love.