Autumn's Fall

XIV. Autumn's Fall

The rusty lock fell away from the gate with a clatter as the Minister of Spring pocketed the key. He stood still, breathing deeply as the servants pushed the squeaky doors open, the early morning light falling warmly on his face. They were here once again, the place he hated most in the entire world. Tall trees and dense growth were everywhere. One small path, overgrown so much it was hardly recognizable, led through the greenery to their destination.

His trembling hand rubbed the back of his neck, "I don't want to do this again."

"No one does." The Minister of Summer came to stand beside him.

A flurry of emotion misted his eyes, "I can't even remember what he used to look like! Do you?"

"It's faded, but the memory is there, before he turned." He sighed, "What you asked the other day got me curious so I took a look at the records. Twenty-five, this is the twenty-fifth time we have come here."

"Twenty-five! That's..."

"Two hundred and fifty years, give or take."

The Minister of Spring dropped his head into his hands as anguish gripped him, "All this time we've been fighting him! Why won't he ever listen? Sometimes I just wish we were done with this."

"The Spirit forbids it though; he can yet be saved."

"After such a long time?"

The Minister of Summer gave a small smile as he nudged his fellow Minister forward, "Not a long time for us, or for the Spirit that Lives. Come, the sooner we get this over with, the better."

Together they walked down the trail, the Minister of Spring keeping his gaze on the plants instead of the path, feeling their progress and marking their growth since the last time he'd been here. Life-namely in plants-and in the growing of things, that was the Minister of Spring's domain. Destroying or harming any means of life was completely abhorrent to him. Every time he was forced to relive the horror that was the battle of Autumn's Fall, he was physically sick for at least a month. The mental and emotional repercussions were so great a wound to his soul that he wouldn't wish them on his worst enemy.

The fact that the Minister of Summer thought that their dear Winter should go through this trial was unfathomable to him. He'd rather cut off his own arm, or worse, go though water deprivation, than have her here. Thank the Spirit she wasn't...

ab§d

Gripping the edges with one last mighty pull she was up and over the high fence. There were no handholds so she simply lowered herself down as far as she could before letting go of the wall. The Minister of Winter landed in a rather unimpressive pile, limbs akimbo, as she struggled to right herself. She was grateful no one was around to witness her fall.

Trees, high bushes, vines, and even more trees were everywhere she looked, all of it overgrown. If possible it seemed even wilder than the forest just on the other side of the wall. She pondered what that could mean as she readjusted her loose clothing, for what felt like the hundredth time. She could think of only one conclusion, which set her heart beating wildly with excitement: the Minister of Spring had been here. Another realization struck her with a thrill: the pull had stopped. Tears slipped from her eyes as she almost laughed from relief and thankfulness. She was in the right place, as Sophia had guessed. Now she just had to find the children...

ab§d

Sooner than he would have liked, they left the overgrown foliage and came upon a large clearing before a huge mound which was almost a quarter-mile round in a half-moon shape. Looking down, the Minister of Spring could still make out the great divots he'd made in their last battle. The memory of that time, and all it's predecessors, were enough to bring the tears back to his eyes.