31 Days of Halloween

The Scarecrow King

All Hallows Eve, as the sun slipped below the horizon casting pastel pink and golden amber hues over the fields of grain, the magic began to unfold. The guardian of the crops, protector of the farm, high on his post, with his overstuffed burlap head, and hay stuffed overalls, he began to stir. On the one night of the year he comes to life, the crows were at rest in the trees, the mice scurried along the damp earth below in search of remnants of grain falling to the ground. From sundown to sunrise, the Scarecrow King would come to life.

Many moons ago, the first Scarecrow King made a deal with Morgana, the kindhearted, loving, caring witch of the valley. The valley belonged to her, except on All Hallows Eve. A perfect plan for both, he, guarded the fields during the day, she, at night. One night of the year, he would come to life. Walking the fields between the rows of wheat and barley, a sentry on patrol. Morgana's spell held intact and could only be broken by another witch. For years, the two protected the fields together. Serena, Morgana's older sister, had grown jealous of her power. Much stronger than her own, she vowed to have it one day. The only way for Serena to obtain Morgana's power was to kill her, it was the witch's way.

On a dark, cold night and frost covering the ground with a crystalline sheen, a baby cried in the forest behind the farms. Flying perilously close to the tree line, Morgana listened. There, in the thicket! Someone left a human baby in the thick tangle of dead berries and vines. Without protection, the child would die. Unselfishly entering the vines to search, Morgana realized her tragic mistake a moment too late. The baby's laugh replaced by Serena's evil laughter told her all she needed to know.

"Ah, Sister, your bleeding heart is the end of you," she cackled.

"Serena, don't do this. We do not kill. Remember, 'Harm ye none, do as ye will.'"

"No," she hissed, "You do not kill. Do not speak for me. I have watched you all my life, treated with love and respect, treating everyone around you, human, witch, or animal, with respect. Now it's my turn."

"Listen to yourself, you must give respect to earn respect. You are loved, Serena."

"You won't talk your way out of this one, Sister."

Berries and Thistles

Blade Like Bristles

Tightening, Winding

Wrapping Around

Tighter and Tighter

Till Nary a Sound

Morgana pushed herself up off the ground, but the vines beneath her began to snake around her legs. Serena chanted faster, the vines responded to her words. Suffocating, choking, taking her breath from her lungs, she pleaded with her sister.

"Please, Serena. Think of our mother, of our father. You want them to be proud of you? This will not get you your wish."

"Crying those tears aren't going to help. In a matter of minutes, you will be gone, your power shall be mine after all! The fields, the valley, all of it will become mine. That scarecrow you entrust the field to will wish you never enchanted him. Nothing will stop me now, nothing!"

Serena laughed an evil sound Morgana had never bared witness to. Her life force draining, she used her last ounce of energy to stop Serena, but her weakened state left her powerless. Succumbing to the strength and tenacity of the vines, and ultimately at the hands of her own blood, she took her last breath. A sharp inhalation and it was over. With arms spread wide and head thrown back, Serena absorbed all the magical powers her sister had possessed. At long last, it was all hers.

Word spread rapidly around the forest, valley, and fields. Their beloved Morgana – dead. Killed at the hands of Serena. All the beings of the land held great contempt for her. As the night of the first All Hallows Eve since Morgana passed quickly approached, many wondered what it would hold for the Scarecrow King. Bound to his post, unspeaking, unmoving, but all knowing, he contemplated his own fate. Serena would never give up her powers, even for one night.