Seasons Maiden

Summer

Helia.

Named after the Summer Maiden herself, she was raised like one. But Helia was a rebellious girl, at the age of 18, she understood what her mother wanted. She wanted to be respected and so she made sure her daughter would be the next Summer Maiden.

But Helia was smart. And she began to failed each time her mother would put her in a situation where she needed to behave. She began to go out and meet the other kids in the city, bit her favorite place was the lake at the frontiers of her kingdom.

There, she met her best friend: Koral.
Koral was a young priest from the East, traveling from kingdoms to kingdoms to make her own experience like the tradition wanted.
The two of them would meet up each time Koral would come into the city, sending each other some letters via Koral's owl.

Helia was slowly falling more and more for the little priest, assuming that she wanted more than their actual relationship.

But one day, as she was getting ready for their meeting, Helia was called by her mother.

Rolling her eyes, she arrives but her what surprised her was that the king in person was in front of her, holding a pendent with a red flame, pointing towards her.

"You're the Summer Maiden." He said severely.

Too shocked from what she didn't wanted to hear, she couldn't even react when she was taken away as her mother proudly encourages her.

She only realized the situation mi-way, turning towards the king in a hurry.

"I have something to do first...!"

"What is it?" He asked, groaning.

"I promise to come as soon as is it over..." She replied weakly, not wanting to angry him.

"Go. You have 30 minutes."

Helia run as fast as she could between the woods, arriving at the lake where the young priest was waiting for her.

"Why did you run? I wasn't going anywhere." Giggled the red haired girl.

"Koral..."

She quickly regain her composure, taking her friend hands, holding them close to her chest.

"Is... Everything's okay Helia...?"

"Koral... Listen to me... It's important."

"I'm listening."

"I'm going to become the Summer Maiden..."

She tried to sound neutral but her shaking was betraying her true feelings.

Koral was shocked and sad, holding her hands tightly as she didn't wanted to let go.

"Don't..." She whispered.

"I have no choice..." Replied Helia leaning towards her friend.

In a tender moment, the two girls kissed, no one to disturbed her but was cut short as Helia pulled away.

"I love you..." She said before leaving.

"HELIA !"

But it was too late. There was no turning back.

Going back to her king she quickly place in the center of the room, a big tree with shiny leaves greeting her.

"Do I have to tell you what to say ?" Asked the king.

"No... I know." She replied.

With a shaky voice, she began to chant:

Power of Summer
Mother of the Sun
Shine upon thee comer
And do what must be done

Bring Summer to me
Let the Sun bless us
Let the Sun bless us

The tree leaves shone brighter, as an invisible force lift her up, two beautiful horns covered in leaves grew on each side of her head as her hair grow longer shining a golden brown and a light red dress made of sunlight replaced her clothes.

Touching the floor again, Helia could see the king smiling, hugging her suddenly.

"I missed you Summer..." He said in her ear.

Helia had a strange feeling. She could feel that the king was hiding something from her but she also felt mixed feelings towards him.

Summer was born.