"Greatfather Langeven is a childhood god. He only sees that which is good in the world, and so comes for the children who believe they have been good. Which is terribly unfair to those who've been told they're wicked their entire, brief lives. But that's a different story for a different time."
The youth had always been kind, had always done their best to help others, even though they, themselves, were constantly being told they were evil, wicked, and, sadly, thoroughly believing it, often punished themselves almost more brutally than the cruel ones that were raising them. Then another child begs Langeven to stop seeing only the ones who believe they have been good, and start seeing the ones who are ACTUALLY good. -- Anon Guest
[AN: Dear Nonny, there is another childhood god who comes for the ones who are good but believe they're wicked. It's just that Greatfather Langeven can't see them... because they are the Shadow Teufel. But this can be a Midwinterfeast story for a much earlier era.]
Simple Zera was a wicked child. Everyone around hir told hir that ze was, and since they knew more than hir, ze believed them. Nevertheless, ze tried hir heart and soul away to be good. Zera did all hir household duties without complaint, trying hir best to do them well, and only got a drubbing for hir trouble. Ze foraged herbs for sick neighbours, but never got a word of thanks. Zera even worked all day to be sure everyone ze knew had enough firewood for the winter, but only ever got rocks thrown at hir. Ze only had one friend in the whole world, and that was Klare.
Klare was good, kind, and sweet, and everyone said so. She was well-mannered and scholarly, and kind enough to befriend Zera when no-one else would. She even thought it unfair when she learned why the town thought Zera wicked.
Hir mother was a Hellkin who lived in a witch's cottage in the woods. That had to make hir wicked by association.
Though people called on Miss Temperance when they needed her, they were never happy to get the remedies or aid. Or, for that matter, to pay what they owed her. But she had named herself aptly, and could wait for their next need to crop up. The people learned, sometimes slowly, that it was better to pay sooner, rather than later. And of course they hated Miss Temperance about it, and passed the ill feeling on to Zera.
Something had to be done about it all, and it needed a miracle in order to be done.
Klare knew only one being that could help, Greatfather Langeven. She knew her letters, and set to a piece of birchbark with her stylus and wrote, Dear Greatfather Langeven. Though I have been good all year, I must write of another you have not seen for more than eight years. Her name is Zera and she works very hard to help everyone. I would wish for you to see her as I do. A good child who is really good, not just told that she is good. She lives in the cottage outside of town with her mother, who is also good but everyone calls her evil. I think she's pretty and nice, even if she is angry because of what people do to her. Please put kindness in everyone's hearts so they're nicer to Zera and Miss Temporance. And please give them something they dearly want this Midwinterfeast.
She sent it off and hoped for the best. That winter, she helped Zera put together a little table with offerings and a sign that said, Greatfather Langeven, good people live here. And helped make the offerings of milk, sweetcakes, and an apple for the unicorn that drew his sled. Zera drew all the pictures, and fussed over shining up the apple nice and pretty. Though Zera was older and bigger than Klare, she still had the belief of a small child.
Of such faith, mountains might be moved.
Klare could only hope that a god would be moved, too. All she could do on Midwinterfeast eve was pray that there would be a miracle.
There was. Zera came bouncing over the snow to show off brand new snow shoes that Greatfather Langeven brought her, and prattled breathlessly about all the things Greatfather Langeven had left by their hearth. She was so happy she almost glowed. It was beautiful, until she stopped.
Klara followed her worried gaze to see... almost the whole village coming towards them. All with bundles on their arms or big baskets strapped to their backs. They were singing. It was a song about generosity and togetherness, and how a whole village needs a village.
Nevertheless, Klara held Zera's hand, and stood in front of her when they got close.
"Ah. Zera De'elbilt. We owe your mother some back payments and then some. It come on us all overnight how we've been needlessly cruel to you and yours. We'd like to make it up to you all. If we may?"
Zera said, "You aren't gonna throw things at me any more?"
"Never again," said the leader. Mr Mayes. "And we'll stop saying horrible things to you too. You don't deserve it, and you never did."
"Neither did your mam," said Mrs Mayes. "We're very sorry, and we aim to change our ways."
That was a real Midwinterfeast miracle.
[Photo by Aaron Huber on Unsplash]
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