The Witch from the Mountains

In a mountain, far from any city, their lived a witch who was rumoured to possess amazing powers. She dwelled in a cave hidden from sight and nearly impossible to find, where she alone could study and grow stronger. Through her many years of solitude she learned to enjoy her company and that of the animals around her rather than that of the competitive human race from which she had banished herself from.

One day as she sat deep in her cave pondering what her long life might bring to her and how her powers were compared to the other witches and wizards of her world, she was disturbed by footsteps.

"Why now?" she asked without turning around, "Why not a few hundred years more?"

A man stepped out from the shadows and slowly approached her, "What do you mean?"

"Do you really think that I did not know you were coming? Well, why are you here? What do you want?" She asked brushing her long dark hair back and turning around.

"I-I came because my kingdom needs you." He said rather affrightedly. Then, as if he found courage in hearing his own voice echoing alone he continued in a more confident tone, "All others have failed and we fear there is no other hope of us defeating the dragonclaw clan without your powers to aid us. Please, consider us."

The witch thought and replied, "No, you humans are selfish, greedy, and aggressive. What have you ever done that was not for your own good?"

"Not all are as you think they are. You yourself haven’t even seen any of us for over a century, how could you possibly have an accurate understanding?"

She whirled around, her young face twisted in anger, "Do you dare insult me? I, Myria witch of the mount, have the power to defeat your weak kingdom and the, what was it, dragonclaw?"

"Then why are you so hesitant?" the man insisted.

Myria shrugged, "The reasons are myriad, but I guess I chose to answer you with this. I know many things, my life is longer than yours is. You are a mere mortal, and I am an immortal. In my lonely studying I have learned what takes all your life for you to realize. People resort to war and fighting because they are greatly in need of something. I suggest that you go back to your king and tell him that. Make a compromise with your enemy, treat them as you yourselves would like to be treated if you were the ones who were needy." It was no great speech, but the simpler it was the better he would understand.

"So you will not help us then?"

"I already have," she said and waved her hand. A blinding light suddenly filled the cave growing and growing until the man could no longer see Myria the witch or the cave. When the light finally receded, he found himself standing in the kings court blinking repeatedly in the sunlight. The king agreed with what he told him and they ‘talked’ to the dragonclaw clan. It turned out that all they needed and wanted was to unite as one kingdom since their government was failing. The two kingdoms united as one and the peace was restored.

Myria sat in her cave smiling and looking into a pond. In it she saw what she had done and knew she had done right.