Lady Terra and the Farm Boy: Part 2

If you missed part one, find it here.

The leaves crunched beneath her feet as Lady Terra walked through the forest. She paused when she reached its end. Her brows furrowed as she examined the scene before her. The town had grown into a city, and the forest had shrunk. Despite the difference, Lady Terra continued forwarded wondering how the people would celebrate her return this time.

When she reached the first farm on the edge of the city, Lady Terra saw a man working in the fields. She called to him. “Kind Gentleman, please can you tell me how long it has been since my last visit here?”

“Excuse me? How’d I know that? I’ve never seen you a day in my life,” he said glancing up.

“Surely you know who I am,” Lady Terra said.

The man grunted as he stood up. “Don’t know how I could if we’ve never met. Now if you’d excuse me, I have too much work to do to stand ’round talkin’.”

“We may have never met personally, but I would imagine you would still know me based on your chosen profession.”

“Don’t know what my job has to do with it but if you’re famous, you’re barking up the wrong tree. I don’t have time to pay attention to famous people when I’ve got a farm to run. Maybe someone in the city will know ya. So move along please.”

Lady Terra tensed at the blatant dismissal. “If you do not recognize my presence, perhaps you will recognize my name, Lady Terra.”

The man slowly blinked twice before doubling over in laughter. “I should’ve known somethin’ was off, you comin’ from the forest with no shoes. You one of those actors come to the big city to entertain kids? Bet you thought you could get a pretty penny from there parents, eh?”

Lady Terra glared at him. “I am no actor.”

“Look, lady,” the man said wiping sweat from his forehead. “If ya wanna stay in character that’s fine but I’ve been distracted long enough. I don’t know what ya want from me, but I gotta get back to work. Go find someone in the city to help ya.” With that, he turned his back on Lady Terra and returned to weeding his field.

Lady Terra stared at his back her mouth hanging slightly open before she quickly shut it. Clenching her fists, she moved away from the man and towards the city. With each step she took, one of the plants in his field died.

Her anger had not dissipated when Lady Terra reached the castle doors. The city was full of people who laughed when she said her name. The king must know her and would correct this problem.

“State your business,” the guard said as he barred her way.

“I have come to discuss with the king why he has allowed his people to forget me,” Lady Terra said. “Now let me through.”

“Look, lady, if you wanna see the king you have to wait in line like the rest of the peasants and hope he has time to see you. If he doesn’t, you have to wait until next week when he opens court again, just like everybody else.”

Lady Terra squared her shoulders and said, “I will wait.”

The line moved slowly, and many people chose to sit or gossip with the people around them while they waited. Lady Terra, however, stood silently, hands clasped in front of her. She stared straight ahead and only moved when the line did. Finally, she was escorted into the king’s throne room.

“State your reason for being here,” the king said without bothering to glance up from the paper in his hands.

“I wish to know why you have allowed your people to forget me,” Lady Terra said.

The king looked up surprised by the confidence in her voice. “And who exactly are you? To speak to me with such a tone, you must be a great lady.”

“I am Lady Terra.”

The king rolled his eyes an shook his head before saying, “Don’t waste my time on such nonsense. You can go.”

“I do not understand this dismissive attitude. I came to offer my help and yet everyone I meet laughs.”

“Woman you are testing my patience. Leave.”

“I will not. I demand an explanation for your refusal to accept who I am. Do you not want the knowledge only I can provide?”

“You dare to make demands when you come into my throne room claiming to be a character from a fairy tale-”

“Fairy tale?” Lady Terra said, her voice rising slightly. “I am no fairy tale. How do you think your ancestors knew which crops to plant or how to tend the earth if I did not teach them? Why do you think some places flourish while others suffer if not for the gifts or justice I bestow?”

The king began rubbing his temples while saying, “Lady Terra was a story told to explain why or how things happened before people figured out better farming techniques. Now the story is only told to entertain children. I don’t know if you are delusional or just a very dedicated actor. Either way, I’m done indulging you. Guards take her away.”

Lady Terra clenched her teeth, and the ground beneath her feet began to tremble. “A story, that is all people believe I am now? How dare you forget the truth behind your success. Well, let us see how well the world does without my assistance, without my influence over all plant life. No longer shall I extend extra life into the plants of this world. The people on this earth shall suffer for their pride.” With each word, her voice grew louder, and the castle began to tumble to the ground. When the dust settled, a lone woman was seen leaving the rubble and heading to the forest.

Lady Terra sighed in relief when she stepped from the snow on to the soft grass. She was home. Her sacred meadow was untouched despite the millennia she had been gone. She glanced over at the clear pond before striding to the large willow tree across the meadow. She touched its trunk softly as she sunk down to the ground. Yawning, she laid down, finally returning to sleep.