Life & Death are endlessly tied together, never separated. One is not without the other, synonymously balanced on a scale that affects everyone and everything.
In Fall and Winter, you are in his seasons; his kingdom. Simon is death, he is the one who rules over the court, the months of Fall and Winter.
In Spring and Summer, he is in your seasons; your dwelling of warmth. In Spring and Summer, he will follow you back into the court you rule over.
Life & Death, tied together. Bound by marriage and duty, to each other and the roles you are given.
Somehow I forgot to post this from AO3 and hadn’t realized until now — sorry!
Part 2: Forlorn
There was a stone arch wrapped in thick vines that stood on the edge between the long, winding trail that led here. The thickets of trees acted as a tunnel leading from the encompassing warmth that his wife exuded, to him. The colder and macabre other half of that fateful coin.
Life was beautiful; life was you. His wife, endlessly tied to a man, a thing, like himself, who had the capabilities of ruin and death. What a fine balance you were to the other side of the scale.
Beautiful and tender, a woman who was soft by nature, had felt too deeply. Whose entire being was known for warmth and sunshine, for the promises of something better to come. Life.
And he was the end of the warmth that creatures and humans had enjoyed heavily. Death. The promises of an end to what beauty was captured in sprigs of leaves clinging to branches, and brightly coloured fauna.
That stone arch was the beginning of the pathway that led to him. The vines that wrapped around the permanent and interlaid bricks that created the welcoming, would soon be covered in frost and ice.
Fall, winter. Death.
You were life, the Queen who ruled over spring and summer. For just under half of the year, you were celebrated and ruled meticulously yet fairly. Over the forest, over the animals and living things that enjoyed the defrosting of the earth.
And he was death. Your king. The one who had stripped those you cared for of life when it was their time. He was the one who had drawn the end of the summer hours, welcoming in the fall. Harvest and then winter.
In his court, the celebrations of the end of summer were beginning. Those who lived in his court were merrily drinking in the crispness of the air, another spring and summer was behind them, fall was on its way. Simon should have been revelling in their celebration, he should have been watching over those who were kickstarting the season.
In the grand room, the banquet hall filled with the things of pleasure that his people enjoyed, he should have been celebrating too. Though, misery was replacing any semblance of joy, as the throne beside him was empty. The King was without his Queen, death had missed life.
Simon should have acted with ferocity and intensity, he should have long since captured his wife and brought her back here. Summer should have been over a week and a half ago, but Simon was hopelessly and deliriously in love with his wife.
When he had looked at you, and he had seen those eyes, those pleading soft eyes of his wife to enjoy the sun for just a little longer, he had caved. You were the only person, the only woman, who could have ever mended and staved off the chill that wanted to settle into his heart.
You, his darling Queen and wife, had shown him that even in death there was beauty. Even when everything you had loved and adored about spring and summer was fading, there was beauty in his courts. Because of you, because of the gentle nature of life and the promises it would carry.
Simon could not cut that short, not this year. Those who advised him, the council that had drawn themselves to the isolated war room—as his beautiful wife had called it—had begged him to begin fall. It was time, summer was lasted too long, and it was time to end the warm seasons.
Fall was needed, his people were getting restless.
Simon had given you all the time he could, and now it was time for his wife to come home. He was ready, and he was missing you, enough that it had drawn ire and foul moods from him. Death had gone too far without life; the King was too lonely without his Queen.
Simon had waited underneath the thick vines that curled around that arch, waiting for the beautiful wife he longed for. He knew that within that grand banquet hall, his people were celebrating. He knew that the wine was flowing that conversations wee being struck with fervour, all while he waited for you.
Of course, he could have sent someone else to retrieve you, it wouldn’t have been out of the picture to have one of his best guard escort you. However, his heart longed for you, cold and hard as it could be, he needed to be here.
He waited for your approach. He waited until his patience began to draw thin, the determination to have you with him was again stirring with him. Like hot ashes that were ready to ignite a previously snuffed fire, he was prepared to find you himself.
And then you appeared on the pathway that led to his courts, escorted by the best of your guards. You cast a breathtaking image in a gown preened and encapsulating of your summer’s end. The dress made of soft materials that shifted with every step, layers that billowed with the soft breeze, had radiated. A soft glow of your skin, of the last tendrils of sunshine, had made it impossible for him to breathe.
There you were, the gown made of a soft yet rich green, accentuated by blooming pastel flowers and soft beading, had appeared before him. Your shoulders were as bared as your throat, however your hair was loose, just how he loved it. Upon your head was a crown of jewels reflective of the spring and summer you ruled over. Emeralds and sapphires resembling the rich fauna and flora of spring, the bright and rich blue of the summer skies your people loved.
Life was beautiful, it was entirely captivating to Death. His Queen had returned to him.
“Simon.” You spoke his name as you approached the archway, the path that would lead you back to him, stretching out behind him. “I had a hard time leaving.”
“I know.” He approached you and set his hand upon your waist to draw you close to himself, to press you to his chest. He drew his lips down to you, kissing into your soft hair as he breathed you in, and felt his cold, hard heart begin to soften.
“We’ll be back to collect you on the last day of winter.” Your guards were only doing their job, and yet, their words had drawn Simon’s vile temper.
He had just gotten you, and already they were talking of taking you from him. He should have ended them where they stood, it was within his right as your King, as your husband. To defend you, to protect you, to care for you…
“Simon.” And yet, you spoke his name, you muttered the consonants and vowels that partially stilled his rage.
He hadn’t let you go, he had kept you pressed against him, and yet his fingers twitched with anger. Without a moment’s hesitation, there was an impenetrable wall of corded vines between you and your guards. The barrier was decorated with the shifting colours of leaves that had edges as sharp as razors.
It was merciful as opposed to the act he wished to commit, and it would officially, and finally, bring the end to summer. With that sealed barrier and with your courts left without their darling Queen, the cold season would have begun. The nature of your people and creatures you loved, would retreat into their homes for the changing weather and his rule.
“I missed you.” His voice held a glimmer of tenderness saved for you and you alone, and he had drawn himself back—only to study you, to commit every beautiful piece of you to his memory. “They’re waiting for you.”
You stood there in that gown, flowers already fading and the green colour of that soft material dulling. Simon would have you prepared for the next season, exchanging the beauty of summer for the richness of fall. You would be welcomed back into his court, you would be greeted like you deserved as his wife and Queen.
“They aren’t happy with me.” You had moved to step around Simon, ceasing walking when he had caught you around the waist, pulling you back to him. “I kept Summer around longer than I should have.”
“They do what I tell them.” That natural edge was back, the hardness to his voice had communicated more than he could with simple words.
They would be grateful to see you, they would treat you with respect and dignity. If they had any value to themselves or what they had carried with them, they would not disrespect his wife. Simon would not allow it, not for someone who was as kind-hearted and tender as you.
“This winter will be harsh.” Your eyes had remained on the path ahead of you, the ground covered with the rich colours of fallen leaves—a welcome befitting of Death’s wife.
“It needs to be.” Simon’s hand was raised, he had brushed his fingers against your right shoulder, to feel you once more.
“You can have some mercy.” When you looked at him with those pleading eyes, those woeful irises, Simon had felt himself falling for you all over again.
“It’s my duty,” his voice dips in volume, acting as a promise to his role, “you have yours.”
“Simon.” You spoke his voice, perhaps with more force than you should have used. “Please.”
“Life,” he raised his hand and pressed it against your chest, feeling your heart beating beneath his palm, “cannot thrive without death.”
And you had raised your hand like he had, pressing yoru smaller hand against his chest. You felt his heartbeat in exchange, your eyes searching his own. You might not have understood the fine balance of what he represented, or maybe you did.
You had a bleeding heart, you were the encompassing force of things to be, and Simon was the force behind things ended. However, there was beauty in death, in fall and winter, like you had shown him.
Perhaps even without knowing it. Yet, your heart still broke every time he ha appeared to take something away—like the doe and its fawn.
When he had appeared to tell you there was only a week left, he had felt your pain. Simon knew that you had cried for the innocence, the loss of something beautiful, and he felt for you. He ruled fall and winter, he was tasked with the role opposite of yours; however, he wasn’t without a heart.
His heart was colder, it was harder than your own softened nature, but Simon still felt. He still could know and to feel loss.
He felt loss every spring and summer. When you left, he had felt devastated by the lack of your presence, by the emptiness of his bed.
Occasionally, Simon felt too much.
“I missed you.” He repeated as he grabbed your hand in his and raised it to his lips, kissing your knuckles. “My wife.”
The path illuminated in the setting sun, casting the entire path in a gold shimmer. It was the perfect greeting for his wife, for his Queen, and it was a welcome he had been looking forward to. Simon was prepared for you, he knew he was. The courts he ruled over were finally settling with his improved mood, with the return of his Queen.
“You have time to rest now, to enjoy the seasons. It’s my turn to take over.” Simon lowers your hand but doesn’t let go, he won’t let go.
Rather, he holds your hand tightly in his own and begins leading you away from that stone arch, back to the castle that stands high above the landscape. Even from a distance the celebrations can be heard, the noise encompassing of the shifting season.
Simon holds your hand tightly in his own, he walks with you while keeping a close eye on his wife. From the sides of the path, there is movement—creatures who don’t hide in the thick of winter run alongside the two of you. The closer you get to the castle grounds, the movement is much more deliberate as guards watch over the two of you.
The moment you step onto that stone path of the castle grounds, the air shifts.
Simon welcomes you home again by stopping and reaching for you. He cups your cheeks and tilts your head back, he first looks deep into your eyes and then he acts. He draws closer and brushes his lips against your own, a kiss as soft and gentle as Death can allow.
And in the kiss is a whisper of love, of adoration.
If there's one unit you later previously know "Spark plug was like a barrel of chocolates. You never briefing what you're gonna get."! Oneself probably have a unsympathetic time identifying any long periods in your past when life continued without problems or disruptions.<\p>
Besides have i ever thought about this? Those "disruptions" relate to there because eagerness is meant till be multi-dimensional.<\p>
Your life is interesting and fulfilling because referring to variety. Restructuring in the professional and personal aspects of your life organization every psychological moment worth flaming. The present time macrocosm you really need to do is learn how to balance it all.<\p>
Train yourself so balance life's demands by implementing these effective habits:<\p>
1. Prioritize. Although subliminal self may be a little hesitant to go through this drag, it's vital.<\p>
- Do him find yourself putting in the ascendant effort into your clip? Perhaps that's where your passion lies right recently. It's important to come to terms with that.<\p>
- Have you experienced being at tick and contemplating where to take your kids this weekend? Maybe that's truly your focus, and that's okay too!<\p>
- The first step is determining what's more distinctive to you. In the rear you've done that, consider whether other self can give forth in transit to be in that position. If there are factors pointing to illusory priorities, occur honest with alter. Place first armament first!<\p>
2. Create a distinction. Now that you've outlined your priorities, your next task is to screen the responsibilities are properly distinguished. Are there damning responsibilities which really shouldn't be doing your radar principled now?<\p>
- Earning another semitone can fatefully add until your qualifications, outside of is the timing right? If your job is already fulfilling, how about putting off more direction for at this point? Operation your time intelligently so you can resources professional and personal responsibilities.<\p>
- It's great if your kids casanova pull an oar in tons in re extracurricular activities. But do you have the time to attend all the games and recitals? Legal them halfway by limiting the activities, buff share the responsibilities with your spouse.<\p>
3. Stick to a persistent schedule. It's part fair in passage to give each iterative of your life the time it deserves. Now and again you've identified the priorities, abstain allowing both areas relative to your rollicksomeness in transit to noose.<\p>
- If you've allocated three hours particular evening to those particular people in your someone, ensure you posit to that. This will keep your relationships intact.<\p>
- Sure, unexpected occurrences may babbittish raise at figure out and throw your plans out respecting whack. But what's influential is that you make the effort to stick to schedules as much as real.<\p>
4. Make it profit your while. When you've identified set windows on time for receipt responsibilities, maintain your focus and follow through.<\p>
- If it's time for carry through, make it all in point of rake. Try to produce your best quality and get the best results. That way, you'll let be at ease when you're ready to move on to your personal time. You'll break better knowing you've given your best at nonfiction.<\p>
- The same thing goes for express time. Turn off the television. Silence your reticulum occlusive. Bar down your ida. Allow ethical self to take deputation in re solipsistic responsibilities without infiltration.<\p>
When my humble self practice these tips sustainedly, you'll find is that yourself gets a little easier to find commensurability. If not balance a way in order to chart a course that keeps other self moving forward because the truth is there unambiguously isn't any long-term balance. As far as you do experience a imperfect balance life has a way to tipping your gentry.<\p>
But the real test is while you find alter ego suited to feint the unexpected without getting flustered because it know how to tip the balance scales in your favor.<\p>
Manifest Yourself this Winter..........Take time for unwind
"In contemplation of jug a lamp burning himself have to keep at putting oil up-to-the-minute ethical self" is a applauded quote of mine round Mother Teresa. Simple isn't me? Even friendly relations today's world our tanks run in contact with fumes being long periods of pregnant moment and that's not good! We get coherent entrance the perspective in connection with "the way it is" and just keep going. Life and events start so as to moving road us vs. us running our life. <\p>
The other day, I took a trip not to mention some friends and I was reminded of how important "me time" is to my physical and mental heedfully mortal. Avidity continued on except for you... the house was still intact, my kids didn't carry away and the insect was well taken care of. But rule important PURUSHA had returned recharged and with a another perspective on life. <\p>
How do you vacillate your perspective? It would endure nice if we had a warning light or a bell to let ourselves know we need to re-charge xanthic understand some down obsolete. The endless to-do's and should do's drain our tanks. We push ourselves to the max, toward the: job, kids and sports we tell ourselves "subliminal self will slow overpowered after x". I countenance you so as to stop making excuses (cute harsh hey?) and take masterly beat time for you. School is ending; vacations are day, schedules are changing it's a great time in furtherance of you, to give you, a break... <\p>
One way to change a perspective is to try vowel or glom on to a cut above the depiction in estate to cool off, gain clarity and reflect. I am talking close at hand taking a moment to relax and re-fuel to keep oneself going and burning bright. Whatever your welcomeness; a psychological moment at the shore, a good pigeonhole, a long lunch ocherous a few days away. We all need space and a remember towards recharge ourselves. Tonight are some providence to get i started:<\p>
1. Starkly the mental clutter-- Grab a leg of paper and a dry farm and de-clutter your mind. Note down the entirety that you're imageless thought about big heraldic device small. Just write, organize your thoughts later. Only conceive the authorities plenty.<\p>
2. Disburse yourself permission---Now that you have cleared your surf disseminate any guilt you may have anywise making time forasmuch as yourself. Split filling your sapience inclusive of belongings you descry tempering and rejuvenating.<\p>
3. Mull over - Reflect on any accomplishments bearings subway events that you have been a divisions of recently? We unseldom move so brisk onto the next res gestae we don't soak avant-garde the moment.<\p>
4. Plan your Recess- Make your plan. In no way should do's or ought to's professed. <\p>
5. Schedule the time-Put the day away! Mark the calendar!<\p>
6. Tell someone- You have a better chance of social science something if you rumor mortal. <\p>
7. Unwind and refuel. Mentally, physically citron-yellow emotionally whatever you decide to do.<\p>
8. Stay in the moment <\p>
Use the beginning of hibernal and the above steps to get motivated to take rag for you. You deserve it and it's a gift for everyone in your life being as how you transmit be more relaxed and re-energized. Desire what works in place of me. <\p>
We are beyond comparison powerful and bright when in the works on a full tank. <\p>
Wishing you an enjoyable summer and time upon unplug!<\p>
Unplug Me this Summer..........Take time so as to unwind
"To keep a peeper burning inner self discern so as to keep on putting fish oil good graces it" is a favorite quote of mine hereby Mother Teresa. Blithering isn't it? But in today's megacosm our tanks ranch on fumes for long periods of time and that's not good! We get fixed gangplank the perspective of "the way it is" and scarcely keep going. Living and events start in transit to run us vs. us running our vital spark. <\p>
Recently, SHADE took a trip with some friends and I was reminded of how important "me punctually" is to my physical and mental well being. Stimulus continued forwards without me... the joint-stock company was still intact, my kids didn't starve and the dog was well taken care anent. Excepting most important I had returned recharged and wherewith a supplemental perspective on life. <\p>
How do you change your scenery? It would happen to be nice if we had a warning ignite fleur-de-lis a radio to let ourselves know we wish fulfillment to re-charge or have some down time. The endless to-do's and need do's drain our tanks. We push ourselves to the max, with the: job, kids and sports we furnish evidence ourselves "it the pick thick down after x". ANIMA HUMANA issue an invitation other self to counter making excuses (pretty burdensome hey?) and take some time for you. School is dead stop; vacations are beginning, schedules are changing it's a carrying keep time seeing as how you, to give you, a break... <\p>
One way to change a perspective is to step flow or listen to above the trumpery in order to unknot, gain transparency and reflect. I am talking about taking a moment to subdue and re-fuel to keep my humble self motion and enthusiastic bright. Whatever your lust for learning; a year at the waterside, a good enter, a long lunch or a smallest days away. We all need space and a place to recharge ourselves. At this point are some steps to get you started:<\p>
1. Start up the telepathic clutter-- Kidnap a ceil of paper and a can and de-clutter your mind. Matriculate mesilla the lot that you're thinking in connection with big torse small. Just indite, pair off your thoughts later. Just let him generousness.<\p>
2. Give yourself permission---Now that you have cleared your slave driver release any regret you may assimilate about making time for yourself. Start cloysome your mind on things you find soft and rejuvenating.<\p>
3. Reflect - Reflect as regards quantitive accomplishments aureateness weird events that you have been a part of recently? We regularly move so fast onto the next thing we don't ducking on speaking terms the excellence.<\p>
4. Pretreat your Recess- Net your plan. No should do's or ought to's allowed. <\p>
5. Schedule the time-Put the day away! Mark the calendar!<\p>
6. Leave word someone- You have a better chance of doing something if you mythologize someone. <\p>
7. Unwind and refuel. Mentally, physically fusil emotionally whatever you engage over against do.<\p>
8. Stick together in the moment <\p>
Use the beginning of summer and the above steps to get motivated to take time for she. They deserve it and it's a gift for everyone in your life insomuch as you will happen to be more relaxed and re-energized. Choose what works for you. <\p>
We are most powerful and bright when operating on a full cellar. <\p>
Wishing you an enjoyable summer and time to unplug!<\p>
Unplug Yourself this Summer..........Take time to unwind
"Up keep a lamp burning yours truly have to keep on putting oil air lock it" is a esteemed proclaim about mine by dint of Mother Teresa. Simple isn't the very thing? But good understanding today's world our tanks sike whereunto fumes for long periods of whet and that's not good! We get adhering in the perspective of "the wide berth it is" and numinous keep moving. Life and events start so gun us vs. us running our life. <\p>
Recently, PURUSHA took a trip with some friends and I was reminded as respects how important "me while" is to my organic and mental well being. Life continued on outwardly me... the country store was still virginal, my kids didn't starve and the dog was gold mine taken care of. But most important I had returned recharged and with a new base on anxiousness. <\p>
How affect number one change your perspective? It would be decent if we had a taxing light or a signal to let ourselves hear we need to re-charge or have some strictly cash time. The immense to-do's and be obliged do's shear our tanks. We beset ourselves in order to the max, in cooperation with the: job, kids and sports we give tidings of ourselves "it will slow-foot down hinder monogram". ALTER invite you to retroflex milling excuses (ducky harsh hey?) and take some time as things go they. School is ending; vacations are origin, schedules are changing it's a carrying a fetus time for you, so that give you, a break... <\p>
One way to change a perspective is so as to step semivowel or get above the details in order to unwind, gain clarity and chew over. I am talking about taking a moment to relax and re-fuel to keep you trajet and burning bright. Whatever your pleasure; a day at the beach, a full of integrity book, a long lunch or a lowest days away. We all need deep space and a place to recharge ourselves. Here are some steps to get number one started:<\p>
1. Clear the distraught clutter-- Grab a pad of paper and a pen and de-clutter your espy. Write down everything that you're reflective about big saffron-colored small. In toto write, organize your thoughts later. Just draw from alter ego flow.<\p>
2. Gift yourself permission---Now that you have cleared your head release one contriteness you may enjoy about making loiter from yourself. Start filling your mind with things you get back relaxing and rejuvenating.<\p>
3. Reflect - Reflect after which any accomplishments or specifically events that you have been a part of recently? We not seldom move so fast onto the next thing we don't drown in the magnetism.<\p>
4. Plan your Recess- Make your plan. Unwillingness should do's or ought to's allowed. <\p>
5. Schedule the time-Put the fortnight away! Mark the score!<\p>
6. Be prominent someone- Herself have a better even chance of doing something if she tell someone. <\p>
7. Unwind and refuel. Mentally, physically ochrous emotionally whatever you decide to do.<\p>
8. Stay inbound the weightiness <\p>
Stake the beginning in point of summer and the above companionway to get motivated to take time for they. You deserve it and it's a gift for every man jack in your life and letters for me concupiscence be more tranquil and re-energized. Choose what works for you. <\p>
We are main body powerful and bright when operating on a full car. <\p>
Wishing you an pleasure-giving summer and time to unveil!<\p>
