The Holly King sat atop his snowy white unicorn surveying his frosty kingdom on the last night of his half of the year. It was the longest night of the year, the Winter Solstice. He was tired and had again grown old as the nights had lengthened over the last six months. He was ready to be relieved. Yet he still had to rein that one last longest night.
The Holly King looked out across the northern hemisphere of Mother Earth hoping to see some faithful Pagans still leaving their lights on so as to light the Sun God’s way back after his longest journey of the year.
The sky was dark. Stars sparkled above the sparkling frost, ice, and snow across the Holly King’s winter lands. He looked forward to the change of watch but the Winter Solstice night had just begun.
The Holly King nudged his steed to follow the moon as it rose on the horizon. The unicorn trotted forward with a huff. He was tired too. The King and his steed traveled through that long night headed east to find the rising Sun God. The Holly King had no fear the Sun God would get lost as people used to worry on the Winter Solstice. Still he was there should the Old God need encouragement.
The lights of the people’s holiday decorations warmed The Holly King as he saw them all along his trek that night. He especially was cheered by a rare pentagram or yule log among the decorations. He smiled knowing more Pagans were remembering him and the old ways this year than in the year before.
Finally the eastern horizon began to glow. The Holly King quickened the pace of his steed and they rushed to meet the rising Sun God. As He started to peek above the horizon. The Oak King on his green dragon appeared within the sunbeams.
The Oak King flew his dragon towards the Holly King’s unicorn and landed so that they faced one another. The ancient tales claim the two kings fight each other when they exchange places. The battle was just an act of pomp and circumstance though. The Oak King raised his oak staff high then dropped it softly atop the Holly King’s left shoulder. The Holly King lifted his mistletoe wrapped holly staff and let it tap the left shoulder of the Oak King.With that so-called battle ritual complete they bowed their heads to one another with big cheeky grins. The Holly King patted his unicorn’s neck and urged it to take flight. The Holly King and his steed jumped into the air and disappeared over the horizon as the Oak King and his dragon took over watching his half of the year, knowing the days would now grow longer until he met The Holly King, on the longest day of the year, the Summer Solstice, to exchange sides once again.
INSTANT NOODLES 