The Troll Wife

inspired by a story by DJ Conway

The cool breeze gently lifted the bright red and gold leaves and carried them as if on fairy wings across the yard and over the hill. 

It was October. The brisk warnings of impending winter could be felt all around. Danny sat, crouching, on the hill. The autumn sun was setting as he stared down at the firm, fresh mound of dirt that marked the grave of his beloved cat.

Tiger was his best friend. For as long as he remembered, the little orange cat had been a part of his life. Until now. Now, because Tiger had gotten outside and ran into the road, he was gone. 

Tears streamed down the boy's face as he lovingly put the grave marker he had painstakingly made out of sticks and fishing line into the ground. "I miss you, Tiger." the grieving seven year old said in a quaking whisper. "I'll never forget you."

Danny looked back to the sunset, watching the last of his happiness die with the setting of the sun.  In the breeze, he could hear a soft song of mourning.  Paying no attention, he leaned down and touch the dirt on Tiger's grave.

"Why are you crying, young one?" a tiny voice asked. 

"My cat died today," said Danny. "He was my best friend in the whole world." 

"Ah, I see." said the soft voice. "It is a very hard thing when someone you love passes on." 

Finally realizing that someone was talking to him, Danny looked over his shoulder to see a woman dressed in purple and black, her arms loaded down with flowers and a basket of food. 

"Who are you?" asked Danny. 

"I am the Troll Wife." she said. 

She came over to Danny and placed beautiful wildflowers on Tiger's grave. "There. Now he will remember how much you love him." she said. The old woman smiled and patted the young boy on his shoulder.

"Why are you here?" asked Danny. 

"Well, see the trees over there? Right in the center of all those trees, are the graves of my own child and my beloved husband. They were taken from me some years ago. I come here every year and bring them food and flowers." said the woman as she pointed to an area in the dense forest of trees. 

Danny was surprised that he had never noticed this area before because in the midst of the evergreen trees was a beautiful, naturally made arch of Jasmine flowers and the ground was covered with Forget-Me-Nots.

"Today is Samhain," said the Troll Wife. "On this day, when the veil between the worlds becomes thin, I come here to bring food for my husband, to sing to my child, and to remember them. If I remember them, they will remember me." 

Tears began to fall down the old woman's face as she remembered. Then, to Danny's surprise, a smile crept across the old woman's lips.  He watched as the old Troll Wife began taking out a blanket from her basket and setting up a fine spread of food while she hummed a beautiful bittersweet song of memories. 

As she tended the graves of her loved ones, she told Danny stories of her own child's first steps, of how strong her husband was and how he had built their home with his own hands. She told him about how he adored her and their little one and how she felt so safe and secure in his arms. Helping her clear the weeds from the graves, Danny listened to her stories and songs and somehow, it made him feel a little better.

Much later, as a blanket of darkness fell over the land, Danny bid farewell to the little Troll Wife. As he walked away, he turned to see her sitting on a rock, singing a song to her beloved family.  His heart ached for the loss the old woman had suffered, but he knew that tonight she was with her family, and they with her.

Danny walked up the hill to Tiger's small grave. "Good night, Tiger," he said. 

A smile began to show on Danny's face as he went into the house. He knew he could never forget Tiger, so Tiger would never forget him.

That night while Danny slept, he and Tiger jumped and played and caught butterflies in the backyard while the sun shine warmed the sky. In the background, the Troll Wife sang.