(((OOC:: This is the story of a beautiful woman, who long ago fell in love with a powerful spirit and became a legend through her love. It is open knowledge, though probably few have ever heard it, and is all about Di's mother. I was inspired by a native American myth, though I have taken pains to change much there are still strong similarities if you look for them.)))
There once was a great warrior-king in a kingdom by the sea far to the east and far to the north. He ruled for many years with a strong hand and gentle heart, he was much loved by his people and greatly feared by his enemies. One day, he was visited by a beautiful peasant woman who came to him pleading for sanctuary, for she had lost everything in a terrible storm and winter was soon coming. He had mercy on the poor woman, and soon they fell in love. Not another year passed before the great king was given a beautiful daughter, but at a terrible price, for his beloved wife and queen died during the birth. He named his daughter Ashinabe, and he loved her all the more for she was all he had left of his wife. As she grew the king trained Ashinabe in the arts of war and magic so she would be strong, for her people would depend on her.
Soon Ashinabe was of marrying age, and the king sent out a message to the kingdoms of the world that they should send the strongest of their sons to come and try to win her hand. Being a wise king, he left the choice of suitor to Ashinabe and he waited to see who could win the heart of his beloved daughter. Strong and handsome young men came from all over to try to win her hand, but none could impress Ashinabe, who was as strong as they were and far more beautiful. So the king sent out another message, for the kingdoms of the world to send their brightest and most powerful young mages to try and win her hand. Again, young and handsome mages came from all over, some were very powerful indeed. But Ashinabe could best them all, and found that she was brighter still with every conversation she had.
She soon began to lose hope that any could truly be the king her husband must be, and so she took long walks along the shores of the kingdom. It was on one of these walks that she met a man who stood just inside the waves upon the shore. He was dressed all in white with brilliant blue eyes and though he had white hair, he was young and handsome. Ashinabe walked right up to him and introduced herself, for she knew almost everyone in her kingdom and she had never met this man before. He told her that he was here to win the heart of a beautiful and strong princess, and that he would like to know where she is. Ashinabe was quite taken with his strange looks but did not know if this young man was bright enough or strong enough to be the king she needed so she did not tell him that she was the princess.
Instead she told him that if he could best her in body and mind that she would tell him where the princess could be found. The young man agreed and so it was that they contested for three days in a battle of strength, though the young man only matched her strength and never tried to hurt her. At the end of the third day Ashinabe was very tired and could not continue the fight, but the young man was not tired at all and graciously asked her if she would yield. She did, and in doing so the young man had bested her in body. Ashinabe told him that she must rest, and in three days time she would return here for them to begin the battle of the mind.
After three days Ashinabe came to the beach once more, and found the young man waiting for her there in the waves as she had first seen him. She was again struck by how handsome he was, and now that she knew he was strong, thought that maybe he could be the king she needed and as she thought this she felt her heart flutter a bit. She came over to him and the young man turned and the battle began. They used powerful magic and struggled mightily within their minds and spirits each to overcome the other, though Ashinabe noticed that he never hurt her and only matched her power as they opposed each other. After another three days, Ashinabe was far too weary for her to continue and again the young man graciously asked her if she would yield. She did, and in doing so the young man had bested her in mind.
Ashinabe knew now that this young man could be strong and bright enough to be the king she and her kingdom needed, and in their battle she had come to love him. She said to the young man that she was in fact the princess, and that if he wished he could have her. The young man smiled and told her that he was in fact the spirit of the Northwind, and that he had loved her since she had first stepped upon the balcony and felt her first breeze kiss her forehead. He told her that he had known she would be born, and had destroyed her mother's home, knowing her father would fall in love with her mother when she came to him for mercy. And so it came to pass that Ashinabe married the spirit of the Northwind.
But all was not well forever, and soon the Northwind had to return to the skies so that the winds would continue to blow and nature would keep its balance. Ashinabe was beset by grief for many moons and was inconsolable except when she felt the breeze upon her skin and knew that her love was with her. One day as she walked along the shore, a breeze blew across her skin and she looked to the oceans to see a water sprite playing in the waves close to shore. Ashinabe was clever, and knew that the spirit would know how she could rejoin her lost love. So she went to the sprite and said that she could show the sprite a wonderful wave that never went away, of course water sprites love waves and so was very interested. But water sprites could not leave the water for without it they could not move, so Ashinabe cupped her hands and carried the sprite to a small puddle among the tidal rocks on the shore. There she let the sprite go, for it was now trapped. She told the sprite she would return it to the ocean if it told her how she could join the Northwind once more.
The sprite refused at first but as time wore on it became restless, as all sprites do when trapped, and told her that there was a Giant Eagle far to the north whose wings could carry her on the winds wherever she wanted to go. Ashinabe knew of this eagle, for it had plagued her kingdom for many generations and resolved right then and there that she would slay the beast, for at the very least it would be a service to her kingdom. She released the sprite and went to her father straightaway. By now the king was very worried about his daughter, and had come to miss seeing her as happy as the Northwind had made her. So he gave her his blessing, and gave her a jade and silver sword to protect her on her journey.
For many days and nights she walked with the guidance of the breeze and was always on the lookout for the shadow of the Eagle. Finally, after many miles and many days, she saw the shadow of the Giant Eagle as it flew over the forest she was travelling in. Ashinabe hid and watched as the eagle flew high over the treetops and swooped down, picking up a deer in each talon and eating it there in the air before swooping down again and catching a fish bigger than any horse she had ever seen. Then she watched as the Eagle flew away and landed high in the clouds on top of a mountain with steep rocky sides. So Ashinabe set out for the mountain, for that must be where the Eagle had its nest.
After a day of walking she came to the foot of the mountain, but there was no way up. The wind could not help her climb the sides and there was no path for her to walk. She searched around and saw deep in the stone that the spirit of the mountain slept, and this gave her an idea. She breathed deep and asked the wind to give her breath as she yelled long and loud for the mountain spirit to wake. Ashinabe screamed so loud that the trees shook and the birds flew away and the animals hid in their burrows, but still the mountain did not stir. Again she drew in her breath, this time pleading more with the wind to make her voice heard deep in the stone. The wind heard her and as she screamed a whirlwind came forth from her mouth, carrying with it all her voice and power. Ashinabe screamed so loud the trees were torn from their roots, the animals were ripped from their burrows, the birds were thrown from the skies, and the mountain shook. Her voice carried deep within the mountain to where the spirit slept, waking and angering him thoroughly so that he tossed the ground beneath Ashinabe so hard that she flew to the very top where she would be trapped. Then the mountain spirit slept once more, and Ashinabe stood high in the clouds atop the mountain where the Giant Eagle had made a nest of stone.
The Eagle had known she was coming, for he had heard her cries down below, and was waiting for Ashinabe as she stood. There was a great battle between the two, the talons of the eagle razor sharp and its beak hard as steel. Its wings beat with such fury there was a great wind that only gave Ashinabe strength, for she knew her Northwind would aid her. Finally the Giant Eagle swooped down at her and meant to catch her up and drop her from the mountain, but Ashinabe was clever and used her sword to cut off the Eagle's feet instead. The Eagle fell when it tried to land and peck at Ashinabe, and so when it did she cut off its head.
Having slain the Giant Eagle she sat and called on the Northwind, her great love, and when she knew he was on his way, she crawled inside the eagle and brought its heart into her own. When she crawled out of its body she grew its wings and knew she could fly. The Northwind came and saw what she had done and was overcome with joy and sadness at the same time. For now she could fly with him and their love could be forever, but now she must also take the place of the eagle whose spirit kept watch over the skies and protected all beneath them.
So it was that Ashinabe gained the power of the whirlwind, and the wings of the eagle, and whose spirit keeps watch over all nature under the skies. She still flies with her love, high in the skies where she keeps watch and sometimes lets her children loose on the world where she and the Northwind can keep watch. Legend says that she waits for a child of her lineage to prove themselves worthy for her to bestow the wings of the Giant Eagle and the great power of the Whirlwind upon them.
There once was a great warrior-king in a kingdom by the sea far to the east and far to the north. He ruled for many years with a strong hand and gentle heart, he was much loved by his people and greatly feared by his enemies. One day, he was visited by a beautiful peasant woman who came to him pleading for sanctuary, for she had lost everything in a terrible storm and winter was soon coming. He had mercy on the poor woman, and soon they fell in love. Not another year passed before the great king was given a beautiful daughter, but at a terrible price, for his beloved wife and queen died during the birth. He named his daughter Ashinabe, and he loved her all the more for she was all he had left of his wife. As she grew the king trained Ashinabe in the arts of war and magic so she would be strong, for her people would depend on her.
Soon Ashinabe was of marrying age, and the king sent out a message to the kingdoms of the world that they should send the strongest of their sons to come and try to win her hand. Being a wise king, he left the choice of suitor to Ashinabe and he waited to see who could win the heart of his beloved daughter. Strong and handsome young men came from all over to try to win her hand, but none could impress Ashinabe, who was as strong as they were and far more beautiful. So the king sent out another message, for the kingdoms of the world to send their brightest and most powerful young mages to try and win her hand. Again, young and handsome mages came from all over, some were very powerful indeed. But Ashinabe could best them all, and found that she was brighter still with every conversation she had.
She soon began to lose hope that any could truly be the king her husband must be, and so she took long walks along the shores of the kingdom. It was on one of these walks that she met a man who stood just inside the waves upon the shore. He was dressed all in white with brilliant blue eyes and though he had white hair, he was young and handsome. Ashinabe walked right up to him and introduced herself, for she knew almost everyone in her kingdom and she had never met this man before. He told her that he was here to win the heart of a beautiful and strong princess, and that he would like to know where she is. Ashinabe was quite taken with his strange looks but did not know if this young man was bright enough or strong enough to be the king she needed so she did not tell him that she was the princess.
Instead she told him that if he could best her in body and mind that she would tell him where the princess could be found. The young man agreed and so it was that they contested for three days in a battle of strength, though the young man only matched her strength and never tried to hurt her. At the end of the third day Ashinabe was very tired and could not continue the fight, but the young man was not tired at all and graciously asked her if she would yield. She did, and in doing so the young man had bested her in body. Ashinabe told him that she must rest, and in three days time she would return here for them to begin the battle of the mind.
After three days Ashinabe came to the beach once more, and found the young man waiting for her there in the waves as she had first seen him. She was again struck by how handsome he was, and now that she knew he was strong, thought that maybe he could be the king she needed and as she thought this she felt her heart flutter a bit. She came over to him and the young man turned and the battle began. They used powerful magic and struggled mightily within their minds and spirits each to overcome the other, though Ashinabe noticed that he never hurt her and only matched her power as they opposed each other. After another three days, Ashinabe was far too weary for her to continue and again the young man graciously asked her if she would yield. She did, and in doing so the young man had bested her in mind.
Ashinabe knew now that this young man could be strong and bright enough to be the king she and her kingdom needed, and in their battle she had come to love him. She said to the young man that she was in fact the princess, and that if he wished he could have her. The young man smiled and told her that he was in fact the spirit of the Northwind, and that he had loved her since she had first stepped upon the balcony and felt her first breeze kiss her forehead. He told her that he had known she would be born, and had destroyed her mother's home, knowing her father would fall in love with her mother when she came to him for mercy. And so it came to pass that Ashinabe married the spirit of the Northwind.
But all was not well forever, and soon the Northwind had to return to the skies so that the winds would continue to blow and nature would keep its balance. Ashinabe was beset by grief for many moons and was inconsolable except when she felt the breeze upon her skin and knew that her love was with her. One day as she walked along the shore, a breeze blew across her skin and she looked to the oceans to see a water sprite playing in the waves close to shore. Ashinabe was clever, and knew that the spirit would know how she could rejoin her lost love. So she went to the sprite and said that she could show the sprite a wonderful wave that never went away, of course water sprites love waves and so was very interested. But water sprites could not leave the water for without it they could not move, so Ashinabe cupped her hands and carried the sprite to a small puddle among the tidal rocks on the shore. There she let the sprite go, for it was now trapped. She told the sprite she would return it to the ocean if it told her how she could join the Northwind once more.
The sprite refused at first but as time wore on it became restless, as all sprites do when trapped, and told her that there was a Giant Eagle far to the north whose wings could carry her on the winds wherever she wanted to go. Ashinabe knew of this eagle, for it had plagued her kingdom for many generations and resolved right then and there that she would slay the beast, for at the very least it would be a service to her kingdom. She released the sprite and went to her father straightaway. By now the king was very worried about his daughter, and had come to miss seeing her as happy as the Northwind had made her. So he gave her his blessing, and gave her a jade and silver sword to protect her on her journey.
For many days and nights she walked with the guidance of the breeze and was always on the lookout for the shadow of the Eagle. Finally, after many miles and many days, she saw the shadow of the Giant Eagle as it flew over the forest she was travelling in. Ashinabe hid and watched as the eagle flew high over the treetops and swooped down, picking up a deer in each talon and eating it there in the air before swooping down again and catching a fish bigger than any horse she had ever seen. Then she watched as the Eagle flew away and landed high in the clouds on top of a mountain with steep rocky sides. So Ashinabe set out for the mountain, for that must be where the Eagle had its nest.
After a day of walking she came to the foot of the mountain, but there was no way up. The wind could not help her climb the sides and there was no path for her to walk. She searched around and saw deep in the stone that the spirit of the mountain slept, and this gave her an idea. She breathed deep and asked the wind to give her breath as she yelled long and loud for the mountain spirit to wake. Ashinabe screamed so loud that the trees shook and the birds flew away and the animals hid in their burrows, but still the mountain did not stir. Again she drew in her breath, this time pleading more with the wind to make her voice heard deep in the stone. The wind heard her and as she screamed a whirlwind came forth from her mouth, carrying with it all her voice and power. Ashinabe screamed so loud the trees were torn from their roots, the animals were ripped from their burrows, the birds were thrown from the skies, and the mountain shook. Her voice carried deep within the mountain to where the spirit slept, waking and angering him thoroughly so that he tossed the ground beneath Ashinabe so hard that she flew to the very top where she would be trapped. Then the mountain spirit slept once more, and Ashinabe stood high in the clouds atop the mountain where the Giant Eagle had made a nest of stone.
The Eagle had known she was coming, for he had heard her cries down below, and was waiting for Ashinabe as she stood. There was a great battle between the two, the talons of the eagle razor sharp and its beak hard as steel. Its wings beat with such fury there was a great wind that only gave Ashinabe strength, for she knew her Northwind would aid her. Finally the Giant Eagle swooped down at her and meant to catch her up and drop her from the mountain, but Ashinabe was clever and used her sword to cut off the Eagle's feet instead. The Eagle fell when it tried to land and peck at Ashinabe, and so when it did she cut off its head.
Having slain the Giant Eagle she sat and called on the Northwind, her great love, and when she knew he was on his way, she crawled inside the eagle and brought its heart into her own. When she crawled out of its body she grew its wings and knew she could fly. The Northwind came and saw what she had done and was overcome with joy and sadness at the same time. For now she could fly with him and their love could be forever, but now she must also take the place of the eagle whose spirit kept watch over the skies and protected all beneath them.
So it was that Ashinabe gained the power of the whirlwind, and the wings of the eagle, and whose spirit keeps watch over all nature under the skies. She still flies with her love, high in the skies where she keeps watch and sometimes lets her children loose on the world where she and the Northwind can keep watch. Legend says that she waits for a child of her lineage to prove themselves worthy for her to bestow the wings of the Giant Eagle and the great power of the Whirlwind upon them.