The Tale of Ella: The Storyteller Healer
In the sleepy town of Wickets, surrounded by a lush green valley and flowing rivers, lived a young girl named Ella. Ella was not an ordinary girl. She was blessed with the power to heal and comfort the wounded and the sick. Unlike traditional forms of medicine, Ella had the ability to heal through reading stories to the afflicted, which brought about an uncanny but soothing wave of calm and cure.
The townsfolk knew about Ella's enchanting abilities and would gather round her humble abode whenever they felt unwell. But for Ella, her gift was something she didn't fully comprehend. How could tales spun from mere letters and dusted books close wounds, chase away fevers, soothe aches or mend broken hearts?
One day, Old Tom, the town's blacksmith fell gravely sick. Despite Ella's prompt readings, his health deteriorated. Ella was flabbergasted. It was the first time her stories failed. Since he was one of the leading figures of Wickets, the entire town gathered at his house, praying fervently for his recovery. But as it grew darker, Old Tom's life-breath weakened.
Seeing Ella worried, Wilson, the town's library keeper, called her aside. He was an old man, having spent years among books and hidden scrolls. He knew every story that ever existed in Wickets and ones beyond it.
With a glint of hope in his eyes, he said to Ella, "Not all ailments can be fought with the same story. Just like how a blacksmith uses different tools to mold different things, your stories are your tools. You need to find a story that speaks to the soul of Old Tom.",Ella was confused. "But how would I know what story he needs?",Wilson smiled, "In stories, Ella, we find fragments of ourselves, our dreams, our fears, our joy and our sorrows. Only a story that resonates with all these fragments can have the power to bring true healing.",Guided by Wilson's wisdom, Ella decided to find out more about Old Tom. She listened to the tales about his youth, his dreams as a proud blacksmith, the love of his life he lost, his solitary existence and his wish to see the northern lights before he crossed the realms of this world.
She then spent the night rummaging through the library, reading, selecting and discarding stories. And finally, as the first light of dawn arrived, she found it - 'The Tale of North Wind and the Dancing Lights'. It was a story of a fearless blacksmith, who crafted the most beautiful masterpiece under the guidance of the North Wind, a loss that shattered him and his solitary path to catch the mesmerizing northern lights to bring the love of his life back.
With the story clutched close to her heart, Ella rushed back to Old Tom. As she began reading, the ailing blacksmith listened mesmerizingly. It was a story he had never heard, yet it was his. His dreams, his love, his loss, his wish, all woven so perfectly. And as Ella read the last line, describing how the blacksmith was reunited with his love under the northern lights, Old Tom's eyes sparkled. He was not just better, he was vibrant, full of life!
Ella's stories didn't just heal; they showed the listeners a roadmap of their dreams and wishes which they were too afraid to tread on. Old Tom didn't die. He lived the rest of his days fulfilling his desires, and the northern lights he saw were beautiful, just like in The Tale of North Wind and the Dancing Lights.
The tale of Ella echoes in the town of Wickets to this date, a testament to the power of stories and their impact on our souls. A reminder that sometimes, when words are woven with a bit of reality and a bundle of dreams, healing isn't just for the body, but also for the soul, giving it the push to realize its deepest desires.