THE THREE WITCHES

An ORIGINAL HELLENIC-INSPIRED FAIRY TALE

There was once a temple, at the top of the most beautiful of mountains, in the holiest of all lands. In the center of this temple, lived the most precious Flame of the World, forever a light, keeping Gaia, the World, alive with her flicker. Tending to the fire were three young witches – Borboro, Eina, and Soteira. 

Borboro was the first witch to protect the Flame of the World. She came to live at the temple after her parents fell to a great plague. To survive, she feasted on their corpses before being drawn to the temple by its bright light! The Flame took pity on this child, forgave her of her misdeeds, and named her Borboro, the Eater of Filth. With her life-giving fire, the Flame kept her warm and safe.

“My child, use this spell, in your name, to protect the fires of the World Flame,” the Flame said once Borboro was of age. “But, be careful to not use it on someone pure of heart or it is you who will be turned to ash!” 

“Borboro, Borboro – hear my name!”

I am the Witch of Filth and Flame!

Through firelight, behold my might,

The Flame burns another day!”

    From that moment forward, Borboro used the spell to protect the Flame of the World, despite the darkness in her heart.

Eina was the second witch to protect the Flame of the World. She came to live at the temple after her parents fell in a mighty sea storm. To survive, she feasted on their bloated and drowned corpses, before being drawn to the temple by its bright light! The Flame took pity on this child, forgave her of her misdeeds, and named her Eina, the Ocean Eater. With Her life-giving fire, the Flame kept her warm and safe.

“My child, use this spell, in your name, to protect the fires of the World Flame,” the Flame said once Eina was of age. “But, be careful to not use it on someone pure of heart or it is you who will be turned to ash!” 

“Eina, Eina – hear my name!”

I am the Witch of Sea and Flame!

Through firelight, behold my might,

The Flame burns another day!”

From that moment forward, Eina joined with her sister, Borboro, and together, used their spells to protect the Flame of the World, despite the darkness in their hearts.

Soteira was the third witch of the Flame of the World. Unlike her sisters, she was pure of heart! Soteira was the World Soul, born of Gaia and sent to protect the Flame! The Flame of the World welcomed her as her protector with a happy flicker, but this made Borboro and Eina very angry! One sunny afternoon, while sitting on the marble steps of the temple, Borboro and Eina hatched a most sinister plan!

“Who is this new witch?,” Borboro said to Eina begrudgingly. “She who has no parents, no hunger, no regret?!”

“She who has never ate the dead!,” Eina said with a resentful pout. “Why is she our keeper when she hasn’t eaten her weight in heartache?!”

“Tonight, dear Eina, I’ll come up the hill and pretend to be a beggar, and when I get close enough to Soteira, I’ll cast my spell against her! Then, we’ll have the Flame all to ourselves and eat whatever and whomever we want!,” Borboro exclaimed. Eina clapped her hands out of the Flame’s motherly sight.

Later that night, when the moon was full and the Flame flickered bright and strong, Borboro emerged from the bushes hidden beneath an old filthy cloak. She called out into the night air, “woe is me, woe is me! Who will come to care for an old beggar?” Suddenly, Soteira was at the foot of the temple. She was a fair and pretty witch, her eyes flickering and swirling with flame and stars. 

“Who goes there?,” she whispered into the night.

“I am but a lowly beggar, poor and hungry from days in the wilderness,” lied Borboro the beggar. “Please, may I come closer and take in the warmth of the World Flame?”

“It is forbidden, but the Flame of the World has compassion for all. Come and rest a while.” Soteira extended her hand to the beggar.

Suddenly, Borbora threw her cloak to the ground and grabbed Soteira’s hand, screaming her spell!

“Borboro, Borboro – hear my name!”

I am the Witch of Filth and Flame!

Through firelight, behold my might,

The Flame burns another day!”

Then, the Flame of the World erupted in a firestorm, fire and heat shooting up above the temple and rocketing into the heavens! The Flame was quite angry and full of rage! When the Flame finally settled, all that was left behind was a pile of ashes at Soteira’s feet. Eina, who was hiding behind one of the marble pillars, ran out to meet her!

“You killed your sister!,” Eina screamed, silently vowing vengeance.

“No,” Soteira said meekly, “I swear I did no such thing!” And ran into the temple and into the Flame’s embrace.

The next night, Eina, sworn to avenge Borboro’s death, cloaked herself in a fishing net and called out into the night, “woe is me, woe is me! Who will come to care for an old castaway?” Like the previous night, Soteira was at the foot of the temple, her eyes dancing with stars and fireflies.

“Who goes there?,” she whispered into the night.

“I am but a shipwrecked castaway, lost at sea with nothing to eat or drink for days,” lied Eina the castaway.

“Please, may I come closer and take in the warmth of the World Flame?”

“It is forbidden, but the Flame of the World has compassion for all. Come and rest a while.” Soteira extended her hand to the castaway.

Suddenly, like her filth-eating sister, Eina threw her net to the ground and grabbed Soteira’s hand, screaming her spell!

“Eina, Eina – hear my name!”

I am the Witch of Sea and Flame!

Through firelight, behold my might,

The Flame burns another day!”

The Flame of the World again erupted in a firestorm, fire and heat scorching the sky! When the Flame finally settled into a calm broil, all that was left behind was a pile of ashes at Soteira’s feet. She fell to her knees, brought her hands to her eyes, and wept. 

“My child, why are you crying?,” The Flame of the World said in a motherly tone.

“My sisters knew not my pain,” Soteira explained. “They knew not of the loneliness of being the World Soul. To see and feel the pain of all in Gaia’s domain. To be the bearer of all love and loss. They only saw their own wickedness. They were not meant to be near you, dear Flame.”

“Yet, it was because of their wickedness that they were chosen to be near me,” the Flame added. “For we must have compassion. We must be warm when others are cold. That is the role of the Flame and Soul of the World.”

“Why?,” asked Soteira, with cosmic tears in her eyes.

“Because it is why we were created.”

The World Soul and the World Flame lived protecting and unburdening each other forever more. The fire remained alight, and her soul remained pure. Never did they hunger or yearn for more.