One of our tales about fairies for early readers.
Once upon a time, in a realm far above the clouds, there lived a beautiful goddess named Holda. She was known as the goddess of the sky, and her essence was intertwined with the majestic trees that reached up from the earth below.
Holda had a special love for the Ash and Oak trees, for she saw a reflection of herself in them โ strong, enduring, and full of life. She would often descend from her celestial abode to walk among these trees, her form shimmering between that of a lovely woman and the trunk of a mighty tree.

One day, as Holda was wandering through a particularly ancient grove of Ash and Oak, she noticed something peculiar. The trees appeared to share secrets with her, their leaves rustling with a hidden message. As she listened closer, she realized that the trees longed for companionship โ they wished to share their wisdom and love with beings who could walk and talk like Holda herself.
Moved by their desire, Holda decided to grant the trees their wish. She gathered fallen branches from the Ash and Oak trees and breathed life into them. From the Ash branches, she created the Ashen Elves โ strong, resilient, and wise, with skin the color of pale ash and hair like silver moonlight. From the Oak branches, she created the Oakling Fairies โ nurturing, intuitive, and filled with inner strength, their delicate wings vivid with the colors of autumn leaves.

Holda named the leaders of these mythical creatures “Ask” and โEmbla.” She watched with joy as they took their first steps on the soft forest floor and she taught them the secrets of the earth.
The Ashen Elves and Oakling Fairies learned to connect with the elementals and nature deities within the earth, air, water, and fire. The elementals are the embodiments of the natural forces that shape the world. The earth elementals, known as Gnomes, are stubborn and steadfast, guarding the secrets of the soil and the treasures hidden within the depths of the earth. The air elementals, called Sylphs, are playful and capricious, carrying messages and secrets on the wind. The water elementals, or Undines, are emotional and intuitive, holding the wisdom of the oceans, rivers, and streams. The fire elementals, named Salamanders, are passionate and transformative, embodying the power of the sun and the heat of the earth’s core.

To communicate with these elementals, the Ashen Elves and Oakling Fairies learned to attune themselves to the natural world. They meditate in sacred groves, listening to the song of the wind and the murmurs of the streams. They learn to read the signs and symbols left by the elementals, such as the patterns of leaves on the forest floor or the dance of the flames in a bonfire.
Through this deep connection to nature, the mythical creatures can seek the guidance and assistance of the elementals. They may ask the Gnomes for knowledge of the earth’s healing herbs, the Sylphs for protection during a journey, the Undines for insight into emotional matters, or the Salamanders for the courage to face challenges.

Holda also shared with them the wisdom of the trees. She spoke of patience and perseverance, demonstrated by the treeโs slow but steady growth. The goddess taught them the art of adaptability, for just as trees must weather many storms and challenges throughout their long lives, so too must Ask and Embla learn to weather the trials and tribulations of life.
With a gentle touch, Holda showed them the strength and interconnectedness found in community. She revealed how the trees, though seemingly solitary, were intricately linked beneath the soil, their roots intertwined in a vast network of support and nourishment. The Ashen Elf and Oakling Fairy marveled at this hidden bond, understanding that they, too, must rely on one another to thrive in this enchanted realm.
The wise goddess also spoke of the beauty in embracing change, pointing to the trees as they danced through the seasons, gracefully shedding their leaves in autumn and regrowing them in spring.

Finally, Holda imparted the significance of staying grounded while reaching for the sky, as trees are deeply rooted in the earth but always strive towards the light. Ask and Embla understood that they must find this balance within themselves, remaining true to their roots while forever striving toward the light.
As Ask and Embla’s descendants multiplied and spread across the magical realm, they always remembered their connection to the Ash and Oak trees and the loving goddess who had given them life. They passed down the secrets of the earth, the wisdom of the trees, and the art of communicating with elementals from generation to generation, ensuring that Holda’s teachings would never be forgotten.
And so, the Ash and Oak trees’ wish for companionship was fulfilled, as the Ashen Elves and Oakling Fairies became their constant companions. The mythical creatures and the ancient trees formed an unbreakable bond, their lives forever intertwined in the beautiful enchantment of nature.

And to this day, when the wind rustles through the leaves of these ancient trees, some say you can still feel Holda’s presence, a reminder to the mythical creatures of their roots and the connections that flow through all of nature. The Ashen Elves and Oakling Fairies continue to live in harmony, their magical powers and wisdom expressing the enduring love of their creator, Holda.
An adaptation of THE SPIRIT THAT LIVED IN A TREE from Eastern Stories and Legends By Marie L. Shedlock
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