Beyond the Well

Content note: theft, physical pain, frustration

Aurelia and Resina lived together, as they were sisters, although they were very different in nature.

Aurelia was like a summer’s day, cheerful and bright. She had an easy smile and loved to flirt. She never had time to do more than just flirt, as she had to see to the household. Resina had always been quiet and withdrawn. She loved the company of her sister and maybe a few others, but she tired very quickly, so she hardly ever went out. Aurelia knew that Resina could not help her a lot in the house. She had not been a strong child when small, and growing up had not changed that. She did what she could, but most times it was not much.

Aurelia loved her sister dearly and got used to doing most of the work.

But one day Aurelia was feeling sorry for herself, grieving a life she could not have. As she knew Resina had not chosen to be frail, she took her mending outside to let the sun burn all misgivings away, before she took them out on her sister.

When she came back, she had a bag of gold and the weirdest tale to tell of how she fell through the well in the yard into another world, had adventures and was well rewarded.

For many years the sisters lived comfortably off the gold that Aurelia had brought home. Aurelia hired help for the household and started going out with one of the village boys, now that she had the time. He said: “I am so glad you now have time for me, as I have waited for you so long.” Aurelia beamed at him. “Before, I always had to see to the household, but we have come into a small fortune by happy circumstances.” The young man kissed her and said: “Happy for me, as now I can have all that I ever wanted.”

One day, when the sisters came home from a slow walk, the door stood open, and Aurelia was devastated to find the treasure gone. She hurried to tell the young man, so he could comfort her, but he was gone, too. Apparently all that he had ever wanted was the gold, and she had just been the means for him to get it. Resina tried to soothe her: “We are no worse off than before. We will manage again. I… I can try to help.” But Aurelia, brokenhearted, would not hear of it. “The only way to be any help would be for you to go through the well and get us more gold! You mean well, but we both know that your health does not allow it!”

Resina was hurt and went outside. She wanted to help, really; she just could not do as much as Aurelia. She was not sure how much truth was in Aurelia’s story of how she had come by the gold. Slowly she went to the well to gaze into the dark waters. Maybe she should go down the well. Maybe there was a chance for riches on the other side? “I’ll try my luck,” she said, heaved herself over the side and fell, more than half expecting to hit cold water.

Resina was surprised to find herself in a meadow, just as Aurelia had described. She saw the smoke and made her way to the oven Aurelia had told her about, although it seemed to take forever. “Pull me out, pull me out! Lest I get burned! I am all done already!” called the bread. Resina needed a moment to catch her breath. The bread shovel was heavy and the bread far back in the oven. Resina´s joints ached and her back hurt, but she got the first loaf out and onto the mantel. She tried for the second, but could hardly lift the shovel. When she finally managed to pull it out, it was half-burned. Fighting the pain, Resina got out the third loaf as well, but it was nothing but a brick of coal. “Your sister did better,” cried the bread. Resina was not surprised. Of course Aurelia had done better, she was good at this sort of thing.

A long rest later, Resina made her way further to find the apple tree Aurelia had mentioned. She had to steady herself against the trunk, while the tree clamored: “Shake me, shake me! We apples are all ripe already!”

“Give me a moment and I’ll shake you,” said Resina, panting. She could see the apples changing on the tree. They were aging fast, so she shook with all her might, which was not mighty at all. Maybe half a dozen apples fell and Resina had to rest again. “Shake me now or the fruit will spoil!” called the tree, and through tears of pain Resina gave the trunk another shove, and a couple more apples fell. As she sank to her knees she saw the apples wither and rot and fall from the tree on their own. “Your sister did better,” cried the tree. She gathered those apples in a pile as were still good, so they would not become spoiled, and slept for a while with her back against the apple tree.

It was dark already when Resina got up. Everything hurt, but she could hardly stay out here in the meadow all night. The next stop should be a house, and she hoped that she would be able to find it. And sure enough, she could see light in the distance, spilling from the windows. An old woman stood in front of the house. She bade Resina come in, asking if she could help with the household. “If you make the bed, make sure to shake the duvet and the pillows well. The feathers must fly so it can snow in the world, for I am Mother Frost.”

Resina tried her best, but she was exhausted from the trials and did not have the strength anymore. “Please, let me try again tomorrow,” she begged.

“Your sister did better,” said the woman, “but I will give you another chance tomorrow.” The next day Resina woke up, tired as always. Her body complained about the taxing adventures of the previous day, but she knew she had to try as hard as she could. She picked up the pillow and shook it out until first one and then another few feathers flew out of the window. Heartened by this success, Resina took the duvet to the window as well, to shake it out, but her shoulder cramped and the duvet fell from her hands, into the dirt outside.

“Your sister really did better,” the old woman said as Resina came out to pick up the duvet. “I think you should go home.” Resina would have pleaded with her, but she knew that she would do no better tomorrow. She was just not up to it, her body would not work as it should. It never had. “I am so very sorry,” she said, as the old woman led her to a door that would take her back. “You have been so kind as to take me in and I wish I could have repaid you better.”

As Resina stepped through the door, which Aurelia claimed had showered her with gold, a shimmer like starlight fell onto her. Resina caught one of the shiny flakes and saw that it was a beautiful clear diamond. “What is this?” she asked. “I failed at every task. I do not deserve a reward.” She handed the crystal back to the old woman.

Mother Frost caught Resina´s hand in hers and smiled. “Yes, your sister did better. But you tried harder. It is easy to be good at something that is not a challenge. You did all you could, even though it pained you. No one can expect more.”

When Resina came home, Aurelia ran out to greet her, hugging and kissing her. “I am so sorry I was mad at you! I was mad at myself. You are right, we can manage, just do not ever leave me again, I was so worried!” Resina hugged her sister back, glad that all was well. Through happy tears Aurelia asked: “You were gone so long, where have you been?”

Resina dipped one hand into her pocket and held out a couple of shining diamonds. “I went through the well.” Upon this they both laughed and cried, happy to have each other, happy to be together. “I will not leave you again,” said Resina, “but you need to promise me one thing.”

“Anything you want,” said Aurelia.

“Let the gold be all that this man took from you. Do not allow him to have stolen your trust in love and happiness as well.”

Hugging her sister tight Aurelia nodded.  “I have all the love and happiness I need,” she said. “But if more should come by, I shall not send it away – and neither should you.”