Sliding the sword away from the spear's blade in a shower of sparks and an ear-splitting noise, the Knight put up the blade and his free hand in a gesture of peace. The spear continued to point at his heart despite the gesture and the Knight replied, "I desire none of those things Goddess. The woman was attacked out in the desert and is badly injured. She is not long for this world." "Yes, I can feel her life fading quickly. So what is it you want mortal hero?"
His eyes unwavering from the goddess' the Knight gave his answer. "I beg you save the woman and save yourself as well." The goddess' dark brow knitted and her eyes narrowed at the mortal's request and inference concerning her well-being. It would be all too easy to pry open his thoughts and see what trickery he had planned. Yet suspicious or not, it had been an untold amount of time since she interacted with anyone. Let alone so handsome and daring a mortal as this.
Suddenly, the Goddess' posture and countenance relaxed. She turned the blade skyward and set the spear down which made the ground tremble. A demonic smile crossed her beautiful face and to the Knight's surprise, he was captivated. "Fine mortal hero. For your name, I will honor your request. But I will not purchase a name without knowing its value. Pass a small test and I will save your woman." "To be clear Goddess, the woman does not belong to me."
The Goddess cocked her head in the opposite direction and quipped, "So you wish to save this strange woman and somehow help me out of the good of your heart then?" His own devilish smile made itself plain as the Knight replied, "I will answer that question after I surmount your test."
The Goddess took two steps backward, each made the ground tremble and the Knight marveled at such strength. "I can see you are cut from firmament great heroes are fashioned mortal. For one who is truly great, my simple test will be of no consequence. Succeed and I, shall deem you worthy of accepting your name and in exchange grant your request. Fail, and I will obliterate you both." The Goddess took up her Golden Spear in one hand and stuck the spiked haft into the ground. "Lift my weapon if you can."
Normally the Knight would not be worried for he not only could lift his wife's spear, he'd used it in battle. However, nothing on this quest was what it appeared and the Knight knew to be cautious. He paid attention to the Goddess' movements when she planted the spear. Slowly he grasped the hidebound spear shaft and paused. The Goddess' then quipped, "It would not be sporting if the spear consumed you so soon." The Knight hid his relief behind a stone stoic expression. "Ooooh, going for the 'one-hand pull' eh? That's a first." The Knight ignored her sarcasm and cleared his mind. He would only have one chance to do this.
With a powerful twist of the wrist and a slow pull, the Knight drew the spear from the ground. The look of genuine surprise on the Goddess' face was something the Knight had never seen in their three years of marriage. He could not resist giving the mighty weapon a full twirl around his body and stopped the blade point first at the Goddess. Just as quick, he gave the weapon a half twirl and ended in a spear salute. The Knight then dropped to one knee and held forth the Great War Spear horizontally towards the Goddess. "Thank you Goddess for entrusting me with this magnificent weapon."
The Goddess was stunned. No mortal had ever been able to lift her weapon! Not ever. But this one did and then handled it as if he had done so for years.... Somehow, she had been tricked! For the first time in untold ages, she was genuinely surprised. It took nearly all her power to hold back her natural perception which spanned time and space to divine when she encountered this man. Somewhere in her finite past or infinite future, their paths cross. To be surprised so brought back the distant days when she too was mortal. The feeling was wonderful!
The Goddess carefully took the spear from him and commanded, "What is your name great hero?" Looking up into her now luminous amber eyes his reply rang true to the core. "I am the Valley Knight!" Those eyes blinked once and their owner responded, "That is a name I shall keep. Our bargain has been struck. The woman is not long for this world. It is not my desire to extend a life which has reached its destined end." The Knight did not understand. However, he did not believe the Goddess was trying to trick him. Yet somehow, he had to set them both on the path they must travel together down through the ages.
The Goddess stepped closer and the Knight felt the ground tremble. "Mortal, somehow you know things you should not. My first inclination is to tear that which is hidden from you. Yet, I am amused by the mystery." With a wave of her hand over the prone woman, a strange rippling of the air surrounded and lifted her from the litter. The woman floated beside the Goddess as she said, "Her wounds have been healed, but that which was herself has gone. I have fulfilled our bargain. But when I release my power, this empty shell will perish. Alas poor Knight, you have struck a poor bargain."
The Knight was frantic. If the woman died, all would be undone. He looked to the mighty falls where one day the Lake and fertile Valley would one day be. Standing strong above it all was the Mountain majestic, yet silent as it watched over all. The Knight suddenly had his plan. "You watch over this land do you not Goddess?" The Goddess was not blind to the mortal's change of discussion. On the other hand, her curiosity was peaked therefore she would follow his lead. "I stand vigil in compliance of an agreement struck with my ancient enemies. Why do you ask?"
Slowly the Knight stood and without turning his back on the Goddess, he faced the massive falls as the river fought to fill the vast basin. "Have you given thought to what this all might one day become?" The Goddess cocked her head and replied, "What an odd question you ask mortal. Why would one such as you with a lifetime barely long enough to see seasons change, care for an outcome which will take ages to unfold?" Looking back at the Goddess who still held the woman's body floating above the gravel shore the Knight replied, "Not all mortals are so limited in their ability to imagine what could be Goddess. I beg you humor my musing for a moment and speculate on what could be."
The goddess had to admit she couldn't remember the last time she took time to 'imagine' anything. The power she possessed made such a thing unnecessary. All she had to do was reach out with her perception and see through the swirling currents of time for what would be. How novel she felt it would be to engage in mere speculation once more. "All right, I shall 'humor you' mortal. Tell me more."
The Knight turned to point out over the basin as the raging waters rushed in and said, "I can see a great and beautiful lake within this basin. Beyond that, I see a massive dam built from the bones of the mountain and on the other side...." For a moment, the Goddess could see the man's vision but lost it as he trailed off. There was something on the other side of the natural dam in his vision the Goddess knew she desired. She dared not force her way through to the other side lest the gossamer threads holding the answer just out of reach be torn. An unexpected irritation colored the Goddess' tone as she asked, "Why have you stopped? Continue!"
The Knight turned back to the Goddess with a wry smile. Her face was not that of the woman he would one day marry, but the expression she wore he knew well. "Goddess, before I complete the vision I'd like to offer you a rare opportunity." It took a moment, but the Goddess' irritation suddenly turned to mirth. Her laughter was like a sudden thunderburst and the Knight had to cover his ears. The ground shook as she replied, "Are you trying to con me mortal? Truly this has been a most amusing day!" Suddenly, both the Mountain and River began to stir as the ground quaked and made the waters overflow the banks.
His ears ringing like a smith's forge the Knight replied with a shout over the growing commotion, "No Goddess! But is it not a shame one such as you cannot enjoy a good laugh without upsetting the balance of the world?" The Goddess closed her eyes and a moment later, both the Mountain and River slowly calmed. Her eyes opened and were for an instant lit with amber flame. Once back to their normal luminescence the Goddess replied, "It has been ages since I have laughed."
The Knight watched as she regally walked past him to look out towards the edge of the falls. He could hear the disappointment in her voice as she said, "To laugh is but a simple thing. Yet my laughter would wake my enemies and return the world to chaos as our war renewed." Squatting down, The Goddess raised her silver and black-tipped wings and then reached out to scoop up a rock in her armored fist. With no perceptible effort, she crushed the rock to dust and looked wistful as the grains fell from her hand.
The Knight carefully moved closer and said, "To have such great power and not be able to enjoy simple laughter? Did you feel the stone pulverize in your grip? When if ever, was the last time you felt the touch of green grass and the very earth you stand vigil beneath your feet?" The Goddess if she tried, could pinpoint the very instant she last felt the things the mortal described. It wasn't necessary for it had been more ages than she cared to count. The Knight edged closer and said, "There is no reason you cannot experience those things. The smell of the spray from the falls, the heat of the sun, the taste of bees nectar...." "To hear the sound of the world alone...."
The Knight drew close enough to touch the Goddess as he whispered, "To feel the warmth of others about you." She looked him in the eye and retorted, "And feel the touch of a lover's hand I suppose?" Fearlessly the Knight replied, "That too is within your reach Goddess." Unblinking the goddess asked, "And how do tell will these gifts be bestowed upon me my mortal seductor?" "You now have the means within your grasp Goddess." The Knight looked to the now healthy, but empty shell of the woman he tried to save.
"Ah, the woman. You should be a god yourself hero. For the briefest of moments you made me feel as a young woman who's petals are a bloom and moist with the morning dew! How do I reward so talented and brave a mortal capable of such a thing?" The Knight held out his hand to the Goddess and said, "Take the woman's body as your own and I will gladly serve as its protector from all mortal threats. And if you wish it so, I would stand with you as husband."
Within the time she blinked, the Goddess stretched out her perception and saw what the mortal offered. She stood purposely towering over him as she gave her answer. "I have no need of you or your fleshly temptations. For ages I have stood guard over this land because I gave my word and I wish to. I could wipe you from memory with little as a thought. Yet, you would stand and attempt to seduce me like some stripling girl? Why instead should I not grind you to pudding and devour you for such arrogance?" Without missing a beat the Knight smiled and said, "Because what I offer... would be fun!"
The Goddess could find no point of his answer she disagreed with. In the brief moment she gazed into the time to come, she saw green fields, laughter and people she would come to know and even love. Always prominent was this man who seemed to be woven into the threads of a life yet to be... should she choose it. Looking at the man, the Goddess slowly spread her great wings and opened her arms. The woman's body floated into the embrace of one arm and with the remaining outstretched she commanded, "Come. I accept your offer."
The Knight stepped towards her and then stopped. The Goddess' gaze questioned him but he stood firm and said, "I would like the honor of knowing your name Goddess!" She looked at him stoically and replied, "Do you know what it means to know the name of one such as I?" The Knight thought seriously for a moment recalling the number of otherworldly visitors he had 'hosted' for his wife then said, "Ah, then give me the name by which I should call you." An all too familiar wicked smile crossed her dark face as she retorted, "You shall call me... Wife."
The Knight went into the Goddess' embrace and with a mighty flap of her wings, they were high over the land and water. Nary another flap and they glided to a landing atop what would one day be the Great Dam. On the other side, no water flowed and the land where the Valley would live and flourish lay sparse desert plants, bare rock and bleached bones far as could be seen. The Knight was released by the Goddess and he noticed a sense of urgency in her.
"Alas my Knight, my discussion with you has attracted attention. We must complete this business now or never. While I take up this woman's form, I will not be able to access my full power. You must protect this body until I am done." The goddess paused and the Knight replied, "I have given you my oath Goddess. By all means I can muster, your mortal body will be protected." In the greatest gesture of trust, the Goddess placed the Great War Spear in his hands and warned, “Take this and turn your head. Do not look back until I say so."
The Knight saw the Goddess' amber eyes bore into him as she drew her wings about the lifeless woman. He turned around just as a brilliant golden glow burst at his back. Just as the Knight winced from the heat, he saw they had company. Standing in the Knight's long shadow atop the Dam was the god Qatula. Gone were the guises of painted youth, strapping man and powerful elder. Instead, was the god's original form of a powerful man-sized warrior enveloped in swirling darkness and a billowing hooded gray cloak.
Within the black void contained by the hood a pair of coal-red eyes flashed open to stare pupilless and unblinking. The Knight started to give greeting and then held himself. This was not the god who 'approved of him'. This was the jealous husband. The Knight felt the warm and humid air suddenly grow cold as the god spoke. "What is this mischief? What have you done to my wife mortal and why have you her weapon?"
© 2011 H. Wolfgang Porter. All Rights Reserved.
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