PUNISHMENTS FROM THE GODS
2001
Once, there was a very beautiful young lady. She was the daughter of Phorkys and Keto, the children of Gaia and Okeanos. She had many a man try to woo her but she was not interested in them, the beautiful young lady wanted to see the sun.
She lived far in the north where the sun did not visit and wished to travel south to see it. The beautiful young lady asked permission of the Goddess Athena to do so, but she was denied. For this the beautiful young lady was very resentful and in her fury dared to say that it was due to Athena's jealousy of her own fairness that she was forbiden from going.
The Goddess Athena was infuriated and cursed the beautiful young lady so that her hair turned into snakes and her face became so ugly it would turn anyone who looked her in the eye into stone.
Driven out due to her ugliness the once beautiful young lady, called Medusa, and her sisters, Sthenno and Euryale dwelt on an island far to the north surrounded by the stone figures of those who had visited.
For many years Medusa was saddened by her features and at her stupidity in challenging the Goddess. Thanking all other Gods and Goddesses that she of her sisters was mortal she left her quarters early in the morning.
She made her way to a cliff face and mentally said her goodbyes. She rose her arms to dive into the rocks below. "I wouldn't do that if I were you."
Surprised Medusa turned around, looked the man in the eye and then quickly diverted her gaze to his feet, fearing the worst. "Come now, tell me of your troubles and why you would wish to end your life in such a way."
Thanks and hope filled Medusa's heart at the continuation of the conversation. Reluctantly Medusa told the man of her problems to which he listened and comforted.
The man formally introduced himself as Iquelrius and the two talked for a long time.
The snakes on Medusa's head seemed very comfortable around this man. That was a good sign; usually those who had come to slay her or her sisters were hissed and spat at by her snakes. The snakes were her only friends; she had named each one.
Iquelrius told Medusa of how he had come to be on the island. Ever since he was a child he had been persecuted by the people of his village and that the last thing he was told as he was pushed off a boat was that here he would become '...the hideous monster's victim'.
Shocked but accustomed to such language from passing boats, Medusa remained silent. Iquelrius was very amused though because as of yet he had not met any such creature, only a wonderful maiden whom he wished to tell of the beauty of life before she took her own.
When it was drawing dark Medusa asked Iquelrius to accompany her back to her dwelling and she would give him shelter and food. Agreeing he went back with her and was introduced to her two immortal sisters.
As time grew on Medusa, Sthenno, Euryale and Iquelrius all became accustomed to each other and survival on the island together. As time grew on Medusa grew very fond of Iquelrius as they both explored each other's pasts. They came to know each other very well and Medusa felt that she was developing feelings other than friendship towards Iquelrius, but she was afraid to tell him.
Numerous times Iquelrius had asked her to look him in the eyes, but she denied. Her sisters also encouraged doing so, but fearing the result Medusa did not take what she assumed to be sibling teasing kindly.
A couple of years passed. Medusa and Iquelrius were walking along one of the island's beaches. "Medusa, I fear that if I do not tell you this now I may never find the courage again to tell you at all" he sighed "Medusa, I love you."
Medusa had grown accustomed to Iquelrius' comfort around her but in defence and surprise she replied "Look at me, you cannot tell me that you love this."
"I do not see your outer beauty, I see the beauty within you, the wonderful, caring and bright woman who you have always been since I first met you, only getting more wonderful each day."
Resigning due to similar prior conversations Medusa admitted her similar feelings and gained a similar response. Again he asked for her to look into his eyes but again she denied. The two spent the night together in each other's company but come morning Medusa and Iquelrius were disturbed, something didn't feel right.
Iquelrius told her there was nothing amiss but to sleep while he went out to get some food.
Halfway to the shore Iquelrius sensed a dark figure near the entrance of their dwelling. Fearing for Medusa's life he dropped his net and ran back. He returned to sense the figure standing over Medusa's form with a sickle in his hand.
Medusa stirred and in shock looked up at her offender. He was not looking back but into a reflective shield. She knew this was not Iquelrius but as she heard Iquelrius come in and the figure in front of her raise the sickle she held her glance at her offender. "I love you Iquelrius" she told him and then the sickle struck her.
Screaming in rage Iquelrius ran at the man, waking Medusa's sisters. They ran after the man but he flew away.
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Iquelrius was blind; his other senses enhanced, allowing his hearing, touch, taste and smell to pick up much more from a wider range than most humans who can see can pick up on. This enhancement was also aided slightly by another, unknown God who pitied his situation.
The Goddess Athena was envious that Medusa, who was meant to suffer torment by her ugliness, had found happiness. She aided a young man, Perseus, by giving him a reflective shield with which to slay the gorgon without turning into stone.
As a reminder to all those who crossed her, Athena maintained the ugliness and effects of Medusa's head, which had been taken as a trophy, so that beings were still petrified by the sight of the mortal gorgon's hideous face.
A contest entry for the title 'Heart and Stone'
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