Book Seven Stories IV

 

IV.

There came into the most peaceful glade in the whole forest a wise man in search of eternal happiness. His name was Elrus.

Leaving his horse to graze on the moist grass he went to sit under a birdsong tree to watch its leaves playing in the sunlight, sunbeams streaming through a hazy pollen breeze, awash within the sea of sweet fragrance that lapped his senses. So peaceful was he that a passing goddess thinking him an immortal graced his presence in human form. She came and sat beside him, her long slender legs drawn up in a loose embrace; her long hair cascading down her back and over her delicate shoulders and breasts. The world was eclipsed; as the moon ripples dark waters Elrus’ mind was filled with the spirits of the sultry night and as his head fatefully turned he fell into the illumination of her eternal gaze. Like the waterfall filled by its river the windows of his heart were flung open and he breathed as if for the first time, his whole life within that grasp, buoyant in that one moment. They were transfixed, inseparable, he in her eyes and she in his. The birds usually in tireless chatter and game stopped their play to watch and as the birdsong tree came into its glorious blossom the animals and spirits of the forest came to settle in the stillness of the couple. So unbreakable was their bond that soon even neglected old-man Time respectfully departed the glade.

They would have remained for eternity but the great demon of the cosmos had become jealous, no mortal dare not fear him. The sky began to cloud and darken and a great chill wind began to blow in. As a thick fog rolled into the glade the animals of the forest fled terrified and the leaves of the trees turned and decayed and the white blossoms of the birdsong tree began to fall, showering upon the couple. A petal settled upon the goddess’s long eyelashes and disturbed Elrus. He could hear his horse braying terrified and it troubled him. Breaking his gaze the sky with split with a tremendous crack and the Lord Demon with five horns upon his head appeared in the glade. Elrus picked up the goddess and ran to his horse. They tried to escape but the demon was in front of them. The horse reared and they were dismounted. Taking his sword Elrus ran back into the glade with the goddess. “Stay close to me, we will be safe.” Elrus ordered. Elrus did not know she was immortal, and knowing it would make her mortal to disclose the fact, the goddess implored Elrus, “Please! I have a secret that I cannot tell you. You must believe me. I will be safe. You need only save yourself.” “I would gladly die for you my beauty, and I cannot conceive of living without you. If you should die I will die too.” A tear rolled down the goddess cheek as she looked at him pleadingly. “Please.”

Elrus turned to the Demon and launched an attack toward him but the Demon simply re-appeared behind him grabbing the goddess and standing between them. “Elrus your energies are wasted, give-in to me” taunted the Demon, “On the contrary Demon,”, replied Elrus defiantly “keep beauty and you are finished, save yourself and you lose her” and Elrus lunged at the Demon who reappeared behind him. “See we are together again” Elrus triumphed, “And you are vulnerable again” added the Demon “I am Death, fight or die you will never be together”.

As Elrus became more and more exhausted the goddess unable to bearing his torment anymore ran toward the Demon in surrender. In his clutches she looked back at Elrus tearful, shaking her head.

“You have only one chance Elrus”, the Demon argued impatiently, “I know you have never touched

her. Come! Give in to me and end your days in ecstasy.”

Torn, Elrus could not bear the sight of his beauty in the arms of the Demon, and he knew he could not bear to live without her, but he could not give into the Demon. He stood devoid of action, in anguish his sword lowered as he watched the Demon carry his beloved away upon the retreating mists. He stood staring at the point where she vanished until the moment was gone and with it her, and he collapsed lifeless.

Many days may have passed before Elrus awoke from his sleep. Before him where the goddess had stood crying, sparkled diamonds. He collected them into a pile and sat before them to mourn. He was more alone than he could ever remember, like a newborn child. He sat confused, no past and no future, there was only this one moment in which to think. So he sat in meditation and vowed not to move until be became like the trees, lost to the forest without sorrow.