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Earth and Water
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Earth and Water |
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X Angel Senior Member
since 1999-11-07
Posts 1521Oregon 
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Down the long beach they walked, hand in hand. She no more than five, he no more that six. Their arms were laden with discovered treasures, and shells, and other such childlike wonders. Their beautiful golden dog, close by their side watching, always watching. Her gaze roving the shore, alert for any dangers or trouble. Soon the afternoon sun lengthened and stretched it's languid fingers across the dunes, as she gently slipped into her night's repose. While the children laughed and played among the driftwood piles, their dog soon growing restless from the approaching night, gave a little howl, asking her children to start for home. Unheedingly the little girl ran farther down the beach calling, "catch me, catch me Jonathan!" And as all good brothers do, he gave chase, laughing and dropping shells in his wake. The dog, more anxious now, caught the boy by his pant's seat and growled gently to him. Reminding him that dark was falling fast. A little shaken by his pet's firm clench on him, Jonathan realized that evening was upon them and darkness was only minutes away. Calling loudly to his sister, Hannah, he rushed to her gathering their treasures as he went, so they could head for home. Walking through the deepening dusk, hearts pounding in fear, they hurried up into the dunes towards home. The dog was misbehaving and kept trying to go down a different path, so finally Jonathan spoke sharply to her and she stayed close then, cowed and anxious. Jonathan looked at his sister saying, "It's ok Hannah, we're almost home now". When fifteen minutes had passed and home was nowhere in sight, Hannah started to cry. Jonathan wouldn't let Hannah see that he was near tears too. Soon their steps took them to where they could hear the surf again crashing wildly on the beach. Jonathan decided that walking up the beach towards home would be safer than the unknown trails in the wood. Heading up along the shore, they soon heard a splash and a sandy shuffling noise. A sound which had the dog's hackles all on end, and the children hiding behind their loyal pet. When across the dark fell a voice, soft and deep like the ocean, saying, "Come children, I shall lead you home". The dog eased her vigil as the voice drew nearer, sensing this the children smiled in relief and started towards where they had heard the voice. There ahead, slipping out of the shadows was a silver-haired woman, smiling and holding her hands out in welcome. Hannah looked at Jonathan and said in a whisper,"It that Mommy?" he replied, "No silly now shoosh!". Taking the children's hands in hers, the woman proceeded briskly ahead, dog close at her heels. Jonathan finally gathered enough courage to say shyly, "What is your name?". She smiled down at him, all shimmery and silver, and said,"My name is Undine, child". Satisfied, they walked hand in hand, in a night strangely no longer as dark. (Maybe it was the radiance that sparkled around the beautiful lady, thought Hannah to herself) A light shone across the meadow, and the children realized that the beautiful lady had led them home. Calling loudly to their Father, to let him know they were safe, the children's voices rang across the fields like a pealing bell. While Undine kept a firm grasp on her charges until she left them safely inside for the night. Upon reaching the cottage, a tall man stepped out and rushed to the children, kneeling and kissing their faces and scolding them gruffly. Soon, he became aware of the scent of spring rain, and looking up from where he was knelt, he saw her. He became lost in her silver gaze, and the sense of timelessness and wisdom was about her. Her clothing was of a strange cloth, and her hair long and wild. Her smile was that of a lighthouse on the darkest ocean, to this poor sailor's soul. Standing, he reached for her hand to clasp it in thanks. Words failed him as he tried to tell her all his children meant to him, and how they were all he had left now. She gazed at him, with eyes changing slowly azure, and spoke in a voice that sounded like waves on a lake-shore. "I could not leave your lovely children to find their way in the dark so I showed them the way home." He asked her in and offered some tea, but only cold fresh water would she take. Amazed by her beauty and by the strangeness of her voice and words, by the wisdom in her smile, by the 'something' in her eyes he couldn't quite name. The Father (Athos from now forward), was enraptured by this lovely creature and could not draw himself away. In the end Undine could not tear herself away either, and she stayed to become Athos' wife, and the children's new Mother. They loved her dearly, for she was kind and good, full of rare wisdom and insight. Undine's heart never let her forget the sea she loved, or the waters she once swam. Her husband once caught her swimming in the surf like a seal, frolicking and singing, and was sorely puzzled by all he saw. Each year, Undine's skin would lose a little more of it's sheen, and her hair grew tame and pale. Her smile came less ready than before and her words less musical. Athos found himself wondering if the woman with whom he now lived, was the woman he met that night. For she bore little resemblance (if any) to that lovely creature of that first dark night. His heart yearned for the wild creature he had once loved, and in doing so, he turned his heart cold to her. Undine knew of his heart's change, and her heart ached with pain, for now the man she had given her life for loved her not. He just dreamed away the nights, thinking of yesteryear, and another woman. Their babies now grown too, along with his two children, and the nights grew steadily colder, inside and outside that quiet beach cottage. Undine, sore of heart and desolate, crept down to the beach late one night, shed her clothes, and stood in all her beauty, skin shimmering in the moonlight. Unaware that her husband had followed her steps down the trail. Undine sang in her strange tongue, as her tears mingled with the ocean's froth. Soon what looked like a school of porpoises fast approached the beach, and Undine slipped in among them and swam with them, laughing and speaking in an unknown language. Athos felt his heart constrict with fear. Who was this woman, he had lived with for so long? How could she swim like that with those sea creatures? His puzzlement turned to rage as he felt a deceit. Near dawn, Undine slipped into the cottage, only to find her husband waiting sternly by the fire. He stood and spoke to her in a cold tone. "Leave now you sea-mistress, or whatever creature you may be! I want no part of you and your bewitchery!" Shock and surprise crossed her lovely face, as silver tears slipped down her cheeks. She begged him to listen, begged him to let her stay. Yet he said not a word, or even acknowledged her plight. Head low and heartbroken she left the cottage, taking only her necklace and a favourite shell. Sadly she slipped into the waves, the spell of love broken by her careless mate. Her life as a mortal was no more. Athos, on his part, was destined to live alone. Yearning for the one thing he had posessed and then scorned. [This message has been edited by X Angel (edited 03-07-2000).] |
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| © Copyright 2000 Heather Walters - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Christopher
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-02
Posts 8296Purgatorial Incarceration |
WOW! Now I haven't seen a tale along these lines for quite some time! You've done a masterful job here, rendering it quite believeable and interesting to read, with a clean tie up at the end. Marvellous! |
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Alicat Member Elite
since 1999-05-23
Posts 4094Coastal Texas |
The story told so many times by many people in many tongues wherever the surf sings in the veins. I thank you for this re-telling, in your voice, with the scent of the sea, and the song of the surf echoing in my ears. Alicat |
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Michael
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-13
Posts 7666California |
Woe to Athos. What an outpouring this was. remarkable - and as Chris said, taken to a level of believability. You amaze me at times, X. This was surely one of them. Michael |
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LoveBug
Moderator
Member Elite
since 2000-01-08
Posts 4697 |
I must echo the above comments with a WOW. That was great! I can't wait to hear more from you! "To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world" |
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