Random Crap By Carson

Short Story #6

A Touch of Gold

       The sun is thought be beautiful during the day, but today was of one of those days. Rays of light shined uncomfortably on the man's back, and the Grecian landscape. It was a harsh land, full of jagged boulders, with steep drops offs in to the roaring sea below. A dirt pathway was the only break in the pattern of boulders and shrubs. The path was near the sharp cliffs, and much to the man's disappointment, a far ways away from the cool shade of the forest in the distance. The man, his name being Gordias, was used to feelings of discomfort; he was a farmer after all. Gordias was pulling a cart of heavy materials up the rocky dirt path, the path that led to Telmissus, where he had planned to consult with their oracle. Gordias trudged through the dirt path, the strain visible in his arms and legs. No matter how impassive his expression was, Gaea's land was wearing away at Gordias. Nevertheless, he carried on, but not for long. It was only a few moments before Gordias concluded he has pushed himself enough for the day, and against his previous determination, he decided to rest in the forest far from him, and his cart. He figured he would rest better in their shade, rather than in Apollo's bright sun. A great effort was needed to move the cart into the welcoming shade of the green forest, but Gordias found it worth the effort.

      With leaves above his head, Goridas rested, and drank his water greedily. There was a luring sense to the woods, one which made Gordias tempted to stay and rest his head there for a time longer than he should. It was becoming harder and harder for him to resist the pull of the forest, until the arrival on his cart made the decision for him. Gordias nearly jumped from his seat on the ground at the bird's arrival. It was a grand creature, that bird of Zeus. Impressive could be used to describethe eagle's size as it sat, perched atop Gordias' cart. He eyed the bird with caution and admiration. One thing was clear, the bird was worthy of the god himself. His feathers were not quite brown, they looked golden almost, and his eyes were full of regal beauty. It was stupid choice, but a whisper in Gordias' ear compelled him to reach out to the bird of prey, and his left hand was outstretched. Surprisingly, the eagle made no sudden moves at all. Gordias became nearer, and nearer. When Gordias' finger was only a few inches away, the eagle slowly brushed his beak against Gordias' finger. Before a word could be uttered, the eagle took off into the Grecian sky, soaring almost as high as the clouds. Filled with new resolve, and the day's heat forgotten, Gordias ran after the bird. Tree branches whipped against his skin, leaving angry, read marks against his skin. Small rocks lodged themselves in his sandals as he ran. Gordias didn't feel any of these discomforts, insead he only felt the wind in his face and a certain kind of ethereal lightness as he followed the bird of Zeus. The golden eagle slowly descended to the ground, right at Goridas' feet. He was exhausted from the run, but smiled at his friend nevertheless. The smile was returned with a playful rub of the bird's head. Leaves rattled as the bird flew up, and hoped from tree to tree. At a casual pace, Goridas followed, only looking up at his companion. Within a moment's notice, the bird tensed up, puffing up his feathers. The sound of a snake's hiss caused Goridas to mimic the feathered creature's actions. There was a pile of boulders in front of the pair, but most importantly, there was a lady sitting atop of the boulders. Cloaked in fawn skin, she held the look of a forest nymph. However, the crown of ivy and snakes, and a similar staff of ivy, topped with a pinecone made Gordias doubt if she was even a nymph at all.Her deep brown hair flowed freely against her back, and her eyes glazed at Gordias cooly. They reminded him of green grape vines in the summer sun.

"Now, now Lidith, come back before you bite at him," the lady called out, amusement shining in her bright colored eyes.

      The snake, long forgotten by Goridas in his trance, hissed once at the man, and slithered back to the caring hands of her lady. Due to his agitation from the lady, the eagle, who had hopped to the tree above his friend, ruffled his feathers. The golden tint of his feathers caught the blazing sunlight, and shined into the eyes of the lady below. With the snake, Lidith, in her arms again, the lady sent a hard look at the eagle. What were once vines became snakes, and all hissed threateningly at the bird. The eagle flew away in fear, but not without a worried glance at Goridas. He was alone, and he didn't even know it yet. The lady smiled.

"Who are you?" Gordias asked in childlike curiosity.

"I'm surprised you didn't ask 'what', "the lady replied, "but to answer your question, I am Thettate."

Gordias opened his mouth.

"I'm a maenad," Thettate stated simply. Gordias shut his mouth, knowing that Thettate's tone was due to her annoyance. Gordias had never met a creature of his people's beliefs, but he knew better thatn to anger one of them. Thettate smiled.

"You're a smart on aren't you?" Lidith slid around her arms, watching Gordias with the same glaze as Thettate, hunger.

"T-thank you," he managed to say. Thettate rose from her throne of stone, and walked towards Gordias with broad, confident steps. Lidith hung across from the shoulders of her lady, refusing to leave her side. Thettate slowly brushed against Gordias' arm, much to his surprise. Her skin was as soft as the dress of faun skin she wore! Her dark brown hair made Gordias want to run his fingers through it, and be captivated be those green eyes. Thettate wound her hands against his neck, staring into his eyes. Her lips ripe for human desires.

"I could use the presence of a man," she stated.

Then, she saw it. For a moment, Gordias' eyes became no longer his, but the purple ones of a godly being. Thettate knew those eyes. They were one who belonged to a man she had once served under, one who had brought great happiness, joy, and affection. Her heart hardened. Those times were to be forgotten. Thettate stepped away from Gordias, and her heart hardened even more at the sight in front of her. Even though Gordias' eyes were his again, a purple aura surrounded him, one gifted by Dionysus; one that meant Gordias nor anyone of of his lineage would meet the god himself. Time to have some fun, Thettate thought savagely. Thettate's eyes became the color of red wine, a deathly look bestowed upon them. Gordias was still in shock from the sudden absence of Thettate, leaving him vulnerable to her fury. Lidith, as quick as lightning, leaped off her lady's shoulders and struck at Gordias, the poison in her fangs now flowing freely in his blood. He collapsed needless to say.  Thettate kneeled by his side, any trace of friendliness vanished into the nearby trees. Thettate grabbed his head by the back of his neck, raising it to her's. She crashed her lips to his in a searing kiss. There was nothing sweet or loving about it, only demanding. The last thing Gordias saw before he drifted into unconsciousness was Thettate's eyes, as they were the color of deep red wine, it reminded him of blood. Thettate pulled away from the unconscious Gordias. She was smiling as she rose to hide in the forest once more, until the screech of eagle stopped her. Gordias' eagle was not but a few inches away from her, glaring. Thettate turned back to Gordias, grinned over at the eagle, and whacked Gordias with her staff in between his legs. Hard. With one last smile, Thettate went off to hide among the bushes, leaving the eagle to care for his friend. Gordias awoke a few hour later, much to Thettate's delight. His eagle jumping around him in glee as he stood up, letting loose a loud groan. He's going to feel that for a few days, Thettate laughed to herself. He staggered off to recover his cart, with the eagle guiding the way. As her turned, Thettate saw a golden oval on the nape of his neck, her golden touch. Satisfied with her work against Dionysus, Thettale stalked off into the forest, never to be seen by Gordias ever again. What she didn't know, however, was that her curse wouldn't affect Gordias himself. Oh no, the curse would be placed upon his son, a man who would be know as King Midas, the man with the golden touch.