III
With his new sword in one hand, and a silent prayer to the gods above, Alain entered the cave at the base of the Shultzhammer Mountains.
The tide of the adventure had now changed. Instead of fighting a sorcerer, Alain was ready to embrace the fact he was going to have to right a dragon. Most rainbow colored dragons were known to be vicious brutes who enjoyed power, greed, and killing. However there were some metallic colored dragons who were known to be friendly and honorable.
Alain doubted that Thantole was a dragon of metallic color.
As he stepped inside the cave, he noticed the walls and the stalactites were colored an unhealthy green. A rotting smell flowed in the air, forcing Alain to hold his breath. There was little light coming from the entrance, helping the young man move through the cave.
Alain ventured deeper into the cave through a large opening into a vast room. In the end of the room there was a large mound filled with gold coins, gem, and mundane looking items. Keeping his sword close to him, Alain moved closer to the gold, then something cold brush by his legs. Quickly spinning around, Alain looked up, seeing the huge red scaled dragon looking over him. The beast had yellow oval eyes and nostrils the size of the young man's head.
"So Demeter has sent a runt to retrieve the stone from me, has she?" the dragon bellowed from his mouth looking down at the human. He slinked his head down to the level of the human, looking him over. "Kind of small really."
The dragon fear began to overwhelm Alain, and for a moment he considered running out of cave for his dear life, but he managed to suppress his fear and hold up the sword the everendie had given him.
Thantole withdrew his head and took a deep breath and exhaled a large blast of fire upon the human. Alain's instincts were to jump out of the way, but he held up his sword. The coldness radiating from the blade extinguished the flames from the dragon's breath creating a large white puff of smoke.
The dragon shook his head, trying to see through the smoke. Once the smoke was clear, the human was nowhere to be found. It appeared the fire had "Come out little man, I want to see the look on your face before I rip your stomach in half." Thantole was ready to give another threat when out of the corner of his eye he spotted the human moving through the treasure mound.
Alain moved quickly through the coins and gems, searching for the stone. He ran his fingers through the coins, trying to feel for it. "You won't find it in there human," Thantole's deep voice rang from above his head.
Out of instinct and fear, Alain turned around and swung the sword as hard as he could. The steel blade of the young man's sword ripped through the dragon's red scales and cut the head clean off. Thantole's head fell to the ground, causing the cave floor to shake. The dragon's body slowly slumped to the floor, but Thantole's eyes were still wide open, his mouth still breathing.
"This is just wonderful," Thantole grunted. His yellow eyes looked over at Alain, who fell back when he saw the dragon's mouth still moving. Alain realized what he had just done. He had managed to cut off the dragon's head, but it was still moving.
Finally Thantole's head ceased it's breathing and out of his mouth, came his long reptile tongue unraveling. From the tip of the unraveling tongue dropped a small stone. "The Harvester's Stone!" said Alain excitedly as he bent down and grabbed it. The young man could feel the stone's power pulsing inside it. He gently tucked the stone inside his pant pocket, and looked around the treasure hoard, wondering if there was anything else he should take.
In the far corner of his eye, Alain spotted a tall wooden staff that had runes carved all over it. He quickly ran through the gold, trying not to slip and grabbed the staff. Like the stone, Alain could feel a strong force flowing through it. Alain stepped over the dragon's head, looking down upon it.
As he ventured his way out of the cave, he noticed the cave walls and rocks turning back to a healthy shade of brown.
xxxxx
Demeter; goddess of harvest and nature, waited outside the cave for her champion to return. She had dismissed the everendie and thrown off her disguise of the beautiful elf Selura Nehta and donned her human avatar form. She wore green silk vestments decorated with her symbol of a white horse head stitched all over. Her skin was a creamy white. All that remained of her disguise was her green eyes.
Her hopes were answered when she saw her chosen Alain emerge from the cave with his right hand on the hilt of her sword Ceresheart, and a staff in the his left hand. She gazed at him with her green eyes and noticed a large amount of blood splattered on his white shirt.
Alain stepped out of the cave, his rewards for killing Thantole on his person. He looked before him, not seeing the elf Selura, or the mountain nymph, but the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. His heart told him this woman was the goddess Demeter. He quietly stepped forward, reaching into his pocket and pulling out the Harvester's Stone. He held it in his open palm and presented it forward.
Demeter clasped her hand over his. She closed her green eyes and chanted a soft hymn. Alain felt the warmth of her hand and shivered lightly. It was a wonderful sensation. He then felt the stone in his palm sink slowly melt in his hand and go through his skin. A strong jolt of energy filled his body. He jerked for a moment, but the goddess held his hand tightly, then clasped it to her chest.
Alain closed his eyes as the power of the Harvester's Stone began to flow through his body. He suddenly felt more akin to the Earth, particularly the trees and vegetation. He opened his eyes and saw Demeter smiling at him lovingly. Suddenly, it all made sense to him, the newfound confidence, the godly strength, the reason she couldn't go with him to fight Thantole.
It was all because she loved him and believed in him. The young man was now beginning to understand. With a sigh, he picked up Demeter in his arms and kissed her deeply. Her lips were light sweet honey. She kissed him back just as deep.
After what seemed like a half an hour, Alain gently pulled away from her and smiled. "Is this how all the chosen of the gods are picked?"
The goddess giggled. "Mostly by gods like Zeus, Apollo, and Aphrodite. I'm sorry I had to put you through this test. If I could have made it any easier or less complex, I would have."
Alain shrugged. He hadn't thought it was too complex for him. "Still, I can't believe I cut off a dragon's head," he managed to breathe.
His green eyes looked down at the sword in its sheath, then back at her.
Demeter bit her lip and kissed his cheek. "Well my love, it was more luck than skill, but don't worry you will get better through the years. You will gain wisdom and experience through your adventures, as well as friends and enemies. Your journeys are just beginning."
"And will you be with me?" he asked her, staring into her green eyes. Hearing of new sense of duty, began to worry him that he would never see this beautiful woman for along time.
"I will try to aid you when I can," she answered smiling," and there will be times when you will spend the winter months with me." She gently traced her smooth fingers over the ring he was wearing. "Yet as long as you have this, I will always be with you."
Demeter's words filled Alain with a sense of comfort. He wrapped an arm around his goddess and stared at the sky. He wondered what new adventures lay ahead for him. "So where do my travels begin?" he asked the goddess.
"Well," the goddess responded softly," the first thing we should do is find you some new armor, which we will be going to the Underworld to find some."
"Isn't Hephaestus the god of forging?" Alain asked Demeter.
The harvest goddess nodded her head and replied," Yes, but we will find brilliant craftsman in the domain of Lord Hades, as well as many other curious items of fallen heroes."
Alain nodded. He began to reflect upon this morning, remembering how nervous he was going on a small adventure that turned into his destiny. Though he did not know what his life had in store for him, he realized he would now spend the rest of this life, guiding those who seek to do good in the lands, as well as being the consort of the goddess Demeter.
"You have taken a step in a larger world Alain," Demeter said softly, holding onto her chosen softly.
For Lori Hayes, who started me on the path to explore the world that is Greek Mythology