Athene-Belle-Adina and Iridesa
— Fantasy Poetry and Graphic Art — Sharon Goodhand
The storyteller eyed the shadowed room
An odorous cloud of stale hops and mead and last week’s stew
Mingled with woodsmoke and unwashed bodies…
But who was she to complain, storytelling paid her well enough
Ale flowed, cheese and bread were plentiful
At least for her… as long as she kept the stories unfolding…
*
Where was I, she muttered, ahh the Fantastical Realm of Fantasme…
Have I told of the story of when Athene-Belle-Adina tamed the dragon of the highlands?
She was once a Riverflow Priestess you know
But sadly Athene’s great beauty and power were her downfall
She turned to sorcery in a vain attempt to find real happiness and love…
Sadder still… that she ended her life as a solitary swan
Fated to never die… but drift alone staring at her reflection in a lake;
…
But this tale takes place before all that… when Athene was a sorceress
Of unimagined beauty…
The sorceress had been on the run, fleeing & hiding
from the wizard Zailund… and so crazed was he to have her, own her
that he would not give up the pursuit;
Athene had wittingly cast a spell, temporarily trapping Zailund
On a path that looped in an insane diorama
Where the shifting shadows of scenery changed with every circuit trudged…
A full week passed before the wizard realized… a week in which Athene made her escape…
Zailund was not one to give up and though the trail was cold, he set after her again;
*
Athene, wily as she was, criss-crossed the Highlands of Fantasme
Weaving a tortuous path that led nowhere
She scratched a decoy map into the dirt
adding cryptic symbols showing three peculiar characters
Lending her aid-
- but the sorceress had enlisted the help of no one
Indeed, there were few who lived this far into the Highlands;
Finally Athene found a place to rest… a stone henge.
Within the protective circle she was rendered invisible to all.
She slept; waking at night to visions splendid…
falling stars streamed from the dark haven of the night sky
bats swooped and owls in flight deposited at her feet
tasty morsels for her to eat.
Athene regained her strength, wishing she could simply stay here
Invisible to all and sought by none;
But even the bats & owls had need of her services, and so in payment for the food they dropped
They bid her rid them of a dragon which feasted on their nestling babes.
And Athene, knowing there was a debt to be paid, set off in search of the dragon.
*
The sorceress found the dragon guarding a portal
to a mystic world beyond the veil of Fantasme;
Was it bravery that propelled her to within the dragons reach?
Or apathy… Athene did not really know but suspected the latter…
What is your name dragon? Athene asked boldly
Admiring the dragon’s iridescent shimmer… the way shifting hues of
Jade and violet rippled across the beasts supple wings.
My name? How fearless you are little sorceress… and for that I will tell you-
my name is Iridesa.
Athene inclined her head, respectfully… and I am Athene
I have been entrusted to bring you a message, Iridesa,
the birds & bats of the wildflower meadow
Have asked me to beseech you not to eat their young;
Numbers dwindle… and soon there will be none.
But what am I to eat? I am not permitted to travel beyond sight of this portal.
And why, do tell, Athene asked… Why is that so?
I must stay here until I find a purpose to my life, Iridesa admitted mournfully
And the wait has been long and most tedious.
Well, if I may sit, suggested Athene, mayhap I can resolve your dilemma;
The sorceress sat, as did Iridesa, and a peculiar silence descended
As if even the birds hushed to ponder;
Finally Athene stood up-
- do you know of me Iridesa? I am Athene-Belle-Adina
Once a Riverflow Priestess… now a sorceress
Hunted and chased by an evil wizard who wishes to own me.
Crystal tears ran down Athene’s cheeks and for the first time Iridesa noticed
How weary the woman was…
Impressive, Iridesa said, but how does that help me?
I am in need of a guide and guardian …
a constant companion, willing to walk the four winds with me;
would you be willing to embark on such a mission?
An interesting proposal, sorceress… Iridesa nodded
but there is one minor detail
I forgot to tell you… I cannot traverse the lands this side of the portal…
Then I will come with you, Athene replied ardently… pray tell, what lies beyond the portal?
More beauty than even you can imagine… Iridesa replied and it would be my honor to accompany you.
Without looking back both Athene & Iridesa set forth… to a land so magic
Not even Zailund the wizard could follow;
*
And that, the storyteller said… is how Athene-Belle-Adina
And a dragon named Iridesa became not only companions
But friends for life…. or at least until the dragon died
and Athene was left alone again.
Now, fill my mug, and fetch me food… I’ll not be in the mood to tell another
Until I am satiated and satisfied.
