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Eukara Vox -> RE: The Mythologies of Nedera (7/10/2009 14:48:28)
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~The Healing of Nedera
Brithing watched with concern as her sister's realm became turbulent. The deception, pain and betrayal that she had felt at the hands of Delyn ate at her spirit, and Brithing feared that she would waste away. Nedera's only comfort was Morres, who spent every moment with her. Even then, Brithing saw that Xerith held fast to his father, never leaving his side. He looked to Nedera as his mother, even though he knew she was not. If anything, that was what kept war in check, and Brithing knew some relief.
Reverently, Brithing approached her mother, concern etched on her face. As she relayed her observations, Caroyn nodded knowingly, but didn't know what her daughter thought needed be done. It was then that an idea formed and Brithing told her mother. The Mother Goddess smiled, acknowledging that she was right.
Caroyn's voice broke the silence of creation, the silence that was caused by the emergence of shadow. Her voice rang out with determination and power, causing even War to cower before her. And her words gave shape to the realms of her sons and daughters. Instead of an expanse, each realm became like Brithing's star, yet only Delyn's sphere remained in chaos.
Caroyn pulled some of Morres' realm into her creation of Serrah's world, causing his sphere to fold and settle, layers of metals sandwiched between layers of rock. Tin, Iron, aluminum, and copper bands gleamed in the fiery light of Brithing's star. Serrah looked in wonder, satisfied.
Moving on to Tenmur's realm, Caroyn once more pulled from Morres' plane, adding stone to the metal bands. Yet, to Tenmur's disappointment, her metals weren't as obvious as Serrah's. The gleam from their softer materials seemed more of a hint, not like the striated gleaming decorations of Serrah's domain. Knowing her daughter's disappointment, Caroyn walked upon the new world with Tenmur. She explained that though it seemed that her metals were fewer, they were worth more, for nations would rise and fall with that which she ruled over.
Tenmur looked at her mother confused, as she had never heard the term "nations" before. Yet, the goddess questioned her mother not, for she knew her mother was wise and would only reveal as much knowledge as needed.
Caroyn, happy that Tenmur was placated, ventured into Nedera's plane and hovered over the waters for a long time, contemplating what to do with her realm. The union of Nedera's element and rock had already taken place, the rock storing the sweet water and keeping it separate from the water tainted by Nedera's sorrow. Satisfied, she spun them together, making sure to keep the sweet separate from the bitter.
The sweet water became lakes, rivers and streams, while the bitter water surrounded the stone and earth. As she shaped the earth, she looked at Tenmur and Serrah. Both nodded and left, only to return with portions of their own worlds. Caroyn took those gifts and wove them into the land.
Brithing excused herself and went to Morres' domain. As she spun his element as she had seen her mother do for others, she began to pull the light from the stars. With each color received, Brithing struck the stone with it, creating the light of the stars in rock form. She stood back and admired how the light from her star at the center of her siblings' paths, little as it was from this far away, was amplified by her creation.
Before the final command that would turn Morres' realm into a world, she took out a portion to give to Caroyn as her gift for Nedera's world. Brithing gave the final command, sealing his place into creation, a sparkling world in the middle of the outer darkness.
Brithing rushed to her mother's side, knowing that she was close to completing Nedera's world. She presented her gift, its jewels radiating light now that she was closer to her star. Caroyn halted her progress, as she was just about to speak the words of sealing. She took her daughter's gift and added it to the work at hand. She spun it once again and spoke the final words.
As Nedera watched her realm transform, she felt the shadow retreat and her heart lightened. Morres, overjoyed, embraced her and both watched as the world came into its own. An amalgamation of her siblings' love, it brought a smile to her face. She walked upon the earth and rock, heard the rushing river and felt the warmth of Brithing's star upon her face.
Caroyn, satisfied, moved on to Delyn's world. Though she did not want to give him the satisfaction of an equality with his siblings, she knew that it was to be. As she began to spin the turbulent air into the shape of a planet, Delyn cried across the expanse of creation, complaining that he was not given the chance to gift his sister. Tenmur, incensed that her brother would make such a complaint, took her place before Nedera in an effort to shield her from Delyn's selfishness. Arguments began and Deira danced happily, feeding the distress of one sibling while strengthening her father's resolve.
Bruslin, tiring of the celestial bickering, called out in a loud voice, silencing all creation. He alone, it appeared, would examine this gift of Delyn's, as he knew that the element of air was needed on Nedera's world. Delyn prepared his gift and gave it to his father. Bruslin examined it for a time, taking it apart so that each individual elemental piece was safe from his deceit. Convinced it was safe, Bruslin handed Caroyn the gift.
She wrapped Nedera's world in the gift of air. The waters formed clouds that drifted high above the surface. The world swirled with several shades of white and grey as the clouds traveled the expanse of the sky. Nedera smiled beneath them and held out her arms wide, beckoning the water to return to the surface. And return it did, in the form of droplets that lightly spattered on her skin. Thus, the water element learned to form above the land and then return to the surface of the planet.
Caroyn, moved by her daughter's happiness, decided that now was the time to continue creation as she had envisioned it long ago, before her children, before her husband. She walked upon Nedera's planet and spoke boldly to it, singing the song of beginning that were a mystery to everyone but herself. Slowly, color began to emerge. At first it was green that showed its face; small, slender blades pushed up through the surface, covering nearly every inch of the new soil.
Caroyn sang encouragingly. She walked in the valleys, and called the sweet water plants into existence. She climbed the mountains and called the great evergreens and scrub trees to grace the snow-covered land. Upon the hotter, drier places, where the soil was scorched into sand, she shaped the water bearing plants, tall, strong and dangerous. Where the heat of Brithing's star was hottest and most direct, she called for dense forests of unimaginable size. The flatlands became large grassy plains flanked by rivers and forests of broadleaf trees and shrubs.
Caroyn called to Brithing to create the flowers using the light of the stars. Everywhere the goddess went, petals whorled and stretched, adding color to the plants. Brithing occupied, Caroyn began to sing a different song, lyrics of life that had never been heard. It was then that animals sprung from the world. Some swam in the waters, some flew through the sky, while others ran across the plain and climbed the craggy mountains.
Everywhere Nedera looked, life danced to a blessed beat. And she danced with it, her heart healed of her sadness and pain. She pulled Morres into the dance and they danced until Brithing's star slipped beneath the planet's horizon.
Thus, night and day came into creation. Nedera and Morres slept in a field of soft grass and yellow flowers, content. A short time later, Nedera gave birth to twin sons: Nen, son of song and celebration and Mek, son of endurance and strength. Both boys were a delight to their parents and completed Nedera's healing, giving her the reassurance that she could birth goodness. She set them to forever dance around her and her world, great reflection of Brithing's light upon the planet in the times of night. Though equals, there were times when one brother was more visible than the other. But that was the way it was to be.
In all the excitement and healing, no one remembered that Talanoth had not contributed to his sister's world. But that was the way he wanted it, for he wanted his gift to be perfect and good. Nor did anyone notice the shadow that descended onto Nedera's world on the first moonless night, when Nen and Mek slept.
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