From: MHa5265076@aol.com
Date: Mon 09 Nov 1998 - 14:05:23 EET
just a quick tale of Elmal......
Elmal=92s Daughters
During the darkness, Orlanth took the warriors to fight
the forces of chaos. He instructed Elmal to stay behind
and commanded him to guard the stead and the lands
of the Tula. Orlanth gave the shield Arran to Elmal and
then he turned to embrace Ernalda. As he left, Orlanth
told her to watch Elmal and ensure he guarded well, for
although Vinga could fight, not all the Goddesses could
defend themselves. Elmal would be the only defence
against any foes.
Ernalda set Elmal to guard the stead, while she and her
sisters set about their chores. Elmal took his spear, named
Sharp Point and Arran the Shield and stood guard at the
doorway to the Stead. After some time he became cold
and stepped inside. Here, Mahome tended the hearth fire
and Elmal warmed himself. As he did so he noticed the
beauty of Mahome for the first time, and she noticed how
handsome he looked in the fine mail shirt and yellow
britches. Mahome gave him griddle cakes and warm
mead, and Elmal lay with her.
When Ernalda returned from her tasks she could see
that the doorway was unguarded, Elmal was no where
to be seen. Ernalda was worried, for she feared the
Predark demons had devoured Elmal. She approached
the stead and looked inside, here she found Elmal and
Mahome her daughter, each with a ruddy breathless
look about their faces.
=93Why are you so red faced and breathless Elmal?=94
Asked Ernalda.
=93I have been fighting valiantly to protect the stead=94
gasped Elmal. He rubbed the crumbs of the griddle
cakes from his mouth and the wiped the drops of
mead from his chin.
=93Is this true Mahome?=94
=93Yes, he is strong and brave, in fact he=92s the strongest
and bravest man in the whole Tula=94. Mahome told the
truth, because since Orlanth had taken the warriors away
Elmal was the only true man in the whole Tula.
=93You are redder than normal too Mahome!=94 Questioned
the doubting Ernalda.
=93I stoked the fire hotter than normal to scare the demons
and to aid brave Elmal=94 . Mahome looked guilty and hid
her face. =93That is why I am ruddier than normal=94.
=93Is this true Elmal?=94
=93Yes Mahome fought well and I defeated the attackers
of the stead=94 boasted Elmal.
=93Good=94 said Ernalda. =93In that case you will guard the
stable as well=94.
Elmal left the stead and went to defend the stable. Here
he stood guard, yet as before his guard did not last, for
he grew tired. So Elmal went inside to rest his weary limbs.
Inside he saw fine Beseta, her gleaming body shone like
the very sun itself, her long legs stretched out were oh so
graceful and her beautiful golden hair cascaded from her
head and down her shoulders. Beseta nuzzled Elmal and
he lay with her.
When Ernalda returned from her tasks she could see that
the stable was unguarded, Elmal was no where to be
seen. Ernalda was worried, for she feared the Predark
demons had devoured Elmal. She approached the
stable and looked inside, here she found Elmal and
Beseta, each sweating.
=93Why are you sweating Elmal?=94 Asked Ernalda.
=93I have been fighting valiantly to protect the stable=94
gasped Elmal. He swept the straw off his body.
=93I fought so hard that the blood of our foes turned
my britches red and so I am putting on a new pair=94
said Elmal as he replaced the yellow britches.
=93Is this true Beseta?=94 Ernalda asked her, but, Beseta
said nothing and instead pawed the ground and
tossed her head.
=93Good=94 said Ernalda. =93In that case you will guard the
Tula lands as well=94.
Elmal left the stable and went to guard the lands of
Orlanth=92s Tula. He patrolled well, for this time he was
worried that Ernalda might notice if he did not do as
instructed. Elmal went to the very edge of the Tula,
right where the dark was the worse to check for foes.
Here he saw Tara, washing her hair in a stream.
As Elmal watched, Tara stood naked and dived in to the
water. Elmal was aroused, he quickly removed the fine
mail shirt and yellow britches, and dived into the waters.
Tara was not shocked, or surprised, for she knew that
Elmal had been watching her. The pair frolicked and
splashed in the water, then they lay together on the bank.
When Ernalda approached she could see Elmal, wet, lying
on the bank. Ernalda was worried, for she feared the Predark
demons had killed Elmal. Then she noticed him breathing
so she stood over his sleeping body.
=93Why are you asleep Elmal?=94 Asked Ernalda.
=93I was not asleep, I was exhausted from fighting the foes that
crept out of the Darkness to assault the Tula of your Husband!=94
asserted Elmal.
=93Then why are you wet?=94 quizzed Ernalda.
=93I had to fight, many times, once after I had fought I bent
down to wash my face and another foe attacked me from
behind and tried to drown me, but, I killed him too!=94 Lied Elmal.
=93Good=94 Said Ernalda. =93You truly are the very best man in
the whole Tula. When my husband returns I will tell him
of all your brave defence and how you protected me and
the other Goddesses from harm=94 , praised Ernalda.
On the glorious return, As the gates of dawn were opened
to allow Time and Future to be released, many children
were born, like Voria the goddess of spring. Among the
many children born as this time were these three. All
three looked a lot like Elmal.
In the stead, Mahome gave birth to a beautiful daughter
and called her Tethin (Radiant flame of gold), Defender
of the stead. She is The Daughter of Fire and symbolised
by the red-breasted swan. In the stable, Beseta gave birth
to a fine daugther and named her Tamara (Bright Horse).
She is The Pony Girl and symbolised by a golden maned
pony. At the edge of the Tula Ernalda found a girl-child
and she called her Dalila (Maiden of Rocks and waters).
She is The Golden Huntress. Dailia is the one who
washes her golden hair in the streams and can lure
Odaylans to their death with her voice. If they approach
her with caution she can give then luck in hunting, just
like her mother.
------------------------------
End of The Glorantha Digest V6 #312
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