From: Harald Smith 617 726-2172 (SMITHH@A1.MGH.HARVARD.EDU)
Date: Tue 05 Jul 1994 - 09:41:00 EEST
The Healing of Teliska
by Harald Smith
There came a day when Teliska the Dancer, spouse of mighty Arahar, was consumed by lethargy, a new illness. Her dancing diminished to nothing. She sat down, when before she had always danced and stayed upon her feet. Arahar upon his throne, consumed as he was with watching the events upon the earth, did not even notice that she had ceased her dances. Teliska had lost all interest in her life.
As was the way of the gods, Teliska went to Khalana for a cure. Khalana asked her to describe her symptoms. "Ah, it is terrible," moaned Teliska. "Where once I danced, I now only wish to sit. Where once I moved with grace and passion, now I move with hard and clumsy steps, if at all. I feel nothing but the doom and despair that Arahar sits and watches for. Help me, Khalana, for I know not how to help myself!"
Khalana thought long upon this for this illness, this lethargy, was new. Having thought upon possible cures, Khalana gave Teliska the Dew of Ninara, steeped as it was in the divine radiance of Yelem. Khalana grew hopeful for Teliska glowed, but Teliska shook her head slowly. "I feel the radiance of Yelem within me, but where before I would have gone to dance within that joyous glow, now I would just sit and wait for the glow to pass."
Khalana thought more and went to her works of ancient lore. After long reading, she went to her kitchen and distilled the blood of Larnsta and mixed it with the Water that Always Rises. This concoction she gave Teliska, since it was sure to restore her graceful moves. Khalana grew hopeful for Teliska's body twitched with restlessness, but Teliska shook her head. "I feel strong movements within me, but before I would have leaped high in the air and twirled around, but now I know I could never reach such heights, so why should I try."
Now Khalana was disturbed by this, but she is a stubborn goddess. She left Teliska and went to Arahar. She asked him if he knew why his wife did not want to dance. He shook his head and said, "I do not know. There are many things which are not as they were. I must guard against these, but I do not know how to aid my wife."
As Khalana returned to her home from Arahar's fortress, she chanced upon Orlantio. As was ever his way with goddesses, he taunted Khalana. "Ho, lovely goddess. Would you care for a frolic today? You can see for yourself how your looks arouse me!" And he laughed when she blushed and turned away from the privy parts he showed.
Khalana was ready to hurry past when she suddenly had an idea. "Ho, yourself, you lust braggart. Perhaps I would partake of your sweat and seed, and even your blood! But only if you indulge me first."
Well, Orlantio was never one to pass up any opportunity, especially where his member was concerned. Seeing a chance with the chaste healer, he readily agreed to her condition. "Very well," said Khalana, "I only require that you listen to me play awhile."
After stringing her ousa, Khalana played a gentle lullaby. Her play was so enchanting that Orlantio quickly fell asleep. As he slept, Khalana crept close and gathered up some of his sweat and some of his seed and the smallest drop of his blood. Khalana dashed then for her home while he slept on.
Once home, Khalana distilled the sweat and seed and blood of Orlantio into a new concoction. She gave this to Teliska. But Khalana lost hope immediately when she saw Teliska's countenance darken like the storm cloud. Teliska glanced up and met Khalana's eye. "So my husband would sit around watching the world beneath his feet, would he?" she called out angrily. "And he knows not how to help me? Well, I'll show him a thing or two."
Suddenly, Teliska was upon her feet, a whirling dancer once more. She pulled her cloaks from her body and twirled them round and round. Then she rose rapidly into the sky and sprang forth right in front of Arahar's eyes. Quickly wrapping a cloak about him, she grabbed his arms and pulled him off his seat. She danced and led him on. Never before had Teliska performed such a dance and Arahar was shocked at what he saw. But she kept dancing and slowly Arahar was drawn into the dance until all the heavens stopped to watch. Teliska laughed then and shouted with joy for she was cured of her lethargy.
And back below, Khalana heard a thunderous knocking at her door. "Let me in wench!" called Orlantio. "You promised to partake of my sweat and seed and even my blood! I demand that you do so."
Khalana peeped out at his raging face and said, "But I have, dear Orlantio. See, here is the proof." And she splashed him in the face with the concoction made from his own sweat and seed and blood. Orlantio howled in fury at being duped so, but she had kept her promise and he could not assail her. Khalana laughed then with joy for she had found a cure for lethargy.
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.7 : Fri 10 Oct 2003 - 01:35:42 EEST