Daphne and Diana

[goldenmyst]

Daphne and Diana
Intro:

Diana was goddess of the moon and of hunting, and protectress of women. Daphne, daughter of Peneus, rival of Diana the virgin Goddess, "had many suitors, but she scorned them all; wanting no part of any man, she traveled the pathless groves, and had no care whatever for husband, love, or marriage."

A variation on a theme by Ovid:

The forest was alive with the call of song birds and the howling of wolves this morning as mother earth woke from her slumbers. Mists rose from the stream which sparkled in the early morning sunlight. The stream appeared as a golden slip running over brown rocks over a silver waterfall into a grotto. Green ferns hung from the black rock walls of the grotto. The pool, below the waterfall reflected the aspen and cottonwood trees, rising above the rock walls, whose green leaves stretched toward heaven seeking golden nourishment from the sun. A single black raven stood on a treetop cawing as his predatory gaze encompassed the scene.

As the morning wore on the scene of primeval virginity was intruded on by a group of nymphs led by Diana. Their naked skin seemed to glow in the soft morning light as they plunged into the pool laughing and swimming like sea lions in circular patterns. Diana sat on a tall rock, jutting out of the water and wearing a garland, and wearing a bow with a quiver of arrows on her shoulder. She played a flute she had brought along. As Diana sat on the rock playing, the world seemed to her as though freshly born out of the womb of the cosmic mother. She felt the cool air from the pool flow around her naked body and felt at ease.

Then her reverie was interrupted by the sound of Cerberus, the dog with three heads. He howled, leading a pack of hunting hounds as Diana and her nymphs froze, quietly listening. Suddenly Daphne emerged from the woods her tunic torn exposing her scratched thighs and breasts. She collapsed on the sand by the pool, breathing deeply curled in a fetus position. Diana called her nymphs to action and they poised around the entrance to the grotto with their bows pulled and ready for action. Apollo rode up with Cerberus and the hounds leading. He stood at the entrance to the grotto with a golden halo of light surrounding his majestic body. Diana unsheathed her hunting knife and held it at his throat telling him to go no further. Diana then ordered him to kneel before her or die. He knelt and she marked him with the tip of the blade on the breast. She said, “When you see yourself reflected in the mirror with this mark, remember me and never again dare to challenge me. Now go!!"

Apollo fled through the forest while the nymphs chased him to assure that he would not trick them and return. As Daphne lay on in the grass by a tall oak tree, Diana applied ointment to the wounds covering her thighs, breasts, and buttocks. Daphne quivered like a scared sparrow, as Diana gently stroked and soothed her with tender caresses. Diana stroked Daphne’s blonde hair, which glistened in the late morning sunlight. Diana complemented Daphne’s for her great beauty. Daphne blushed as Diana gently kissed her on the forehead.

The nymphs surrounded Daphne and Diana, as they lay together, resting in each other’ arms. The day wore on and night was falling. The moon rose as the nymphs danced around a May Pole. While Daphne rested her head in Diana’s lap, the forest spirits, balls of light, glowing like tiny stars, leaped through the air in the preternatural night.

Diana gently led Daphne by the hand into the dark forest. There, they lay amid a copse in a bed of rosy flower petals, and made the sweetest love, until pearls of glistening morning dew hung from their tresses.