#anedis

Onika, Goddess of Earth, sat in heaven, sighing. Her sighs stirred up the winds on Earth, and Ashanti, mother of life, came to see what was wrong.

“My daughter, Onika, how the humans love you. Your weather is fair, and crops flourish. None go hungry, not even the beggar. Oh, Onika, how the humans sing your praises! And yet you sigh. What upsets you?”

“Mother, hear me. My heart is heavy, there is a young woman who holds it. The young demigoddess, Anaira, who lives on the edge of Lake Nao and swims there every night. Her smile is like full moon, her laughter like music, her skin is rich earth like ours. She if perfection – and yet she shuns the suitor and the courtship. She refuses the gold, the silver, the jewels, the promises of love. I want her, but how do I win her?”

Anaira put a hand on Onika’s shoulder. “Listen carefully, Onika, and I will tell you how to win her. For five nights, take the form of a water-maid in Lake Nao. When Anaira arrives to swim, sing a song for her. On the first night, do not let her see you. On the second night, do not let her touch you. On the third night, speak not a word. On the fourth night, do not let her kiss you. And on the fifth night, reveal yourself, and she will be yours.”

“And this will win her over? A song?”

“Trust me, my daughter, I will only lead you true. Start tomorrow night.”

Onika was skeptical, but her mother had never led her astray, so she nodded, and went home to her Holy Garden to rest and prepare.

The next night, as Anaira shed her dress to swim, she heard the sweetest song come from the air. Onika, disguised as a water-maid, hid on the far side of the lake, singing. Anaira sat down by edge, putting her feet in the water and listening. The song touched her heart, sent butterflies reeling in her chest. She smiled, and for a moment, Onika’s voice faltered, but she continued. When the song was over, she vanished.

“Who’s out there? Who sings so sweetly for me?” Anaira called, but there was no answer. Saddened, Anaira continued her swim, idly humming the song to herself.

The second night, as Anaira shed her dress to swim, she heard the sweet song come from the air once more. Onika, disguised as a water-maid, sat on the far side of the lake, singing. Anaira saw her, and she jumped into the water swimming toward her. Before she could reach her, however, Onika transported herself to the other side of the lake. Anaira tried and failed to reach Onika, and when the song was over, the earth goddess vanished again.

“Wait!” Anaira called out, “please don’t leave!” But she was alone.

On the third night, as Anaira shed her dress to swim, she heard the sweet song come from the air once more. Onika, disguised as a water-maid, sat on the far side of the lake, singing. Anaira saw her, and she jumped into the water swimming toward her, and Onika didn’t move. Anaira grabbed onto Onika’s, arm smiling at her and listening to the song. When it was over, Anaira threw her arms around Onika’s neck.

“You sing so sweetly, it makes my heart tremble. Tell me your name, please!”

Onika’s lips trembled as she struggled not to speak. She took Anaira’s hands in hers, entwined their fingers together a moment, and vanished.

The fourth night, Anaira had gotten to Lake Nao before Onika, and waited in the water. Onika appeared, and began to sing. Anaira swam up to her, putting her arms around Onika’s neck, saying nothing. When Onika finished the song, Anaira said, “Please don’t leave. Tell me your name.”

“Onika. My name is Onika.”

“Onika. I am Anaira.”

“I know who you are. You are the jewel of Lake Nao, the beauty of Aradia. Women envy you, men duel each other for your hand in marriage.”

“Men. I want nothing to do with them. I would much rather have a wife.”

Onika’s heart sang with joy. “I would marry you. And cover you in silks and gold and silver, walk with you in my Holy Garden, sing to you all day long. Would you let me?”

Anaira looked up at Onika with big, round, blue eyes. “I would.” She said simply, and she leaned forward to kiss Onika. Onika put her hand against her lips.

“I cannot kiss you. Not tonight. Please wait one more day.”

Anaira pouted, but agreed, and Onika vanished. The next night, Anaira shed her dress and swam, waiting for Onika. When the goddess arrived, no longer in her water-maid disguise, Anaira did not wait for her to sing, but instead, pulled her into the water and kissed her. When they parted, Anaira was smiling, and Onika whooped in joy. Together, they left Lake Nao and made their way to Onika’s Holy Garden, where they were wed by Ashanti the next morning. Onika clothed her wife in silk and gold and silver, walked with her in the garden, and sang to her sweetly. On Earth, crops were even more bountiful, the days even more beautiful. Onika’s happiness was a blessing on Earth.

Below the Earth lies the Underworld, where Anedis, Queen of the Damned, ruled with an iron fist. No one entered the underworld without her knowing, and no one left without her knowing. She had no children – all the other goddesses were born of her sister, Ashanti. When Anedis raged, the Earth quaked, and at the news of Onika’s wedding, how the Earth shook! Anedis, too, had her eyes on Anaira. Anaira had been the only one to ever light a prayer candle for Anedis, the only one to ever speak her name without fear. Anedis had watched Anaira as well, had been charmed by her smile and her laughter like music, but had been too afraid to approach her, and now she was stolen. The Queen of the Damned screamed in anger, and the Earth shook again.

Her servant, Tayd, sat calming by the throne of bones, watching Anedis. “My Lady,” she said, “why let your niece disrespect you like this? Go to the Holy Garden, take what is yours. You are a Queen just as your sister, but they laugh at you. Go and take Anaira, and make her your queen.”

“I will!” said Anedis, her voice like an avalanche. Anedis went up to the Holy Garden, taking the shape of a crow and hiding in a tree. She followed Anaira, waiting for a moment to get her alone. The perfect opportunity came when Anaira went with Tamika, Goddess of the Moon, to Lake Nao to swim. The women shed their clothes and got in the water, and Anedis hid behind a tree. Anedis began to sing, mimicking Onika’s voice.

Anaira heard the song, and her heart fluttered. “It is Onika! It’s my wife!” She bid Tamika stay while she followed the sound of the song, farther and farther away from the lake. When they were out of sight, Anedis took her true form, and grabbed Anaira.

“Let me go!” Anaira screamed, thrashing in Anedis’s grip. “Let me go! Help! Onika, Tamika! Help!”

Anedis opened a door to the underworld and pulled Anaira through, closing behind her. Tamika who had heard her cries for help, searched for her, and finding nothing, went to tell Onika about Anaira’s disappearance.

Down in the underworld, Anaira wept in a room of gold and bronze and fur. Anedis offered her jewelry of turquoise, lapis lazuli, rubies, and diamonds, dresses and robes made of dark silks and perfumes, but Anaira denied it, sticking her nose up at it. As the days passed, she grew hungry and thirsty, but sipped nothing from Anedis’s cup, ate nothing from her plate. After several weeks, however, Anaira grew desperate. She snuck out her room and to the nearest river, Sandus, where she sipped from it four times. The water was foul, but it quenched her thirst. She snuck back to her room, unware that she had been followed by Tayd, who reported to Anedis.

Onika scoured the Earth looking for her wife. So distraught was she that in her search, she abandoned her duties as Earth goddess. The crops failed. The winds stirred as she sighed, the world flooded as she wept. Ashanti, who sees all and knows all, decided to confront her sister. She called Anedis, Anaira and Onika to her palace in Heaven.

Anaira rushed to Onika when she saw her, and Onika embraced her, happy her wife was safe.

Ashanti turned to sister. “Anedis, give Anaira back to her wife. You cause more grief than is ever necessary. The Earth weeps with Onika. The crops die, the fields are barren. Give Anaira back, and restore the human’s happiness.”

“I care not for the Earth’s happiness.” Anedis said, “let the humans die. They will go where they belong, whether it be my realm or heaven. Anaira cannot leave, even if I was willing to let her go.”

“Why not?”

“She has sipped from the river of Death herself four times, quenched her thirst with damnation. She is bound to the underworld.”

Anaira began to weep in Onika’s arms. “I am sorry, Onika. I was so thirsty!”

Onika kissed her wife’s forehead. “It’s okay. I’m not mad at you.” She turned to Ashanti. “Isn’t there anything you can do?”

Ashanti pursed her lips and rubbed her face. Then, she slammed her fist down on the arm of her throne. “Listen, for this is my word and it is law. You will share Anaira. For eight months, Onika will have her, and for the other four, Anedis will have her, one month for each sip from the river.” Ashanti looked directly at the poor young girl. “Anaira, I decree that no harm shall every come to you in any kingdom. Let anyone who raises a hand against you perish instantly by the same means. Let the humans light a candle for you like any other goddess. Let neither your plate nor cup ever empty when you hunger or thirst. So it is said, so it is law. Onika, take your wife home.”

Anedis said nothing, only vanished, and Onika took Anaira’s hand. Together, they went back to Onika’s Holy Garden, where Anaira was dressed in silk and gold and silver, where Onika walked with her in the garden, and sang to her sweetly. On Earth, crops were bountiful, the days beautiful. Onika’s happiness was once again a blessing on Earth.

When the six months were up, Onika took Anaira to Lake Nao, where Anedis waited to take her into the underworld. Onika put on a brave face, but once her wife was gone, she began to cry, and the earth began to cry with her.

Anaira found a sort of peace in the underworld. Anedis still let her swim in Lake Nao, and they had formed a tentative friendship. Try as she might, however, Anedis could not get Anaira to love her.