The cursed Goddess

The tulips and bleeding hearts swayed as the knight walked past them, towards her shrine, Golden flowers in hand.

The chimes sang a delicate melody to announce his arrival.

The knight's armour shimmered as he stepped into the dark hall. The sun shone on him from behind, casting a halo around him when he took off his helmet to reveal a familier and friendly face that had not changed since the goddess was free to roam.

He gazed upon the altar where a golden statue of the goddess lay leisurely. Rotten hearts rested beside her, and dried petals scattered all about the floor. Even surrounded by death and heartache, she looked beautiful as she once did when she walked among the mortals. Red candles were all around the temple, all freshly placed and unlit, ready for the next devotee.

'I've come back to you, my love.' He smiled softly, the light from the doorway casted a heavenly spotlight on the goddess's face.

Each step he took towards her echoed around her dark shrine. He lowered himself to his knees, letting his helmet clatter beside him. He rested the flowers amongst the others that, over time, shrivelled up and dried.

He rested his head against the stone altar in silence.

He looked up at her, unmoved and peaceful. He stood up in silence and unstrapped his armour, letting them hit the floor one by one.

He walked over to the corner where the thurible patiently waited. He lit the coal and scooped the insence out of the bowl beside it and poured it on top of the coal. He closed the thurible and picked it up, gently swinging the thurible as he walked around the temple humming to himself a slow, gentle tune, before he stopped in the middle of the room and hung it from the hook above him.

He lit the red candles that decorated the floor, the wall and the candles that stood guarding the goddess's altar, before retrieving the water jug and stepping back into the sunlight.

The field of flowers covered the ground in a beautiful dark pink. The knight smiled at the sight and walked along a small footpath down to the river. ornate pillars and resting spots decorated the temple's grounds as light voices filled the air.

The spring sun glimmered on the clear river. He dipped the jug into the water, the coldness numbing his hands.

Across the river, acolyts and temple officials flittered about in their dark pink temple robes. Some paused for a moment to giggle and whisper to each other, stealing glances at the knight.

'She has another admirer.'

'I wonder if she'll accept him.'

'Do you think he's the one?'

'Each one of them thinks she will wake up and choose them.'

The knight silently stood up and walked back to the goddess.

He poured the water over her golden body. He watched for any sign of movement, but with a sigh, he put the jug down and walked to the middle of the room. He undid his sword belt and sat on the cold stone floor, his sword beside him as he gazed up at the altar.

That is where he sat until night fell. He lay on the floor, watching for any sign of life in the statue of the woman he once knew.

As the knight slept, a shadow slipped across the floor, picked up the sword and scraped it across the stone. As the shadow loomed over him, he lazily stirred from his slumber.

He rolled onto his back and slowly opened his eyes.

She was as he last saw her. An ordinary creature to be considered a goddess, but she stood tall and true in her power and herself, her eyes piercing right through him as usual. Her long hair hung down, framing her slender face, but she still remained golden and cursed.

He smiled softly at her before looking at the sword pressed against his chest, and his smile grew as a laugh escaped him.

'You can put that down now.' He gently pushed the sword away and sat up.

'You look… familer.' She stepped back cautiously.

' We met a few years ago.' The knight stood up and took a step closer to her, but halted when she swiftly held the sword to his chest. 'Don't you remember?'

'I don't have much memory from the time before..'

'That hurts, but maybe for the best, I was a… clotpole.' He smiled at her as she stared at him in thought.

She looked down at the sword with a confused expression before dropping it.

The knight let out a breath as he lowered his arms. ' You never suited the sharp sword look anyway.'

'You seem different from the rest.' She took a few steps closer and circled him, looking him up and down.

'I've come back to break the curse I put on you.' He reached out and grabbed her left hand.

'Then you should know that I need your heart' Her voice was flat, and all her curious emotion on her face had vanished.

She yanked him closer and placed her right hand above his heart. She watched as his face contorted in pain.

He fell to his knees, all the while his gaze never left hers.

'Please.' His voice was strained.Blue light emanated around her hand. 'I'll give you my heart, but I want one thing in return.'

'What is your request?'

'A kiss.' He pressed on her hand that covered his heart nd winced. 'From you. If I'm to die like the others, then my last wish is a kiss from the goddess.'

She squinted at him as something familier echoed through him. She brushed her hand against his cheek as he patiently waited. His breathing was laboured as he continued to look up at her with loving eyes.

She leant down slowly, her lips scarcely touching his.

Then all at once, the knight placed his hand on the back of her head and brought her closer to him. He held her close as she, too, sank to her knees and embraced him fully.

With her hand no longer placed against his heart, a sense of calm returned to the knight's body as his muscles slumped and loosened.

The goddess's gold exterior slowly faded, revealing her normal skin.

She looked up at her knight with tears streaming down her face. 'I waited so long for you, I thought - '

'I'm sorry.' He wiped away her tears that still faintly glittered in the candlelight. 'It took me too long, but I couldn't stop thinking about you; I had to return.'

She took his hand and placed a gentle kiss in his palm as he kissed her forehead.

'Forgive me.' He said, resting his chin on her head.

'I forgive you.'