tales of Suchita

With bells on her feet, hair soft like summer rain, the Goddess of Sea was not a goddess today but a mother as she prepared a feast for her son, one last time.

From the shores he came, carrying with him a most gorgeous necklace of moonbeams and dew drops from the land he called home. A fitting offering for a mother who could be still like only water could be.

Silver she looked in her shimmering gown – blue and green the moment she settled onto a rock as she welcomed her son. Thinking of the fate that awaited him when he left her safe haven, she couldn’t stop the tears that fell and mingled with the sea, her abode.

“Mother…goddess…why do you cry?”

“It may be your fate as warrior and hero to uphold the honour of your house, my son, but it is my fate to see her only son torn apart on the battlefield.”

“Mother, you are goddess! You knew of my fate even before I was born. Now is not the time to cry but rejoice for this is how I will earn glory that is unwilting.”

The Goddess of Sea, the mother of Les dried her tears and embraced her son. They then broke their fast, she at home, he far from it, for wasn’t that also the fate of the warrior? To die in an unknown land?

But at her son’s behest she dried her tears and conjured her best smile as they talked about time gone by, of Les’ brave feats and all that he’d achieved through the strength of his arms.

At noon he took his leave. He had much to prepare for the ensuing battle. Even he knew, who did not have his Goddess-mother’s foresight that this would be his last.

The Goddess of Sea, the mother of Les stayed stoic till a tide and fair wind carried him far away. And then she let loose her tears, allowing the gentle waves to soothe the tears and the pain, the grief and the pride. And then she sang:

Oh my heart
In peace may you leave this shore
In glory that you so desire may you find the next
May the clouds hide you from spears
May the winds deflect all arrows…
Why must you fight where I may not follow
Why must a mother see her heart struck down
Why must a goddess know of this fate?

Ah me, the pitiful one,
Ah me, the accursed,
As mother I cannot protect you
As goddess I cannot give speed to your spear
What then must I bless you with
My son, my heart, my little one
But only
Go forth into battle as the avenging hero
Go forth even as gods and men line up against you
Charge through the bleakness, grief and loss
For the time is nigh when you fulfill your purpose
And be remembered as the shoot, though cut down in its prime
Won a glory that was sanctioned by the gods.

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This is 12 of 26 Myths and Legends. To know more, click here.