Intro

 

Introduction

She knew not the thought of treachery or war; the world was at peace and she was free to tend her garden humming softly to herself and the birds that sung with her.

When a woman bounded into her garden on the back of a sacred deer bathedin an aura of moon light Pandora knew her task had come. Bowing lowly to her patron goddess Pandora granted the goddess hospitality and a warm fire within her home. When Artemis was settled into a chair before the fire Pandora stood to the side and offered tea and bread. Declining Artemis stood and glided gracefully to the table at the far side of the small home and set down the Box hesitantly. One could never be sure if it was safe, not at a time like this with the gods clashing.

"Pandora," Artemis' voice seemed to bloom from a flower as she spoke softly to the near weeping woman, "This box is never to be opened, what lies within will bring chaos back to our blessed and new Earth. You have vowed to do this while you slept, has your vow remained in your waking hours?"

Still in tears Pandora stood to her full height and proclaimed proudly, "I am the first woman of our kind and I have vowed to keep the Box safe and sealed. The vow shall remain whether I be asleep or awake. A vow means just as much to my kind as it does to our Gods."

"Then ready yourself Pandora for the task before you," and she was gone. Except for the hoof prints of a deer in Pandora's garden not a sign of Artemis' presence was left behind.

Trembling Pandora sat slowly into her chair before the fire and stared at the Box that had become her burden. Overwhelmed with a sudden desire to unseal the Box in curiosity, Pandora fought her new emotion down and placed the Box on a high shelf out of her view, "Out of sight, out of mind."

When her back was turned a figure appeared, "So you will set a higher task then I thought. No matter, I will break you down and have that box opened." With a chuckle Loki vanished and Pandora was left unknowing of the presenceof another god in her home.

As the days wore by Pandora found herself glancing at the shelf holding the Box but always shook herself and wandered outside to smell the many flowers. Even outside her longing to open the Box grew, like a whisper in her ear, constantly urging her to give in to the curiosity.

Sitting before her fire she stared at the top of her shelf, where usually she would gaze into the fire. The urging grew stronger, like a yell in her ear. Loki was getting excited, fidgeting while he remained beside her ear. He smiled broadly as Pandora stood and walked hesitantly towards the shelf. Taking it down Pandora brought it to the table and set it infront of her as she took a seat on the wooden chair.

Staring at it Pandora tried not to lift her shaking hand to the lid but to no avail. With the clasp undone she lifted it slightly and jumped back as it swungout of her grasp to open widely. A black fog-like substance began pouring from it, Pandora,too afraid to move, stood there watching in horror as it covered her wooden floor. When there wasn't another niche to seep into the black fog stilled and slowly turned to murky black water. It dripped though the floorboards and seeped into the ground, tainting the Earth with greed, vanity, slander, envy, and pining.

Rushing forward Pandora clasped the box shut once more due to more urging by Loki. Hope was not to be let loose.