Kenneth Anderson
10/25/06
2nd period

“Fedora”
A Hero’s Tale

Many years ago in Athens, Greece, there lived a widow, named Acacia. Acacia was unable to bear children and, because of this, her late husband, Chrysander, left her. Even though Acacia was a very beautiful woman, once word got out about her, no man wanted her, for every man wanted his wife to bear a strong son. Acacia never wanted to bear a boy, because she wanted to leave a trace of her beauty long after she was gone.

One night, when the loneliness became too much to bear, Acacia traveled to the peak of the highest mountain in Athens, fell to her knees, and cried out to Zeus, king of the gods and his wife, Hera. When the clouds began to mold into the faces of the gods, the look of sorrow on Acacia’s face was replaced with a smile, because she knew now that there was hope for a child. As Zeus and Hera appeared to Acacia, they called out her name and asked what she requested of them.

“Zeus and Hera, I cannot bear children. For so long, I’ve wanted a child, a little girl to call my own. I envy those who can give life. I don’t just envy those who are mortal, but those who are immortal, as well. To not be able to bear a child is torture, a torture that I can no longer stand. Zeus, please give me the ability to bear a child.” Zeus nodded his head toward Acacia, and then Acacia looked at Hera and began to speak again. “Hera, I know of your beauty, and I know that my daughter can not be as beautiful as you are, but I ask of you to grant her the greatest beauty amongst mortals.”

The formations in the clouds simply turned to one another. They nodded to one another and, afterwards, Zeus spoke. “I will not give you the ability to bear a child, but I will grant you great artistry, skills to be able to mold a beautiful woman.” Hera smiled to Zeus, then turned to Acacia and said, “Once this young woman is molded, I will bring her to life, and she will be immortal. She will bear striking resemblance to the goddesses, themselves.”

The gods granted Acacia much more than what she asked for, and she was grateful. Of course, there would be a catch to all of this. The clouds began to move inward, and Hera’s face molded into an evil grin, and she spoke. “Even though we have granted you this request, make no mistake, Acacia, for there are strings attached. Your daughter will have to serve the gods, themselves. She will forever be bound to our duty, for she will be forever young, forever strong, and forever perfect. She will have amazing strength, amazing beauty, and amazing wits, and she will utilize these gifts. Do you understand?”Acacia’s bright smile was wiped away, replaced with a frown. If she decided to go through with this, then her daughter would never be truly hers to have, but the property of the gods.

Acacia agreed and, upon her agreement, the formations in the clouds disappeared. Acacia left the mountain and went home to start sculpting her daughter into existence. She looked around her house and found a huge boulder just around the back of it. With all the strength in her body, she pushed the boulder around to the front of her house and into the front door. She went into town to look for a sculptor, an artist. When she found one, she persuaded him to let her borrow his crafting tools. When Acacia arrived back at home, she began sculpting Acacia into existence.

When Acacia was done, an amazing form stood before her. She had waist long hair, her face was beautiful, and her figure was perfect in every way. When Acacia kneeled before the statue of her daughter, she went outside, fell to her knees, and called out to Hera. The clouds began to mold once again, and the face of Hera appeared before Acacia. Acacia spoke to Hera, politely. “Hera, queen of all the gods, thank you for cooperating with me. I have sculpted my daughter out of a large boulder that stood behind my home, and she is ready to be brought to life.” Hera nodded her head, and, with that, told Acacia to go back inside her home. Afterwards, Hera disappeared. Acacia stood up and turned around slowly. She entered her house and there stood a naked woman. Her hair was long and red, her skin bronzed and smooth, her lips a ruby red, her eyes stunningly emerald, and her figure, as it was upon being molded, perfect in every way.

Acacia shielded her eyes, ran toward a basket, reached down into the basket, and revealed a toga cloth. She dressed her daughter, then backed away from her and gazed in amazement. “Now, what shall I call you?” said Acacia. Acacia thought for a moment, and then came up with the perfect name. “I will call you Fedora, as you are such a divine gift to me.” A smile came across Fedora’s face, and, without even speaking, she immediately ran outside and started to approach the highest mountain in Athens. Fedora was gone for quite some time. She did not reappear until months later.

There was a knock on Acacia’s door. When Acacia came to the door and opened it, there stood Fedora, dressed in golden armor and carrying a scythe. When Fedora addressed Acacia as her mother and entered, she took a seat and crossed her legs. Acacia sat across from her and asked her where she had been for all the time that had passed. “I’ve been away to Mt. Olympus” said Fedora. Acacia was very displeased with Fedora’s answer, and simply asked her to be clearer as to what she was doing at Mt. Olympus. Fedora uncrossed her legs and stood up, walked to the front door and stopped just before walking out again. “I’m sorry, mother, but I must got attend to my duties now. The gods need someone amongst mortals, someone to keep order on earth and keep order at Mt. Olympus, as well. I am that someone, so I will have very little time for you.” Having said that, Fedora left, and Acacia was lonely, once more.

Without Fedora by her side, Acacia grew sad. She was right, as Fedora was never her gift, but a gift to the gods. Fedora was their slave and she had no idea that she was bound to do whatever asked of her. Acacia, one night, exactly a year later after Fedora left for the second time and never came back home, Acacia decided to sculpt more beings. When they were brought to life, they were all bound by the same rule, which to serve the gods forever. They all left home, and, whenever they confronted one another, killed each other off one by one, all to impress the gods as the only one to serve them. They never stopped battling each other until one was left standing. Sadly, after only one was left standing, Fedora was not that one.