Note: English is not my first language so I hope there aren't many stylistic or grammatical errors.
The mountain was cruel, just like they said. The rock was steep, the wind cold, the air thin and if the luck was not right and a mistake was made, the fall down would be long. Many had fallen to her, found unworthy of her, but Kalver pusher forward. For like all those before him, he had hope of what lied atop. He took the risk, for if he succeeded, everything would change. Everything would be better.
He had to succeed! It was his last resort.
His breaths were getting shallow and his vision clouded. He stopped feeling his hands long ago and as his senses dulled, he started losing his path. Only chance led him now. One misstep and his journey would end now. Too soon for his wish to be realized. Too soon for his dreams to be accomplished...
Too soon for him to give up!
He had to see her!
A flare of green light caught his attention. In the darkening skies, it pierced the fog covering his sight, giving him a direction to hold on to. It guided him. Following its ethereal glow, he regained his hopes and speed, pulling himself upward and to the summit. It was close. He could feel it.
The light shifted out of his sight, floating further and further up. Every time he saw it, it was just out of his reach. Like a rainbow: still, but always far away. And just as he reached out one last time, it faded away. The darkness above resembled a hole left by it absence. As Kalver closed his eyes, pressed against cold rock, he could faintly feel a touch of skin against his outstretched hand before falling asleep.
* * *
When he woke up he was lying on the ground bellow a massive blooming tree. Despite his last memories from the climb, his limbs felt strong and his body well rested. It was also a bright day. He got up to see rich foliage surrounding him, feeling warm air caressing his skin and soft dirt beneath his feet. He was standing in a beautiful spring garden encircled by rock walls of a round, bowl-shaped valley.
He did it. He made it to the top!
And now he was in gardens of a goddess.
Kalver didn't know if he was more amazed or terrified by the thought. What now? Where is she? What will he say when he finds her? What will she think of him when she sees him? He didn't want to disturb her if she's occupied. Then again, she's supposed to grant a wish to those she finds worthy. The mountain wouldn't let him get here if she didn't think him worthy of her presence. Right?
As he was contemplating a flock of colorful birds flying over his head dragged him back to reality. He followed their chirping through thick bushes, until he arrived at what would be best described as an oasis. There were waterfalls cascading down from white rock and pooling down into a pond. Red and orange flowers surrounded the pond, each seemingly holding a miniature sun in its petals. The trees surrounding the place were in full bloom eternally, their glowing white petals raining down onto the pond slowly. There were weird luminescent formations etched in their bark, resembling constellations, as they are pictured in books, lines connecting bright glowing spots.
*Welcome, wanderer,* a woman spoke out of nowhere.
Kalver, startled, looked around himself but saw no one.
*Up here.*
He looked up and saw a massive figure step up from the trees. She was easily bigger than a building, as tall as some of the massive trees in this garden. Her foot alone was bigger than him and she could pick him up like a doll whenever she pleased.
She was also naked, her only clothing being vines looped around her legs and arms, growing as high as her thighs. Her figure was that of a beautiful lively woman, her curves very attractive, bosom enormous and soft looking. Her hair was long and green as grass, a crown of vines with beautiful white and red flowers was woven into it. She smiled down at him with the most heartwarming motherly smile he ever saw.
It was her!
His knees shook, unsure whether from nervousness or from sheer desire to kneel before her. Unable to hold himself on his feet, he fell down to his knees and bowed his head, using the excuse to tear his gaze from her. He wasn't sure if he could bear it.
*Coming here to see a goddess and won't even show your face to her? Rise up and put down your hood.*
"I... I..." Kalver tried but was interrupted.
*That wasn't a request, but a command!*
He reluctantly obeyed and slowly stood, knees ever weaker. Sweat rolled down his forehead as he let his hood fall down, exposing his monstrous face.
He knew it was monstrous, for everyone told him so.
His nose was bent to the side, his mouth crooked. One of his eyes was almost completely burrowed beneath is brow. He looked rumpled, as if his face was put on wrong. It was like that since he was born. He didn't know why, it just was.
Others though, they came with thousand reasons why. That his mother was a witch and that he was devil's bastard son. That it was punishment for his past life's crimes. Or that he was simply so ugly, no reason, no explanation. Whatever hurt the most.
He could feel her judging stare like a dagger through his head. What did she think? Did she hate him? Hate him like the rest?
*Well... that's better. Come now, tell me what you seek, wanderer. Tell me why you came to me. And I shall consider.*
"I..." he couldn't speak, afraid that he'd say something wrong. "I... I just wanted to feel your love."
For a moment, here was silence. The Goddess, displeased by his words spoke, like a mother scolding a child: *Oh, is that so? You come all the way here seeking pleasure? Is that how you think of me?*
"No! I Just..." he quickly corrected himself, easing her outrage. Truth be told, he didn't know what exactly it was he wanted. At this point anything would do. "I just... It is said that you love all creation. That you love everyone equally, regardless of look or status or any thinkable trait. I just want to feel loved."
She knelt down on the ground, lowering her face to him. *Oh, poor child. I see now. Beautiful on the inside but rejected by others. Left all alone in the world for reasons you cannot control.*
She caressed his face with her finger, carefully motioning him to look up at her.
*I can feel your pain, child. Pain of being left alone. Do not fear, and do not listen to the hurtful voices. Those are but words of those blind to your beauty. Blind to the wonderful creature you are. I can see it. See that which makes you great! That which cannot be defined by chance nor fate! That which makes you worthy!*
Kalver was stunned. Never in his life has he heard something so heartwarming, something so beautiful said about HIM. He felt like he melted.
The Goddess pulled him towards her, her finger gently motioning him to step closer. Suddenly her lips enveloped his face, drowning him in warm, silky pillows. He felt like he was sucked slightly deeper into her, like he couldn't pull away.
When she let go, he was burning. He touched his face but he struggled to feel it. He quickly stumbled over to the pond and looked at his reflection.
"It's still the same..." he whispered. For a moment he hoped he changed. He felt so enchanted he thought the Goddess might have fixed his horrid visage. But in the reflection his old face stared back at him, red as a poppy flower. He let hope seep into his mind.
*I am sorry, little one. I can only directly change that which is a part of me* She drew a line across the ground with her fingertip. Where she touched it, tiny flowers blossomed. *This garden is a part of me. Here I can show course to nature, stop the changing of seasons and let eternal spring take place. I can make gold rain down from the sky, create tools of ultimate power, I can
GIVE
you everything you ever wanted. But I can't
CHANGE
you
.
*
Her last words hurt. If anyone could have done something to help him it was Her. He endured the greatest pilgrimage to meet her and even She could not help his life.
But that's not why he came for. He wasn't there to change his life. She could
give
him anything. He was there for her love.