Myth: Unrequited
title: Unrequited
word count: 318
author's note: Just rewriting old myths. My favorite ones, at least. Many Roman/Greek ones. (End is based on The Kiss by Gustav Klimt and how Apollo is clinging to Daphne in her last fleeting moments.) And capitalization is there for a reason, I just forgot why.
- - -
Apollo watched the beautiful nymph flirt with the flowers on the forest floor, in envy of those plants graced by her soft smile.
“Fairest maiden, will you not permit me the treat of your presence?”
Turning to see a handsome young god, Daphne stood and showed her respect though she made no further gesture of desire for him as he made for her.
“A beauty like you does not need to bow such a face away. Please, come to me,” he smiled, his voice lofty and almost pleading.
“But you seek what I cannot give, strong Apollo.” Daphne began to back away slowly as the Sun god advanced.
Apollo grinned at her compliment and the Sun pushed through the trees to bathe her in gold. “I only seek you.”He bowed his head but kept his eyes, sparkling, on hers.
“I do not want you, lord of the Sun. You must understand that I do as your fair sister does; I-”
A laugh. “Ah, sweetest nymph of this glen…” He was almost upon her now, arms outstretched to embrace her. But Daphne spun around the oak behind her and dashed through the crowded masses. Apollo pursued the object of his affection.
For hours they ran, wild beasts scurrying away from the two, and the Sun shone brighter as he gained on her.
“Father, o, father, please hear me! Let the earth envelop me or else change this form that has cursed me so!”
And her father obliged. Daphne’s skin became bark, her arms into long branches. Her hair became the leaves and her feet were rooted to the ground. Apollo clung to her as she transformed and he cried out in the growing absence.
“Sweet Daphne, why do you leave me?”
“I cannot love you…” And then she went silent.
word count: 318
author's note: Just rewriting old myths. My favorite ones, at least. Many Roman/Greek ones. (End is based on The Kiss by Gustav Klimt and how Apollo is clinging to Daphne in her last fleeting moments.) And capitalization is there for a reason, I just forgot why.
- - -
Apollo watched the beautiful nymph flirt with the flowers on the forest floor, in envy of those plants graced by her soft smile.
“Fairest maiden, will you not permit me the treat of your presence?”
Turning to see a handsome young god, Daphne stood and showed her respect though she made no further gesture of desire for him as he made for her.
“A beauty like you does not need to bow such a face away. Please, come to me,” he smiled, his voice lofty and almost pleading.
“But you seek what I cannot give, strong Apollo.” Daphne began to back away slowly as the Sun god advanced.
Apollo grinned at her compliment and the Sun pushed through the trees to bathe her in gold. “I only seek you.”He bowed his head but kept his eyes, sparkling, on hers.
“I do not want you, lord of the Sun. You must understand that I do as your fair sister does; I-”
A laugh. “Ah, sweetest nymph of this glen…” He was almost upon her now, arms outstretched to embrace her. But Daphne spun around the oak behind her and dashed through the crowded masses. Apollo pursued the object of his affection.
For hours they ran, wild beasts scurrying away from the two, and the Sun shone brighter as he gained on her.
“Father, o, father, please hear me! Let the earth envelop me or else change this form that has cursed me so!”
And her father obliged. Daphne’s skin became bark, her arms into long branches. Her hair became the leaves and her feet were rooted to the ground. Apollo clung to her as she transformed and he cried out in the growing absence.
“Sweet Daphne, why do you leave me?”
“I cannot love you…” And then she went silent.