"The Gorgon Queen" By robblu (https://pastebin.com/u/robblu) URL: https://pastebin.com/2Ris3hmy Created on: Monday 20th of March 2017 11:15:04 PM CDT Retrieved on: Saturday 31 of October 2020 03:22:44 AM UTC The Gorgon Queen by L-exander909, Feb 20, 2017, 1:51:53 AM http://l-exander909.deviantart.com/art/The-Gorgon-Queen-664505629 +~~~+ Once upon a time, there was a peasant girl, and a powerful queen. They both lived their separate lives until one day, the peasant girl's dreams, combined with her whimsical decision, will eventually result in the peasant meeting the queen by fate. Kathrine by L-exander909 The peasant girl's name is Kathrine. She lived peacefully in a nondescript village in the woods, where her everyday routine is to be in the house and avoid doing things as much as she can. Still, she is loved by her mother very much. Kathrine's mother is an expert sculptor - everyday she would gather rocks of various sizes from the mountains and have them crafted into tiny statues in order to sell them to the market. She makes just enough money to have a house to live in for her and her daughter, as well as keeping their stomachs full everyday. Gorgon Queen by L-exander909 And then we have the Gorgon Queen. Many have said that she is a ruthless dictator who rules her kingdom with an iron fist... but nobody knew her secrets, because those who seek to uncover the truth ended up becoming a part of the Marble Kingdom forever... The truth is, the Gorgon Queen is a very lonely person - her powers have made her a greatly feared person across the land, and it goes without saying that she is the only person alive in the 'kingdom' she rules over... all of her citizens have long since become solid, lifeless statues. The Gorgon Queen wished for company; someone to be there to talk to her, to listen to her... to be with her, alive, not as a statue. Kathrine on the other hand, has heard a lot about the Gorgon Queen from her mother... much to her chagrin, Kathrine wished to meet the Gorgon Queen as soon as she turned eighteen. "What if you turn to marble too?" Though the mother has deep concerns about Kathrine's safety, she knew that her attempts at dissuading her adventurous daughter will be futile. "Surely you understand how daft this is!" "Oh, don't be silly mother." Kathrine confidently reassured her mother. "You and I both know very well that she can't do that." "Very well... I won't stop you, Kathrine. But if you do not return or at least write to me, I will have to come and find you." With that, Kathrine sets off on the journey to the Marble Kingdom. Her mother enlisted the help of a travelling merchant who said that she will be passing by the kingdom during her travels, so with a few coins, Kathrine stayed in the merchant's caravan until she reached her destination a few days later. It wasn't easy, but Kathrine found her way to the palace of which the Gorgon Queen lives in. "Hark!" A voice suddenly echoed through the chambers into Kathrine's ears. As instructed by Kathrine's mother, she insisted that she should wear a blindfold before entering, as pointless as it is... regardless, Kathrine relied on sound alone to locate the Gorgon Queen. "I hear footsteps when there should be none in my kingdom. To the one who fears not the fate of being marble for eternity, who goes there?" "I announce my presence, Your Majesty." Kathrine replied. "Fear not, I am blindfolded at this moment. This humble one's name is Kathrine, and this peasant wishes to become your servant." "Ahh, very wise... foolish mortals came, only to be graced by my sight where they become marble statues for the rest of time." The Gorgon Queen commented, pleased at the fact that she is finally speaking normally to a living person. "You are unlike the others, so I will gladly accept you as my handmaiden." "It is a great honor, Your Majesty!" "Then bow before your Queen, mortal." The Meeting by L-exander909 And so Kathrine gladly obeyed. The peasant girl is unsure as to how well she will perform her duties, but she trusts herself enough to quickly grow accustomed to the palace, enough to serve the Gorgon Queen to the best of her ability. At first, the Gorgon Queen is skeptical about Kathrine being her handmaiden, seeing how she is performing her duties while blindfolded. She has made quite a handful of mistakes, from accidentally bumping into marble statues to mishaps during her chores. Given a few days however, Kathrine swiftly improved - she has memorized the layout of the Gorgon Queen's palace, as well as the positions of all of the marble statues she made in it. An impressive feat, to be certain... would she finally be the one? A year passed by relatively quickly, and the Gorgon Queen immensely enjoyed Kathrine's company and service. Kathrine had a lot of fun being the Gorgon Queen's servant too - throughout her time, she has conversed with the Gorgon Queen on many subjects, from trivial, everyday happening to personal thoughts and opinions. Kathrine felt like she has gotten close to the Gorgon Queen... But it is not just this that Kathrine seek from the Gorgon Queen, however - from her mother's tales, it is said that those who can faithfully serve the Gorgon Queen for a year without being turned into a marble statue will be granted a wish... and Kathrine had one wish in her mind to request from the Gorgon Queen once the one year service is finished. "You have done well, handmaiden." The Gorgon Queen spoke to Kathrine. "It has been a year since I have accepted you as my servant, do you realize that?" "I understand, Your Majesty... I'm ready." "Then I ask you this, mortal - What is your wish?" "..." Kathrine remained silent for a moment. She gathered her resolve and made her wish with the Gorgon Queen. "I wish to be able to see again." The Gorgon Queen gasped, clearly shocked from the unusual nature of this request. "Kathrine! That... that wish... You don't mean to tell me?" "It is true, Your Majesty..." Kathrine solemnly took off her blindfold and looked at the Gorgon Queen... as Kathrine did not transform into a marble statue, it confirmed the Gorgon Queen's suspicion. "I... have a secret I wish to tell Your Majesty." I'm Blind by L-exander909 "The blindfold didn't matter from the beginning." Kathrine calmly explained. "...I'm blind." "Oh, dear Kathrine, why didn't you tell me so?" The Gorgon Queen said, clearly concerned and disturbed about Kathrine's ailment. "If I were to restore your vision, wouldn't you become a marble statue yourself? I would rather you change your wish to something else!" "I will not, Your Majesty." The peasant girl shook her head before continuing. "You see, my mother is a sculptor... she has earned a living for both me and herself by making tiny statues and then selling them to the market... for my whole life, I have been nothing but a burden for her due to my inability to see - If I were to turn myself into a statue and then have my mother sell me, then it will make her life better." "Hmm..." Touched by the peasant girl's fidelity, the Gorgon Queen nodded and decided to grant her wish. "So you wish to have your vision restored, is that correct?" "That is correct, Your Majesty." "Then see with your eyes, mortal." Colors gradually returned to Kathrine's world as she blinked her eyes regularly to readjust to her surroundings; darkness gave way for the light to enter her eyes as the bricks of the Gorgon Queen's palace came into sight... Kathrine can see again! After her eyes have recovered thanks to the Gorgon Queen's powers, the next thing Kathrine saw is the Gorgon Queen herself... she is a pretty, fair-skinned woman with elegant, long green hair. It is a shame that such beauty cannot be appreciated by the people of this world... in fact, it is a shame that this will be the very last thing Kathrine sees in this world before darkness consumed her vision once again. "Your Majesty... you are so beautiful..." Kathrine spoke with a smile as her skin became as white as milk. In a few seconds, the peasant girl had turned from a lively girl into a statue made of pure marble, never to move, never to speak, never to see ever again. The Gorgon Queen could only stare in silence - Kathrine's marble clothes feebly crumbled away, revealing her nude form before the Gorgon Queen like the rest of the petrified people whom gazed into her cursed eyes. No by L-exander909 "No..." Heartbroken at the sight of the handmaiden petrified before her, the Gorgon Queen could do nothing but to powerlessly watch Kathrine be transformed into another lifeless marble statue. To think that after so long, she finally had someone to speak to and become friends with, only for the Gorgon Queen to grant her the wish which will ultimately result in her being turned into a sculpture. The irony! The Gorgon Queen shed many tears for this marble statue, unlike the others of which she had petrified without a second thought. Many foolish mortals came to her with various agendas, but all of them eventually became permanent residents of her kingdom for eternity. This one however... this one was special... she has been with her for a year, catering to her every whim without question. To the Gorgon Queen, Kathrine was more than just a loyal handmaiden, she was a friend. But alas, like the many mortals that came before her, she too, was a victim of the Gorgon Queen's cursed eyes. +~~~+ Years have passed ever since Kathrine traveled to the Marble Kingdom and never returned. Being a worrywart she is, Kathrine's mother is deeply concerned about her daughter. Eventually, she too, journeyed to the Marble Kingdom in the search for Kathrine. It didn't take long for her to locate the Gorgon Queen's palace... among the large collection of marble statues, she was unable to find a single living soul in this empty place. In the throne room however, there are two marble statues that piqued her interest. One of it bore the likeness of her daughter Kathrine, while the other one had a shiny crown on top of it. The End by L-exander909 As curious as it is, the mother had no doubt that the statue to the left is undeniably her daughter, Kathrine. Amidst her sadness, the mother is puzzled as to why the marble statue with the crown is holding her hand tightly... perhaps this is the Gorgon Queen herself? It couldn't be... the Gorgon Queen wouldn't petrify herself now would she? Regardless, the mother dutifully carried her daughter together with the other marble statue back to her home, and placed them onto a flat pedestal in front of the house for display. For that, Kathrine's wish is fulfilled - as the statues had the effect of making her mother famous, allowing her talent as a sculptor to be recognized. Soon enough, Kathrine's mother will be able to afford more nice things to look after herself while taking very good care of the pair of marble statues she has in possession. Nobody really knew where the Gorgon Queen went... but to her, one thing is for certain - lest she is to be separated from Kathrine by an unfortunate accident, the Gorgon Queen will stay by her side until the end of times. THE END