One day a young couple, Nara and Taren, living in Athens had a baby girl, named Sadira

One day a young couple, Nara and Taren, living in Athens had a baby girl, named Sadira. The only problem was Sadira was hideous and dreadful to look at. Sadira seemed to have everything wrong with her. She had dreary black hair and dull green eyes. Her skin was brown and ruff. Her face was deformed; her jaw stuck out at an angle, and her right eye was closed with layers of skin over lapping.

Throughout Sadira’s life her community shunned her; they were terrified that if they let their children play with Sadira the gods would punish them. When Sadira was of age to marry, none wanted her. No one would commit to be a suitor for her. Her parents were ashamed that they had created such a monster.

Sadira was terribly distressed by all the words others had said to her. She was afraid that she would never marry or have a happy life. Sadira would go to Aphrodite’s temple every morning and night to praying to the goddess of love and beauty. She would bring offerings and set them in front of the great statue of Aphrodite.

Aphrodite took pity on the poor maiden and answered her prayers. Aphrodite came to her one night while Sadira was lighting incense and setting bowls of fruit and wine at the feet of her statue. Aphrodite appeared in front of Sadira with long blond curls curving around her pale body. Her pink robes brought out her ocean blue eyes.

“Dear maiden you come to my temple every day and night asking me what your heart most desires,” Aphrodite said looking down in the surprised Sadira. “You wish to become beautiful do you not?”

“Yes, I wish to be as beautiful as you,” Sadira answered. “I have longed to be beautiful so I might be able to find a husband and have a happy life.”

“You are one of my most loyal servants,” Aphrodite said with a small smile. “I will grant you your wish if you will do something for me.”

Aphrodite walked over to the bowl of wine Sadira had placed by the statue. She waved a hand over the red liquid and pictures began to form in the middle. Pictures of Harpies, multiple doors, a woman wit h green fur covering her body, and the last picture was most mystifying. It was a picture of a goblet that was silver with blue and purple jewels embedded into the rim and handle.

“You are to go to the cave of Trocanna. She has stolen the Goblet of Katara from me; I want you to get it back for me.” Aphrodite said. “ I must warn you, her cave is protected by many riddles and monsters.”

“I will do it,” Sadira said firmly,” but I know not how to fight.”

Aphrodite waved her hand in front of her, a sword and shield appeared. Aphrodite explained how to fight with the sword and shield until Sadira had mastered the basics of swordsmanship. Sadira practiced in to the late hours of the night. When she had mastered many moves, Aphrodite sent her home and told her that her journey would begin the next day at noon.

Sadira went home and fell into a deep slumber dreaming about the journey ahead of her. The next morning Sadira went to her mother and father and told them of her night. Her mother wept for the journey would be treacherous and could very well take her life. Her father wanted what was best for his daughter so he encouraged her to go through with it if it would make her happy.

At noon Sadira arrived at Aphrodite’s temple with a bag of essentials in hand. Aphrodite gave her a map to Trocanna’s lair.

“Take heed young one. She is very shifty. Do not rely on your eyes to help you. Use all your senses, and you will defeat her.”

Aphrodite bid her farewell and good luck on her journey. Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months until Sadira finally found the cave in which she would find Trocanna and the Goblet of Katara. When she took one step inside, the air filled with earsplitting shrieks.

Sadira whirled around to see what could have made such a sound. Sadira was startled by what she saw. Three women with layers upon layers of feathers were perched on boulders staring straight at her. Three pairs of yellow hawk eyes bore right into her soul. Their white and ice blue feathers feathers ruffled in anger. They began screeching loudly again; Sadira fell to her knees with her hands clamped firmly around her ears.

They took off into the air circling Sadira like vultures about to feed on a corpse. Sadira watched them carefully not sure if they would attack or not. One of them flew down at a very steep angle her talons flexed out gleaming in the sunlight. Sadira gasped and held the shield over her as one of the Harpies tried to break through but to no avail. Sadira took this chance to plunge her sword into her heart killing her instantly. The other two screeched in fear, mourning for their lost comrade as they flew away.

Sadira walked into the cave cautiously in case something was to come out. AS she walked further, she came to two doors with two dead-looking men. They looked like they had not been fed in months, and they were each leaning on a spear for support.

As she walked forward, the one to the right began to speak, “Choose a door, but be for warned,”

Then the one to the left spoke, “ One will lead you to certain death and the other will take you farther into the cave.”

“Choose wisely, if you choose wrong you will suffer to consequences.” They finished in unison. Sadira thought for a moment looking at each door.

They were both chanting, “Choose my door! Choose my door!” Sadira then figured it out.

“Neither door is right! They will both lead me to my death! This is all an illusion!”

They both began to laugh like lunatics and everything melted away like wax on a candle. All that was left was a silver door with writing on the frame.

It was in a different language, and Sadira read it aloud, “Say the word of what you are and the door will open.”

Sadira thought for a moment then began saying words of what she was, “Girl?” nothing happened. “Farm worker?” still the door stayed firmly shut. She thought for a few more minutes until she thought of something else, “ It does not need to be on the outside but what is on the inside.” She began saying words to describe herself, “Kind? Compassionate?” Sadira sat down on the ground giving up then said something she knew was not true. “Beautiful?”

The door began to open, slowly, screeching like Harpies’ calls. She walked through the door ignorant to what would be waiting for her on the other side. She entered an enormous room with a chair and a table where the Goblet of Katara rested. She walked forward in front of the precious cup. Sadira brought a hand forward to touch the goblet but she felt a sharp pain travel from her hand up her arm. The goblet must be guarded by a spell. Sadira thought looking around the room.

Soft footfalls were coming from behind her. Someone was trying very hard not to be seen nor heard. Sadira unsheathed her mighty sword. And put her shield in front of her.

“Who is there?” Sadira called out showing no sign of how frightened she really was.

“You have come for the Goblet of Katara have you not?” hissed a female’s voice.

“Trocanna! Show yourself and fight!” Sadira called out again ignoring Trocanna’s question. Trocanna stepped out of the shadows, a very wide smirk playing across her face.

Trocanna looked like any other Nymph. She had green fur that coverd her body with pointed ears and sharp features. She had sharp teeth and long spear like claws. Her bright green eyes full of hatred and mischief.

“You wish to fight? Then so be it!” Trocanna shouted disappearing from sight.

Sadira looked around the room, all of her senses alert. She could hear Trocanna menacing laugh. Sadira closed her eyes and listened. She could hear Trocanna’s menacing laugh. Sadira remembered the words of Aphrodite, rely on all your senses.

Sadira closed her eyes and listened. She could hear Trocanna’s foot steps going in a pattern- behind, to the right, to the front, to the left, back again. She memorized this pattern. Then at the right moment she thrust her sword forward striking Trocanna in the heart. Trocanna cried out in agony, falling to the ground dead a pool of blood surrounding her lifeless corpse.Sadira walked over to the goblet and touched it lightly. Nothing happened, no pain. Sadira then grabbed the cup and smiled.

Sadira traveled home thinking about the promise that Aphrodite had made her. It took her two and a half months to get back home. She rushed to Aphrodite’s temple calling her name. Aphrodite appeared at the entrance with a smile on her beautiful face.

“You have done it young one!” she exclaimed taking the goblet into her gentle hands.

“Will you keep your promise?” Sadira asked.

“Yes, of course. You have done your deed, now I shall do mine.” Aphrodite said. She then waved her hands over Sadira’s head and muttered a spell that Sadira did not understand. Sadira’s body began to glow a faint blue color and she felt her body tingling with an odd sensation. When she stopped glowing, she hurried to the fountain in the temple, Sadira wept for joy.

Her black hair was long and silky. Her eye were vibrant and a bright lime green. Her skin was soft and pale; it was not rough and tan as it used to be. Her jaw was normal and in place. The skin over lapping her eye was gone. Her eyes shone brightly with tears. She was beautiful.

She thanked Aphrodite and ran home as fast as she could. She burst through the door calling her mother and father. She rushed into the garden where her mother and father were planting flowers. They took one look at herand began to weep, hugging her tightly. They immediately began looking for a good man for Sadira to marry.

A few weeks later Sadira was married to a kind, handsome man named, Sirius. They had many children and lived happily ever after.

THE END

Morel of the story: One good turn deserves another and all that counts is what is on the inside. Not necessarily the outside.