Description
Hello all!
Once again, I have wanted to dabble in the Beauty and the Beast motif and while I been favoring the reverse variant, in which the female is the beast, I have decided to back to the original, but with a twist.
Here, Valendrial or Val for short, is not your typical "beauty", in fact she has had trouble with her looks even when she was younger. Always much taller than the other girls and eventually attaining a height of 6 foot 1 inch tall, proved difficult in a society when most women were 5 foot 2 inches tall with the men considered very tall at 5foot 9 inches tall. Also, she was always on the stocky or strong built side. Struggling with her beauty and wanting to be more attractive all her life, she had turned to witchcraft. However, her lack of experience had caused a spell to backfire, and instead of attaining the beautiful face she wanted, her face became older and more haggard looking with each passing year. However, the spell had the reverse effect on her body. It dramatically slowed her aging down, and in fact, she was growing muscle and thus her body was becoming more stronger as she aged. Many years later, or should we say a couple centuries, her face had become very gaunt and worn looking having the appearance of a 400 to 500 year old elf, yet her body was just the opposite and she had the build of an under 200 year old elf. She had the strength of 2 very well built elf men and much more than that when compared to a human male. She became very strong indeed. She had become a warrior and an exceptional front line fighter. Further, she ended up getting the surprise attack as most opponents would look at her face and mistaken her for a feeble old woman. This initially garnered her some interest among the warrior men, but because of her facial appearance, she had found it trouble to keep a guy. Many didn't want a serious relationship with her, as they just wanted to have sex with her. In later years, she even saw less attention as most men were intimidated by her large frame. At over 6 foot tall and more muscular than the most well built man in her kingdom, Valendrial had lead a very lonely life.
Val loved to take long walks and one day when she ventured up into the mountains. She came close to the entrance of what was a known, but seemingly abandoned labyrinth. However, the labyrinth DID have an occupant. As it turned out on that day, 8 burly human men had dragged a Minotaur out of the labyrinth. They had shot his legs with arrows and then proceeded to bludgeon him. Val had seen that the mammoth over 7 foot tall goat like beast was taken down. The minotaur was at the point of begging for his life, and still the men beat him. Being good natured to all living creatures, Val couldn't stand by the sidelines and she engaged the band of men. Once again, the men laughed as she stood between them and the minotaur.
"Who do you think you are, old lady," they remarked.
She replied, "Old lady, you say?"
With that she removed her overcoat and drew her sword. The men's and the minotaur's eyes widened as they saw how muscular the "old lady" was. Further, she was wielding a two handed sword with one hand. It was then the men realized that their fate was sealed when they realized that not only was the "old lady" strong, but she was an elf. Muscular or very strong elves were rare.
While the men thought they could outwit and out play her. She was smart and crafty. She knew how to fight well and one by one she had taken the men out. When there was only two left, the minotaur could tell the woman was tiring and he managed to muster enough energy up to help her out and dispatch the last two men.
"I got this," Val said when he tried to help.
"Two is better than one," the minotaur replied.
However, once the last man was killed, he collapsed down on the ground. Val had thought that his blood was nearly spent and she took action to quickly dress his wounds. She then asked, "What is your name."
"Calibos, my fine lady. Thank you for coming to my aid, but why are you helping me?."
"You were outnumbered, Cal...if you don't mind me calling you that for short."
"No, and what is your name, good lady?" he asked.
"Valendrial."
Smiled and laughed, but it hurt to do so.
"What is so funny?"
"Your Val and I am Cal."
Val smiled and said, "I like that."
After she dressed his wounds, Valendrial stuck around to help Calibos until he was fully healed, but in her care, something happened. Valendrial had noticed that Calibos was not a monster at all, in fact he turned out to be a tried and true gentleman, always showing her respect and treating her like a lady. But it was something that he said that had won over her heart.
"Val, you are my angel, you came at a time when I needed someone most. I thought I was going to die and you saved my life. I will be forever a servant and friend to you. Whatever you need, just tell me and I will make it so."
Valendrial, in turn said, "In all my life, through two marriages and many dates, I had never met a man that treated more like a lady than you. So I will stand by your side, always."
Cal shook his head and said, "You are a true lady, and I am a beast, a monster. I cannot see that you find any attraction in me."
Val replied, "But I do. You are not a beast, your more of a man than any I have known. The more I am with you, the more attracted to you, I become. I will be your lady and you shall not be alone any more."
Call replied, "I disagree with that, but...I know what it is like to be alone, and to have a friend in my life, especially a lady one. Well I am grateful. To me, you are a lovely lady and will always be beautiful in my eyes. If you desire to be with me, then I will be your man and you will not be alone anymore."
Thus the two have forged a life together. Val had decided to leave her home, since all they did was make fun of her appearance there. She had chosen to live with Cal in his home. They have turned the labyrinth in the mountain into a luxurious home. Both had planned on a long life together.
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Okay so that is pretty much as far as I got as this was mainly going to be a vignette or background story for a larger story. The above is Val and Cal outside their home. They are standing outside the former main entrance to the labyrinth, which is high up across a bridge on the face of the mountain. This is the main entrance no longer accessible, as few yards in front of them, on the bridge, they have caused a rock landslide which closed off the bridge. They have an alternate secret entrance to their home. With the main entrance closed off, it discourages unwanted visitors.
So this is it for now. I mean if you, my viewers want me to write a full story, then please let me know. Also if you want to see more of this couple, let me know that as well.
Enjoy!