Arnold Böcklin, Isle of the Dead (III), [Public domain], via Wikimedia Common
Iona sailed her ship across the sun-dappled sea to save her beloved from the underworld. Iona had to rescue him tonight, for Halloween was the one night when humans could travel there. She traveled for hours, and as twilight descended, the Isle of the Dead appeared in front of her, shrouded in mist. Within that shroud she saw spectral figures, the stuff of nightmares, with misshapen bodies and eager, bloody mouths.
Iona ignored them and sailed into the cove. As she stepped upon the shore, a dragon appeared. Fire and smoke burst out, as it opened its massive jaws to roar.
With trembling legs, Iona approached the beast and sang in a voice that faltered at first, but then rang out, loud and pure:
Beast, stand down
Beast, do my bidding
Beast, reveal now
what is hidden
As she finished her song, the air shimmered. The dragon became a dog, red as flames. It licked her hand, and followed at her heels, as they walked to the cave—its opening now revealed.
They walked down steep stairs carved into stone, farther and farther under the earth. Iona carried an oak wand given to her by a Wise Woman. It glowed and lighted her way. She looked neither left nor right at the spirits around her, but traveled down, down, down. As she reached the bottom, she saw Dermid. He stood rooted, with no expression on his face.
She remembered the Wise Woman’s words, “Your courage and determination will get you to the Isle, but only true love and faith will save Dermid.”
She clasped her arms around his waist and held tightly as he turned into a huge snake, but she held on, and he turned into a lion, but still she held him, and finally he turned back into a man. Her man. With tears streamed from her eyes, she helped him journey up the stairs.
They climbed up and up for hours, it seemed, racing to get back to the surface before dawn. They reached the surface just before the sun, and as they climbed into Iona’s boat, they saw it rise pink and orange above the sea. The Isle disappeared.
Dermid said to her, “Thank you for saving me.”
Iona replied with a smile, “I thought our baby should have a father.” Then looked down, “and a dog.”
This is for Jane Dougherty’s microfiction challenge. The prompt was the painting above.
I’ve stolen, quite shamelessly, from many myths and tales, and once again gone over the word count.
Poetic license assured here – and way more intriguing than the frog –> prince tale. Happy Hallowe’en, Merril!
Thanks, Marian. First responder today! Happy Halloween and weekend to you. 🙂
Really terrific, Merril!
Thank you very much, Cindy!
Thank you, Merril. Myths are there to be retold and bring meaning to life. I loved this Feminine Journey and enjoyed finding pieces of other myths, especially the traveling down and in without looking at anything except the next step. So reminiscent of Psyche’s Fourth Labor. I was worried someone would look back.
Thank you very much, Elaine. I’m glad you enjoyed the story, and thank you for your astute comment. I wanted my story to have a female who did the saving–and a happy ending.
lol @ “and a dog”
I couldn’t resist. 😉
Fantastic and fun!
Thank you very much, Crow!
Oooooh, so reminiscent of ancient myth and going into the underworld, facing dangers! Brave Iona with faithful fluffy at her feet .. Thanks Merril! 🙂
Thank you, Susan. Iona was very brave, wasn’t she? I laughed at “faithful fluffy.” 🙂
Suitably topical 🙂
Thank you, Derrick.
Lovely final touch, Merril 🙂 Reads like a real honest to goodness myth.
Aww–thank you very much, Jane!
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I am finally returning to my friends posts and am delighted with this story of true love, able to travel across water to an island, face a dragon, get it to transform and then leading her as a dog to her true love hidden in various images. How brave this Iona is and her true love, Dermid, is grateful for her rescuing him. Happy ending of the three (couple and new found dog) together voyaging back again. Legends are allowed to borrow, just as fairy tales often do, common elements tying them together, Merril. I like this Halloween tale! 🙂
Thank you so much for your enthusiastic delight with my story, Robin. That makes me happy!
I wanted a woman to rescue her man for a change. 🙂
It was a delightful myth with plenty of wondrous and unexpected happenings. 🙂
Thanks so much, Robin! 🙂
Also, Robin–hope your eye is better!
Thank you for asking about my eye, Merril.
It tends to feel okay but looks so bright red it grosses me out. I am sure it will eventually look better. I am not keen on blood. As a special needs teacher, I told my asst. teacher I would handle puke, if she would handle blood. 🙂
Life is good and glad I have had this same opthalmologist repair my narrow eye (both eyes) glaucoma successfully, or I would be more nervous. My kids don’t worry, so it is odd being on one’s own and nervous!
Sorry to hear that your eye is still so red. I wonder why–is it related to your narrow eye glaucoma? I hope the redness disappears soon.
I may not have shared with you that my BP dropped (72/35) and they tipped the table head down and gave me more IV fluids. I am guessing this may have created extra blood in the eye. I will ask at my next follow up appointment on 11/10. 🙂
I hope it’s all healed by then!