There once was a man and his name was Deo. He was young, charming and strong. He was good with his hands and with his head. He was coveted by many women who would gaze at his face as he walked by. All the women that attempted to seduce him failed.
One day a princess gazed upon his face and fell madly in love with him. She decided she had to have him. She watched his every move every day making note of his usual activities. She knew that every day at night fall he would go to the well and fill his pitcher. So there she waited, pretending she had twisted her ankle.
As always he came and as he saw her he rushed to her side.
“Are you injured?” he asked kneeling at her side.
“My only injury is a lonely heart” she said and she reached up and stole a kiss from his sweet lips. The feel of his wonderful lips against hers was short lived as he pushed her away in anger.
“You deceitful woman! Who are you, to steal a kiss from my lips? You are not my lover!” He shouted at her. Immediately she was filled with anger and hatred for the man.
“How dare you reject me!” she screamed back at him getting up and running to her father, the king. She told him how she was out for a stroll and this man had held her down and stolen a kiss from her lips.
Upon hearing this the king was furious.
“Who is this man you speak of child!” he bellowed.
“His name is Deo, son of Biton” she said holding herself as if she had been wronged.
When the king's men apprehended Deo, he pleaded innocent. The king took compassion on the young man but he knew his daughter would have her way. So instead of having Deo executed, he decided that Deo would live in the forest and if he ever returned he would be killed.
So the king's men took Deo to the edge of the Forest of Xylon but they dared not go any further. Deo held his head high and walked into the forest. He kept walking only stopping to rest. The only thing he had with him was the clothes on his back and a small dagger that hung from his waist.
Deo walked until he came upon a wide river. From the river he drank, for he was thirsty after his long walk. The water cooled and refreshed him and he kept walking along its bank. Finally he came to a clearing near the river. Here he decided to build his cottage and live.
As the moon rose one night he decided to take a walk along the river. He walked until he came upon a small waterfall in which the most beautiful he had ever seen was playing. She flitted through the water with such grace and beauty. He stood memorized by her breathtaking and fluid movement.
He breathed out with a sigh. Immediately her head whipped around and looked directly at him, her eyes filled with curiosity. He was filled with alarm as her stare hit him and then she was gone. He looked around but she was no where in sight.
He trudged back to his cottage. He wished he had had the nerve to at least speak with her. Who was she? Or rather what was she? She could not possible be human. He fell asleep mulling over thought of her. His dreams were filled with her movement. It seemed so familiar yet he had never seen anything like her. None of the girls in the village could ever match her. He could see the innocents that showed its self through her eyes and her dance. She was unlike the other girls, who looked upon him with eyes full of lust.
He knew he had to see her again, so the next night he again went for a walk along the river. Except this time he was not alone. At first she stuck to the shadows, dancing through the darkness around him. Gradually she became more bold and then coming into full view, walking beside him.
“It is a glorious night.” He proclaimed as she walked in fluid movements beside him.
“Indeed it is. Who are you?” she asked
“My name is Deo. I am the son of Biton and Chloe”
“Why do you walk along my river?”
“After I happened upon you that night, you became the one thought that flowed through my mind. I could not help but want to see you again.”
She looked at him long and hard as they walk then she said “My name is Xylia, I am the guardian of this river. Look upon me well this night for it shall be the last time. For you are but a man and I am a nymph. We can not be together.” She stood for a moment as Deo stared at her in disbelief. “Farewell, Deo.” She said and with that she once again disappeared form sight.
