The tale of the three sisters, or how Athran gained its moons.
There was once a time that Athran had only one moon. During the day the world was lit by the sun, and during the night a simple unadorned sphere of light, the creation of Tatiana, bathed the world below in a soft glow which took the edge from the darkness. It had been this way since the creation of the world, but it was not to remain that way forever.
It was shortly after the time that men first walked the lands of Athran that Braeia fell pregnant. There was much speculation of who the father was, but the coy Goddess refused to tell, other than that the father was one of the human kings.
As with all things, the time came and Braeia gave birth to three beautiful baby girls, naming them llia, Idra and Idinia. The Goddess doted on her daughters and gave to them their every wish, and the girls grew in both wisdom and beauty. Each of them had skin like milk, eyes like amber and fine silvery hair. They also had quick wits and knowledge and wisdom well beyond their years.
The time came for the girl's sixteen birthday, and with it a sadness fell over Elysem because all of the gods knew that they girls could no longer stay. Because the triplets were only a quarter part divine blood, they were mortal, and mortals must reside on Athran itself. Woraden had extended the time they could stay in Elysem until they reached Adulthood, but once beyond that even he could not change the rules.
And so it was that the Daughters of Braiea were sent to the lands of men, and all that saw them where smitten with the triplets. Both men and women alike fell in love with them wherever they went. It was then that the King of Bethra saw Ilia and fell deeply for the girl. He was a young king, barely out of his teens, but strong and muscular and the most handsome man in the land. He had his servants go to Ilia and summon her to him, courting the young demi-goddess, though he knew not the truth of her origins. Ilia fell in love with the young king as well and soon they were engaged to marry.
Yet the king was not the only one who had intentions on the young demi-goddess. In those days Luccen walked the lands unchallenged and his eyes had also been bewitched by the girl. His black heart was stirred by the girl and he desperately wanted her for himself. So it was that he travelled to Bethra and entered the girl's chamber as she slept. When she awoke she found the god standing watching her. Long he tied to convince her to leave the king and travel but with himself, and yet each and every argument he gave was rebutted by Ilia. With each rejection Luccen's rage rose until finally he couldn't bear it any longer. He vowed that if he could not have her then no man ever would, and reaching out he turned the girl into a statue marble.
This was how her sisters and lover found her the next morning. In their sorrow Idra and Idinia called out their mother for help and Braeia come to them, but she was unable to reverse the curse of Luccen. She called on her father, Woraden to help.
Woraden asked the Idra and Idinia what they would do to be reunited with their sister. They replied that they would give anything for her to be returned to beauty once more. Woraden then explained that since Ilia was mortal that he could not bring her back as such, but instead he would grant to all three a form of immortality, one in which their beauty would never fade. With that he reached out and touched the three girls, their forms glowing brightly and vanishing.
The bright moon orb was gone, and in its place were the three moons, Ilia, Idra and Idinia. Forever would they be together now, their beauty shining and lighting the lands of Athran. Yet even as they could only watch the world below, the price of their immortality that they, like the gods themselves were now separated from the humans of Athran. Because of this, once a month, they hide their faces so that their tears cannot be seen.
So when you look up at the moons and feel that stirring in your heart, remember Braeia's daughters and look that bit closer. For when the light is full you will see their faces looking down on you, and wishing you all the love that they themselves have lost.
Inspired by a story by rowean