(Originally published at https://www.journeymouse.net/ on 29th August 2018)
I
The Sky set his twin children, the Sun and Moon, to hold back the darkness of the First Waters and the two patrolled his domain so that they might have a view of the entire world to watch for the first signs of rebellion among the First Waters' children. The Sun drove her chariot out every day so that she might see all that happened, four golden horses churning up the clouds before her, with her helm and spear shining so brilliantly gold that no-one could bear to look at her for long. The Moon rode a different route so that he might watch and signal the high tides, his four white horses dancing like sea foam, with his helm and shield a softer shine of silver. They fought many skirmishes against the children of the First Waters' and their brightness remained undiminished by each encounter.
But the children of the First Waters', and their children, and their children's children, gathered for a great assault and the Sun and Moon were the first to meet it. While the Sky gathered his own offspring to face his ancient enemy, the Sun and Moon rode out every day to fight the vanguard. Each day left their arms and armour battered, losing the shine and brightness that brought hope and justice to the world. For seven days, these two shining gods held back the armies of the First Waters until their horses could go not one pace more, until their chariot wheels could no longer turn, until their spear and shield were broken beyond repair, until their own bodies were torn and bloodied.
As darkness fell upon the Sun and Moon, the Sky and his remaining children, and their children's children, arrived at the battle. While the fight raged, the Sun's daughter, Shining, and the Moon's son, Bright, gathered the broken bodies of their parents, their horses, their chariots, and their weapons from the field. That night, the two made what repairs they could, though they were but small children and had not a fraction of their parents' strength. The next day, they rode out across the Sky's domain, though their shining light could not compare to the Sun and Moon who had gone before.
The Sky won against the ancient enemy but it took seven years and, though many were lost on both sides and the world had been cold and dark and hungry beneath them, Shining and Bright survived and grew into their full adult strength in that time. When their grandfather called for them, they knelt before him.
"You have grown to be the image of my most beloved children and you have served me well," he said. "Let you take up their estates and duties in peace as well as war."
So Shining Sun patrols the day and Bright Moon watches over the high tides - and the offspring of the First Waters' have not invaded since.
II
Sky-Father had never been faithful to his wife, the Mother-Earth, but his dalliances were generally with his footholders (for Sky-Father must have his feet held from the ground if he is not at war and no-one wishes to fight Sky-Father) who were chosen by his wife and under her control. She chose him minor gods and goddesses with lesser powers than she so that he might not be tempted to turn a dalliance into a second marriage. She guarded all that might bear him children of worth jealously, for she wanted no rivals to her own offspring in the event that his powers and titles should ever be inherited.
One day, Mother-Earth overheard two doves gossiping about a woman they had seen in a hidden valley, heavy with a child so brilliant that the divine light shone through her swollen belly. Mother-Earth raged and fumed until the ground shook for this hidden woman could only bear the child of Sky-Father and she had no idea who this woman was or what powers she might have gifted her future offspring.
"What is wrong, Mother?" asked her children.
"There is a woman intent on stealing your inheritance," said Earth-Mother. "She has been hidden away but her future child shines too brightly to stay unknown. If you value your place in the world, you must kill them."
And the children of the Earth-Mother raced to find this unborn threat.
To the Shining Sun and the Bright Moon, she said, "Ungrateful wretches! After the care I gave you, you repay me like this? To hide away such a special thing!"
Shining and Bright, who were no children of hers and knew that her jealousy would be the death of any special children, changed the course of their patrols and raced to save Sky-Father's child.
Shining and Bright already knew where the maid was hidden, seeing all on their travels across the sky, and found her first. The maid's womb shone so brightly that they might have found her even if they hadn't already been aware of her.
They fought with the children of the Earth-Mother for seven years, seven years in which the people were cold and dark and hungry, and much blood was spilt across the hidden valley before the aggressors were turned away. By the time the battle was ended, the child had been born -- and born a second time, for the maid's load was revealed to be twins.
"I shall call this one Destroyer," said Shining, the only one who could look at his golden brilliance for long, "for he has already destroyed the order of the world as we know it."
And she took the boy up and carried him to his father.
"And this one I shall call the Huntress," said Bright, smiling at her soft, silver shine, "for she will hunt out all that is wrong and evil."
And he picked up the girl and carried her to her father.
III
Lord Destroyer and Lady Huntress grew up wild, running across the young Earth, chasing through woods, competing for their father's affections.
"All-Father, All-Father," they would call as they ran, "which of us is stronger? Who do you love more?"
And the All-Father would smile indulgently and say nothing that compared the harsh brilliance of his favourite son to the soft shine of his favourite daughter.
"I am better!"
"No, I am!"
And the two would fight, the Lord's wolves snarling at the Lady's bears.
"Enough," the All-Father said one day. "If you must prove your greatness, stop the Shining Sun in her tracks, for she sees nothing but her endless patrol of the skies. If you must prove your power, stop the Bright Moon in his travels, for he controls the high tides."
The Lord and Lady ran to prove their greatness but the Lady could not look at the Shining Sun for long and turned aside. The Lord laughed and called out to Shining.
"Go away, boy," she said. "You are nothing and I have a job to do."
The Lord removed his hood, revealing a golden brilliance even brighter than Shining's own. "Let me ride with you," he said.
Shining moved aside in her chariot so that the Lord could stand beside her. The next morning, Shining was late to rise and to take up her patrol.
"Does that count?" asked the Lord, laughing.
The All-Father nodded and, since that day, the Lord has been known as the Lord of the Sun.
The Lord and Lady ran to prove their power but the Lord could not follow the Bright Moon's route and declared it too irregular and uneven. The Lady laughed and called out to Bright.
"Go away, girl," he said. "You are nothing and I have a job to do."
The Lady strung her bow and slew a number of the monsters Bright had managed to imprison beneath the high waves. "Let me ride with you," she said.
Bright moved aside in his chariot so that the Lady could stand beside him. They rode together for seven years.
The Lady did not bother to ask if the passed time proved anything but she has been known as the Lady of the Moon ever since, so perhaps it did.
IIII
In the time of heroes, there was a girl of breathtaking and brilliant beauty she was called Shining. She was so beautiful that her parents promised her to the service of the Sun Lord as thanks for his gifts. But the King of their people had no time for such promises and had Shining brought to his palace.
When Shining came of age, the King sent to all the other kings in civilisation to announce his marriage and they replied by sending their representatives to the ceremony. Among this number was a young prince called Bright, sworn to the Moon Lady for his beauty and skills in the hunt.
Shining was not revealed to the gathering until it was time for promises to be made. When this time came, Bright found himself standing to voice the Moon Lady's words on behalf of her brother, the Sun Lord.
"This woman is spoken for. She belongs to the Sun Lord and can only be taken by a man He approves of," said Bright.
And Shining turned to look at him, her beauty still hidden behind her veil, and it was as if the Sun Lord made her mouth move for her. "The Sun Lord disapproves of this match. It must not happen."
So Bright stepped forward, while the other guests were still in shock, and stole Shining from her groom.
They ran, chased by the angry King, using all of the tricks Bright had learnt in the service of the Moon Lady. When it seemed like the King had given up hope of catching them, they returned to Bright's home city but there they found that the other guests at the ceremony had united to repay the slight against the King and had come to siege.
Bright, Shining and the city fought for seven years, helped by the Moon Lady and the Sun Lord, but the lands about were so destroyed that they could not win, even with the help of Gods. The city fell after many lives were lost and many more were torn and bloodied by the conflict. Bright and Shining and their children were hauled before the King, their wounds oozing on to the dusty earth. The King laughed over their lost beauty and left them to die where they lay, broken.