Peter and the Gorgon

When Peter first heard that there was a Gorgon loose near the castle where he lived, he did not think it was his problem. Every once in a while, a statue of an unfortunate person who had encountered the gorgon would be found in the countryside, and eventually the king announced a reward of 10,000 gold crowns to anyone who could slay the gorgon, but Peter was an apprentice wizard, not a warrior, so he might not have worried about it if not for Lara.

Lara was an important lord's daughter who had been living in the castle with Peter since they were both young children. On the day in question, she said, "Peter, can I talk to you?"

"Sure what's wrong?"

"Well, it's about Garlorn."

"Oh." Garlorn was another boy who lived in the castle. He was the best at swordplay, archery and every other physical activity. It was also generally understood that he would one day marry Lara and in fact the two had begun spending a lot of time together.

"Well. . ." said Lara slowly, "he and I are very close and we spend a great deal of time together in the East Tower. So the other night, he asked if I would. . .lose my ability to touch unicorns. . .only he didn't use those exact words."

Peter's jaw dropped. "He wants to have sex with you?"

"The thing is," went on Lara, "I think he might be right. It is just about time for us. . .I think."

"Well," said Peter, "why are you telling me?"

Lara smiled. "I don't know. I guess I had to tell someone and you're my best friend." She gave him a warm hug. "Thanks for the advice."

Then she walked away before Peter could point out that he hadn't given her any advice.

Peter decided that he hated being Lara's best friend.

* * *

That night, Peter realized he had made a decision. He was going to set out and try to kill the Gorgon. Later, he couldn't remember exactly how the idea came to him, except that his conversation with Lara somehow made him want to do it. So, the next morning, he gathered the only weapon, he ever carried which was his magic wand, saddled his horse, Winnifred, and set out from the castle.

He spent most of the day riding through the forest, hoping for some sign of the gorgon. But as dusk approached, he still did not know where the gorgon was. "I wonder if there's some place where we can spend the night," he said to Winnifred.

"Halt!" cried a loud feminine voice, "Put your hands in the air."

Peter did as he was told and turned to see a tall woman with bright red hair come striding out of the darkness. She was brandishing a dagger and carrying a shiny metal shield.

"Well, well," she said, "do you have any money?"

"No," Peter admitted.

"How about jewels or precious metals?"

"I'm afraid not."

"Well, then I ought to slit open your throat and bleed you to death."

"Now," said Peter nervously, "why would you want to do a thing like that?"

"Because that's what I usually do to people who come through here. Still," she said lowering her sword, "Maybe I'll ask what you're doing here first."

That sounded promising, so Peter said, "I was hunting a gorgon."

The woman's face seemed to become less hostile and more incredulous. "You're hunting a gorgon? Well, no need to slit your throat then. You'll be turned to stone soon enough."

"Right," said Peter. "In the meantime, do you know where I could spend the night?"

The woman shrugged. "I guess you can come back to my camp."

* * *

The woman, whose name was Vila, led him to a campfire and let him eat. She then gave him some blankets to sleep in. The next morning, he awoke and saw Vila standing over him with her dagger and shield raised.

"When was the last time you had a bath?" she asked.

"Er. . .," said Peter sitting up, "do I really smell that bad?"

"No need to get cheeky. I could use a bath myself," she admitted. "There is a stream not too far from here of which I planned to partake. Unfortunately for you, the stream comes from the mountains and is icy cold. I doubt that a weak boy like you could stand to bathe in such a stream."

Was this woman trying to make him lose his temper? Peter decided to respond with courtesy. "My good lady," he said, "Why didn't you tell me about this problem to begin with? It gives me an opportunity to repay your kindness."

Vila frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Take me to this stream."

Vila doubtfully led him to the stream. When they arrived, Peter waved his wand and spoke a magic charm. A bolt of light shot out of his wand and into the water. A bit of steam rose up. "There," said Peter. "That will make it warm and toasty for a good two hours. Enjoy your bath."

Now Vila looked as if she was trying to hide astonishment, "Hmmph!" she said. "I hope you don't think such second rate magic will work against a gorgon." She began to undress. "Aren't you going to bathe too?"

"Er. . .I thought I'd let you go first."

"Really?" said Vila. "You're scared to bathe with a woman? And yet you're not afraid to hunt a gorgon? Men! Come on in. I've seen it all before."

Peter was nervous about that, but he decided to undress and enter the stream. The water was indeed warm and comfortable, and Vila seemed to be enjoying it as she scrubbed her creamy white skin.

But then, the water seemed to grow warmer. And hotter. It started to bubble and boil.

"Vila, get out of the stream!" yelled Peter needlessly because she was already making a mad dash for the shore.

"What did you do?" she demanded when they were both hopping out of the stream.

"I don't know," Peter admitted while holding his hand in front of his crotch. "I guess I used a little too much magic."

"You really have no business hunting gorgons. You know that? Look at me!"

"Why don't you put on some clothes on first."

"No, look at me! I have two baked apples where my breasts should be." She slapped her breasts to demonstrate. Then she seemed to calm down a little and looked at Peter. Without speaking, she took Peter's wrist and pulled it away from his crotch. "Wow! It's just a tiny pink pinprick."

Peter felt himself turning even redder then he was already. "Hot water makes it shrink."

"Right, of course it does. To hear men tell it, there are so many things which can make that shrink, it's amazing." If Vila had smiled for the first time while she was in the water, she was now laughing for the first time as she said this.

But Peter was not amused. "I'm glad you find this so funny. Let's just get dressed."

But instead of getting dressed, Vila took a towel and began rubbing down her naked body. While she did that, she seemed to become more serious. "You really shouldn't be hunting Gorgons," she said somberly. She paused. "Do you know what a Gorgon is?"

Peter shrugged "A cross between a woman and a snake?"

"No, I mean what she really is. She's something men can't deal with. She's a side of women that's. . .sneaky. . .sensual. . .snakelike. Not docile, the way men want us to be. Naturally, men can't stand to gaze at her."

Now Peter frowned. "Excuse me, but women turn to stone when they look at a gorgon's face too."

"Oh. I was being poetic. Don't get hung up on details." Vila calmed down a bit. "The point is that I don't want you to get killed by a gorgon." She gently touched his torso. "I want. . ." her hand moved down his front to his crotch. . ."I want ladies to enjoy that pinprick."

Peter forgot himself again. "For the last time--"

"-the hot water made it shrink," finished Vila smiling in spite of herself. "I believe you. It's shaping into a nice broadsword, now."

Peter gulped. He hadn't even realized that his penis had been growing very big during this conversation, but Vila was still smiling. "Do you touch unicorns?" she asked.

"Er. . .I can. Can you?"

"No way, I haven't had that ability in years." Another pause. "Would you like to lose that ability?"

Without waiting for a response, she pressed her lips onto his and let the towel fall away from her body. The two tumbled onto the dirt. For a minute, Peter was nervous because his penis seemed to be flopping back and forth indiscriminately, but Vila grabbed it and guided it into her. The heat from Vila's body told Peter that he was actually inside Vila as he felt a part of him come shooting out.

When it was over, Vila smiled. "Pretty good for the first time," she said. Then kissing him on the shoulder, she said, "No more unicorns for you." She seemed to get serious again. "I really don't want you to go after that gorgon now."

"Well," said Peter. "I think I still will."

Vila sighed and stood up. "Well. . .at least take this with you." She picked up her shield and handed it to him.

"Don't you need that?"

"Not as much as you do. If you hold it up the right way, you'll be able to see the gorgon's face reflected in it and you won't be turned to stone."

It was an interesting plan. "Thank you," said Peter. "I'll return it to you after the Gorgon is slain."

"Assuming you're alive," said Vila with a grim smile. Then she embraced him one last time.

* * *

About a day later, Peter reached a dark cave which he thought might be the gorgon's lair. Remembering Vila's advice, he held up the shield so that he could see the inside of the cave reflected and waited.

After a few minutes there was a loud hiss as something came slithering out of the cave. Peter stared at his shield and was shocked by what he saw. The thing did indeed look like a giant snake with the head of a woman and long snakes for hair. But it was the face that scared him because it was not just any woman's face. It was the face of Lara. The head was rocking back and forth letting out loud screeching sounds.

For one perverse moment, Peter thought that Lara's face would look something like that when Garlorn was lying with her. Pushing that out of his mind, he seized his wand and pointed it directly at the gorgon.

A bolt of magic flew from his wand. There was a loud clap of thunder and the Gorgon exploded into several pieces.

Peter relaxed and watched pieces of snake flesh burned out around the cave.

Then, he smiled. He had a shield to return to someone and besides he wanted to see that person again very much.