The Waterfall

By Ryan Ouellette

The golden surface of the waterfall shimmered as sunlight fell upon it. I gasped.

Finally, I could be cured.

I climbed over the last rock with renewed vigor, but a sudden dread settled in my stomach, stifling any previous excitement.

So many legends spoke of this place, telling how the most beautiful siren guarded it, and how an ancient kingdom of gnomes kept it from outsiders. But a few knew the truth.

Only one race hoarded anything golden and powerful—and not only were they vengeful, but they were also masters of subtle trickery.

I brushed my fingertips against the solid veins of gold clutching the side of my face and creeping toward my throat. A stark reminder of my past foolishness. Any sensible person would turn back now lest they face draconic wrath.

But I wasn’t sensible.

Woosh, woosh, woosh.

Wingbeats interrupted my thoughts. I turned my gaze to the sky as a dragon with scales darker than the purest onyx swooped in. Sunlight glinted off his sturdy frame. His golden gaze locked onto me. I spun around and ran, bouncing off an enormous leathery wing.

The dragon’s smooth voice drew a shiver out of me. The words audibly slithered from its tongue. “I am the guardian of the Golden Waterfall. Why are you here?”

I slowly turned to face the dragon, barely containing my rising panic. “My name is King Midas. I’ve traveled far from my homeland, seeking the power you guard.”

The dragon retracted his wing. His face came even closer. Hot, moist breath washed over me as if I’d stepped into a hot spring. “Yes, you do reek of our gold.”

I braced myself for an attack, but he retracted his head a bit. My reply came out as a murmur. “The day I stole from the Dragon King still haunts me.”

Memories of flames falling from the sky and crumbling buildings rushed back. Reminders of how I failed my people.

“As it should. But tell me—why do you seek me with no soldiers by your side? You have powerful enemies who would take advantage of you, helpless and unescorted.”

I lifted my chin. “I didn’t wish to see any good men die along the way, or accidentally turn them to statues. So I came alone.”

The guardian narrowed his eyes. “A wise choice.” He paused for a moment. “Why do you seek the power of this place?”

My stomach twisted. “I seek to turn my curse into a gift. I exploited it to make myself rich… but it never filled the emptiness. I’ve given my riches to others, but I could do more if unhindered.”

The dragon crept around me, as if taking in every angle. “What kind of gift?”

I gulped. “Whatever I touch turns to gold. If I could control what becomes gold, my mistakes could be fixed.”

His breath billowed around me. “It’s a miracle you’re still alive after stealing enchanted gold from the Dragon King. Now you’re asking for us to turn your punishment into a reward? I can see the curse on your face, slowly turning you into that which you so desired. Are your motives truly selfless?”

“The more I use the curse, the faster it kills me. But I want to help my people. I don’t want to leave them now before regaining their trust. The material kingdom is restored—houses, towers, altars. But the people don’t trust me. I need time to show them I’ve changed.”

“Your death would be deserved.”

I shifted. This wasn’t something I could run away from, but that didn’t make the challenge less difficult. “Yes.”

“And you want… mercy?”

“Yes.”

Heavy silence fell over me for several moments. He stopped in front of me. “The Golden Waterfall can only remove the curse.”

My breath caught in my chest. I’d come all this way—only for my hope to be taken away. I straightened, forcing myself to breathe again. “Then I would rather live with this curse.”

He paused. “You would exploit the curse for others even at the cost of your own life?”

“Yes.” I forced myself to meet his intense gaze.

Then his golden eyes softened. “Your intentions—and your defiance—are genuine. Submerge yourself in the waterfall, and your curse shall become a gift.”

I clenched my fists and peered into his unreadable eyes. “You said it could only be taken away!”

His lips curled in what could almost be considered a smirk. “I lied.”

Not a lie—a test. One I seemed to have passed.

“What are you waiting for?”

Right.

I walked past the guardian and stopped at the edge of the water.

I had made it this far, but the road ahead was still a long one. Regaining the people’s trust wouldn’t be easy.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped into the waterfall.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ryan Ouellette is a self-taught author who binges too many cartoons. When he’s not wandering off toimaginary worlds, he’s either playingwith the dogs, playing an assortment of musical instruments, orworking on the family farm.

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