Moira
[moi-ruh]
1. Classical Mythology.
- the personification of fate.
- Moirai, the Fates.
2. (often lowercase) (among ancient Greeks) a person's fate or destiny.
3. a female given name.
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The three young women stopped in front of the dark alley. The sounds of the busy street
behind them seemed to fade as their attention rested on the old woman who had called out to
them.
She was a withered old thing wearing what looked like a modern day robe modeled after
an Ancient Greek outfit. Her hair was white and thread-like, her skin was wrinkled and
dry, and she had a noticeable stoop to her posture. But her eyes were keen and sharp.
“Care to hear your fate?” The old woman said to the trio of younger women.
“What, you mean like a psychic or something?” The first of the trio, Chloe said.
“No, no, not something so...bland.” The elder woman said. “I am not hear to speak of
your future. I speak of your fate.”
“What’s the difference?” The second woman, Anne, asked.
The old woman was about to answer but Lisa, the third member of the group, spoke first.
“The future is what will happen. Fate is what could happen.”
“Very astute.” The elder said with a slow nod. “Although not quite right. Fate is the
general path of your life. What kind of future you will have. It says nothing of the
specifics. That is left to you and chance. So, how about it young ones. Care to learn
your fate?”
“Sure, why not?” Anne said.
The old woman held out a thin hand and Anne took it. The older closed her eyes for a
moment.
“Oh dear. I see a grim fate indeed. An early end, I’m afraid.”
“W-what?”
“Oh yes. You will not live a full life. I cannot say exactly how long your life will be, but it
will not be long.”
Anne whimpered at the grim prediction.
“Sounds like a load of bull to me.” Chloe said.
“Oh, now don’t say that. Why not give it a try?”
Chloe mulled it over, sighed and held out her hand. The old woman repeated her actions.
“Hm, your life will be long. Too long, really. I say that because it will not be happy. You will
have some good for a bit, but then it will be nearly constant suffering and pain. Not joyful
at all.” She looked to Lisa next. “And you? Do you want to know?”
Anne was more interested in why her friends were not contesting or arguing the old
woman’s predictions. Chloe especially should be raising hell about her supposed fate.
With that curiosity, she held out her hand.
“I see a lonely life for you. Friends, family, lovers. I see few, or none, of these. Your life
will pass without others in it.”
When their hands separated, Anne knew. She knew that the old woman spoke the truth.
She had no idea why or how, but she simply could not bring herself to argue with the old
woman.
“It’s so sad.” The elder said. “To see such pretty young ladies with such grim fates.”
“There...there has to be something we can do.” Anne said. “A way to change what
happens, right?”
“I’m afraid not. While the specifics have yet to be written, your fate is sealed. You, for
instance, might die in five years from a traffic accident, or in a month from slipping on a
patch of ice and hitting your head. All that is certain is that you will not see old age.”
“How can you even know all that?” Lisa asked. “I mean, it seems impossible.”
“I have my ways.”
“There’s more though, right? You can’t just tell us all this and walk away.” Chloe said.
“Of course not. That was never my intent. You see, if left alone, your fates are certain.
But that is only without interference. I have a way of changing fate. I can give you the
means to change any aspect of your fate.”
“You do? Really?” Anne brightened up considerably from the offer.
The old woman nodded and pulled three small glass bottles from inside of her outfit.
“These will allow you to alter your fate.”
“How?” Chloe asked. She eyed the bottle longingly.
The old woman did not answer. She simply smiled, showing her worn teeth.
“I want to know too.” Lisa said. “How can you give anyone power over fate?”
“Come now, you are an intelligent young lady. Surely you can figure it out. Here’s a hint.
I have two sisters. We all work with threads of various lengths, although each of us in
different ways. But we work with the same threads each of us.”
The old woman stopped and grinned. Anne and Chloe did not even bother giving her
words any thought.
“That’s it? Come on, there’s got to be more. How can we figure anything out with just
that?” Chloe asked with a huff.
Lisa thought about it longer though. “The Fates.” She said. The old woman smiled wider.
“The Greek goddesses that control that fates of man and god, in the form of threads.
One spins the threads, one measures, and the last cuts it.”
“Very good, very good.” The old woman said. “I knew you were well read.
“Wait, so you’re saying you’re a goddess?” Anne said. She arched an eyebrow and
crossed her arms.
“Lachesis, to be precise.” The old woman said with a slight bow. “I am afraid my sisters
are unable to be here though.”
“Prove it then.” Chloe had her hands on her hips as she spoke.
The woman who called herself Lachesis smile. Her eyes glowed. All three of the young
women saw something in their minds. They saw time. Ages and lives long passed and
yet to come. They were only fleeting glimpses, but that was enough.
When the visions faded Chloe was breathing rapidly, Anne was on her knees, and Lisa
was drenched in a cold sweat.
“Believe me now?” Lachesis said with a confident smirk. All three young women nodded.
“Good. So, how about it? Do you want to change your fate? Guaranteed by one of the
Fates themselves to work.” She once again held out the bottles.
Anne took it without hesitation. Chloe and Lisa looked more skeptical.
“I don’t know.” Chloe began. “Isn’t there something about Greeks and gifts?”
“That’s only the people, my dear. You should never refuse a gift from a goddess though.
That could end badly.”
Anne looked at her friends pleadingly. “I don’t want to die before I’m 30.” She whimpered.
Chloe groaned and took the second bottle, with Lisa taking the third soon after. The liquid
inside was cool and sweet. The old woman smiled wide when the bottles had been
emptied.
“So, how does this work?” Lisa asked. “How do we control our fates?”
“Why, that’s easy. You control your fates by controlling fate itself.”
A golden light surrounded the three women. The air swirled around them and the breath
was stolen from their lungs. It lasted only a moment. When it stopped, each was
holding something.
Chloe held a spool of fine thread. Lisa held a rod decorated with leaves in regular
intervals. Anne held a pair of old fashioned shears.
“What is this? What’s going on?” Anne asked in a blind panic.
The only answer she got was Lachesis’ cackling laughter. “It is done!” She cried out in
joy. “It is finally done! Enjoy your lives now! You have all of time to figure things out.”
Lachesis’ already pale skin seemed to lose what little color it already had before drying
out to the point where it cracked and split. The old woman laughed as pieces of her
body flaked away, blown away by an unfelt wind. The trio was left unable to do anything
but watch as her body became dust and her laughter faded into nothingness.
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A bit about The Fates for those of you who are interested. Those Ancient Greeks sure knew
how to tell a story.
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