"Do you realize how you behaved last night?" her brother spoke in harsh tones, chastising his sister "Drinking, dancing, flirting with our soldiers!" he glared at her as if she were a dog being scorned by it's master "What a colossal embarrassment! Then to find you here thusly embraced with Captain Sinos!"
"You have come to correct my ill behavior? Oh dearest brother of what do you speak?" Queen Sparta replied in a calm clear voice as not to agitate her brother, the king, any further for well she knew Therakles to be deeply disturb in his spirit his entire life, so she knew when best to tread lightly on any matter between them capable of provoking jealousy, anger or rage. "For you forget I am soldier, freshly returned from battle on pain of the death of my father. I am a warrior, you will find to your great displeasure I, myself , am not as well behaved and refined as those fine Greek ladies of the elite houses of Athens or Sparta whom send you love letters daily. Here you know I am overcome with much grief, shock and sadness for the loss of our father, the funeral, the entombment. So perchance you might see clearly now in your memory, to your embarrassment of which you did speak. Yes, I did bade myself to drink, and laugh, and dance and be light of heart on such a dreary night. Yes, I did fill that empty space in my soul with the spirit of the vineyard, if not for one night so that I might forget the trouble of my heart for one blessed minute. Above all this, the torment of my very soul, you come to chastise me, for my transgression to pain myself further with the sharpness and sting of your tongue, all for this, over the sake your embarrassment? Am I not allowed to share in any fun, if not to console my disheartened self? Were my actions so detrimental.., that I am not to be allowed any modicum of forgiveness, my dearest, only brother?" she responded in a voice that was sweet and kind, gazing into his dark, piercing eyes.
Just for a moment King Therakles stood there in silence seeing his mothers face reflected in his sisters calming presence and grace, quelling the fire in his thoughts, briefly "Yes." he sighed placing his hands on her shoulders "I suppose I can understand, for you are under the pressure and sheer duress of our tragic circumstance, however.., Sparta, dearest most sacred sister, you are NOT an officer anymore! For our nation summons you to a higher calling, for the benefit of Greece and all her people. Chosen by birth under the divine hand of the Fates! You are a Royal Person, ruler of the greatest civilization of warriors on the face of this earth! So please, for the love of country, try to act like it!"
"Blessed are you, whom the gods have granted the gift of understanding." she said embracing him close to her as she kissed him gently upon the cheek.
"Yes, alas, save your kisses for there is still one more, troublesome, thing." he pushed her back with a serious look on his face. "There is one matter for you to resolve now, clearly and distinctly, in your heart and mind before we walk out of this door together, after you have been made ready in a little while"
"Matter.., what matter?" Queen Sparta asked her worried mind not quite yet soothed.
"You and I are to rule together as one united front standing against all enemies both foreign and domestic. I, ruling as King. You, serving as Queen. So it is of utmost importance that you must always remember, you must never forget.., you, yourself, are meant to rule OVER your body guards and never lie UNDERNEATH of them!" he chastised her further "Keep your dear Captain Sinos at a safe distance, for he is nothing more than a servant in uniform, you must rule over them all completely, our soldiers, our generals, our people, our servants, helots, our farmers and slaves. We shall rule over all of them in peace, and treat them accordingly!"
Sparta was greatly displeased by her brother's discourse and his wild assumptions about her character, so she clearly stated her displeasure in his view of this, the matter of a little kiss. "You, dearest brother, it is you who must remember, and never forget, you are the king of this great nation, but you do not rule over myself." his sister spoke in a whisper as tense as wire, then breathing in deeply to calm the rapid beating of heart, she said with a look of sadness in her bright green eyes. "You speak of Sinos as if he were a stranger unto us.., for is it not true that he has served as a respected friend to our family? His mother, General Scotia, his father, War Councilor Anaias, both beloved of our mother and father? Was it not he grew up alongside us for the first years of life, born of the same race, at the same time, under the same circumstance, just as we. We, who first knew life sheltered on the island of Hera, together we played and were afraid together long before our own dear father set his eyes upon us, and came to love us. US! You and I, together forever! A covenant between us sanctified by our own blood, sweat and tears." she gently reminded him whispering in his ear "Nothing can come between us."
"Together forever." he smiled for the first time that day.
"So please, employee your great powers of understanding, secure in this knowledge to hold safe in your heart, that your sister, after all, is only human being, a mere mortal. Alas, for the sake of sanity, I need to have few friends for a bit of company. This is why I have appointed Captain Sinos to this position, here to watch over me with the promise of security and protection. For so it has come to pass that I am to have the never ending presence of body guards, guarding my doors and windows, lest I be tied up taken away to be held for ransom or worse, assassinated."
"You shall NOT!" he exclaimed.
"Do you know, when I remained with father in the palace, when you went away for military training in the Agoge when you were seven, when I was left alone there, without you, it was for three long years I lived my simple life under the guards constant protection.., every hour of the day and of the night?"
"I did not ever wish to leave you behind." her brother tenderly replied.
"Nonetheless.., at first I felt quite safe after my brutal ordeal at the hands of the traitor Odessa, but soon I began to feel like a prisoner in my home, the palace. For they were instructed to keep outsiders out, and secure me there within. Then I entered the Steria for training at ten and had no need for them, but now, once again, my life will be controlled, and closely monitored, until the moment I die." she sighed saying "This may prove difficult for me."
"I see." King Therakles stared at his mentally anguished Queen.
"Please, dearest brother, know how difficult all of this truly is for me, for it would seem our father prepared you for this position far better than he has trained me. So, all I have said now, I have spoken of in full light of the truth of my heart, mind and spirit, confessing thusly to you. So I beseech you, for the care and benefit of my soul and my sanity, please give this little bit of friendship and happiness unto me. For nothing shall come of it, for I am Royalty."
"So then, we are agreed." Therakles relented his disapproving position for the sake of the love of his sister.
Here her chamber maids and bathing attendants entered hurrying to bathe and dress their new Queen as her brother, their new King, waited the two speaking of matters of discourse concerning the welfare of the state. All gathered there never knowing, nor foreseeing, the Fates had conspired to destroy the happiness of the new found King and Queen.
"You have come to correct my ill behavior? Oh dearest brother of what do you speak?" Queen Sparta replied in a calm clear voice as not to agitate her brother, the king, any further for well she knew Therakles to be deeply disturb in his spirit his entire life, so she knew when best to tread lightly on any matter between them capable of provoking jealousy, anger or rage. "For you forget I am soldier, freshly returned from battle on pain of the death of my father. I am a warrior, you will find to your great displeasure I, myself , am not as well behaved and refined as those fine Greek ladies of the elite houses of Athens or Sparta whom send you love letters daily. Here you know I am overcome with much grief, shock and sadness for the loss of our father, the funeral, the entombment. So perchance you might see clearly now in your memory, to your embarrassment of which you did speak. Yes, I did bade myself to drink, and laugh, and dance and be light of heart on such a dreary night. Yes, I did fill that empty space in my soul with the spirit of the vineyard, if not for one night so that I might forget the trouble of my heart for one blessed minute. Above all this, the torment of my very soul, you come to chastise me, for my transgression to pain myself further with the sharpness and sting of your tongue, all for this, over the sake your embarrassment? Am I not allowed to share in any fun, if not to console my disheartened self? Were my actions so detrimental.., that I am not to be allowed any modicum of forgiveness, my dearest, only brother?" she responded in a voice that was sweet and kind, gazing into his dark, piercing eyes.
Just for a moment King Therakles stood there in silence seeing his mothers face reflected in his sisters calming presence and grace, quelling the fire in his thoughts, briefly "Yes." he sighed placing his hands on her shoulders "I suppose I can understand, for you are under the pressure and sheer duress of our tragic circumstance, however.., Sparta, dearest most sacred sister, you are NOT an officer anymore! For our nation summons you to a higher calling, for the benefit of Greece and all her people. Chosen by birth under the divine hand of the Fates! You are a Royal Person, ruler of the greatest civilization of warriors on the face of this earth! So please, for the love of country, try to act like it!"
"Blessed are you, whom the gods have granted the gift of understanding." she said embracing him close to her as she kissed him gently upon the cheek.
"Yes, alas, save your kisses for there is still one more, troublesome, thing." he pushed her back with a serious look on his face. "There is one matter for you to resolve now, clearly and distinctly, in your heart and mind before we walk out of this door together, after you have been made ready in a little while"
"Matter.., what matter?" Queen Sparta asked her worried mind not quite yet soothed.
"You and I are to rule together as one united front standing against all enemies both foreign and domestic. I, ruling as King. You, serving as Queen. So it is of utmost importance that you must always remember, you must never forget.., you, yourself, are meant to rule OVER your body guards and never lie UNDERNEATH of them!" he chastised her further "Keep your dear Captain Sinos at a safe distance, for he is nothing more than a servant in uniform, you must rule over them all completely, our soldiers, our generals, our people, our servants, helots, our farmers and slaves. We shall rule over all of them in peace, and treat them accordingly!"
Sparta was greatly displeased by her brother's discourse and his wild assumptions about her character, so she clearly stated her displeasure in his view of this, the matter of a little kiss. "You, dearest brother, it is you who must remember, and never forget, you are the king of this great nation, but you do not rule over myself." his sister spoke in a whisper as tense as wire, then breathing in deeply to calm the rapid beating of heart, she said with a look of sadness in her bright green eyes. "You speak of Sinos as if he were a stranger unto us.., for is it not true that he has served as a respected friend to our family? His mother, General Scotia, his father, War Councilor Anaias, both beloved of our mother and father? Was it not he grew up alongside us for the first years of life, born of the same race, at the same time, under the same circumstance, just as we. We, who first knew life sheltered on the island of Hera, together we played and were afraid together long before our own dear father set his eyes upon us, and came to love us. US! You and I, together forever! A covenant between us sanctified by our own blood, sweat and tears." she gently reminded him whispering in his ear "Nothing can come between us."
"Together forever." he smiled for the first time that day.
"So please, employee your great powers of understanding, secure in this knowledge to hold safe in your heart, that your sister, after all, is only human being, a mere mortal. Alas, for the sake of sanity, I need to have few friends for a bit of company. This is why I have appointed Captain Sinos to this position, here to watch over me with the promise of security and protection. For so it has come to pass that I am to have the never ending presence of body guards, guarding my doors and windows, lest I be tied up taken away to be held for ransom or worse, assassinated."
"You shall NOT!" he exclaimed.
"Do you know, when I remained with father in the palace, when you went away for military training in the Agoge when you were seven, when I was left alone there, without you, it was for three long years I lived my simple life under the guards constant protection.., every hour of the day and of the night?"
"I did not ever wish to leave you behind." her brother tenderly replied.
"Nonetheless.., at first I felt quite safe after my brutal ordeal at the hands of the traitor Odessa, but soon I began to feel like a prisoner in my home, the palace. For they were instructed to keep outsiders out, and secure me there within. Then I entered the Steria for training at ten and had no need for them, but now, once again, my life will be controlled, and closely monitored, until the moment I die." she sighed saying "This may prove difficult for me."
"I see." King Therakles stared at his mentally anguished Queen.
"Please, dearest brother, know how difficult all of this truly is for me, for it would seem our father prepared you for this position far better than he has trained me. So, all I have said now, I have spoken of in full light of the truth of my heart, mind and spirit, confessing thusly to you. So I beseech you, for the care and benefit of my soul and my sanity, please give this little bit of friendship and happiness unto me. For nothing shall come of it, for I am Royalty."
"So then, we are agreed." Therakles relented his disapproving position for the sake of the love of his sister.
Here her chamber maids and bathing attendants entered hurrying to bathe and dress their new Queen as her brother, their new King, waited the two speaking of matters of discourse concerning the welfare of the state. All gathered there never knowing, nor foreseeing, the Fates had conspired to destroy the happiness of the new found King and Queen.
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