Racked with pain Sparta was brought into the bathing chamber, surrounded by four maids who stripped her of the heavy bloodstained armor and uniform, uncovering her nakedness as she slipped into the thermal waters; which was most soothing to her aching muscles and frigid bones. Whereupon her long, blood soaked hair and skin was cleansed as the maids tended to her with delicate touches trying to sooth her weary soul. Sparta was brought up out of the steaming waters, the glow of health returning to her pale flesh. Here she was brought before the fire where they dried her body with fine linens, wrapping her in thick cloaks of furs, binding her feet with woolen cloths as the Physician Traverios examined her wound; which he determined to be mostly superficial. So it was he cleansed the open gash with hot water, then applied a salve of lavender oil and honey. Telling her as he wrapped her right knee with strips of cotton gauze "The bleeding has been abated, and I will give you a tonic for the benefit of your stomach and to help ease the torment of your mind. You shall be brought to a peaceful rest this night." he said giving her a cup of wine mixed with gall as she took the chalice to her lips taking in short sips of the bitter liquid.
"You are as skilled at healing, as you are filled with tender compassion." Sparta gave a soft smile her green eyes filled with the orange reflection of the fire, her face wrought with worry, her brow deeply furrowed with stress and pain.
"Come brave Sparta, the Queen's Bedchamber has been prepared for you to rest, in private." he explained taking her by the arm helping her walk slowly down the corridor, where the few guards or servants she encountered bowed to her graciously and she was confused, not fully realizing she was now a Royal Person in the house of her Father and Mother.
Traverios and Sparta went arm and arm, as he led her into the large room, a fire had already been lit and was roaring to life in the hearth, filling the chamber with a warm glow of flickering light that left long shadows dancing across the wall and ceiling. "Come, for soon you shall find yourself in the arms of Morpheus. Sleep will bring you a brief respite from your troubles, of this I can assure you." he said helping the tired young woman into the large bed covering her in more furs to seal in the warmth of her body against the chill of the winter night air.
Sparta felt a wave of warmth rise up from her belly to her aching head and a slight bit of euphoria imbued in her bloodstream and she felt a little relief. "My thanks and praise be to you, Traverios, but I entreat you, stay here, by my side, for I do not wish to be left alone tonight." she asked with a tinge of desperation in her voice.
"Very well." he said with a gentle smile stroking her soft cheek sitting himself next to her on the left side of the bed, placing his arm around her so that she might rest her weary head upon his quiet breast; which altered not its quiet beating as she took in deep breaths her mind and body quickly filling with a tingling sensation as she drifted further and further into a deep restful sleep.
Now, as she slept, no dreams or haunting visions entered her mind as the opium released her from any care or thought from the past, present or future. Sparta lie there like stone, safe and warm in her new bed and it was not until a few hours later she awoke in wave of incredible heat as she sat up feeling feverish. There, in the stillness of the dimly lit room she, herself, did not find her physician next to her in bed, instead, as she gasped wiping her eyes, she spied the image of her father, now a young man sitting upon her right side. Astonished and thinking she was dreaming she reached out to touch his face saying "Father, you have returned to me!" Sparta exclaimed "You now have regained the dew of youth and your beard is no more." she said as she felt the smooth warm skin of his chin. "How can this be? How is it that you have returned to me?"
"Dearest sister, 'tis I your only brother, Therakles." he replied holding her hands worried for the mental state of his beloved sister. "Father is gone to be with our mother now. We have survived the battle, and now are to take their place in the palace."
"My brother.., yes my brother, forgive me, for you are the exact image of our father as I remember him from my youth. My head and eyes have been deceived by strong medicine given to me by the Royal Physician." she explained leaning forward embracing her brother tightly, as waves of tears flowed forth from her like water pouring down the mountainside, for she was so grieved only her brother could console her. So it came to pass Therakles, being freshly bathed and changed into a long white tunic, curled up in bed with his sister holding her close to him as she let out all the pain held within her broken heart. This she did in private, alone with her brother, away from the prying eyes of her people, for warriors were not supposed to cry.
"Let it all out my sweet Sparta, for tomorrow we have much to task us with in the morning, for at the break of daylight we shall go down to the temple of Apollo together and be sanctified as the new King and Queen."
"I do not wish to rule, I am a soldier.., not a monarch, born to fight and die for my country." she said through sobs of defiance.
"We have no choice, nor any say, in the matter. For we have been chosen by the Divine Hand of Destiny. We have a duty and obligation to take care of our people, protect them all with the strength of our courage, and the might of our Royal Army and Navy. We shall serve with Unity, Loyalty, Respect and Honor, as our father and mother have taught us. We shall prevail against our enemies, you and I together shall rule for the rest of lives, no matter how long, or short, that may be. This shall be our crowning glory, thus we will establish our perfect union, our New Monarchy. Now sleep still my sweet Sister, my Queen. For we have a date with our Sacred Destiny."
"You are as skilled at healing, as you are filled with tender compassion." Sparta gave a soft smile her green eyes filled with the orange reflection of the fire, her face wrought with worry, her brow deeply furrowed with stress and pain.
"Come brave Sparta, the Queen's Bedchamber has been prepared for you to rest, in private." he explained taking her by the arm helping her walk slowly down the corridor, where the few guards or servants she encountered bowed to her graciously and she was confused, not fully realizing she was now a Royal Person in the house of her Father and Mother.
Traverios and Sparta went arm and arm, as he led her into the large room, a fire had already been lit and was roaring to life in the hearth, filling the chamber with a warm glow of flickering light that left long shadows dancing across the wall and ceiling. "Come, for soon you shall find yourself in the arms of Morpheus. Sleep will bring you a brief respite from your troubles, of this I can assure you." he said helping the tired young woman into the large bed covering her in more furs to seal in the warmth of her body against the chill of the winter night air.
Sparta felt a wave of warmth rise up from her belly to her aching head and a slight bit of euphoria imbued in her bloodstream and she felt a little relief. "My thanks and praise be to you, Traverios, but I entreat you, stay here, by my side, for I do not wish to be left alone tonight." she asked with a tinge of desperation in her voice.
"Very well." he said with a gentle smile stroking her soft cheek sitting himself next to her on the left side of the bed, placing his arm around her so that she might rest her weary head upon his quiet breast; which altered not its quiet beating as she took in deep breaths her mind and body quickly filling with a tingling sensation as she drifted further and further into a deep restful sleep.
Now, as she slept, no dreams or haunting visions entered her mind as the opium released her from any care or thought from the past, present or future. Sparta lie there like stone, safe and warm in her new bed and it was not until a few hours later she awoke in wave of incredible heat as she sat up feeling feverish. There, in the stillness of the dimly lit room she, herself, did not find her physician next to her in bed, instead, as she gasped wiping her eyes, she spied the image of her father, now a young man sitting upon her right side. Astonished and thinking she was dreaming she reached out to touch his face saying "Father, you have returned to me!" Sparta exclaimed "You now have regained the dew of youth and your beard is no more." she said as she felt the smooth warm skin of his chin. "How can this be? How is it that you have returned to me?"
"Dearest sister, 'tis I your only brother, Therakles." he replied holding her hands worried for the mental state of his beloved sister. "Father is gone to be with our mother now. We have survived the battle, and now are to take their place in the palace."
"My brother.., yes my brother, forgive me, for you are the exact image of our father as I remember him from my youth. My head and eyes have been deceived by strong medicine given to me by the Royal Physician." she explained leaning forward embracing her brother tightly, as waves of tears flowed forth from her like water pouring down the mountainside, for she was so grieved only her brother could console her. So it came to pass Therakles, being freshly bathed and changed into a long white tunic, curled up in bed with his sister holding her close to him as she let out all the pain held within her broken heart. This she did in private, alone with her brother, away from the prying eyes of her people, for warriors were not supposed to cry.
"Let it all out my sweet Sparta, for tomorrow we have much to task us with in the morning, for at the break of daylight we shall go down to the temple of Apollo together and be sanctified as the new King and Queen."
"I do not wish to rule, I am a soldier.., not a monarch, born to fight and die for my country." she said through sobs of defiance.
"We have no choice, nor any say, in the matter. For we have been chosen by the Divine Hand of Destiny. We have a duty and obligation to take care of our people, protect them all with the strength of our courage, and the might of our Royal Army and Navy. We shall serve with Unity, Loyalty, Respect and Honor, as our father and mother have taught us. We shall prevail against our enemies, you and I together shall rule for the rest of lives, no matter how long, or short, that may be. This shall be our crowning glory, thus we will establish our perfect union, our New Monarchy. Now sleep still my sweet Sister, my Queen. For we have a date with our Sacred Destiny."
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