King Therakles had been gone for nearly 20 days and the time and space between Sparta and her brother did much to enliven her mood for she found she had more freedom in his absence to enjoy her nights. For it was true she needed much instruction on the art of having a good time. So it came to pass on one spectacular clear night with warm winds blowing up from the hot African desert over the Mediterranean when Lacuna and Vasha invited her and few of close friends to a drinking party to celebrate the arrival of Spring.
Now it was not customary for women to attend these 'symposia', as they were called, however, our dear Royal Queen Sparta was not like the genteel women of the city's elitist class, and her behaviour was the stuff of every good wife's nightmare. For in their Queen they saw the face of her mother, Queen Thera, that defiant, independently fierce, witty, intelligent female, who was just as beautiful as she was sexually alluring. So much so, she left not only the men with a blush to their cheeks, but the women as well. Queen Sparta had been allowed, through her military prowess and success on the battle field, to liberate herself from the structure of daily life that kept so many Greek women, of the Peloponnese, house-bound, unseen and unheard. Though the women of Sparta had a bit more freedom than say their Athenian sisters, they still had no rights to vote, own property or a business. However these rules were bendable to the will of the daughters of the Themiscyran Nation, for all had proven themselves in military service to their adoptive nation, and they were considered equal to the men they fought alongside.
Yet, of course, there were the scandal mongers, whispers of her association with foreign princes, and courtesans, both male and female, that had come to visit her at the palace in her brothers absence. So the rumors grew and swelled with each telling of the lurid tales of gossip. It was spread that she, Queen Sparta, was over-sexed, though she, herself, had never let any man, nor woman, to come into her bed, or otherwise. And those that did have the exquisite pleasure of her company, could, and would attest, that to share even the briefest conversation with such an incandescent and charming a presence was to fall immediately under her spell. For Queen Sparta had the rare gift; which only few women possessed, this was the talent for making a man feel more like the self-important animal he could be. In this she was always well able to hold her own in the company of men. So much so that many scholars and philosophers traveled a great distance to her humble court, along with their students, to witness the demanding conversationalist whom they all could easily engage in dialogue, of any subject be it history, music, poetry, strategies of war, etc.. So it was she went about securely in the deep admiration, and constant discussion, of her people, all eyes would follow her where ever she went. So it stood that unlike normal Greek ladies, Queen Sparta had been invited to many symposia in the absence of the king, where there her intellect was appreciated just as much as her beauty and charm. So she happily agreed to attend looking forward to the event.
On this evening, when the daily duties and task of running a nation were set aside for the night, and Sinos had turned the command of the guard over to the nightwatchmen of the Queen, the two were seen strolling, arm and arm, on this moonlit night. As they passed the early evening hours in quiet conversation along the columned courtyards of the palace, they would sit, side by side, at the long table under the ancient olive trees where the happy couple lingered over dinner discussing matters of religion and stately affairs along with any pressing issues of the day in the flickering light of the oil lamps underneath the starry sky. Then the time came to depart for the house of Lacuna and Vasha and much excitement filled her heart for these drinking parties were a welcome distraction from her duties as a Royal Queen and as Commander over the Armies and Navy. The symposia gave her a chance to come together with close friends and comrades in arms and join in, what were sure to be, a lively discussion.
So it was, just after dusk, Sinos accompanied Queen Sparta in her chariot arriving at the large house whereupon entering Vasha, as master of the house, slipped off her sandals, leaving them at the door as he washed her feet, for twas the custom to treat the guest of honor in this fashion. Here she was led into the 'andron', the main room set aside for the party, where couches were laid out so the celebrants could easily recline comfortably, two to a couch, and converse with ease, however, Queen Sparta as the honored guest and Royal Person sat on a large cushioned covered couch alone, so that she might bid anyone of her choosing to sit on the end of the couch briefly. Lavish trays of food were presented as everyone sat together greeting one another and Sparta took great delight in tossing bits of meat to the master's dogs, who were allowed to freely roam the room eating up all the scraps that fell from the drunken laps of the noisy guests. Here, as the laughter and talk ensued, and the wine and water flowed, naked female dancers, hired especially for the occasion, entertained the men and the few women gathered there, but this was merely for fun and none had come to seduce anyone of them into sins of the flesh, but moreover to provide comfort to those revelers who would over indulge later on in the evening.
Queen Sparta was delighted to see the full fresh blush upon Sinos' face as the naked women swayed their large round breast in his face, tickling the end of his nose with their erect nipples. Vasha and his wife Lacuna were filled with happiness as all they had invited took great pleasure in each other's company, forgetting all the cares and worries of the world outside the doors. The cheerful smiles of their beloved Queen Sparta, whom was like a daughter unto Vasha and Lacuna, did their hearts good to see. Now Vasha, as master of the house, ordered his servants to put away the lavish trays of food, now mostly devoured, as the serious drinking was to commence, so away with the food and erudite conversation, for there were to be no distractions. Here Vasha excused several guests who were under the age of 20, along with all the female guests, save for Queen Sparta as he placed garlands of flowers upon the heads of the remaining guests, some 7 others. Then he ordered krater after krater of wine to be poured. So it was as they all drank, more and more, they all spoke less and less, until such a time as they all combined their voices together in song, singing "DRINK WITH ME! PLAY MUSIC WITH ME! LOVE WITH ME! BE MAD WITH ME, WHEN I AM MAD! BE WISE WITH ME, WHEN I AM WISE!" in such an out of tune tumult which caused even the dogs to howl to hear, and the servants of the house were made to roar with laughter.
"Be wise with me!" Queen Sparta said her eyes wet with tears of laughter then a serious look came to her face "For it is your wisdom I seek, my dearest friends, who have come here to celebrate with me."
"Why, dearest Sparta, of what do speak?" Vasha asked setting his hand on her knee, his old eyes sharp and discerning even still.
"Why, I feel it is time we think of a suitable marriage for our good King Therakles."
"Well, at least we are all drunk enough to have the topic of marriage breached." Vasha said slapping her thigh.
Now it was not customary for women to attend these 'symposia', as they were called, however, our dear Royal Queen Sparta was not like the genteel women of the city's elitist class, and her behaviour was the stuff of every good wife's nightmare. For in their Queen they saw the face of her mother, Queen Thera, that defiant, independently fierce, witty, intelligent female, who was just as beautiful as she was sexually alluring. So much so, she left not only the men with a blush to their cheeks, but the women as well. Queen Sparta had been allowed, through her military prowess and success on the battle field, to liberate herself from the structure of daily life that kept so many Greek women, of the Peloponnese, house-bound, unseen and unheard. Though the women of Sparta had a bit more freedom than say their Athenian sisters, they still had no rights to vote, own property or a business. However these rules were bendable to the will of the daughters of the Themiscyran Nation, for all had proven themselves in military service to their adoptive nation, and they were considered equal to the men they fought alongside.
Yet, of course, there were the scandal mongers, whispers of her association with foreign princes, and courtesans, both male and female, that had come to visit her at the palace in her brothers absence. So the rumors grew and swelled with each telling of the lurid tales of gossip. It was spread that she, Queen Sparta, was over-sexed, though she, herself, had never let any man, nor woman, to come into her bed, or otherwise. And those that did have the exquisite pleasure of her company, could, and would attest, that to share even the briefest conversation with such an incandescent and charming a presence was to fall immediately under her spell. For Queen Sparta had the rare gift; which only few women possessed, this was the talent for making a man feel more like the self-important animal he could be. In this she was always well able to hold her own in the company of men. So much so that many scholars and philosophers traveled a great distance to her humble court, along with their students, to witness the demanding conversationalist whom they all could easily engage in dialogue, of any subject be it history, music, poetry, strategies of war, etc.. So it was she went about securely in the deep admiration, and constant discussion, of her people, all eyes would follow her where ever she went. So it stood that unlike normal Greek ladies, Queen Sparta had been invited to many symposia in the absence of the king, where there her intellect was appreciated just as much as her beauty and charm. So she happily agreed to attend looking forward to the event.
On this evening, when the daily duties and task of running a nation were set aside for the night, and Sinos had turned the command of the guard over to the nightwatchmen of the Queen, the two were seen strolling, arm and arm, on this moonlit night. As they passed the early evening hours in quiet conversation along the columned courtyards of the palace, they would sit, side by side, at the long table under the ancient olive trees where the happy couple lingered over dinner discussing matters of religion and stately affairs along with any pressing issues of the day in the flickering light of the oil lamps underneath the starry sky. Then the time came to depart for the house of Lacuna and Vasha and much excitement filled her heart for these drinking parties were a welcome distraction from her duties as a Royal Queen and as Commander over the Armies and Navy. The symposia gave her a chance to come together with close friends and comrades in arms and join in, what were sure to be, a lively discussion.
So it was, just after dusk, Sinos accompanied Queen Sparta in her chariot arriving at the large house whereupon entering Vasha, as master of the house, slipped off her sandals, leaving them at the door as he washed her feet, for twas the custom to treat the guest of honor in this fashion. Here she was led into the 'andron', the main room set aside for the party, where couches were laid out so the celebrants could easily recline comfortably, two to a couch, and converse with ease, however, Queen Sparta as the honored guest and Royal Person sat on a large cushioned covered couch alone, so that she might bid anyone of her choosing to sit on the end of the couch briefly. Lavish trays of food were presented as everyone sat together greeting one another and Sparta took great delight in tossing bits of meat to the master's dogs, who were allowed to freely roam the room eating up all the scraps that fell from the drunken laps of the noisy guests. Here, as the laughter and talk ensued, and the wine and water flowed, naked female dancers, hired especially for the occasion, entertained the men and the few women gathered there, but this was merely for fun and none had come to seduce anyone of them into sins of the flesh, but moreover to provide comfort to those revelers who would over indulge later on in the evening.
Queen Sparta was delighted to see the full fresh blush upon Sinos' face as the naked women swayed their large round breast in his face, tickling the end of his nose with their erect nipples. Vasha and his wife Lacuna were filled with happiness as all they had invited took great pleasure in each other's company, forgetting all the cares and worries of the world outside the doors. The cheerful smiles of their beloved Queen Sparta, whom was like a daughter unto Vasha and Lacuna, did their hearts good to see. Now Vasha, as master of the house, ordered his servants to put away the lavish trays of food, now mostly devoured, as the serious drinking was to commence, so away with the food and erudite conversation, for there were to be no distractions. Here Vasha excused several guests who were under the age of 20, along with all the female guests, save for Queen Sparta as he placed garlands of flowers upon the heads of the remaining guests, some 7 others. Then he ordered krater after krater of wine to be poured. So it was as they all drank, more and more, they all spoke less and less, until such a time as they all combined their voices together in song, singing "DRINK WITH ME! PLAY MUSIC WITH ME! LOVE WITH ME! BE MAD WITH ME, WHEN I AM MAD! BE WISE WITH ME, WHEN I AM WISE!" in such an out of tune tumult which caused even the dogs to howl to hear, and the servants of the house were made to roar with laughter.
"Be wise with me!" Queen Sparta said her eyes wet with tears of laughter then a serious look came to her face "For it is your wisdom I seek, my dearest friends, who have come here to celebrate with me."
"Why, dearest Sparta, of what do speak?" Vasha asked setting his hand on her knee, his old eyes sharp and discerning even still.
"Why, I feel it is time we think of a suitable marriage for our good King Therakles."
"Well, at least we are all drunk enough to have the topic of marriage breached." Vasha said slapping her thigh.
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