"Now I have thought much on this matter, for an heir to throne is of utmost importance.., Yet I, myself, am not quite ready to breed and bring forth children into this world, at this point in time. For I have the need to fight again in battle, being an humble and honest soul, I can claim that I am a far better Cavalry Officer than I could ever be a wife, for I have yet to master the Domestic Life!" here laughter erupted from the drunken party and none laughed harder than the Queen herself, then she said in a serious tone, her eyes turning as sharp as a hawk, once again in a far off gaze, as if her pressing thoughts were some far distant prey, and thusly she drew them all into the crux of her conversation continuing in her discourse "So, by these thoughts I have been consumed, for the sake of our nation and the lineage of the Laconian and Themiscyran Throne there must be an heir apparent.., Whereby I have entreated to these many foreign prince's to come proclaim and lay claim to a betrothal betwixt their Royal Sisters and our good King Therakles..," she paused happy to know she could speak freely amongst the company of her friends as Sinos sat at the end of her couch already knowing the words she would speak. "For you are all close to my family, and are fully aware, and feel the chaos of my brothers mind.., however, this most crucial endeavor, might, if we can find the right, ripe, sweet and oh so Royal a bride we can find.., this might perchance help to ease the great stress of tension he labors under like the weight of a mountain upon his shoulders. Let us find him a wife, lest this Volcano of a man erupt in an uncontrollable rage of fire!"
"Yes, dearest Sparta, of this I agree." Vasha said, and in her drunken state she observed him thusly as he was, for ages ago, when he was 20 years younger, he was strident like a tiger, commanding the fleets of King Vyakles, and now as Queen Sparta watched him in the flickering light she saw how time and age had worked against him. For, now, Vasha, a man like a father unto her, resembled more of an old bear than a young tiger, broad shouldered, unruly black and white hair, long beard, meaty hands that resembled paws, but Queen Sparta loved him just the same. He was saying "Perhaps the charms and delights of a foreign princess might help to tame the savage heart of our brave and noble king."
"Of what you speak, everyone sees.., however, she must not just have a pretty face, warmth and grace, our dearest King's bride must have a bit of care to love him, being ever sweet and gentle unto his savage heart, and mind, to worship and sacrifice beside him holding steadfast to our religion, to be a good and faithful companion, to sit with him 'til old age, trusting in truth and love." she spoke thinking how stupid an idea this was for her to find a woman suitable to the task, for to find such a woman would be like finding a dog that could speak, VERY RARE! So to find a princess, of royal lineage, who could tolerate the anxious mind of her brother, was like finding a dog that could speak Egyptian.., EVEN RARER!
"It is good King Therakles is in his position, for he can well afford the variety of selection of maidens, for most men are given few options in a wife, requiring only a pretty face and hips wide enough to bear our enormous babies!" Vasha laughed along with those all gathered there.
"Truer words were never spoken!" Queen Sparta said with little giggles, pinching his rosy cheek "However, I have gone to great lengths to reach out to those nations friendly to our throne, entreating those foreign princes you have witnessed coming and going from the palace. They have brought news of their sisters the princesses of Illyria, Dardina, Crete, Minos, Tyros and Rome whom have all declared their intentions of pledging their troth, and maidenheads, unto our King. I have sent for 3 princesses of the region to be presented to my brother, whom returns shortly from his long journey, having sought council at Delphi from Apollo's Oracle."
"Have you set your mind on the most profitable selection?" Vasha inquired sitting up a little on the edge of his seat at the news.
"Why yes, there is one who has peaked my interests." she replied with a smile.
"Do tell." Sinos asked as all the men themselves were quite intrigued.
"Here name is princess Giana, youngest daughter of the Emperor of Rome. She is only 18 and is said to be as beautiful as Aphrodite with eyes that sparkle like sapphires."
"A Roman?" came the response, as Rome and Greece had no formal relations, save only in the trade of goods, for the Greeks sent out wheat and the Romans sent back their exquisite wines.
"Aye, a noble Roman princess, to bring forth a royal heir to the Laconian throne. Why so serious.., in your reaction, due you all still harbor those ancient prejudices against our Western cousins?"
"No your worship, it is just.., your brother." Vasha shook his head rubbing his beard.
"My brother, pray old man.., speak to me the truth of your heart and mind." Queen Sparta spoke plainly staring into the old eyes of Vasha, who would have been her father but King Vyakles pushed himself in and ordered Vasha out during the time of the, one and only, breeding campaign between Sparta and Themiscyra. So she knew he would speak his mind freely.
"Our dearest King, your brother, Therakles is consumed with the study, and practice, of our sacred religion and the Romans.., well.., they prefer to turn their minds to the advancement of architecture, geometry, astronomy, the sciences of mystery, new technologies in ship building, war machines, they look upon our Ancient Religion as mere.., superstitious beliefs. This could prove a difficult match indeed."
"Well said.., however, the truth of the matter is, I believe, from what I have learned of this sweet, young thing, I believe he can convert her to his way, our way, of thinking." she said giving that clever smile of hers that reminded Vasha of his dear friend Thera, whom he loved deeply and would have sired many children upon her, alas, the Fates had not destined their love to be.
"Of what do you speak?" the other drunken men sitting nearby inquired, for all were much intrigued by her speech.
"You see, my dear fellows, she is the last, in along line, of the Emperor's daughters, whom have all married well and far outshine her socially, the princess is, from what I have learned, partial to vanity and would love nothing more in life to obtain the prestige she wishes to achieve, by gaining the title of Royal Queen Consort to the King. This would fulfill her desire to fill her sister's hearts with much envy. We can afford her all the pomp and circumstance of the luxurious life of Royal Person living in the Palace. Yet of course, we have a great selection of earnest brides. However..," she paused " if Phillip has the mind to conquer the world, as I truly believe he does, then an alliance with the might of Rome combined with the strength of our Spartan Warriors, could prove most beneficial for the defense of the Peloponnese. Ah.., but of all this, we shall speak of further tomorrow.., when my head is not swimming with wine, and now I find my glass empty! Come we must remedy this at once and we shall drink up! And put down all talk of the perilous subject of marriage! For even the VERY THOUGHT of it makes my stomach churn and my pulse made to quicken." she laughed as she sat back sitting close to Sinos who put his arm around her as she sighed.
"How now then dearest Queen.., have you no interest in marriage?" Vasha said loudly as all the intoxicated men in the room hushed to hear their young beautiful Queen's reply.
"How can I ever marry when the Love of my Life, already has a Wife!" Sparta shouted as she leaned over and gave Vasha a wet kiss on the lips, and all were made to roar with laughter as another krater of strong wine was opened. So the talking was ceased by more drinking and at this point in the evening Sparta's memory became a bit hazy. It was not until the wee hours of the morning when she awoke to find herself cuddled up on the couch with Sinos, underneath the warmth of a soft woolen blanket, just as the first few rays of dawns early light was slowly breaking.
"Sinos." she said in a hushed whisper shaking him "We must return to the Palace at once!"
"Yes, dearest Sparta, of this I agree." Vasha said, and in her drunken state she observed him thusly as he was, for ages ago, when he was 20 years younger, he was strident like a tiger, commanding the fleets of King Vyakles, and now as Queen Sparta watched him in the flickering light she saw how time and age had worked against him. For, now, Vasha, a man like a father unto her, resembled more of an old bear than a young tiger, broad shouldered, unruly black and white hair, long beard, meaty hands that resembled paws, but Queen Sparta loved him just the same. He was saying "Perhaps the charms and delights of a foreign princess might help to tame the savage heart of our brave and noble king."
"Of what you speak, everyone sees.., however, she must not just have a pretty face, warmth and grace, our dearest King's bride must have a bit of care to love him, being ever sweet and gentle unto his savage heart, and mind, to worship and sacrifice beside him holding steadfast to our religion, to be a good and faithful companion, to sit with him 'til old age, trusting in truth and love." she spoke thinking how stupid an idea this was for her to find a woman suitable to the task, for to find such a woman would be like finding a dog that could speak, VERY RARE! So to find a princess, of royal lineage, who could tolerate the anxious mind of her brother, was like finding a dog that could speak Egyptian.., EVEN RARER!
"It is good King Therakles is in his position, for he can well afford the variety of selection of maidens, for most men are given few options in a wife, requiring only a pretty face and hips wide enough to bear our enormous babies!" Vasha laughed along with those all gathered there.
"Truer words were never spoken!" Queen Sparta said with little giggles, pinching his rosy cheek "However, I have gone to great lengths to reach out to those nations friendly to our throne, entreating those foreign princes you have witnessed coming and going from the palace. They have brought news of their sisters the princesses of Illyria, Dardina, Crete, Minos, Tyros and Rome whom have all declared their intentions of pledging their troth, and maidenheads, unto our King. I have sent for 3 princesses of the region to be presented to my brother, whom returns shortly from his long journey, having sought council at Delphi from Apollo's Oracle."
"Have you set your mind on the most profitable selection?" Vasha inquired sitting up a little on the edge of his seat at the news.
"Why yes, there is one who has peaked my interests." she replied with a smile.
"Do tell." Sinos asked as all the men themselves were quite intrigued.
"Here name is princess Giana, youngest daughter of the Emperor of Rome. She is only 18 and is said to be as beautiful as Aphrodite with eyes that sparkle like sapphires."
"A Roman?" came the response, as Rome and Greece had no formal relations, save only in the trade of goods, for the Greeks sent out wheat and the Romans sent back their exquisite wines.
"Aye, a noble Roman princess, to bring forth a royal heir to the Laconian throne. Why so serious.., in your reaction, due you all still harbor those ancient prejudices against our Western cousins?"
"No your worship, it is just.., your brother." Vasha shook his head rubbing his beard.
"My brother, pray old man.., speak to me the truth of your heart and mind." Queen Sparta spoke plainly staring into the old eyes of Vasha, who would have been her father but King Vyakles pushed himself in and ordered Vasha out during the time of the, one and only, breeding campaign between Sparta and Themiscyra. So she knew he would speak his mind freely.
"Our dearest King, your brother, Therakles is consumed with the study, and practice, of our sacred religion and the Romans.., well.., they prefer to turn their minds to the advancement of architecture, geometry, astronomy, the sciences of mystery, new technologies in ship building, war machines, they look upon our Ancient Religion as mere.., superstitious beliefs. This could prove a difficult match indeed."
"Well said.., however, the truth of the matter is, I believe, from what I have learned of this sweet, young thing, I believe he can convert her to his way, our way, of thinking." she said giving that clever smile of hers that reminded Vasha of his dear friend Thera, whom he loved deeply and would have sired many children upon her, alas, the Fates had not destined their love to be.
"Of what do you speak?" the other drunken men sitting nearby inquired, for all were much intrigued by her speech.
"You see, my dear fellows, she is the last, in along line, of the Emperor's daughters, whom have all married well and far outshine her socially, the princess is, from what I have learned, partial to vanity and would love nothing more in life to obtain the prestige she wishes to achieve, by gaining the title of Royal Queen Consort to the King. This would fulfill her desire to fill her sister's hearts with much envy. We can afford her all the pomp and circumstance of the luxurious life of Royal Person living in the Palace. Yet of course, we have a great selection of earnest brides. However..," she paused " if Phillip has the mind to conquer the world, as I truly believe he does, then an alliance with the might of Rome combined with the strength of our Spartan Warriors, could prove most beneficial for the defense of the Peloponnese. Ah.., but of all this, we shall speak of further tomorrow.., when my head is not swimming with wine, and now I find my glass empty! Come we must remedy this at once and we shall drink up! And put down all talk of the perilous subject of marriage! For even the VERY THOUGHT of it makes my stomach churn and my pulse made to quicken." she laughed as she sat back sitting close to Sinos who put his arm around her as she sighed.
"How now then dearest Queen.., have you no interest in marriage?" Vasha said loudly as all the intoxicated men in the room hushed to hear their young beautiful Queen's reply.
"How can I ever marry when the Love of my Life, already has a Wife!" Sparta shouted as she leaned over and gave Vasha a wet kiss on the lips, and all were made to roar with laughter as another krater of strong wine was opened. So the talking was ceased by more drinking and at this point in the evening Sparta's memory became a bit hazy. It was not until the wee hours of the morning when she awoke to find herself cuddled up on the couch with Sinos, underneath the warmth of a soft woolen blanket, just as the first few rays of dawns early light was slowly breaking.
"Sinos." she said in a hushed whisper shaking him "We must return to the Palace at once!"
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