Queen Sparta stood beside the shimmering pool her pulse racing, she felt a sharp pain in her heart as if it were breaking, Taking in a deep breath Sparta tried to relax but she was too tense as Synos appeared before her standing at full attention saying "How may I be of service to you? My Queen."
"At ease Captain, you may stand down, for you are not on duty, and I wish to speak with you on a matter of great importance." she said peering into his dark eyes that seemed so sad as the light of happiness faded fast. "Come let us sit together and speak as friends, like we did long before I became your Queen."
"As you wish." Synos said as his heart sank, his palms sweating as the two went, sitting themselves down on a long marble bench under the moonlit shade of the palm trees, a gentle breeze lifting her hair cascading around her shoulders.
"Listen to the words of my mouth, hearken to the thoughts of my mind." Sparta said wanting to take him by the hand, but she refrained from touching him, as he sat there calmly beside her, she trying her best not to be overwhelmed with the pain of a love she could never possess telling him "The force of emotion between us is tearing me apart and it is too much of a strain for my heart to bear. I care for you deeply, as I have cared for no other. Yet.., I believe, in the full flush of wisdom, it would do us both a service if we were to part company.., I ask you to give up your position and return to your military division." she said plainly showing no emotion in her countenance.
Here Captain Synos sat perfectly still for a while, as if he had been transformed into a statue, while this news washed over him like a freezing cold rain "I do not understand?" he finally managed to speak a few words as he looked at his Queen in utter disbelief.
"Synos.., it is not good for us to be so close, as I must move on, and take a chance at marriage. I do not wish to inflict anymore pain upon your heart and mind, for I, myself, cannot bear to see you suffer." she paused taking his hand squeezing it saying "I promise you I shall not EVER be wrath with you, nor shall I ever rebuke you. For my Love for you will remain.., everlasting. This proving a most Sacred Covenant of compassion between us. So remember this promise I have made unto you, who has loved me through many trails and tribulations. As you have loved me with all your heart, mind, body and spirit. My kindness shall not be separated from you when you leave my service." here Sparta's stoic facade was wholly broken as her own words caused a few tears to well up in her green eyes. This was not something she wanted to do, to send him away, however, in order for her plan of deception to work against Cothos, she had to send him back to the military, having no no other choice in this action of the matter. Seeing the pain she was intentionally inflicting upon him, Sparta felt a hard lump, like a stone, in her throat as she tried to speak her words now came uneasy. "This Covenant of Peace and Love shall never be removed. You shall be kept, always, from oppression. Let the words of my mouth sink down into the depths of your soul, let my thoughts fill your heart with understanding." Sparta gave a little sweet smile as tears streamed down her pink cheeks while Synos sat motionless staring up at the cold and distant moon, for he could not bear to look at her, his mind racing as he felt the emotions of anger and humiliation curl up in his heart. "Synos.., I fully realize you must be very angry, as I am angry at the Fates who have conspired to keep us apart in marriage. Yet it is good that we are angry. Anger is a gift; which enables our eyes to be fully open. Yet let not our hearts be closed to the compassion of Wisdom and Understanding. For we can never be together in matrimony and I wish not for each of us to suffer unduly under the burden of our unfulfilled love."
"No." he spoke softly.
"No?" she asked uncertain.
"NO!" Synos spoke boldly as he faced her directly taking her hands in his saying "I swore an oath of allegiance to serve you! Upon PAIN of DEATH!. I have vowed to protect you, with the blood of my life, to keep you safe, so that no harm should ever come your way. I ask of you, oh Great Queen, how can I resign my commission in good conscience. If I leave.., you, yourself, will be left to suffer alone, I will not allow this to happen. For though I can never possess you as my own.., I am, even still, made well in the light of your precious Love." he said in a gentle voice full of loving kindness "Do not send me away, dearest friend of my youth. For I understand that it is good for you to seek out a husband and create a family." he confessed then with a look of panic in his eyes he entreated her thusly "But please.. I BEG OF YOU! Let NOT it be Cothos, any man but him!"
"No, Synos.., you must go! Though it causes me more pain in my heart, and my world, than you will ever know.., you must go. For in the fullness of time.., all good things must end. This is beyond my control." she replied wiping away her tears.
At the thought of his departure from Royal service, Synos felt a nervous wave, a strange disturbance in his entire being, followed by a cold numbness flowing through his veins like a river of ice and snow. He felt his eyes watering and he gave Sparta a grief filled gaze looking as if he had just received news that he was dying. "I do not know what to say, nor even how to begin to respond.., yet I can say that my heart is breaking, my bones are frozen, I cannot stop shaking. I feel like my mind has just been made drunk, as if I have been overcome by strong wine, a rare vintage of the blood of the grape, that I have been found unworthy to drink." here his words came in desperation, he pleading "PLEASE! Sparta, I do not wish to leave your service. I am here only to protect you! If anything should happen to you, in my absence, I would never be able to forgive myself, nor would I even wish to live. Do not send away."
"Synos, you must learn to forget me and move forward with your life, for you, yourself, must take a wife, someday soon, whom I will show grace and favor, always. For in my own life.., I must find my own way, without your guidance."
At this Synos felt the urge to lash out at her verbally and try to provoke her to jealousy telling her "Well then.," he said coldly "Perhaps your friend Syndra would be a fitting bride." with this he hoped to challenge her to rage against the very idea, but Queen Sparta was too clever, she would not be baited.
"Yes." she smiled sardonically "Syndra would make a fine wife and mother, your children would be beautiful, strong and healthy." here she gave a sympathetic look saying "Yet suffer me a little, bear with me this burden a little longer before you take your leave. Let us part as friends and not as enemies.
"If you wish for me to go, forsaking my solemn duty and sacred vows to protect you.., then I shall leave." he said with a heavy sigh of defeat
Here Queen Sparta set her will like iron forged in fire as she sat up straight looking at him face to face "Synos, you misunderstand, completely, for I do not WANT you go.., I NEED you to go.., for the sake of my fragile sanity. I will explain all to my brother, our King, he will have you reassigned and can give you a promotion for your service to the throne, if you wish, so that you may go in peace and live your life without me."
"Live my life without you?" he pondered the very thought churning up the bile in his belly "Is that an order? You are commanding me to leave your service? Over this? This foreign general? I know you do not love him. You CANNOT! He is so far beneath you, he belongs at your FEET, not in your BED! For you are a wholly perfect, god-like being! He, COTHOS is a truly flawed CREATURE!" his voice became loud in tone and emotion.
"No one is perfect! Only the gods and goddesses are. You must take care to remember I am a Queen, my responsibility is to my nation and to provide my heir to the Laconian Throne. No matter who I marry, or however many children I have.., without you, I will ALWAYS be alone." she reminded him.
"Do not ask this of me Sparta. Do not send me away." he pleaded a third time.
"My decision has already been made. It is beyond my control, as I have clearly stated. Our lives are ruled by the Fates, and so we must, ALL, obey."
Slowly Synos stood, looking like a dead man standing before her, staring down at his beloved Queen in silence, appearing pale and lifeless as if he suddenly transformed into a ghost "Very well, My Queen, as you wish, so I shall obey." then he turned from her gaze, his head bowed down as if in defeat, the sounds of his footfalls fading from the courtyard. Queen Sparta held her head in her hands as she began weeping. Then she heard the familiar, motherly voice of Lucia Vega, who had been eavesdropping on the lovers conversation "Sparta, are you alright?"
"No, not in the slightest." she looked up wanting to collapse into strong arms of the old warrior "Please.., forgive me, pray, tell my friends, and your honored guests, that I have been summoned back to the palace. For tonight nothing is worse than this pain in my heart. For I have been given a heavy burden of Love to endure.., so I must go now to suffer alone."
"At ease Captain, you may stand down, for you are not on duty, and I wish to speak with you on a matter of great importance." she said peering into his dark eyes that seemed so sad as the light of happiness faded fast. "Come let us sit together and speak as friends, like we did long before I became your Queen."
"As you wish." Synos said as his heart sank, his palms sweating as the two went, sitting themselves down on a long marble bench under the moonlit shade of the palm trees, a gentle breeze lifting her hair cascading around her shoulders.
"Listen to the words of my mouth, hearken to the thoughts of my mind." Sparta said wanting to take him by the hand, but she refrained from touching him, as he sat there calmly beside her, she trying her best not to be overwhelmed with the pain of a love she could never possess telling him "The force of emotion between us is tearing me apart and it is too much of a strain for my heart to bear. I care for you deeply, as I have cared for no other. Yet.., I believe, in the full flush of wisdom, it would do us both a service if we were to part company.., I ask you to give up your position and return to your military division." she said plainly showing no emotion in her countenance.
Here Captain Synos sat perfectly still for a while, as if he had been transformed into a statue, while this news washed over him like a freezing cold rain "I do not understand?" he finally managed to speak a few words as he looked at his Queen in utter disbelief.
"Synos.., it is not good for us to be so close, as I must move on, and take a chance at marriage. I do not wish to inflict anymore pain upon your heart and mind, for I, myself, cannot bear to see you suffer." she paused taking his hand squeezing it saying "I promise you I shall not EVER be wrath with you, nor shall I ever rebuke you. For my Love for you will remain.., everlasting. This proving a most Sacred Covenant of compassion between us. So remember this promise I have made unto you, who has loved me through many trails and tribulations. As you have loved me with all your heart, mind, body and spirit. My kindness shall not be separated from you when you leave my service." here Sparta's stoic facade was wholly broken as her own words caused a few tears to well up in her green eyes. This was not something she wanted to do, to send him away, however, in order for her plan of deception to work against Cothos, she had to send him back to the military, having no no other choice in this action of the matter. Seeing the pain she was intentionally inflicting upon him, Sparta felt a hard lump, like a stone, in her throat as she tried to speak her words now came uneasy. "This Covenant of Peace and Love shall never be removed. You shall be kept, always, from oppression. Let the words of my mouth sink down into the depths of your soul, let my thoughts fill your heart with understanding." Sparta gave a little sweet smile as tears streamed down her pink cheeks while Synos sat motionless staring up at the cold and distant moon, for he could not bear to look at her, his mind racing as he felt the emotions of anger and humiliation curl up in his heart. "Synos.., I fully realize you must be very angry, as I am angry at the Fates who have conspired to keep us apart in marriage. Yet it is good that we are angry. Anger is a gift; which enables our eyes to be fully open. Yet let not our hearts be closed to the compassion of Wisdom and Understanding. For we can never be together in matrimony and I wish not for each of us to suffer unduly under the burden of our unfulfilled love."
"No." he spoke softly.
"No?" she asked uncertain.
"NO!" Synos spoke boldly as he faced her directly taking her hands in his saying "I swore an oath of allegiance to serve you! Upon PAIN of DEATH!. I have vowed to protect you, with the blood of my life, to keep you safe, so that no harm should ever come your way. I ask of you, oh Great Queen, how can I resign my commission in good conscience. If I leave.., you, yourself, will be left to suffer alone, I will not allow this to happen. For though I can never possess you as my own.., I am, even still, made well in the light of your precious Love." he said in a gentle voice full of loving kindness "Do not send me away, dearest friend of my youth. For I understand that it is good for you to seek out a husband and create a family." he confessed then with a look of panic in his eyes he entreated her thusly "But please.. I BEG OF YOU! Let NOT it be Cothos, any man but him!"
"No, Synos.., you must go! Though it causes me more pain in my heart, and my world, than you will ever know.., you must go. For in the fullness of time.., all good things must end. This is beyond my control." she replied wiping away her tears.
At the thought of his departure from Royal service, Synos felt a nervous wave, a strange disturbance in his entire being, followed by a cold numbness flowing through his veins like a river of ice and snow. He felt his eyes watering and he gave Sparta a grief filled gaze looking as if he had just received news that he was dying. "I do not know what to say, nor even how to begin to respond.., yet I can say that my heart is breaking, my bones are frozen, I cannot stop shaking. I feel like my mind has just been made drunk, as if I have been overcome by strong wine, a rare vintage of the blood of the grape, that I have been found unworthy to drink." here his words came in desperation, he pleading "PLEASE! Sparta, I do not wish to leave your service. I am here only to protect you! If anything should happen to you, in my absence, I would never be able to forgive myself, nor would I even wish to live. Do not send away."
"Synos, you must learn to forget me and move forward with your life, for you, yourself, must take a wife, someday soon, whom I will show grace and favor, always. For in my own life.., I must find my own way, without your guidance."
At this Synos felt the urge to lash out at her verbally and try to provoke her to jealousy telling her "Well then.," he said coldly "Perhaps your friend Syndra would be a fitting bride." with this he hoped to challenge her to rage against the very idea, but Queen Sparta was too clever, she would not be baited.
"Yes." she smiled sardonically "Syndra would make a fine wife and mother, your children would be beautiful, strong and healthy." here she gave a sympathetic look saying "Yet suffer me a little, bear with me this burden a little longer before you take your leave. Let us part as friends and not as enemies.
"If you wish for me to go, forsaking my solemn duty and sacred vows to protect you.., then I shall leave." he said with a heavy sigh of defeat
Here Queen Sparta set her will like iron forged in fire as she sat up straight looking at him face to face "Synos, you misunderstand, completely, for I do not WANT you go.., I NEED you to go.., for the sake of my fragile sanity. I will explain all to my brother, our King, he will have you reassigned and can give you a promotion for your service to the throne, if you wish, so that you may go in peace and live your life without me."
"Live my life without you?" he pondered the very thought churning up the bile in his belly "Is that an order? You are commanding me to leave your service? Over this? This foreign general? I know you do not love him. You CANNOT! He is so far beneath you, he belongs at your FEET, not in your BED! For you are a wholly perfect, god-like being! He, COTHOS is a truly flawed CREATURE!" his voice became loud in tone and emotion.
"No one is perfect! Only the gods and goddesses are. You must take care to remember I am a Queen, my responsibility is to my nation and to provide my heir to the Laconian Throne. No matter who I marry, or however many children I have.., without you, I will ALWAYS be alone." she reminded him.
"Do not ask this of me Sparta. Do not send me away." he pleaded a third time.
"My decision has already been made. It is beyond my control, as I have clearly stated. Our lives are ruled by the Fates, and so we must, ALL, obey."
Slowly Synos stood, looking like a dead man standing before her, staring down at his beloved Queen in silence, appearing pale and lifeless as if he suddenly transformed into a ghost "Very well, My Queen, as you wish, so I shall obey." then he turned from her gaze, his head bowed down as if in defeat, the sounds of his footfalls fading from the courtyard. Queen Sparta held her head in her hands as she began weeping. Then she heard the familiar, motherly voice of Lucia Vega, who had been eavesdropping on the lovers conversation "Sparta, are you alright?"
"No, not in the slightest." she looked up wanting to collapse into strong arms of the old warrior "Please.., forgive me, pray, tell my friends, and your honored guests, that I have been summoned back to the palace. For tonight nothing is worse than this pain in my heart. For I have been given a heavy burden of Love to endure.., so I must go now to suffer alone."
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