Twelve hours later, as dawn arose in a robe of golden splendor, Major Synos found himself anxiously awaiting an audience with King Therakles after a long hard ride from his garrison in the north. As he paced back and forth nervously in the great hall he wondered why he had been summoned back to the Royal Palace, further adding to his concern and confusion was the fact that there were no guards stationed outside the Queens bedchamber. His pulse quickened as his heart raced a terrible sinking feeling filling his stomach as his palms began sweating and he felt the flush of fever on his brow.
"Major Synos!" came the relived cry of the Spartan King who entered alone looking exhausted as if he had not been able to sleep. "I see you made no delay in your arrival, you must have been riding in the saddle all night, of this I am well pleased."
"Yes my King, yet pray tell., why have you called for me so urgently?" he asked his eyes sharp and focused on the face of Therakles.
"You have been summoned on a matter of great importance." the King paused laying a hand on the distressed Major broad shoulder telling him "Queen Sparta has gone missing, of her own free will."
Major Synos gave a shocked look of deep concern asking of him "What has transpired here to make her abandon the Palace and her responsibilities to her Nation?"
Therakles paused then with a heavy sigh he said "There has been a most unfortunate accident, General Cothos is dead." here there came a silence followed by an explanation by the King of all that transpired from this tragic event, bringing him up to speed. Shocked into silence Major Synos sat himself down in the presence of the King for the news was so overwhelming. "Somehow our Sparta had become quite smitten with the Roman General, why it is beyond my comprehension, however since this tragedy has occurred my sister blames herself for his death, by allowing him to ride her war horse, thus causing him to lose his life. She was left in a terrible state of horror and grief. So it has come to pass that she has appeared to have gone quite mad with despair, feeling guilty for this tragedy." he rubbed his temples the pain in his head growing stronger as he, himself, sat next to the mortified Major whose face turned as white as the wool of a sheep. "I have sent out droves of men to search for her all throughout the city and the surrounding countryside, all to no avail. It is as if she has just disappeared from off the face of the Earth, we are unable to locate her, nor anyone that has even seen our troubled Queen." There came a long pause of hesitation to respond on the part of Synos who now felt sick to his stomach. "I shall be honest with you further, for we two, as men, have not always seen eye to eye on a great many things, chief among them is your close relationship to my sister the Queen. I know for a fact you and she would often meet somewhere in secret during your years at the academy, keeping your relationship hidden from the eyes of our disapproving society."
"Because I am unworthy of her love and affection for I am not Royalty." Synos said in disgust for even though his love for Sparta was pure and true he was a common man and not elite enough to be able to receive the Queens affection being seen by all as unworthy of her love.
"Synos, I pray of thee, if you have any love left in your heart for Sparta, do not forsake her. Go, without delay, bring her home safely to me, and you will be the blessed hero of a grateful nation and all her people." he said giving Synos a look of grave worry and concern. "I pray you speak openly and honestly with me when I ask of you.., do you still have any love left in your hard heart for my sister now?"
Whereupon, for the first time in his short life, Synos opened up his mouth and let the truth come spilling out. "I love Sparta NOW and FOREVER!" he replied feeling a great weight lifting up from his heart and mind then he pledged from the depths of his soul "I will go and bring her back safely.., for there is a secret meeting place we two shared where we could go and be.., together."
Now the thought of Synos being alone with his beloved sister made the King furious with anger, however, yet again, his concern and worry far exceeded his anger and frustration in the matter, so he spoke plainly "I have feared this all these years., and now, to hear your secret love to be professed in truth sets my nerves on edge.., however, I shall overlook your indiscretions for though it pains me to hear you have been deceiving me all this time.., I now require only one thing from you.., and that is to have my sister back home safe with me, where she can be surrounded by the people that love her dearly, and that, I see, includes you too." King Therakles said taking in a deep breath then he added in a calm clear voice "I can promise you this much, Synos. Bring our sweet Sparta out of the dark abyss of sadness and madness and I shall issue a decree and give you a new commission as a General in my vast Army."
Major Synos sat there for a moment staring at the King "I am not concerned with a new commission or rising up in rank." he paused then peering into the worried Kings tired eyes he said "I will do as you ask.., however, I, myself, require only one thing."
"Ask of it, and you shall be given whatever your heart desires." he replied eager to get the Major on his way without delay. "Pray tell what is it you desire of me?" he asked as his heart seemed to skip a beat as his stress grew larger in capacity.
"I am seeking out your blessing, and approval, to take your sisters hand in marriage, if Sparta will still have me." now here, in what seemed like an eternity, Major Synos waited anxiously for the King to speak.
Hereafter King Therakles gave a look of shock as if he had just been slapped across the face then he said softly in a voice as small as a bird "Marriage?"
"Yes." whereupon the impatient Major stood to his feet pleading his case "I will take the commission of General as you have so generously offered, thereby establishing myself in a higher ranking in the military and society making me better suited to marry our Queen."
"You, yourself, Synos.., you are not ROYALTY!" King Therakles reminded the common man.
"Yes, 'tis true, I have no royal bloodline coursing through my veins, I have not been given the divine right to rule by our gods.., as you and she. Yet, under these dire circumstances perhaps you will be willing to overlook this flaw in my being." here he paused then knelt before his King "Allow me to return her safely into your loving arms, unharmed and secure, but I beg of you, if Sparta will take me as her devoted husband, please find some way that we can be together, let me live in the light of her love and I will provide for her protection and pure affection forever and ever." he proclaimed his eyes watering a bit full of emotion.
King Therakles knew not what to think, say, or do as many thoughts raced through his mind as he sat there staring up at the determined man who had betrayed his trust many times over concerning the matter of his sisters virtue. "How shall this.., can marriage ever come to pass?" he asked unable to see a way to freely allow Synos to wed his Royal sister.
"Oh Therakles you, yourself, are a wise and clever King. You can do anything." Major Synos reminded him.
King Tharakles gave this situation deep thought then incredibly an idea suddenly sprang to mind. "Perhaps there is a way that will allow this marriage to take place and be accepted by our society."
Hope and Faith leapt up in the tortured heart of Synos as he exclaimed "Whatever it takes my King, but let us not make haste, nor any further delays, for the heart and mind of our Great Queen is at stake."
"Come let us away to the temple of Hera, for we must summon the priests." he said jumping to his feet.
"How shall our task be accomplished, pray tell me." Major Synos begged to know.
"There shall be a blood letting ceremony." he replied eyes wide.
Now Synos knew the King to be deeply involved with the great mysteries of the their religion, but Synos was not as religious and superstitious as he. Yet being hard pressed to fulfill his desire of a Royal wedding in Holy Matrimony, he agreed to obey his King, doing whatever was necessary to marry his beloved Queen Sparta,.Who now was sleeping peacefully in the depths of the dark cave curled up in the warm, stolen cloak taken from the Roman Princess, who, herself, now was beside herself with worry. So it was King Therakles and Major Synos made their way through the empty city streets arriving at the vast temple complex where both the priest and priestess were surprised to see their monarch and his soldier there so early in the morning.
"You have been summoned on a matter of great importance." the King paused laying a hand on the distressed Major broad shoulder telling him "Queen Sparta has gone missing, of her own free will."
Major Synos gave a shocked look of deep concern asking of him "What has transpired here to make her abandon the Palace and her responsibilities to her Nation?"
Therakles paused then with a heavy sigh he said "There has been a most unfortunate accident, General Cothos is dead." here there came a silence followed by an explanation by the King of all that transpired from this tragic event, bringing him up to speed. Shocked into silence Major Synos sat himself down in the presence of the King for the news was so overwhelming. "Somehow our Sparta had become quite smitten with the Roman General, why it is beyond my comprehension, however since this tragedy has occurred my sister blames herself for his death, by allowing him to ride her war horse, thus causing him to lose his life. She was left in a terrible state of horror and grief. So it has come to pass that she has appeared to have gone quite mad with despair, feeling guilty for this tragedy." he rubbed his temples the pain in his head growing stronger as he, himself, sat next to the mortified Major whose face turned as white as the wool of a sheep. "I have sent out droves of men to search for her all throughout the city and the surrounding countryside, all to no avail. It is as if she has just disappeared from off the face of the Earth, we are unable to locate her, nor anyone that has even seen our troubled Queen." There came a long pause of hesitation to respond on the part of Synos who now felt sick to his stomach. "I shall be honest with you further, for we two, as men, have not always seen eye to eye on a great many things, chief among them is your close relationship to my sister the Queen. I know for a fact you and she would often meet somewhere in secret during your years at the academy, keeping your relationship hidden from the eyes of our disapproving society."
"Because I am unworthy of her love and affection for I am not Royalty." Synos said in disgust for even though his love for Sparta was pure and true he was a common man and not elite enough to be able to receive the Queens affection being seen by all as unworthy of her love.
"Synos, I pray of thee, if you have any love left in your heart for Sparta, do not forsake her. Go, without delay, bring her home safely to me, and you will be the blessed hero of a grateful nation and all her people." he said giving Synos a look of grave worry and concern. "I pray you speak openly and honestly with me when I ask of you.., do you still have any love left in your hard heart for my sister now?"
Whereupon, for the first time in his short life, Synos opened up his mouth and let the truth come spilling out. "I love Sparta NOW and FOREVER!" he replied feeling a great weight lifting up from his heart and mind then he pledged from the depths of his soul "I will go and bring her back safely.., for there is a secret meeting place we two shared where we could go and be.., together."
Now the thought of Synos being alone with his beloved sister made the King furious with anger, however, yet again, his concern and worry far exceeded his anger and frustration in the matter, so he spoke plainly "I have feared this all these years., and now, to hear your secret love to be professed in truth sets my nerves on edge.., however, I shall overlook your indiscretions for though it pains me to hear you have been deceiving me all this time.., I now require only one thing from you.., and that is to have my sister back home safe with me, where she can be surrounded by the people that love her dearly, and that, I see, includes you too." King Therakles said taking in a deep breath then he added in a calm clear voice "I can promise you this much, Synos. Bring our sweet Sparta out of the dark abyss of sadness and madness and I shall issue a decree and give you a new commission as a General in my vast Army."
Major Synos sat there for a moment staring at the King "I am not concerned with a new commission or rising up in rank." he paused then peering into the worried Kings tired eyes he said "I will do as you ask.., however, I, myself, require only one thing."
"Ask of it, and you shall be given whatever your heart desires." he replied eager to get the Major on his way without delay. "Pray tell what is it you desire of me?" he asked as his heart seemed to skip a beat as his stress grew larger in capacity.
"I am seeking out your blessing, and approval, to take your sisters hand in marriage, if Sparta will still have me." now here, in what seemed like an eternity, Major Synos waited anxiously for the King to speak.
Hereafter King Therakles gave a look of shock as if he had just been slapped across the face then he said softly in a voice as small as a bird "Marriage?"
"Yes." whereupon the impatient Major stood to his feet pleading his case "I will take the commission of General as you have so generously offered, thereby establishing myself in a higher ranking in the military and society making me better suited to marry our Queen."
"You, yourself, Synos.., you are not ROYALTY!" King Therakles reminded the common man.
"Yes, 'tis true, I have no royal bloodline coursing through my veins, I have not been given the divine right to rule by our gods.., as you and she. Yet, under these dire circumstances perhaps you will be willing to overlook this flaw in my being." here he paused then knelt before his King "Allow me to return her safely into your loving arms, unharmed and secure, but I beg of you, if Sparta will take me as her devoted husband, please find some way that we can be together, let me live in the light of her love and I will provide for her protection and pure affection forever and ever." he proclaimed his eyes watering a bit full of emotion.
King Therakles knew not what to think, say, or do as many thoughts raced through his mind as he sat there staring up at the determined man who had betrayed his trust many times over concerning the matter of his sisters virtue. "How shall this.., can marriage ever come to pass?" he asked unable to see a way to freely allow Synos to wed his Royal sister.
"Oh Therakles you, yourself, are a wise and clever King. You can do anything." Major Synos reminded him.
King Tharakles gave this situation deep thought then incredibly an idea suddenly sprang to mind. "Perhaps there is a way that will allow this marriage to take place and be accepted by our society."
Hope and Faith leapt up in the tortured heart of Synos as he exclaimed "Whatever it takes my King, but let us not make haste, nor any further delays, for the heart and mind of our Great Queen is at stake."
"Come let us away to the temple of Hera, for we must summon the priests." he said jumping to his feet.
"How shall our task be accomplished, pray tell me." Major Synos begged to know.
"There shall be a blood letting ceremony." he replied eyes wide.
Now Synos knew the King to be deeply involved with the great mysteries of the their religion, but Synos was not as religious and superstitious as he. Yet being hard pressed to fulfill his desire of a Royal wedding in Holy Matrimony, he agreed to obey his King, doing whatever was necessary to marry his beloved Queen Sparta,.Who now was sleeping peacefully in the depths of the dark cave curled up in the warm, stolen cloak taken from the Roman Princess, who, herself, now was beside herself with worry. So it was King Therakles and Major Synos made their way through the empty city streets arriving at the vast temple complex where both the priest and priestess were surprised to see their monarch and his soldier there so early in the morning.
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