Sunday, October 4, 2015

End Chapter 20

     In the 23rd hour of her disappearance, two days before the return of emperor Cyrillus, Queen Sparta lie on her back staring up at the spectacular ceiling of the cave thinking of all that had transpired that day. She had stolen away undetected walking off to the southern foothills of Mt.Parnon to the tiny village of Kastnia. Where, going unrecognized, Queen Sparta managed to steal a large basket from a woman who was distracted whilst haggling over spices at the little market place. Sparta was delighted with her illicit procurement of figs, olives, feta, oranges, a pot of honey along with a small portion of sweet red wine. Immensely pleased with herself Sparta marched along the narrow winding path surrounded by towering growths of ancient forest covering the south eastern slopes of the snow capped mountain. Where, after three hours of traveling by foot, in her dusty sandals, Queen Sparta finally found herself standing at the mouth of the massive cave. She had not been here in many years, but all remained as spectacular as she had remembered, for the cavernous sub-structure was a true wonder to behold, where could be seen rare geological formations unlike anywhere else in the known world. What took nature millions of years to carve out by the force of water and wind erosion; which bore through the limestone and crystalline carbonate like the chisel of a master sculptures hand, leaving the viewer with a fantastical impressive spectacle of geology; which could only be seen and appreciated by the warm glow of flickering torches and oil lamps left behind by fellow adventurous thrill seekers who dared to come down and enter this strange, subterranean sacred place, down here, in the underground, in the abyss of darkness where the only other living thing was a small insect-like creature that was, itself, deaf and blind.
     Strange shadows of light flickered upon the walls and the ceilings glistened with sparkling crystals in the warm glow of the flames from the torches which stabbed at the inky blackness like daggers of orange light illuminating the spectacular view revealing bizarre shapes and forms coming in seven colors, red, white, orange,brown, yellow, pink and pale amethyst. This fantasy escape of design and form, where two magnificent waterfalls cascaded down in a roar surging forth with pure mountain water, among the towering columns of limestone.There were curtains of rock, like sheets, which overflowed from the ceiling like dripping wax from hundreds of candles. Among the bizarre surroundings were fantastical formations resembling gigantic masses of 'coral', an 'octopus', large 'birds nest', 'elephants' and enormous 'mushrooms' along with extra terrestrial 'bird-like creatures', strange 'human caricatures, exotic 'plants' and a truly rare sight, where wide, flat discs, large enough to bed a man dotted the floor.All of which having been made smooth by an ancient river system that once flowed through the mountain cutting deep into the heart of it leaving behind the massive underground structure, some 1,500 square meters in depth, width and breadth. This was a most sacred space revered, and feared, by men for thousands of years. Here is where Sparta and Synos would steal away to be with each other in secret to test the limits of their sexual desires and mastering control over their fevered passions.
     So, here now, Sparta awaited her beloved patiently laying naked on the stolen cloak, sipping her purloined wine, eating up the little sweet breads the Roman Princess had so loving baked for her and they were quite delicious and so Sparta saved the very last one for her sweetheart, Synos. Who according to her plan and meticulous calculations should be coming to seek her out soon. In the meantime she combed her long hair as she rested, stretched out atop one of the flat disc formations scattered about near a shallow pool on the bottom level of the deep cave. Whereupon, just moments after she had closed her eyes, she heard a loud noise at the entrance to the cave. It was the familiar sound of a chariots wheels and a team of horses who neighed there disapproval upon approaching the mouth of the cold mountain cave. The cries of the horses echoing down through the dark chambers, save only for the little bit of light issuing forth from the torches lit by the Queen of Sparta. Here she leapt to her feet quickly, nearly tripping over the cloak she threw across her naked flesh as she hurried to the entrance feeling her way out in darkness where she beheld the bright sunlight pouring into the cavern the black silhouette of a tall, broad shouldered man stood peering into the void. Sparta could see out, but the man could not see in.
     "SPARTA!" came the thunderous voice of Synos; which shook the air around her ears, startling Sparta as the sound echoed and reverberated off the walls for what seemed like an eternity as Queen Sparta remained perfectly still, her pulse racing, shocked into silence. Then as Synos took one step forward she called out to him in a voice that was sweet and kind.
     "Yes, my lord, I am here." replied the pale faced Queen, stepping out into the fullness of the radiant sunlight, her long red hair shining like copper in the sun as Sparta appeared before him as if in a dream and Synos thought she looked like a spirit called forth up out of the mountain.


No comments:

Post a Comment