Five Years Earlier
"Spartans!" Vasha yelled out across the white sands of the windswept beach as he spied two triremes out on the deep blue waters of the ocean. "The King's ships approach!" here a triumphant cheer rose up from the six men who paused from hauling in their nets. All had been waiting for over three years for this day to come, and soon they prayed they, along with their countrymen, would be returned to the loving arms of Mother Greece, and rest in their beds, secure in their homesteads in their, beloved, Sparta.
Vasha mounted his horse his heart racing, his mind in a panic with worry for he was sore afraid for the women of Themiscyra and Thera their leader. Admiral Vasha rode off up the trail from the shoreline with great speed where he found Thera sitting in the afternoon sun combing out her long, golden red hair. Now when the green eyed Thera heard the sound of a horse and rider she sat straight up as an intense electrified feeling covered her skin in a wave of an icy chill. "Thera!" Vasha cried out as he brought his steed to a dead stop as he looked down and said in serious voice "Vyakles has come for you."
Thera took in a deep breath as she closed her eyes, standing to her feet "At long last.., you and your men can return home with the sons of Sparta, and Vyakles will have his son, the heir to his throne." the great Queen replied calmly, no hint of fear or terror in her voice, ever knowing she would finally come face to face with the wrath and vengeance of a betrayed king. "Kayla!" Thera called out to one of her warriors "Bring me my children, the time has come." Kayla gave a deep, solemn, bow of her head as heart sank and saddened, for she knew full well by the end of this day she would be placing Thera in her grave. Quickly Kayla gathered up the four-year old little twins, brother and sister with golden red curls, like their mother's.
"Your heirs, my Queen." Kayla smiled holding back the tears of her grief.
"My little children, come, sit upon your mother's knee." Thera said her face radiating the loving warmth of a blessed mother who adored her babes. "Now, my darling daughter, Sparta, and my brave son, Therakles, the day has come we have been preparing for, your father has come to take you away." here Thera had to be brave, she had to have the courage a lioness and the focus of an eagle, but there came a deep welling up of pain in her heart and she found it hard to get the words out from her mouth as she said "Now remember, whatever you witness this day, you must not be afraid, and you must always obey your father, for he is a great king of a mighty Nation, Vyakles will teach you many things.., but as for me.., well" Thera paused looking down into the sweet face of her child "I have disobeyed your father and broken the laws of the king.., much to his anger.., now he comes to punish me." here she paused as she saw little bitter tears welling up in their bright green eyes. "Now, now, there, there my little children," she said hugging them tightly to her body "Now, what is the most important thing I have ever taught you?" she asked as the calm, peaceful smile returned once more to her face.
In the softest of voices, as small as two little birds, she heard them reply "Never be afraid to die."
"That is right." she said kissing them on the cheek.
"Mother?" her son asked his slender fingers twirling a lock of her silken hair in his hand.
"Yes my son?"
"When you see my father, will you be afraid to die?" Therakles asked with wide, caring, kind, eyes.
"No, my son, not I.., for no matter how far away my spirit roams, you can still call out to me in the deep abyss, and I will always hear you.., then I will come and be with you." with that she gave each of her children one more embrace and final kiss upon their rosy cheeks, then she ordered Kayla to take them down to the beach to wait. As Thera watched them go she saw Amarra, one of her most courageous and fearless warriors, approach with an expression on her face as solemn as the grave. She said nothing only handing Thera a small clay bottle filled with olive oil. Amarra gave Thera a deep look of sympathy and grace as they met eye to eye. Thera gave a gracious, grateful smile as she turned and walked down the path that led to the Ancient temple of Hera.
Here among the ruins of broken, cold marble columns Thera removed her white, thin linen toga as she entered the temple. Standing naked before the altar Thera opened the bottle spreading its slippery contents all over her bare skin. She would anoint her body in preparation of her death, before she knelt and prayed, as was the custom of her people. Thera offered up her prayers to the place where her ancestors lived among the lands of ghosts and winds. The great Queen, whom had abandoned her throne, turned her back on her Nation, and defied the Unity, Loyalty, Respect and Honor of seven hundred years of Themiscyran history, now supplicated herself at the altar of Hera, beseeching her for a quick and painless death.
"Spartans!" Vasha yelled out across the white sands of the windswept beach as he spied two triremes out on the deep blue waters of the ocean. "The King's ships approach!" here a triumphant cheer rose up from the six men who paused from hauling in their nets. All had been waiting for over three years for this day to come, and soon they prayed they, along with their countrymen, would be returned to the loving arms of Mother Greece, and rest in their beds, secure in their homesteads in their, beloved, Sparta.
Vasha mounted his horse his heart racing, his mind in a panic with worry for he was sore afraid for the women of Themiscyra and Thera their leader. Admiral Vasha rode off up the trail from the shoreline with great speed where he found Thera sitting in the afternoon sun combing out her long, golden red hair. Now when the green eyed Thera heard the sound of a horse and rider she sat straight up as an intense electrified feeling covered her skin in a wave of an icy chill. "Thera!" Vasha cried out as he brought his steed to a dead stop as he looked down and said in serious voice "Vyakles has come for you."
Thera took in a deep breath as she closed her eyes, standing to her feet "At long last.., you and your men can return home with the sons of Sparta, and Vyakles will have his son, the heir to his throne." the great Queen replied calmly, no hint of fear or terror in her voice, ever knowing she would finally come face to face with the wrath and vengeance of a betrayed king. "Kayla!" Thera called out to one of her warriors "Bring me my children, the time has come." Kayla gave a deep, solemn, bow of her head as heart sank and saddened, for she knew full well by the end of this day she would be placing Thera in her grave. Quickly Kayla gathered up the four-year old little twins, brother and sister with golden red curls, like their mother's.
"Your heirs, my Queen." Kayla smiled holding back the tears of her grief.
"My little children, come, sit upon your mother's knee." Thera said her face radiating the loving warmth of a blessed mother who adored her babes. "Now, my darling daughter, Sparta, and my brave son, Therakles, the day has come we have been preparing for, your father has come to take you away." here Thera had to be brave, she had to have the courage a lioness and the focus of an eagle, but there came a deep welling up of pain in her heart and she found it hard to get the words out from her mouth as she said "Now remember, whatever you witness this day, you must not be afraid, and you must always obey your father, for he is a great king of a mighty Nation, Vyakles will teach you many things.., but as for me.., well" Thera paused looking down into the sweet face of her child "I have disobeyed your father and broken the laws of the king.., much to his anger.., now he comes to punish me." here she paused as she saw little bitter tears welling up in their bright green eyes. "Now, now, there, there my little children," she said hugging them tightly to her body "Now, what is the most important thing I have ever taught you?" she asked as the calm, peaceful smile returned once more to her face.
In the softest of voices, as small as two little birds, she heard them reply "Never be afraid to die."
"That is right." she said kissing them on the cheek.
"Mother?" her son asked his slender fingers twirling a lock of her silken hair in his hand.
"Yes my son?"
"When you see my father, will you be afraid to die?" Therakles asked with wide, caring, kind, eyes.
"No, my son, not I.., for no matter how far away my spirit roams, you can still call out to me in the deep abyss, and I will always hear you.., then I will come and be with you." with that she gave each of her children one more embrace and final kiss upon their rosy cheeks, then she ordered Kayla to take them down to the beach to wait. As Thera watched them go she saw Amarra, one of her most courageous and fearless warriors, approach with an expression on her face as solemn as the grave. She said nothing only handing Thera a small clay bottle filled with olive oil. Amarra gave Thera a deep look of sympathy and grace as they met eye to eye. Thera gave a gracious, grateful smile as she turned and walked down the path that led to the Ancient temple of Hera.
Here among the ruins of broken, cold marble columns Thera removed her white, thin linen toga as she entered the temple. Standing naked before the altar Thera opened the bottle spreading its slippery contents all over her bare skin. She would anoint her body in preparation of her death, before she knelt and prayed, as was the custom of her people. Thera offered up her prayers to the place where her ancestors lived among the lands of ghosts and winds. The great Queen, whom had abandoned her throne, turned her back on her Nation, and defied the Unity, Loyalty, Respect and Honor of seven hundred years of Themiscyran history, now supplicated herself at the altar of Hera, beseeching her for a quick and painless death.
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