Sunday, February 3, 2013

End Chapter 5

      "Very well..," Vyakles said taking this unexpected situation all in, stunned by the outcome of the meeting "If you all are in agreement.., then, I have no choice but to follow your lead, after all," the king turned glaring at the aged members of the Senate "This is still a Democracy." he said sarcastically. "Come, gentlemen, I shall bring you back to the palace where our ladies await."  a happy cheer arose from the men who longed to have a mythical warrior bride by their side and now it seemed all there prayers of supplication had been heard by Aphrodite as they all hurried through the quiet streets in the evening shade of the sunset. "I will allow you to come into them, but DO NOT mention a word of our scheme, say nothing of matrimony! I will broach the matter with Queen Thera first, and foremost, to gauge her reaction to the idea. Now you Spartans, you must remember, always.., these women have all been raised, and reared, with the belief that marriage is a fate worse than death, and they view the whole arrangement more like a form of slavery. So come now, so you may greet your ladies, and you will see your sons, but promise me, not a word about this to anyone." Vyakles was given rest assurance by the anxious men.
     So it was as a pale crescent moon arose in the east Vyakles led the men into the palace through the great hall down the dark corridors to the women's quarters, where each lady rested quietly alone in each of their appointed chambers, where here in the solitude and silence each woman felt for the first time, in a long time, just how wonderful it was to be alone with only the sound of your thoughts and heart beat filling your ears. Yet the quietness and tranquility of their dreams was interrupted, one by one, as King Vyakles knocked softly upon each of their doors. Now when each, and every one, of the Themiscyran's opened up the door their faces lit up and their eyes shone like stars when they beheld their former breeding partners, of whom they had not seen in nearly four years time. Vyakles need say nothing, nor make any introduction, as these healthy and lustful women embraced the men covering their cheeks with kisses of delight as they took them into their room and quickly shut the door for the night.
     After the well pleased king had reunited each of the men with their prospective brides, Vyakles was thankful and satisfied, now if only this plan of action could take course and leave his Spartans joined in marriage with these Themiscyran women of myth and legend. As the king stood in the long hallway, lit by flickering torches, he gave up a silent prayer to Hera, asking for her blessings in the form of weddings for each of the men and women: Kai and Kayla, Anias and Amarra, Tyrinthus and Iona, Venice and Jessa, Kyus and Ia, Anaias and Scotia, Nava and La Scoffa, Temenos and Katara, Theo and Johanna, and of course he prayed for Thera's hand in marriage avowing to the goddess Hera  he would protect Thera and keep her and his children safe from all harm at all costs. Now here he was giving up his prayer for marriage and though Vyakles was never sure if she could hear him, Vyakles prayed to Hera all the same. So with a prayer in his heart and great hope in his thoughts Vyakles approached his inner bed chamber where he found, to a true father's delight, his children having crept from the nursery now curled up in his bed with their mother, warm and cozy under the covers. It took a moment for Vyakles to move as he stood there as still and as silent as tomb, gazing proudly at his son and daughter wrapped up in Thera's arms sleeping as sweetly as gentle little lambs. He dared not wake them, nor stir them from their peaceful rest, so quietly the king slipped off his sandals removing his sword and belt as he climbed up into bed with his most precious, sacred family, placing his arm around Thera's waist and soon Vyakles was fast asleep as happy as a man, or a king, could ever possibly be.

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