Lucia Vega drew in a deep breath then said through a face full of tears "I fear General La Quint has planted his seed in my womb.., I believe a child grows within me, now as I speak."
Thera listened wiping Lucia's tears away, only smiling "My dearest woman this is wonderful news!" she said embracing Lucia Vega even closer to her chest. "You must not cry, but rejoice, for in you now grows a strong warrior for the future, be it a daughter or son."
Lacuna watched from her seat next to Queen Thera an arm around her shoulder with her right hand stroking Lucia Vega's hair as a show of comfort, love and understanding as her life-long friend wept bitterly. "Are you quite sure Lucia, you are with child?"
"Aye." she replied sitting up trying to breathe easy. "My blood cycle has not returned.., I get sick when I drink the wine.., and, I have overwhelming cravings for salted almonds and goats milk with ginger."
"Oh, aye, my dearest Lucia, sure signs indeed." Thera said still with a serene smile as bright as the sun "So then, you shall return home to Queen Odessa with the good news, that your breeding season has begun early, that you, may yet, bring forth another warrior for Themiscyra.., or Sparta, if you have a son. Oh how the General would love to have a son by your blood."
Now here, at the very mention of a son, Lucia Vega averted her gaze from that of the radiant Thera, whom, she knew, was not going to like what she was about to hear, however, with Thera, no one could ever be sure of her reactions in battle or everyday life. So Lucia Vega summoned up the courage and opened her mouth as the truth came pouring out. "Oh Thera.., I.., you misunderstand.., I am VERY pleased to be with child! That is not why I am crying."
"What else, pray tell, is troubling you so?" Thera asked, the smile gone from her face, as she sat there holding Lucia's hands in hers, staring deeply into her eyes with a concerned look.
"I do not wish to return home to Themiscyra, for I know longer wish to fight for, nor will I serve.., Odessa."
Now Thera had not anticipated these words to come from the lips of Lucia Vega who was the most loyal woman to the nation, she had ever known. The information washed over Thera, the feeling of which felt like she had been struck by a lightning bolt, she could not shake the shock, as she muttered "What?"
"If I am to have a daughter, I want her to grow up like your little Sparta, in freedom. If I am to have a son I would never give him up.., for I love La Quint, I only want to be with him and to raise a little family in peace." here tears welled up in her blue eyes once again. Then she said loudly "I have grown tired of war.., and I will fight NO MORE!"
As the sounds of Lucia's voice echoed off the council room walls silence followed as Thera sat there thinking of what to say, finding nothing in the deep well of wisdom she stored up in her heart and mind, all she could ask was "Why?"
"Why?" Lucia Vega said with a little laugh and a partial smile "Because Thera! I want to be like you!" Lucia Vega stood to her feet towering over Thera who remained in her seat "Do you not understand? Thera, you broke with seven hundred years of tradition, turned your back on OUR way of life! But worse than all of this you turned your back on me! And Lacuna! You told us nothing of your plans to leave, did not think to even include us in your dreams of freedom." Lucia Vega then went down on her knees, her heart bleeding out through her words all the pain that dwelt inside. "Oh Thera, you have been my life long friend, my companion in battle, my commander in times of war. But what is more.., you were once MY beloved Queen, I lived only to serve and protect you, and keep you safe from harm, for I loved your mother as if she were mine own. And I swore an oath to that brave, noble lady to watch over you all the days of my life.., but she, nor I knew you would abandon a nation, but worse than this you abandoned your friends, Lacuna and me."
Now Thera turned as Lacuna, too, began to cry bitterly and it was painful to watch the culmination of her actions as it affected her dearest friends. This sudden realization brought a pain to her body and Thera felt like she had just been stabbed in the heart. She wanted to wrap the sorrowful women in her arms and say how very sorry she was, but no words would come as Thera was left stunned and speechless, but she listened just the same.
"Now here! I have been brought to kneel before you by the providence of the Fates. I beg you my dearest Thera.., let me stay here in Sparta with you, so that I may have you as my Queen was again!" Lucia Vega said as she kissed Thera's hands. "Let me raise my family here in the freedom of Greece.., the Spartan way. For I, like you, will never give up a son."
"Nor will I!" Here Lacuna knelt down in front of the Queen prostrating herself at her feet with tears in her eyes as she pleaded "Queen Thera, I too am with child, please allow us to remain in Sparta with you and be MY QUEEN again!"
"Oh my brave ladies..," Thera said taking in deep calming breath thinking in her mind what path to lead them would be best. "Arise, you women!" Thera said standing to face them eye to eye. "Fear not my little children, no harm shall come your way.., however we must go before the King now.., with La Quint and Vasha.., for there is only one way we can let you stay." Thera gave a benevolent smile to calm their nerves then she instructed the expectant mothers "Go! Wake your men from their beds, Bring Admiral Vasha and General La Quint to to the Great Hall at once! I will summon my husband, do not tarry for we have no time to waste!"
Thera listened wiping Lucia's tears away, only smiling "My dearest woman this is wonderful news!" she said embracing Lucia Vega even closer to her chest. "You must not cry, but rejoice, for in you now grows a strong warrior for the future, be it a daughter or son."
Lacuna watched from her seat next to Queen Thera an arm around her shoulder with her right hand stroking Lucia Vega's hair as a show of comfort, love and understanding as her life-long friend wept bitterly. "Are you quite sure Lucia, you are with child?"
"Aye." she replied sitting up trying to breathe easy. "My blood cycle has not returned.., I get sick when I drink the wine.., and, I have overwhelming cravings for salted almonds and goats milk with ginger."
"Oh, aye, my dearest Lucia, sure signs indeed." Thera said still with a serene smile as bright as the sun "So then, you shall return home to Queen Odessa with the good news, that your breeding season has begun early, that you, may yet, bring forth another warrior for Themiscyra.., or Sparta, if you have a son. Oh how the General would love to have a son by your blood."
Now here, at the very mention of a son, Lucia Vega averted her gaze from that of the radiant Thera, whom, she knew, was not going to like what she was about to hear, however, with Thera, no one could ever be sure of her reactions in battle or everyday life. So Lucia Vega summoned up the courage and opened her mouth as the truth came pouring out. "Oh Thera.., I.., you misunderstand.., I am VERY pleased to be with child! That is not why I am crying."
"What else, pray tell, is troubling you so?" Thera asked, the smile gone from her face, as she sat there holding Lucia's hands in hers, staring deeply into her eyes with a concerned look.
"I do not wish to return home to Themiscyra, for I know longer wish to fight for, nor will I serve.., Odessa."
Now Thera had not anticipated these words to come from the lips of Lucia Vega who was the most loyal woman to the nation, she had ever known. The information washed over Thera, the feeling of which felt like she had been struck by a lightning bolt, she could not shake the shock, as she muttered "What?"
"If I am to have a daughter, I want her to grow up like your little Sparta, in freedom. If I am to have a son I would never give him up.., for I love La Quint, I only want to be with him and to raise a little family in peace." here tears welled up in her blue eyes once again. Then she said loudly "I have grown tired of war.., and I will fight NO MORE!"
As the sounds of Lucia's voice echoed off the council room walls silence followed as Thera sat there thinking of what to say, finding nothing in the deep well of wisdom she stored up in her heart and mind, all she could ask was "Why?"
"Why?" Lucia Vega said with a little laugh and a partial smile "Because Thera! I want to be like you!" Lucia Vega stood to her feet towering over Thera who remained in her seat "Do you not understand? Thera, you broke with seven hundred years of tradition, turned your back on OUR way of life! But worse than all of this you turned your back on me! And Lacuna! You told us nothing of your plans to leave, did not think to even include us in your dreams of freedom." Lucia Vega then went down on her knees, her heart bleeding out through her words all the pain that dwelt inside. "Oh Thera, you have been my life long friend, my companion in battle, my commander in times of war. But what is more.., you were once MY beloved Queen, I lived only to serve and protect you, and keep you safe from harm, for I loved your mother as if she were mine own. And I swore an oath to that brave, noble lady to watch over you all the days of my life.., but she, nor I knew you would abandon a nation, but worse than this you abandoned your friends, Lacuna and me."
Now Thera turned as Lacuna, too, began to cry bitterly and it was painful to watch the culmination of her actions as it affected her dearest friends. This sudden realization brought a pain to her body and Thera felt like she had just been stabbed in the heart. She wanted to wrap the sorrowful women in her arms and say how very sorry she was, but no words would come as Thera was left stunned and speechless, but she listened just the same.
"Now here! I have been brought to kneel before you by the providence of the Fates. I beg you my dearest Thera.., let me stay here in Sparta with you, so that I may have you as my Queen was again!" Lucia Vega said as she kissed Thera's hands. "Let me raise my family here in the freedom of Greece.., the Spartan way. For I, like you, will never give up a son."
"Nor will I!" Here Lacuna knelt down in front of the Queen prostrating herself at her feet with tears in her eyes as she pleaded "Queen Thera, I too am with child, please allow us to remain in Sparta with you and be MY QUEEN again!"
"Oh my brave ladies..," Thera said taking in deep calming breath thinking in her mind what path to lead them would be best. "Arise, you women!" Thera said standing to face them eye to eye. "Fear not my little children, no harm shall come your way.., however we must go before the King now.., with La Quint and Vasha.., for there is only one way we can let you stay." Thera gave a benevolent smile to calm their nerves then she instructed the expectant mothers "Go! Wake your men from their beds, Bring Admiral Vasha and General La Quint to to the Great Hall at once! I will summon my husband, do not tarry for we have no time to waste!"
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