As promised, Thera bathed the mud, sweat and grime from off of her skin, combing out her long tresses and attiring herself in garments befitting a noble queen, wearing her golden crown she sat next to King Vyakles upon their thrones in the great hall where all gathered there spoke in nervous tones amongst themselves, their voices echoing off the brightly lit chamber late that afternoon. The rain had ceased though the dark clouds remained as thunder rolled over head rumbling loudly over the excited conversations as Queen Thera, with her children at her feet, sat waiting impatiently. King Vyakles had summoned all the women in Sparta of Themiscyran blood sending out news that Vasha had returned with a diplomatic party sent by Queen Odessa of Themiscyra. So Thera along with Iona, Scotia, Kayla, Amarra, Johanna, Ia, La Scoffa, Jessa, and Katara all waited on baited breath alongside their husbands as Haithor, Captain of the King's Guard, opened up the massive doors of the great hall in a voice as loud as thunder announcing before the court of the Spartan King and Queen "Admiral Vasha returns from Themiscyra!"
Thera sat up a little straighter on the edge of her seat as she peered out passed the silent people to see. "My King! My Queen!" Vasha came in with his crew beside him, his dark eyes blazing, his skin well tanned and glistening in the light of the oil lamps which burned brightly. "Poseidon has delivered I, and my loyal crew, home safely once more to you. May his name be praised!" here a loud shout came up from the congregants as they were always thankful to the gods and goddesses in their hearts and words when their sailors returned home safe from the dark and ever brooding seas. "I have been sent back to Sparta with a message of greetings and salutations from Odessa, Queen of all Themiscyra!" now it was the women's turn to give up a cheer for their former friend and sister in battle. "She has sent many gifts of tribute with which to honor you, and your Queen." Vasha said as he made a deep bow holding his hand to his chest pointing with his left hand to the open door, where all saw General La Quint enter with a look so joyous, no one had ever seen La Quint so pleased as he escorted two black robed, hooded figures, of whom only there sandaled feet were exposed to the naked eyed, and Thera gave a look of confusion.
"Odessa has sent us Priestess from the Temple of Artemis?" Queen Thera spoke.
"No my Queen." La Quint replied with a serious look in his eyes "Queen Odessa, has sent these two envoys to speak on her behalf."
Now the curious women of Themiscyra stood next to their Spartan husbands trying to get a better look at the anonymous figures as Thera stood to her feet declaring loudly "Speak to me, oh envoys of Themiscyra, show me your face."
A hush fell over the many gathered their together while they watched as the two figures lifted up their hands pulling back the hoods from off of their faces and when Thera realized who these envoys were she felt herself slowly drawn towards them, moving among the crowd as if she were walking on the bottom of the ocean. "Surely I am dreaming." Thera said to herself in a whisper only heard by her children. Now here Thera gave a shocked look as if these two women standing before her were corpses that had just been resurrected from the dead and newly out of their tombs "Lacuna?" she gasped "Lucia Vega?" Thera said as she approached unsteady, her legs felt weak and Thera fell to one knee, reaching out and up to them in tears of love, and friendship, welling up in her green eyes. For here she saw her long departed sisters of blood and warfare, Lacuna and Lucia Vega, who themselves were so overwhelmed by the Warrior Queen Thera's presence they stood in stunned silence. Then, in an instant, the awed women went over to Thera taking her in their arms, the three all kneeling together with tears streaming from their bright blue eyes with many compassionate kisses upon the lips and hands, as the trio embrace tightly in a heart warming display of friendship and fellowship. In that warm embrace all the tension and bitter years of loss and separation melted away into the ether and the pain and heartache was gone. Now even the battle scarred Vyakles and the old soldiers of his court all marveled and were touched deeply by this scene of pure human emotion as the long separated friends, whom had known much war and suffering, now rejoiced in reuniting here together again. "My sisters in Life and Death! The gods have ceased their strife and sent you across the raging sea to me! Never did I think to hope, or believe, nor even dream that my eyes would ever see the day when I could look upon your beautiful and shining faces again! May Poseidon and Hera be praised for bringing you safely here so that I may make you welcome in my home! Come, you shall be presented to my husband the King!" Thera said as she wiped away the happy tears from off of her cheeks and the eyes of her beloved Theiscyran sisters "We shall prepare a feast in your honor to celebrate the Everlasting Peace of our two Great Nations!"
Thera sat up a little straighter on the edge of her seat as she peered out passed the silent people to see. "My King! My Queen!" Vasha came in with his crew beside him, his dark eyes blazing, his skin well tanned and glistening in the light of the oil lamps which burned brightly. "Poseidon has delivered I, and my loyal crew, home safely once more to you. May his name be praised!" here a loud shout came up from the congregants as they were always thankful to the gods and goddesses in their hearts and words when their sailors returned home safe from the dark and ever brooding seas. "I have been sent back to Sparta with a message of greetings and salutations from Odessa, Queen of all Themiscyra!" now it was the women's turn to give up a cheer for their former friend and sister in battle. "She has sent many gifts of tribute with which to honor you, and your Queen." Vasha said as he made a deep bow holding his hand to his chest pointing with his left hand to the open door, where all saw General La Quint enter with a look so joyous, no one had ever seen La Quint so pleased as he escorted two black robed, hooded figures, of whom only there sandaled feet were exposed to the naked eyed, and Thera gave a look of confusion.
"Odessa has sent us Priestess from the Temple of Artemis?" Queen Thera spoke.
"No my Queen." La Quint replied with a serious look in his eyes "Queen Odessa, has sent these two envoys to speak on her behalf."
Now the curious women of Themiscyra stood next to their Spartan husbands trying to get a better look at the anonymous figures as Thera stood to her feet declaring loudly "Speak to me, oh envoys of Themiscyra, show me your face."
A hush fell over the many gathered their together while they watched as the two figures lifted up their hands pulling back the hoods from off of their faces and when Thera realized who these envoys were she felt herself slowly drawn towards them, moving among the crowd as if she were walking on the bottom of the ocean. "Surely I am dreaming." Thera said to herself in a whisper only heard by her children. Now here Thera gave a shocked look as if these two women standing before her were corpses that had just been resurrected from the dead and newly out of their tombs "Lacuna?" she gasped "Lucia Vega?" Thera said as she approached unsteady, her legs felt weak and Thera fell to one knee, reaching out and up to them in tears of love, and friendship, welling up in her green eyes. For here she saw her long departed sisters of blood and warfare, Lacuna and Lucia Vega, who themselves were so overwhelmed by the Warrior Queen Thera's presence they stood in stunned silence. Then, in an instant, the awed women went over to Thera taking her in their arms, the three all kneeling together with tears streaming from their bright blue eyes with many compassionate kisses upon the lips and hands, as the trio embrace tightly in a heart warming display of friendship and fellowship. In that warm embrace all the tension and bitter years of loss and separation melted away into the ether and the pain and heartache was gone. Now even the battle scarred Vyakles and the old soldiers of his court all marveled and were touched deeply by this scene of pure human emotion as the long separated friends, whom had known much war and suffering, now rejoiced in reuniting here together again. "My sisters in Life and Death! The gods have ceased their strife and sent you across the raging sea to me! Never did I think to hope, or believe, nor even dream that my eyes would ever see the day when I could look upon your beautiful and shining faces again! May Poseidon and Hera be praised for bringing you safely here so that I may make you welcome in my home! Come, you shall be presented to my husband the King!" Thera said as she wiped away the happy tears from off of her cheeks and the eyes of her beloved Theiscyran sisters "We shall prepare a feast in your honor to celebrate the Everlasting Peace of our two Great Nations!"
No comments:
Post a Comment