The Palace –Royal Chambers-

[Queen Gorgo]

Even tough Sparta was mainly a military city politics had an important role. Especially considering powerful realms and any type of threat that could approach Sparta, therefore, diplomacy was always the key. Amidst the city centre, the strong palace laid at full height as if it represented Spartan pride and strength.

Queen Gorgo was looking at the window, the sun was rising and fair Aurora was carrying the sunrays along the earth to illuminate every dark corner of the world. The palace had no overwhelming decorations, but it still was beautiful and free. It could be said that its people as free and beautiful represented Sparta herself. But also strength like no other could be seen in the eyes of Spartan men and women.

She smiled and leaned on one side when she looked at some children playing along the way as they ran toward the training gathering. She nodded; today they would go to the fields for three days and train the young ones the way their fathers had been trained. There was only one thought that worried her, it concerned one of the young boys: Alexandros. She had been told of his love for Sparta, but it was a love much deeper, one that would make him be a man of arts and crafts.

But a man could only be one thing in Sparta, and that was a ‘soldier’. Polynikes had not liked this attitude. And henceforth had shown openly how much he disliked the boy. Gorgo knew that the very soul of Sparta had to shine through their weapons, but it seemed not all Spartan wanted to fight.

Just as she thought of the boy, suddenly a weaker lad seemed to try to give chase to those that had passed minutes ago. He seemed desperate to becoming a strong soldier, but it seems the more he tried the weaker he would become. Gorgo sighed, that was Alexandros, and in a way she could understand the despair and angst the young Spartan felt at being slightly different from the rest.

The boy cursed under his breath when he realized that dawn had caught him still far away from the gathering place and tried to run faster. He could not miss this training; Polynikes would hate him much more if he did.

Gorgo went back inside and looked at her reflection on the water in the dish, which was full since she had washed her face just as she woke up. Many times she pondered in the Spartan code, but she never seemed to arrive to the same conclusion. All she knew was that she felt lucky being a Spartan.

[Stelios]

"Worried are you not, Gorgo?"
His voice echoed through the dormitory, he could sense easily when she was worried or simply thoughtful, apart from being a strong woman she also had a strong sensitive side as all people did though many refused to accept it.

As a sensible man he could be he tried to comfort her by just listening to whatever it was she needed to say, many times it is better to listen than to speak. He left his tunic aside and approached slowly to where Gorgo was, her beautiful face was depicted on the water, her eyes shone majestically as they soon met his with their stare.

Stelios was a bit exhausted, it had been a tough day taking care of the trainings and external negotiations. Thankfully he had help to do all the job he had to do, Polynikes had always proved to be strong enough to help even though he was not to be considered a full citizen yet. According to their history only those who fully accomplished their formation could be classified as lucky and be admitted into society.

Stelios warped both her hands with his and kissed them gently, he admired her generosity, the immensity of her heart in which many times had he not tried to navigate and never concluded...endless it seemed for she had a great capacity to love and even worry for those who she had not given birth.

"Is it Alexandros? Are you preoccupied about his future?", he had been having troubles with this particular boy, he seemed to be more connected to the world of beauty forgetting that all Spartans must learn the military arts better than anyone else in order to assume the paper of what truly makes a Spartan, war runs through our blood...it is part of us. Alexandros in the other hand chose to be different, to admire beauty, literature rather than technique and war.

Stelios believed that both, mental and physical abilities should be well fed and trained for a human to truly be complete, no side could be heavier than the other....
"All children most go through this, you know it well...and so will our children", this last sentence was well marked and pronounced, he intended to have children, he had time now to procreate a family with her, he needed noise in the castle, children to fool around who's mischievousness is fruit of mere curiosity, he also needed to give love, a different love someone gives to a wife...more of a fatherly love.


He released her grasp and walked away to wash his hands and face, in due time he would take a bath, after all working all day makes someone sweat much and apparently looses attraction. He didn't want to be a burden for his wife....He smiled gently at her after drying his face. It had been quite long since they had have time alone to share with each other and so he had the great idea of sharing it doing something special.

"I apologize for my delays...not pleasing you as a husband and man but I have been very busy lately. I will go to take a bath and perhaps after that we could walk round the royal gardens as you have always liked"

[Queen Gorgo]

She had been thinking for too long. She had lost track of time the more she spent it alone. She had always been a reflexive woman, one of great knowledge and thirst of it. But now all she could do was look for that knowledge to avoid the loneliness she hoped she could always endure. She knew things had to be done, things were that way and she did not want them to change. She just had to be strong.

A soft voice woke her from all reflections and perplexities. She looked from her own reflection in the mirror to that of her beloved husband. She smiled and as she saw him her eyes recovered that gleam…that light that only shone to charm the husband she so loved.

She looked down at him as he kissed her hands and watched him walk and talk at the same time as his own thoughts were shared with the woman he loved. A gentle smile was curved on her lips when she thought of how lucky she was for having such a man as her husband and love. She had known so many women who would have given anything to be his chosen one, and the one he gave his love to.

She looked for a moment at one of the chairs near the balcony and she walked on that direction to grab the towel that lay on that chair. She then smiled at Stelios with all her heart and approached him slowly. Then, as she softly dried his face and neck, and afterwards running a hand on his eyebrows, on his cheeks, hair and neck; her eyes never leaving his, she spoke softly and with a gaze of determination “You read me like an open book, my husband.”

She was still smiling when she knew what he was thinking and running her hands on his arms after leaving the towel on the nearest table she said still looking into his ocean-blue eyes “Never will I ever dislike the man I love, the one I married for his aspect.” She kissed him softly and added “I worry about Alexandros for a reason I cannot understand. I have just never seen any Spartan trying to be one the way he does, and yet… not achieving so.”

She caressed Stelios’ neck and hair and then added, “you look tired, my love. I shall have a special bath prepared for you. But if you are tired indeed I do not mind us not going for a walk.” She enjoyed going for a walk with her beloved husband, but she did not wish for him to not enjoy it as well. She wanted both to always enjoy each other’s company and moments together and make the best of every single one of them.

She then whispered softly “You had to do what you had to do. I must get used to this as your wife… and the Queen.” She knew it was not his fault, even when she sometimes felt rather lonely, she had to strengthen her mind and will for he had business much more important than his wife. She then pulled a small golden string near the entrance door and saw a slave approaching. Even though they had slaves in the Palace, Gorgo always treated them as humanly as possible. Even in attire and possessions.

The girl smiled at the Queen and then was told to prepare a special and relaxing bath for the King since he needed relaxation. She also told her to use the oils and rose-fragrances the Queen had recently bought. The girl nodded and left to do as told. Gorgo then walked back toward her husband and kissed both of his eyes caressing his face with both of her hands. She loved him in a way, it was certain no other woman could ever do.

Bath -link-

[Stelios]

"Not that I read you, my love, I feel what you feel, you transmit your worries upon me, when you are sad I know you are because I am also sad...you are part of me since the first time we met and that is something I thank the gods for, I am blessed to have this life and share it with you, I could have never find happiness with another woman but you.", he felt her soft hands caress his face, her touch was like a soft breeze that even though it was chilly it warmth his heart.

She woke his senses in every way possible and being with her made his life more vivid and worth living, away from war or anything else, a different world where he could be himself, where he could reveal his true worries.

Fighting and training also helped him canalize his energies but not everything was physical, human psychology is also very important and if someone finds no balance then that someone can't accomplish his/her duty and doesn't allow that person to fulfill life on its full potential.

Looking deep into her eyes he smiled gently at her, not even if he was dieing would he refuse to take a long walk with her, there was so much to be told and to be informed, he wanted to know how she was doing and any important details that she could transmit...she was above all very important, just as his citizens. "I would not miss it for anything, my dear, you are as important as anything else."

He kissed her cheeks slowly, feeling her soft skin and smelling the fragrance of her hair he ran a hand through her cheek slowly and then took the towel.
"I won't take long but meanwhile, tell me how your day has been"

He slide from his tunic and entered slowly to the bath, the water was warm enough, he sat on one of the stairs, the water reached until his neck as he enjoyed the pleasure of the massage that the water made for him, naturally....

[Queen Gorgo]

Her eyes shone with the purity of her affections towards Stelios. She loved him in such a way there is nothing she would not do for him, and literally did she feel this. Every word he spoke, every caress, every little detail made her love him much more as time passed by. She enjoyed this and was more than overwhelming in a culture where duties were first, and emotions afterward.

Stelios always made her smile in such a way whenever he spoke of his love for her, stating there could be no woman worth of his love. This made her feel so special. She smiled at him and followed him toward the bath. She sat on the first stair resting her back against a pillar. Her long dark brown hair moved with the caresses of the wind when she leaned her head against the pillar and closed her eyes to breathe in such freshness and delight.

She opened her eyes to look down at her beloved husband as he asked her about her day. She smiled and then said “I went to the marketplace, I was looking for a piece of fabric and I will not tell you what it is for…” she smiled and winked at him as she ended the phrase by saying “…it is a secret-surprise…” she placed a finger on her scarlet lips as she spoke and then ran some fingers on the warm water as she finished “The next day you go to train the boys I will invite lady Ana to dine with me and Hebe if it is possible.”

She knew her husband would not say no to that. Though must people thought Gorgo was stupid or mad to be so loyal to Stelios when women could be with any man they wished, especially her being so lonely at times… Sometimes being alone for three whole days. But she loved her husband, everything about him, and that made her be true to him since she gave him her heart when they wedded.

[Stelios]

"Ah, but of course, a piece of fabric, I wonder for what...", he laughed, he knew that she wanted to make herself a beautiful dress for the celebration that would take place next week, it all would begin with the Olympic games and finally some rituals accompanied with dances and dinner. He winked at her, she could not fool him though he doubted that she wanted to fool him, she also seemed to do it on purpose.

"I would also need you to buy me some cloth, I will assist to the Olympic games next week and so will you, of course.", he rose from the stairs and walked away, the water traced his strong body marking his muscles, the gold from his skin was more splendorous as he moved, he grabbed the towel to dry his body, he felt no shame to reveal hi masculinity in front of his wife, since very young he had learned how to get rid of shame, his mentor had been very generous with him and patient, he had passed recently but Stelios remember him with deep affection.

He also asked himself why it was that his wife had never asked permission to bring any lover to the castle, such a beautiful creature and desired female...how could she remain with no sexual satisfaction when he was not there to do the job? Perhaps because of the same reasons as his, he need not another woman to make his life happier yet he had never been jealous and considered that if ever she desired or wished another man she could have him fully, he would not intrude.

One of their servants brought him some new clean light cloths, he put them on though he left his cape on the chair. He walked towards where his wife was, sitting on a stair. He grabbed her hand and hoisted her up gently, her body slowly reached her normal high, she was considerably tall. He pressed her body against his as he kissed her honey lips with passion and great fire navigating through her mouth knowing how to touch her and when to increase their fire.

Gently he kissed her neck touching her back with his left hand whilst his right hand smoothed her hair. He then looked deeply into her eyes releasing her lips, he wished not to but he had to free her. Her scent, her skin, her eyes...he was so thankful for that woman who was standing in front of him. Feeling her breath and his he wished to make her his for ever but he had first promised a long walk and he intended to do so. He took her hand and wrapped it with his as they walked away from the bathroom.

"Your wish is my command, I shall do as you order this night, my Love", he stated, he wanted to please her now that he could, he liked to treat each day as the last day...

[Queen Gorgo]

Gorgo giggled as Stelios pretended not to know what the piece of fabric was for. Sometimes she enjoyed being playful with her husband. Who could blame her; she was always grateful for having his love. But it was also the love of youth, the purity of innocence what made them have something not every couple had.

She smiled and nodded, she would be more than glad for making him some clothes. That was the bit he did not know, that she knew how to make clothes and she made hers most of the time. Not to say that she did not trust any slave to do the work; she simply preferred doing things on her own.

As her husband rose from the bath she looked at him but not in an imprudent way, there was no impurity in her eyes since she had been taught many things being a Spartan woman. She looked at him like any good appreciator of art would whilst looking at a perfect painting. Everything about him was perfect in her eyes: his strong body and his golden magnificence. His manly beauty was much more than intense and every time she was with him she felt the luckiest woman alive, but at the same time certain warmth, her body and her mind were on fire and always was she with desire to unleash it, to give everything she had to him, her beloved husband.

Just when he approached her she smiled, he was always so handsome in her eyes. She obeyed with no doubt as he helped her to her feet, but little did she expect such a passionate kiss. Though she welcomed it with his same intensity as she caressed his soft dark hair with both her hands until they reached his neck and finally resting passionately on his chest as he spoke his last words.

She smiled at him; she was glad they were finally together for those days had been like years or centuries for Gorgo. Though it is said that ‘absence makes the heart grow fonder.’* She walked alongside with him, hand in hand and her free hand wrapped around his arm and her head resting on his shoulder. She then added, “All I need is you to be the happiest of all beings.”



*William Shakespeare.

[Stelios]

He smiled at her lovely words, he was not so great and was thankfully that she valued him more than what he deserved. They walked out of the room and made their way through the corridors finally reaching the exit doors that lead them to the gardens, their mental paradise and heavens.

He kissed her hands softly ''Do you remember when we first met?''. He laughed, they had not liked each other the very first time they had seen and talked...he had thought she was a woman with no feeling at all and tuned out to be the most sensitive person he had ever met. ''What impressions did I give you?'', he had always been curious to know the first impression he had given her, what he had transmited...that gave him some clues about what people thought of him too. He tried to be warm to people though sometimes his seriousness made think otherwise.

After walking around the fountains enjoying each others company he said ''I am also worried...I am worried about Hebe...she is always breaking the rules in some aspects. Not that she is a revel, she is only misunderstood and I never get to conversed with her without the need of fighting almost with weapons too....'' he then added ironically ''Women are complicated''.

Perhaps what his sister needed were more hours of training and self soothing...he had no more ideas, he wished to help her but he didn't seem to find the way. ''About Alexandros, I know that you love him as one of your own..He is a special boy. I feel he wants to be noticed by Polynikes, all he does is to impress him. Maybe his problem is that fact, if he tried to work things out for him I am certain that he would be better at it until one day he would surprise himself and us unwittingly.''

Alexandros was a beautiful but weak child. All his physical weakness was retained in his nourished heart, his love to literature, poetry and music...Spartans were born with all talents and abilities, not only with mental abilities. ''I will start his trainings tomorrow, I shall help Polynikes and perhaps we will find a solution together''

He stopped walking and turned to face his wife, her eyes glistened with tears at his words, she blinked them away, he could tell she was trying to be strong and she to be the one to comfort him but the immensity of her heart was such that she could feel everyone's pain. Her burning need to always help and give advice. He ran his finger through her cheek drying her tears away. She was so beautiful even when she cried. He hated not being able to spend a lot of time with her, he missed her so much when he could not see her but duty was before...

''I will never bore to tell you how much I love you...how much my world dies when we are parted and how many times the thought of you gives me reasons to do my job, to torment those children, to teach them the rotten reality. It hurts to see them suffer but at the same time when they sweat their blood makes me so proud, proud to see them work hard, see that they truly value ,even if it is because of fear, what their position means to all Sparta, to their nation, home.''

He could not avoid torturing them, only then was when they learned what it meant to be alive, he had been through it...all of the greatest warriors had.

[Queen Gorgo]

She smiled as she looked at him from time to time, walking in the gardens she had worked hard on. Not that she disliked the job, she always enjoyed whatever she did because she considered it, at some extent, a form of collaboration to everything her husband did. Gorgo did not need to go to War or to the Spartan Gymnasium in order to be with her husband and do everything he does, as if she did as he did always… No, all she needed was to do everything in ‘collaboration’ with all her husband did, that way neither of them was ever alone, for they felt each other and were so close, nothing would ever tear them apart.

She laughed lightly to his question and then turned to look at some flower and small streams as they walked along. She then turned to look at him and said “I mean no offence my love, but I really did not look at you with the eyes of a woman that was about to marry a man she did not know… I was too angry with my father for arranging this marriage I did not wish to see you until the wedding day.” She blushed and now that she thought how she had felt when she met him, it made her feel terrible, like the worst of women… But she had always been independent and never liked when her father had ordered her around.

She then turned to look at him in a loving way and stated “but… as soon as I met you, in a way I thanked my father for the choice.” She blushed a bit, it was funny that even now, after being married, she still blushed and felt the same effects of being deeply in love. “I dare say, behind that charming strength and wisdom, there is a good man in you that I soon discovered…”

When Gorgo heard her husband talking about her sister-in-law she giggled. She knew she had been a bit like Hebe before she met Stelios. She could not stop herself from being somewhat bemused by his astonished mind. She then caressed the arm she was holding to lovingly and added “Hebe is a strong and passionate woman, if you wish me to talk to her I will. I enjoy her company much…But, my lord, always remember that she has the same blood running through her veins as you.”

She looked at the fountain and approached it. She smiled and extended an arm in order for her hand to receive some water drops form the sculpture’s edge and then added, “She trains hard, but I believe she still does not love… yet…” Perhaps Gorgo was wrong, but she had never talked about this with Hebe before.

She could not hold the joy her being felt when her beloved husband proposed to train Alexandros, though she knew how rigorously he trained his pupils, she never feared him, she was sure he would help Alexandros. She closed her eyes feeling his hand whipping her tears away and held his hand and kissed it with devotion. She could never thank the gods enough for such a husband.

She smiled warmly to his last words and caressed his face with both her hands as she said, “And I shall never tire of hearing you say so, every time is different, deeper, new, and wonderful… But remember, wherever you go, whatever you do, I am there as well, with you, helping you as much as I may.” Even though women’s chores were not as important or outstanding as men’s, Gorgo knew well they were always connected and complementing each other. They were always together.

She also wished they could always be physically together, but Sparta was selfish and had children for herself, not for the wives.

[Stelios]

Stelio felt her soft hand trace his face slowly, he wished he could picture that moment for ever...she was indeed the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his days with, he had made the correct choice, he could not be sure of anything else but this and what was best was that this was for real. She was the owner of all his inspiration, she gave his life meaning and much sense as so did his country and people. He felt lucky for all he had and he considered he did not deserve any of it, he was equal to everyone and everyone deserved the same happiness as his.

He wished that his sister could find someone to love desperately as he loved his wife, for her to learn what that means, how it feels to give that different love and without expecting to, receiving love. Humans are not only physical objects to be moved as chess pieces, they have a soul, not only mind, they can't always be guided by their mind, the heart also plays an important duty in someone's life.

He looked deeply into her eyes, he could sense her as she could sense him. Apart from talking to her about his political worries he was also able to share something more important with her...his daily needs...worries and happiness, at the same time be a participant of her needs, worries and happiness.

"You must know, that above everything, even when I think you are not near me, I feel you so close to me...so inside of my heart that nothing can rip you apart, nothing can change those feelings, when I am working or whatever it is I am doing...you must know that I have loved you more than anything and that all your kisses and touches are kept locked in my heart so I may dispose of them whenever that you are not physically with me...to embrace them mentally, in a higher level than no other man has ever experienced....my soul, you are my soul"

He pulled her gently against his embrace, he clasped his hands on her waste softly but at the same time with passion and fire, his energies were being unleashed. He closed his eyes and gently felt her lips touch his, he creped his tongue sharing an important moment, navigating through her intimacy, her sweet innocence. He pressed her body against his breathing at her same pace arousing each other's feelings.

He bit her upper lip carefully and then back again to complete his duty as a husband...he loved her so deeply that their kiss was becoming more important with every second, with every turn each took.
He caressed her back and smoothed her long dark hair, her silky hair.

He released her lips and caressed her face, his strong hands could also be gentle. He turned to see the views of the gardens in which she had worked long hours, it sure was fruit of her patience, new flowers growing every day and the lovely decorations as each fountain...

He realized that the time he spent with her was motionless...nothing happened but them, he lived in a different world, a world that permitted him to abscond in her arms like a child.

[Queen Gorgo]

She smiled deeply feeling his eyes upon her as she walked alongside with him, her husband, and her love. She looked deeply into his eyes and could tell what was going on in his mind. She sighed feeling every thought of his feeding her heart and soul. Every time she was with him she felt diferent, in a good way, in the best of ways. He renovated her, he filled her heart with renewed love and passion one that she would never feel for anyone else. That was why she gave it all to her beloved husband, the only one for her.

Feeling his thoughts go to his beloved sister made her look at the Castle, at the windows of the chamber of Hebe. She sighed for she also deeply wished for a man to fill her days with joy, not sorrow; with light and warmth, not darkness and cold spheres. She was still looking at Hebe’s camber-window when she reached for her husband’s hand and squeezed it gently as if she tried to tell him that she felt the same and that, somehow, she knew it would happen. And it would indeed, because Hebe was a woman like no other, even though she had her problems, she was far more virtuous than problematic.

Gorgo was always considered one of the strongest women Sparta had ever bred, but even she had feelings and emotions and they were of great depth. All her husband told her, whenever loving each other; whenever angry at the rest; whenever worried or tired; all of them, without exception, she kept in her heart, for some were to cherish and others to learn from. But one thing she knew, she would never dishonour him, she would rather die. Now, these words he had just uttered brought in her all her passion and deep feelings for Stelios. She asked herself how could ‘she’ have been the chosen one that was to receive the words and love; the confidence and soul of such a man like Stelios. It did not matter, but she would always be grateful.

She got lost in his eyes, in the valles of his fondness and tenderness that, as he puled her close so did she. She did not do it savagely, though, but with the tenderness a woman shows to her most beloved possession. Her husband was hers and she was her husband’s, it was no sort of greedy or selfish possession, but one made through the sacrament of love and devotion from husband to wife. It was such a pure and innocent love that, which they held form one to another that there would never be again in the world, not even in the myths of old taught from generation to generation.
She closed her eyes to his tenderness; she waited patiently for her heart to burn for him, once again, for her soul to melt in his and for both to love like never before.

She ran both of her hands through his hair as he kissed her in such a way, she felt evey sense enlightened with love. But this did not mean her love was selfish, for she caressed him as well, with all the affection, she as a wife, held for him: running her hands through his tanned and strong back, that had experienced years of training and pain in order to become the man he now was. She massaged it strongly, for Spartan women had their own strength, unlike any other woman and allowed him to her inner, to her secrets… he was the only one that could find them and enjoy them as well.

Her eyes closed feeling her husband’s love and much more… Wors could not describe how stronly she felt for her love; for Stelios. But she could smend her whole life in showing him that. She smiled at him and teased him a little saying, “Could you believe that the hands that worked on that garden might as well wield a sword?” She laughed lightly and then held his hand, just as they were, husband and wife, but with the innocence of their young years and so many ahead of them. She walked fast toward something special that had been reserved for her husband’s return.
It consisted on a beautiful and small waterfall that had caught the flow of some small steams. She had worked for months on that, in joining their flows and finally making a small waterfal that could grace the garden and make it much more secret and relaxing.

She ran a hand on its crystal water and then smiled “I could never forget that this day makes us wedded for one year, my love.” It was their anniversary and she had planned this waterfal for him, only him, it had been worth the effort and work, for now he would truly enjoy it.