Gardens of the castle*~

[Hebe Anemone]

Away from the noise of the castle, Hebe walked silently through the gardens, nature had always inspired peace, freedom and harmony, nature was something that could not be so easily understood but it was easier than understanding human nature. Humans tend to complicate things whether right from wrong...missunderstanding sometimes lead to wars and if compared with nature's course everything seems to flow perfectly, animals follow their instincts, they kill to leave...the only living creature that kills for mere pleasure sadly is the human.

Hebe loved to walk barefoot as long as it was possible, feeling the cold humidity from the grass was very refreshing specially when it had just rain and it still was wet. She smiled to herself, Stelios would certainly warn her about walking barefoot in the cold, she could grab a cold or something...he was always making sure his sisters were doing fine and of course was very on to satisfying Queen Gorgo, a woman worth respect.

Looking at the sky she wondered where her mother was..she had to be in glory and peace, even though she had never wanted to be so loving all the time, Hebe knew that she had always cared a lot for her children and so had their father. Now, at times like this she only wished to see them again, for one day to rejoice in the warmth of their love...

Spartans were honorable, no one was greater than the other for all of them fought against the same obstacles...they were all equals and special, different from the rest of the Greeks. Their culture seemed harsh but their intentions were to create s society in which everyone worried for everyone, not only for themselves and family. Hebe would never forget once what her brother Stelios had told her, 'An elderly man was trying to find a place to sit and observe the Olympic Games, as he went to each section. All the other Greeks laughed as he tried to make his way through. Some ignored him. Upon entering the Spartan section all the Spartans stood and offered the elderly man their seats. Suddenly the entire stadium applauded. All the Greeks knew what was the right thing to do, but the Spartans were the only ones who did it.'

She had never felt so proud of being a Spartan, their generosity and greatness to leave place to the old, much wiser and stronger...it was funny to think that most of the Greeks when they are young men are not very well allowed to speak to older men because it is considered that they can't have a serious conversation due to their intelligence and experience levels, then again it sounds contradictory that non of those men left a sit for the elder man when he is much wiser.

After a long time of thinking and thinking she found a bench to sit near a rather tall tree. It was early in the morning and the sun was just coming out, the clouds were dispersed throughout all the sky leaving way to their 'king'. As soon as it came out the ground began to 'burn' drying the grass and rest of the plants, Sparta apart from being a strategic point was mostly always warm and that was another gift to be thankful for. Hebe took a deep breath looking at the castle she had left behind, it looked like a dollies home, so small.

After aw while the Heraea Games came to her mind, they were Olympic games in where women were allowed to compete, girl athletes were unmarried and competed nude or wearing short dresses(chitons). Boys were allowed to watch the athletes, in the hopes of creating marriages and offspring. A race dedicated to Dionysus (god of wine and pleasure) may have also been a community rite of passage(is a ritual that marks a change in a person's social or sexual status. Rites of passage are often ceremonies surrounding events such as childbirth, menarche or other milestones within puberty, coming of age, weddings, menopause, and death).

Hebe had always wanted to be one of those athletes, she had been well trained, women were trained at the same conditions as men, perhaps being unmarried for the rest of her life was her future unlike her sister Sophia who seemed very well involved in the idea of marriage. Spartan children physical trainings grew parallel to their sexual trainings, there were many kinds of pederasty practices taught to women and men until they reached the age of 24. They freely chose their lover who generally was their mentor, this was also encouraged to females but less common than it was to men. Hebe particularly was not a great admirer of this practice therefor she had chosen not to follow that tradition unlike her other two brothers.

The wind blew against her golden skin, it was good to be refreshed and at the same time warmed by the sun's rays. Loosing track of time she closed her eyes, she wanted to enjoy the free time she had before she went back to her teachings.

[Queen Gorgo]

Queen Gorgo had slept lightly that night. She knew that day her husband would be back from the three-day-training that they do every now and then in order for the body to be immune to any need, such as eating and drinking. She was more than eager to know what her husband had to tell her. She always enjoyed everything he said or did; he was a man worthy of admiration.

Gorgo woke up before dawn, just when the rain had stopped and its mist surrounded the enchanted gardens of the Spartan Palace that was said to have been guarded and decorated by Queen Helen herself, just before being kidnapped by the Trojan prince.

She had taken a quick bath, for she wanted her husband to find her as beautiful as ever in one of her newest dresses. She had then been applied moisturizing oils on her skin, right before getting dressed so that her body would be more smooth and radiant in his eyes. She always did everything at hand to please her husband.

She had put on a dress with a light opening in the middle and which was held by a golden garment and a golden belt, in order for it to present her social status, as most women did. She then fixed her long dark-brown hair so that it would fall gently on her back but was not entirely loosen. She then had put on a red cloak and decided that she would wait for her husband in the gardens. She knew he would always look for her there, it was one of her favourite places and she had always worked hard on making it even prettier.

She walked slowly, making sure not to wake anyone up and directed herself to the Palace’s gardens. Before she left the archway which lead to some stairs and then to the garden, the Queen looked at the sky as dawn was about to enlighten Sparta with its beauty and magnificence.

She smiled ant then went downstairs in order to enter her beloved gardens. She walked slowly enjoying the fragrances of some flowers, getting close to some and caressing them or simply inhaling its perfume. She smiled and for a moment felt such freedom and life she could have stayed there forever.

Suddenly, as she walked towards some artificial streams and fountains, she saw someone she loved like a sister and smiled. It was Hebe, whose name clearly stated an attribute to her beauty and youth. It could be said that Hebe was the incarnation to Hera’s daughter in Olympus. Still the young lady was modest and had such fierceness it was easy to realize whose sister she was.

Gorgo smiled at her and said trying not to disturb her “So many thoughts come to mind whenever we find ourselves with something we are part of.” She caressed a tree’s log which was right behind Hebe and looked at the sky as the sun rays began to reach Sparta as Helios mastered his chariot to illuminate the day it now was.

Link to Queen Gorgo’s dress and garments…

[Hebe Anemone]

Hebe was disturbed but this disturbance was peaceful, a lovely voice rang behind her waking her mind through her ears. When she was alone she normally got lost inside her thoughts and did not notice anyone except for those who she really felt...family and friends generally. She needed to sense a strong energy in order to come back and Gorgo was one of them.
Her eyelids rose as she opened her eyes, she smiled but did not turn to look at the Queen, she kept on looking at the castle.

'It looks like a house of little people from this distance and yet when you truly face it face to face its height is amazingly tall, beyond human nature.', she was not very good at words, she had never been able to express well what she truly felt and sometimes she felt that talking was a waste since she could not really depict what she saw in her mind or what she thought, she had never been blessed with abilities such as being a fluent speaker at great comparison with Sophia.

She turned to see the Queen who was dressed in gowns that suited her figure perfectly, her body shone majestically with the sun as it welcomed the arrival of a new day with its splendor. She knew that the Queen was a woman worth of great honors, she worked very hard to keep things in order inside the castle doors and outside, she worried much for her country, as much as Stelios. Hebe still could not understand how it was possible for them to love each other so much and not need anything but themselves.

She once had experienced love but not in that messure...Hebe was still young and there were many emotions that she was yet to discover.

'I love to come here, it is a great place to think and relax though I don't like to be spotted...I need to find somewhere, a place where no one can find me so I can truly meditate...haven't you ever needed to be alone? Spending so much time at the castle dealing with subjects that need to be resolved instantly and having people to order around.....sometimes it is very necessary to spread your wings and fly away for some rest. I am glad of your company though...you bring nothing but good news, there where you go a light blossoms like a new born flower.'

She liked her company but lately Hebe had been looking and longing so many times to be alone, she could not understand why she felt like that, perhaps that was the reason why the gods had brought Gorgo into her life...to make her see...to wake her up.

[Queen Gorgo]

Gorgo smiled at Hebe’s words but did not expect Hebe to turn to smile at her since she knew her well. She was a woman to highly admire and yet feel tender for. Gorgo was sure that, despite her free will, she was a woman well esteemed and admired in Sparta.

She leaned against a tree as she meditated on Hebe’s words. She sighed and looked at the stars whilst saying, “Even though we may think we cannot explain what we mean, there are some persons, quite close to us, that always understand us. Sometimes some things cannot be explained with words.” She turned to look at the Palace and then added, “Indeed, nature is astounding… but when you realize some things are done with hard work and labour then you admire them much more…”

She walked softly until she reached where Hebe was sitting down and sat as well, in order to look at dawn, as it soon would reach Spartan lands. She looked at the sunrays as they slowly began to spread in the sky and the land. She breathed in the soft breeze and then looked at Hebe and then said, “sometimes it is best to look for solitude in order to gain other things. More personal, even being a Spartan we know we are still humans. I only hope not to disturb your thoughts.”

She looked at her sister-in-law in a serious was meaning every word. She had always admired Hebe, even though she was some years younger, she knew what Hebe thought or felt for she had once felt that way. But perhaps marriage had changed that in her.
Though Gorgo was more than glad to have married Stelios… her love and husband.