King Vyakles dismounted as he went over to Thera who swung her leg around to dismount but the king reached out with his massive hands wrapping them around her waist lifting her down out of the saddle he smiled up at Thera as he slowly, in a demonstration of his strength, pulled her close to his body. So close, in fact, their noses almost touched as he set her down on her feet. Thera placed her hands on his arms as she did so she felt a surge of energy course through her body and she inhaled his scent; which was of olive oil and bay leaves. A warm comfort and joy overwhelmed her as she stood face to face, eye to eye, with the great king. Here now in this moment; which seemed an eternity, Love and Death ceased their strife in her heart and mind.
"I am Vyakles, King of all Sparta." he smiled an ease of grace and mercy in his dark eyes.
"I am Thera, Daughter of the Royal House of Themiscyra." she replied as the king took her hands in his and kissed her on the cheek his soft, full lips warming her blushing skin. "We bring gifts from the heart of our Nation." Thera called for the cart and called for three of her ladies. "Captain Amara, Kayla, Alea, come forth and present the gifts with which we honor King Vyakles." the three rode forth dismounting and holding the reigns of the war horses they had brought for the king. "Here now, oh great king, the finest steeds, bred for war, trained by my own hands for two years. We have included the finest crafted, hand tooled leather saddles the world has ever seen, and the hassock and braided reigns." Thera stood in front of her mount as the king eyed the magnificent creature standing there in the road. "The finest Themiscyra has to offer." she added.
The king smiled as he commented saying "Yes, indeed, the finest Themiscyra has to offer. Note gentlemen," he said to his men gathered there. "The sheen of the hair, like silk in the sun. The long lean legs, the gentle curve of the neck, the well formed muscles, the brightness of her eyes."
"King Vyakles," Thera interrupted to correct him. "Why these are all stallions."
Here the king gave a warm smile and a gentle laugh and it took Thera a moment to realize he was referring to Thera and not the war horse. Thera laughed shaking her head, hands on her hips delighted with the easement of any tension or nervous feelings. Now the king took this time to introduce his men to all of the women and Thera, in turn, introduced the excited, beautiful, anxious women to each of the men and they all walked together down the road leading their horses behind them as they went and talked and laughed getting to know one another better.
Now it only took a little while for Amara to become worried. She had known Thera all her life and she always knew Thera to be a very, calm, relaxed, reserved person. Intense in presence casting a long shadow through her commanding will, but here now, with this handsome foreign Greek king, Thera talked and laughed a lightness to her voice and, indeed, a brightness to her eyes of which Amara had never seen, what is called Shakiana Glory by the Tribes Of Israel, as if God himself was shining his light outward from her very being. Now here Amara was sore afraid she was bearing witness to Love, its very self, curling up in Thera's heart like a serpent. This would not do for Thera to fill up her heart with love for this king, for he had a queen and it was against the Themiscyran code of law to breed with a man who has given himself in marriage. Amara thought this over as she walked behind her commander and the king and soon she abandoned this course of thought for she knew Thera to be the most brave and honorable, law abiding citizen she ever had the pleasure of knowing. Amara knew in her heart and mind Thera would never jeopardize her rights and privileges bestowed by her nation over a man. Yet this was no ordinary man, this was a native son of Mother Greece herself, the blood of the great kings flowed through his veins, and this was no ordinary land, this was Sparta.
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