As the days passed Thera bade most of her time during the day with Admiral Vasha, as to keep up the pretense of a mated couple. She found much pleasure when he would take her out in a little boat upon the waters of the mountain lake; where Vasha taught her how to cast a net into the water and they gathered many fresh water carp; which fed the encampment that evening. Thera grew close to Vasha through their long conversations, and stories of battles and clever deceptions which led to victories. She greatly enjoyed the long horseback rides through the mountains and newly blooming forests and orchards of apple and pears, the endless groves of citrus trees. Yet, all the while, Thera felt no closeness for him sexually for he was more of a kin to her, as if he were an older, protective brother. Now Vasha himself felt a great deal of feelings for Thera and he did indeed feel the need to watch over her and keep her safe. So one morning he told Thera with a smile "As long as I am alive, I will see no harm shall come your way." With this pledge of eternal friendship Thera felt much more relaxed and at ease.
So it came to pass, one warm Spring day, King Vyakles commanded a handful of artists and sculptors to come down from Arcadia to create a testament to the 'Amazon Women', as they were referred to by the Greeks; which meant in the Greek language One Breast. Now of course this was due to the breast plates the women wore into battle, so Thera could understand the confusion. However, when the artists demanded the women warriors pose nude holding only shields and swords, Thera thought this was naturally preposterous as they did not fight, ever, without proper armor. One of the older sculptor's, whom Thera posed for, convinced her the depictions painted on the large vases were merely an idealistic representation of her ladies, not a realistic portrayal of a battle scene. Thera acquiesced, doing her best to be a good model for the artist of the king. So he told her to relax the left side of her body, leg straight, arm down at her side, next he had her move her hips all the way to the right, leg slightly bent at the knee, toes resting on the ball of her foot, then he positioned her shoulders moving all the way to the left, as she moved her head back to the right, in the direction her hips were pointed. He had her bend her right elbow and point with her right hand twisting her wrist slightly. The old man, with the hands of master artisan , explained this was the secret to all Greek statues, for in this posing of the model, the body seems almost ready to step forward, the angles providing motion without movement. Thera took in this knowledge, but art was not too much of an interest for her so she listened to the stories Vasha told her of his time at war upon the sea. The Admiral was good to come and keep her company as she waited for the artist to render a small figure of her in clay. Now when he had finished his prototype Thera was amazed at his rapid skill and the grace and beauty of the work, for she had never beheld her image captured in any form, other than the highly polished bronze mirrors of her home.
Now, as the day was winding down, just as the sun began to set far off in the west, Thera looked off on the eastern horizon where she watched, in awe, as Artemis the full moon arose in the heavens large, big and bright and white, shining in the reflection of her brother Apollo's golden rays of the setting sun. Never had she, nor many of her ladies, witnessed such a phenomena and this moment to her was in a word, spectacular. Now, off from the north, the Fates had conspired against Thera as a rider came down charging fast on a swift silver horse with urgent news from the Royal House of Themiscyra. Within the next three minutes Thera and lives of her warriors would be changed forever. All the women and men gathered along the road as they watched the rider approach galloping hard and fast towards Commander Thera.
So it came to pass, one warm Spring day, King Vyakles commanded a handful of artists and sculptors to come down from Arcadia to create a testament to the 'Amazon Women', as they were referred to by the Greeks; which meant in the Greek language One Breast. Now of course this was due to the breast plates the women wore into battle, so Thera could understand the confusion. However, when the artists demanded the women warriors pose nude holding only shields and swords, Thera thought this was naturally preposterous as they did not fight, ever, without proper armor. One of the older sculptor's, whom Thera posed for, convinced her the depictions painted on the large vases were merely an idealistic representation of her ladies, not a realistic portrayal of a battle scene. Thera acquiesced, doing her best to be a good model for the artist of the king. So he told her to relax the left side of her body, leg straight, arm down at her side, next he had her move her hips all the way to the right, leg slightly bent at the knee, toes resting on the ball of her foot, then he positioned her shoulders moving all the way to the left, as she moved her head back to the right, in the direction her hips were pointed. He had her bend her right elbow and point with her right hand twisting her wrist slightly. The old man, with the hands of master artisan , explained this was the secret to all Greek statues, for in this posing of the model, the body seems almost ready to step forward, the angles providing motion without movement. Thera took in this knowledge, but art was not too much of an interest for her so she listened to the stories Vasha told her of his time at war upon the sea. The Admiral was good to come and keep her company as she waited for the artist to render a small figure of her in clay. Now when he had finished his prototype Thera was amazed at his rapid skill and the grace and beauty of the work, for she had never beheld her image captured in any form, other than the highly polished bronze mirrors of her home.
Now, as the day was winding down, just as the sun began to set far off in the west, Thera looked off on the eastern horizon where she watched, in awe, as Artemis the full moon arose in the heavens large, big and bright and white, shining in the reflection of her brother Apollo's golden rays of the setting sun. Never had she, nor many of her ladies, witnessed such a phenomena and this moment to her was in a word, spectacular. Now, off from the north, the Fates had conspired against Thera as a rider came down charging fast on a swift silver horse with urgent news from the Royal House of Themiscyra. Within the next three minutes Thera and lives of her warriors would be changed forever. All the women and men gathered along the road as they watched the rider approach galloping hard and fast towards Commander Thera.
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