As King Vyakles and Admiral Vasha, accompanied by the King's bodyguard some twenty two men, and a few of Vasha sailors, made their way down to the southern harbour they found all the women of Themiscyra standing beside their Queen, robed in her flowing purple garments and golden crown of stars; which shimmered in the bright full moonlight. Each were taking a handfuls of wine from a large amphora scattering the blood of the grape upon the waters at the shore, incanting ancient prayers to the God of the Sea, saying "Take this wine oh, Poseidon and drink of me, keeping me ever safe upon your Seas."
As the women said their prayers Admiral Vasha set his crew to work, checking the rigging, sails, water, wine and provisions, letting loose a few cats down into the cargo hold to rid the ship of any vermin, etc.. King Vyakles set himself down on the small fighting-deck of the ship in a large wooden chair; which had griffon's and sea serpents carved into it, as the oarsmen went below deck to prepare for departure. Here the women were escorted aboard by the King's Physician Kaderios and a few of the aged mother's of Sparta who came to bring gifts of flowers to the women, whom they now felt akin to as many of the foreign women could be mother's of Spartan sons. Queen Thera was touched by this display of affection and the loving kindness expressed by these 'grandmothers' to her and her breeding ladies. This show of warmth and genteelness helped the anxious women as they boarded the three tiered ships, called a Trireme; which had three rows of oarsmen on each side of the narrow hulled ship, with a wide outrigger and three masts. Now the ship itself was an impressive, opposing war machine, a finely crafted, swift vehicle of death, but what was most impressive and awe inspiring was the vast numbers of ships moored there in the harbour, there must have been hundreds of them floating along the many piers there in the water, in the early night, the sky black, the moon full surround by an endless sea of shining stars.
Queen Thera was feeling a bit more relaxed, as were all the ladies, as the strong concoction given to them by Kaderios had begun to work its magic in their blood. Queen Thera bade all her ladies to rest inside the plush tents provided by the King. Here all her ladies, Kayla, Amara, Lexa, Jessa, etc..., were happy to take their leave and retreat to the arms of Morpheus under their duress and fear of the open waters. The Queen's Physician Jessa was glad to find one of the ships cats, a fat, black, old tom with orange eyes and silken fur; which came and curled up beside Jessa as she drifted off to sleep.
While Vasha set the crew to depart, the two ships easily slipped out from the moorings out into the deep waters under the power of the one hundred and eighty oarsmen. Soon thereafter, a strong warm air current blew up from North Africa, filling the sails with a quick wind as the two ships glided along the shimmering waters of the Aegean under a full moon. The scent of salt and seaweed heavy in the humid air, dew forming on the endless array of ropes and wooden railings. Queen Thera sat beside the King of Sparta saying very little, just enjoying the sounds of the water lapping against the vessel, the sound of the wind in the full- furled sails, the Admiral occasionally shouting out orders. Queen Thera became a little sea sick with the rocking of the ship to and fro over the waves. The King instructed her to gaze up at the moon to ease her dizziness and nausea, his advice served her well. However, upon gazing up at the moon, staring into the bright and shining face of Artemis herself, Queen Thera became transfixed, in a sort of hypnosis, soon she found herself, after a moment, holding hands with Vyakles. Queen Thera did not even realize she had reached out for him when he took his beloved Thera by the hand. So they sat there together, unashamed to show a bit of affection towards one another publicly. For all her ladies were sleeping and the King's men did not care, in fact all the King's men had been encouraging Vyakles to secure a male heir for Sparta by any means.
As the women said their prayers Admiral Vasha set his crew to work, checking the rigging, sails, water, wine and provisions, letting loose a few cats down into the cargo hold to rid the ship of any vermin, etc.. King Vyakles set himself down on the small fighting-deck of the ship in a large wooden chair; which had griffon's and sea serpents carved into it, as the oarsmen went below deck to prepare for departure. Here the women were escorted aboard by the King's Physician Kaderios and a few of the aged mother's of Sparta who came to bring gifts of flowers to the women, whom they now felt akin to as many of the foreign women could be mother's of Spartan sons. Queen Thera was touched by this display of affection and the loving kindness expressed by these 'grandmothers' to her and her breeding ladies. This show of warmth and genteelness helped the anxious women as they boarded the three tiered ships, called a Trireme; which had three rows of oarsmen on each side of the narrow hulled ship, with a wide outrigger and three masts. Now the ship itself was an impressive, opposing war machine, a finely crafted, swift vehicle of death, but what was most impressive and awe inspiring was the vast numbers of ships moored there in the harbour, there must have been hundreds of them floating along the many piers there in the water, in the early night, the sky black, the moon full surround by an endless sea of shining stars.
Queen Thera was feeling a bit more relaxed, as were all the ladies, as the strong concoction given to them by Kaderios had begun to work its magic in their blood. Queen Thera bade all her ladies to rest inside the plush tents provided by the King. Here all her ladies, Kayla, Amara, Lexa, Jessa, etc..., were happy to take their leave and retreat to the arms of Morpheus under their duress and fear of the open waters. The Queen's Physician Jessa was glad to find one of the ships cats, a fat, black, old tom with orange eyes and silken fur; which came and curled up beside Jessa as she drifted off to sleep.
While Vasha set the crew to depart, the two ships easily slipped out from the moorings out into the deep waters under the power of the one hundred and eighty oarsmen. Soon thereafter, a strong warm air current blew up from North Africa, filling the sails with a quick wind as the two ships glided along the shimmering waters of the Aegean under a full moon. The scent of salt and seaweed heavy in the humid air, dew forming on the endless array of ropes and wooden railings. Queen Thera sat beside the King of Sparta saying very little, just enjoying the sounds of the water lapping against the vessel, the sound of the wind in the full- furled sails, the Admiral occasionally shouting out orders. Queen Thera became a little sea sick with the rocking of the ship to and fro over the waves. The King instructed her to gaze up at the moon to ease her dizziness and nausea, his advice served her well. However, upon gazing up at the moon, staring into the bright and shining face of Artemis herself, Queen Thera became transfixed, in a sort of hypnosis, soon she found herself, after a moment, holding hands with Vyakles. Queen Thera did not even realize she had reached out for him when he took his beloved Thera by the hand. So they sat there together, unashamed to show a bit of affection towards one another publicly. For all her ladies were sleeping and the King's men did not care, in fact all the King's men had been encouraging Vyakles to secure a male heir for Sparta by any means.
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