Last Chapter begins

     So, until the light of tomorrow's tragedy, Queen Thera hardened her heart to the consequences of her actions and treachery soon to follow. Here she donned a mask of a happy, harmonious, contented nature, belying the fact she would betray the handsome King Vyakles, who sat beside her pleased with the Queen's hospitality in great expectation of seeing his 'secret' son. Now, it is true, Thera herself did hold the King, her illicit lover, with a great regard of respect and admiration in her heart. She also felt a deep lustful affection for his physical presence. However, Queen Thera knew she held no love for Vyakles in her heart, for well she knew to love a man you must be beholden to him, and Thera was beholden to no one, not even herself. For she was not the same, a change had overtaken her heart and mind, she would even say her very soul had been affected. For she had lived for a good many years and seen many terrible things in her brief lifetime. She knew surely of only one thing, that was, there were too many things wrong with the world, there was much that, in her opinion, needed changing, an edification of the new world she was living in. Vast countries and Kings had seen their empires thrive and then defeated, many new ideas in science and medicine were coming out of the Eastern Nations, the beliefs in the old Gods began to fall away, hundreds of temples lay in ruin all over Egypt and the Peloponnese. So too, Thera wanted only to edify what she could in her own life, for herself and her children, and she would gladly make any sacrifice. She would easily give up being a Queen, for she only wanted to be free of the ancient rules of her Nation, and if she could/would not follow the law, then how could she lead? No, instead she had plotted with her co-conspirators who planned to take back ten of these 'sons of Sparta', and several men would be taken hostage, then of course they had to steal one of the Spartan Trade ships; which Queen Thera had ordered filled with supplies. The rebel Themiscyran women had all together, on this night, set about on a course that would force them to abandon their home, their life as they knew it would be gone. They all wanted a new life and could not bare to part with their sons. Soon, within hours, Themiscyra would lose a Queen, who would give up her crown and her royal status, privilege, wealth and honor, all with the help of her faithful nine co-conspirators of whom Queen Thera would not be able to make her escape, and that is what her departure would be, an escape. For if her subjects had any knowledge of her conspiracy and course of action she would have all her plans ruined, and could possibly be executed, of this legal matter Queen Thera was unsure. So putting all of these excited feelings, and the doom of History's eternal damnation, at the back of her mind the nervous Queen called for the Letter of Patronage to be brought to her as she sat upon her throne. The excited crowd waited on baited breath as she called out the names of the Themiscyran mothers, who came up one by one as Queen Thera called out the name of each of the fathers of Sparta, one by one. The mothers all came one after another presenting their son's to the Queen, here the happy, radiant, Queen smiled kissing each little boy on the forehead. Queen Thera  then gave each boy to the King of Sparta, who was well pleased and anxious to see. He was impatient though to see when Vasha would be called up to receive his 'son'. Each boy, 5 to 4 months in age, were all round, strong babies with bright shining green and hazel colored eyes, with light blond and copper colored hair, the trait of their mothers, each also had a small round circular scar on the back of the right hand. When the King remarked upon this, Thera explained all males born to a Themiscyran are marked/branded in this manner to prevent inbreeding with the daughters of Themiscyra, their sisters in the future. Now the last woman standing handed over the Queen's beautiful son over to her as the Admiral, the last man standing on the stage, was called before the Queen as she bade him to stand in front of her throne.
     "As for you Admiral Vasha, I trust you will raise this child and teach him how to fight, and sail upon the vast Seas. I pray you will also teach him how to keep the Peace." Queen Thera smiled kissing her beloved son upon the cheek as she handed the boy over to King Vyakles who took his son in his hands and his heart was lifted by the Graces, a mighty joy for him to see. Now here the crowd gathered at the tables noticed the King seemed even more exuberant, a joy to his eyes, brightness to his face as he held the last boy in his arms. In the great King's heart he had the deepest feeling of awe, as he held his long awaited, prized son he had longed for and prayed. Now at this moment as Vyakles drew in a deep breath he gazed down at his child, of his body and blood, this boy would someday be King. Here he held this little, helpless life in his hands; which had butchered men in battle. The brave, noble, King tried not to weep tears for this beloved precious joy he held in his hands. Love and Devotion settled into the King of Sparta's heart that day, and Vyakles knew he would never leave the boy, nor forsake him, this was the sacred promise Vyakles locked in his heart forever for the care and benefit of his son. Here he kissed his much loved son upon the cheek, as Queen Thera had, then slowly he handed the heir of Sparta over to Admiral Vasha who took great care cradling the King's son in his arms. Vasha played the part of father well before the crowd, however as he swore as the others to teach the boy of Respect and Honor and War, the Admiral added saying to the King "I promise to protect this child with my life and honor." King Vyakles understood this pledge of protection though this slipped right over the crowd's heads.
     The Queen bade the mothers and fathers to sit at the tables with their children and eat and talk with one another, it was at this point Queen Thera called out for her Royal Daughter to be brought out from the nearby tent; which served as a temporary nursery. King Vyakles was astonished to see his daughter, a perfect twin to the boy, whom had yet to be given a name. Admiral Vasha came over to see the baby girl who was identical to the green- eyed boy with copper curls in his arms.
     "Ladies and Gentlemen," Queen Thera arose from her throne speaking in a loud clear voice filled with love and pride saying "On this night, under the stars, our Goddess Artemis looking down upon us here, as we gather amongst these fragrant orchards, I present to you, my daughter, the heiress to my throne, and my reason to live and fight." Queen Thera raised her daughter above her head announcing "She shall be called from this day forward..," she paused for affect "SPARTA!" upon hearing the news the Spartan men rose to their feet cheering loudly and King Vyakles was so touched and honored he let a tear slip from his eye to his cheek and he felt at this moment the happiest he had ever been as he sat next to his beautiful Queen. Any thoughts of his wife, Queen Keeva, would not come to his heart and mind as Vyakles dreamt of the future and long visits to Themiscyra, and he looked forward to the next season for breeding. Yes, the king thought of many things there beside the Queen of Themiscyra as she called out for the entertainment to begin. It was good for the two to sit with one another in peace and harmony on this night, for in the morning King Vyakles would not be pleased, and if he had the chance tomorrow he would have loved to have spilled the blood of the Queen.