Jason had fled the stifling crowds of the city and the banter of his friends. Sure he knew that they meant well. If nothing they looked out for him in ways no other mates in life had ever done. Today though he was in no mood to deal with Pythagoras' sense of calm reason and one of Hercules' attempts at poking fun at him to make him feel better. No, what he needed was some peace and quiet. That was why he'd come to the beach, the same one where he came to Atlantis more than two years ago now.
How his life had changed! Jason did not even remember who he used to be. From the day he had arrived in the legendary city he had to run and in so many ways he felt like he had never even stopped running… though admittedly his reasons for doing so had changed drastically.
As the waves of the sea lapped at his bare feet Jason wondered for a moment what would happen if he swam back out into the water and sought for a portal back home. Would such a thing even exist? And if it did would he swim through?
With a shake his head Jason could not imagine why he would anymore. For it was in this foreign place he had found a home and lost his heart to a woman who made him go weak at the knees each time his eyes met hers across the distance between them. More than her beauty he admired her strength and devotion to her people. Ariadne had become his reason to stay and his reason to fight for Atlantis, in the hope that maybe he could change its destiny. Not that he ever spoke of his real reasons of course. It would not go down well at all if he spoke of their threatening future…
A 21st century lad and the Queen of the lost city. The match was so wrong in so many ways, as his friends kept pointing out, but why then did it feel so right in his heart? "You should forget her", Hercules had said only that morning. Of course the man was right in his advice, in his own annoying way.
Ariadne had to marry royalty, a Prince of a neighbouring town or someone of equal importance, not some guy who washed up on the shores of Atlantis. For the future of the city they both held dear their love could never be. She had told him this more than once and herself too. Maybe the more she said it the more they would believe it? No… Jason knew in his soul he could never give up on his love for her. It was too late for she held all of him in the palms of her hands and in turn he was devoted to her in every way.
The Queen and her loyal servant, maybe it made no sense, but Jason did not care any longer. Even if he could never have her in the way he wanted to she had him hook line and sinker for the man he he had become was wrapped up in her. Nothing and no one would stand in his way to protect her for as long as he drew breath.
Jason tied up the laces of his shoes with a sense of belonging. As he walked back to Atlantis he looked at its beauty and knew this was the last time he would look back to what he left behind. His future was here in the city of legends… with his Queen Ariadne.