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Title: Is this Love?
Chapter 1- Fair young maiden-
In the time of Greek gods, their once lived a beautiful maiden named Thea. She was said to be the love child of Narcissus and Aphrodite, making her a demi-god. Many say she was born on Olympus, but when word of Narcissus's death came to Aphrodite, she no longer wanted the child. Thea was left on earth one night by a sea in Greece, bundled in the finest gold silk anyone had ever seen. Poseidon discovered the child lying on the beach and decided to take her in because he thought such a lovely child shouldn't have been left in the sand to perish. He named her Gelasia, which in Greek, meant inclined to laughter. She was the most breath taking site he had ever seen on earth, with a delightful sense of humor, beauty, and pride but could be a bit of a tease. When Gelasia turned fifteen he married her and she became goddess of the sea. Gelasia spent most of her time enticing mortal men and swimming in the sea. She lived in an underwater cave which Poseidon had named for her Ligia, meaning beautiful voice. Whenever Gelasia entered the cave she would sing and dance therefore hearing the echo of her own beautiful voice.
Patroclus was the first cousin of the great warlord Achilles. Achilles taught him how to fight and when to fight. They were men of no allegiance. Achilles had taught Patroclus that war and only war would satisfy his hunger. Therefore they ate, slept, and drank with only one thing on their minds, war.
As Achilles headed off toThessaly to fight, Patroclus was left with the next few days to himself. He didn't have any one to spar against and the thought of taking the day off to do nothing, was the last thing on his mind. He did spend a couple of hours in his yard perfecting his technique with his sword but it became very hot and humid, so he decided to take a walk to a secluded waterfall he had passed on his way home from the main square in Greece. The waterfall was surrounded by tall trees and bushes which required Patroclus to cut them down. Once he made his way through he walked down to the sea front.
"La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la ,la …" a lovely voice of a woman sang out.
Patroclus slowed his steps down and watched as a beautiful maiden bathed in the sea.
"Is someone there?" the maiden called, still singing underneath her breath.
Patroclus was too stunned to answer the maiden's call. He walked toward her, feeling like something was drawing him toward her.
She wore only a crown of seashells woven with seaweed. She was short and petite with long dark brown curly hair. Her skin was a radiant tan color, suggesting that she spent a lot of time there.
She laughed and said, "Do not be shy young warrior, for I was just leaving."
"No," he finally replied, "I will leave you be."
The young damsel emerged from the waters and retrieved her garments.
"Surely next time, perhaps you will join me?" the maiden asked playfully.
Patroclus was at a loss for words and before he could reply, she ran off. For the remainder of the day he couldn't get his mind off of her. She was the most alluring and exquisite woman he had ever seen. He even thought she might have been more beautiful than Aphrodite herself.
"Patroclus, why do you sit out here surveying the heavens?" Patroclus's mother asked him.
He stood up excitedly and said, "Mother, today I cam upon the most beautiful woman I have ever seen."
"Woman?" his mother asked surprised, "Patroclus, since when have you ever contemplated anything but war?"
Menoetius, Patroclus father joined them on the courtyard, "What is this I hear? About a woman?"
"Yes father, I came upon a woman today. The most beautiful woman I've ever seen."
"Well son, that doesn't leave much time for war now does it?" Menoetius asked his son with a chuckle.
Patroclus was angered by his parents. He knew he thought of war immensely, and the thought of death exicted him, but he knew he was capable of loving someone.
The next day he returned to the waterfall and surely enough the young maiden was there bathing. Before he approached her a bolt of lighting crashed down in front of her stopping him in his tracks. He sheilded his eyes from the bolt and when he looked back up a man appeared in front of the maiden.
"What do you want with me?" the maiden asked the man casually.
"Gelasia, my dearest one, you are the only thing on earth my heart desires," the man said holding the girl.
"Surely god of war, you have other matters to attend to?" Gelasia said not minding him.
Patroclus watched in disbelief as Ares, the god of war, perused this beautiful maiden named Gelasia.
"I am attending to a matter. That matter is you. When will you finally leave Poseidon and come join me as the goddess of war?" Ares asked her in a barbaric tone.
"When will you realize I am goddess of the sea? I am too joyous and beautiful to engage in trifles such as bloody wars," Galasia said to Ares.
"Yes, indeed that is true, but if you join me goddess, we will revel in the most rewarding matter at hand," Ares said kissing her cheek. Another light bolt struck, and then he was gone.
From the bushes Patroclus watched Gelasia continued to bathe without a care in world of what just happened.
"So dramatic isn't he?" Gelasia asked, with her back turned toward Patroclus.
"Were you addressing me?" Patroclus asked as he made his way to her.
She giggled, "You have worked hard today warrior, come join me won't you?"
Patroclus removed his sandals and tunic and joined the young woman in the sea.
"Isn't this delightful?" she asked swimming in circles around him.
"Yes," is all he could reply. He was deathly nervous for reasons he did not know.
"Tell me, what is your name warrior? I am Gelasia. I am certain you do not wish for me to refer to you as warrior all the time?" she asked sweetly.
"Patroclus," he answered.
"Well Patroclus, besides war, what else do you engage in?"
Patroclus cleared his throat and said, "I am a warrior. I do not toil with anything else."
"Does that mean you are not having fun with me now?" Gelasia asked timidly swimming towards the shore.
"No, I rather enjoy this," he replied following after her.
Gelasia collected her clothes lying on a rock and walked back towards the water.
"Where are you going?" Patroclus asked concerned.
She stared directly into his bluish-green eyes and said, "Now you wish me to stay with you?"
Patroclus felt dizzy and off balanced when he met her glance. Her eyes were the color of the sea and you could see the waves washing up on the shore in them.
"I did not mean to upset you," Patroclus said getting out of the water.
Gelasia walked up to Patroclus, her naked skin glistened under the boiling sun.
"Why do you fight?" Gelasia asked him annoyed.
"I fight because I was born to fight," Patroclus replied.
"Where does fighting get you?" Gelasia asked him moving even closer to him.
"It gives me, honor, respect, and discipline," he said as she placed her hand on his bare chest.
"What about love?"
Patroclus had never thought of love before seeing Gelasia. His answer came from his mouth but Achilles' head.
"Love leads to wars."
Gelasia back backed from him, slipped on her clothes, and then she said, "Love only creates happiness. By engaging in war you destroy it."
"I alone do not destroy love," Patroclus said trying to justify his statement.
Gelasia walked back up to him, and whispered in his ear, "Stick with your sword for love will not find you."
Patroclus looked down at her and then she ran off disappearing into the waterfall.
"Patroclus, dear cousin, I wish you could have join me in Thessaly," Achilles said un-mounting from his horse.
"How was your trip home cousin?" Patroclus asked giving Achilles a proud hug for it had been days since he last saw his cousin.
"Same as it always is, and same as it will always be," he replied slapping Patroclus on the back and walking them inside his home.
Patroclus had gone back to the waterfall everyday but he had not seen Gelasia there since their argument. He would wait until the sun was over the mountains and by the time he got home, it was almost time for daylight again.
"So what sorts of trouble have you gotten yourself into since I've been gone?" Achilles growled joyfully pouring himself a drink.
"Trouble? Cousin you are surely speaking in pretext. For it is you, who should tell me of all the troubles you have been in," he laughed scornfully.
"Ah, for you have caught me with my hands in the king's treasures," Achilles said with a grand smile, "Thessaly was filled with many gorgeous woman, many of whom I had stolen from their loathsome husbands."
"Let it be said that Achilles never does a good deed," Patroclus said toasting his cup with Achilles'.
Patroclus sat down at the table. Gelasia had crowed his mind once again.
"What woman has clouded your thoughts young warrior?" Achilles asked taking a sip from his chalice.
"Woman?" Patroclus blushed heatedly.
"Yes, woman. That is a look of a man on his wedding day and even more so at his funeral," Achilles said mockingly.
"I've met this young woman…" Patroclus started to say.
Achilles heard the elation in Patroclus' voice and sternly said, "If you wish to become a great warrior, woman shall have to wait. Your training should be top priority cousin."
"Training is my top priority," he said confidently not wanting to disappoint Achilles.
"Good then. Finish your drink and met me outside for practice."
Achilles and Patroclus fought in the courtyard for hours. Patroclus was particularly slow that afternoon.
"What is on going on in that head of yours?" Achilles asked Patroclus as he forced him on the ground with his sword.
"Nothing," Patroclus said escaping Achilles.
"Is that why you fight so poorly? Nothingness consumes you?" Achilles said as Patroclus' sword flew out of his hand.
"I think I should pay attention rather than converse with you," Patroclus said grabbing his sword from the ground.
"In time of battle, there will be many more distractions," Achilles growled, forcing Patroclus against a boulder with his sword to his cousin's neck.
Patroclus was exceedingly tired of his cousin's banter and wanted to take a break.
"Get your sword," Achilles ordered.
"Must we fight all day?" The mountains have now eclipsed the sun," Patroclus said trying to catch his breath.
"And war only commences in the daytime?" Achilles asked dropping his sword to the ground, "Is it that girl?"
"What girl?" Patroclus asked stretching out on the grass.
"Go see her," Achilles snarled.
"But cousin…"
"I said go see her. Talk to her, have fun with her, and make love to her. I want you to say good bye to this maiden," Achilles roared.
Patroclus did as his cousin ordered. He knew she wouldn't be there; she hadn't in a couple of days. He cut through the wild trees and bushes and walked up to the sea. After waiting for a few minutes he decided to leave.
"Why do you not you call for me?" Gelasia asked him as he walked away.
"You're here," Patroclus said slightly excited.
"I'm always here," Gelasia replied walking on the water to go up to him.
Patroclus stood there in astonishment, "You are, a god?"
"No, only half goddess," she smiled, wrapping her arms onto the back of his neck.
"Is that why Ares pursues you?" Patroclus asked jealously.
"All warriors are the same, temper. I've missed you greatly" she whispered.
"I hardly know you," Patroclus said.
"Of course you do. I am Gelasia," she laughed.
"I know, but…" he said as she pulled him into the water.
"Come with me!" she shouted cheerfully.
He hadn't been able to balance correctly until they stopped running.
"Where are we?" he asked her staring at the beautiful blue cave they were standing in.
"Home," she said holding on to his arm still.
"Home?" Patroclus asked confusingly.
"Home. We never have to go anywhere else, everything is right here, my love," Gelasia said softly.