Welcome back, readers. Tonight, I bring for you the story of Niobe and her brood. I choose to use Ovid's version because... Well, I like Ovid. That's my only reason. It's doubly awesome, because it's actually a birthday present... In reverse. What I'm trying to say is it's my birthday, so review. Lmao.
This was also interrupted by my (incredibly rare) social life, work and an earthquake, so I'm kind of surprised it's even done...
Gripe: The day I started writing this, I saw Clash of the Titans. I loved seeing an Aussie in a blockbuster, hated that he has a very strong accent. Sam didn't really fit. Lol. Saw an ad for another blockbuster with another Aussie though. Keep an eye out for a mate of mine in Eclipse. He'll be the awesome one. Lmao
Cast:
Artemis-Kai
Apollo-Miguel
Queen-Niobe
King-Amphion
Mariam- Leto
Ming-Ming- Hera
7 sons: None will be mentioned by name, so don't worry.
7 daughters: Salima and Julia are the only ones mentioned, so forget the others:)
Disclaimer: I own nothing, except a Hello Kitty jumper and pillow and a litre of Midori. I love my friends.
Queen Niobe was a proud woman. Her father, Tantalos, was a proud and powerful man, as was her husband, King Amphion. With him, she ruled with a heavy fist over Thebes. Her country people were just as proud as she, protected behind their 7-gated wall, producing the finest silks in all of Greece.
But what Queen Niobe was most proud of were her children. Her seven sons, all skilled hunters and warriors of Thebes, and her seven daughters, the most skilled weavers in Greece. She bore her 14 children for her husband, for nothing had made him happier than to have children to teach and shower with affection.
Naturally, this pride of Queen Niobe's made her boastful. To anyone who would listen, she would describe, in detail, the success and accomplishments of her sons. To those that would stop long enough, she would tug them towards her daughter's silks, showing off the skill and beauty that was poured into the fabric.
Queen Niobe was a proud woman. A proud, foolish woman.
Mariam was a woman of a certain standard. She was not a Goddess, but had children with a God, who were Gods themselves. Nothing had made her prouder than seeing her twins go to battle. Than seeing her eldest keep his divinity. Than seeing her youngest bring dawn to the world every day.
Her eldest, Kai, was the God of the Hunt, and the Eternal Virgin. He was amongst the most beautiful on Olympus, his beauty only made more apparent by the knowledge that no God, or mortal, would ever have his hand.
Her youngest, Miguel, was the God of the Sun. Although not quite as talented in the hunt as his sister, he was still skilled, easily besting any mortal.
Mariam had nothing to be ashamed of in her two children. How many other mortal women had faced the Ming-Ming in order to have their children?
Being the kind of woman she was, Mariam was quite unrepentant. Women would pray to her, for the health of their children, and for protection from the Gods, and Mariam would aid them. Gods forbid those that spoke ill of her, however. Her children were merciless, and would protect their mother's good name until the end of Earth itself.
Queen liked her parties. She enjoyed boasting about her better life, and flaunting her riches to all her friends and family. It was on one such occasion that she foolishly erred.
"I don't see what's so great about her, to be honest." Queen slurred drunkenly to her friends "She has two children, and suddenly, she's so fantastic? Where are the prayers that I deserve, for I have born seven sons and seven daughters! She has her twins, but what are they? Zeus' bastard children, nothing but half-breed whelps, whereas my lot are all beautiful and talented. They have been bred to sheer perfection, and raised to be the best in all they undertake. And hers? The fag, who chooses to hunt like a man, yet takes none to his bed? What kind of man is he?! And the boy? He is less than nothing. God of the Sun, fah. The sun would rise without Miguel, as it did before he came."
Her congregation glanced around, warily. Kai and Miguel had ears everywhere, and would chance no ill-will towards their beloved mother. And Mariam! She would have her sons destroy the entire city if she saw fit. No, it was best for them to hold their tongues. Better Queen mad than Mariam. Much less would occur with Queen angry.
"What? You disagree?"
The women backed away, fearfully. Queen Niobe wasn't who they feared most, but she was certainly high up on the list.
Queen turned to her husband in a huff. "They always take her side. I'm better than Mariam, I've had more children, and my children aren't bastard half-breeds." King nodded absently. His wife always seemed to gripe about something. It was better to agree, than to risk her rage.
Mariam shook with rage. The words Queen spoke still echoed in her head. Miguel approached her first, stepping down onto the sand from his chariot.
"Mother? What distresses you so?"
Mariam took a deep breath. "We will wait for your brother. I desire something of the two of you."
The two stood silently, waiting for the elder son. Within minutes, Kai walked onto the beach.
Mariam sat the two Gods down in front of her. Taking another breath, she pondered as to how to explain to her children what she wanted.
"There is a country," She began "In which the Queen believes herself to be better than I, for she has born more children."
Kai bristled as Miguel leapt to his feet. "Why does this woman still live? We should kill her, and her brood, to punish her for her blasphemy!"
Mariam smiled and clapped her hands together. "Yes Miguel! That is what I ask of you! You will kill the sons, and Kai will kill the daughters! King and Queen will die last, and see their dead children lain before them!"
Kai stood. "Anything mother." Taking his time, he walked back up the beach, and out of sight.
Miguel hugged his mother, and stepped onto the chariot. "Before dawn, Niobe's brood will be slain."
The house was silent, its occupants having long since retired for bed, the servants, to their quarters. A breeze blew through the open entryways, bringing with it a chill only a God could incur. Kai walked swiftly across the stone floors, his brother following close behind. Both had bows drawn and arrows nocked. As they entered a long, stone hall, they split, Kai taking the left, Miguel the right. Silently, they shot arrows into the first two rooms, killing the sleeping inhabitants painlessly. Swiftly, the deadly duo moved onwards, until there were but two rooms remaining. Miguel shot his bolt, and turned to leave, before noticing his brother halt.
"What troubles you, brother?"
Kai started. He had not expected his brother to be silent, even to his ears. Kai turned back to the sleeping girl. She was no older than 15, still a child. Her dark hair curled around her face as she slept, rosy lips catching strands before they were blown away by her breath. He hadn't even looked at the other girls, but something about this one made him stop.
"I can't kill this girl. She will live. The punishment for King and Queen will be death, after they discover their thirteen children dead, and fourteenth missing."
Miguel stared at his stoic brother. He was not known for being compassionate. Miguel thought about this sudden change of personality. If Kai wanted this girl to live, then there must be something special about her.
Miguel nodded. "Fine, but grab her quick. I'll wake King and Queen."
Kai smiled softly. "Thank you, brother." In moments he had returned to Miguel's side, the girl thrown over his shoulder. The screams of Queen echoed down the stone hallway as she found her first child. With a glance between them, Kai and Miguel left, taking the child with them.
Queen threw herself over her oldest daughter. "Julia, my Julia. My darling girls, my handsome boys. Gone, all gone. Taken to Hades. Never to walk this Earth again." King walked into his daughter's room. He had done the count, and had checked each child had died.
"Thirteen, my love."
Queen raised her head. "Thirteen? Who lives?"
King shook his head. "I know not whether she lives, but Salima has no corpse. She appears to have been spirited away."
Queen shrieked. "This is her! This is Mariam! The bitch has ruined me and my family! I'll kill her! I'll destroy her like she destroyed my children!"
King stepped back. Queen was insane. There was no way she could hope to go up against Mariam, especially if her sons were involved. He left the room. He had to prepare to bury his sons. Tears ran openly down his face at the thought. He raised his hand to wipe them. As he lowered his hand, he saw another male in the room with him. Blonde hair floating about the man's face only confirmed King's suspicion. He was to die at the hand of Miguel. He lowered his head as the arrow was released. His last thought was for his sons.
Queen continued to rage and scream, cursing Mariam, Kai, Apollo and all they came in contact with. She was so busy screaming that she failed to noticed the appearance of a blue-haired God. Kai raised his bow and fired, hoping to stop the wailing quickly. Queen gurgled one last time, and collapsed.
Miguel stepped out of the palace. "No-one is to enter the palace. Any who do will die. That is the will of Mariam, mother of Miguel and Kai."
He left swiftly, content that none would ever compare their own children to that of his mother.
Kai took Salima to the mountains with him, where she became one of his maidens, sworn to chastity.
Uhhh... The ending sucks pretty hard... How do you have an epic massacre, and end it afterwards? Lol. Doesn't work well!
Anyway, it's 10:53pm (still the 27th. Lol) and I can't be assed writing more. If you have any thoughts on improving the ending, send them to me, and I'll see about fixing it later;)
Also, there are things in this story (and possibly the previous one) that will come up again, so any questions you have, may actually be answered very, very soon.
But(!) SetoKai: Yes, Kai is a boy. But he represents Artemis (and Miguel Apollo) so I make a lot of mistakes! If I do make any, and I miss them, then just drop me a note and I'll fix it. I think I got them all this time, but I thought I did last time too!!!
'Til next time!
Q