Leonidas awoke regretful, as did Gorgo though she did not wake alone. Their son woke her with the loud cries of a hungry child. She moved him to her breast so that he could feed, and her eyes scanned the room, hoping to see that Leonidas had returned to her some time while she and the child had slept.
He was not with them, and Gorgo felt her heart drop. I should not have denied him, nor accused him, she thought mournfully. Gorgo put a hand to her middle, where once their child had dwelled. She felt strangely empty now, despite the new fullness in her breasts and heart. Gorgo sighed slightly, feeling foolish as she looked at herself in the morning light.
The midwife's muddled words returned to her, warning her to beware her husband's attentions, for she needed time to heal and to recover her figure. The queen could never appear undesireable; it would take hard work to recover her body from the birth. Gorgo stroked her son's soft, bare back.
I am a Spartan queen, no challenge is too great.
Gorgo did not fear the exercises all Spartan women went through to recover themselves after a birth, she only feared that she would not be able to recover Leonidas.
Androcles was an old warrior, a former king, a widower, a father and now, a grandfather. He felt blessed by Zeus in all ways, and gave his thanks every day. After dressing himself, he descended from his private chambers and went in search of his son, his daughter in-law and his grandson. He felt he had not seen enough of his grandson the night before, he wanted a look at the boy in the bright light of day.
He headed toward the chambers of the new royal family, and was bade to enter. Gorgo was sitting on the bed, resting, while the babe was sleeping beside her. "Good morning, little queen," he greeted her.
She smiled at him, but he noticed that the smile did not reach her eyes. "Good morning, second father. Did you sleep well?"
Androcles shrugged, feeling that there was something he was missing. "Well enough. Are you well?"
Gorgo nodded. "Yes, I am well. The midwife left moments before you arrived, she said that I am strong and will be able to leave the bed soon, perhaps as soon as later this afternoon, if I am able."
He nodded. "No need to hurry, Gorgo. My wife birthed me three sons, each more trouble than the last," He said, hinting.
Gorgo glanced up. "No, I cannot remain in bedrest. There is too much to do."
Androcles felt that she was avoiding his silent question. Women had strange ways of speaking. "Gorgo, where is my son?"
To his surprise, Gorgo bent forward to cry, "I do not know where he has gone! We...we had an arguement last night and he left...Hera, I am such a fool!"
Androcles moved to sit down beside her and put a hand on her back, stroking her for comfort. "Gorgo, Gorgo, please tell me what happened."
Gorgo swallowed, and began to tell the former king what had happened between them.
Moments after she explained, Androcles stormed out, ready to thrash his son.
Androcles strode about the palace, demanding his son's whereabouts to anyone he found walking through the grand corridors. Finally, a small, scared little helot said that he had seen the king wandering near the central gardens earlier in the morning. Androcles chastised himself for not having thought of that area first, but paid it no mind as he left the building to step outside.
He stalked through the gardens, ready to burn the entire area if only he would be able to find his idiot son. "Leonidas, damn it all, where are you?" Androcles bellowed.
"Father?"
Androcles plowed through a large fern, uncaring of the efforts the palace gardeners would need to apply to repair the damage. He did not hesitate to stride directly up to Leonidas and shove him hard in the chest. Leonidas took a step back to recover his balance, but he did not try to fight his father. They had not fought since before Leonidas was taken away for the agoge, but he did not relish a bout of sparring.
"Leonidas, you are such a fool! How could you have said such a thing to your wife on the very day she gave birth to your son? Do you hope for a war within the palace?"
Leonidas took a deep breath, sighing. "Father, I already know that I am a fool; there is no need to tell me. As you can see, I have one of the most revered Spartan poets to help me. Perhaps sweet words will erase the harsh words from the night before." He said, gesturing to a young man that was standing near the central fountain, several parchments were strewn about him on the ground, scribbles covering them all.
Androcles shook his head. "She does not wish for flowery words written by another man, Leonidas. You'd be better off writing prose yourself."
Leonidas smiled wryly, his first smile that day. "You say that now, but as you know I've never been giften with prose and poems."
"Then you ought to go forward and see her yourself, Leonidas. She seems empty without you."
The king looked up toward the balcony that led to the royal bedchambers. "You think so?"
"There were a few occasions where I said more than I should have to your mother; disharmony is not good, Leonidas. It will eat away at you until you can think of nothing else. You are king, there is no room for misunderstandings here. Go, son."
"You think I should just go to her now?"
Androcles considered for a moment. "Son, after what you said last night, perhaps a few prose and flowers might be wise."