Title: Moonstruck
Author: Christabelle (one of the Sweethearts)
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Dunno.. read and find out! "Give each blossom to any maiden of your choice, and that maiden will match that of the flowers. Forevermore, that will by thy gift."
CHAPTER 1: "Creation of the Oreads"
Once upon a time, in the far away kingdom of Constantinople, there lived a young king named Priam Nostradamme and his fair queen Alcyone. Priam and Alcyone ruled with great dignity and respect for all their subjects and so were loved by all. Now, Priam was unarguably a sound and reasonable king, but he unfortunately lacked the skills of battle tactics, so the Constantinople constantly had the threat of Turkish forces at its back. But, nevertheless, Priam still managed to defend Constantinople and, not to mention, all of the Byzantine Empire. His people and empire were flourishing beautifully, and that, to Priam's own judgment, was Priam's most outstanding achievement.
However, only two years after Priam and Alcyone's reign, Priam fell ill and died on a campaign to Wales. Full of grief after her husband's death, Alcyone took her own life. All of Constantinople lamented for the sovereigns. Unfortunately, the former king and queen had not conceived a successor, so Priam's nephew Heracles de Paradis took to the throne along with a most bedazzling bride from Britanny named Amphitritus of Arawn.
Consequently, Heracles was not as judicious as his uncle, but his knowledge of the battlefield bore an impeccable luster that no other could emulate, or so all his subjects presumed. The Byzantium Empire was no longer at the whim of the Turkish force and its most hateful sultan. By then, Constantinople was the bustling center of economy and commerce throughout the world. Its beauty brought numerous merchants, soldiers, and fortune hunters seeking excitement and the beauteous wonders of Constantinople.
The royal family itself possessed a treasure worthy of crossing the gold-lined gates of Olympus. This certain treasure was something Heracles took upon himself to make possible when his political affairs (save war tactics) were unceremoniously left to his most trusted advisors of the court. Throughout Heracles' domain lies beautiful mountains, forests, streams, waterfalls-lairs that, despite their breathtaking scenery, do not attract even the bravest of adventures. Dangerous, they might not be, but only an inane person would foolishly lead an expedition into the domain presided over by the unpredictable gods. Jupiter, in his powerful rule over all earth and Olympus looked to all mankind fairly, but, in his preoccupation over numerous infidelities, assigned the goddesses Discord and Strife to maintain balance in the serenity of Constantinople's natural surroundings. Discord and strife, having served the god of war, Mars, keeps peace only to a land of no invading travelers. Anyone would be at the mercy of their enjoyment had he dared to venture into their lair.
Heracles, a great adventurer, longed to see Discord and strife's domain, so for 12 nights he gave offerings to the goddesses, with twice as much goods each night than the night before. And with that, Heracles was permitted to go as he pleased. The Cerynitian Forests, the Lagoon of Charybdis, the Alpheus streams, and the Mountains of Hyacinthus were a picturesque awe to Heracles. His visits were frequent and each time, he discovered a new wonder.
However, Discord and Strife's spiteful nature was a loss on Heracles' cause that his time to poach on their lair was only 12 days. The flavor of nature's creation still lingered on his tongue, so Discord and Strife permitted Heracles a token of their kindness.a souvenir, to be exact. They allowed the king of Constantinople to take with him seven blossoms form wherever the pleased, and Heracles chose the Falls of Scyllia, for there, blossoms of wondrous pulchritude flourished. Heracles chose a narcissus, hyacinth, Adonis flower, an orchid, a lily, petunia, and a blood red rose. Knowing that Heracles' gift will eventually wilt, Discord and Strife provided some closure.
To him, they said, "Thou hast maintaineth an boundless loyalty hence thy virtuous offering. The Scyllian blossoms, though beautiful in their temporary stead, will wilt in piteous despair. Preservation on our domain is seemingly quixotic. But, ahh! An idea to commemorate thy sighting. Give each blossom to any maiden of thy choosing, and that maiden's beauty, charm, and grace will match that of the flower. Forever more, that till by thy gift!"
And so he did. His wife, Amphitritus, in her admirable humility and fairness, refused a blossom when her husband offered one. She herself preferred a devotion to their 5-year-old son instead of a beauty or wit that she already possessed. From his royal kingdom, Heracles selected seven sweet girls, all still in swaddling clothes, on whom to bestow his gifts, in hopes that one of them may please his own son with her fair countenance.
To Lavinia, the daughter of Constantinople's highest-ranking vizier, Heracles gave the hyacinth. He then offered the Adonis bloom to Persephone, daughter of Constantinople's wealthiest merchant. The petunia went to the royal aster-at-arms' child, Electra. To the child, who was called Romaine, of his own favorite craftsman, Heracles gave the narcissus. The orchid went to Natali, the daughter of Constantinople's most renowned poet. The lily was offered to Elison, the daughter of Heracles' political councilman, whom he favored most.
"Only one flower left," thought Heracles, and he was at a loss of to whom he should give it. He stared at the blood red rose in his palm, and it gleamed back at him, or so he imagined it did. It was then that he realized how typical the bloom was, despite its striking, crimson epidermis. It was as if his rose was not as unique as the other blooms, and its stubborn thorns were a constant pain; it bled him several times. The rose lacked the originality of all the others, but its scent was wonderfully intoxicating. Heracles left it alone for several days to contemplate to whom he should give it and also to let his fingers heal. The thorns almost symbolized the flower's solitary existence, so its receiver must have the same quality.
Then and there, Heracles decided to give it to Selenity, a forgotten member of his own royal family. Selenity's mother was a distant cousin of Heracles (several times removed), and she died without revealing who the father of her illegitimate child was. Amphitritus, the philanthropist that she is, allowed the child to stay in the royal family without making an unneeded fuss. Heracles also thought it best. The child was always difficult and bawled constantly. It deserved the thorny rose.
As the maidens grew, they bedazzled Constantinople, along with all of Byzantine, with their promised beauty and elegance. The eldest, Lavinia, had locks of chestnut and mystical watercress eyes, who also could carry a tune quite well. Next is Persephone, tall and proud; she always flung her light flaxen hair and hazel eyes. Fair Electra was blessed with black-brown locks and violet eyes. Romaine, a little narcissistic herself, constantly primps her cranberry hair and forest-green eyes. Graceful Natali occupies a head of ginger petal hair and grayish-purple eyes. Elison was adorned with rose-pearl hair and cinnamon eyes. And the youngest, the last and seemingly almost always least, is Selenity, who herself possesses hair that color of dark piercing sunrays or ripe wheat fields of gold, which, if given the right judgment, almost exceeds the others. Her eyes, large and innocent, is the unforgettable cerulean of a clear sky on a fresh spring day.
The seven girls were between the ripe ages of nineteen and seventeen, and they were the virtually untouchable treasure of Constantinople. King Heracles and Queen Amphitritus admitted them all to royalty along with their kinsmen, if they were not already, and the maidens lived in comfort. Pampered by the servants and constantly adulated by all of Byzantine, the "Oreads of Scyllia" (their titled name) lived in the luxury of imperial Constantinople, beloved by all who know them. Heracles and Amphitritus' son Ephialtes had not chosen one of the Oreads as his father hoped, but he did select an equally elegant maiden named Ambrogina. However, Constantinople did receive a myriad of youths hoping to seek the interest of one of the seven Oreads.
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Dunno.. read and find out! "Give each blossom to any maiden of your choice, and that maiden will match that of the flowers. Forevermore, that will by thy gift."
CHAPTER 1: "Creation of the Oreads"
Once upon a time, in the far away kingdom of Constantinople, there lived a young king named Priam Nostradamme and his fair queen Alcyone. Priam and Alcyone ruled with great dignity and respect for all their subjects and so were loved by all. Now, Priam was unarguably a sound and reasonable king, but he unfortunately lacked the skills of battle tactics, so the Constantinople constantly had the threat of Turkish forces at its back. But, nevertheless, Priam still managed to defend Constantinople and, not to mention, all of the Byzantine Empire. His people and empire were flourishing beautifully, and that, to Priam's own judgment, was Priam's most outstanding achievement.
However, only two years after Priam and Alcyone's reign, Priam fell ill and died on a campaign to Wales. Full of grief after her husband's death, Alcyone took her own life. All of Constantinople lamented for the sovereigns. Unfortunately, the former king and queen had not conceived a successor, so Priam's nephew Heracles de Paradis took to the throne along with a most bedazzling bride from Britanny named Amphitritus of Arawn.
Consequently, Heracles was not as judicious as his uncle, but his knowledge of the battlefield bore an impeccable luster that no other could emulate, or so all his subjects presumed. The Byzantium Empire was no longer at the whim of the Turkish force and its most hateful sultan. By then, Constantinople was the bustling center of economy and commerce throughout the world. Its beauty brought numerous merchants, soldiers, and fortune hunters seeking excitement and the beauteous wonders of Constantinople.
The royal family itself possessed a treasure worthy of crossing the gold-lined gates of Olympus. This certain treasure was something Heracles took upon himself to make possible when his political affairs (save war tactics) were unceremoniously left to his most trusted advisors of the court. Throughout Heracles' domain lies beautiful mountains, forests, streams, waterfalls-lairs that, despite their breathtaking scenery, do not attract even the bravest of adventures. Dangerous, they might not be, but only an inane person would foolishly lead an expedition into the domain presided over by the unpredictable gods. Jupiter, in his powerful rule over all earth and Olympus looked to all mankind fairly, but, in his preoccupation over numerous infidelities, assigned the goddesses Discord and Strife to maintain balance in the serenity of Constantinople's natural surroundings. Discord and strife, having served the god of war, Mars, keeps peace only to a land of no invading travelers. Anyone would be at the mercy of their enjoyment had he dared to venture into their lair.
Heracles, a great adventurer, longed to see Discord and strife's domain, so for 12 nights he gave offerings to the goddesses, with twice as much goods each night than the night before. And with that, Heracles was permitted to go as he pleased. The Cerynitian Forests, the Lagoon of Charybdis, the Alpheus streams, and the Mountains of Hyacinthus were a picturesque awe to Heracles. His visits were frequent and each time, he discovered a new wonder.
However, Discord and Strife's spiteful nature was a loss on Heracles' cause that his time to poach on their lair was only 12 days. The flavor of nature's creation still lingered on his tongue, so Discord and Strife permitted Heracles a token of their kindness.a souvenir, to be exact. They allowed the king of Constantinople to take with him seven blossoms form wherever the pleased, and Heracles chose the Falls of Scyllia, for there, blossoms of wondrous pulchritude flourished. Heracles chose a narcissus, hyacinth, Adonis flower, an orchid, a lily, petunia, and a blood red rose. Knowing that Heracles' gift will eventually wilt, Discord and Strife provided some closure.
To him, they said, "Thou hast maintaineth an boundless loyalty hence thy virtuous offering. The Scyllian blossoms, though beautiful in their temporary stead, will wilt in piteous despair. Preservation on our domain is seemingly quixotic. But, ahh! An idea to commemorate thy sighting. Give each blossom to any maiden of thy choosing, and that maiden's beauty, charm, and grace will match that of the flower. Forever more, that till by thy gift!"
And so he did. His wife, Amphitritus, in her admirable humility and fairness, refused a blossom when her husband offered one. She herself preferred a devotion to their 5-year-old son instead of a beauty or wit that she already possessed. From his royal kingdom, Heracles selected seven sweet girls, all still in swaddling clothes, on whom to bestow his gifts, in hopes that one of them may please his own son with her fair countenance.
To Lavinia, the daughter of Constantinople's highest-ranking vizier, Heracles gave the hyacinth. He then offered the Adonis bloom to Persephone, daughter of Constantinople's wealthiest merchant. The petunia went to the royal aster-at-arms' child, Electra. To the child, who was called Romaine, of his own favorite craftsman, Heracles gave the narcissus. The orchid went to Natali, the daughter of Constantinople's most renowned poet. The lily was offered to Elison, the daughter of Heracles' political councilman, whom he favored most.
"Only one flower left," thought Heracles, and he was at a loss of to whom he should give it. He stared at the blood red rose in his palm, and it gleamed back at him, or so he imagined it did. It was then that he realized how typical the bloom was, despite its striking, crimson epidermis. It was as if his rose was not as unique as the other blooms, and its stubborn thorns were a constant pain; it bled him several times. The rose lacked the originality of all the others, but its scent was wonderfully intoxicating. Heracles left it alone for several days to contemplate to whom he should give it and also to let his fingers heal. The thorns almost symbolized the flower's solitary existence, so its receiver must have the same quality.
Then and there, Heracles decided to give it to Selenity, a forgotten member of his own royal family. Selenity's mother was a distant cousin of Heracles (several times removed), and she died without revealing who the father of her illegitimate child was. Amphitritus, the philanthropist that she is, allowed the child to stay in the royal family without making an unneeded fuss. Heracles also thought it best. The child was always difficult and bawled constantly. It deserved the thorny rose.
As the maidens grew, they bedazzled Constantinople, along with all of Byzantine, with their promised beauty and elegance. The eldest, Lavinia, had locks of chestnut and mystical watercress eyes, who also could carry a tune quite well. Next is Persephone, tall and proud; she always flung her light flaxen hair and hazel eyes. Fair Electra was blessed with black-brown locks and violet eyes. Romaine, a little narcissistic herself, constantly primps her cranberry hair and forest-green eyes. Graceful Natali occupies a head of ginger petal hair and grayish-purple eyes. Elison was adorned with rose-pearl hair and cinnamon eyes. And the youngest, the last and seemingly almost always least, is Selenity, who herself possesses hair that color of dark piercing sunrays or ripe wheat fields of gold, which, if given the right judgment, almost exceeds the others. Her eyes, large and innocent, is the unforgettable cerulean of a clear sky on a fresh spring day.
The seven girls were between the ripe ages of nineteen and seventeen, and they were the virtually untouchable treasure of Constantinople. King Heracles and Queen Amphitritus admitted them all to royalty along with their kinsmen, if they were not already, and the maidens lived in comfort. Pampered by the servants and constantly adulated by all of Byzantine, the "Oreads of Scyllia" (their titled name) lived in the luxury of imperial Constantinople, beloved by all who know them. Heracles and Amphitritus' son Ephialtes had not chosen one of the Oreads as his father hoped, but he did select an equally elegant maiden named Ambrogina. However, Constantinople did receive a myriad of youths hoping to seek the interest of one of the seven Oreads.