Of Night Full of Surprises and Celebration
"When thunderclouds start pouring down
Light a fire they can't put out
Carve your name into those shining stars"
He said, "Go venture far beyond the shores
Don't forsake this life of yours
I'll guide you home no matter where you are"
One day, my father, he told me
"Son, don't let it slip away"
When I was just a kid, I heard him say
"When you get older
Your wild heart will live for younger days
Think of me if ever you're afraid"
He said, "One day, you'll leave this world behind
So live a life you will remember"
My father told me when I was just a child
"These are the nights that never die"
My father told me."
- The Nights by Avicii
The city of Thebes had endured another hardship and even though the restoration had only just begun, the survival of the city-state was in itself enough of a reason to celebrate. Or at least king Creon felt so, and last few weeks his palace had been bustling with people filling his orders and preparing for the up-coming celebration.
From time to time, Meg had been summoned to the palace as well to take part in the preparations. King Creon seemed to assume that Meg was ready to take up her duties as his eldest daughter once again: Meg, on the other hand, wasn't too sure about that.
Hercules wasn't too sure where he stood with Meg's father, but whenever he could, he would attend as well: Meg hadn't said anything aloud, but it seemed that the visits to the palace were much more tolerable for her part when he was around. Meg was grateful that her Wonderboy seemed to always be there for her when she needed him. Just his company was enough to soothe the worst of her anxieties.
Besides Meg, Hercules, Cassandra and Icarus had been invited to the party as well: they had after all helped with the favorable outcome of the battle. As a member of the royal family, Meg had been summoned to arrive earlier the rest of them. Meg mused that it was surely because they wanted to groom her and dress her up 'like a proper princess': the contempt was evident in her voice as she said this. Nevertheless, she had agreed to follow the requirements sent by her father.
So there were only the three of them Hercules, Cassandra and Icarus, as they arrived to the party.
The palace was now brimming with people in their fancy clothing and there were all kinds of delicious smelling dishes on the long tables. The servants were running around with their trays filled with goblets of wine. Hercules grabbed one for himself and Cassandra and Icarus followed his suit. It was very strong judging by it's taste, Hercules decided to stay cautious with it, feeling uneasy being surrounded by the mass of people.
He tried to look around him, but didn't see Meg yet. He did spot the queen-mother Harmonia further away, talking with an older man. However she did notice Hercules looking at her and slightly smiled, nodding her head at him in acknowledgement. Hercules smiled back, happy to know that he was at least in Meg's grandmother's graces.
And he did spot king Creon with a goblet on his hand as well, talking to his guests. He smiled and talked, but still, his face seemed terribly pale. The dim light made his wrinkles and hollow cheeks stand out even more.
"So, you're gonna marry well, huh?" Cassandra took in her surroundings with a slightly impressed look on her face.
"That's my Herc-meister, you sly dog, you!" there was already a slight slur evident in Icarus' voice and Hercules internally sighed. His friend really couldn't hold his liquor.
Then the three of them heard an audible gasp. At the same time, the people started to move closer to the staircase leading to the second floor of the palace. As Hercules' eyes trailed to that direction as well, he could almost feel how his jaw hit the floor.
It was Meg, making her way down the stairs with her sisters Henioche and Pyrrha, and yet… It wasn't her. Her hair was up in elaborate way and she wore a white, flowing dress with golden jewellery, her crown standing out especially. Her sisters were dressed in a similar fashion and they were lovely as well, but Meg… Hercules had never seen anything as lovely as she was. Judging by the expressions, Icarus and Cassandra were almost as taken aback as he was.
"Sweet Aphrodite…" he heard Icarus muttering from his side.
"Yeah…" was all Hercules could muster out.
"So you found yourself a princess, huh?" Cassandra gave an amused side-way glance to her friend, but Hercules couldn't think up anything smart to reply at his friend as his eyes followed his beloved.
Meg had made her way to the foot of the stairway and the people before her were kneeling, murmuring things like: "Your Highness" or "Your Highness is more radiant than ever". Meg nodded at them calmly as she passed them. She made her way around the audience with her sisters and then moved closer to their father. The king nodded at his daughters, and then started to speak.
"As you all know, our troops fought bravely and faced an impossible threat. Yet, thanks to their bravery, we survived and our city-state endured!" The king announced, rising his goblet in his hand. The people cheered at him, mimicking their king's gesture and raising their goblets as well.
"Yet there is more news to be announced," the king suddenly continued and the crowd grew silent.
King Creon took Megara's hand to his own.
"As you may know, my long-lost daughter has recently returned by the grace of the almighty Gods. Our victory would not have been possible if the hero of our city-state, Hercules, the son of almighty Zeus himself, would have not aided us. It is my pleasure to announce, that my royal bloodline will be joined to that of the Olympian Gods themselves as my beloved daughter Megara will marry mighty Hercules. Soon royal wedding feast will be held to commemorate this joyful day!" The king announced and raised his goblet to direction of Hercules with other hand and Meg's hand with his own with the other. Meg seemed surprised as well and her eyes flickered to the direction of Hercules.
Now the crowd cheered even more loudly and few of the by-standers clapped Hercules' shoulder to congratulate him. Hercules stood there in shock, completely was taken aback by this newest development. Taken by the confused face of Meg's, her father had not told her beforehand either. It was good that their engagement had been finally approved and announced by the king, yet they had made the decision to get married among themselves a while ago: so in a sense, it felt as if the announcement had arrived delayed. And yes, he would have preferred a different approach to the situation.
"You had no idea?" Cassandra made sure as she studied her friend's surprised face.
"No, I thought he was still against me marrying her daughter…" Hercules shook his head slowly as he replied.
After the king announcement, Meg exchanged few words with her father and his current guests. She started her way towards Hercules and their friends, but she was stopped several times as everybody wanted to congratulate her on her up-coming wedding. Politely Meg nodded and responded to the complimentary words she received in her way. She was perfectly calm and composed: now Hercules could truly see, that she really was of royal blood.
While waiting for her beloved, Hercules and Cassandra were able to exchange few words with Henioche and Pyrrha, who were passing by as they socialized with their guests. Slightly intoxicated Icarus had wandered off somewhere, probably wanting to refill his cup, but Cassandra took his current absence as a blessing.
"You both look lovely this night," Hercules complimented Meg's sisters. Henioche replied something back, but her softly muttered words were impossible to make out, her cheeks colored in rich crimson.
"But not as lovely as our eldest sister?" Pyrrha jabbed back.
Now it was time for Hercules to feel the blush coloring his cheeks.
"Well, I, yes, no, I mean-," he muttered back, feeling awkward.
"He's always this eloquent," Cassandra piped in, feeling smug.
"Anyway, I meant to thank you for your help during the battle, it would have been impossible without you two," Cassandra continued, recalling the faithful day of the battle.
"Meg told me as well. What you did was really brave. Thank you, both of you," Hercules agreed, finding his ability to speak once again. Henioche's blush grew even deeper as her celebrity crush was now acknowledging her feats.
"No need to thank us. We did our duty for the city-state. Grandmother always says that every little thing counts, so if you can do something, than you should," Pyrrha countered back in an almost challenging manner. Somehow her demeanor reminded Hercules so much of Meg when he had first met her, that he almost felt a smile tugging on his lips.
"Your grandmother is a wise woman," Hercules simply stated.
"Agreed," Cassandra nodded, remembering her brief encounters with the older woman.
"She is. Well, I guess congratulations are in order for you and Meg. Take good care of our sister. I mean it. I'm coming for your demi-godly behind if you don't," Pyrrha warned, looking very serious.
"Pyrrha!" Henioche squealed, appearing aghast.
"Your warnings are duly noted. I will, I promise," Hercules agreed, ignoring Cassandra's smirks beside him.
"Good. Well, we need to greet the other guests as well. Come Henioche, we should get moving," Pyrrha encouraged her older sister, who seemed reluctant to leave the hero, but eventually did so after shooting a shy smile at Hercules.
"Hmm, Pyrrha does share that feistiness with Meg," Cassandra noted.
"I was literally thinking of the same," Hercules mused.
"Speaking of Meg…" Cassandra muttered as a familiar figure approached them.
"Hi," Meg breathed out as she finally made her way to them.
"Hi yourself," Hercules drank in the sight of her, admiring her beauty.
"You had no idea either?" Hercules made sure as he moved closer to her.
"No… I have no idea what changed father's mind," confused Meg shook her head.
"Well, whatever it was, I'm glad. You look… Breathtakingly beautiful," Hercules told her, taking her hand in his.
Meg smiled almost timidly, looking back at him: "Thanks, you don't look bad yourself."
"Don't mind me then…" Cassandra murmured, feeling additional amongst the meeting of the two lovers.
Suddenly there was a loud metallic bang as the one of the metal trays hit the stone-floor. The people were shouting and Hercules noticed that the king was down. He also noticed a young man dressed as a servant, trying to get a way from the scene. Hercules' training kicked in and he sprinted after him. After that, everything happened in a blur.
"The king, the king has been poisoned!" someone shouted. Meg, on the other hand, made quickly her way to her father, who was laying on the floor, gasping for air. Her sisters quickly followed her suit, surrounding their father.
"Is there anyone who can help him?" Meg shouted out and a man, introducing himself as a well-known healer, came to her aid.
Five soldiers had already made their way to them and Meg gave them the orders to take the king and the healer to her father's bedroom. It was only matter of time could the healer help her father or not, but Meg prayed that the Gods were kind enough to show him some mercy that night.
-A/N: Did I just end a chapter in a cliffhanger? It seems like I did. Oops, sorry for that, I'll promise I'll continue this story as soon as possible! Hope you enjoyed the newest chapter and take care!
Shout out to the Guest: Did I manage to surprise you? I hope I did and that you enjoyed this! *wink wink*