The high clear notes of the lark's song drew Semele from a restless sleep at dawn. For a moment she lay still, relishing the silence of the palace, preparing herself to carry out the plan she had concocted the evening before. Briefly she considered requesting the aid of Venus, but found herself unable to form a coherent prayer.
So instead she let the memory of her mother's face fill her thoughts, recalled a myriad of comforting memories as her strength for what she was about to do. And in the secret places of her soul she begged the shade of Thebes's queen to bless her daughter's efforts, for she had also known like countless other women the fear, helplessness and bitter resignation of being given to a man without being offered a choice.
Thus armed with the strength of Mnemosyne and the knowledge that today her destiny would be decided, Semele rose and called for her slaves to help her prepare.
Within an hour she was ready. She had been clad in an exquisitely embroidered peplos, and her raven hair had been woven into an intricate braid secured by jeweled combs atop her head. Throughout it all Semele sat quietly, content to listen to the chatter of her servants and offer an occasional comment on their work. Only when the ceremonial veil was brought forward was her interest aroused. Slender fingers reached out to caress its fabric, marveling at the texture and delicacy of the material.
"Highness, everything is ready." Semele smiled warmly at Arianna, a slave girl who had served her since childhood who she counted a trusted friend. It had been Arianna who had kept watch while Semele and Ino had their adventures outside the palace, run to warn them when they were in danger of being discovered by their father or other slaves. Arianna who had found a way out of the palace skillfully concealed behind a tapestry, making it possible for Semele and Ino to come and go in secret.
"Princess, your father also sent you this." Arianna came forward holding out an intricately carved box. Semele took it carefully, wondering what on earth her father had sent. It was not often that she received a gift from Cadmus. She recognized the box, as one of many meant for jewels kept in safety within the palace. Whatever this object was, she knew it was only to be loaned to her as a symbol of the wealth and power of her house.
There was only one piece of jewelry kept in the royal treasury which her father would consider worth lending his daughter for her wedding. Her two eldest sisters had also received it on the morning of their marriages. A moment later her guess was proven right, as she removed the lid.
Wrapped in a finely embroidered cloth lay a necklace which had once belonged to her mother. Despite her worries over the approaching ceremony, Semele could not help staring at this precious family heirloom in wonder. Carefully she lifted the necklace from its wrappings, turning it so that it caught the morning light. Fashioned in the shape of two intertwining serpents, detailed in beautifully wrought gold, it was adorned with pearls, sapphires and emeralds.
Semele knew little of its history, apart from the fact that it was said to be a gift from the gods to her mother on the occasion of her wedding. Made by the god Vulcan, it was said to keep the one who wore it forever young and beautiful. There were also family legends which said that the necklace bore a terrible curse. Semele had always scoffed at that idea, knowing that many a noble family had a history of tragedy and that much of it was the work of their own choices not divine retribution.
Carefully unfastening the golden clasp, Semele let the necklace rest against her throat, welcoming its cool reassuring weight.
With the memory of her mother strong in her mind, and the knowledge that Ino would be close to offer support, Semele swept from the room.
Ino met her in the palace courtyard, paused for a moment to offer a look of encouragement before taking her place in the royal procession.
Athamas approached his betrothed, admiration and exasperation clear in every line of his aristocratic features. For a moment Semele faltered, knowing that she was as much at fault as the prince for their strained relationship. She had always been courteous, treating him as she had the other suitors who had come to request her hand in marriage. She could not pretend friendship or affection for Beotia's prince, and wasn't about to make the attempt now.
So she merely offered Athamas a quick respectful curtsy, before taking her place in the procession.
It had taken Alexandros son of Hector many years of study before he had been given the position of high priest. Many of his duties he enjoyed save for the role he was expected to perform in preparing a bride for her part in the wedding rituals. Many listened to his explanation of the ceremony with barely controlled impatience, or a preoccupation which he assumed meant they were thinking of either their betrothed or the preparations reserved for the women of the household.
But in Semele he had found an eager listener, attentive and intelligent, often asking a question or making an insightful comment which had prompted many a lively debate.
It had been during one of her visits to the temple that Semele had asked a question which was to become the foundation upon which she built her hopes for escaping her joining. She had questioned Alexandros closely concerning the source of the gods' power, and if they were obligated to help a mortal based on the ties of blood or kinship. He had told her all he knew.
Knowledge of the immortal realm was scarce and only discovered by priests or priestesses who possessed strong gifts in interpreting omens sent from Olympus. According to legend, and the knowledge gained through his training, Alexandros had replied that if a god remembered and honored that fragile connection to the mortal realm, there would always be a price for any aid that the deity chose to give.
Now as he waited for the royal procession to arrive, Alexandros wondered not for the first time what was destined by The Moirae for this headstrong daughter of Cadmus. He had to admire her creativity, for never before had he met a bride with so many excuses and reasons to delay her joining. If the situation had not been so serious, he would have laughed. Semele was a passionate and headstrong girl, and he could only wonder how long it would take before Cadmus lost his temper.
10 minutes passed before Cadmus drew Semele aside.
Daughter, this has gone on long enough. Both Athamas and I ask that you stop delaying the ceremony.
Athamas turned to Semele determined to somehow find a way beneath that cool indifferent mask she had presented at every one of their encounters. Hoping to defuse the tension between father and daughter, Athamas turned to Semele in the hope that she would listen to his entreaty.
"If not for me, then at least for the sake of our two kingdoms please join me at the altar."
Having run out of excuses, Semele nodded.
The wedding began with the customary sacrifices to Juno. All went well, and at last the time came for the bride to speak her petition. Semele glanced at the remnants of the first sacrifice, at the dying tendrils of smoke which had only moments before rose up before the statue of the queen of heaven.
If there was some truth to the old stories, then now was the time to act, when the goddess in whose honor the offering had been made had heard the prayers of her followers. For only after that portion of the marriage rituals could Semele beg the aid of Jupiter. He alone would hear her petition, for she planned to conceal it amidst the words she was required to speak. She would pour out in thoughts all that she could not express in the formal words of the ritual.
Gathering her courage, Semele took her place near the altar, with Athamas at her side.
It was time.
"Please, great Jupiter, son of Saturn, king of heaven, bringer of tempests, I ask that you look with favor on the joining of my father's house to the kingdom of Beotia.
She continued with the ritual, never faltering over the formal phrases or allowing her voice to waver. . But there came a moment when the cumbersome phrases of her petition were inadequate, nothing more than useless platitudes which could not convey all she desired to speak. She was grateful for the ceremonial veil which concealed her face, for it afforded her the luxury of allowing everything she had held back for so long to at last surface. The iron control she had fought so hard to maintain during her courtship shattered, broken by the cruel inevitability of her fate.
And Semele daughter of Cadmus wept. Tears of fury, frustration and sorrow
And recklessly she cast formality aside, offering up her soul's cry in its stead. Once released there was no stopping the torrent of thoughts now they had been unleashed.
"Please help me. I have no where else to turn, and cannot believe that I'm destined for Athamas.
If it is your will, and the decree of the Moirae then help me to accept what has been ordained.
But if I am meant to follow a different course, then I ask that the omens you read for my joining would reflect the path of my thread.
Do you not remember when we first met? I know our time together was short, but I have never forgotten it, and hope that on the strength of that memory alone you will not reject my petition.
I risk much in asking so boldly, but I cannot ignore the hope that my thread is not woven with Athamas's life."
Semele slowed the flow of her thoughts, having finished speaking the expected petition. Turning to face the assembled priests and guests, she let the final words of her mental petition take shape. There would be no turning back once she had made this request, all she had ever read or heard in conversation with Alexandros was clear about asking the help of an Olympian in the name of just one let alone two of the following claims. Which was probably why no one had ever dared to make the attempt with even a minor god, for once reached the final decision could not be challenged by any immortal being.
Once spoken, that request would ask the god to look deeply at the workings of The Moirae, to render a judgment based upon the call of destiny alone.
"By the spark of immortal fire I carry in my blood, by the tie of my family to you and your divine brethren, I ask that you, thunderer, lightning wielder, father of gods and men would heed my voice and let your will be known."
Utterly spent Semele turned towards Athamas to await his part in the ceremony. She could do nothing now but wait, and trust that the memory of a winter's night and the strength of a request made by right of heritage would be enough to grant her freedom.
Note from the authoress: Thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed this story, I'm grateful for all of the encouraging feedback.
Finally I've begun incorporating Handel's opera into my retelling, and having lots of fun in the process.
The fun thing about opera is that the audience is expected to accept what the characters sing without question.
Ten minutes into Act 1, Semele makes this very dramatic and gorgeous petition to Jupiter for his help, and you get the impression that she is very passionately in love with the god.
Unfortunately, Handel doesn't tell us how they met, just expects you to accept that part of the story, and with such gorgeous singing and amazing music that's not hard to do.
Come to think of it Greek legends have a tendency to be full of lots of stories where there are more questions than answers.
So I'm trying to come up with a convincing explanation for how Jupiter and Semele first met, which will be the subject of the next chapter.
Then it's back to the plot of Act 1 where things start to get really interesting for everyone involved.
The necklace Semele receives appears in a few Greek legends, most notably the story of Edipus.
The history I gave it is drawn from a number of stories where whoever was unfortunate enough to possess the necklace met with a gruesome death or fate.
Hope you all enjoyed this chapter.
Please don't forget to review.
