Note from the authoress: My apologies for any areas where the formatting of this chapter makes reading difficult, or places where italics turns up unexpectedly. It took me a while to get this part written, and the next chapter is almost completed so there shouldn't be a long wait for the next update.
As always feedback is welcome.
Thanks for reading.
Enjoy.
She was soaring upon the wind, joyous and triumphant, born to safety and the promise of passion on the wings of her lover. Never before had she known such freedom, such wild exhilaration as she was carried far above the mortal world. She felt no fear, for the strength of the talons which held her was greater than anything a mortal bird could ever hope to command.
And this was her lord's realm, one which she suspected he new intimately and would ultimately answer to his will alone.
As she soared through the clear morning sky, thoughts and questions warred for dominance within her mind. She had never dared to hope that her prayers could be answered, that she would actually win her freedom from a marriage not of her own choosing. Now all that she had longed for was within her grasp, and for the first time since her mother's death Semele was at a loss as to how she should react.
She might be the chosen lover of Jupiter but she knew him only through tales, and had little knowledge of the god behind the mask of king. One brief meeting a few winters ago was scarcely enough time to cultivate the relationship he would surely expect.
How was she to address him? My lord? Sire? All of the titles she had been taught from the cradle seemed insignificant when in the presence of a king amongst immortals.
Her escort turned his head slightly, and she could have sworn there was amusement reflected in those piercing golden eyes.
"Surely you can call me by name. Or would you prefer me to address you as your highness as I did when we last met."
"Gods no." Her answer was immediate. "I hear those titles so often from servants, courtiers and goodness knows how many nobles.
Even my own father hardly ever uses the name given me at birth. Only Ino calls me Semele now."
"Then surely you can call me Jupiter."
"It seems wrong for me to address you so informally. One of the few things my father did right was to teach my sisters and I respect for all immortal beings, from you on Olympus down to the nymphs of trees and waters. Now you ask me to overlook all those traditions and call you by name."
"I have claimed you for my lover, so it would be right for you to address me in whatever way sets you at ease." He fell silent then, concentrating all of his will on the task of parting the barrier between mortal and immortal realm.
Semele knew the moment that they had left the world of men. Every sense was alive in a way she had never known, and awe once again filled Cadmus's daughter at the wonder of the journey she was taking. This is his kingdom, she thought, and his treasure is one which cannot be measured in any mortal coin. The stars are his jewels, and the sky his kingdom, one which reflects the night in all her guises.
"You truly understand," Soft and sensual, the voice of her lover surrounded her, commanding and taking captive every thought. Never has even my queen spoken of the sky so beautifully, with the voice of one who values power and the terrible beauty of darkness."
Semele nodded. Of all the seasons of the year, it was the night she enjoyed the most.
They flew on for another hour, until at last Semele caught sight of a tall building set amidst snowcapped mountains.
As they drew closer, Semele was able to make out gates set in a high wall. Above it were the tops of trees, and the turrets of a palace. At first Semele thought it was a fortress, for the sheer size and impression of strength it conveyed was unmistakable. Yet as she looked deeper she saw that this surpassed anything built by mortal hands, for the architecture displayed a love of beauty and an ingenious mind not constrained by the bonds of impossibility or time.
They landed smoothly in front of tall wrought iron gates.
What happened next would have been hard to describe. When telling her story to Ino afterwards, Semele struggled to explain her lover's transformation. It was as if in that moment the universe held its breath in deference to her lover's power. In that timeless second the semblance of eagle was cast off and the form of human effortlessly assumed for her sake.
Seeing her hesitation, Jupiter motioned for her to precede him, offering his lover an encouraging nod as she cautiously reached out.
The iron was warm beneath her fingers, as if it recognized that the one asking for admittance was its mistress. Easily the gates opened at her touch and they passed in together.
A long and winding pathway led up to the great doors, flung wide in a clear invitation to enter and be welcome. So exquisite were the carvings which adorned them that Semele couldn't help pausing for a moment in admiration, before stepping forward.
Light from within spilled out into the courtyard, reminding Semele of the countless times she had instructed servants to make sure that guests received impressions of warmth and richness when they entered the palace of Cadmus.
The design was unlike anything she had ever seen before, a curious mixture of familiar and wholly new ideas which created an elegant yet comfortable impression. The megaron was illuminated by torchlight, which caught the bright flash of silver, the brilliance of crystal and the deep rich warm of gold upon the long table. The dishes were empty, but she suspected that whenever she had need of sustenance there would always be more than enough food to satisfy her hunger.
Every room was filled with new and intriguing discoveries, and she knew that it would take her many days to explore the palace completely.
Semele turned to her lover, eyes alight with gratitude and excitement at what he had ordered prepared. Automatically she slipped into the formal language she had been taught from the cradle, hoping that her thanks wasn't too effusive. Sensing her unease, Jupiter held up a hand to silence the continuous flow of words.
"If adherence to custom is what you desire, then I will address you formally and offer empty compliments to you as long as you want." At her look of mixed horror and dismay he continued. But from what I learned of you when I came to your father's court, you scorn such false words of praise. So I will do whatever is necessary to set you at ease." Unspoken between them was the knowledge that he could effortlessly become whatever she desired, for he was accustomed to assuming a thousand disguises to seduce his mortal and immortal conquests alike.
Semele immediately shook her head. "If it's all right with you, I'm tired of formality. It's just that I never truly expected you to come and help me. When I requested your aid, it was out of pure desperation, and I'm not going to even try to understand what happened at the end of my petition to you. Everything I learned from Alexandros was based on old legends and what little he could tell me without breaking his oaths to you."
"He is a faithful priest and a skilled reader of omens. I've had many priests over the centuries, but few ever serve me out of true devotion and genuine belief in my power." Amusement filled the voice of heaven's king as he continued. "I've lost count of the times when a young priest is shocked when I answer his request with a clear sign of power." Seeing that his words had as he hoped allayed her anxiety, Jupiter beckoned Semele closer.
"You will find much here to keep you interested, when I am kept away from you by duty. If you'll come to the window you'll see something no mortal has glimpsed for many ages of your world."
Curious the princess of Thebes swiftly crossed the megaron and peered out into the deepening shadows of night. At first she saw nothing, but then movement at the palace gates attracted her attention, and she strained her eyes to see through the darkness.
What on earth?
It was a cloudy evening with little starlight to illuminate the darkness. Now intrigued Semele turned in the direction she had last seen movement, determined to find out what or who was so near. Jupiter was glad to see that she showed neither fear nor concern, but curiosity tempered by caution as she peered through the darkness. At that moment the moon emerged from behind the endless expanse of cloud, and Semele let out a long breath of amazement.
"Where in the world did you find them? And how did you convince them to keep watch over a mortal? I know I am royalty, but even that would not be enough to make them leave their caves full of treasure." Her dark eyes were alight with humor as she turned to face her lover. "Surely you didn't offer me to them for food. All the stories I've ever read speak of how they enjoy devouring princesses."
"I'm always astonished at the tales mortal bards invent for dragons, especially as only a quarter of such legends possess even the smallest element of truth.
When I fought the Great War for the universe, not only the Cyclops joined me and my brethren in ending our father's tyranny. Dragons were among our most valuable allies, and I've always made sure to give them the respect and friendship my father never offered.
They also know of the stories you mentioned, and when I asked two of their strongest warriors to guard this palace they were more than willing to acquiesce. Also I think it amused them, for as you said there are many tales of dragons' appetites for princesses."
Semele listened with great interest, for surely never before had a mortal been privileged to hear such a riveting account of that ancient battle, one which had never been made known to humanity. Although now that she thought about it, it made sense for the gods to request the help of such ancient and powerful magical creatures.
Any other sheltered princess would have recoiled in fear, but Semele stood calmly gazing at these creatures of legend set to guard her with fascination.
"They're so beautiful, power, strength and grace incarnate.
Ino would have enjoyed watching them, though she always loved horses more than any other animals.
Oh I wish she could be here, she would have given anything to see this." A far away look entered Semele's dark eyes. "I've lost count of the times she requested the story of Pegasus and Bellerophon's defeat of the Chimera.
She used to say that he should have given the horse the choice of assisting him in his quest, instead of simply forcing him to obey by enslaving him with a magical bridle.
Even now, she has never lost her respect for all creatures."
He nodded, surprised and grateful that she and her sister recognized the true worth of these creatures which so many mortal warriors hunted for sport.
Many a prayer and sacrifice had been offered to Ares on those occasions, requesting victory over what mortals considered creatures both dark and dangerous. Nor had the god of war been the only one to receive petitions. Jupiter recalled all too well the desperate thoughts of many a dying warrior who had foolishly thought a dragon would be no match for his blade, shield or arrows. Some had been the best a kingdom had to offer, young men desperate for kleos or the hand of a princess. But others had been born of unions between a mortal and god, one of the most prolific petitions had in fact come from one of his own children.
He had heard that prayer with a mixture of frustration and helplessness, for even he could not change the outcome woven by the Moirae. How he had wanted to speak to every warrior, tell him that if only he had chosen to respect the creature they hunted so determinedly then death would not have come.
But such thoughts were futile, for he had learned long ago how intense a mortal's desire was for kleos, and the sacrifices many would offer up to achieve such lasting recognition.
Indeed so great had the quest to slay dragons grown, that many sought refuge in the immortal realm, for there they were respected and honored as they deserved.
"They are loyal and intelligent creatures. Treat them with respect, and you will have no better guards."
Semele nodded, acknowledging the truth of his words, before requesting that she be shown her chambers.
The doors which led to her apartments were intricately carved, and as Jupiter flung them wide Semele immediately noted the rich furnishings and exquisite tapestries.
Her lover withdrew, requesting that she meet him in the megaron when ready.
As the doors closed behind him, Semele leant against them trying to come to terms with all that had happened. Only now was the joyful and fearful realization beginning to dawn upon the mortal princess as she took in the splendor of her surroundings. Questions which until now she had not wanted to consider would no longer be ignored, and so reluctantly she set aside joy, passion and triumph to consider each one.
Am I truly ready for this?
Will I a mortal princess be able to give to him what he desires?
How will I live amongst these wonders and not yearn for more?
Then another thought formed, born of the glimpse of power she had seen in her lover's stormy eyes. It had brought her both terror and a wild passionate longing to learn more of what it was he commanded, to find a way to look beyond the mortal form he had taken for her sake. For what she had seen could not be understood by a human mind, indeed she suspected that not even the other inhabitants of Olympus were aware of the influence their king wielded. That power could just as easily scorch and destroy even as it drew her ever closer out of curiosity and the need to possess and share in its exhilaration.
With an effort she dismissed that concern, banished it to the deepest recesses of her mind with thoughts born of reckless abandon and the growing fires of passion she gladly welcomed to consume her soul.
I don't care. Whatever comes of this I am prepared. I will endure whatever happens because I dared to follow ancient tradition and look beyond what was expected of royalty.
But even as she set about the task of selecting something to wear to the feast, the thought she had refused to consider once again filled her mind.
Even if all goes well for a time, how do I know that I won't share the fates of those other mortals he has chosen to love before me?
And what if the consequences of my choices lead me to destruction?
