Weeks had passed since that day in the cave, but Psyche could not tear her thoughts from that small room and the woman who inhabited it. What could she have meant? Why couldn't she have said more? Questions bubbled forth in an endless stream as Psyche stared mindlessly out across the cerulean waters of the sea she loved so much. These reveries had occurred more and more frequently as of late, where Psyche would succumb to her thoughts completely and lock out the world, sitting as though she were lost within herself. Her parents watched in concern as day after day their daughter seemed to draw further away from the joyful, lighthearted girl she had been into a girl possessed by her own thoughts and troubles. It was as though she had already given into the life of desolation that she was sure awaited her, from what the oracle had prophesized.
"I knew we were making a mistake taking her to that old hag," Psyche's mother declared angrily, watching from the balcony as her daughter walked slowly across the courtyard of their palace, staring blankly ahead of her as she bypassed her favorite garden of irises. Thrusting a hand to her hair in frustration, Filia sighed as she turned to her husband, her eyes filled with regret and compassion. "It seems now that she's resigned herself to a fate worse than death. She's such an idealistic young thing, you know. She once proclaimed that a life without love was no life worth living." A sad smile spread across her face as she turned to the courtyard once more to find her daughter had left. Turning to her husband, she took his hands in hers. "Thanos, please," she murmured, " can't we forget all of this business about the oracle and just let Psyche marry one of her suitors? It isn't right to let her suffer like this, especially when we have no explanation why."
Thanos put a hand to his wife's cheek, stroking it lovingly. "I wish we could, darling. But you heard what the oracle said, she is not meant for a mortal man. I know that it's hard to understand, I don't understand it myself, but she is an oracle after all. I would not have gone to her if I didn't believe it would help. It will, darling, it will not have been in vain. And for that matter, Psyche showed no interest the suitors that came and offered for her hand."
"But she didn't have any time! All of those wonderful princes and lords who came, she just didn't have any time to get to know any of them!" Filia interjected, her brows knit. Thanos gave a knowing smile, shaking his head.
"She didn't get to know any of them because she didn't want to. She showed no interest. Personally, I was happy to see that she wasn't as silly as Medea and Phedra have been. Besides, from what I saw, none of them were worth her interest." Thanos said with a chuckle. Filia shrugged, her shoulders sagging.
"I know, I saw it as well. I just want my happy daughter back. It breaks my heart to see her sadness. And the oracle has not sent us any more information as she had promised. How long are we supposed to wait? Does she not understand our daughter's happiness, her very fate is in her hands?" Filia paced across the room, venting her pent up frustration toward the wizened prophet.
"I understand, Filia, I feel the same way. But there is nothing we can do. We must wait until it is time for her to tell us more. I'm just as confused as you are, but we must not allow ourselves to be angry about it. We must set an example for Psyche."
Filia nodded, setting herself upon one of the overstuffed chairs. "Yes, that is true. I just want to see her get angry, or fight, or do anything, rather than just…suffer so silently. It isn't like Psyche to just resign herself so easily."
Stepping out onto the balcony, Thanos cast a watchful eye toward Psyche's rooms. "I agree, but you must remember that Psyche is a strong girl. I'm sure there is much underneath the surface that we aren't seeing. She will work it out for herself in time." Filia joined her husband on the balcony and slid into her husband's waiting arms, wishing that Psyche could feel the comfort she felt at that moment.
...
That night, Eros flew toward the palace on the Aegean with a heavy heart. As a god who enjoyed love and all of its beauties, he found it to be an abuse of his powers to fulfill his mother's cruel plot. However, she was his mother, and she also wouldn't be above punishing him greatly for his disobedience, so that knowledge was enough to do her bidding. A monster, he thought wryly, will be hard to prick with an arrow. However, his mother might not have meant a real monster. Heaving a sigh, he knew the first step would be to prick the girl, then decide who her "love" would be.
The palace was really quite picturesque, its tall white columns standing erect and proud. Marble statues dotted the large courtyard, which displayed an intricate pattern of vibrantly colored tiles swirling around each other. The palace also had massive gardens which were in full bloom, their fragrance wafting gently upon the coastal breeze. Bright blooms of orchids, roses, lilies, anemone, hyacinth, and aster. Eros couldn't help but chuckle to himself, thinking that half of those flowers had once been people who had met their flowery fate by way of the gods. Silken curtains billowed out of the arched windows in rich jewel tones, splashing color against the stark white of the marble walls. Frowning to himself, Eros tried to determine which window might hold his unfortunate victim within its room. His vibrant blue eyes flickered across the palace until they landed upon a large arched window. It lead out to a small balcony, which was adorned with large vases of irises, and it overlooked the sea. He flew to the balcony and landed lightly, careful not to make a commotion. Stepping gently inside, he peered around the room and found himself looking upon the sleeping figure of the girl he was seeking. Moving toward her with quiet care, he stood over her bed and gazed down at the dreaming beauty.
He crouched beside her bed to get a closer look, and was instantly taken aback. With her head rested upon her arm, Psyche was a sight to behold. Her dark, ebony locks flowed over her back and shoulder like a waterfall of tumbling black silk. It shone like obsidian in the silvery moonlight, gleaming with every rhythmic breath she took. Her skin was fair and as fine as porcelain, its rosy glow highlighting her youthful, flawless complexion. Her silhouette beneath the blankets curved gently in the right places, her form slender and lithe. Her face seemed to tell the tale of her troubled dreams, her winged brows were knit together as she slept. Her nose was slim and straight, while her cheeks were stained with a coral blush. Her slightly parted lips were full and red, and beneath them gleamed straight white teeth. Eros found himself awestruck by her beauty, he couldn't take his eyes off of the ravishing young princess. He longed to see her eyes, which were rimmed in a heavy fan of soot black eyelashes. Giving into his inner battle, he reached forth his hand and softly caressed her satiny cheek. Psyche stirred and the young god froze, his hand still upon her face, unsure of whether to just stay still or to leave before she awoke. The girl's eyes fluttered open and she stared at Eros, who found himself unable to move. She gazed at him silently, and Eros couldn't help but be amazed by her eyes. They were the most astonishing color violet, the exact color of the irises outside her window. The two stayed that way for what seemed to be an eternity, looking deeply into each others' eyes in the quiet of the moonlit room. When he felt as though he could no longer stand the silence, he saw Psyche's lips come together in a sweet smile. She moved her hand to her cheek and place it on top of his. The touch of her hand to his was electric, like a jolt of lighting flowed through his veins when she laid her hand upon his. Breathing a sigh of contentment, she closed her eyes and went back to sleep. Eros breathed in relief; the girl had thought she was dreaming. He gently took his hand from beneath hers and laid her hand at her side. He stood and looked down upon her, utterly amazed. He, the god of love himself, had never known what love was like. He'd bestowed it upon millions, but had never experienced it for himself... until now. The way his heart swelled and raced when he looked at her, the way his stomach fluttered, the way her slightest touch could make him feel... Was this what love felt like? Whatever it was, he could never fulfill his duties now. Everything he had ever known about love had changed, just with this one girl. Allowing himself one last glance to her sleeping form, he turned and flew off the balcony and up into the dark skies.