Ariadne walked to the front door and smiled broadly at her visitor. "Hello, your royal highness!"
"Don't!" Pythagoras pleaded. "You know how I dislike getting all.." He waved his arms around, the brightly coloured silk gleaming in the sunlight.
"Pretty?" Ariadne teased. She laughed at his exasperated look and went to get a cup. "I heard about your father's new laws saying how we can marry you now. Am I in line?"
"Nobody is. He's just trying to make it so I've got more of a choice."
"So, you don't want a husband yet?"
"Not yet."
"Is there anyone you like?" Ariadne poured him a cup and took a sip out of her own.
Pythagoras paused. "Well.."
Ariadne stared at him. "Oh, my gods. Who is it? What's his name?"
At that moment, Jason chose to get up and enter the kitchen. His eyes widened as he saw the Atlantian prince standing there, purple shimmering silk shining where the sunbeams fell on him, his golden hair neat and shining, a silver headband encircling his head, amethysts glinting from where they were embedded.
Pythagoras was staring at Jason too. The brunette wore no shirt and his amazing golden torso, with its sprinkling of dark, soft hair, those rippling muscles and oh, gods those abs, got the prince's attention immediately.
Ariadne, watching them both, realised something. The prince liked Jason. And from what she could see, Jason liked the prince.
In his spacious room, Kapaneus stood as the door was given four hearty knocks. He knew it was Heptarian and he was glad. He had something he needed to discuss with him. "Enter."
Sit down." He gestured at two light wooden chairs surrounding a marbled table, a swirling blue pattern gracing its' surface.
"There is something you wish to discuss?"
"Yes." Kapaneus took a seat and stared intensely at his son. "I need you to do something. It is for the good of our family."
"What is it?" Heptarian leaned forward and gazed intently at his father.
"You care for the prince do you not?"
"If I didn't, I would not have sought your guidance when I came to you."
"It would bring our family great honour if you were to marry into the royal family of Atlantis."
"Are you asking me to court him?"
"I am."
Heptarian sat back, dropping his eyes from his father's. "I do not love him that way."
"Heptarian, marriage isn't for love, it is to serve our families and our kingdoms."
"He will not marry for honour or pride. I know Pythagoras. He will want to marry only for love."
"Then pretend."
"I can't."
Kapaneus reached over and grabbed Heptarian's jaw, making him look into his eyes. "You will or you will find yourself disowned."
"It will hurt him."
"Then," Kapaneus released him. "He'd better not find out."
Heptarian felt dazed as he left his father's chambers. Oh, gods. May Poseidon forgive him for what he had to do. He stumbled to a window and lay his elbows on its sill, gazing at the green trees softly swaying in the breeze.
He knew the prince preferred the presence of a man than a woman. But he, personally, preferred women. Oh, how could he do this to him? Trick him into believing he felt love for him when, in truth, he felt no romantic feelings. He despised himself for what he knew he must do. He wished he had the strength to defy Kapaneus, but his father owned him. What he said went. Forcing himself to appear untroubled, he abandoned his window and went to seek out the prince. If he had to do this, he'd better start sooner rather than later.
He had to do this courting thing properly. He couldn't just start doing it without asking permission. He knew the Atlantian customs. Ask the parents first. Bring gifts. He'd been out hunting that morning and managed to spear a colossal boar. Now he had the creature wrapped up in red cloth, ready to present to the parents of his intended. He stared at the door, the room behind it contained the people he was meant to meet. He sighed nervously and raised his hand to knock.
"Heptarian?"
"Pythagoras."
"What's that?"
"It's something I hunted this morning."
"The kitchens are that way."
"No, I...I need to speak with the King and Queen."
"Why?"
To the prince's curiosity, Heptarian faltered and looked shifty. "You'll find out soon enough."
"Is there something going on?"
"Well..look, it's important that I see them. I'll speak with you later, if you wish." With that, he knocked on the door and went in, leaving a suspicious blonde staring after him.
Korinna had just been minding her own business, polishing the candlesticks in the King and Queen's bedroom when suddenly a pair of pale,slim arms grabbed her waist. She knew immediately who it was, but still hit the arms with her polishing cloth.
"What are you doing?"
"Shh, I'll explain once I get you to my chambers."
"For Poseidon's sake, Pythagoras..."
Once he'd gotten her to their destination, he gave her a red apple and put a goblet of wine into her hand. She narrowed her eyes. Just what did the prince need her for?
"Korinna, you are a wonderful, loyal woman and I need you to do something for me."
She put the goblet on the table by the door and took a bite of the apple. Swallowing, she asked, "What do you need me for?"
"Heptarian is hiding something from me and I want to know what. They're in that special meeting room of theirs and for some reason, the guards won't leave me alone outside of this room and keep ushering me away from it. I need you to listen on them."
"I can't spy on them!" Korinna hissed.
"It's not spying! Just getting information for your favourite prince."
"I can't do it."
" wouldn't seem unusual if you were...washing the floor, perhaps."
"I am not washing that floor again."
"Pretend to be decorating something?"
Korinna considered it. "Well..."
"I wouldn't ask you if it weren't important."
"Alright."
She was too soft-hearted. She had an armful of silver and blue ribbons and was tying them over the door, standing on a precarious ladder. At least she could hear them.
"You want to marry him?"
Oh, Heptarian had his eye on someone? A man. Strange. Korinna thought he liked ladies.
"Heptarian, I'm not sure. I thought you liked women?"
"It was my insistence," Kapaneus' voice entered the conversation, "that he sow his oats whilst he's still young."
Eugh. Making love at your father's insistence? Korinna grimaced and continued her design.
"I know Pythagoras cares for you..."
Korinna froze.
"..But if we betroth him to you, he will have to get married. I'm not sure he feels for you."
"Joya didn't feel for you, either." Kapaneus pointed out.
"I know, but I don't want him feeling forced."
"King Minos, do you think Heptarian would be a good husband?"
"Of course I do."
"Queen Joya?"
"I don't doubt it. He is loyal, strong and brave. But I want my son to have a choice in whom he marries."
"My Lord, my Lady, whom else does he have a chance of marrying? Is there anyone else?"
"There is a boy. He slayed the Minotaur and we feel Pythagoras may have feeling for him."
"You think he does?"
"I think," Heptarian's voice was low. "That we are forgetting the true purpose of marriage. To produce stronger families and do what is right for our cities. Feelings soon pass and after all, does he not know me better than this boy?"
There was silence. Korinna was still not moving. She was absent-mindedly stroking the smooth, cool fabric, waiting as Kapaneus and Heptarian did, to hear the verdict.
"We'll talk with him."
Korinna had heard enough. Jumping off the ladder, she ran back to the prince's chambers.
"But I don't want to marry Heptarian!"
"I'm sorry, Pythagoras."
"I like him, but I don't want him as a husband. Don't I get a say in this?"
"Minos is a kind man. Talk to him and I'm sure..."
"Korinna, my husband will be chosen for me. And it seems my chosen one is Heptarian."
"Who would you choose?"
"It does not matter who I would choose."
"It matters to me. You are not just my prince. You are my friend."
"I have known him, the one I would choose, for barely any time and yet...I am drawn to him."
"The slayer of the Earth Bull."
"Yes."
"Oh, gods."
"He would surely be alarmed if I were to tell him. He probably only feels like I'm a friend."
"You don't know that. I'm seeing Ariadne tonight. Do you wish me to ask her?"
"What would you say? 'Our weak fool of a prince wants to get into our new hero's trousers, do you think he feels the same?'?"
"No. I'll say 'I think they like each other'."
"I am curious as to if he feels the same."
"Then let me help you find out."
"You're a good friend, Korinna." He put his arms around her waist and held her tightly.
"I didn't know you wanted to get into his trousers." Korinna mumbled from against his shoulder.
Pythagoras groaned. "I knew I shouldn't have told you that."