In Fate's Hands (Sinbad of the seven seas)

Chapter Eight: Proteus

Moonlight danced across the dark waves as Proteus tended to an inviting fire. Proteus squinted his brown to take in more of the beautiful night life that he rarely had the chance to enjoy, but the light of the fire interrupted the adjustment of vision. He could have sworn he saw a shadow of sorts as he roasted his fish over the fire. He wished he had brought some basil or some olive oil with him to make it a delicacy.

"Enchanting evening is it not?" An elegant voice asked from across the fire. Proteus nearly jumped out of his skin. He did see a shadow and that shadow belonged to an ethereal woman with long curly hair that was as rich of a red and orange as the fire he tended to, tan and sun freckled skin with eyes as bright as the sea during the day. He could have sworn that her eyes really did glow. Then again, almost everything about her glowed.

"Very enchanting indeed." If there was anything that Proteus has learned with the legends brought back into the port of Syracuse is that you always offer a stranger who appears out of nowhere something to eat.

"Would you like half of my dinner? Once it's done cooking of course." Proteus flipped the fish over to cook all the way through. To be honest with himself, Proteus thought he had already over cooked it. Probably from lack of practice. All of the mundane tasks are done for him most of the time anyways. He never knew how tedious cooking was. And how liberating it was to cook. He could swear the aroma of the fish he was cooking lacked the usual anxiety as the fish in the royal dining hall.

"I would. Thank you." Her smile towards him brought a sense of home. No it wasn't home. It was a sense of belonging. "Though I think it's cooked enough."

"Right." Proteus took the fish away and started to split the fish in half over a large strong green leaf, rather messily. He felt his cheeks grow hot from the embarrassment as his guest watched him attempt to evenly split the small tender meal. He was sure to give her the bigger half.

"I presume you know who I am by now." She took the first bite, and attempted to peer into his duffle bag. "You wouldn't happen to have a citrus fruit in your small boat."

"No, I don't know who you are, and let me check my bag." He replied, rummaging through the small sack of supplies. He had a grapefruit, he didn't know he had a grapefruit in his bag. He passed the fruit and a dagger to the woman.

"Really?" She was aghast as she took the two items from him. She cut the fruit in half with one swipe without having to put it down on the leaf. Her strength and precision impressed and frightened Proteus at the same time.

"I do not. I just know that if a stranger comes my way while I am cooking food, they are probably hungry."

"Right you are." She said passing one half to him. "I like you. And I would like to keep you."

"Who are you?"

"Calypso." Proteus looked down at the grapefruit wondering if she charmed the fruit so that when he takes a bite he won't have the sense to leave. She laughed as though to sense his thoughts.

"Don't worry, I only keep truly lost voyagers for a little while."

"I'm not desperately lost."

"Not tonight." Proteus shifted uncomfortably. A goddess wants to keep him. Who is he to deny a goddess. A thrilling fear coursed his veins as he shoved his half of the fish into his mouth. Gods he was supposed to be a diplomat. Charming, kind, attentive. But all he wanted to do was take his boat and finish what he set out to do. His father and his kingdom is counting on him, he cant be swept up now. There's too much that needs to be done. To much he wants to do to help improve quality of life. 

"May I ask why you have gifted me your presence this evening."

"Proteus, despite what the sailors say about me, and despite my banishment, I am what you call a guide and caregiver to lost souls." Her blue eyes bore into his brown ones. He finally noticed the small golden flecks that glittered in the blue along with gold streaks in her red hair that sparkled in the moonlight.

"You said I wasn't desperately lost."

"But you're truly lost, and are about to help a lost soul that is very dear to me." Proteus gulped as his mind went to the mirror. She could practically hear what he was thinking. Proteus was scared that this gorgeous goddess was going to turn him into a defenseless sea slug to be eaten by a seagull. Proteus has read about how in order for the mirror to work, the oracle in question was going to tear a piece of her soul and place it into the mirror for it to work but the book suddenly cut off before the actual telling of the ritual that was to take place.

"She's been lost for a long time. And I've grown quite fond of her. I think I might actually love her." Proteus' heart hammered in his chest. In his mind Calypso has grown so fond of this mirror that she has personified it. So the nameless Oracle succeeded and maybe her soul has been keeping Calypso company.

"Are you telling me to turn back?"

"No, I am giving you a gift. A gift of safe travels to the lost."

"Why?"

"You gave me half of the best meal you have ever prepared in your life. I think it's a fair trade."

"It was a terribly tasteless meal."

"Nonetheless you did your best." She finished her meal. Proteus blinked and realized the horizon threatened daybreak. Had they really been talking all night? He hadn't even tried to sleep yet. Proteus thought of Jena's advice and how he would need all of his strength to get to Lyric Port.

"Safe travels to all the lost and only to the lost."

"Calypso, are you lost?"

"I'm in a place between lost and not wanting to be found."

"Am I on your Island?" Calypso's giggle filled the air with a type of music that relaxed your shoulders for you and put you in content ecstasy.

"An Island can be found, I cannot."

"Will I see you again?"

"You will see the lost I love and you will see me there."

"Will I see you in this first person form Madame Calypso."

"For your sake, I hope not." Calypso's fingers were rough with hard work and gentle on Proteus' cheek before she bestowed a kiss on his cheek. It was warm and soft. Just like a sun beam.

Just like a sunbeam. He felt his cheek burn in the sun. Proteus sat up straight up, sand falling like scratchy water. It was early morning and time to go. Proteus stamped out the rest of the ashes of his campfire before shouldering his duffle bag.

"Alright. Time to go. " Proteus said, pushing his boat into the crashing waves. The overwhelming sense of adventure drowned out his sense of fear. The wind started to pick up in Proteus' sail. Safe travels to the lost.