𝟎𝟎𝟏.𝟏Statistically speaking when a girl turned 18 in Salamis Island, she was of age to be wed. Pragma was no exception to it. Though scorned in the island as the child of King Telamon's pity, a kid adopted just for marriage, there was no doubt left in the preparations of her wedding.
For years they had called her a mark on their pure kingdom, a child born out of cursed creatures wanting to marry their prince and rule, a reminder of the king's mistake, a cruel and easy trick done by a cursed child to live a comfortable life. As if Pragma herself had seduced the prince to marry her way in the family, she'd just been 2 when her mother had promised her child to a king in exchange for giving him the cure to his wife's mental sickness.
Because she was too far gone in her head, too far devoted to Lord Dionysus to comprehend anything. Pragma was a hinderance, giving her child to follow the wine god was the best option in her mother's mind. Her father never reached out, and Pragma didn't know enough to search for him.
Her entire life she'd known her purpose, it had been to marry Ajax, the prince of Salamis island and birth an heir to the throne. But marriage scared her. Ajax and Pragma had grown up together, fed the thought of to fall in love, but there was no mistaking what Ajax had become after returning from his studies with Chiron. He was cruel, so undeniably cruel, and sometimes when he looked at her, Pragma had the wild thought that maybe he scorned her, only wanted to sacrifice her somewhere. He bedded a new maiden every week, he walked around with ladies hung over his arm who hated Pragma. He did everything in his power to break her.
The life of eternal hatred wasn't something she wanted. Ajax scared her to the core, he had angry eyes, and people called him all around as the conquerer. He looked at her with so much irritation sometimes she wondered if he would use his sword to impale her.
She'd told about her worries to her lady in waiting and she'd just dismissed it by saying, "Better the devil you know than the devil you don't"
Which was true, it was better to marry Ajax than a marriage to someone she had never met in her entire life. What if the man she married didn't just scorn her with his eyes, but also with his hands? It was better with Ajax, he never put his hands on her at least.
The sun shined upon her as she walked alone in the gardens, it seemed somehow that even on the darkest and stormiest day, the sun somehow found its way to her. The nature spirits around her always cooed about it, but Pragma thought it was probably a blessing, that came with making routinely offering to the gods everyday.
Pragma heard the clanging of metal from somewhere in the garden, she knew it had to be the two practising warriors, one was her soon to be husband Ajax while the other was his friend Agamemnon.
As a child, Pragma had always loved watching Ajax play, he used to give her his wooden sword and make her practice with him and twirl it around, but then he left to study with Chiron and now when he twirled the sword it looked like he wanted to stab her with it. But she'd developed an interest in watching the game again, when the blonde Mycenae prince began joining Ajax.
Agamemnon was the only man who'd ever made her feel seen. In a crowd full of nobles he never ignored her, always heeded her, made her feel seen, made her feel wanted. He was one of the best.
Her foot rushed on their own accord towards the clanging sound before she stopped herself. No, she couldn't interfere them, Ajax would have her head if she did. So she slowly turned back around, resorting to just go and check on the medicinal flowers she had planted a while ago.
She'd been busy admiring her plants, when she'd been spooked by a sudden hand falling on her shoulder, nearly making her jump out of her skin as she abruptly stood and turned around.
"My Lady," Agamemnon grinned mischievously, putting his hand on his heart and giving her a bow.
Pragma had to stop the giddy child inside her from jumping in joy. She curtsied back, her head filled with questions, "My Lord?"
"Agamemnon, please," he corrected, his smile warm. "There's no need for formalities between us, Pragma."
She found herself smiling, appreciating the friendly gesture. "Agamemnon, then. What brings you here?"
He gestured to the gardens around them. "I heard you enjoy spending time here. Ajax was called upon by his father, I decided to spend time with you then."
Pragma's heart fluttered at his words, a mixture of surprise and gratitude washing over her. "That's kind of you, Agamemnon. Ajax is often occupied with his princely duties."
Agamemnon chuckled. "Princely duties indeed. I find the garden a place of solace. Do you mind if I join you?"
"Not at all," Pragma replied, genuine warmth in her voice. "I appreciate the company."
They walked in silence for a while before Agamemnon spoke, "The wedding, when has it been decided for?"
His words brought her mood down, soberness kicking as she watched her feet in the sunlight, "The date hasn't been set yet, Ajax said he'll decide when and we'll do so."
"Marriages, ah," Agamemnon mused staring up at the sky, "Must for all Nobel men."
"Are you going to get married too?" Pragma asked, looking at him sadly.
"Yes, soon I must." he nodded thoughtfully, making her stare back at her shoes while his gaze was watching her, "You look beautiful in the sun." The words slipped out of his mouth before he could stop himself.
Pragma looked up at him again, this time rather surprised, "Thank you my lord."
Agamemnon looked at her as if he was contemplating something, after a moment he opened his mouth to finally speak when they were interrupted by a sharp voice. "There you are, I've been searching everywhere for you."
Pragma's head bowed down on her own accord as Ajax walked towards them. His eyes narrowed as he took in the scene, and a hint of irritation flashed across his face.
"What are you doing here, Agamemnon?" Ajax's voice held a stern edge, and Pragma felt a chill run down her spine.
Agamemnon glanced at his friend cooly, his expression composed. "I was merely keeping Pragma company in the garden. You were called by your father, and I thought she might appreciate some pleasant conversation."
Ajax's gaze shifted to Pragma, and she felt a mixture of apprehension and resignation. "Is that so?" he said, his tone skeptical.
"Yes," Pragma replied, her voice meek. "My Lord, was just being kind. We were discussing the upcoming wedding."
Ajax's eyes darkened, and he shot a disapproving look at Agamemnon. "This is hardly the place for such discussions. Pragma, come with me. There are matters we need to attend to."
Agamemnon's gaze lingered on Pragma for a moment, a subtle glint in his eyes that unsettled her, she scurried towards Ajax. As they walked away, Ajax's palm circled her wrist and held tightly, he spoke in a low, stern voice. "You should be more cautious about the company you keep, Pragma. The Mycenae prince is not to be trusted."
Pragma remained silent, her eyes focused on the path ahead. The weight of duty and the impending wedding pressed on her, and she couldn't shake the feeling that something was incredibly wrong.
Back in the garden, Agamemnon watched them leave with a malicious glint of his own, oh gods what fun it was to ruin the fun things for Ajax.
YOU ARE READING
𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐈𝐀 𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐀, 𝐚𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨
Fanfiction𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐲, 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫. Loving a god came with consequences. Whispers of Jealousy, glances of hate, words of disappointment, actions filled with rage...