Feel the Burning Light by Dewy_Pink_Morning_Roses52

Chapter 10: Smilax' tale, Icarus and the Baby Demigods, Luke's arrival

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Smilax is an unsung hero.

Icarus joins CPS - Ancient Greece version

Luke arrives at camp.

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Smilax was born to the goddess of love and beauty. Her mother, the enchanting Aphrodite, took lovers often, and those dalliances bore fruit more times than not. Smilax was handed to her mortal father shortly after her mother had birthed her. Thankfully, her father was wealthy and thus able to hire a wetnurse so Smilax could survive infancy. She grew, becoming more beautiful each day. While disappointed not to get a demigod son, her father was happy at Smilax's beauty. He hoped to marry her above his station. The king of Sparta, the handsome warrior Amyclas, had four sons. Three by his wife, the queen Diomede and one by an immortal goddess, the Muse Clio.

Smilax's father oversaw the four princes. Noting which one was most likely to become heir. Hyacinthus was the jewel of Amyclas' bloodline. The other three princes could not keep up with him despite the older two being much older and having quite the headstart on the little prince. Smilax's father smiled winsomely at the little prince, flattering him in each encounter. Smilax could see that Hyacinthus regarded her father with polite, bored disinterest, but her father was delusional. He believed that he had the regard of the favoured prince and future king.

Near their mansion, another demigod lived. This one is without high status. His name was Crocus, and Smilax became friends with him. They would meet by a low hedge where their properties met and talk about everything in under the sun. Smilax grew fonder and fonder of Crocus as the years went on. But her father did not see him as a suitable suitor. Crocus was despised by his mortal grandfather despite being the son of Poseidon, one of the three most powerful gods. There was no guarantee that Crocus would even inherit, and due to his grandfather hiding him out of shame, the boy had no chance to gain renown in Sparta. He was invited to Chiron's camp at the request of his divine father. The grandfather had no choice then.

Smilax saw Crocus in secret. Her father did everything to throw her in Prince Hyacinthus' path. Smilax had been wary of being near the prince at first. They were getting that age, and royal princes could be awful. She feared for her safety and dignity if her father persisted in his foolish scheme.

She was pleasantly surprised. Hyacinthus did not stare at her like everyone did, he did not stammer and blush. He regarded her just like he did everyone else. If anything about Smilax caught his interest, it was her wit and dry humour. But Smilax sensed no attraction from him, not ever. He came to regard her with fondness after repeated encounters at feasts and festivals, but it was similar to his fondness for his little sister, Princess Polyboea. Certainly now what her father hoped. It filled Smilax with glee, to sense how her father's ambitions failed.

The prince was one year younger than her and Crocus, so he was invited to camp after them. He invited her to come with him in his divine mother's chariot. Smilax's smile was fixed. She tested him by asking if Crocus could go too, and Hyacinthus immediately accepted.

Meeting the goddess Clio was a shock and a delight. The muse was beautiful, an older female version of her famously gorgeous son. She was very charming and kind to the two demigods. She even praised Poseidon for having sided with her to keep her from being separated from Hyacinthus when he was a baby. Crocus smiled proudly. He rarely heard of his father being kind, only of Poseidon's wrath and power. It was a pleasant reprieve for once.