Thalassa

Chapter 1

Brief Explanation of Words Found in Thalassa

Chiton - a tunic

Trireme - Ancient Greek equivalent of a modern navy ship

Naiad - River nymph, a Greek mythological creature

Oceanid - a sea nymph

Will update the explanation if needed - happy reading!

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"Let me put your hair up nicely! You have lovely hair but you let it get tangled and dusty!" Caliya tugged at Thea's unruly dark mane.

"No! Father likes me how I am! And I like me how I am!" Thea said, swatting her mother away. These were the typical conversations, or rather arguments, you would hear in the house where Thea, her mother Caliya, her brother Stellius and sometimes, her father Proteo lived. It would be a lie to say that Thea and Caliya saw eye to eye on everything. Or anything really.

"I still don't see why we're in such a panic, it's only Father." Thea stated, before reluctantly giving in to her mother as she began to drag a comb through Thea's hair.

"Trust me, this is a very special time, my child." Caliya smiled brightly to herself before gently chuckling. This little act wasn't her only strange behaviour recently. That week, Caliya seemed to have decided they should dine like the gods and Thea felt like she could burst as she went to bed every evening. That week, Caliya allowed Stellius, who was just seven, free reign, and he went out every day until the sun set. Maybe this wasn't so odd, because Thea knew that Stellius, as his name suggested, was a star in his Mother's eyes, but Caliya was a worrier, and so her children didn't have quite as much freedom as others in Athens. This resulted in the scene of Thea looking out of her bedroom window while she watched young boys play with wooden swords and shields, or girls walking by and talking of the wonderful new clothes their mothers had bought from the city's marketplace. That week, Thea was only allowed out for a few hours everyday, and Caliya was always insisting on spending the rest of the time with her, teaching her skills "every good Greek woman should know". In this time that they had spent together, she had been trying to fix and tweak Thea, more so than usual. And also, that morning, she told the slaves that she herself would wash and dress Thea. As said before, it was unknown to Thea why so much fuss was taking place before her Father's return. Everyone in the house knew that Proteo would just be glad to get off the trireme and happy to be home, with his family. She did not need to make a special effort, for he would love her just the same. She told her mother this several times, still Caliya would just continue to hum as she primped Thea.

"Ah!" Caliya said at last, stepping away from the chair Thea was sat on.

"Oh, mo̱ró mou, don't you look beautiful! You could make Aphrodite jealous! Ooh, l most forgot, one moment, Thea!" Caliya dashed off. She returned holding a fabulous gold and turquoise necklace. The stones that hung from the glittering chain were like droplets of water from the Mediterranean Sea itself and shimmered the prettiest shades of blue. It was a nice gesture but too far too ornate. Thea was skinny and nimble looking, (despite all the food Caliya had stuffed her with the past week) and so a big, wealth showcasing necklace was not her style, to say the least. In fact, Thea was opposed to any jewellery really. Jewellery weighed you down, costed a lot, and really, why bother? But, she knew that this was probably one of Caliya's most prized possessions, so she didn't argue when she placed it around her neck. Although Caliya could have driven her to madness, Thea appreciated how much she cared.

"Finished! Go, look at your reflection. I know you'll be impressed. Your father will gleam with pride when he sees you!" Doing as she was told, Thea lifted herself from rickety wooden chair and stood in front of the large polished metal in the corner of the room. She stared at her reflection. The girl stood before her looked dazed and confused.

"What do you think? Much better, no?" Caliya's hands were rested on her chest and she her grin was so wide it practically hit her ears. Thea said nothing, but instead tried to figure out how her own reflection could look so unfamiliar. Her face was pale with powder and Caliya had combed her hair for ages (which was incredibly painful due to the knots from the wind), and the results left her usually wavy hair in shiny tight curls. Big earrings that hurt her ears drooped at each side of her face and the opal necklace looked absolutely ridiculous around her thin neck. As for her clothes, she was forced to wear a brand new, especially made, long heavy green tunic, that, as expected, she was very hot in, not like her light, loose fitting chitons. Thea could not understand how this is what her mother declared 'beautiful'.

"An incredible difference, indeed. They will all be speechless!" Not for the first time recently, Thea was puzzled by Caliya's words. She tried to read Caliya's face, but all that she could see was a thoughtful expression.

"Come now, we must go to see your father!"and Caliya took Thea's hand and rushed her through the cobbled streets and down to the city harbour.