Elysian ↠ Deimos

2.

She huffed as she saw from a distance his golden locks shining in broad daylight and his ornamented armour illuminating. She wanted to hide. Maybe getting back to the Erechtheion and pretending to be occupied with the sick and injured would be her salvation. But he had already located her. His striking blue eyes had pinned her at the very spot she was standing. She felt quite at unease, crossing her arms over her chest, but she ended up looking extremely awkward, changing the position of her arms too quickly unsure where to place them. She leaned back at one of the columns and felt the cool marble creating goosebumps all over her body. She still couldn't get used to his presence. Even after so many feasts at her house and the time spent together, she felt bothered by him. No, he wasn't a man old of age nor it was his looks that bothered her. In fact he was a striking young man, a warrior, one of Athens greatest lieautenants. And one of the most wanted bachelors.

He strode towards her, his pace proud, his shoulders straight, his helmet under his arm. Anyone could pass him for a real god, his posture tall and athletic. A man that many girls could find themeselves dreaming of. He flashed her a broad smile as he approached her, and she felt shivers. She turned scarlet red from embarassment. And feared if all the eyes of the people on the Acropolis were on them, but it fact none were.

"Good day to you, Leda." he spoke, his voice deep and smiled to her again. "Glaukos..." she breathed and turned her back to him as if to signal him to start a small walk. He got up the few steps and came to the shadow, trying to catch up with her.

"I told you, I don't want us to be seen together. I'm still a priestess of Athena. If the high priest sees us together..." she pulled her necklace that was stuck on her chest by her sweat, it felt as if it was suffocating her and the high temperature was not helping.

"But you're my bride. And we haven't seen each other for so long." he protested and ducked to avoid a long branch of an olive tree in their way and placed his hand gently on her back to help her too. "Furthermore, you're soon going to be my wife and everyone knows this."

In fact he was right. And Leda knew this. All the other priestesses, the high priest were saddened by her obligation to marry and leave the worship of their beloved goddess, but they also knew that when a father made a decision about his daughters there was nothing to be done. It was a girl's fate to get married and bear children to a man her father or protector chose. Nevertheless, in this case, the choice wasn't so unpreasant.

She held her breath and closed her eyes firmly. She clentched her fists and tried to get hold of herself. She smiled in fake politeness and Glaukos took hold of her hand and led her to a nearby marble bench looking over to a small shallow pool. There were forms of flowers, animals on the tiles, some sparrows were bathing in its waters, opening their small wings and moving frenetically as if they were dancing under the sun.

"Leda, you have to understand that my feelings for you are the most pure of them all. That my mind is overwhelmed by the thought of you." he took both her hands in his lap. "Eros has long ago pierced my heart." he said and she took her eyes from the gound to look at his. She took in their striking blue colour. It was as if the waters of the Aegean were spilled inside his irises. His face was just a few inches away from hers and she held her breath, feeling mesmerised. He took her hand and placed a soft kiss on her knuckles.

"I will be seeing you soon, Leda."

She stood there as he walked away and realized their wedding was sooner than she believed it was. Just after the Panathenaia she would not be free anymore...

~~~~

Oh, the great Panathenaia that every Athenian citizen awaited them with eagerness! The festivities that took place every four years and lasted for twelve days were most important for the city of Athens since it was the tribute to their beloved goddess, their protector and comforter; Athena. Everyone was busy with their preparations, others were practising their skills for the atheletic or music contests and then there was Leda, who was trying to keep herself occupied. And her position as a priestess of Athena was really assisiting. For eleven days she hardly ever went to her house and helped the younger priestesses with the final touches of the weaving of the Peplos of the goddess. She herself was in their position when she had ten years of age and thus she was entrusted with guiding the younglings.