Medusa

Queen

My name, Medusa, means Queen. I've always liked that. I always thought it suited me. My sister Euryale's name means 'far roaming' which suits her well, for she is curious and spends much of her time wistfully thinking. She's smarter that Stheno, who's name literally means strength. She is the eldest and inherited our fathers violet streak. We are all very close, and very different. We are the Gorgons.

                                                                                                               *

For some unknown reason, I was born mortal, unlike my sisters and the rest of my family. That's why my mother named me 'Queen'. Any mortal woman who is intelligent and beautiful always seem to end up as Queen of somewhere or other. However, much as I like my name, somehow I don't see that being the path for me. I'm not pretending that I don't see the lustful glances that I get from my cousins and even uncles in my father Phorcys' court in Graiai. I'm used to them by now. My mother, Ceto, the sea deity of danger is very proud of my beauty. She imagines I will catch a wealthy, well-connected man with whom we will ally. But my sisters and I care nothing for men, Except perhaps Euryale, but she is a gentle soul, however fiercely protective she can be, but her bark is worse than he bite. Unfortunately, men don't like to be barked at.

          My sisters and I were in the court, smiling politely at the land princes and the minor sea deities that passes into our fathers halls. Euryale blushed deeply with every glance and Stheno grumbled about 'duty' whilst giving a distracted nod to the men and a bulky curtsy to the nymphs and naiads that passed giggling through the great arched gates. I curtsied low and gracefully, nodding humbly at the hungry eyes that were drawn to me. I felt mind amusement at their interest. Their feelings were futile, I felt no attraction to them at all. Stheno nudged me,
"Can't we leave? Nobody even notices us next to you, I'm sure if you show a little more interest, bat an eyelid or something, we could slip inside, quick as shadows, with nobody seeing a thing!"
She looked so desperately bored that I almost considered it.
" You know we can't. Imagine what father would say. He needs his daughters to be welcoming people at the door, so that its clear he means peace, but also that he is hard and callous and not to be overlooked. I want to see what's inside as much as you do but if we leave, he'll string us up naked by the ankles as a attraction number two."
"Oh shush you two," whispered Euryale. "We are lucky to be allowed to see attraction number one, whatever that may be. Besides..." she glanced bashfully at one of our many cousins, "this isn't so bad."
Stheno groaned, " Oh come on E, your voice could send them running in terror if you tried. You have too much power for a weak fool like...like,"
"Dipys." Euryale said quickly. Seeing an exasperated look of Stheno's face I said quickly, "Look, there are only a few left, we'll be inside with everyone else in a few minutes."
They both fell silent. The prospect of seeing the great attraction that our father had invited everyone around from miles around to see shut them up for the last few minutes and I could observe the draggles of latecomers. A young girl, naiad by the look of her, was walking faster than was natural, looking over her shoulder at a greedy eyed male, advancing fast. I knew the feeling well. I gave her a quick smile as she entered and then barred the way of my uncle Crimyan.
"Excuse me uncle?" I smiled sweetly, giving the poor girl a chance to mingle with the crowd. "Would you prefer crab of pollock later this evening? I seem to have misplaced your message." I looked up at him with round eyes. "I'm ever so sorry for the inconvenience."
He patted my shoulder distractedly, looking into the crowd behind me. "Not to worry my dear, crab would be best I think. I hope to see more of you later." His eyes lingered at my chest. Stheno took a threatening step forward and Euryale glared. But I was just a side thought. He glanced at muscular Stheno and loyal Euryale and strode into the chamber, his mind now on my fathers prize. Our job done, we slipped into the hall, weaving through the guests to the thrones right at the end, sitting quietly and unnoticed at our mothers left hand. My father, Phorcys stood in front of the expectant crowd. He raised his barnacled hands for silence.
"Friends and honoured guests," he began in his cracked but proud old voice. "I am honoured that you have travelled all this way to my court. But of course, you didn't journey across the ocean and land just to see me." He paused for effect. "Tonight you have the privilege of seeing, the Oracle of Delphi."
There were gasps and shocked muttering all around the cavern. So that's his big surprise. I'm sure nobody here has ever seen the Oracle, only heard of her in tales. My attention was hooked.
"But you shall not only see her. Each of you will be taken to a private room where you may consult the Oracle about your future!" The excitement of the crowd was now bubbling up and overflowing. What an opportunity. For me, I wasn't certain that this was a good idea. The prophecies of the Oracle are often riddles, with many meanings and possibilities, often driving one to despair. But I could tell that Euryale wanted to go. Even though I am the youngest out of the Gorgons, Euryale and Stheno's immortality make them eternally youthful and I am seen as more mature, the leader. So I sighed and gave a little nod whilst my father was trying to quiet the buzzing crowd.
"Now," he said, "The order in which we will meet the Oracle has been decided." He drew out a long list of names and read them out clearly. "Telemachus of Aiaia". The son of Circe and Odysseus stepped up proudly. "Dipys of Luciana." The cousin Euryale blushed at, "Polydectes of Seriphos", a keen-eyed man advanced, and so the list went on. My sisters and I were near the end, only before my fathers many illegitimate children. So we waited, watching the faces of the men and women who left the hall eager with anticipation and returning again. Usually confused and thoughtful, at times anxious and distracted and once or twice, with head held high. One man I do remember was Polydectes of Seriphos I think. As soon as he returned he looked smug but also slightly fearful. To my surprise he sought out my sisters and I. We stood up and nodded gracefully.
"Good day ladies," he drawled. "Which of you may I ask, is the youngest of the Gorgons?" Euryale and Stheno's eyes swivelled at me but I took no notice. "I am sir." I said cooly, looking straight into his eyes. He gazed at me with interest, then walked away thoughtfully, without even a gracious 'goodbye'.
"Well that's interesting," said Euryale. "That Prince of Seriphos has been told that you impact his future." I was perplexed but just said "He probably means one of them.", gesturing at my half-sisters. "They aren't Gorgons." Euryale pointed out. I shrugged and continued examining the faces of out guests.
About two hours later, most people sat, bored on the stone floor. The excitement had worn off with time, especially for the unimportant people like us who still had a long time to wait. A scuffle in the far corner broke my chain of thought and I looked up. It seemed my uncle Crimyan had found the naiad he'd been chasing after earlier. He had pinned her against the wall by her throat and she was practically choking. Anger bubbled up inside me. I was as powerless as she was but nobody was taking any interest in this girls suffering! We are all bound by the laws of my fathers court. 'Any man may take whom he chooses and none but the host or husband may stand between.' I was frozen for a minute, but I couldn't just stand by. I began to rise when I heard the girl shout out the name of Athena, the virgin goddess of wisdom and battle strategy. Not very fond of men. As soon as the name had left the naiads lips, there was a huge flash of white light and a tremendous thunderclap. All of a sudden a strong powerful figure was towering in the centre of the room. Athena had come. With a flick of her her hand Crimyan was thrown across the room, he hit the opposite wall with a sickening crack. Had he been human he would certainly have died. Instead he crawled away like a wounded dog to a group of his kin. Athena had the attention of the whole chamber. Her grey, intelligent eyes flashed out from her radiant face with proud strong features; she seemed to be literally glowing...from within. I felt her power radiating out from her like waves of heat from a fire.
"This child is under my protection," she thundered , her clear voice bouncing off the stone walls. "If any man dares to approach her again. He shall feel the full force of an Olympians wrath." She turned her gaze to Crimyan who was cowering in a corner. As she looked at him, his face wrinkled, cracks appeared in his skin which was hardening like a rock until, in a second, my uncle was merely a statue, as stone grey as the eyes of the goddess who had ended his life. In a burst of white light she was gone, leaving the figure of a crouching man, frozen forever, and a whole room of stunned people, too shocked to say a word. The little naiad sank trembling to then floor, eyes closed, muttering words of thanks.
I immediately got up and stepped through the murmuring guests until I reached her and knelt down bedside her. Her timid eyes opened in surprise. She was a sweet little thing, deep blue eyes like the pools she swells in, and skin, rough like pebbles.
"What is your name?" I asked gently. She swallowed.
"Vinya your ladyship." I laughed inwardly. Your ladyship? She must be lowly indeed if she considers me to be worthy of that title.
"Well Vinya, I hope that you weren't scathed during your...encounter. Perhaps I can fetch you some refreshment, or maybe a quiet room where you can rest and then take your place at the front of the line if you wish?" Her eyes filled with tears.
"That would be lovely, thank you so much for your kindness and hospitality."
"It's all I can do, to apologise on behalf of my family after..." I glanced at the grey statue in the corner. She shook her head ferverently. "It is not for you to apologise, and luckily, there isn't much to apologise for."
"But I should've intervened." I murmured. "Whatever the law says..."
"No!" She put her hand on mine. "Then you would be banished and neither of us would be better off. Anyway the great goddess protected me, however unworthy I am of her attention, and for that we must be thankful, for both our sakes. And you did help. I didn't miss what you did for me at the gate. Distracting him so that I could slip away.'
"It didn't make much of a difference though did it." I said bitterly.
"But you cared." She exclaimed earnestly. "And that's far more than most people. I can't thank you enough for that. Although..."
She reached into the sack next to her and brought out a gorgeous bronze shield. It was so polished that I could see myself reflected in it, as clearly as if it were a mirror. She held it out to me.
"Take it." She said simply. I stepped back.
"I couldn't, I can see how valuable it is."
"No value to me. It was given to me by your uncle to try and win my affections. I want nothing to remind me of him. Please, you would be doing me a service by ridding me of it." She seemed sincere.
I reached out and grasped the sharp rim of the shield. The cold metal felt strong yet surprisingly light in my hands. It must've been forged by the Cyclops in Hephaestus' fires. I wonder how Crimyan came to have it, I suppose I'll never know. Turning to Vinya, I thanked her enormously, then led her to a peaceful private room and told her to to ask for anything she so desired. When I returned to my sisters, Stheno's eyes widened at the sight of the shield.
"If you listen to me once sister, listen to me now. Keep that shield with you. Even if you forsake all else. It is priceless"
"You take it. I have no need of it." I offered, but she declined, saying that it is a gift well earnt. I'm glad. As I gazed into it, my reflection gazed back. My brown earthy eyes seemed black in the metal, but my flowing golden brown hair that I'm famed for looked just the same, with glints of gold and streaks of blonde. It cascaded down my shoulders, spilling onto the shield in my hands. Euryale hair is a soft brown, straight and shiny, whereas Stheno has a hero's head of hair, flaming red in a friz around her face. We are all very different really, perhaps that's why we are so close, we have no reason to compete over anything: men, battles, station. We all have our own strengths.

*

Eventually my turn came to see the Oracle. Both Stheno and Euryale came before as they are older, but neither of them said anything about their experiences. Stheno just looked confused and Euryale seemed happy but they both gave me quick anxious looks. I pretended not to notice but a feeling of unease crept over me. Polydectes and now my sisters? I'm impacting all of their futures and, it seems not in a positive way. When my name was read out, I strode across the room, ignoring the gazes that my looks attracted. I pushed open the thick door that grinder against the stone slabs. The Oracle of Delphi sat on a carved chair at the other side of the room. To my surprise she looked quite ordinary. Around 30 is my guess, wearing virginal garments to show that she cannot be touched(lest her power of foresight be lost). Not that anyone would dare. Pythia is her name, though I doubt anyone calls her that now. I shut the door quietly behind me and sat on a stool in front of her. She didn't move a muscle. Suddenly she threw up her arms and lifted her face to the heavens.
"Medusa of Grecia" she cried in a clear voice.
"Send a prayer to the great god Apollo, lord of prophecies" I did, and so did she. From her belt she pulled a little bottle, popped the cork and a blue grey fog seeped out. She took a deep sniff and her eyes rolled back into her skull. The bottle must've contained the vapour from the Pythian crevice. I heard that it has hallucinogenic properties when in the right hands. When she spoke, her voice had changed, it was as though she was chanting along side quieter yet deeper and richer voice. The male and female voices intertwined to make an eerie harmony. Apollo speaking through his Oracle. Their message was this:
"Admiration knows no bounds,
Hear the owls holy sound,
Then your wish becomes reality,
Until the goddess' act of charity,
When mischief itself sheds a tear,
Then the bronze mirror you have to fear."
Apollo's voice ended and Pythia crumpled in her chair. I blinked at her stupidly, it was all over so quickly. At a gesture, I left the room, stunned. I made my way slowly back to my sisters, who were looking at me with worry and anticipation.
"Well," Stheno asked bluntly. "Do you have any idea what your future holds?" I shook my head, but Euryales eyes were anxious so I said,
"The Oracle predicted that my 'wish would become reality'."
"Well that's good!" Exclaimed Euryale.
"Indeed, and..." I was about to tell of the tears and fears but I didn't want to worry them. "and..." I faltered, "a goddess will act out of charity, whatever that means." Stheno seemed relieved.
"A favour from a goddess," she said impressed "my fears were unnecessary."
"One moment," I interrupted, "my fears were unnecessary? What caused you to fear for my future.? Did the Oracle mention me?" Euryale and Stheno glanced at eachother uneasily.
"Nothing in particular" Euryale spoke up eventually, "just how we will always stay together to protect one another." She gave a light laugh "but if you have a goddess on your side, you hardly need protection. I wonder which goddess it is? The subtle change of subject didn't go unnoticed, and she knew that. Just as I knew that she wasn't taken in by my retelling of the Oracles words. At least Stheno was there was no need for anyone else to be nervous for me. The warning is probably nothing anyway, it might be something as small as breaking my toe by dropping the shield (bronze mirror). I was letting Pythia's words eat me up inside. I tried to forget about it, telling myself that the dark room and eerie atmosphere had made the experience seem much more sinister that it truly was.