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The journey begins
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Thebes was a long way from Athens. It was once ruminated as a metropolis of social intercourse and trade. But all of a sudden, after the conquest of Persia, orthodox people denied the rule of Alexander. They kicked over the traces and rose in arms against his lately adopted practices which were so unknown to them. They feared that he was doing some crime by changing cults and forsaking their so ancient religious values. Chaos reigned freely driving its wild horses among unruly mobs pillaging and slaughtering without restraint. Thebes wanted to become free from the shackles of the united empire of the young Macedonian prince. In this formidable ambiance, the three young people galloped towards the chaotic city.
‘I think you ought to have stayed behind and could have looked after father'’, Argus said to Fabian after some point of their journey.
‘ No way!! I have always been with you and Cassandra from the moment I have known you. How can I let you go alone?’, Fabian retorted back languidly.
He was not attuned to traveling non-stop for two days over hills and dales and uneven roadways. When they needed a break, they would stop at some shady boughs and relax their tired limbs. He was the son of a wealthy horse dealer. Unlike Argus, he didn’t know what hardship defined or what pain and desolations were. His life has always been a fortunate one. He joined the duo on their journey to Delphi not only because he was their bosom friend, but there was another deep-seated reason which willed him to come out of his ivory palace and tread on thin ice. Love for Cassandra. He had always loved her. From the day he had seen her, a platonic unconditional devotion has consumed his heart for this drooping delicate girl of sixteen. It was so strong that even the thought of being left alone in Athens terrified him. He has never confessed his adorations before, but now he hoped that if all went well he would ask Argus for Cassandra’s hand. The thought made him smile even under the scorching heat and dust.
‘Thebes is just a mile away’, Argus broke the illusions of Fabian’s marriage.
Turning towards Cassandra he enquired if she was alright. For the last two days, Cassandra had spoken very little. She had never left Athens before and at present, they were towards a perilous city. That was too much for her to grasp. She had not been completely true and straight with Argus. Past two days she had been
‘seeing’ more visions. Flashes of some people. Laughter. Tears. Cries of ladies. And then their king, the Macedonian prince. Her perplexed brain has refused to give any answers. She knew if she conversed all these with her brother, she would only find worry in his eyes. That would be unbearable. Argus was not afraid of anything except his sister’s visions which made her weak and brittle every time she envisaged. She just could not hurt him anymore. Instead, she started to draw the portraits of the images she visualized during the visions.
‘I will not hold these any longer. At Delphi, along with the prophecy, I will hand over these pictures and give away the secrets. Perhaps the Oracles would see through it and provide some answers,’ Cassandra thought.
Sun was already setting. The sky looked like a painted vase in hues of orange and red. Slowly twilight veiled the sky in her blue shroud. Half an hour more, and they would be relaxing in some warm and cozy inn. Their horses were too tired. To break the boredom and silence, Fabian requested Cassandra to eloquent one of her poems.
‘In these dangerous tidings how can you even think of a poem or a song?’, she asked with a laugh.
‘Please Cassandra. Soothe our tired minds with your beautiful voice.
The world has been always a dangerous place from the day Gaia, the Earth mother mated with Ouranos, the sky god. Does that mean we leave our share of happiness and lament all time?’, Fabian tried to reason with her.
At last, Argus took the matter into his hands.
‘ I remember a few days ago you were writing some verses. Why don’t you enlighten us with those words?’.
‘ okay okay, it's just a 4 lined poem. I couldn't write anymore.' Cassandra, at last, surrendered laughingly. Taking a deep breath she closed her eyes and began:
" Dreams are fantasies
Fantasies which will never come true,
They all lie in ashes
When morning comes in view!
Fallen in love with a prince,
I dreamt one day.
He wore the white fustanella
And was always happy and gay.
His crown of palm leaves
Glittered in the morning sun.
He rode Bucaphelis,
Nobody did he shun.
One day we met in the garden of Kaleen.
Handsome he was and impavid
His smile was dimpled and his eyes cerulean
He resembled love god Cupid!
In his arms, I was carried to his palace,
He laid me upon his rose spread bed.
We talked and laughed
till the sun went down.
' you will be my queen', at last, he said.
Alas! It was a dream
Dreams which are Fantasies.
And fantasies which aren't true,
They all lie in ashes,
When morning comes in view!'
Both the boys stood open-mouthed as if they were hearing the voice of Aphrodite with their own ears. Those four lines are so deep in philosophy, that it took some time to consume the essence of them.
At last, Argus clapped his hands and it broke Fabian’s trance.
‘Beautiful! Heavenly! you are a wonderful scribe. I am so proud of you!’, Fabian broke into a plethora of praises for her.
Argus’ eyes were glistening with tears of love and pride.
‘May the three Fates make your life happy and colorful, my sister’, he bowed down with a wide smile.
But Lachesis, the middle one of the three Sisters Of Fate, had added more colors to their already variegated lives. The silence of the night with the rhythmic trotting of their horses was broken by loud cacophonic shouts and laughter from behind.
Being the tallest of the three, Argus could see a group moving towards them with wild eyes, flames held high and swords were drawn. Wild laughter ringed the night sky.
‘ Zeus, protect us! Who are those people?’, Cassandra asked fearfully shrinking behind a confused Fabian.
Argus stood transfixed and rigid. Slowly he took out his bow and adjusted an arrow.
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