IN THE SHADOW OF THE KING

Youth The attractions of youth blossomed between Helios, Thalia and Yannis. Unsurprisingly, the three of them had forged a close friendship. Being of similar ages, the three of them stuck together, helping each other out.  Yannis had always acted as a big brother to Helios, and as they grew up together, he always watched out for Helios’ best interest. Delphine had also grown very fond of Yannis’ guidance and presence in Helios’ life.  Helios and Yannis were thick as thieves, getting into all kinds of mischief as they trained together. Although there was still a time of peace instilled among the kingdoms, the warriors had been training and preparing to protect their nation as there had been whispers of a war approaching the kingdoms in their realm.   Like the boys, Thalia had matured too, blossoming into a lively, young woman. Her bond with Helios had grown stronger as the years went on making her feel safe and protected.  With Yannis, however, Thalia had never expected to fall in love with the fair-haired servant boy. At first, she tried to brush it off as a fading feeling. But as time grew, she felt more drawn to Yannis’ presence. She still loved Helios, but not in the way she yearned for Yannis. Yet, for the sake of her kingdom, and the alliance, she knew she had to surrender her feelings for Yannis.  *** It was the summer she had turned fifteen. It had been three years since she was betrothed to Helios. Thalia had found herself in the midst of a lesson in the garden that warm, summer morning.  “So what do you remember of the alliances of Thessalonica?” her governess droned on.  “Hmmm…, they were..” Thalia trailed off, distracted by Yannis, who was walking across the garden into the kitchen entrances.  He had on a light, white linen, soiled with mud as he was loading in a basket full of grapes atop the steps of the back entrance of the kitchen. Despite the rough edges, he still looked heavenly to her. His fair hair glowing in the embers of the morning sun.  As Yannis waited at the entryway, she saw an older kitchen worker summoning Yannis to take off his soiled shirt as she took the basket of grapes into the kitchen. The kitchen worker asked him to wait as he wiped the soil from his hands with his shirt.  He looked very tall and built, very mature. Not the scrawny manservant who used to hang out with Helios. He wasn’t particularly handsome, but his care and concern for everyone around him intrigued her. She had always seen Yannis working hard in the garden all summer, but in the light of this particular morning, Thalia felt something different about Yannis, a flame burning inside her.  “Thalia!” her governess shouted.  “S…Sorry!” a startled Thalia placed her hands on her chest to soothe herself. “Sorry miss.” Her governess shook her head in disdain and as she turned back to the papyrus note she was teaching from.  From the corner of her eye, Thalia could see Yannis amused by Thalia’s expression as her governess chastised her. Thalia blushed, looking down at her own papyrus note, attempting to concentrate on her work.  It was from that moment on, she had started to fall deeply in love with Yannis, in the way she could never let Helios love her. She yearned for every moment she could see him or speak with him. Everyday, her passion for Yannis grew stronger, and part of her felt guilty, like she was betraying Helios. *** “Thalia?”  A familiar, yet faint voice echoed from a distance. It was a midsummer night, just the day before Helios’ seventeenth birthday. Thalia and Yannis had made a plan to sneak Helios out of the palace, while everyone was asleep, to watch the stars and usher in his birthday, a tradition they had always kept up with since the year of Helios’ betrothal. Helios always enjoyed watching the stars with his two best friends as it reminded him of the time he had with his father. The King had enjoyed astronomy and often wondered if there was life beyond this earth. Every year, Yannis and Thalia wanted to honour the memory of King Agathon on Helios’ birthday, as it made him feel close to his father.  Thalia followed the sound of the voice, as she walked towards the room of her bedchamber, there was Yannis waiting downstairs, in a heavy cloak, by the courtyard that faced her room. She let out a small wave and moved away from the window. Walking towards her nightstand, she took her cloak and made her way to Helios’ room.  She sneaked past the night guards into Helios’ room, slowly entering only to find him sleeping soundly on his bed.  “Heli,” she whispered, tapping him gently on his bare shoulder. “Heli, wake up!” Helio’ eyes shot open, forcefully jolting his body to sit up. He took a deep breath and blinked a couple of times, orientating himself with his surroundings.  “Is it time yet?” Helios asked, with a husky undertone that held his deep, baritone voice.  “Yes! Quick, get dressed!” Thalia urged, tossing over a light shirt and a cloak towards Helios.  Helios let out a big yawn and quickly got dressed.  Helios and Thalia quickly made their way to the side gates of the palace, passing through the workers’ quarters, where they met Yannis.  “Thought you guys weren’t going to make it,” Yannis smirked. “Would never miss it for the world,” Helios replied, hugging Yannis. “I’ve got the horses ready,” Yannis said, escorting Thalia and Helios to the back gates of the workers’ quarters.  There were three magnificent horses that stood by the gates obediently. Yannis dismounted the reins of the horses and gave Helios and Thalia the reins. While Yannis was securing his horse with some food and wine he had packed for their little midnight stargazing session, Helios was lending a hand to Thalia, helping her up on the horse. From a distance, Yannis yearned to have what Helios and Thalia had. As Helios was helping her up on the horse, he saw how smitten Helios was with Thalia. She was very enchanting, and charismatic. She had a way of lighting up a room and had become increasingly confident in her abilities. Yannis longed to have someone look at him the way Helios looked at Thalia, and to care for someone the way Helios cared for Thalia. “Are we ready to go?” Yannis asked, hopping on the saddle of his horse.  Thalia and Helios sleepily nodded, directing their horses to follow Yannis, who guided them out of the palatial grounds, and into the surrounding forest that flanked on the east side of the palace.  They made their way in the dead of night to the ruins of the temple of Triton, which was close to the border of another allied kingdom. As they settled down, Yannis brought a linen mat and set the place with some exquisite wine and bread from the palace kitchens. They ate and drank, watching the stars in silence. Suddenly, there was a swift sound of rustling in the trees that surrounded the area.  “My Lord,” Yannis whispered, motioning to Helios, who was engrossed at the stars in the sky.  “My Lord, it appears we are not alone,” Yannis continued.  “What?” Helios asked, as Yannis tried to silence him.  There was another ruffle of the lean bushes that surrounded the temple ruins, causing all three of them to look behind them, at the source of the sound.  “Wha…,” Thalia opened her mouth to ask, but was soon silenced by someone who had crept from behind her.  She tried to scream but was held back by a gloved hand that muffled her voice. Helios turned to look, seeing Thalia in the clutches of someone tall and thin, decked in a black hooded cloak. In one arm he had Thalia, holding back her screams, and in the other, he had a knife.  “Thalia!” Helios gasped.  Running towards Thalia’s attacker, he tried to pry her free from his surprisingly strong grip. Yannis quickly ran behind the attacker and tried to hit him from the back.