#bonding in sparta

[mushyooms]

i like drawing them young and not yet doomed by the narrative

[agalychnisspranneusroseus]

"Can I call you 'Drias?"

"Only one person ever called me that"

"Oh! Gotcha! Too personal. Boundaries, Marcy!"

My babygirl blaming herself and her difficulty reading social cues when she didn't do anything 😭 how was she supposed to know it was "too personal"?? She automatically assumes she did something wrong she assumes she messed up my BABY

[allbeendonebefore]

If you feel down for it, I would love to see a small crossover between your Canadian and Ancient Greek characters

since you asked so nicely p:

occasionally i think about how they're actually contemporaries today, but it's hard for me to say anything significant about Canada-Greece relations from here because most of them are based in Eastern Canada (Montreal and Athens are the only sister cities between the two nations, which certainly would make an interesting dynamic! but one may have to ask @randomoranges)

so the primary connection I know is from the University of Alberta; we have a dig site near the modern village of Kallithea (in Thessaly, south of Larissa). I do regret not going to field school when I had the opportunity; I did hear secondhand that the post-dig ice cream was excellent. Since Edith is the representative for the university, she's standing in for Ed here. If I remember correctly, which nationalities can dig where is strictly controlled by the Greek government, so I think Canadians typically work on sites in northern Greece.

The only other connection I can think of off the top of my head would be the torch lighting ceremony for Calgary's Winter Olympics...

[a-very-sparkly-nerd]

That father-son bonding is a rite of passage in Sparta.

I love how good the ithaca saga characterizes Penelope. And I'm not talking about her being super smart and disgusting loyal, I'm talking about her being so clearly SPARTAN.

Like this saga was so wild and Penelope the whole time was just like, "Oh.. anyways-". I genuinely never seen a character so unbothered by pure insanity in every song they are in (which was only two😭)

Penelope in the challenge: "A supernatural storm just appeared dangerously close to our kingdom in an instant and left just as fast.... My husband must be here!"

Odysseus in the final song: "I treated people as subhuman and murdered hundreds."

Penelope: "Can you pick up our wedding bed?"

Odysseus: "... did you not hea-"

Penelope: "No, I heard. Now pick up the bed."

Odysseus: "No! I worked so hard on that bed!"

Penelope: "Perfect! I still love you."

Odysseus: "I'm a mass murdere-"

Penelope: "And I breathe air. Who cares?"

(Bonus: Penelope was in her room listening to the dying screams of the suitors and was probably like, "Sounds like the boys are having fun😊.")

[johnsonbailbonds]

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[ofluckandmagic]

"You ever been in some place you couldn't leave but you couldn't stay, both at the same time?" (boda to calliope)

“A few times, really.” Calliope replied, setting down her father’s old lyre beside her. She couldn’t help but feel a little bit of sympathy for the other girl. However, the young Goddess knew full well what Angrboða meant by being unable to leave nor stay in one place at the same time. Her mind drifted back to the memories of the Hart of the Forest, where she’d spent so long in with the other muses after— well. Artemis wasn’t around to play the puppeteer anymore. Calliope had made sure of that. Usually, she wouldn’t dwell on such traumatic memories, since they were so painful.

Their gaze flickered over to Angrboða’s own, the conflicted look clear as day. Calliope realized that perhaps sharing their own experiences might ease the worries that the young Giantess possessed. They took a deep breath, thinking carefully before allowing themself to speak.

“A long time ago, when I was still trapped in my deer form. I… grew to call a small section of the forest, the Hart, my home.”

Calliope paused thoughtfully, before standing up on her cloven feet. She moved closer to Angrboða, sitting beside the young giantess with a reassuring smile. Of course, she understood better than to just tug someone into a hug, let alone someone she’d only really known for a few months now. Even so, the Goddess wanted to be a reassuring presence for the girl.

“I, like you… couldn’t leave until I was ready. Truly ready. Now, for me that came once the other Muses grew up and moved out on their own… That being said, It’s up to you to decide when you’re ready, Angrboða.”

[melodyartist]

Yeah no, I still rest my case

He would let his wife do anything to him, change my mind.

My brother in Zeus,Pollux was spitting facts about Odysseus and Menelaus no cap😔🙌

[queereads-bracket]

Queer Adult SFF Books Bracket: Round 1

Book summaries and submitted endorsements below:

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

Greece in the age of heroes. Patroclus, an awkward young prince, has been exiled to the court of King Peleus and his perfect son Achilles. By all rights their paths should never cross, but Achilles takes the shamed prince as his friend, and as they grow into young men skilled in the arts of war and medicine their bond blossoms into something deeper - despite the displeasure of Achilles' mother Thetis, a cruel sea goddess. But then word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped. Torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus journeys with Achilles to Troy, little knowing that the years that follow will test everything they hold dear.

Profoundly moving and breathtakingly original, this rendering of the epic Trojan War is a dazzling feat of the imagination, a devastating love story, and an almighty battle between gods and kings, peace and glory, immortal fame and the human heart.

Fantasy, historical fiction, mythology, retelling, adult

Running Close to the Wind by Alexandra Rowland

Endorsement from submitter: "Utterly hilarious romp. No actual sex, but somehow hornier than 90% of books with actual sex in them that I have read."

Avra Helvaçi, former field agent of the Araşti Ministry of Intelligence, has accidentally stolen the single most expensive secret in the world―and the only place to flee with a secret that big is the open sea.

To find a buyer with deep enough pockets, Avra must ask for help from his on-again, off-again ex, the pirate Captain Teveri az-Ḥaffār. They are far from happy to see him, but together, they hatch a plan: take the information to the isolated pirate republic of the Isles of Lost Souls, fence it, profit. The only things in their way? A calculating new Araşti ambassador to the Isles of Lost Souls who’s got his eyes on Avra’s every move; Brother Julian, a beautiful, mysterious new member of the crew with secrets of his own and a frankly inconvenient vow of celibacy; the fact that they’re sailing straight into sea serpent breeding season and almost certain doom.

But if they can find a way to survive and sell the secret on the black market, they’ll all be as wealthy as kings―and, more important, they’ll be legends.

Fantasy, humor, adventure, secondary world, queernorm, adult

[moonlitenvyillust]

Ithacan Royal Family headcannons because I have free will

•] I have a feeling Penelope, Telemachus and Odysseus would all be light sleepers. But for different reasons

Ody because of the war and you know what happened in the sea

Penny because of the suitors yes, but because they are loud as fuck

And tele being so anxious he can't sleep idly

•] ody trauma response is freeze. Penny is fight, tele is fly

•] animal kingdom nicknames include: ody being owlet, tele being little wolf, and pen as an eagle (idek)

•] ody is a bi mess. Penny is Penny. And tele is a raging bisexual gender bender

•] tele and ody Bond over SA survivor trauma

•] pen and ody had palace shaking sex for three days straight even after the extended night ended and tele went off on another diplomatic mission to clear his mind (read: go to his lover. Choose who)

•] all three of the family members has been virgins until marriage. No I do not count being r-worded as virginity loss. Fuck you

•] Ody has horrible sense of fashion. You can see him in purple pants in modern AU. And then there's Penelope "local fashonista" of Ithaca and Telemachus "asked to be a model (my modern AU)" of Ithaca

•] if any of them had addictions- oh who am I kidding? Odysseus refuses to take more than two cups of wine. Same for Penelope. Telemachus would not let himself drink more than half a cup but would take some weed and maybe some maladaptive daydreaming

•] Telemachus was 100% on something during little wolf. He was regressing during Legendary and We'll be fine. The real Telemachus is cold and calculating like his father, and yet still as gentle as Penelope

•] Penelope "master Weaver" Of Ithaca, Odysseus "Carved a bed from a living tree" Of Ithaca, and Telemachus "painted ten hyperrealistic portraitd of himself and his mom and soon a family portrait" Of Ithaca

•] Penelope is the embodiment of patient. Odysseus is the embodiment of "I just want my wife bro..." And tele is just your average maladaptive daydreamer

•] Telemachus is somehow just chilling with everyone. Odysseus is still struggling, but he's doing good. Penelope only meets people for social cues

•] Penelope of Sparta was 100% ready to murder the suitors herself. And then Ody shows up and when Tele was told to go and tell his mother, he went and helped his mother pamper herself to look fabulous

•] about the modern AU thing, I was thinking Ody may or may not be a navy captain, hence the left for war thingy he's also a really important one, so yeah. Popular. Penelope is a really popular local cafe owner, and Telemachus was asked to be a model on a random Tuesday and ended up really well known somehow so now The family is just rich and popular ig Telemachus decided he can be a model as a side gig (it pays pretty well)

•] their issues include:

Odysseus now has abandonment issues and fear of leading. Also he's scared of the water now. And thunder. And refuses to eat beef/pork but will eat fish. He's scared of being touched by someone who he isn't sure who is. He has night terrors too! Sorry not sorry<3

Penelope is sleep deprived and now has insomnia after her fucked up sleep schedule because of the shroud bluff. She is now unable to stay asleep for long.

Telemachus is a touch starved, sleep deprived, average closet Emo, maladaptive daydreamer, with trust issues. He is scared of drinking more than one half cups of wine because... The suitors. And he's afraid of staying with a large group of loud men also because of the suitors

•] Ody is a bear hugger. Penny hugs back immediately. Tele tries to run at first but secretly craves the physical fatherly affection

•] remember that one meme that goes....

"Does it matter, who wins the argument?"

Penelope: "it matters, but what matters more is, fairness"

-argues fairly

-the voice of reason™

-knows when to use her words

Telemachus: "it doesn't matter, what matters is, who the fuck are you to start an argument with me?"

-can and will roast you, if he knows what you are, you're so over

-are you even on his standards of "decent debate opponent" Or are you just a practice dummy/entertainment?

-sunshine boy who? This is "hanged twelve maids" Telemachus speaking.

Odysseus: raises eyebrows "...?"

-has yet to loose a single argument (except with crew, unfair)

-pet liar of Athena goddess of wisdom, has fooled her too

-he's just- you know

•] all hail King Odysseus "I tried to stab my male crush during the war" Of Ithaca. and next in line to the throne, Telemachus "fuck a fight with a suitor was my masochist awakening" Or "gender? What gender?" The heir Of Ithaca.

•] modern AU Telemachus has killed a man. Penelope and Odysseus doesn't know. He is not sorry

•] Penelope is good at hiding her feelings through seriousness. Odysseus is the greatest liar in history. Fooled hundreds of King's of what he truly thinks or feels. While Telemachus has some kind of switch in his head that goes from "sunshine boy" To "Emo kid" To "over observer" To "hanged twelve maids in a day. Will do it again" And it's somehow, all the real him.

•] Hermes gave Telemachus a gun and told him to only use it during dire situations. Telemachus shot it at Antinous's eye. That's why he only has one now (idk how he survived he just did)

•] in my modern AU, their last name is Laertedes. And Penelope, before marrying in, her name is Penelope Icarius.

[katerinaaqu]

Anaxibia sister to Agamemnon and Menelaus (some thoughts)

So...in terms of Oresteia we know that Pylades and Orestes are cousins technically. Pylades is also betrothed and later married to Orestes's sister Electra.

His father Strophius of Phocis was married according to that line to Agamemnon's and Menelaus's sister Anaxibia (Altrnatives of her name are Astyoche and Cydragora) that she has different parentage depending on the myths and the versions but I think I am in favor of the classic aka daughter of Atreus and the Cretan princess Aerope.

And now I wonder how was Anaxibia spared the family drama! Like how was she escaped from the whole coup of Aegisthus! Makes me wonder;

Did the brothers carry Anaxibia with them to Sparta for safety and THEN organize her betrothal to Strophius?

Did she live with them in exile for a little while and then catch the eye of Strophius somehow thus leading to the brothers see also the possibility of a possible ally and marry their sister to him?

Did, perhaps Agamemnon (or even Menelaus too) see the danger and betroth her to Strophius BEFORE the disaster? Thus Anaxibia being spared the exile?

Honestly all possibilities seem so great and honestly make one think! Of course judging how Orestes was born BEFORE Pylades one can expect that Anaxibia was married to Strophius AFTER Agamemnon and Menelaus settled down in their own kingdoms and potentially had their families which could mean how much greater responsibility the two brothers bore in their exile; not only had they take care of each other but also of their sister.

And to Agamemnon apologists such as myself or @likethexan seems even more admirable what responsibility Agamemnon possibly had. Quite possibly of course maybe Anaxibia was indeed sent to Phocis before the whole coup erupted it is just that the wedding potentially happened later after both brothers gained some of their political power back to negotiate a suitable marriage with the king of Phocis.

Of course that begs the question as to why didn't the brothers flee to Phocis instead of Sparta? Surely if their sister was there (married or not) she could potentially offer some help or influence. Well I should say one by looking at the map should say that the first difficulty was the distance:

If we assume that Anaxibia was taken out of harm's way on time but the brothers had literally to run for their lives, they probably ran towards the direction of the south where they would only need to use one mean of transport (cart, horse etc) instead of going to the other side of Peloponnese AND needing to get a ship as well to cross the sea to get to Phocis and they would probably need to get through the mountains again to get to their sister (because the road through Attica and Boetia would take them forever).

But is also a political move.

Agamemnon was not stupid. He probably knew the political power of Tyndareus as well as the riches and army of Sparta might have been superior to Phocis at that time. What is more Tyndareus just like the two of them, was once upon a time exiled with his brother Icarius and restored to the throne so Agamemnon was almost certain that Tyndareus would be more open to the idea to help them be restored in power. Not to mention that Sparta was closer related to Mycenae by geography alone.

So it seems that Agamemnon took the right decision to flee to the south and towards Sparta rather than to the north and towards Phocis

But of course the scenario in which the resided in Sparta with their sister for a little while before sending her to Phocis is always on the table or even that Anaxibia was left behind in Mycenae to be used as a hostage or something similar thus increasing the urge of Agamemnon to come and get her. Although I do not support the latter mainly that knowing the strong family bonds of the Atreides I find it difficult to imagine both brothers would leave their sister behind suffer the consequences of the coup. Especially given how the Atreides spent years to the care of the Spartan king so that doesn’t seem to be pointing towards the urgency of the two struggling to get their sister back and all which is another reason I do not support it but that is also on the table I suppose 🤔

Also we do not know how old Anaxibia was when the brothers had to flee. Maybe she was very young too. Maybe she had to be taken away so that the brothers wouldn't risk for her to be used against them or killed. Makes me imagine she would be barely enough of age to be married at that time (which is why I side more with the idea of her being sent away or carried with them to Sparta) but yeah these are some random thoughts from top of my head.

What do you guys think?

[phia-myth]

from my last post, here’s a list of examples of myths that discuss very modern instances of psychology/trauma/mental health:

house of atreus - generational trauma

helen of sparta - csa/trauma bonding

patroclus - childhood trauma/survivor guilt

heracles - bipolar

[pelideswhore]

timeline

@a-chaotic-dumbass @nysus-temple here it is!! also tagging @godsofhumanity because you said something about calydonian boar hunt which i mention ever so briefly. the links will take you to fics i have written about the aforementioned occurrence since i will shamelessly take any chance to plug my writing.

Telamon (22) kills his younger half-brother, so both he and Peleus (19) are exiled by their father. Peleus is taken in by his uncle and marries his cousin. He eventually joins the Calydonian Boar Hunt, and accidentally kills his uncle/father-in-law, resulting in his fleeing for a second time. In this second exile he is accused of attempted infidelity by the King’s wife, whom he shunned. The news reaches his own wife, who kills herself, leaving the throne of Pthia to him. The King chases Peleus for revenge, organizing an attack on him by centaurs on Mount Pelion. Chiron aids Peleus and saves his life. This whole fiasco takes 9 years to unfold.

Peleus’ (28) success during the Boar Hunt results in his marriage to Thetis. A year after the wedding, he joins Jason on the Argo. Thetis gives birth to 6 boys before Achilles is born but they all die in infancy.

Priam (27) and Hecuba (25) introduce Paris (0) into the world and almost immediately abandon him into the wild. So far they’ve had Hector (8), his sister (7), Deiphobus (5) and the twins Cassandra and Helenus (4)

4 years later, Achilles (0) is born and dunked in the Styx; Thetis then leaves Peleus (34).

Phoenix (35) gets exiled and comes Phthia because Peleus (35) is his friend, Achilles (1) is living with his dad, he and childless Phoenix bond.

Patroclus (8) kills his playmate over losing a game of petteia; his father sends him away, Peleus (40) empathizes and takes him in, Patroclus and Achilles (5) meet for the first time (ROUGH SEAS)

Menelaus (16) and Agamemnon (21) seek asylum in Sparta, Clytemnestra (14) is immediately infatuated by Agamemnon, Helen (14) not so much. Castor and Pollux (14) are interested in the stories they have to tell.

Agamemnon (22) leaves Sparta to overthrow Aegisthus (20) in Mycenae; he (23) returns to ask for Clytemnestra’s (16) hand in marriage but she’s already married. He kills Tantalus and son (<1) and gets engaged to her (BLOOD-RED HANDS).

Helen (16) gets kidnapped by Theseus about a month later, the Dioscuri (16) bring her back; Clytemnestra (16) and Agamemnon’s (23) wedding gets pulled forward despite the mourning period out of fear for Clytemnestra’s wellbeing and because she is displaying symptoms of pregnancy. Peleus (43) leaves Achilles (9) and Patroclus (12) to go on a military expedition to Troy with Hercules and Telamon (46). When he returns it’s all he talks about and Achilles becomes obsessed with the idea of Troy. Podarkes/Priam (40) earns his epithet when his father (65) gets killed, Hector (21) has his first experiences with war. Telamon takes Priam’s sister as a concubine and she births Teucer, Ajax is 14 at the time.

Helen (18) gets wed off to Menelaus (20). Odysseus (22) marries Penelope (20), Agamemnon (25) and Clytemnestra (18) already have Iphigenia (1) and she’s heavily pregnant (OLIVE TREE)

Achilles (11) gets sent to Charon as a method of education, by now he and Patroclus (14) are inseparable.

Achilles (13) comes back home from Charon and teaches Patroclus everything he learned.

Helen (25) leaves Sparta with Paris (22) (WATCH THE STARS COLLAPSE), Hector (30) freaks out (GATES OF TROY); Achilles (18) impregnates Deidamia (17); Odysseus (29), Agamemnon (32), and Menelaus (27) come and get him for war (SKYROS); Penelope (27) is left alone with Telemachus (1) (CRAZY FOR YOU) and Orestes (10) and Pylades (12) are sent to Sparta to stay with Hermione (6) for her protection.

Achilles (18) goes to Phthia, his father (52) gives him gifts and weapons, Achilles takes Patroclus (21) and Phoenix (52) with him (SAY YOU REMEMBER ME). At Aulis, Iphigenia (11) is brought in as a supposed bride for Achilles, but she is sacrificed (WEDDING ALTARS AND SACRIFICIAL SHRINES). Electra (10) and Chrysothemis (4) are now alone with their mother.

Achilles (25) kills Andromache’s (35) family and she flees to Troy, where she remeets Hector (37) whom she knows from 29 years prior. They get married and a year later Andromache gives birth to Scamandrius/Astyanax.

[k-nayee]

ACT ONE Songs and Chapters

Warrior M.List

Previous | Next

˚✦ʚ♡ɞ✦ ・✦ʚ♡ɞ✦ ・The Chains That Bind Us・✦ʚ♡ɞ✦ ・✦ʚ♡ɞ✦ ˚

❝Freedom is the ultimate test of character—not the absence of chains, but the strength to break them, no matter the cost.❞

˚＊˚✦ʚ♡ɞ✦ ・・✦ʚ♡ɞ✦ ⚔️・⚔️・⚔️・⚔️・✦ʚ♡ɞ✦ ・・✦ʚ♡ɞ✦ ˚＊˚

In the shadows of Sparta, servitude, ambition, and rebellion converge.

A competition for Athena's favor promises freedom, but the journey tests the resolve of those who dare to dream.

Through trials of cunning, strength, and sacrifice, bonds are forged and broken.

Secrets unravel, destinies are rewritten, and the fire of resistance begins to burn. 

As the dust settles, the once-enslaved find the strength to challenge the Gods and the chains that bind them.

˚＊˚✦ʚ♡ɞ✦ ・・✦ʚ♡ɞ✦ ⚔️・⚔️・⚔️・⚔️・✦ʚ♡ɞ✦ ・・✦ʚ♡ɞ✦ ˚＊˚

0.1 — Chains and Promises

Elastic Heart by Sia

Rise Up by Andra Day

0.2 — The Fox and the Flame

Survivor by Destiny's Child

Battle Symphony by Linkin Park

0.3 — Athena's Challenge

Glory and Gore by Lorde

The Other Side by Ruelle

0.4 — Bonds in the Fire

Team by Lorde

Battle Cry by Imagine Dragons

0.5 — Nobody's Goodbye

All I Want by Kodaline

Way Down We Go by Kaleo

0.6 — A Fight for Her

My Love by Sia

King and Lionheart by Of Monsters and Men

0.7 — Gates of Fate

Run by Snow Patrol

Home by Phillip Phillips

0.8 — Reprieve Before the Storm

Control by Zoe Wees

The Night We Met by Lord Huron

0.9 — The Bronze Sentinel

Unstoppable by Sia

Soldier by Fleurie

[acourtofladydeath]

Eris Week 2024 Masterlist

D1~Bonds/Bargains: "A Wound So Deep"

🔪 An injured Eris finds his way to the place he needs most, but are some wounds too deep? (Azris)

D2~Childhood/Legacy: "Dreams Do Come True"

👶🏽 Chapter 4 of "And So Our Life Begins": 50 years after their bond snapped and 5 years after they started planning, Azriel and Eris expand their family with the help of Miri. (Azris)

D3~Healing/Betrayal: "And So We Danced"

💃🏽 Nesta and Eris find more than a superb dance partner in each other, and their mates, Cassian and Azriel, go on a wild goose chase to figure out why they’ve been secretly spending nights together. (Azris/Nessian)

D4~Traditions/Hounds: "A Walk In The Park"

🐶 Cassian makes a mistake and Eris gives him a choice on how he’d like to make it up to him - he almost instantly regrets his decision. (Casris)

D5~War/Adventure: "The Song of Azris"

🏛 An Ancient Greek Azris/Patrochilles AU using inspiration from The Iliad and The Song of Achilles, featuring Azriel as Patroclus and Eris as Achilles. Series launch including the Catalogue of Characters and Ode to the Muses.

D6~AU/Retellings: "TSOA Book 1: The Promise"

🏛 The epic begins: we learn of Azriel's past and the fateful day in Sparta that would once again bring these men together again in Troy. (Azris)

D7~Free Day: "The Clause"

🔥 Part 3 of the "To Become A Vanserra" Series: Azriel, Eris, Lucien, and Elain haven't been able to stop thinking about their initiations. What they experienced, and what they missed out on. Deep within the rules of the Vanserra initiation, there may just be a way to experience it all... (Erlain/Elucien/Azris/Luzriel)

I can't wait to share all of these works with you during @erisweekofficial!

Which piece are you most excited for? Let me know in the comments and tags!

Let me know if you want on or off the taglist! @pippsmcgee, @born-to-riot, @chunkypossum, @bubybubsters, @queercontrarian, @yanny-77, @fieldofdaisiies, @iftheshoef1tz, @secret-third-thing, @jules-writes-stories, @the-darkestminds

[pumperpup]

In the shadow of Mount Taygetos, under the fading caress of the setting sun, a lone Spartan warrior named Areus made his way through the dense, untamed forests that bordered the lands of Sparta. His body, already a testament to the rigorous training and discipline that defined the Spartan way of life, bore the marks and scars of countless drills and skirmishes. Yet, within him burned an insatiable desire for strength that transcended the limits of mortal capabilities.

As the other warriors returned to their quarters, weary from the day's training, Areus felt a restless energy urging him to venture further, driven by tales of ancient gods and hidden sanctuaries whispered amongst his kin. His journey led him deep into the heart of the wilderness, to a place untouched by time, where the air itself hummed with a mysterious power.

It was there, in a secluded grove illuminated by the soft glow of the moon, that Areus stumbled upon a pool of water unlike any he had ever seen. The pool, lit by the light of the moon, shimmered with an ethereal glow, its surface smooth and inviting. A sense of destiny washed over Areus as he approached, drawn by the pool's mesmerizing beauty and the faint, inexplicable pull of the divine.

Remembering the legends of his people, Areus knew this was no ordinary body of water. It was said that such pools were blessed by the gods themselves, offering those who were worthy a gift beyond measure. With a heart pounding with anticipation and reverence, Areus stepped into the pool, his skin tingling as the water enveloped him, a sensation both exhilarating and terrifying.

The transformation began the moment Areus submerged himself. The waters glowed brighter, wrapping around him like a cocoon of pure energy. His muscles tensed, then expanded, growing in size and strength with each passing second. The pain was intense, as if his very fibers were being torn apart and knitted back together, stronger and more powerful than before. His body surged with an otherworldly force, his veins coursing with the might of the gods.

When Areus emerged from the pool, he was transformed. His physique, already formidable, was now a marvel of muscular perfection, each contour and sinew defined with impossible precision and power. He felt an invincibility coursing through him, a boundless strength that knew no equal. The warrior stood, a solitary figure bathed in the moonlight, reborn through divine intervention.

The journey back to Sparta was a blur, Areus's mind reeling from the magnitude of his transformation. As he rejoined his fellow warriors the following day, his newfound strength was undeniable. In training, he moved with a grace and power that outmatched even the strongest of his peers. His strikes were thunderous, his agility unmatched, a testament to the divine gift he had received.

Areus's discovery of the pool remained his secret, a sacred bond between him and the gods. His legendary prowess on the battlefield became the stuff of Spartan lore, a tale of one warrior's quest for greatness and the divine favor that granted it. Areus had transcended the limits of mortality, a lone figure whose strength was a gift from the heavens, forever remembered as the Spartan who touched the divine.

[littlesparklight]

What is your opinion on Hermione and Helen relationship?

Complicated? lol

No, but... ok, it's like this for me;

Many of the (often early) sources that say anything about the moment Helen leaves Sparta generally cast it as, well, leaving/abandoning, and Hermione is always mentioned, whether first among the little list of what Helen is leaving behind. Helen herself in the Iliad says "I left/abandoned", and in, for example, Sappho 16, the case gets doubly stated with an additional "with no thought for her parents and child" (paraphrasing lightly); the Bibliotheke again goes with pointing out that she (helped to) packed the ship and left her daughter.

Now, obviously it's not strange that this should be something emphasized in the source texts; a (married) woman's greatest function and task were her children. A (married) woman (apparently or explicitly) willingly abandoning her child/ren in any way would be among the worst things she could do (aside from/alongside, well. sleeping with someone not her husband).

With that in mind, that's how I like to engage with Helen and her relationship with both the idea of children/her daughter, and Hermione as a real, living person who Helen has a relationship with.

The contrast and conflict inherent in Helen willing to abandon her two figurative and literal "most important" elements to her position as a married woman; her children and her husband.

So, it's more interesting to me to have a Helen who maybe isn't all that happy or excited about pregnancy, who doesn't like being pregnant. Who was maybe happy it took time for her to even become pregnant. (Since, for example, the Catalogue of Women casts Hermione as an unexpected child.)

A Helen who hopes the birth of the actual child will be a revelation... and then it isn't.

Does she love her daughter? Of course. But perhaps more as an idea than what the reality of an infant is. So it takes time for her to bond with her, and maybe it just never becomes easy, which would be difficult when you're then failing in something that is supposed to be your "ultimate purpose and function".

For my own ficverse, I ignored the majority version of Hermione being nine when Helen leaves Sparta, so my version of Helen there is still hoping a more grown up Hermione than her toddler-age self would let her bond more with her daughter. A Hermione that's nine poses a slightly different situation.

And then, of course, there's the whole question of Helen's return; she's been away from her daughter for 18-28 years at that point. 18 if we axe Helen's words in the Iliad and the timeline the Bibliotheke paints up, 28 if we don't. Whether Hermione was a toddler or nine when Helen left, Helen has, either way, missed her daughter's whole childhood.

Can they rebuild/remake something out of this, especially when Hermione leaves for Phthia two-three years after Helen and Menelaos comes home to Sparta? Do they want to? Do just one of them want to? Is it Hermione, is it Helen, who has been regretting and missing Hermione, yet struggled to bond with her before she left and now has to face the possibility they never might have any real relationship, as they "should", being mother and daughter?

... I guess my opinion is you can do a lot with their relationship, but to me it's more interesting if it's allowed to be complicated via Helen having Complicated Feelings about Being a Mother.