GOLDEN FLEECE QUEST:THE KINGDOM of THESSALY
By hercules
That day, was one of the darkest in the land of Thessaly, if not the darkest.
Over six dozen soldiers in black armour, charged into the city of Iolcos on dark horses.
Leading those soldiers, was a figure in a hooded black cloak. Riding with the cloaked figure, was a boy, around fifteen years of age with wild black hair, dark eyes and a mean expression on his face.
People cried in fear, as the unknown riders headed for the palace. Many fled inside their homes to hide, others were thrown aside, women held onto their children. Stools were knocked over too.
The guards outside the palace gates, were afraid.
“I don’t like the look of this,” said the left-hand guard.
“I don’t either,” the right-hand one said.
“We should warn the king and queen.”
The guards went inside the courtyard and bolted the gates, as tightly as possible. They then crossed the courtyard and entered the palace.
Meanwhile, King Aeson was in the throne room, sitting on a throne of silver.
Aeson had shoulder-length, wavy black hair, steel-grey eyes and looked around forty years of age. He wore alight-blue robe with silver embroidery and a crown of silver.
Aeson was not alone in the throne room. His wife, Queen Medea and son Jason were there, along with Atalanta and Heracles. Then there were the two guards standing by the doors.
Queen Medea looked about the same age as Aeson. She had green eyes, a thin nose and long black hair piled up high with bands of gold wrapped around it. She wore a dark-green robe and a silver head-piece.
Jason looked around ten years of age. He had neck-long, wavy black hair like his father and green eyes like his mother. Unlike his parents, Jason wore no royal garments. He had a plain brown robe, tied at the waist and a pair of sandals.
Atalanta looked about twenty-five years of age. She had a mass of very long, fiery red wavy hair, green eyes and was wearing hunting garments. She had in her possession, a large bow and a quiver of arrows slung over her shoulder. She happened to be Heracles’ younger sister.
As for Heracles, well, he painted a totally different picture. In age, he looked about thirty-five years. He stood at a mountainous height of eight feet with bulging muscles, huge dextrous limbs, mighty hands, dark eyes and a bald head. He wore no more than a pelt around his waist and had in one hand, a five-foot-long club.
Suddenly, the two guards from outside the courtyard, burst into the throne room.
“Yes, what is it?” Aeson asked.
“We are under attack, my lord,” replied one of the guards.
Everyone grew concerned.
“Under attack?” Aeson asked.
“Yes, my lord.”
“The force of warriors is no small one, my lord,” said the other guard.
“How many are there?” Medea asked.
“Over four dozen, my lady,” replied the guard. “One of them wears a hooded black cloak and has a boy with him.”
“A boy?” asked Medea.
“Yes, my lady.”
“What will you have us do, my lord?” one of the guards in the throne room asked.
“Round up all the men into the courtyard, at once.”
“The enemy will be upon us at any moment, my lord,” said the other throne room guard. “We may not have time.”
“Then you must act very fast. Now hurry.”
“Yes, my lord,” the guards said together.
When all the guards were gone, Aeson turned to everyone else.
“What of Jason, your lordship?” Heracles asked.
“You and Atalanta must take him far away and raise him to adulthood.”
“Must I go, Father?”
“I’m afraid so, Jason.”
Jason turned to Medea.
“It’s for the best, Jason.”
Jason knew his parents were right.
“Okay,” he said. “But I will return. I promise.”
“Come, Jason,” said Heracles.
“We’ll look after you,” Atalanta said.
Jason went with Heracles and Atalanta through a side door, leaving Aeson and Medea to face what was coming – if they had to that is.
Meanwhile, the enemy warriors were preparing to take the palace. Several of them had a large battering ram.
“BREAK THOSE GATES OPEN.” the cloaked figure barked savagely, in a male voice.
The soldiers holding the ram, started to pound the gate.
“MORE POWER!” the cloaked figure barked again. “MORE POWER! MORE! MORE! MORE!”
The soldiers pounded the gates full force, until they broke open.
“CHARGE!” said the cloaked figure.
The warriors rushed into the courtyard, where Aeson’s men were waiting.
Then the battle took place. Sword against sword, shield against shield. One by one, Aeson’s men fell, until they were all dead. Only five of the enemy warriors had been killed.
Now there was no one to prevent the palace from being taken.
“INTO THE PALACE.” the cloaked figure said.
He marched swiftly into the palace, bold as brass, followed by the boy and the surviving soldiers.
“This is the end, Aeson,” Medea said sadly.
“Yes, my dear, this is the end,” Aeson said sadly too.
The throne room doors burst open and the enemy warriors marched in.
The cloaked figure strode forward and halted two metres before Aeson. It then threw back its hood – revealing the head of a man, identical in appearance to Aeson’s.
Undoubtedly, a twin brother.
“Pelias,” said Aeson.
“Your rule is at an end, brother Aeson,” Pelias sneered.
He then turned to Medea.
“And yours too, whoever you are?”
“I am Queen Medea.”
“Not anymore.”
Medea was not afraid of Pelias and neither was Aeson.
“I might have known this would befall,” Aeson said.
He knew that the game was up.
“Now, hand over the kingdom, brother.”
Aeson had no choice.
He stepped down off the throne, without hesitation. He then removed the crown and placed it on the throne.
“Now, I will be king.”
Pelias beckoned Acastus to his side.
“And this is my son and heir, Acastus.”
Pelias knew that it was forbidden by royal law to draw a single drop of blood from any member of the royal family. So he had no choice, but to let Aeson live.
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