Ganymede

Metanastefsi

The next morning as Zeus was sitting on his throne in his court, Hera marched in. Zeus kept looking the way of the door, expecting to see Ganymede. When he could not trace the evidence of Ganymede’s arrival Zeus asked Hera in a disappointed tone “Where art Ganymede, he could not make appearance at night as well. Where he could be? Has he fled Olympus?!” Zeus got up from his throne in panic.

“Calm down your majesty. Thy Ganymede is nothing more than a foul soul. The Graces are arriving this morning to cast Ganymede off to the Gaia realm.” “What an eccentric! Whe-When did this happen? WHAT HAPPENED??” A summoner cleared her throat. “The graces have arrived along with Eris and Ganymede.” Zeus restored his baffled expression, trying to look mesmerized by Ganymede’s appearances.

“Great Zeus. We Graces acknowledge thy permission to continue the general proceedings for the crimes committed by Ganymede yesterday at the Avli Ton Theons.” The third Grace spoke eloquently. “If I may, what were his crimes which I ask?” “Certainly.” Continued the second Grace “During the ongoing events of Avli Ton Theons, Hera brought along Ganymede. Ganymede as a man exploited the firm rule of no men, is his first accusation. Second of all, Ganymede invaded the Hebe’s pool to harass Peitho.” “Peitho!! That woman! Where are the evidenc-” “AS REPORTED BY GREAT ERIS HERSELF.” Eris grimaced as she looked at Ganymede. A long silence followed.

“Hera, how could you?” Zeus looked hurt. “You cut me deep my dear wife. Very deep.” Hera looked away in jealousy. “Thou could not stop Hera from taking Ganymede to the court either, makes you as much guilty.” Zeus gulped hard. “But our practices are limited to the concerns regarding Goddesses and the Avli Ton Theons only. Unfortunately, we cannot take any step against you.” Zeus and Hera looked at each other. Both saying to each other ‘We’ll continue after the court’ through eyes.  

“Now, not to interrupt thy personal affairs but we must execute the punishment for Ganymede.” The first Grace spoke calmly. “Could the hearings be not amended in any way?” “I am afraid not. We cannot let one man get away with crime.” Ganymede looked up to the speaking Grace. “Otherwise err men will gain confidence. We cannot afford to let that happen.” Zeus wiped away a tear “Ganymede. It was not your fault.” Zeus glared at Hera who was trying so hard not look at Ganymede’s direction. “but I am helpless my beloved.” Ganymede nodded in despair.

“Very well then lord Zeus. We assume you have granted us the permission to ward off Ganymede then.” Zeus made an effort to give a halfhearted nod.

“Are you prepared Ganymede?” Ganymede whispered ‘how can one be?’ under his breath “Y-yes. I am prepared.” Ganymede grasped upon the elixir he had been given by Hebe tightly, fixated on his waist.

The Graces started chanting some ritual. Their eyes went white, glowing and the pupils disappeared. The three of them started levitating while their bodies were surrounded by lightening thunders. A bright beam of light shined over Ganymede, which made him shut his eyes in reflex.

Ganymede flinched and tried to cover his eyes from the white light flashing towards him. Now Ganymede was floating and the Graces had taken upon the ground.

On the earth the clouds were thundering loudly. White flashes of light were noticeable periodically in the deeper layers of the grey cloud enveloping the sky. The humans thought another calamity was to strike the earth. Everyone ran to their homes and shut the doors and windows. The clouds were becoming alive, as if some monster was manifesting amidst them.

A huge hole formed under Ganymede. Ready to suck him up.

Extreme winds blew on the Earth. Blinding people with the dust and soil it carried. The faithful companion of humans, their eyes, closed itself with the dust that blew with the wind.

Ganymede dropped into the hole, and kept falling down.

As he was falling down, Ganymede saw his past life flashing behind his closed eyes. He remembered how he struggled to let himself out of Zeus’ grasp as he flew him to the Mount Olympus. He saw how he had gotten so close to Peitho in the pool of eternal youth, her skin warm from the steam of the pool. He missed the starry night he gazed upon from his bed. He recalled all the pretty faces from his homeland, Troy, who had fallen desperately in love with him and all the proposals he used to get.

Dwelling deeper through the clouds and falling far away from the sky Ganymede thought he was about to die. 'Death. Finally' Ganymede thought to himself. 

Finally, he fell over the wheat meadows. And drifted into deep sleep.

He woke at the moonlight, weak and dizzy. “Where am I?” he tried to create source of light to be able to see better, with his powers, trying different gestures with his hands, but nothing happened. Ganymede grunted and shouted as he felt powerless. He cussed Peitho for being responsible of his conditions.

After a few moments of tears, he stepped blindly on a snake slithering among the crops.

 ‘HISSS’

The snake struck Ganymede.

Ganymede yanked the snake off his feet to far off end of the endless meadow and started walking towards the gibbous moon shining in the sky. His vision started to darken from the sides and before he realized he fell on the ground again.

“Ah, father” he fainted.

Ganymede was dreaming. He was in the past in his dream. He saw a girl. A girl who liked him a lot. But long forgotten.

‘Abellone, Your poetry invokes a mystical feeling inside me. I-I am at loss of words to explain this feeling. It is beautiful.’ ‘I wrote this for thee great prince.’ ‘Oh, I see.’ Ganymede paced through his gigantic castle room, as he went through the poem again. Peacocks were sitting on the window pane which was so gigantic, an elephant could jump out of it.

The white curtains wavered gently with the wind blowing through the window. The silhouette of the peacocks, the scent of rose in the room and a maiden who was flustered. The scenery was so surreal Ganymede could not shake his soul off it. He was lost in the world of his dream. All he could remember was the big brown eyes inset with dark kohl. Her perfectly sculpted nose and plump lips tinted with cherry dye, whispering his name.

‘Ganymede’

The name called him. He was eliciting her round face with a defined jaw and cheek bones.

‘Ganymede’

Ganymede felt shaken.

“SIR!!!”

Ganymede opened his eyes wide. He was at a shelter.