Page 65 of Meduso
I recalled my and Meduso’s first night on the beach together in Seriphos when we were younger, sitting by the fire, staring up at these patterns in the obsidian sky.
Katasterismoi, I remembered Meduso telling me.These lights are organized by Artemis and are shaped to tell heroic stories of the past.
I believed in my heart that one of these stars told the story of Meduso. A story of love and heroism. Although I knew I would go down in history as a tragic Greek hero, it was Meduso who was the true hero.
Epilogue
Andromeda: The Torn
I sat in my bedchamber, staring at my reflection in the mirror. I could not understand where the time had gone. I lived a long and blissful life as queen, watching my nine children grow up. Now, my husband, Perseus, lied in his bed, sick.
Perseus and I knew it was only a short amount of time he had left in this world. I returned to sit beside him in bed, holding his hand firmly.
“My dear Andromeda. I know I do not have much longer to live. I can feel it in my bones,” Perseus revealed.
“Do not say such things, my king.” I rubbed the top of his wrinkly hand with my thumb.
Perseus placed his free hand on top of mine. “You must listen to me. I’ve been thinking a lot over these past several days and what I will be leaving behind in this world.”
“And you are leaving so many great things,” I confirmed to him. “You have nine beautiful and healthy children who are coming into their own. You are such a glorious king who the world and gods have come to respect. Let us not forget of the many tales of your heroism that will go down in history.”
“But there is one story that I’ve kept to myself. Thatwe’vekept to ourselves,” he recorrected.
Deep down, I knew exactly what my husband was referring to. I knew all along that I could never hold a candle to his former lover. Despite the two of us growing close and old together over the many years, I could always see a downcast look in Perseus’s eyes at least once a day. I knew it was then that he was thinking of Meduso.
“And I think you know it too,” Perseus continued with. “I want you to share my story with the rest of the world when I pass. I do not want his name to be spoken so poorly of. It’s important that Meduso gets his true story told. You must be the one to do it, Andromeda. It is a dying man’s wish.”
A tear fell out of the corner of my eye, hearing my husband speak of such things. But I could only respect his request. “Very well, my king. I will make sure everyone knows of yours and Meduso’s story.”
A smile crept up on Perseus’s face. He would go to sleep that night with that smile permanently pressed on his face, knowing that his one and true love in this lifetime would be known to the rest of the world. It would be how he would die overnight, with an endearing smile, knowing he would once again be seeing Meduso soon, in the Underworld.
I woke up the following morning, screaming and crying over the sight of my husband’s stiffened body. The guardsman took his body away, setting it up for the proper ceremony to celebrate the king’s life. I put on my royal garbs that afternoon, knowing I would have to step onto the balcony of our castle and give a speech to our people, informing them of the details behind the late passing of my husband, their king they were loyally devoted to. It was during this time that I was prepared to share the story of my husband and his love affair with Meduso to the rest of the world.
I watched myself in the mirror, studying my drooping face very closely, before realizing that I possessed the courage to inform the public of all this. As I stood now determined and confident, I made my way out of the bed chamber and down the hall. The guards had all gathered on the terrace, ready for my arrival.
I slowly moved down the corridor, heading towards the balcony. Suddenly, my focus was disrupted. I glanced up at the ceiling, noticing a small white dove take flight. “How did that get in here?” I asked out loud to myself.
The bird flew behind me, and I could not help but turn back around to follow it, wondering where it was headed to.Could this be some sort of sign?I thought to myself. The dove turned down the hall and entered an open door that led into the atrium full of greenery and the most colorful of exotic flowers.
I stepped foot into the open space, watching the white bird settle in the grass. “Now what is the meaning…” But before I could even finish that statement, a golden aura surrounded the dove. The animal fully transformed into a glorious woman, in the purest of white tunics. Her hair as golden as the setting sun. “Who are you?” I questioned, alarmed by the woman’s sudden appearance.
The goddess revealed her identity. “It is I, Pallas Athena.”
I covered my lips with my hands. “I’ve heard so many stories about you, Goddess, from my husband.” I slowly kneeled down, bracing myself, by placing my hand on the stone bench beside me.
“Rise, Andromeda. You do not need to address me with such formalities.”
I rose back up to my feet. “Might I ask what has prompted your appearance today, my Goddess? Have you come to bear witness to the passing of my husband?”
Athena shook her head. “No. I actually came to speak with you.”
“With me?” I pressed my palm to my chest, feeling the intricate beats of my heart.
“Yes. I am aware that you are determined to speak highly of Perseus to his people. And with that, you plan on telling them about Meduso as well. Is that not true?”
I was taken aback by the goddess’s comment. At first, I wondered how Athena could possibly know that that was my intent. But then I regained my better senses and knew that the powers of a goddess could obviously have allowed her to know of mine and Perseus’s conversation about sharing Meduso’s story with the rest of the world.
“Yes. It was my husband’s dying wish, after all,” I truthfully told her.
