Page 29 of Orpheus
Chapter 12
I stood on the edge of one of the balconies of the castle, looking down upon the rest of Iolcus in the night. The city was dark. Almost too dark for my liking compared to how lively and bustling it was during the daytime. My hands gripped the ledge as I leaned over it, staring down at all before me. My tight grasp squeezing the rough stone surface, scraping my palm, leaving bloody cuts.
But I barely noticed the pain in them, for I was too distracted by all that had just transpired in the dining hall, which left me with a far worse torment deep inside me. I should have never accepted Jason’s proposition of putting on that musical performance in front of all those strangers and the Argonauts. My emotions were far too raw to have been able to endure reciting those lyrics aloud, without becoming sentimental.
In singing my song about Calais and myself, I left everything out there I could give. It was the closure I think I needed in order to be able to finally be able to move on from him. But arriving at that closure came with a cost. I did not anticipate the tightness in my chest as I played my lyre. It felt as though my ribs were caving in on me and the vast open dining hall seemed like it had turned into a claustrophobic tiny space that I was trapped in. I needed to escape it. I needed some fresh air to be able to breathe and regain my composure.
I had made it outside to the balcony just in time, before breaking down in front of everyone. I needed that moment of isolation. To be by myself, to think, and inhale the fresh air instead of having to put up with the stuffy atmosphere that was inside with all those people.
My strength and energy were slowly but surely being restored. I closed my eyes, continuing to do my best to relax and put that performance behind me.
But the refreshing moment was short-lived as I heard the sound of soft footsteps being carried in my direction, accompanied by an equally gentle voice that spoke to me. “That song… It was so powerful. So moving…”
I twisted my neck, recognizing that it was the handsome Earth dancer from earlier that complimented me. His strong jawline and captivating eyes were even more apparent underneath the reflecting moonlight. I returned my gaze back towards the horizon, to the rolling hills beyond the city in the far distance. “It was a lot to share,” I admitted to him.
“Tell me, what was that song about?” he requested.
Was it in my best interest to divulge the personal details of my relationship with Calais to this stranger? Probably not. But right now, I needed an outlet, and this alluring boy was my only means of a channel to listen to me, to allow me to remove the emotions from my sleeve. “It was about a man that I think I was in love with. He too was an Argonaut, but passed away in the fight against the harpies at Crete,” I shared.
“One of the Boreads…” he commented.
I nodded. “You knew them?”
“Vaguely. I grew up with the Epimelides nymphs in the pastures, meadows, and forests. Our group was often visited by the wind gods. Needless to say, our entire clan was distraught at hearing the news of the Boreads not making it out alive with Jason. I had no idea you were actually one of their lovers.”
“I would not exactly say I was Calais’ lover. We only shared one kiss. Our time together was cut very short. However, I do think I was falling for him. I mean, how else can I explain these disheartening feelings I’m having over his death?” I asked.
“I see. Nevertheless, I am deeply sorry for your loss, Orpheus.”
Hearing him say my name came as a bit of a shock to me. “So, you know who I am?”
“Yes. Well, I did not know who you were until you pulled out your lyre and began playing it. When I pressured you to dance with me, I truly had no idea who you were. I assumed you were a warrior, one of the other Argonauts, who kept their wandering eye on me most of the evening. Had I known who you truly were and what you are currently going through, I may have not been so bold as to force you to dance with me.”
At first, I was ashamed that he was aware that I had been checking him out all night, but I managed to quickly ignore that feeling and appreciated the remorse he was showing towards me. “Thank you. It’s not your fault. How could you have known what I was going through? If anything, dancing with you was a nice distraction. It put my mind at ease, even if for a brief amount of time.”
This caused the Earth dancer to smile. His teeth gleamed, as if they were sending a light to wash over me, making me feel slightly giddy inside. “Well then, in that case, I guess I am not sorry for making you get up to dance with me.”
His remark caused us both to lightly chuckle. “I’m Eurydalos, by the way,” he then officially introduced himself with. “I live among the Epimelides in the pastures of Thessaly.”
“A pleasure to meet you, Eurydalos.”
“The pleasure is all mine,” he replied. “I must say, not only was I impressed with your singing and lyre playing, but I was also quite stunned by your dancing abilities. Is there anything you can’t do?”
This garnered a grin out of me. Eurydalos was quite the smooth talker. I wondered if this was how he acted with most individuals or if he was truly being sincere and authentic with me. I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt and assume the latter. “I’m not a very good fighter,” I admitted. “But yes. When you are the son of a muse and were raised by the other muses throughout your childhood, becoming skilled in the arts came with the territory, including dance.”
“So then, you really are a man of many talents. Tell me, Orpheus, are you able to come up with a song on the whim?” Eurydalos asked.
I raised my brow to him, unsure of where he was going with this. “Yes. It’s something I am able to do.”
“Would you be able to sing a song for me? I’ve never been serenaded in my entire life. It’s always been a dream of mine to have another man sing a song specifically meant for me,” he shared as he stepped forward towards the ledge beside me, overlooking the lit up night sky. “I would be honored if you would fulfill this fantasy of mine.” Eurydalos winked at me as he said this.
It instantly made my cheeks turn scarlet red. I had to give it to this young man. He was extremely brave with his honesty. It made me admire him all the more. I wish I could be as confident as him and sometimes not so timid. “Sure. It’s the least I can do since you helped me out there in the dining hall, with giving me a dance I did not know I truly needed in the moment.”
I pulled my golden lyre out from my tunic. Eurydalos spun around and hopped up on the ledge of the balcony, so that he was seated, facing me, his legs dangling in the air. As I began playing, I found myself unable to close my eyes and get lost in the music as I normally did. Instead, I kept my gaze fixed on Eurydalos as I sang to him, staring deep into those intense viridian eyes of his.
A somber man sat distracted by his troubles.
The sight of a beautiful Earth dancer is what bursted that bubble.
