Page 31 of Orpheus
But with these emotions running amok, I needed time for them to settle. I needed time to think about what it is I truly desired. So, I left things friendly between Eurydalos and me as he departed. I returned to my private guest chamber for the evening.
As I laid in my bed, it was difficult for me to fall asleep that night. I just stared at the ceiling, wondering how I was able to already have this longingness for Eurydalos. I had only just met him, but there was something there I could not deny. An attraction like no other. Yet, I wondered how I could move on from Calais so quickly. Was I betraying him by doing this? I hoped I wasn’t. After all, it was Calais who made sure we did not fall in love. He made that quite clear in his letter that he left for me on the pillow after the night we kissed.
I prayed that he would forgive me for having these craved feelings for Eurydalos. But I could not help myself. I’ve learned to lead with my heart over the years. And my heart was pulling me towards this Earth dancer. As I thought about Eurydalos and how perfect he was, I finally was able to fall asleep with a smile on my face. I may not have kissed the beautiful boy tonight, but I would surely be stealing a kiss from him in my dreams.
Chapter 13
I’m not sure why I believed Eurydalos would be gone forever, but I had a hunch that it might be a possibility. Perhaps I was too forward with him on the balcony last night. Maybe it was the spirit of the festivities and the wine flowing through my veins that made me so open and vulnerable with him. I hoped my lyrics that I sang for him weren’t another reason that would scare him off. I did put my heart and soul into those verses at the time.
Whatever it was, I had a feeling I would not find him outside the castle walls when I came forth from its gates. But once I did see him waving to me beyond the iron rods as my feet carried me towards the entrance, blocked by the guardsmen, I was elated. My heart skipped a few beats once I spotted him.
He did wait for me! Eurydalos wasn’t lying. He really did want to get to know me!I thought to myself.
As the guards let me by, I placed my hands in the pockets of my tunic while grinning at Eurydalos. “I hope you slept well last night,” I said to him.
“Yes. I did, as a matter of fact. Did you?”
I nodded. “Mhmm. But I’m glad to get out of that castle. It’s too much for me. Plus, I like to be one with nature. My preference is outside in the meadows, by the seas, or even in the forests. As you may already know about me, I have a kindred spirit with animals. The sound of my lyre calls to them.”
Eurydalos and I began walking side by side, descending the streets of Iolcus together, bypassing the morning market rush and busy vendors. “Yes. I’ve heard of such tales spoken about you. But I must see it in person. I am bewildered at how that is even possible.”
I couldn’t help but snicker at his disbelief. I completely wanted to accept this challenge in having him see otherwise. “When we arrive at your home, I will have to show you then.”
“I am looking forward to it,” he replied.
As we strolled through the city, I told Eurydalos of all there was to tell about me. About my family, me being a prince, my musical skills and performing for Apollo. The God of music himself serving as my mentor. I further went into detail about the passion Apollo and I had for one another that was strictly based on lust. I even informed Eurydalos about every aspect of my journey with Jason and the Argonauts.
“My Gods! You have had quite the adventure already in your lifetime!”
“I suppose it has been, if you really want to call it as such,” I said.
“How else would you describe it?” Eurydalos inquired.
“I’m not really sure, honestly.” Perhaps he was right. Maybe my life had been full of wild journeys thus far. I never really considered that, but compared to others my age, I guess I’ve really had quite an intense adventure. This was another thing to add to the running list of admirations I had for Eurydalos. He made me look through the perspective of others. Something I needed more practice with, that he was providing me.
“I wish I had the freedom you did,” he commented.
“How does an Earth dancer such as yourself not have freedom?” I was quite perplexed by his remark.
He gave a deep sigh as we neared the end of the city. We headed out the main gates and through the dirt path of the plains to wherever Eurydalos was leading us. “I may be an Earth dancer and raised by the Epimelides, but I am also a servant.”
“Oh? I had no idea. With you being a dancer, I assumed…” But before I could even finish my thought, Eurydalos interrupted me.
“Well, it’s not your conventional type of servitude.”
“What kind of servant are you, then?” I was beyond confused at this point. Eurydalos was an Earth dancer, raised by nymphs. He was one with the pastures and meadows, yet he was also a servant. I could not seem to find the correlation here.
“I serve Aristaeus. He is a rural God, who keeps bees and runs a farm.”
At the mention of Aristaeus, Eurydalos’s mood instantly changed. He became bothered. I sensed there was something deeper here. “I see. And what is your relationship with Aristaeus? Does he treat you well?”
Eurydalos remained silent as I asked this and until we approached the nearby forest on the outskirts of Iolcus. Once we were hidden from the plains and shaded by the canopy of the trees, he then began crying, lunging forward into me, his head resting against my chest. “Aristaeus is a monster! He beats me when he is angry, even though I do nothing to evoke his wrath. He also forces himself upon me. Uses me to fulfill his own sexual desires, even against my will.”
I was completely shocked by what Eurydalos shared with me. I could not help but wrap my arms around him, pulling him into me as tightly as I could. “I’m so sorry, Eurydalos. No one should ever have to go through that.”
He sobbed into me. “And I have no choice in the matter. He is a god, after all. A minor one, but nevertheless, still a god. The nymphs offered me up to him to be his servant when I was barely thirteen. Now, five years later, I’m still suffering from him presiding over me. He is a cruel man, Orpheus.”
I felt horrible for Eurydalos. I wanted to do everything in my power to cheer him up. The only way I knew how to lift anyone’s spirits was through the gift of song. So, I drew my golden lyre out and began playing and singing for him, hoping it would do just the trick to cheer him up.
