Greek Mythology

This time it was to make a story that matched the feeling of some of the old greek myths. Tadgedies are tales that might not have had a happy ending but had a moral to them. My take was similar to the story of Icarus

Pericles had spent months vying for Pythia’s heart; gifts, dates, and even using his own friend, Themistocles, to help him gather information to aid his wooing efforts. At that exact moment however it seemed that all had been for naught. He stood in the grand courtroom of Corinth, tried for the crime of stealing from Pythia’s father. He had not committed such a crime but the wealthy and powerful determine what is just; his sentence was banishment from Corinth on an island nearby. The look on Pythia’s face as he was dragged away as guilty only made him more determined to return and prove his innocence.

Before he was dragged aboard the ship that would take him to his island prison, he asked Themistocles to keep Pythia safe for his return. Themisocles agreed and wandered off and with that, Pericles was forced aboard to row to his own cell. For his whole journey there, he promised himself he would tell Pythia how he felt if it was the last thing he did.

Mere weeks had passed and Pericles had fashioned himself a basic raft and oar from wood and vines, preparing to paddle his way back to Corinth. With no time to waste, he pushed out into the open sea and began to paddle; each stroke taking him further and further away from his lone prison. Poseidon had other ideas as a wave suddenly rose from the ocean, flipping his raft and throwing Pericles from his craft. He swam, struggling against the water and clambered onto his raft. “She needs to know I love her, she needs to know I am innocent.” With that thought, he passed out.

At first he thought he was hallucinating when he heard the voice; then he heard it again.

“Hello my son. It seems you have a message to deliver.” He pried his eyes open and could not believe that before him hovered Hermes, God of Messages. “Be true to your message and you may fly too” he spoke with a smile on his face. Pericles started to gain strength, his limbs now able to lift themselves and he felt more alert. Warmth flowed though his body in stark contrast to the freezing waters he had just been in. His body felt lighter as he found wings had formed on his heels. Overjoyed, he took off swiftly flying towards Corinth.

As he flew, his mind started to wander about his sentencing. He played through the days prior in his mind, and settled on a single memory. He thought it to be a smile on Themistocles face, but looking back it was more of a grin. Themisocles had turned him in to have a chance at winning Pythia’s heart. He should’ve seen it when he’d asked him to look after her but there was so little time he didn’t have time to think about it; now however, there was plenty of time. He started to rage and seethe, knowing his newfound strength as a demigod could help him defeat Themistocles in combat and hold himself as the sole challenger to Pythia’s heart.

Suddenly his feet felt wet. He hadn’t noticed in his thought but he had lost altitude and was now skimming the water below and falling further down, the waves threatening to take him under. They did not have to however, as the wings on his heels were flapping down; at this point paddling him down into the depths. He cried for help expecting his father to come and save him at the last moment. Hermes did appear and Pericles smiled with joy. He was saved!

“What message did you wish to take with you?” Hermes questioned Pericles. “I want to tell Pythia I love her. She needs to know I am innocent!” “And is that what kept with you as you flew?” The grim look on Hermes’ face told Pericles he was not here to save him; his final words proved it. “I hope not to see you in Tartarus Pericles, but I will see you in the Underworld.” Pericles watched as Hermes took off and flew away, mere moments before a wave hit him, taking the air from his lungs as his own wings continued to pull him deeper into the depths. He could never make good on his word, he would never return and lies and deceit had won. He felt the water enter his lungs and his vision go black, then red, as the flames began to soar.