GOLDEN FLEECE QUEST:A ROYAL FEAST
By hercules
“A feast will be perfect,” said Megara.
Iona was most pleased too.
“In the meantime, Heracles and Atalanta will show you
all the rest of the island,” Cyzicus said.
“Thank you, your lordship,” Jason said.
“You join them too, Iona,” said Megara.
The princess was over-joyed.
“Thanks, mum.”
“Off we go then,” Heracles said.
Jason and the Argonauts left the palace, accompanied by Iona.
“We must take on food and water,” said Jason.
“There’s plenty of it,” Heracles said.
“We’d better go back to the ship then,” said Atalanta. “To fetch our empty baskets and skins.”
That sparked Iona’s interest.
“I’d love to see the ship,” she said.
“So you shall, princess,” said Heracles.
A sudden thought crossed Jason’s mind – a thought he could not ignore and didn’t want to even if he could.
“Tell me, princess,” he said. “How does it feel to be an heiress? To be the daughter of a queen?”
Iona was taken aback.
“Why do you ask that?” she asked curiously.
“I’m just interested to know, princess.”
“Well, it doesn’t make me feel privileged. There’s nothing, which I would say is special about it. Having royal blood in my veins means nothing. No, I see myself as being no more, or less important as those not born of royal blood. After all, we are only human, no matter what position we hold in life. True strength and greatness, lies within us.”
Iona’s answer amazed everyone.
“You are very wise in your ways of thinking, princess,” Atalanta said.
“Thank you.”
“Do your parents share your views, princess?” asked Jason.
“They do.”
“I presume that royal visitors come from other kingdoms, princess?” Jason asked.
“From time to time.”
“Do they all come on good terms, princess?” asked Jason.
“Most of them.”
“Well, all kings and queens have adversaries, princess,” Jason said.
“Indeed they do,” said Iona.
Soon, everyone reached the Argo.
“What a magnificent ship,” Iona said.
“Thank you, princess,” said Heracles.
“Heracles built it himself, princess,” Atalanta said.
“Get all the empty baskets and skins,” Jason said to the other Argonauts.
The rest of the crew did as they were ordered.
“Off we go to get more food and water,” said Heracles.
So Heracles, Atalanta and Iona, showed Jason and the rest of the Argonauts around the other areas of the island.
“What a remarkable island,” said Castor.
“So peaceful,” Butes said.
“More so than many other places in the known world,” said Admetus.
“Plenty of wild fruit,” Lynceus said.
“And water,” said Idas.”
“All the supplies we need,” Argos said.
“I take it, Jason, that you and the Argonauts are on a voyage?” asked Iona.
“That is so, princess,” Jason replied. “We must take on more food and water wherever we stop.”
“Where are you all heading?”
“That, princess, you shall find out at the feast,” replied Heracles. “But first we must take on the supplies we need.”
The sailors picked berries and other kinds of wild fruit, which was most bountiful and filled the skins from a river. Iona helped too.
After that, they went back to the Argo and stored everything onboard, before returning to the palace.
The sight, which met the eyes of the sailors in the throne room, was a marvel to behold.
Several fine, rectangular tables with ornate carvings, had been laid out with chairs around them. On top of those tables, there were large gold plates and dishes, all piled up with food, including fruit, meats and vegetables and gold vessels of wine. There were empty plates and goblets, all made of gold too, waiting to be filled with food and wine.
“Time to feast,” said Cyzicus.
“What a splendid feast to lay eyes on,” said Lynceus.
“I’ve never seen one like it,” Iphitos said.
“Me neither,” said Laertes.
“Would the three of you care to sit with Iona, Megara and myself?” Cyzicus asked Jason, Heracles and Atalanta.
“With pleasure your, lordship,” replied Jason.
Atalanta and Heracles nodded in agreement.
The three of them sat with the royal family, while the rest of the Argonauts sat around the other tables.
“So, Jason, you are the heir to the kingdom of Thessaly?” Cyzicus asked as the feast began.
“Yes, your lordship,” replied Jason. “It is true.”
“Words have reached our ears over the last ten years, that the land of Thessaly has fallen into deep decline,” Megara said.
“Something to do with your parents being overthrown by King Pelias,” said Cyzicus.
“That is so, your lord and ladyship,” Jason said. “Ten years old I was, when Pelias seized the kingdom of Thessaly. My parents were imprisoned and have been ever since.
“I wasn’t there to witness it because Heracles and Atalanta took me from the palace and raised me to manhood, far away from Iolcos.”
“Very noble of them,” said Megara.
“Tell me, Jason, have you returned to Iolcus to confront Pelias?” Cyzicus asked.
“I have, your lordship.”
“Did Pelias decide to hand the kingdom back to your parents?” asked Megara.
“Only if I get him the Golden Fleece, your ladyship.”
“The Golden Fleece?” Iona asked open mouthed.
“That’s right, princess,” replied Jason. “Though I don’t believe for an instant that Pelias will keep his word and neither do Heracles and Atalanta. All he wants is the Fleece.
“Why go in search for the Fleece then?” asked Iona.
“I’m doing it to deceive Pelias into believing that I’ve fallen for his trickery, princess.”
“Very cunning of you,” said Cyzicus.
“I take it then, that you and the Argonauts are heading for Colchis?” Megara asked.
“Yes, your ladyship. We’re just stopping here along the way.”
“Are you interested in the Fleece, Jason?” asked Iona.
“No, princess and I don’t want it either.”
The other Argonauts were too busy talking and laughing to pay the slightest bit of attention to the conversation taking place between Jason and the royal family.
“Just as well,” Cyzicus said. “In my opinion, no living mortal has the right to own the Fleece. It never should have been stolen from the last of the golden sheep of Colchis, to which it had truly belonged. If I had the Fleece, I would cast it into the sea, out of the reach of mortal hands.”
“I would do the same,” said Megara. “And so would Iona.”
Jason, Heracles and Atalanta were all taken by surprise.
“However, we have no objection against your intentions, Jason,” Megara said.
“Not everyone shares our opinions,” said Cyzicus.
There was a moments silence at the table.
“So, Jason, how does it feel being a ship’s captain?” Megara asked.
“Great, your ladyship.”
“Have you experienced any rough conditions yet?” asked Cyzicus.
“A strong wind, your lordship,” Jason replied. “And a wild sea.”
“We were blown off course by five miles, your lordship,” said Atalanta.
“That doesn’t sound too bad,” Iona said.
“I’m ready to face far worse, princess,” said Jason.
Indeed Jason was ready to face far worse, for he knew there would be worse to come.
“Not tonight you won’t,” Megara said. “Tonight, you and the Argonauts will stay in the palace.”
Jason was over-joyed, as were Atalanta and Heracles.
“I thank you, your ladyship,” said Jason.
“I’ll have some of my men keep an eye on the Argo,” Cyzicus said.
So it was.
Jason and the Argonauts stayed overnight in the throne room.
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