#daph writes

hi. this is the constellation andromeda, which also contains the andromeda galaxy (how cool!??)

anywho, this is the last excerpt in the timeline (not the last one ill write - prolly). i thought i would end andromedas story with a beginning. she doesn't die, she is reborn. ive always loved the idea that the constellations contain some essence of the people they were named after - as if they are living still in the stars.

i hope you enjoy, and thank you for reading, it means the world to me <3 daph

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She remembers every moment of her death, as if she is watching from above, sitting in the theatron, watching the play unfold. A tragedy she knows the ending to. The actors are missing their cues, Heart missteps, Lungs forgets the line, the chorus of Muscles are out of sync - the human disorder. 

If she tries to turn her head away, she would find that her muscles have lost their tension, and are no longer responsive - she could not move. But she doesn’t. After all, she is only human. So, she continues to watch her tragedy unfold, knowing the morbid ending, but unable to look away. 

She watches fervently, her eyes dilate, her breath hitches, her skin grows cold. She is reacting in time to the performance. 

Primary flaccidity, the chorus sings. Her muscles relax, she knows this part of the play - it is about to end. 

Pallor mortis, the heart states, and she pales. 

Algor mortis, the heart cries, the chill of death. The stage goes dark, the actors stop, and she knows that the play is over. 

She remembers every moment after her death, as if she is watching from above, sitting in the theatron, as a new play begins. The actors are different, Hydrogen and Helium, fusing together under a catastrophic amount of pressure. The chorus of dust pushes inwards, pushes outward, illuminating the dark stage in colours she has not seen before - infrared. 

She is burning, releasing radiation in solar flares, illuminating the darkness. Her muscles flex, a hand galaxies away from a foot. She is eternal and vast, stretching infinity. A phenomenon that cannot be destroyed. 

Catasterize, she realizes. She has been re-born in the stars. Made immortal in the night sky. 

She supposes she should have seen this coming. After all, her mother had loved to tell her of her birth. 

I spent the night waiting for you, her mother would often recall, but you did not deem to meet me until is seemed that every star in the night sky shone at its brightest, beckoning you to bath in their light, and when you finally did come, you screamed as if your body had been ripped from your soul, and you were already mourning the life you had before. 

the ballad of andromeda is a story i’ve been writing over the past year, exclusively in excerpts. it is my take on the greek myth of andromeda and perseus. i hope you enjoy. 

this is the chronological order of the excerpts if the ballad was actually told as a story, so here is the timeline if you wanna read it that way

excerpt 2: she will not go willingly

excerpt 4: you will not take my head as your prize

excerpt 7: you will save three women before the sun has set 

excerpt 3: she had not told him her name 

excerpt 1: they will not be sweet 

excerpt 5: may i kiss you, my lady?

hi. okay. okay - this art? INCREDIBLE! until i saw this, it never occurred to me that the reflection perseus was looking in was on the inside of his shield - AND IT MAKES SO MUCH MORE SENSE NOW!!! 

okay, this this excerpt is my take on perseus meeting medusa. i never could back the idea that perseus would act more like his father rather than his mother when faced with a sexual assault survivor, given his love for his mother (perseus is the OG mamas boy)

i hope you enjoy <3 daph

warnings: mentions of rape 

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I know why you are here, she whispers, her voice carrying through the dark cave. He turns in a circle, slowly, holding his shield aloft, resting on his shoulder, gazing at the polished inner surface, watching for the gorgon. 

You have come here like all the others, she insists, as he weaves through the others. Stone men are scattered around the cave, expressions of shock and fear forever etched into their faces. 

You want to be a hero, she hissed, to be the man who bested the monstrous beast that turns all men to stone. The one who slays Medusa!

Did you ever stop to think, she continues, louder now, that gray-eyed Athena gave me this ability, not as a curse, but as a blessing? 

He stops, spotting movement in the reflection of his shield, and turns his body towards it, careful to stay transfixed on his shield. 

Men think they can take whatever they want without consequence, she says, that they can cage and abuse and hurt women with no repercussions. 

He thinks of his mother, who spent her entire life in a variety of cages; the cave her father imprisoned her in for a prophecy that had not happened yet, the same cave she could not escape when a god came seeking her in a shower of gold, the wooden box he and his mother were sent out to sea in, the marriage to King Polydectes he is desperately trying to save her from.  

They think they are above justice. Above revenge. I am a reminder that they are not, she says, finally appearing in his shield. 

Her face is sharp, every muscle is tense, and her skin is pulled tight across each bone, snakes swaying across her cheekbones and neck, hissing. Her chin is lifted up, and she looks down her nose at him, her eyes blazing with fire from the  deepest chasm of Tartarus. She is a picture of pure rage, and he thinks that even as a human, she must have been able to turn men to stone.

You will not take my head as your prize, she spits, meeting his eyes on the shield's surface, starting towards him. 

No, he agrees, the first words he spoke since entering her cave. He drops to his knees, lowering his shield arm to the ground, and leans his weight on his fists, placed on the cave floor. 

hi. heheh he he. hehe. ha. ha. EEEEEEEEEEEE. okay, this excerpt is so cute, and honestly, maybe one of my favourites..????? IDK!!! andie and percy are just so cute and im kinda obsessed with their lives since ive started writing the ballad - i just want them to be happy (and they will be, bc im writing their story heheheheheheheh LOOPHOLE) 

5 times perseus asked for a kiss, and 1 time andromeda gives it to him.

i hope you enjoy <3 daph

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Outside, in the garden his mother tends to daily, sitting side by side on a stone bench, watching the sunset, he asks, May I kiss you, my lady?

She turns to him, finding him already watching her. He has been watching her for some time, more fascinated in the way the descending suns rays bring out the different colours of her hair, than the changing shades of the sky. 

No, you may not, she replies. You, sir, have not earned the privilege. There was an unspoken yet. He smiles as if he can hear her thoughts.

And what might I have to do to change that fact? he asks, still smiling at her. 

You must worship my mouth, she thinks. My voice must be your favourite sound. You will crave it with every breath. You will listen to what I say, ask me questions and care about the answers. You must admire my mind, the thoughts I have, the opinions you will ask me to share. You will treat me as an equal, a worthy partner, a confidant. But most important, you will love me unconditionally. You will love me awake, vibrant and excited, you will love me relaxed, quiet and content, you will love me angry, screaming and fighting, you will love me asleep, unaware and blissful. You will love me when I do not love you, when I ultimately run from you, in my fear, in my guilt, you will wait for me, and accept me after I come back, because I will come back to you. The moment your lips meet mine, I will be stuck, unable to run far enough, unable to turn away, and I will not let myself fall like that until I am certain you have fallen further. 

You cannot change that fact, she replies instead. But please, she thinks, keep trying. 

He keeps trying. 

In the dining room, after they have eaten dinner, and his mother has gone to her chamber for the night, he asks, May I kiss you, my lady?

No, you may not, she relies, I would bet all the drachma in my possession that your breath smells horrid.

And how would you know that my lady, if you do not come here and find out yourself? He quips back.

I watched you spread taramasalata, honey, and tirokafteri on your bread, then add gavros on top, she admits, her face wrinkles with the memory, it was truly disgusting. 

And truly delicious, he defends.

When he returns from a journey to a northern polis, a half day's ride on horseback, and she crosses the front gardens to greet him, he asks, may I kiss you, my lady?

Certainly not!, she exclaims, looking offended. You smell of dirt and horse hair and sweat, I can barely stand the smell standing feet apart from you, I will not have it anywhere near my face!

He howls, head thrown back, making her continue, I would sooner push you into the pond than kiss you in this state sir!

He laughs up until he is fully submerged in the pond. She has already turned away when he reemerges. 

A kiss my lady? He inquires, lowering the bow, and turning from the target to where she is shooting beside him.

She laughs, you did not even hit the centre, that shot was not worthy of a kiss!

My lady, he whispers, eyes closed, head pillowed on his arms, may I kiss you?

Not now, she tells him softly, bringing the blanket up around his shoulders. You cannot even keep your eyes open, you will miss my mouth for sure.

He does not respond; he is already asleep

Not like this, she sobs, pulling her chin from between his fingers, using her hands to hide her tears. 

My lady? He asks, halting his hand as it combs her hair back from her face, unsure what she wants.

You cannot kiss me, she continues, barely a whisper, not when I cannot meet your eyes. Not when I cannot stop my tears. 

Shhhh, he begins to rock her, back and forth, resuming his combing, I will wait for when you are ready.  

She cannot seem to think of a reason. Not with him this close.

They will not be sweet, she tells him. And he laughs. He laughs and laughs and threads his fingers through her thick waves, gripping the back of her neck, and leans his forehead against hers.

Good, he has quieted his laugh, though his smile is wide and pure mirth. His lips brush hers, gentle. Once. Twice. Vibrating as he speaks, I never liked the taste of honey. He licks along her bottom lip, continuing to stall the inevitable. 

Do I have to do everything myself?, she growls, taking fistfulls of his shirt in her hands, pulling him down to her lips. Afterall, she has been waiting for this for months, and she would be damned if she had to wait a second longer. 

Unbeknownst to the couple locked in their long awaited embrace, the stars overhead release a great sign. The fate they wove before time existed is playing out before them. 

hi. okay, so this is a story i started writing about 2 years ago, on my take of the greek myth of andromeda and perseus. this story is written exclusively in snippets, showing snap shots of their love story. this was the excerpt that started the whole story - andromeda and perseus’ first kiss

i hope you enjoy <3 daph

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They will not be sweet, she tells him.

What do you mean? he asks.

My lips, she confesses, they do not taste like fruit, ripe pomegranate seeds or juicy figs, nor sugary honey, warm in the sun and dripping from the beehive. 

What do they taste like? he whispers, closer now.

Salt, she starts. It will rub into the cracks in your lips and sting; you will bleed. It will fill your throat as if you are drowning in the ocean; you will gasp. It will waft onto my breath, it will sting your eyes and make them pour over; you will cry. 

And that is bad? he begins to grin.

Yes, she insists, my love will bring you pain.

Andromeda, he breathes below her ear, speaking into her skin. My love bleeds from my heart, it slides down my lungs and drips between my ribs. My love escapes from my lungs, fighting on each release of breath, bringing me to my knees, gasping. My love spills at the sight of you - laughing, loud and unapologetic, head thrown back; panting, naked before me, eyes fluttering open, burying your head into my neck - I weep at your beauty. 

That is not how it should feel to be in love, she explains, exasperated.

Why? he insists, that damn smile returning. I love you with each drop of blood, each gasp of breath, each spill of tears. I love you every moment my body lives. 

Entirely. He kisses her neck, just below her ear.

Absolutely. He kisses her jaw, his breath hot on her skin.

Constantly. He kisses the corner of her mouth, tasting salt, like she told him he would. 

Oh. She exhales. 

hi. hello. so this is very overdue, but I really think its one of my best excerpts. its got action, its got profanity, its got badassery, its got murder!

this excerpt ties together the main cast of the myth. enter our party members: perseus, andromeda, medusa, and danaë.

i hope you enjoy <3 daph

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You will save three women before the sun has set on this day, or doom them all.

Perseus had not meant to accept another quest. When he held the three fates' eye hostage in exchange for help on his quest, as grey-eyed Athena had instructed him, he envisioned receiving an enchanted sword that always found its mark or a magical apple that would increase his strength. He did not anticipate a prophecy. 

Three women, he thinks. He already has a time limit on saving his mother. How is he supposed to save two other women before the day is done?  

He should have told the fates where to shove their prophecy. He should have tossed their eye as far as he could, and while they were distracted, grabbed the invisibility helmet, sword, shield, pouch, and winged sandals and flew away. It is his mother's fault he has such impeccable manners not to go forth with that plan. It is also his mother's fault that even if he had wanted to ignore the prophecy, he could not, as he would never abandon anyone in need when he might be able to help. 

One must be my mother, he reasons, tightening the straps of the shield on his forearm as he flies across the mountain range. 

I only have to help two other women on my way back to mother, he concludes. Nothing will change.

Far above the mortal man flying with wings on his sandals and invisible for a time from the eyes of man, the stars watch on. They see the thread that has been woven for this young man and where it will lead him in the next hours. They hear his thoughts. 

Nothing will change.

The stars gave a great, hearty, joyous laugh. 

And watch on. 

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You are different, Medusa whispers, standing above him. He remains on the ground kneeling, eyes closed, head bent over his empty fists resting on the dirt in front of him. His shield remains strapped to his left forearm, and his sword lays beside his right hand on the ground, where he set it. The gorgon had not spoken for several minutes after he had given up. She merely stood over him in silent contemplation, the only noise in the cave being the hissing of her snake hair. 

Why did you come? She asks.

Eyes closed, head bowed, he gives her the truth. He recounts his mother's imprisonment, sentenced by her father, and his non-consensual conception from the king of the gods. He describes the box he and his mother were trapped in for weeks on the sea. He speaks of the fisherman Dictys, of his kindness and love towards him and his mother. About king Polydectes’ obsession with his mother, how he had agreed to give the king anything to spare his mother, and how the king had sent him on an impossible quest to retrieve the unattainable - Medusa's head. 

Ahh, the gorgon signs as he finishes his tale. You have come for my head.

No, he insists for the second time since entering her cave, I will not take your head.

Then, instead, will you take me? The gorgon asks quietly. He lifts his head and looks at the gorgon in surprise. And that would have been the end of his life had the gorgon not also been kneeling on the ground, head bowed, eyes closed, before him. 

My lady? He asks, closing his eyes again; I do not understand. 

Will you take me with you? To your home and to your mother? You are kind - kinder than any man I have ever encountered, and I can only imagine the type of woman your mother is. I am lonely in this cave, scared. They will continue to come until I am dead. But if I flee and return home with you, I will kill the king for you, and I will find a new home, and no one will ever find me.  

Yes, he answers without thought. As if there is any other answer he could give to someone asking for help. Ah, he realizes as he stands and turns, replacing his sword into its sheath and tightening the sack tied to his belt that carries the helmet of invisibility; Medusa is one of the women I will save.

Ridiculous, he thinks as he motions for the gorgon to climb onto his back. She wraps her legs around his torso and her arms around his neck. He can feel her snakes slithering on his shoulders and the base of his neck. She is the one who is saving me. 

High above, the stars watch these two fates weave together. The beginning of a beautiful future. 

They watch on.

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Perseus hears her before he sees her. 

He almost mistook the screams for the waves crashing angry and restless upon the jagged edges of the cliff until he felt someone shake his shoulder.

Listen, Medusa hisses, leaning forward from where she held onto his back; a woman is screaming. 

He listens. Faintly, under the crash of the water and the birds that dive for the waves, he could make out the sound of a woman's voice. He flew along the cliff face, searching for the source of the screams. 

YOU BASTARDS! He hears shouted from further ahead of him and the gorgon. He continues to fly towards her voice as she continues, DO NOT LOOK AWAY! SEE ME! YOU DID THIS TO ME! AND NOW YOU WILL WATCH WHAT BECOMES OF ME! 

Where are you? He pants, desperately searching the cliff face.

THERE! A clawed talon shoots past his face as the gorgon points downwards. Jutting out from the cliff face, barely wide enough to stand on, is a portion of rock that currently holds a woman. Something flashes and catches his eye. Gold chains run from the rock ledge the woman stands on up to her wrists, which are encased in cuffs.  

And they say I am a monster, the gorgon scoffs, staring at the chained woman.

He could not look away. She is soaking wet. Her hair sticks in long, heavy curls across her face, arms and back. Her white dress is plastered to her body, translucent, darkening to grey as the dark skin underneath begins to bleed through. Her dress is torn at the bottom, up the centre of the shirt to her knees, both wet halves slap against her calves and the rocks, pushed back and forth by the wind. 

But that is not what stops him, hovering midair. She whips her head to the side, flinging her wet hair from her face. He catches himself from closing his eyes on reflex, for her face holds the same fury as the gorgon on his back when she first appeared in his shield. Anger fills her eyes as she watches the sea, spitting out a mouthful of bloody seawater, baring her teeth. The clink of metal echoes as she pulls the chain taut, leaning forward over the ledge to shout into the oncoming waves.  

CURSE YOU! She screams, with all the rage of the fiery pits of Tartarus, CURSE YOU ALL! I AM INNOCENT! IT WAS YOUR FAULT MOTHER, YOUR HUBRIS! YET I AM THE ONE TO PAY FOR IT! I MAY MEET MY END AT THE BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN, BUT YOU HAVE CHAINED ME HERE; YOU HAVE KILLED ME! YOU ARE MURDERERS! 

The waves are crashing faster and higher on the rocks, being pushed by something fast approaching. 

CURSE YOU POSEIDON! She continues, CURSE YOU FOR ASKING FOR AN INNOCENT TO PUNISH INSTEAD OF THE ONE WHO SLIGHTED YOU! YOU COWARD! YOU WHIMPERING, SNIVELLING, WEAK COWARD! YOU WANT TO TAKE ME? COME AND GET ME! 

Holy gods, he whispered, staring in horror and awe at this woman, cursing the very god whose domain she stands chained above. 

What are you waiting for? the gorgon asks, cackling with delight, enjoying the woman's blasphemous shouts; go and get her so we can return home!

He dives down towards the chained woman, the gorgon's arms and legs tightening around his neck and torso as they plunge towards the waves, straining against the strong winds. 

MY LADY! he shouts, halting the wings on his sandals, grabbing the cliff's wall with one hand, hovering slightly above the woman and the waves crashing against the cliff's walls. 

Hello, dear, we have come to rescue you! The gorgon adds, head tilted down and face pressed into his shoulder, hiding her eyes, as he unsheathes his sword.

WELL, HURRY AND USE THAT SWORD TO FREE ME, FOR FUC… she screams, the crashing waves cutting off her profanities. The gorgon laughs as he floats closer to the woman. She places her hands against the stone wall behind her, raising them as high as the chains will let her, pulling them taut. He moves close to her hand, gripping his sword, as he swings back and around his side before slicing it through the air, perpendicular to the top of the woman's head, and striking the chain just below the cuff. A reverberation zaps up his arm as the sword clangs against the stone. 

THAT WAS MUCH TOO CLOSE TO MY HAND, YOU ASSHOLE! She screams, shaking her fist at him, the two chain links hanging off of the cuff clinking together. 

Did you just call me an asshole? He demands, focusing on the next chain. I am rescuing you, and you call me names? What kind of gratitude is this? 

She opens her mouth, most likely to tell him where he can shove his gratitude like any proper lady ought to when a monstrous shriek pierces his ears. He turns around, eyes on the open sea, staring as the screaming beast splashes back into the water. A moment later, it reemerges, shrieking, jumping out of the water before flopping back into the sea on its side like a whale. 

IT IS CETUS! The woman yells from behind him, pulling on the chain that still holds her to the cliff. He looks back at the approaching monster, cataloguing its size. The creature's body is as wide as a temple column is tall, and if it were to stand upright on its tail, he believed the beast could reach the top of the cliff. When it opens its mouth to screech, he sees four rows of sharp teeth, as long as his sword and wickedly sharp. From the crown of its head to the base of its tail, there is a trail of large pointed scales sticking straight out of the monster's body, as thick as slabs of marble and as dark as its pitch-black eyes, which are fixed on the woman. 

CUT THE CHAIN, she screams at him, CUT IT! CUT IT NOW!

Before he can lift his sword, he feels a tight squeeze on his shoulders.

You stop the sea creature; I will free the girl, the gorgon hisses, releasing her grip from around his neck. CLOSE YOUR EYES, DEAR, the gorgon instructs the woman before her legs release from his torso, and she falls. He raises his shield to gaze into, watching the gorgon land, grasping the rocks tightly as one leg falls over the platform's ledge. The gorgon crawls along the stone in front of the woman, and begins to tug on the chain, where it is attached to the cliff. 

He leans forward, propelling his winged sandals to take him closer to the sea monster. He will buy the women time. 

As the monster jumps from below the surface once again, he thrusts his sword, plunging it deep into the underbelly of the beast. It gives a horrible cry as the sword meets its flesh, which only increases in volume as he grips the sword tight and uses his winged sandals to push off the beast's stomach and propel backwards, ripping the sword from the monster's flesh. 

However, the monster does not sink below the surface as it had before; it remains out of the water, its tail whipping through the water violently, coiling underneath the beast's enormous body like a snake. The monster swivels its head towards him, now stable on its tail, and lunges at him, mouth wide. 

He dodges the monster's sharp teeth but makes an impact with the monster's head, losing his balance in the air. He splays across the beast's sleek, slippery skin, rolling head over feet as he begins to slide down the side of the beast back towards the sea. On reflex, he plunges his sword into the slimy flesh to cease his fall. But he failed to recall the earlier reaction the beast had to being stabbed. Before he can ready his feet to fly again, he is being whipped from the beast's body and flung through the air until the stone wall of the cliff stops him. 

Coming out of his daze, he has just enough time to fly upwards as the monster crashes face first, teeth bared, into the stone where he was moments ago. But the creature is not deterred. It continues to chase him upwards, snapping its teeth and catching a mouthful of the Fate's untearable sack that is currently tied to his belt. He is yanked down, landing on all fours on the clenched teeth of the sea creature. 

This would have been his last moments alive for the second time today, if not for the women he has encountered on his quest. Just as Cetus was about to open his massive mouth, swallowing him whole, he catches a flash of light in his peripherals. Then, there is a golden chain, dripping seawater, being whipped directly into the sea creature's eye. 

The creature flinches, flinging him into a freefall as it releases a roar of pain. Out of imminent danger and the creature's focus, he catches himself, righting his sandaled feet under him, and steadies himself against the cliff face, watching as the golden chain is reeled back in by the furious woman on her ledge.  

Then, the monster stops. 

So quickly, if he had blinked he would have missed Cetus transforming into stone, mouth opened wide in a forever roar. But the sea creature is still moving, and he begins too as well. As gravity begins to pull the off-balanced stone giant towards the sea, he races towards the two women still standing on the jutted ledge of the cliff. Barely landing, he gets an arm around each woman's waist before he is shooting up, and up, and up. They crest the top of the cliff just as the wave does, shooting into the sky from the massive impact from the stone sea creature. 

As he soars towards the directio of his home, with two of three women he is destined to save, he turns to glance at the newest member of his party. Soaking wet, with the gold cuffs still around her wrists, the woman is staring at something to the side of where they are heading. When he glances over, he spots two people, standing and watching their departcher, clad in brightly coloured clothing and extravagant jewlery. The look is complete with a circlet of gold upon each of their heads. Royalty, he surmisses.

As they continue flying away from the cliftside and the royal couple, the womans words are almost lost in the crash of the waves and the roar of the wind. But he is holding her, and he packs up her whispered farwell.

Goodbye, mother, father, she breathes into the rushing wind, may you live forever.   

High above, the stars continue to watch the fates of these souls weave together. They smile at the intricate story taking shape in the tapestry these threads are weaving.

They watch on.

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I will be deaf before we reach Seriphos, he thinks as he swoops around another mountain peak.

The woman screams at every drop, every approaching mountain, and every flock of birds passing by. The gorgon does not help the girls' fear, pointing out different obstacles that the three might crash into or how much pain they will feel if they fall from certain heights. 

His arms have been numb for two hours before he sees the familiar shore of the place that he currently calls home. He flies along the outskirts of the polis, not wanting to draw attention to his companions and himself. 

Medi, he whispers, taking care not to rouse the sleeping woman he carries in his arm.

Percy? The gorgon answers, voice quiet. 

These are the mountains I told you of; he nods his head to the left, where several mountains form a range that circles the west side of the polis. 

The mountains are too steep to climb and are too high to have much vegetation, so there is little point for the villagers to venture up, he explains. 

We will scout a cave for you, perhaps near a stream, and fix you up safe and sound. No one will bother you here.

Thank you, Perseus, the gorgon whispered after a moment, for all you have done for me. 

I did nothing, Medusa, he insisted, nothing other than what should be done. 

Well, I thank you, nonetheless. 

Several minutes passed in silence before the gorgon spoke again. And what of our rescued princess? Where will she stay?

With my mother and I, he responds immediately. Then waits for a beat. If she so desires, he amends. 

My sweet boy, the gorgon snickers; she will eat you alive.

I can hardly wait, he tells the gorgon, looking down at the sleeping princess he held in his arms. 

She is a good one, the gorgon continues. Anyone who is willing to tell the god of the sea to go fuck himself while standing on a cliff over said sea is worthy, in my mind. 

Mine too, he admitted, though it did make my heart stop.

The gorgon chuckles; Of course it did. You care too much. 

I care the right amount, he corrects, that every person should care. 

If only every person were like you, the gorgon sighs, sounding far away. 

At that moment, the sun passed completely behind the mountain range to their left, casting the polis in shadow.

Quickly now, my dear, we still have one woman left to save and only a small amount of time before the day is done, the gorgon reminds him, gripping his shoulders tight. 

Indeed, he grins. I believe we owe the king a visit.    

He could not see her face as he flew straight towards the castle grounds, but he would bet all the drachmas in his possession that the gorgon wore a delightful, wicked, eager smile. 

--------------------------

Do not fear, my lady. I will protect you no matter what occurs, Perseus promises the woman he stands beside.

A soft snort comes from behind his back, likely from the gorgon he carries over his shoulder. That is not reassuring, Percy, the gorgon continues to laugh, voice muffled by the sack she wears over her head. You’ve scared the poor girl even more now. Not to fear; I will protect you, my dear. 

Medi, he hisses, giving the gorgon a shake from where he holds her legs; you are supposed to be dead. Dead people cannot speak! 

What a bore being dead is, the gorgon sighs, finally going limp against his shoulder and back, playing her part. 

I feel very safe, the woman to his right chimes in. Thank you, Medi, for your protection. He catches her sly smirk out of the corner of his eye just as he feels a sharp talon jab at his back. 

Honestly, you two, he grumbles under his breath as they reach the front gates of the palace, raising his free arm that holds his shield at the awaiting guards. 

State your name and purpose, the guards demand.

It is I, Perseus, son of Danaë. I have returned from my quest, granted by our most gracious king. Open the gates so that I may bring him the monster I have slain! He boasts, flexing his muscles ever so slightly. He can almost feel Medusa rolling her eyes and is glad for the sack covering her face. 

The guards stare at him in wonder, looking at the woman draped over his shoulder in fear, and quickly open the gates.

He does not wait, marching towards the castle with the woman at his side, stopping at the door. 

Together, the woman at his side whispers, let us make a spectacle. Her eyes glisten with mischief as she places her hands on one half of the double doors while he places his unoccupied hand on the other and together they push open the doors at the same time. He uses so much strength that the door bangs against the wall, echoing a loud bang through the occupied throne room. He is surprised and delighted to see that the woman pushed her door so hard it too made a bang against the wall, causing the people present to grow quiet and turn their way. 

Perseus strides into the throne room, straight towards the king, who is sitting atop his throne.

Come, men! Come and see! Our plight is no more! For I, Perseus, have slain Medusa and bring her body to our great king! He exclaims, reaching the bottom of the throne. As the king's men cheer, gathering to see the cursed woman, he sees his mother sitting beside the throne, watching him. He meets her eyes and closes his eyes tight, keeping them closed for a moment too long. Opening them again, his mother nods, closing her eyes tight and lowering her head to the floor, the picture of a perfect, demure, soon-to-be-wife of the king. 

He stops in front of the king, bowing deep, careful of his hold on the gorgon. 

My king, straightening, he stares into Polydectes’ eyes, his grin growing as the king's face turns red with fury.

I have completed the impossible quest you sent me on, he begins, removing the gorgon from his shoulder and laying her on the floor before him. 

I return to claim my winnings. My mother, in exchange for the gorgon's head, he finishes, tearing the sack from Medusa's head. The men gasp as the gorgon's face is revealed, lax in presumed death, eyes closed, and telltale snake hair limp against the stone floor. 

I asked for her head, the king states, silencing the whispers of his men immediately. But you have brought me all of her.

Yes, my king, he answers, I have killed her, but I thought you might like the honours of beheading the beast. He steps back, gesturing to the woman lying on the floor. 

The king begins to grin as he rises from his seat and unsheaths his sword. His men cheer as he makes his way down from the throne. 

I will enjoy this, the king leers, hoisting his sword high over his head, ready to bring it down on the gorgon's neck. 

As will I, Perseus admits, closing his eyes tight and lowering his head, pulling the woman close to his body and pressing her face into his side, his shield arm wrapping around her back. 

The screams end just as they begin. The sound of rapid retreating footfalls and swords being drawn from sheaths is replaced with a crackling noise as if sand is being rubbed against a rock. Until the only sound is the hissing of several snakes. 

A moment, my dears, Medusa asks, breaking the silence; keep your eyes closed.

He hears shuffling, fabric being dragged over stone until he feels a warm hand cover his where it is resting on the hilt of his sword.

May I borrow your sword for a moment, dear? The gorgon asks.

Of course, he tells her, releasing the hilt. He feels the sword being drawn from its sheath then hears a ripping noise, as if fabric is being torn apart. His sword is placed back into his hand, and another moment of rustling passes before the gorgon tells them they may open their eyes. 

Slowly, he opens his eyes and raises his head to find the throne room covered in stone statues of the king and his men in various states of destress. Their horror forever etched onto their faces. And in the midst of the stone terror, Medusa sits, with the remains of the fates’ sack torn up into a long, opaque strip, tied around her eyes, as outside the castle, the sun finally sets.  

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As the moon glows brightly in the sky overhead, Perseus stands in a room with three women. A mother, a friend, and a lover (though he is unaware of this fact as of now). He does not give much thought to the role each woman will play in his life moving forward, for at this moment, all he can think about is going to sleep. He leads the women towards his family's home and kisses his mother on the cheek, watching her lead a blindfolded Medusa to the guest room. He turns to the woman he rescued from the cliff to tell her goodnight, but she is already walking away from him. He tries to call after her, but he realizes at that moment that she had not told him her name. 

hi. so, as you will come to see in snippets to come, perseus is the embodiment of “THATS MY WIFE!” *kick his ass baby, i got your flower* kind of man 

anyway, have a little narcissist and helen sprinkle that made me cackle in classics major.

hope you enjoy <3 daph

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I will not marry you simply because you saved me, she states, crossing her arms over her chest, just like her mother told her not to. 

That is understandable, he answers, smiling down at her. We do not even know each other's names yet, my lady. But I assume you are called Helen, as you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. 

Is this truly the kind of speech you think attracts women? She asks in disbelief.

Yes, he continues to smile at her, I have been told I am very charming when I speak.

By who? she inquires, your mirror?

By the lake, if you must know, he laughs.

She snorts, just like her mother told her not to. Now your arrogance makes sense. Try not to drown yourself when you console yourself later, sir. 

I will try for you, my lady, as I know you will be most devastated if you do not gaze upon my face when you wake tomorrow, he agrees, moving closer to her.

Perhaps I will come with you tonight, so that when you lean over the water to gaze at your donkey-like face, I will push you in from behind, she snaps.

He howls, loud and sharp, head thrown back. 

My lady, he is still laughing, if you did not want our night together to end, you could have told me in simpler and far less words. 

Know this, lady. He has sobered up, and moves closer to her still, so she can feel his breath as he leans down to her ear. 

You are always welcome to spend your nights with me, he breathes. 

He starts to walk away, smirking, but she is quick to block his path, placing her palm against his stomach.

Is this truly how you offer women a night of pleasure? she purrs, dragging her fingertips up towards his chest, which stops moving. 

Leaving before you receive my response? she asks, pushing her chest into his, grabbing the belt of his pants and pulling him closer.

He shakes his head once, not making a sound.

She grins. Tonight, at your lake, you should practice asking beautiful women into your bed, and try to do so without being a pompous ass. Next time you ask me to share a night of pleasure with you sir, try to at least make the offer appealing enough that I do not dry up at the very thought, she finishes, turning from him to return to her room, leaving him alone. 

He stood there, frozen. This woman.

hi. this is the second excerpt ive written following andromeda and perseus’ myth, telling the part of the myth where andromeda is chained to the cliff as a sacrifice to Cetus the sea monster, but from her POV.

hope you enjoy <3 daph 

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When I was a girl, I was taught to cook, so my husband and sons would not go hungry. I was taught to weave, so my husband and sons would not be cold. I was taught to stay quiet, so my husband and sons would not have a disobedient and loud woman in their home. Everything I have been taught, everything I can do, is to please someone else. I was raised with the sole intent of one day being a wife and mother. 

But fate can be twisted in unexpected ways. I will never be a wife now, she laughs as her parents chain her to the cliff, over the raging ocean, waiting for Cetus. She rips the dress she delicately wove to free her legs, she drinks the salt water that crashes below the ridge she stands on, she screams at the savage waves with each breath, forcing them to look at her. She will not be invisible or dismissed, she will scream so they have to see, to bear witness to what they have done to her. She will not go willing nor dutiful as they expect, she will fight and thrash and rage. The sea monster wants to bear its teeth at her, she will bear hers back, dripping blood and salt and fury. The ocean wants to drown her, she will spit its water back at its murderous waves with a curse. Poseidon wants her as a sacrifice, she will not be a willing one, he will have to drag her soul to the Underworld himself.