After The Sunset The Stars As My Witness

As for Danae, she had her knight in shining armour. In the city, as she ran errands she would feel eyes stripping her bare and snarky comments low enough for her to hear them, but no one dared to touch her because they feared Perseus, and that's what she feared if Perseus died during the quest she would have to be her own knight but she wasn't as big and tough as her son and she hated violence. She’d have to marry the king to be protected from the predators waiting to pounce on her, The King, though a predator in Danae’s eyes, she felt he was a better predator, at least she would be queen.

When Danae got home after a day filled with errands she saw Perseus sitting by the Veranda with his eyes stuck on the stars and his mind wandering off. She quietly approached and greeted him with a question “Are we not going to Argos as we had planned?” Startled by his mother's presence he hadn't noticed he jumped to his feet “Good Evening mama, how was your day” he responded avoiding his mother's eyes and question. “Is it true what they say? They say you have promised the severed head of the mortal gorgon…” Danae paused to take a deep breath that sounded like exhaustion and frustration “The mortal gorgon Medusa” He simply nodded struggling to meet his mother's eyes and saying the simple word, yes. Danae sighed in disbelief as she walked away storming into the house “And how do you intend to do that?” she yelled from inside the house but her question was met with silence “ Do you even know what you are getting yourself into, huh?” she asked with a faint shaky voice that forced tears to run down her face. Perseus hated anyone causing pain to his mother even if it was him. When he heard his mother’s shaky voice and her sniffling he ran to her and fell on his knees with his face buried in her dress “Mama, don't cry. I am sorry I made you cry,” he stood up wiping her tears “Mama this will be great for us,” he said holding her tight as she sniffled “If I return…When I return with her head our lives won't be the same again,” He pause waiting for his mother to question him but her silence forced him to answer the questions he thought she’d ask “ My grandfather will be proud to have a grandson brave and strong enough to do what everyone thought would be impossible. You won't have to beg him to take us back and disregard the prophecy. Mama, I’ll finally get the respect I have craved and I won't be hidden under my father’s shadow anymore. No one, not even I will refer to myself as the son of Zeus but as the one who slain the mortal gorgon, Medusa. I’ll be a hero Mama. I don't know how I’ll find her but I know I will and my safety…” His mother lifted her head to face him “Have the gods ever failed us? They will guide me, help me find her, help me defeat her and bring me back home alive”

“No one has ever returned,” Danae finally broke her silence “bloodthirsty Warriors and armies feared by all the lands have flocked there and all died at her hand and you are going alone. I just don't understand,” She said, pulling away from Perseus “I will be the first to return with her head. I have sought and defeated monsters from all walks of hell, monsters that no one dared to fight” He said pointing at the corner that displayed all his conquests he defeated “No one has dared? Many have dared to return with her head,”

“I have never backed down from a quest”

“This is a quest to your death. You can prove your worth in other ways, my son” She said warming up the leftovers from breakfast “If it is a gift for the king you seek, we can bring horses, gold and diamond when we return from Argos”

“I am the son of Zeus, If I turn down this quest what will it say about me? ‘Coward, foolish, shameful, and weak’ they will say. they will doubt I am the son of…”

“What they think or say won't matter when you are dead, Perseus. Let me bring the gifts from Argos” Danae said placing the food on the table

“I won't die Mama and I won't accept any gifts from Argos, a kingdom that discarded their princess over something she had no control over”

“The King’s reputation had to be protected”

“From me”

“Perseus stop this now. We are going to Argos together as agreed and that’s final”

“No,” He said bashing his fist into the wall “I will not go to a Kingdom where I'm seen as a threat”

“And you think you’re not seen as a threat here?” She asked piercing his heart a little

“Yes,” He lied.

“Well I shall not eat till you agree to come to Argos,” She stormed off

Perseus didn’t know what hurt him the most the fact that his mother didn't believe in him or the open secret his mother served along with dinner, He was a threat to the men in Seriphus, He was bigger, stronger, and braver than the average man in Seriphus, not to mention he was very handsome. Most of the women had rejected their suitors in hopes that Perseus would come for their hand in marriage, some of them occasionally helping Danae with her chores and sending gifts to her. None of the women met what he wanted though he himself didn't know what that was. If he died on this intended quest he would be breaking more than just his mother's fragile heart.

Medusa understood that burden all too well. Before the curse, she had been sought after by men from all walks of life begging her to be their wife, kings, princes, eligible bachelors, and men that had nothing to offer themselves. Her beauty was almost scary yet enchanting hypnotising anyone whether man or woman, even gods, who dared not to temper with Athena’s most prized possession. Despite being a priestess who sacrificed all of herself to serve Athena, men would disrespect the vow she made with Athena promising her the stars the moon and all the world had to offer but it hadn't wooed her, it annoyed her. “ Only a god can marry her,” people tended to tell young men travelling from far and wide with the intention of marrying the beautiful priestess.

♤♡♧

NB: This is one of my many books I started and attempted to finish. The above story is a Medusa retelling inspired by many stories, articles, blog post, forums and pinterest art depictions I consumed through the year. My fascination with Medusa started in 2018, which is also when my curiosity for Greek mythology began. In 2022 is when I finally began to write this story with hopes to be done with it by 2023. I am still working on it and thought I could publish what I have written so far so I could stop constantly editing what I've written so far. I will try to publish a chapter a week. The characters in the story are from the stories I've read and some have been created. This is a Fictional story and is not an accurate depiction of the Mythology, locations and characters. The CONTENT WARNING is for the future chapters that maybe graphic or triggering to the reader.

Thank you for reading!!!

♤♡♧