This blog is for me that others may read. I spend at least an hour on each prompt then go back and edit it then post it. If I come back to it I come back to it but if I don't then oh well. I have so many stories in my head and get depressed if I don't write something so this is more therapy for me. Enjoy!
Write about a character who happens to be the next person in line for the throne... except they do not wish to be crowned. Why is this? Are they afraid they would fail? Or (worst of all) are they afraid of their siblings who would do anything to wear the crown.
Prince Nemo sat on the steps before the statue of Athena. She stood proud on her pedestal with her spear straight and ready and her shield before her. She sat the shield in front of her. Athena's greatest defense and offense was her cleverness. She reminded Nemo of his mother. A queen in her own right after her husband died. Queen Astra of Athens was regent for Nemo until he came of age. They said she would not survive the night. Nemo need only to be crowned. He could feel it already, crushing his skull with it's weight. He wished he was born a girl then he would be last in line. His older sisters: Jacintha, Berenice, Olena, and Sapphira would be first with their husbands. Nemo was only 17 years old. Just shy of his 18th birthday and the age where he did not need a regent.
Nemo wanted to hide in a dark hole or run away and let the council and his sisters deal with the kingdom. All Nemo was good at was poetry. Writing ballads about the gods and their hero offspring. Just as Nemo was about to allow his despair to consume him he felt a warm hand touch his shoulder.
"You spend more time in this temple than the priestesses," old Panduras's cheerful voice was like a babbling brook, a falling laughter that always brightened the room. Nemo rubbed the approaching tears from his eyes so as not to appear like a sniveling child but old wise Panduras could see through any charade.
"I myself have been in here," he went on, "once all night. That was when I was to marry my wife."
"Didn't you have 3 wives, Pandarus?" asked Nemo curiously.
Panduras's brow furrowed. His mouth comically pouty.
"Hm... I think it was wife number 2," Panduras mused. "Meleda... not as sweet as honey as her name means but what a wild cat in the bed chamber."
Nemo smiled. Panduras rested his old bones on the steps of the Athena statue, his walking stick resting against his shoulder so he could be on the level of the troubled Nemo. They sat in silence for a few moments.
"I don't want to be king..." Nemo finally whispered fearing the goddess would hear his cowardice.
"You were king since you were 11 years old," reminded Panduras.
"Mother ruled..."
"And you don't think you can accept such a responsibility."
Nemo nodded ruefully. Astra was more a king than a queen. She had the wisdom and ruthlessness. She ruled with the iron rod, fending off all invaders but also making many enemies at court. She was a woman after all and only men were seen fit to rule.
"The moment I sit on that throne is the moment I will be murdered in my sleep," cried Nemo in despair. "In any case I would ruin this city!"
Panduras rested his hand on the boy's shoulder. Nemo turned to his old Mentor eyes misty and the old man smiled kindly.
"You will have advisors to help you," Panduras soothed. "And besides as much as I respect your mother I believe Athens needs a gentler king. One ruled by reason."
"But I'm afraid!" Nemo cried. "How can I rule if I'm always afraid?"
"A man who wants to rule will become a despot, but a man who does not want to rule becomes a great king. You fear the consequences of your actions, you do not want to make people suffer, and you will do what you believe is right for your people never yourself." Panduras smiled. "That is a true king. And you will become a great king, my boy."
"Will you be there to help me?" Nemo sounded hopeful.
"For a long time, the gods willing..."
"That may not be very long," Jacintha's voice always felt like a mountain breeze; chilly and frigid coming from on high. Nemo always shivered when his older sister entered a room. Just like mother, Jacintha had a regal presence. Her eyes cold and calculating. Berenice was never far behind. They were thick as thieves. Sure enough Berenice followed her her sister's train, eyes dark and full of envy. Her eyes always glittered when she found something she desired and it would always become hers. Berenice once pinched Nemo's nose until it turned red and numb all for a horse carving their father had made for him.
"Praying to the goddess, Athena?" Jacintha inquired her voice like a needle.
"I pray for wisdom... sister," Nemo spoke meekly.
"You will need it," sneered Berenice with acid humor.
"Perhaps you have come to seek her guidance as well, princesses," chided Panduras his voice rough like stone, "to help you in the future."
"Careful, old goat," Jacintha warned. "You are here solely because of my mother's fondness for you." Jacintha always hated Panduras. She would call him names and mistreat him. He was a slave who happened to know words. She never tired of reminding him of his place.
"If I were king I would have had you whipped and starved you in the dungeon like the flea bitten dog that you are," confessed Jacintha.
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