theladyofthesea

Title : The lady of the sea .
Author . Chantal
Rating : PG 13
Important note : It's a story based on a phoenician legend , the one of Adonis and Ashtarte .
Adonis was also a greek God , and shouldn't be mistaken here , and Ashtarte might also be seen as
the phoenician predecessor of Aphrodite . Anyhow . read and review please , and I hope u like it .

            The air was so hot , she decided to go for a swim , it wasn't even midnight yet .
“ Roxton would kill me if he knew “ she thought , but those words soon disappeared as the cool water
embraced her hot body .
She floated , relaxing , trying to push away the daily stress from all the unending action of the plateau ,
when suddenly a force pulled her down . She felt faint , almost losing consciousness , as the force kept
sucking her deeper and deeper , twirling , as though some kind of a whirlpool , a vortex .
           She struggled to reach the face of the water , emerging for some air , and as she reached the
surface , breathing all the air she could ,she tasted salt on her lips and her entourage looked so unfamiliar .
The small pond was now a sea , a salty sea , that faced green hills , she swam to the shore , unending thoughts
racing through her head ."What have i put myself into this time ?" She thought to herself .
As she rose out from the water , her eyes came down to a purple gown laying on the sand , she took the liberty
and wore it , after all it was all she had in hand . As she braided her raven hair , a woman's voice cried out .
" Ashtarte !!!"
As Marguerite looked to her left to see who it was , the woman kneeled and started to chant .
The heiress walked closer to the lady , hoping perhaps she could help .
" Can u tell me where I am ? "
But the woman kept chanting , not raising her head , until a crowd surrounded both , exclamations rising from
everywhere .
" Ashtarte ... Ashtarte ..."
Marguerite was lost , but she knew she had heard that name , she could swear that the words the crowd were
speaking were familiar , but her brain didn't seem to want to focus . Then she remembered .'Phoenician , this is
standardized phonetic alphabet .'
And as the words came to her she asked :
"Can anyone help me please ? I need a place to say .... Until I find what the hell is going on ." She mumbled .
Everyone seemed to be willing to help , inviting her generously into their homes . A hand grabbed her by the arm .
" Come , I will help ." Marguerite turned to face , a beautiful young lady , with deep , brown eyes , and amazing
features . She had no choice , but to follow .
The young lady invited her into a small room , made of stone .
"Here , have some rest , I will get you something to eat ."
That's quite generous of you , but i'd rather have you answering me some questions , like what happened on
the shore ?"
" Oh divine one ." Replied the native . " We all aim to please our Goddess ."
"Goddess ? what are you talking about "
"You are Ashtarte, Goddess of love , good harvest , children and protection , you have come to put us to the
test , to see who are your faithful servants ."
"But ... you don't understand..."She was cut off .
"You are the Lady of The Sea , and I am your humble servant."
"Why are you doing this ?"
"Because I need your protection , I need it for my husband , who has sailed , I want him home,safe ." Said the
young woman , as a tear rolled down her cheek .
Marguerite didn't know what to do . This woman was expecting her to change her husband's life , but she had
no godly powers , heaven knew she needed them more than anyone , she wanted to return home , yes home ,
not London , not England , but the tree house , where hopefully , a certain Lord would be awaiting for her ,
wanting to hold her in his arms .
" I will see , what might be done ."
" I shall leave you to sleep , tomorrow everyone will want to tend to you , to show you their gratitude . By the
way , my name is Cana ." And the woman left the heiress to get her rest .
      Marguerite looked around her , and then at herself ,'Tyrian purple .'She thought ,analyzing her gown .
"Produced from the mucus of the hypobranchial gland of various species of marine molluscs, notably Murex.
The legend has it that as the princess , and her dog were walking along the shore , the canine stumbled upon
a species from the sea , and as his muzzle became stained purple , the dye was discovered , All this is so
fascinating indeed " She whispered .
' Ashtarte ... Where have I read this name ?'
And it came to her , Cana was right , Ashtarte was the Goddess of fertility and love , and now everybody thought it
was her . She needed to escape this place for a while , for if what Cana said was true , all the village would have
gathered around the young woman's home by morning .
      She escaped from the window , a couple of faithfuls had already been camping outside , she headed for the
bushes , trying to think of a way out of this place , before it rained trouble , as always .
As she ran through the trees , to find a peaceful spot , she stumbled upon a rock . Sitting still , trying not to cry ,
she felt a hand brush against her shoulder .
She turned to see a quite familiar smile .
" Roxton ?!"
"My dear , don't you recognize your beloved , that you call him of a different name ?"
"But it is you Roxton , don't you recognize me ?"
"Ashtarte , my love . It is I Adonis ."
'Adonis ' Marguerite thought ! And she remembered that in mythology , Adonis or Adon , was the God of
beauty , a great hunter , he and Ashtarte were lovers .
She grinned to herself , God of beauty , and a great hunter , those would've qualified as her Roxton's traits .
She went with the story , everybody already thought of her as Ashtarte , so what was one more , specially if he
reminded her of , being close to him , would feel safe.
She stood and walked closer limping to the hunter , and he hugged her ,'a familiar embrace', She thought .
"Here , let me look at your ankle."
        He was so caring , just like the Roxton she knew , he bandaged her bruised ankle , with a part of his tunic .
" You'll be fine ." He smiled , " I have missed you ." He cupped her face and leaned for a kiss . She knew deep
down it wasn't Roxton , but within her emerged the same feelings , the ones she felt when she was kissed by the
Lord . And with that , being consumed by the passion in her heart , she let him transport her , through this lustful
night .
The sun was hours from rising , as she opened her eyes She was laying on top of him , on the green grass , his arm
protectively surrounding her . A feeling of guilt ran over her but soon collided with satisfaction . She rose to
her feet , as he opened his eyes .
"I have to go . The village will be looking for me , and i gotta find a way home ."
"A way home .. you mean the other realm , the realm of the Gods ?"
"I will tell u about it tonight if i'm still here , meet me here tonight ." She replied as she got dressed.
And she ran towards the village , a crowd had already gathered around where she was supposed to be . As she
tried to sneak in , a woman caught her , and shouted for the rest to come , they gathered in lines , approaching
her with gifts and offerings , jewels , glass , gowns , fruits , offerings of all sorts .
'This isn't as bad as i thought ' Passed her mind as she eyed the sapphire laying in her palm .
        Cana , arose , and walked to her door step , she was angry because the Goddess was no longer focused on
her , but now had a large crowd . Marguerite looked at Cana , and nodded , and with that the young woman knew
that her help was not forgotten .

While Marguerite was busy with all the happenings around her , Adonis was hunting in the jungle , his favorite
prey , wild boars . He had spent so many of his days around these areas , he was an avid hunter .
As the sun set , on the Mediterranean , Marguerite sat on the bed , thinking of Cana and how to bring back her
husband . She closed her eyes , focusing on the wish , hoping , and praying , to whom ? She didn't know , she
thought it was funny , her being the Goddess and praying for fulfillment from her God . When she heard a scream
of joy .
She ran out of the house, to see Cana standing on the glittering sand , eyeing a fading sun . "They are back ,
they are back ." was all Marguerite could here , as she ran beside the woman .
" My husband is back , Thank you , thank you so much ."
Marguerite smiled at the coincidence , what had happened made her think that perhaps after all it was true ,
that she was indeed a Goddess . But she erased the thought as she hugged Cana , telling her her job was done
here , and walked towards the hills , to meet the only person who possibly could help her . After all he was a God .
               " Ah there you are ." Said a husky voice , as he hugged her ." What was it you wanted to tell me ?"
"Let's walk and talk " She smiled at him . He held her hand and guided her through the trees . "You gotta help
me , because i am not who you think i am , i have to go back to my world , and since you are a god , you have
powers , and you can send me back ."
"I don't understand you , my love ."
They stopped , and she looked in his eyes , he came closer and hugged her , just as then , a wild boar attacked
from the darkness , another jealous god taking form of the beast
Adonis spent his life hunting , but now he wasn't prepared , he was in the arms of his love . And the beast
charged and attacked him , and he lay on the grass , bleeding ... dead .
For a moment there Marguerite felt as though she was Ashtarte , as though she was part of the legend .
After all it was Roxton's image lying dead in front of her , and at the same time , she had lost hope to ever
return home , and find her real love .
Ashtarte stood there , crying promising to bring him back to life , every spring . And where his blood fell ,
red poppies grew every year .

Marguerite woke up , she was partly dressed in her own bed .
She tried to sit straight , but her lungs hurt badly . "Easy girl , you almost left us ." Said a husky voice . " Thank
heavens , you weren't taken by cannibals as you lay unconscious on the edge of the pond ." Added Veronica .
"What , laid on the edge of the pond ? I saw you die , no I saw someone like you die , I was a Goddess ."
Challenger smiled , so did Malone , it wasn't so hard to believe that Marguerite would think of herself as a
Goddess .Veronica raised her brow , and couldn't help but chuckle , as Roxont ordered :" You better sleep ,
and when you wake up , I guess i will repeat our main rule , that you so often break ."
The other four walked out of the room , as Roxton tucked Marguerite ." When did u find me ?" "This morning ,
when i realized you slept quite late , even for you , i came into your room and didn't find you , and so i immediately
knew where you were , i just didn't know i will find u naked , with a weak pulse , laying unconscious ."
"But Roxton , you have to believe me , i was part of the Phoenician legend , you know Adonis ..."
She was cut off by Summerlee entering the room . "Ah yes Adonis , the Greek Goddess , for which Persephone
and Aphrodite quarrelled ." "No Summerlee , this wasn't Greek , it was Phoenician ."
" Ah yes , it differs slightly from the Greek Myth . Adonis gets killed by a jealous
God ."
"Yes , that's it , on the banks of the river , and every year the water turns red , because of his shattered blood ."
"But My dear Marguerite , That IS just a legend ."
Roxton didn't say a word the time when Summerlee and Marguerite were debating .
Marguerite realized it was a hopeless cause , deep inside she knew it was true , and she knew the lesson that
needed to be learned from her experience .
           She looked at Roxton , as he sat beside her on the bed . " Perhaps it was a dream Marguerite ?" He tried
to comfort her . " It's alright John , I have learnt some things , I have learnt that I am afraid , everytime you go
hunting , I don't want you to end up dead , this is the plateau , and i care too much for you ." He smiled and got
closer to her , and put his hand on her face ." All these years i didn't get close , afraid that i might lose you to the
plateau ."
"I will never leave Marguerite , now that you are beside me , i will never put myself in danger , i want to always be
there when you need me ."
He kissed her softly , brushing her dark hair from her cheek , " You can count on that ."
And as he laid beside her holding her in his arms , another familiar feeling swept her , the same one she felt as
she laid on the grass , in the arms of a certain hunter . " You know " He broke the silence ,"I had a dream last
night , but i didn't want to mention
it ."   "What was it ?" " I dreamt , that you were in my arms , laying on the green grass , and I was holding you
so tight , you had a purple gown , it suited you so well , just like that purple shirt you have ." Marguerite's heart
raced at the memory , and at the feeling of his hands across her body . " It felt so real ."
He pulled her closer , " But i like , now , better , because at least i know that it isn't a dream ." He looked
around ." I hope ." He added .
She smiled to him , and passion enveloped them , as once again the same moon that had guarded them , glowed
above the tree house .

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