Twisted Mythology: Ariadne Read Free

The
tributes followed a distance behind her.  She did not catch how far way Theseus
stood from the group as they continued on.  She imagined that he was studying
his surroundings, perhaps searching for a way to escape.  The two previous
groups of tributes had done the same.  Somehow one youth had made it all the
way to the docks, throwing himself into the sea.  He had been quickly rescued
and taken directly to the Labyrinth.
    Her servants walked ahead of her and the tributes, torches
in their hands.  She had discussed with them their duties for this day until
they both could recite it back to her word for word.  As a reward, she had
given them an extra hour of leisure after the noon meal.  By then, it felt like
they had cleaned both the shrine and the dormitory a thousand times.  Another
cleaning certainly could have waited.  She watched the two women vanish
outside, joining them a moment later.  The taller servant quickened her pace
and hurried to open the door across the courtyard.  When Ariadne herself reached
the dormitory, she pivoted around and motioned for the tributes to head
inside.  Theseus had taken a position several paces behind his fellow
Athenians.  She could see his eyes darting from one end of the small courtyard
to the other.  He was planning something.  Perhaps she could entice it out of
him before he or the other tributes were sent to their doom.
    Only after Theseus entered the dormitory did Ariadne
follow.  The servants had lit several of the lamps around the room, and a small
fire burned in the fireplace.  Several of the maidens had taken a seat at one
of the four tables scattered around the room.  Her eyes drifted to Theseus who
again seemed to be studying his surroundings.  Ariadne remained by the door,
waiting for the King’s messenger to arrive with news that the tributes were
expected in the great hall.  She let them whisper amongst themselves for a
moment, watching them carefully.  Periodically, their eyes drifted towards
Theseus.  Was it hope in their eyes when they looked at him?  She would
endeavor to find out.
    “This is where your meals will be delivered after today, as
I have said before,” she told them.  “The King will provide you three meals a
day.  The first will be delivered at dawn, the second at the noon hour and the
third at dusk.  Please do not feel like you are stuck in this building, but
know only here and at the shrine will you not need an escort.”
    She gave them a generous smile to the sound of footsteps
approaching the door.  An armed guard took two steps inside.  “Honored guests
of King Minos of Crete, my King asks for the pleasure of your company at his
palace for a feast to celebrate your sacrifice,” the guard announced.  He then
turned on his heel and exited.
    The Athenian maidens slowly came to their feet.  The youths
lingered behind until the young women had reached the door.  One yelped as she
stepped outside.  All the youths, with Theseus at the front, rushed outside to
her aid.  Her father had sent enough guards for each of the tributes.  They
were leaving the grounds after all.
    “Please do not be alarmed, honored guests,” she said after
stepping into the courtyard.  “These are the guards my father chose to be your
escorts while you are off the shrine grounds.  They will be stationed outside
the main doors during your stay.”  She tried to give them a reassuring smile. 
“If you would please follow me, the King grows impatient,”
    With no more encouraging words, Ariadne walked past the
Athenians and led them back through the shrine.  A chorus of footsteps and
swords tapping against armor followed her.  Outside the shrine, they were
greeted by a crowd of citizens, male and female, young and old.  In their eyes,
she could read their appreciation that it would not be one of them who would be
fed to the Minotaur.  If they obeyed their King’s laws and honored the gods,
they would never know the inside of the