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My Princess
by Andrea Lena DiMaggio

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The Island of Psathouras, Aegean Sea, Circa 565 BCE...

“Lexi?” the comforting voice called from behind him.

“Yes, Mamá?” Alexis didn’t wait for an answer, but ran quickly up the hill toward the hut that overlooked the bright waters of the Aegean that kissed the shore of the island.

“Good…” his mother smiled nervously and she put down the basket of laundry under the line that stretched from the corner of the hut to the Cypress tree further up the hill.

“I can help if you like?” Alexis had always been eager to help his mother, but now even more so since his father and brother perished when their boat went down in the squall only a few months ago.

“No… well, thank you my sweet child. I…I have some news…” Helen smiled weakly, looking away.

“Really, mother…I don’t mind…not at all.” She was tempted to set him about hanging the clothes to dry. But the news seemed too urgent to delay. Best tell him and be done with it.

“Come? Sit next to me?” She pointed to the bench in front of the hut.

“I…I miss Niko…” He sighed. His brother could be merciless in teasing Lexi. Their father Theo had seemed to bask in the taunts, as if by challenging his brother Lexi’s manhood, Niko grew larger in his father’s eyes.

“I miss him…too, Lexi.” Her gasp seemed to echo his sigh. Helen loved her other son as much as any mother ever could, despite his moments where he could be as abrupt and demanding as his father. And she shed not a single tear for her husband.

“Poppa….You never….” He touched his fist to his face as if to wipe away an un-shed tear as he shook his head no in question. She stared at her son. So perceptive? He touched her arm and she winced. Too many years where her sons and daughter would try to protect her. But now her husband was dead. Niko was dead. Aspasia married with her own child on the way?

“I will never leave you. I will die for you!” The boy said bravely, missing how opposite his words were. But he was devoted to his mother; much to the disappointment of his father.

“I…I am afraid…” Helen stammered.

“Do not be frightened, Mamá.” She looked away only for a second before turned back to face him.

“It is not for me that I am afraid, dear one. It is for you.

“I am not afraid,” he insisted. But what she was about to tell him would no doubt be the worst thing he would ever hear. She stood up and walked to the bluff overlooking the beach.

“Can you know what is to come?” She almost lapsed into teasing him herself. His life was about to change, and she wanted to protect him. He showed no sign of foreboding. She might as well tell him something good to cushion the bad.

“Do you see this?” She asked as she used her arm in a broad gesture to sweep across the vista of the sea before him.

“This will all be yours, dear child, to rule and bless and to receive great honor.” She took a deep breath. He tugged at her sleeve.

“I am…a fisherman. The son of a son of a son of a fisherman, mother. I am nothing.” In his father’s eyes he had always been nothing. Sometimes even in his brother’s eyes as well.

“No. You may have come from that line, Lexi, but you were always destined to be someone.”

“I own nothing, mother. I do not care what anyone says. This is your land. Your home.” She wanted to hold him. Protect him. Nothing would ever keep her from loving him, but fate had other unheard-of plans. She grabbed his hand and led him back to the beach, sitting him down on an outcropping. But she remained standing.

“The ruler of all the islands has sent word that seeks someone from our island with whom to rule.”

"But mother, I cannot leave you. I will not leave you. Let him adopt another boy.” He went to stand up but she placed her hands on his shoulders.

“You are the oldest now that… With Niko gone, it is you who are chosen.” She tried not to, but a gasping sob escaped her lips.

“Chosen for what?” His eyes began to widen as his mother’s own eyes filled with tears. She knelt down before him as if she was retying his sandal.

“Every year the ruler turns over power to someone else. The new ruler then picks a mate.”

“A mate?” His eyes widened even more as his mother nodded.

“Yes. We are a small island. We are always overlooked but for bad weather. We have few…”

“What are you saying, Mamá?”

“Your sister is married. Your cousin Olympia is married. All the…” She paused and looked away once again, as if a scroll might fall from the sky with words of hope. But no god would hand that to her, and she was left with only the truth.

“All of the other girls are not of age. You are the only one.”

“I am not a girl,” he protested. He was slight of build, but he had urges just like every other boy his age. His fists balled up in anger, but he held his peace as Helen stood up.

“If you do not do this there is no telling what the ruler will do. What ill will befall us….I…I am so sorry, Lexi, but the decision has been made. Please forgive me?”

“N…” He began to protest, but he could never be angry with her. He bowed his head and spoke.

“I…I will do as you say.” With that he fell into his mother’s arms as they both wept bitter tears. He would lose himself and she would lose her only child.

Aspasias had shooed away her husband and his brothers. The preparations were to be solemn and almost holy, and their presence would be a grave error on their part. The three of them left amidst a few final taunts.

She’ll make a fine bride.

Hey Dinos? Alexia is almost as pretty as your cousin.

Can she cook?

Aspasias feared for her brother but there was nothing left but to accede to the ruler’s wishes. For Lexi's part he managed to shed tears without a sound.

“I’m sorry, Lexi,” Helen said as she stood back; trying very hard not to admire the handiwork she and her daughter and a few of the other women on the island had managed.

“Best to be quiet…do not speak unless spoken to,” one woman said.

“Bow with a flourish. Act like you wish to be…well, you know,” another woman said. Helen put her finger to her lips to hush the hens, as they would say. She shook her head in disbelief.

“Alexia… your name now, my precious child.” Helen gasped at the sight. Only that morning she had walked to her daughter’s place escorted by her son. But now? Standing before her was a girl of about fifteen, dressed in a hastily made gown; azure and gauzy. Her breasts were small, even with some enhancements.

“I agree with your husband, Aspasias. She truly is a pretty girl. I think the kohl for her eyes and the pomegranate for her lips make her a very pretty girl,” her Aunt Sophia observed

“No,” the first one said. “A beautiful princess fit for a king.” At the words, Alexis…Alexia sighed. He…rather…she was resigned to her fate. At least she was finally doing something that would matter.

Aspasias patted her tummy. She grabbed her new sister’s hand and placed it next to her own.

“You have saved my child, and everyone on this island of ours. I will name him or her the same…Lexi.” She held Alexia at arms’ length to admire her sister and was about to hug her when came the very loud sound of a horn; announcing the awaited arrival. All of them emerged from the home to see a very large ship anchored just off shore. A smaller boat was just landing on the beach.

“It’s time.” Helen said. She pulled her son/daughter close and spoke; clearly and loud enough to be heard over the sound of gulls and waves.

“I am so proud of you.” With that she and Aspasias walked Alexia down to the beach. Two figures stood by the boat; both of them clad in long mail and helm. One remained almost motionless as the other gestured for Alexia to come. She turned and waved goodbye to her mother and sister and the rest before calmly walking to the boat.

In minutes they had pushed off and were halfway to the ship. Helen turned to go, but stopped in her tracks as the others went ahead. She looked up, but instead of needing to shade her eyes from the sun she was bathed in the warm glow of a friendly face.

“Fear not, child. All will be well,” A voice seemed to whisper inside of her.

“Oh, Hera? Is it you?” Helen looked around but the vision departed, leaving her alone and completely at peace.

In what felt like an eternity, the trip took mere minutes before Alexia stood on the deck of the impressive ship, steadied on both sides by her escorts. They held out their free arms, indicating a large tent-like structure toward the aft of the ship. The two released her as Alexia began to walk slowly, each step slower than the last as the reluctance she dare not show began to assert itself.

“I…will do what I must," the boy-girl mouthed silently. She reached the door flap and froze. One of her escorts walked quickly to her side and grabbed her arm; not abruptly but softly and slowly.

“You are expected,” the escort said. Alexia looked up and realized her escort was a very handsome-looking woman.

“Go ahead, little one.” With that Alexia was gently urged inside. She stepped in and found it was well-lit by canvas flaps opened to admit the sunlight that streamed past the sails of the ship,

“Come closer.” A voice spoke from the shadows. A kind voice.

“I am afraid,” she answered.

“You have nothing to fear.”

“I…I am afraid for my kin…my sister…my mother… everyone.” Alexia’s voice cracked, just as one might expect of a nervous boy caught in his mother’s clothes.

“Your kin is safe. No harm will befall them.”

“You…YOU say that. But what of the ruler? What will he say?” Alexia seemed to grow smaller, but it was just because she began to cower as a tall figure emerged from the shadows. By now Alexia had bowed her head, but she heard the figure approaching. A hand cupped her chin, and she came face to face with the fiercest, most beautiful woman she had ever seen.

“I say that because I am the ruler you seek. Fear not, dear girl.” With those words, Alexia began to weep.

“Why do you weep so?”

“I…my people…they had no choice. They…”

“Because you are a boy? It would not make a difference, such is the bravery that would have stayed my hand. But I already knew, Alexia of Psathoura. Athena came to me in a dream."

“A…Athena?” Alexia bit her lip and began to cry.

“She told me to come to Psathoura. That I would find a brave boy who loved his mother and his sister more than life itself. That he would do anything to save them….”

“But all I did was dress in these clothes.”

“All you did, Alexia, is cry yourself to sleep at night feeling that you would never be someone who mattered. That you were too scared to stop your father. And that you longed to be as brave and strong as your mother. And here you are.”

“You’re not going to kill me?”

“Kill you? No, my sweet Alexia. I’m going to marry you. You shall be my princess.”

“You….your princess?” Alexia had only stopped crying somewhat. She stared into the woman’s eyes; kind and caring and most of all, understanding.

“What else would the bride of a Queen be but a princess? I am Elena. My kingdom is the sea upon which we sail, but I name as my home an island called Mitilini.” The name of her island sounded vaguely familiar; perhaps Lexi had heard it mentioned by the fishermen from her own island.

“Athena asked Eirene to call upon her father Poseidon to cause the storm…”

“The storm that killed my father? My brother?”

Alexia’s eyes flashed in anger, but her look quickly changed to heartbroken. How could he…she marry the woman who allowed her brother to die?

“No, little one. Only your father died that day. He flew into one of his rages like the anger he directed to all of you. And he raged against the gods in words and finally in deed as he slew your brother. He brought his own doom upon himself.”

“But…why… why did my brother have to die? Why did you let him die?” Alexia became hysterical, prompting Elena to embrace her.

“Ariadne?” The woman who had escorted Alexia entered.

“Yes, my Queen?”

“Please ask our sister to come?” Elena squeezed Alexia’s shoulders in comfort before holding her facing the entrance. A moment later both escorts entered.

“Ariadne is my own sister. She and I gained a new sister of sorts the day your father died. He wanted to kill your mother and Niko swore he would stop him. Many times he spoke harsh words to you because your father wished it so. Niko could never say no because your father threatened harm upon your mother, your sister, and you.”

“He saved us?”

“Yes. Very, very brave…like his sister.”

“I’m not…” Elena gently placed her hand across Alexia’s mouth.

“Shhh. You sacrificed not knowing what would happen to you…Just as Athena said you would.” She removed her hand and nodded for Alexia to ask the one final question…Actually the penultimate question.

“Then what…what happened to my brother?” Her eyes pleaded with her Queen. Elena nodded and the second escort took off her helmet, revealing Niko, or rather, Nikole.

“She’s my…my brother?”

“I’m your sister, Lexi.” Nikole hugged Alexia and smiled broadly. The sister of the Princess who will marry the Queen.” With that, Elena stepped close to Alexia again, who went to speak.

“You want to know how you can be a Princess and be a boy? You can’t.” Elena chose a different tack to silence Alexia, grabbing her instead and kissing her. Alexia felt a very warm and comforting sensation throughout her body. Things began to change; reforming and renewing until the boy that was Alexis was finally replaced by Alexia of Psathoura.

“You see, my sweet, adorable bride, in my kingdom, on my island, only a young lady can be a princess and marry a queen. And of course, when it is my time to leave the throne, Queen Ariadne will marry Princess Nikole.”

“Your island? You said it was Mitilini? I’m not sure if I only thought I heard the name.” Alexia stepped closer and grabbed Elena by both hands, which she draped around her neck, feeling more like a princess moment by moment.

Queen Elena kissed Princess Alexia again before laughing softly.

“It may be that you know our home by another name. Many call our Island Mitilini but some know it by its other name. The Island of Lesbos.”