Rejection

Of all the places he'd been he never imagined he would find his bride here, at a celebration he would never have attended, had it not been for his friend. Delphinus was still talking oblivious the revelation that had just transpired. Poseidon interrupted him mid lecture by firmly stating, "It's her." Taken aback by the statement, trying to understand what his friend was saying, Delphinus asked, "What's her?". Poseidon did not speak, but raised his arm pointing to the dancing goddess. Delphinus followed his direction seeing the sea goddess dancing among the nymphs. All at once, Poseidon dropped his arm and wheeled around to Delphinus and with grave seriousness he stated, "That gorgeous nymph shall be my queen."

Delphinus laughed easily, thinking his friend was patronizing him for the speech he'd been giving. The laughter faded though when he saw the solemn look on Poseidon's face, and said "You must be joking?". Looking aghast Poseidon replied forcefully, as he looked once again at his bride-to-be, mesmerized by her beauty before softly replying. "I've never been more certain of anything." Delphinus followed Poseidon's gaze back to the maiden and chuckled thoughtfully slowly shaking his head, asking the question, "Have you any idea who your intended is, my dear friend?". Still captivated Poseidon didn't look to his friend when he replied in the negative. Delphinus placed a hand on his friend's shoulder and told him of the fair Amphitrite, virgin daughter of Nereus and Doris, the most beautiful and favored among the sea nymphs. Amphitrite was bestowed with great power and charged with protecting the ocean and all the creatures that dwelled within. Of course Poseidon knew of the legendary sea goddess, but had never thought to put a face with her name. Looking at her now, her identity was obvious and only solidified the love that had already begun to grow in his soul.

How fitting that his mate was the very sea itself, and knew he must wed her at once. He saw his opportunity when she broke from her dancing for refreshment. His nerves were dancing and he felt as though he'd swallowed a mass of eels which now writhed in his stomach, the sea god weaved his way through the crowd following her every movement. She'd stopped at a table and was nibbling on some cheese, a glass of wine in her other hand, when at last he reached her side. He found his mouth dry and his heart had crawled into his throat where it beat erratically. She took no notice of him at first savoring her snack, her skin still flushed from her exertions. And in fact she had begun to move away from him, and back into the fray, before he could harness his emotions. So that when he finally spoke her name it came out strangled, like that of a drowning man. She turned to him then, and wordlessly let her eyes roam his body from his bare sculpted chest, to the foaming mass of black hair that haloed his beautiful face, ending at his eyes that were the cerulean turquoiseof the Agean.

He let her pursue him and when their eyes met the rest of the world melted away, for an infinite moment they held each other's gaze. Then with an arrogant authority Poseidon commanded her, "Marry me, beautiful Amphitrite, and together we shall rule the seas." She looked at him for a moment longer before replying "No." Her voice, like the soft sighing of waves, entrancing and melodic, it took him a long painful moment to realize she had spoken the one word he hadn't anticipated in hearing. So certain he was that she would feel the same as he did, the proposal was a formality at best. When it registered that she'd declined, he was dumbstruck. She left him standing with his mouth agape and made her way back into the crowd.