The sun shone differently over the kingdom of Lykia that day, for the fires that had darkened the skies for so many years no longer burned. Distant farmers spoke of the sounds of hideous battle, of a rumbling in the mountains which, at first, they took to be the Gods’ final punishment of them all. But as the people had cowered in their hovels, praying for the Gods’ mercy while the sounds of battle had raged on, it so happened that their world did not end.
Dawn arrived bright and glorious, painted across a sky as beautiful as any in recent memory.
The true relief came when, coming out of their homes to breathe the fresh air and thank the Gods for the continuance of their lives, they looked up to see Pegasus and his rider, the Corinthian, Bellerophon, of whom they had heard so much, flying toward Xanthos.
“Could it be true?” people asked. “Have Bellerophon and Pegasus slain the Chimera? Are we free at last?”
The Gods’ altars burned brightly that day, and every day afterward, with the people’s offerings of gratitude and relief.
King Iobates had heard the rumours which had spread like summer fire.
Bellerophon had succeeded. The Chimera had been slain.
The king knew that he should be overjoyed that his kingdom’s long-time tormentor was no more, but he was not. The victory was bitter and tainted, for he knew that he must still, somehow, dispose of the son of Glaucus for what he had done to his eldest daughter. As he paced in the megaron of the palace, he tried not to think of his youngest child, however, for she believed in Bellerophon’s innocence. That is why he had refused to see her for so many days since the announcement of the third and final task.
“She has fallen prey to Bellerophon’s lies,” the king said to himself as he mulled over what to do. “I have given shelter to this fugitive, this wandering liar… I have fulfilled the requirements of Xenia.”
Even as he said the words, doubt wormed its way into his mind.
“It’s impossible. No mortal man could have slain the monster. It must be lies. Another trick!” The king nodded to himself. “That’s it. The people have been fooled!” Iobates then turned to one of the guards near the propylon. “Call for Captain Milyas!”
“Yes, my king!” the man replied, and then ran off to fetch the captain of the guard.
Philonoe had been in her chambers for days, locked away like a prisoner in her own home. But that did not mean she was not aware of the stories raging through the city streets, of a great victory in the northeast. Night and day she had prayed for it, and at last the confirmation of her hopes had arrived.
So, when she heard Polyidus’ voice from the other side of her door, she rushed to meet him.
The guards let him through and the moment she saw his face, she knew something was not right.
“How are you, my lady?” he asked, his hand squeezing hers tightly.
“How should I be? I have been kept prisoner for many days,” she responded, leading him to the terrace on the other side of her rooms. “What news? My servants told me that Bellerophon has been victorious, that the people are singing and dancing in the streets!” She could barely contain her relief.
Polyidus cocked his head to listen for the guards’ footsteps nearby and knew that they had remained in the corridor. “Listen, Princess!” he said, his voice low but urgent. “The king plans to betray Bellerophon. He has sent Milyas and two battalions to intercept him at the altar of Athena in the olive grove. He was just seen flying in that direction upon Pegasus.”
“He was victorious, then? The Chimera is dead?”
“Yes, but so too will Bellerophon be if he is not warned!”
She had never seen Polyidus so anxious, so upset. “But the laws of Xenia?”
“My princess, your father no longer cares for the laws of Zeus. He has abandoned reason and is about to commit a terrible crime. He is going to have Bellerophon slain.”
“We have to help him!” Philonoe said. “But how? How can we help him?”
“We can’t, my lady. But you can. You must go and warn him. Show yourself to the troops. Convince them. The time has come for you to take your mother’s place.”
Athena help me, Philonoe thought as she stood upon that cliff of decision. She breathed deeply and thought of all the risks Bellerophon had taken. It was time for her to risk all now. Philonoe nodded and went to her bed where she took up her mother’s sword, her talisman during her imprisonment. “We need to take care of the guards,” she whispered.
“Leave that to me,” Polyidus said as he walked with his staff toward the doors and knocked.
When the two guards opened the doors, he emerged and leaned in close to the one to speak to him. “The princess is in need of fresh air. She must be allowed out of her rooms.”
“No,” the one guard said. “King’s orders are that she does not come out and-“
Before the man could finish, Polyidus’ staff struck the side of his head so hard that he crumpled to the ground.
Immediately, the other guard grabbed the seer from behind, and just as he drew his dagger high above his head, he felt the full force of the pommel of Philonoe’s sword on the side of his head. He fell like a stone upon the paving slabs of the corridor and both Philonoe and Polyidus stepped over the guards to rush away.
“You must take your horse from the stables, my lady. I have asked the stable boy to have it ready. Ride as quickly as you can. Most of the palace guards have gone to intercept Bellerophon.”
“But what can I do, Polyidus?” There was fear in her voice, for she was suddenly swept up in her father’s betrayal, the only person who could help Bellerophon.
“You are your mother’s daughter, Princess. You are the rightful ruler of Lykia. The Gods will guide you!”
She nodded, her heart beating wildly within her chest. “Thank you, Polyidus!” she said, and then rushed down the corridor as quickly as she could before anyone else spotted her.
“Now…” Polyidus said to himself. “To the king.”
Bellerophon had never felt so strong as he did that morning, soaring through the skies upon Pegasus’ back as the sun shone brightly over the mountains, rivers, forests and fields of Lykia. He knew that the Gods were indeed on his side. He also knew at last that he was not alone in the world, that there were those who had believed him, Polyidus, Milyas, and most of all, Philonoe.
The princess had been unwavering in her belief in him, and had shown him every kindness, and as he looked down to see the battle-axe charm hanging from his neck, he knew that he would do anything for her. He wanted to spend the entirety of his life with her, he knew that now, and he wished with all of his heart that she wanted the same. The king had promised the hand of his daughter to Bellerophon, should he succeed in slaying the Chimera, but Bellerophon would not accept it unless it was her will.
Pegasus and Bellerophon followed the line of the river south, soaring high over the city of Xanthos where the sounds of laughter and song rose up to greet them.
Bellerophon strained to see if the princess stood upon her terrace of the palace, and could not see her, hoped that she was safe.
Once again, the warnings of Athena and the Amazon queen came to mind. King Iobates is not to be trusted! This thought tempered his feelings of triumph, for he knew that somehow, the battle was not yet over. “There is the olive grove, Pegasus,” Bellerophon said, as the stallion circled lower and lower to land among the silver-green hectares of trees.
When they landed, Bellerophon slid off of Pegasus’ back, the satchel over his shoulder, he stopped to listen to the whirr of cicadas in the trees but nothing else.
Pegasus stomped the dusty ground and cocked his ears.
“Something’s not right,” Bellerophon said as he walked forward in the direction of the altar of Athena.
When they reached the altar, Bellerophon set the satchel upon the ground and removed his helmet which he placed upon the altar.
“Oh Bright-Eyed, Goddess… Thank you for guarding me in my trials, for guiding me through this life, to this point in time. I know now that it was always you who helped me.” He then pulled the sword from its sheath and laid it upon the altar with the helmet. “Please accept my offerings in gratitude for my victory. I will accept whatever comes next, for I have lived longer than I ever expected to.”
Pegasus suddenly reared and flapped his great wings, shuddering the branches of the nearby trees and causing their green fruit to fall to the ground all about them.
Bellerophon, his head still bent as he leaned upon the altar, heard the tramp of hobnailed sandals and knew that the king had no intention of keeping his word. He turned to Pegasus. “It is time for you to go, Pegasus. Fly and live.” He waved his hands, but the stallion refused to move and, instead, stepped in front of Bellerophon as King Iobates’ soldiers arrayed themselves before him, their shields up, their spears levelled.
Bellerophon stepped forward, no weapon in hand, only his heavy satchel slung over his shoulder.
The troops looked in awe upon the winged stallion. He towered over the Corinthian whose gorgon-headed breastplate seemed to glow and move in the daylight.
From out of the group, Captain Milyas stepped to face Bellerophon. “Welcome back!” the captain said, his eyes looking to either side at his men. “Were you victorious? Did you slay the beast?”
Bellerophon walked toward the captain, Pegasus right at his shoulder. “The Chimera will no longer torment this kingdom.”
Milyas sighed and looked relieved, nodding slowly. “Then you have done what no one thought possible.”
“He’s lying!” one of the troops yelled behind Milyas.
“Kill him!” cried another. “It’s the king’s command!”
“He dies, or we all die!” said a third, Milyas’ second-in-command.
Milyas quickly drew his sword and turned on his men. “The king lies!” he shouted at them, but instead of backing down, they growled, and grew angry, thinking the captain to have been corrupted by the foreigner.
“I’m with you, Bellerophon,” Milyas said. “To the end!”
“Bellerophon turned and was about to take his sword off of the altar when the sound of galloping approached and a voice rang out in the olive grove.
“STOP!!!”
A brown stallion with a deep black mane pounded into their midst, between the battle lines, and when the dust cleared, Princess Philonoe came into view, her long red hair like fire in the sunlight and a gleaming sword in her hand.
“I command you to put down your arms!” she cried.
“Princess, get out of the way!” yelled the second-in-command, pointing his spear at Bellerophon. “The king has commanded he be slain at once, or that we all should be executed.”
Philonoe looked at Bellerophon and felt her heart filled with love for him, the man who had helped to open her eyes, and who had risked everything for their kingdom. She then turned in her saddle and stared down at the battalion of troops.
“Would you slay the man who saved our kingdom? Would you rather risk the Gods’ wrath, over that of my father’s?”
“He is our king, lady!” one soldier said.
“My father…has lied to all of us!” she said. “The Chimera was the Gods’ punishment for his lies and treachery!”
There were murmurs among the men.
“Would you further anger the Gods by slaying a guest in our kingdom?” She could see the men looking doubtful now. “You have been lied to, all of you! Until my father, Lykia was always ruled by a queen. My mother was the last queen, and she was betrayed by my father.” She could feel the tears beginning to sting her eyes as she said the words aloud to the men, but she forced herself not to let them fall. “I will set things right, and make our kingdom great again! Will you join me, your rightful queen? Will you help me?”
The men looked at each other, then up at the princess they had always seen wandering the corridors of the palace, quiet, protected, for she now looked like a warrior herself, sat atop a stomping horse, sword in hand.
Bellerophon smiled, awe-struck by her courage. She is her mother’s daughter, he thought.
One by one, Philonoe watched as the men lowered their spears and knelt before her.
For you, Mother, she thought. I will make things right again.
Captain Milyas stepped forward to look up at Philonoe. “Well done, my lady,” he said, his face beaming with pride.
“Thank you for your loyalty, Captain,” she said.
“What about the king?” he asked.
“Take the men to the road and wait for me. You will all enter the city with me and Bellerophon. Then…then we will go to my father.”
“Yes…my queen…” he said, bowing low.
When the men had marched off to wait for them, Philonoe dismounted and rushed into Bellerophon’s arms, her lips pressed to his, her hands holding his face so that she could look upon him and burn his image into her mind.
“I thought I would never see you again!” she said as they held each other.
“I thought so too,” he replied. “I almost did die,” he added as he removed the charm from about his neck. “This belongs to you.”
But she held his hand and pressed the charm to his chest. “It is yours…as I am yours…and you are mine, if that is your wish.”
“So long as you want me, Philonoe, my heart is yours.”
They kissed again, softly, happily, but after a moment, Bellerophon felt a nudge at his shoulder and turned to see Pegasus.
Philonoe looked in awe upon the son of Poseidon and reached up to stroke his forehead and jaw. “Pegasus…” she said. “Thank you.” She smiled, but then that smile faded, for she knew that the battle was not yet over. “It is time to go,” she said. “Will you both come with me?”
“We won’t leave your side,” Bellerophon answered.
They mounted up, and rode through the sun-drenched olive grove to where the troops were waiting for their queen.
It was something out of a dream for the people of Xanthos. The Lykians had lived in fear for so very long, that it felt strange to celebrate, to sing, and to dance. Many wondered if it was a trick of the Gods’ making, something to lure them into a false sense of peace and of hope.
However, when their princess entered the gates of the city at the head of a small army with the Corinthian and Pegasus himself at her side, they knew a new day was dawning for Lykia, and as she passed, they felt the sun full upon their faces at last.
Philonoe rode upon her stallion at the head, a sword in her hand, her sandalled feet coaxing the animal forward as she looked upon the faces of her long-suffering people. She was, however, not smiling, for the closer they got to the palace - no matter how many flower petals fell upon her hair and the ground below - the more she wondered what she would say to her father.
He has lied to all of us, she thought. But I do not wish his death.
“Are you all right, Princess?” Bellerophon asked as he and Pegasus drew even with her.
“My father will not easily step aside.”
“Then you will convince him,” Bellerophon smiled.
The tramp of the troops’ feet behind them grew louder as the street narrowed and they passed into the markets and turned toward the great, double-gates of the palace complex.
The guards at the gates stared with wide eyes at the approaching princess and her force, their spears up.
“Open the gates!” Captain Milyas stepped forward. “Princess Philonoe returns!”
Without question, their eyes upon the Corinthian, the winged horse, and their sword-wielding princess, the men quickly turned, pounded on the gate and yelled to the men on the other side to open up.
The great doors creaked open and they all marched into the court.
Philonoe dismounted, as did Bellerophon and together they turned to face Captain Milyas and the men.
“We go now to the megaron where my father, no doubt, has already had word of our arrival. If he orders your comrades to fight you, I want no killing if it can be avoided. And I want my father unharmed!”
“Yes, my queen!” Milyas shouted, and the men echoed his words, for he had told them the truth of what had happened to their kingdom, and it had spread quickly among their ranks.
“Follow me!” she said, and together with Bellerophon and Pegasus, they made their way to the megaron.
King Iobates sat upon his throne, his fists working its arms as his courtiers and advisors stood about him, murmuring, wondering what they would do. They had heard of the princess’ approach, of the Corinthian’s victory, and of the turning of the troops.
“They will slaughter us all!” one courtier with a long, oiled black beard said, the golden beads set in it jingling as he shook his head back and forth.
“We must leave at once!” said another. “Take ship for Phoenicia!”
“SILENCE!” the king shouted, and as the voices died down, the sound of marching could be heard, nearer and nearer, until finally the propylon doors swung open and Philonoe entered with Bellerophon and the others at her side. By the Gods! The king thought when he saw Pegasus at Bellerophon’s shoulder, like a loyal hound at his master’s heal. Olympus has turned against me.
“Daughter!” the king said suddenly, unable to help the anger in his voice, especially when he saw the sword in her hand, the sword with which Pasandra had first fought his mother’s armies. “What is the meaning of this?”
A hush fell over the crowd as the troops settled around the fringes of the megaron, behind the trembling courtiers.
“You’ve taken over my men? My army?” Iobates said accusingly.
“They are Lykia’s army, Father,” Philonoe said, stepping from between Pegasus and Bellerophon. She could feel her heart beating wildly in her chest, so much that it made her dizzy, but she held fast to her courage and the memory of her mother. Others had risked much to get her to this point in time, and now it was her turn. “I know the truth, Father. I know everything about my mother, about why the Chimera came to torment Lykia, and about your role in all of it.” Philonoe tore her eyes from her father’s form atop the throne, and looked at the people about her. “My mother was an Amazon, one of their greatest warriors, and he sent her to her death against the Solymi! She was your rightful queen, destined by the laws of this ancient land, and the Gods, to rule and bring peace to Lykia. Instead,” she turned back to her father, “the king took the throne for himself, despite the sacred law. That is why the beast came to Lykia! That is why the Gods have punished us all for so long!”
Philonoe could feel her anger rising, blinding her to the man before her, a man she felt certain still had some reason within for all that he had done.
“Do you actually believe the lies that this Corinthian has told you, Daughter? He has been shunned all of his life by all who have met him, even by his own family! He is a liar, an abuser of women, and a murderer! Would you take his word over mine? I am your father!”
The sword in Philonoe’s hand rose up to point at the king. “Stop!” she yelled. “No more lies, Father! The Gods brought Bellerophon to us to help us. Olympus knows his worth, his honesty, and so do I!” She looked at Bellerophon. “He has proven himself innocent by completing all of the tasks you set him, with the Gods as your witness.”
“How do we know he actually slew the Chimera?” Iobates demanded.
With a look at Philonoe, Bellerophon stepped forward for all to see, the heavy satchel hanging from his shoulder.
Pegasus stepped forward too, unafraid among so many men, determined not to leave Bellerophon’s side.
The courtiers backed away, afraid and curious all at once as Bellerophon held up the satchel and turned it over.
“The Chimera is slain!” Bellerophon yelled as a set of claws, two curved horns and a set of bloody fangs fell onto the ornate floor of the megaron. “We fought in the mountains, among the spewing fires before its lair. Before the Gods, the beast is slain… And I am innocent of the crimes I have been accused of!”
Many of the courtiers began to weep, for they now knew that the beast was no more, that they need no longer live in terror of fire and death.
King Iobates looked at the grisly remnants of the beast, at Bellerophon, Pegasus, and at his daughter. I am defeated, he told himself, resignedly.
Philonoe stepped forward to face her father, her mother’s sword hanging by her side. “Father, you have defied the Gods’ laws, and flouted those of Xenia. You cannot be king any longer.”
“Will you kill me then? Your own father?”
Philonoe looked hurt that he could think such a thing, but then, she realized he had not really made any attempt to know her in that life. He had been too overcome with guilt and lying to be concerned about anyone but himself. He is still my father…once loved by my mother… “No, I will not have you killed. I will not lose another parent. But you must step down. Ask the Gods for forgiveness…” She turned to Bellerophon. “And honour the promises you made to Bellerophon of Corinthos for all that he has done for our kingdom.”
The king was silent as he looked upon his daughter, and as he stared into the flames of the hearth between them. The shame that seeped through his veins then was intense, and he could feel the anger of Zeus all around him. Gods, forgive me, Iobates pleaded in his heart. He turned to Polyidus beside him, for the seer had been silent the entire time. “Polyidus… You have been loyal these many years. What do the Gods advise?”
Polyidus turned his head toward the king. “My lord… I told you that Bellerophon was the one destined to help us, and he has. Olympus demands that you step down, or else face the wrath of Zeus.”
Iobates nodded, and it was then that he removed the golden circlet from around his head, turned, and placed it upon the throne. He then descended the steps and went to Philonoe and Bellerophon.
“I did love Pasandra…” he said, “but I could never live up to her. I regret my actions every day of this life.” He looked into his daughter’s eyes, so like her mother’s, and a tear fell down his cheek. “I am sorry,” he said, and Philonoe knew that he meant it.
Iobates then turned to Bellerophon. “Bellerophon of Corinthos…” he said aloud for all to hear. “You have proved your innocence!”
There were cheers from Milyas and the troops around the room. “You have honoured your word, and now, I shall honour mine. My last act as king is to welcome you as a Lykian and to give you the hand of my daughter if she desires it. May you be a more worthy husband than ever I was.” He turned to Philonoe then, his eyes glossy as he looked upon her. “Is this what you desire, Daughter?”
Philonoe looked upon Bellerophon and a smile spanned her face. “Yes, it is.”
Iobates then reached out to take each of their hands and clasped them together. “May the Gods bless your union, and bless this kingdom from now on.”
There was great applause around the megaron then as Philonoe and Bellerophon embraced before all the court and the troops.
In the midst of all that was happening, Iobates slipped out the back entrance of the megaron, leaning over to speak with Polyidus before making his exit.
“Farewell, Polyidus,” Iobates whispered before disappearing.
The seer felt a chill running up his body, but so great were the events unfolding before him, that he did not pursue the former king. Instead he turned in his seat to fumble for the crown. “Princess Philonoe!” Polyidus cried aloud.
All eyes turned toward him and the vacant throne.
“Go, Philonoe,” Bellerophon said, squeezing her hand. “Take your rightful place.”
Philonoe laid her hand upon his armoured chest and turned, her mother’s sword still in her hand. She mounted the steps of the dais and turned to face the court and her loyal troops.
Polyidus shuffled behind her with the glinting crown held aloft, and then slowly lowered it upon her fiery brow. “I give you Queen Philonoe!”
“QUEEN PHILONOE!” the crowd roared, and every man and woman, soldier, noble, and slave, bowed.
Bellerophon too bowed, and he was proud to do it. They had both fought long and hard in their own ways, to emerge from the shadows where others had placed them. Now, as their eyes locked and love filled their hearts, they knew that the sun shone fully upon them at last.