Mythology with a Twist: Perseus and Andromeda

Perseus could not wait to get home and shove Medusa’s head into the King’s face; that would teach him a lesson for thinking him as weak!

Admittedly, he could have never done it on his own; hadn’t it been for Athena, he’d still be trying to figure a way to get to Medusa’s cave.

Not only she had instructed him on how to get to Medusa and kill her, but she had equipped him with all these extraordinary weapons too.

Athena herself had offered him her shield; Hades had provided a helm that turned him invisible at will; Hermes had given him winged sandals. Not to mention he had killed Medusa using Zeus’s sword; how many mortals could claim the same?

The desperate pleas for help coming from somewhere below him, brought him out of his reverie.

He stopped midair and took a good look around; he spotted a girl chained to a rock mid-ocean and some sort of sea monster swimming in circles around the small rock-island she was chained on.

This was not looking good at all.

What could she have possibly done?

He shook his head; whatever it was, she didn’t deserve to die in such a way.

Quickly, he made up his mind. He made a dive, directing himself towards the rock.

“Keep your eyes closed fair maiden.” He called to her and took out Medusa’s head from the satchel he was keeping it in.

Holding it out in front of him as a shield, Perseus landed between the girl and the serpent; instantly it turned to stone. Without even a second thought, he took out his sword and slew the monster for good measure.

He took a deep breath and smiled; it had worked!

Little did they know, but Eros had chosen that particular moment to pay them a visit; at Athena’s request, he’d be keeping an eye on Perseus for some time now, trying to find him a suitable match; this girl, Andromeda, was just right for him. And, in turn, Perseus was the kind of man she deserved.

He took out an arrow, aimed and shot; Perseus first.

“Excuse me,” the girl said, trying to catch his attention, “but could you-?” she asked, pointing at her chained hands.

Perseus turned to look at her and colour rose to his cheeks; in the heat of the moment he had not noticed she was not wearing any clothes.

But that hardly mattered; with or without clothes on, she was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen!

“Oh, er, sure.” He replied, blushing slightly. “Just let me put this away first.”

He collected his satchel from where he had tossed it earlier and tucked Medusa’s head inside. Carelessly, he dropped it back to the ground and made to remove his helmet; Eros smiled. It was Andromeda’s turn now.

Eros’s arrow hit her at the exact moment Perseus was taking off Hades’s helm.

He was sweaty, he had not shaved in a while and his dark hair was mated to his forehead, but Andromeda had never seen anyone looking so handsome before.

They simply stood there, looking stupidly at each other. Eros grinned, obviously pleased with himself. He rose off the ground, and flew off; his work here was done. They’d figure the rest on their own.

“I’ll try to be quick.” Perseus said and closed the distance between them.

“Sorry?” Andromeda said.

“Your chains?”

Andromeda blushed. “Right, sorry.”

“Step back.” Perseus instructed as he raised his sword; had he been using any other sword he’d be worried about hurting her, but not with Zeus’s sword.

He struck on her chains and, in only a matter of seconds, Andromeda was free.

“Thank you.” She said, rubbing her wrists.

“It was nothing.” Perseus replied, dropping his eyes to the ground.

Suddenly, it dawned to him; he knelt to the ground, rummaged through his satchel and fished out his cloak.

“Here.” He said awkwardly as he handed it to her.

Gratefully, she took it and wrapped it around herself.

“So, what did you do exactly to deserve such a punishment?”

“My parents, Cepheus and Cassiopeia are King and Queen of Aethiopia. My mother kept bragging that I was more beautiful that the Nereids, so Poseidon got angry at her and sent this monster against our country. When my father asked the oracle, Apollo said I was to be sacrificed.”

“Can’t say I blame her.” Perseus said under his breath, but Andromeda had heard him; she flushed scarlet.

Perseus noticed, and he, too, blushed in turn.

“Now, you’ve told me your story,” he said, trying to change the subject, “but you have not given me your name yet.”

“Andromeda.” She replied. “And yours? I think I am entitled to know the name of my savior.”

“I am Perseus, milady; at your service.”

She blushed again.

“And talking about services, I think it’s time to take you back to your parents, don’t you agree?”

***

Needless to say, a big feast was thrown in honour of the man who had saved the princess from certain death.

Once the majority of the guests had left, Cepheus asked to be left alone with Perseus in his throne room, so they could talk.

“Now, kind stranger, you’ve saved my daughter from a horrible fate, and for that I will be eternally grateful. I shall grant you anything you ask me for.”

“My lord; there is only one thing I want.”

“Go on.” Cepheus urged.

“I want to make your daughter my wife.”

“I…”

“You’ve said I could ask for anything.” Perseus insisted.

“I am sorry, lad, but she’s already promised to someone else.”

“Pardon me my lord, but where was he, when that monster was about to eat her alive? Shouldn’t he at least attempt to save her?”

Cepheus fell silent and thought things through. Perseus was right.

“You may marry Andromeda.” He said finally. “On the condition she agrees to marry you.”

“Fair enough.” Perseus responded.

“Very well then.” Cepheus said and stood. “I’ll be back shortly.”

Perseus nodded; he couldn’t wait!

***

Cepheus knocked on his daughter’s door and shortly afterwards, his wife answered.

He smiled; he knew he’d find them both here.

“Cepheus, what’s the matter?”

He stepped inside and closed the door behind him.

“Perseus has named his price.” He said.

“And?” Cassiopeia asked. “What did he ask for?”

“He wishes to marry Andromeda; if she agrees of course.”

Andromeda perked up upon hearing those words; she had been afraid they’d make her marry that old goat he’d been after her for ages now.

“But what about Phineus?”

“I will deal with him.” Cepheus said calmly. “If he cared for Andromeda, he would have at least tried to save her; he has no right to speak. So, my dear child, what do you think?”

Andromeda was elated, but tried really hard to keep her composure. “He saved me from that monster, so my life is his anyway; of course I will marry him.”

“Very well then.” Cepheus said, obviously pleased. “I will let him know and we can start with the preparations in the morning.”

“Yes, father.” Andromeda said obediently.

“Don’t stay up too long.” He advised and moved to the door.

Cassiopeia shook her head at how naïve her husband was. Did he really expect that their daughter would prefer to marry a man twice her age, when she could marry a man young and strong? And handsome too!

“Well done.” She said approvingly and winked at her daughter.

Andromeda blushed to the roots of her hair. “I am sure I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Sure you don’t.” Cassiopeia said and moved to the door. “Sleep tight.”

***

Perseus couldn’t sleep. He jumped to his feet, got dressed and made his way to the garden.

He wandered aimlessly for a bit, but he didn’t mind. It was such a beautiful night; the moon was so bright and it was almost as if the stars were sparkling tonight.

He could hardly contain his excitement. A couple more days and he would be married to Andromeda.

Perseus chuckled. A few weeks back, he set out to kill Medusa; how in Gaia’s name did he manage to find himself a wife in the process too?

“Hi.” Andromeda said, suddenly appearing next to him out of thin air.

“Hi.” He said back. “You’ve startled me.”

“What were you thinking about?”

“You.” Perseus said boldly, making her blush.

“What about me?” She asked, but Perseus did not reply; he was looking at her in a way that excited her beyond words.

Before she had time to react, he had taken her in his arms and was kissing her; it only took her a few moments to follow his lead and kiss him back.

“I should go back inside.” She said breathlessly once they broke apart.

“Wait.” Perseus said and grabbed for her hand.

“What? Someone might see us.” She protested half-heartedly.

“These couple of days will seem like an eternity.”

Andromeda gave him a wide smile. Perseus smiled back and dropped her hand.

“We’ll manage.” She said and turned around to leave.

“Just barely!” Perseus called after her.

She grinned; her thoughts exactly.