Title: Aponoia
Day/Theme: 8th September/"Twin stars"
Series: Greek myth
Character/Pairing: Castor and Pollux
Rating: PG
Notes: Castor and Pollux are the twin sons of Leda and Zeus in Greek mythology. Stories differ on whether they are both sons of Zeus, but Pollux definitely is. They are inseparable, always off adventuring together, and it's because of one of these adventures that Castor is killed. Pollux was inconsolable and prayed to Zeus that his own life should be bartered for Castor's. Zeus took pity on them and – well, their fates differ. Some versions say that they spent alternate days in the Underworld and on Mount Olympus, others that they were placed among the stars as the constellation Gemini.
"My lord," said the boy, tugging at Pollux's sleeve. "My lord."
"What is it?" Castor had not come to find him after the battle. It was always the first thing either of them did. Pollux scanned the field, looking for his twin.
"It is your brother, my lord."
-
Castor had been carefully laid out on the funeral pyre. His face was as calm and serene as it had been in life and Pollux fought the urge to shake him, to break that eternal tranquillity. Horses had loved Castor for his gentleness with them, but Pollux had loved to tease his brother, had loved to see him flush with embarrassment or pleasure or exertion, had loved to watch him put away his dignity for a wrestling match punctuated with tickles and kisses.
Six of their closest comrades-in-arms raised their torches. Pollux wanted to call out no, no, stop, he's only sleeping but the words froze and died in his throat. The torches crashed down onto the pyre, setting it alight and a moment later, Pollux did the same.
I am the son of a god, he thought. Why is Castor dead?
-
He slit the bullock's throat and watched dispassionately as the blood dripped into a golden bowl. Once he was sure it had been drained, he took up his knife again and began to skin the animal and carve the meat from its bones. Pollux gave the meat to the priests and priestesses and took the rest, flinging them on the altar and dropping to his knees.
O Zeus, my father…
-
"Castor!"
"Pollux!"
Their fingertips touched and then Pollux caught his twin in his arms, clinging to him and weeping freely. Castor's fingers were digging into his back with bruising force and his cheek was warm and wet against Pollux's face.
"Never leave me again, I could not bear it," one of them whispered, and the other agreed with a choking sob.