Neptune's Garden

Neptune’s Garden

I’m not going to lie, my swimming skills are somewhat limited. Breast stroke with my head up, or a bit of freestyle – until I need to breathe, then I’m arms and legs everywhere in a random splashing of water until I’m upright again. For this reason, I could never fathom why I, of all people, was selected to act as witness to the marriage of two demigods – the son of the Greek Goddess Aphrodite and the daughter of the Roman God Neptune. My name is Selena and this is my, rather unusual, story.

It all started when my husband Martin and I booked our holiday in the Greek Islands. Martin was a bit indifferent, he’d rather have been in St Andrews playing golf that week, but I’d always wanted to go, and this was my thirtieth birthday treat.

As it transpired, he’d got talking to some other guests in the bar, and had fixed up a few rounds on a local golf course. That was fine. I was happy on the beach with my kindle, my sunscreen and a bottle of sparkling water.

It’s not that the story I was reading was dull, far from it, but I felt my eyes slowly closing in the heat of the Mediterranean sun. Even closed, the intense light penetrated my eyelids, and I entertained myself watching pinpricks of light flicker in and out, rather like the way the surface of the sea glistens in silver flashes in the sunshine. My mind drifted on that internal ocean as I sunk deeper into a dreamlike haze. Shafts of light pierced the water surrounding me. I should have panicked, but instead I drifted happily watching the fish, and the brightly coloured sea anemones adorning the rocks on the seabed.

It all seemed natural, until before me was a sight that will stay with me forever.

A stunning garden of rocks with an arch, decorated with coral, anemones and bright green seaweed framed two people, quite the most beautiful pair I’d ever seen. The bride in silver, white and green lace, with her golden hair drifting in the current and her eyes like shining emeralds. The bridegroom in a blue tunic that matched the colour of the Mediterranean Sea, setting off his dark skin and near-black curls.

Then came a voice in my head. “Selena, you are here to witness the marriage of Beria and Dallio. As demigods they are the children of both Gods and humans. Their earthly parents have long since gone to dust, but they must have a human witness. You have been selected for this role. Do you agree?”

What could I say but yes?

It was a beautiful ceremony, one I’ll always hold in my heart.

“Wake up Selena,” said Martin, shaking me back to consciousness. “Lets go and get some lunch.”

I snapped out of my reverie and gathered my things, but when I gazed back to the sea – was that two beautiful demigods waving goodbye?