a fantastical(?) project.

i have always wondered how Leda felt about that event in which Zeus overcame her, and not in the form of a mighty god or a glorious human figure, but in the form of a swan—gentle, seemingly innocent, graceful...pure. it is said that he was pretending to flee from an eagle and took shelter in her arms before overwhelming her.

while feeling violated, of course, there is also a bit of awe and wonderment, at being wanted by such a powerful being. she is also awed at why he chose such a form—was it merely to trick her and quickly gain her confidence so that he might "forcefully seduce" her? she realizes, after she found out who had attacked her in such a manner, that as the ruler of the gods, Zeus could have easily overtaken her in any form, and preferably, a stronger, more terrifying one, without any regard to her reactions and the possibility that she might escape. she begins to think that maybe it was the shock and terror at what was happening that made her pause in fighting back, but perhaps it was also a hidden desire that quickly overrode any objections.

with the stained-glass-like memory etched in her mind forever, it has been pondered over and over to the point where her thoughts have been pieced together into an all-thought-encompassing portrait and imprinted on her face. it is innocent enough an image for her husband to not guess at any deeper meaning, although he is quite alarmed as the image slowly waxes in intensity on his wife's face, but each time she goes down the lake, that same spot where it all happened, and she gazes upon her reflection in the water, she is taken back to that night. there is a sort of sadness in her eyes, but it is often mistaken for gentleness and womanly fairness. during the Trojan War, the markings fade away as her thoughts turn to her daughter, Helen, but the image is still there in her mind—a portrait of a memory never soon forgotten.


-d