The
Chariot of Fire
by Amber Workman
Phaethon stood frozen into the spot as the chariot raced
down the road toward him. The fact that he was standing in the middle
of the
road that led to Apollo’s palace had vanished from Phaethon's mind.
However, he didn’t have
to worry
about being run over as the chariot slowed as it came upon him. The
horses were
far bigger than any horse he had seen and their wings looked as if they
were
made of fire. The man in the chariot set his eyes on Phaethon without a
hint of
recognition.
“What is it that you want, boy?” Apollo asked, his voice firm and full
of power.
Phaethon couldn’t remember why he was here. It was as if his mind had
been
melted by the sheer fact that the god of the sun was standing before
him.
“You are Apollo,” Phaethon finally gasped as if he had only just
realized it.
Apollo’s laugh boomed around the valley making the sheep all look up to
see.
“Yes, I am. Who are you?” the god asked, making Phaethon nearly trip
over
himself as all the memories came flooding back: the young men who
teased him of
who his father, his mother finally telling him who it was, the
sunflower, the
cypress tree, and the little lamb.
“I am Phaethon. Your son,” he answered now smiling as big as he could.
“Who is your mother? I have many children. You have to be specific.”
“Clymene. She is a nymph,” Phaethon sighed, now feeling like maybe this
wasn’t
such a good idea. If Apollo acted as if he was just another result of
his
conquests with women, he really didn’t want to get to know him better.
“Clymene. Oh yes, I remember her. You have her smile.”
“I came here to ask you a few questions,” Phaethon finally managed to
say as
he watched
the god take a step down off his chariot so he was standing in front of
Phaethon.
“Ask anything and I will tell you truthfully,” Apollo replied, watching
his son
with a new-found interest.
“Why
are you not married to my mother?” Phaethon asked, his
chin high now that he had gained confidence.
“I love too many to be committed to one, Phaethon. My heart is far too
big to
be claimed by one person,” Apollo replied. Phaethon nodded a bit. He
could
understand that, at least Apollo was being honest with him.
“I met Clytie. Do you remember her?”
Apollo’s face turned grim at the mention of her name. “Yes, I remember
her well.
Her heart was tainted with jealousy.”
“Jealousy? Do you believe your heart doesn’t hold any jealousy?”
Phaethon
asked, crossing his arms. Apollo’s lips were painted with his smile as
he
watched a young man who certainly was his.
“The sheep told you of the musician, didn’t they?” Apollo smiled. “Yes,
I took
the skin right off his flesh. He shouldn’t have challenged me.”
“And
you think that is right?” Phaethon nearly yelled, making
Apollo sigh at him.
“I did what I had to do. We made a bet. If you find me so terrible, why
are you
here?”
“Well, I understand why you turned Clytie into a sunflower and I spoke
to
Cyparissus. He was…”
“He
spoke to you? Is he still sad?” Apollo asked, his hand
touching over his heart. Phaethon watched real concern come into
Apollo’s eyes.
“Yes, but he still loves you.”
“He will always love me. I do not doubt this. However, that is the past
and I
do not wish to keep talking of this. I have lost too many tears for too
many
lovers in my life.”
Phaethon looked at the chariot and then at his father.
“If I asked something of you, would you do it
for me?”
“Of course. You are my son. It is my fatherly duty to please my son.”
“Let me drive the chariot. I want to show everyone that you are my
father and
everyone knows only you drive the chariot. I want you to give me the
reins and
prove to me that you aren’t a selfish jerk,” Phaethon said boldly,
making Apollo
sigh.
“You silly child. This is proof of nothing but that you are as stubborn
as me.
You will kill yourself. No one can drive my chariot but me,” Apollo
said,
shaking his head.
“I
am your son! I believe I can do it. You said you would do
anything for your son, so do this for me.”
“But
you will die.,” Apollo pleaded. However, Phaethon was already
getting into
the chariot to drive off. Apollo finally sighed and took a step back
from the
chariot.
“Hold the reins tightly in your hands, son. You have to be strong with
them.”
Phaethon was so excited that he didn’t even listen. He grabbed the
reins and
the horses were gone, flying up into the air with so much strength that
the
young man was suddenly hit with just how bad of an idea this might have
been.
His arms felt like they were coming out of their sockets as the horses
blazed
across the sky. He knew that this wasn’t going to work. He could feel
his body beginning
to feel the effects of going so fast over the earth. Suddenly, the
chariot
rocked and he felt himself falling out.
The ground was miles and miles below him as he started to fall toward
it. He
couldn’t believe this was going to be how his life ended. He had gone
all this
way to find his father and then when he finally found him, now he was
going to
die.
A pair of arms wrapped around his body
right before he hit the ground. He looked up and saw Apollo’s face.
“I know that I have done many things in my life that most would regret,
but
watching my son die because he inherited my stubbornness is something I
cannot
do. I might be selfish but my love always runs true.”
Phaethon looked at his father for a few moments and then wrapped his
arms tightly around the god's neck. He could not find the words that
were flying in his head. He just knew that he had found his father. He
was still not sure how he felt about how Apollo had acted in the past.
The only thing that mattered to Phaethon was that his father had saved
him. It seemed his father was both a lover and a fighter.
Apollo's face (Meaus)
Apollo and Phaethon (Best Price Art)
Phaethon
in the Chariot (Mlahanas)
Author's Note:
So now we have
come to the end of Phaethon’s journey. In the
original myth, Phaethon died because he wanted to prove to everyone
that Apollo
was his father. Since we went on this journey with Phaethon, I couldn’t
kill
him. However, I made it so he nearly dies but Apollo saves him. In all
the
stories that we have read, it was clear that Apollo’s heart was full of
love.
He might have broken many hearts along the way but it was clear that he
did
love many. I think he had many flaws but his love for his many lovers
and family
was solid and true. Phaethon learned about his father along the way so
when he
finally met Apollo, it was such a shock that he wasn’t really sure how
to
approach it. There were so many emotions running through his head. What
if he angered
his father? Would he die the way the musician did that challenged
Apollo to the
music contest? Would his father actually love him even though he has
many, many
children and even more lovers? It was a little traumatic for him
because he had
never left his home before but then he went on this long adventure to
find
where he came from. I believe that Phaethon learned a lot about himself
as well
as he did about his father Apollo.