Storytelling for Week 3: Jason's Guide to Life

(Medea as played by Maria Callas)

She was lovely - a gift straight from Juno, had to be. Jason had never seen a more lovely individual. The other Argonauts told him to beware, to stay away. She was the daughter of the king who held these tests after all, to get the fleece he would have to trick her father. But she was so lovely.

So, Jason was wandering the garden to clear his head. It helped to get away from things a while and just think - hard to do with a beautiful woman in front of you. They were the downfall of many a hero before, and Jason was resolved not to be like them. He had the blessings of Juno herself! He had to be better than those other men.

Of course, plans always went better when the object of temptation didn’t bump right into you, send you sprawling on your back like an idiot, and then blush prettily. By Jove, he was supposed to be avoiding her! This wasn’t working! But being nice never hurt anyone, as his mother often said, and so Jason popped right back up with a sigh and exclaimed, “I’m so sorry miss, here let me help you up.”

Too late he realized what a bad idea this was - her hand was warm and soft in his and Jason never wanted to let go. Plus, pulling someone to their feet generally meant pulling them closer to yourself and the proximity wasn’t doing his resolution any favors. And then Juno was doing that thing again, taking over and putting words in his mouth that he didn’t want to speak, so Jason heard himself begging for help like an idiot and promising marriage in return. Marriage!

Instead of running away like any sensible maiden would, Medea seemed overwhelmed. Jason just knew she was going to start crying and screaming, and he really didn’t need to deal with this right now - thanks ever so much Juno, really - when the princess nodded and agreed.

Jason had to take a moment to absorb that fact. She… agreed?

Apparently, she’d felt Cupid’s pesky, annoying, stupid arrows too, and while knowing what it meant promised to help if he kept his vow.

Well, she was lovely. Plus Jason had no idea how he was getting out of this alive otherwise, so he vowed on every god he could think of and she told him the secrets to succeeding in the three tasks, as well as gave him the herbs he’d need for it. She was beautiful, and conniving, and smart! No one, not that jerk Hercules (who could never be bothered to stick around and help out like a useful person), nor Achilles, nor Perseus, nor any other hero were ever as lucky as he!

Medea left to perform her part of the bargain, and Jason couldn’t help but to watch her go with a stupid grin on his face. Gods above, she was perfect!

“Now didn’t I tell you not to worry, my little hero?” came the warm voice of his goddess.

Jason turned, still unable to get the grin off his face. Juno stood underneath a grove tree, arms crossed and that special smile only he ever saw playing about her lips. “My wonderful Juno,” he breathed in a prayer, “you are truly the most gracious of all heaven’s host.”

Juno’s smile deepened, and she winked one brilliant eye at him. “Make a good husband to her, and your troubles will be few. Hecate's daughter and my blessings will win you a throne.” So stated she faded into the winds, and Jason kept smiling all the way back to his cabin, humming lightly as he offered up libations to mighty Juno.

His mother was right - being kind to women made life easy.

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Notes: So I read Ovid 2 and decided to base this mainly in Jason and the Golden Fleece. I wanted to explore his side of things and just have a bit of fun with the character. I drew in the fact that Jason got started on this road by helping an old woman cross a stream. The old lady turns out to be Juno, and because he helped her out she becomes his champion and basically ensures that Jason gets everything he could ever want. I always interpreted her as the major driving force in the relationship, so I depicted her being in control here (taking over his voice, showing up to give him advice, things like that). It's a much gentler side to Juno than normally seen in Roman mythos, and I liked the odd relationship that developed between these two in this tale. Not bad for a quick little drabble, I'd say.

Bib: Metamorphoses by Ovid (8 AD). Web Source.

Image: Pic of Maria Callas playing Medea in the 1969 adaption of Medea by Pier Paolo Pasolini. Web source.