The Flower of the Sun

“Theoi Helios, bless my day as I watch your chariot raise across the sky” a murmured prayer caught on the breeze and carried to the heavens as a young woman kneeled, staring into the swirling colors of the sunrise. 

Chrysanthe leaned back and tucked her legs beneath her body, watching as the light wind picked up her dress and swirled it around, the sunrise’s light oranges and pinks casting a rose colored hue around her. Helios heard her prayer, smiling as one of his favorite mortals once again praised him. 

When Chrysanthe was a young girl she always watched in amazement as the sun picked itself off of the horizon and made its way across the sky. She had vowed to stay unmarried for the rest of her mortal life, instead spending her time praying and worshipping Helios. This however did not stop many mortal men from pursuing her, much like the young man climbing his way to where Chrysanthe was sitting. She heard him approaching before she saw him and quickly rushed to chastise him,

“For the last time Belen,” She turned her head his way, giving him a dry look before rising from her spot in the grass. “I do not want to marry you.”

“Chrysanthe, If you give me a chance I promise-” She cut him off quickly with a sharp stare,

“When will you realize that no means no?” she quickly sent a silent prayer to Helios, asking for his protection as she brushed past Belen. He jutted his hand out and grasped her arm in a tight grip, 

“Chrysanthe please-” Chrysanthe shakily jerked her arm away from him as she tried to turn, Belen refused to give up and kept holding onto her. 

“Belen please let me go,” a shaky plea escaped her lips and she continued to struggle within his grip. She closed her eyes tightly, praying to Helios, any God, quickly. 

Suddenly the pressure on her arm disappeared, she opened her eyes in time to see Belen scampering away in fear. She stared in confusion until she felt a presence behind her, when she turned none other than Helios himself was standing there, bathed in sunlight and swallowed within deep purple robes. She immediately fell to her knees, bowing in front of the God she had prayed to for so many years. 

She felt a soft hand cup her cheeks, bringing her gaze to eyes that flashed golden, she was speechless staring into the face of her God. 

“Chrysanthe,” she felt her knees go weak with the single uttering of her name from an immortal that she held in such high esteem. Tears escaped her eyes as she started mumbling out thanks to the God that had, in a way, saved her life. Helios smiled at her in turn before helping her to her feet. 

They stayed like that for hours, time seemed to slow as they talked all through the morning. Helios found a weird comfort within the mortal woman and found her companionship to be natural and wonderful. Although initially starstruck, Chrysanthe quickly fell into an easy conversation with the immortal.

“If any mortal man tries to take advantage of you ever again, I promise you that I will be there to protect you.” Helios voiced as he clamoured into his chariot, his purple robes swishing around his feet before stilling. Chrysanthe nodded, not quite trusting her voice before she uttered out a small and heartfelt thank you. 

The next time Helios and Chrysanthe met face to face was once again, on unfavorable circumstances. Instead of the mortal man Belen chasing young Chrysanthe, a new man had entered the picture wishing for her hand in marriage. When Chrysanthe gave a firm no as her answer to the young Ezio he immediately went into a rage. Chrysanthe sprinted in fear from the man, weaving in and out of the trees within the forest situated close to her cottage. With tears streaming down her cheeks and staining her toga a dark color she called out to Helios in her time of need.

Helios watching from the heavens was filled with an immense sadness at the realization he had come to. The only way he could truly protect Chrysanthe was to make her unreachable to everyone within the mortal plane. 

“Let me protect you my love” Helios whispered into the wind, watching as it reached Chrysanthe’s ears and she nodded in affirmation. 

Helios felt his heart beat in a painful melody as he watched Chrysanthe fall to the ground, blooming into a beautiful golden flower that matched her name.

“Live forever within the golden sunflower, my darling Chrysanthe.” Helios murmured into the golden petals.

From that day on Chrysanthe was the sunflower, always facing the direction of the one man she ever truly loved.