With the Strength of Lions - Master Post (Sparta Verse)

[lovesrain44]

Title: With the Strength of Lions

Author: lovesrain44

Rating: PG, Gen, violence, angst, hurt, but not a whole lot of comfort

Verse: Sparta Verse

Pairing: None

Word Count: 17,652

Summary: Since it’s been so hot, Dad finally takes Sam and Dean to the river for a little fishing trip. This makes Sam feel a little bit better for not being able to play soccer, but not a whole lot because it’s still the summer from hell. This story is a sequel to The Gauntlet

Master Fic Post
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3


Author's Notes:

I've found that  keeping the Summer From Hell going like it should is a little harder than I had thought it would be. I'm often tempted to let Sam reach out for comfort, and for John to respond. I'm sure they both want to, and I'm sure Dean would really appreciate a cease fire right about now. The first draft of this story, and even the second one, had that, had John being kind and Sam responding like a 12 or 13 year old would, with a little bit of resistance, but actually, in his heart of hearts, welcoming the kindness. Then I realize I couldn't DO that. It wouldn't be right, not to me, nor to Sam. I want to respect what he's going through and that means not diminishing it in any way. So, cut, cut, cut, and away goes nice John and easy going Sam.

Let the beatings continue!!!

Here is a picture of the cover of the book that Sam tried to memorize.




Here is a picture of the De Soto falls, which are only a mile from the location of the cabin.




Here are some youtube.com links for images of the river in flood.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LY91AtKwa_A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDbWFkPWufQ&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LK0xGfWoXeI&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaqWenVwalo&feature=related

http://www.newschannel9.com/sections/slideshow/?id=1152363

 

Comments

[debbiel66.livejournal.com]

Can I just tell you how very, very happy this posting has made me? Cannot wait to read this.

Thank you! &hearts

[lovesrain44.livejournal.com]

Yeah! You are more than welcome, and I hope you enjoy. : D

[kassidy62.livejournal.com]

oh Deb, you love this verse, too? I am SO HAPPY IT'S POSTED:)

[debbiel66.livejournal.com]

I do love this verse...dearly. This sounds kind of goofy but I wasn't sure where to leave my comment now that I've read the story. It said to comment on dreamwidth, using open ID, but I wasn't sure about that.

So here I go - loved this story! Loved the hints of despair and terror and tenderness we can glimpse in John even through Sam's little kid POV. I think this verse is one of the best uses of an adolescent POV I've read. Sam is trying to make sense of his world, while we try to see beyond Sam.

Really tragic the way those two never quite connected. Please say that the Sparta summer will be endless. Not great for Sam, but I don't want this to be the end. Selfish, I know.

[lovesrain44.livejournal.com]

I should actually take that comment off of my dreamwidth, as I don't need people to go there to comment especially.

I'm glad you loved the story, thank you! I try to make it fun for me while miserable for Sam. And John. And Dean. And YES, the summer is endless, and oh how the days crawl by. It's the incredibly expanding summer!

[lovesrain44.livejournal.com]

You are sweet to say so.

[keks80.livejournal.com]

Eeee, more Sparta! *flails and saves for bedtime reading*

[lovesrain44.livejournal.com]

Eeeeee! Enjoy!

[kassidy62.livejournal.com]

I am so happy to see this! Can't wait to read it.

[lovesrain44.livejournal.com]

Oh I'm glad! I hope you enjoy it. : D

[bonwriter.livejournal.com]

Another comment from me: Where does the title come from?

Also -- thanks for posting the YouTube links of the river in flood. It really explains why John was as freaked out as he was.

[lovesrain44.livejournal.com]

The title came from a poem I'd read while scrolling the internet. I have the name of the writer on a piece of paper somewhere, and if you knew my house, you'd know what a sad thing that is, because I can't find the paper and it's giving me hives not to be able to state my source. But then I went looking at Sparta stuff, like I sometimes to, the real Sparta, in Greece, and came upon this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonidas_I

Upon receiving a request from the confederated Greek forces to aid in defending Greece against the Persian invasion, Sparta consulted the Oracle at Delphi. The Oracle is said to have made the following prophecy in hexameter verse:[9]

Hear your fate, O dwellers in Sparta of the wide open plains;
Either your famed, great town must be sacked by Perseus' sons,
Or, if that be not, the whole land of Lacedaemon
Shall mourn the death of a king of the house of Heracles,
For not the strength of lions or of bulls shall hold him,
Strength against strength; for he has the power of Zeus,
And will not be checked till one of these two he has consumed.

And, of course, Leonidas was a great king of Sparta, and who in the movie "300" uttered the ever-fun words, "THIS is SPARTA!"

All of this reminded me of the poem, and so that's what I used for the title. The poem has the exact phrase "with the strength of lions" and the stuff about Leonidas echoed that.

Thank you for asking; it's fun to share stuff like this.