|
|
Post by Demetra on Mar 20, 2007 18:18:08 GMT -5
Her heart was racing, her lungs hurting, her entire body sore, but she had made it. She had ran from her custody, and had made it, back into her native Sparta, into Krypteia. And, because of the Agoge, someone was bound to be out here. The Friesian beneath her moved slowly, large feet padding over the terrain about her, which was turning slowly into a dense forest.
Demetra pet the horse's nek softly, hoping someone, anyone would find her. She doubted Xerxes had noticed she was gone yet, but when he did, he would probably be after her. She was so tired, she had been riding for almost three days, none stop. Good thing the horse had as much stamana as it did or she would have been in trouble. Night was falling, she could tell by the dark orange beginning to streak through the trees.
She was slowly losing grip on everything, her muscles hurt, and the slash she had recieved a few days before across her back was beginning to set in. The bloodloss was making her dizzy delirious. As night set in, she lost control of her muscles and slid sideways in the saddle. The horse abruptly stopped and Demetra met the hard ground with a painful thud. Her back and shoulders hit hard, then her head. She moaned, pain streaking harshly through her body, letting one hand rest across her stomach. She couldn't get up, each breath hurting her chest. Now her only hope now was that someone would find her.
|
|
|
|
Post by Lyle on Mar 20, 2007 21:50:12 GMT -5
The Captain cursed the sun high above, its incredible mass beaming down upon him like the enemy lines of long ago.. which he oddly remembered on this day, of all days. He cringed with the whip of a distant wind, its power circling him like a pack of wolves, waiting for the man to break, waiting for the beast to set in. A cloud did, instead, and the breeze passed by with a refreshing sweep, Artemis thanking the gods for doing their part to help him on his journey. And what of that.. quest? Could one call such a trivial thing it was, right? Another wind swung in, lingering a moment longer than the past, unnerving the man on horse back. The black steed under him bucked slightly, unsure of where to head, or where to return. With a steady hand the aging man drew back a few restless hairs, looking high and then low, though finding nothing that suited him. Was this age? Was this it? He thought he heard what was like a cry, though his own mind was miles away, attempting to coax out whatever had brought him here in the first place. The cry grew louder, and the hummed, like a wounded animal.
Beneath him, something else hummed, his body telling him it needed food, and nothing more. Such a simple thing, though he would have nothing of it. Once he'd gone weeks without food, and fought everyday.. when he was a young, foolish warrior. Now, today, he was even more foolish.. a smile crossed his face as he thought of himself and his predicament. Yet again, the sound hummed once more.. death certain. And indeed did he see the skies darken and the wind wisp up again, the land itself parting ways to lead down down, to what one could only believe to be Hell. The captain found a hill, where he gazed with his glossy eyes, looking for companionship, or to make peace with his stomach. He found neither, but a horse and what appeared as a fallen man, or woman. A moment later he was upon the ground, edging his way to the soul. "Speak if you still remain with this world," calmly spoke the captain, unsure of what was to come of this most fateful meeting. What was left of the woman moaned yet again, and the warrior was on her in a second, attempting to give aid. His calm voice spoke as he attempted to giver her a small amount of water, taking her head within his hand and tilting. "Please, fade no more, it is wonder that I come by you, it is fate that I am here to save you." He waited for the beaten woman to act.
|
|
|
|
Post by Demetra on Mar 21, 2007 7:36:00 GMT -5
Demetra could only sense a presence nearby, and she did not dare to open her eyes, afraid it may be one of Xerxes's centries. The horse she had been riding knickered softly, and she tried to sit up, keep her Spartan demenor, but it caused a moment of intense pain to flow through her entire form. Had she been stronger, she would have continued, but the stroke left her weak and she lay back down, moaning softly as another throb of pain passed through her form.
She heard whoever it was dismount from his horse and come to her aid. She dared, only slightly, to open big, beautiful blue eyes to look at the man. Relief swept through her, she recognized the man; King Leonidas's Captain. What was his name, Aramius? Artemis, that was it, Artemis. As he offered her water, she gladly accepted, and let it hydrate her dry throat.
"Please, fade no more, it is wonder that I come by you, it is fate that I am here to save you."
She dared a small smile, then spoke. "Fate has brought me a man of my homeland. Forgive me Captain, my demenor does not suggest my name. I am Demetra, daughter of Stelios and Thalia. I was abducted a sold to Xerxes almost a month ago." She explained, her usually strong voice weak wsith pain and exaustion.
|
|
|
|
Post by Lyle on Apr 9, 2007 19:37:49 GMT -5
The captain contemplated, wondering if she was truly lost, and that the sun.. and her situation had done this to her. Deciding that it mattered not, he smile warmly to her, allowing her to sip more water gently as he held her gently, pulling her up slightly after resting. He needed her moving, as she did appear to be a slave.. and Xeres would surely have her dead.. alive now, but only for a while. Could it be said she was already dead? The Captain looked with a firm face to the winds, looking for the tell tale sign. But nothing would speak to him about such a subject, he sighed, and spoke to the girl in a pleasant tone, "My lady, possibly you have saved me, for long have I wasted away in these lands.. waiting to find another of my land. Home has come to me yet again, the bitter cold of this journey I've taken gone with the distant wind... I will take you to Sparta immediately, and upon later we will speak of your dire situation. Rest for now."
The captain took his cape and wrapped the girl up quickly, preventing the whipping winds from doing any further damage. Next they were off, a leisure pace to rock the woman into sleep as the captain lead the group, her horse tied to his own. With ever distant eyes, he gazed far out, looking for food, rather meat.. Behind him, the woman sleeping, tied to her horse and nearly bent down upon its back. They'd make the safe journey back home, neither alone anymore.
|
|
|
|
Post by Demetra on Apr 9, 2007 19:54:42 GMT -5
"My lady, possibly you have saved me, for long have I wasted away in these lands.. waiting to find another of my land. Home has come to me yet again, the bitter cold of this journey I've taken gone with the distant wind... I will take you to Sparta immediately, and upon later we will speak of your dire situation. Rest for now."
Smiling thankfully, Demetra tried to stay away, but quickly was out, exaustion overtaking her mind. She did not feel him put her on the horse or them begin their way home, but when she awoke, they had traveled quite a distance.
|
|
|
|
Post by Lyle on Apr 11, 2007 16:40:37 GMT -5
The captain noticed her state after looking back, finding the lady quite lovely, though certainly weak. He remembered his family, taking a knife from his side and cutting the fruit in his hand in two. The blade sliced through the pear like object without a second thought, ripping through the earth's goods.. ripping through life itself. And lead by strong hands, that were adjusted for war, and with a blade in hand could wage war like a conductor works his band. Truly, both could make masterpieces. War was sparse it seemed as of late, and this was fine by the aging Artemis, who lived more for the simplicity of life, and his family as of late. A sound ripped through the air, as the Captain pulled the final reluctant attached pieces of the pear into shreds, taking in one hand his knife and already bitten into piece, the other passing back to the lady, who he spoke to, "Lady Demetra, take this please, but a piece of fruit it seems, but in times of salvation it will surely take the place of better substitutes. And you must gain strength."
|
|
|
|
Post by Demetra on Apr 11, 2007 16:54:20 GMT -5
The young woman took it from him without question and bit into it with hesitant teeth, the taste of food upon her tongue more like a curse on her weak body than a blessing. But she ate it, only because she knew she needed the strength before gathering her horse's reins in her hands. "I will be fine to handle my own horse." She said, her smile soft as she gathered the reins in experienced hands.
((short, sorry))
|
|
|
|
Post by Lyle on Apr 12, 2007 21:37:29 GMT -5
'Spartan women,' silently spoke the Captain as he smiled, turning back the front, their journey going mile by mile, as he kicked up his pace, tempting the girl. She would surely do the same, if she truly knew her way with such things. Though, it seemed that all Spartans knew how to wage, carry out and begin wars.. but could the end the source of all evil? Artemis remembered a high up woman in the court, who had told him that a Spartan was a tool of war only, and that there was no peace for Sparta. He said nothing at the time, but how had he wished now that indeed, words had graced from his mouth. Yet silent he was, like a good Captain, like a good Spartan. He wondered if it was a problem with courage. Could consequences even phase his pride? These questions, they thinned his mind. Gazing back, he thought he heard something from the girl, but considered it nothing and turned back, looking out yonder. Waiting for the gates of Sparta to show themselves.
|
|
|
|
Post by Demetra on Apr 12, 2007 21:54:40 GMT -5
As he kicked up the pace, the Spartan woman let the horse move at it's own, which was to catch up to the other horse. She looked along the ground beside her and the Friesian. Her mind began to wonder. Would the Spartan people welcome her back as priestess? Would they believe Xerxes hadn't touched her? Would they welcome her back at all? The thoughts stuck in her head, and she began to feel sick all of a sudden.
She coughed slightly, but ignored the suck feeling, and made her eyes stay focused.
|
|
|
|
Post by Lyle on Apr 13, 2007 18:57:52 GMT -5
And there, it was. The woman coughed later in their journey, causing the captain to swivel round on his horse, taking caution to her state. His body rounded the beast's back like a true pro, as he was very adept in horse maneuvers, his battle hardened tactics, in both the heat of a clash and in a bout with another warrior taking to affect. He almost wished too, that he'd fallen off his horse. The captain was changing, he noted, the captain within him was claiming something different ideal than what was normally taken greedily. It would be more courageous to stand and wait, then to run into their trenches, their cities, their palaces, their hearts. As they moved toward the palace, through the city with all the eyes gazing upon the pair, the captain looked highly up to the sun.. an omen hanging from the sky..
He'd turned and offered the lady but a smile from before, his eternal gaze rewarding only to a few people. Again, he wondered of family, and wondered what would come of this girl. Would a Spartan be able to accept something different, after it'd entered its door yet again? In fact, the Spartan people were taught the ways of a recurring feeling, king and journey.. Could they fathom this girl's distress... or even possible ol' Artemis's? Neither would be the same after this, but one would vow to keep the other from harms way, with his blade. He vowed to protect the people, he would protect each and every one.. and possibly this one a good bit more than the others.
They entered the palace, and Artemis walked forth with the girl.
((Demetra.. I'm not sure where to post in the capital, so if you could make a thread, or tell me a thread to post in that you'd like to get involved with?))
|
|
