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Post by Demetra on Apr 13, 2007 20:16:48 GMT -5
As soon as the two entered the gates, the young Priestess was overcome by nausea and guilt. Instead of going to the palace, which she assumed they would, she spun her horse on it's haunches and took off to a more desolate area where she could gather her nerves. If the people rejected her, she would be killed. The thoughts sent her mind into a vertigo and she pulled the Friesian to a stop in a lone field, dismounting, weakness and nerves making her slightly unsteady so the fell to her knees. Her breathing was deep, to the point of hyperventelation, causing her shoulders to heave with each breath.
What would father say? And mother? These thoughts caused her even more unease as Demetra tried to calm her breathing.
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Post by Lyle on Apr 13, 2007 23:28:04 GMT -5
The Captain twisted his head with the sound of hooves speeding off.. far off. He seemed changed, much more quiet than he'd usually be when walking through the grand, almost golden streets of Sparta. Things that could even outshine the sun, or the people's wishes. Possibly, this was why Kings sought such things with a most uncanny desire. Xeres would come, and Leonidas would defend, simply because he wanted to keep them. Such thoughts were grave however, so Artemis quickly fled the scene, the people starring with and odd disdain as their Captain chased the other rider, the girl. Words strung out, though the people could not hear them from the chaos of the chase, the spur of the moment sense.
They continued on however, the captain no longer calling out for his horse to rush forward, the target in question no longer moving. And she sat down upon the grassy field, the winds whipping at her sides, ripping the very breath from her throat. She craved it, she needed it, the Captain would be damned if she'd die here, and now. His hands shot forward, gently grasping her shoulders as he knelt just before her, eyes deep, words comforting, touch.. loving... "Slowly, slowly young one.." Artemis tried to calm the younger woman, her breathing now mad, her mind surely hysterical. "You run as though we've circled round, and again you are to be fed to the dogs. This is not Xeres's land. This is home. Time may fade, souls may change.. but home is always home. There is nothing like it in the world, as each person takes after their home in their own way. You may not enjoy it, but by the gods, take to it. Come, seize this day, for there are those that weep for your return. Just as they surely heard your prayers, your cries, I beg you to hear their's.. Ride with me, we will reunite with those that can express nothing but love for you, no matter how jaded, hated or scorned you are.." his words were so calming, as he attempted to raise her up, and then back to her idle horse.
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Post by Demetra on Apr 13, 2007 23:38:56 GMT -5
When the man's hands touched her, she shrugged her shoulders in an attempt to get them off her shoulders, just wanting to be alone. She knew Xerxes had never touched her, but by God, would everyone else believe her. She could no longer stop the tears stinging the back of her eyes, and they began to fall. She spoke, her voice harsh and full of tears. "They won't take me back, I know it." She sobbed, shoulders heaving.
She covered her face with her hands, not wanting the stong man to see her cry. Emotions were looked down upon, but she couldn't help it.
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Post by Lyle on Apr 15, 2007 19:20:05 GMT -5
((Suppose I'll send you on your way, first. I hate to leave people hanging.))
Emotion.. how un-spartan. But times changed. The drops of blood no longer diluted the tears of a crying woman, whether mother, sister, daughter or lover. Unfortunate it was that many people shielded themselves from such thoughts and concepts, but in truth, could Sparta remain at its peek with these changing times? Is acceptance not the catalyst of prosperity? Or does it lead to a deeper and more sinister path? The woman snaked away, trying to hide herself, now that she possessed the emotion and power to do so. Artemis felt true pain, unsure if it would be so polite to follow her like a shadow, and give her the prophecies he'd discovered through life, to release upon here grand ideologies, and even grander passion for the world. And yet could he truly sit by her for that long, hanging his head with her and comforting her, while his wife worried far away, and his sons' minds surely thought of revenge for his disappearance. The predicament could simply be asked, does one serve the world, or does one serve thy order?
No matter the answer, it was clear that it would be hard to swallow, and possible leave a bitter after taste for many years to come.
Hardships
Hatred
And the Like
The soul searching was truly tiring the captain, who moved but a step forward, still keeping mind the woman's space, just moving forward to access the situation. Could compassion solve such a problem, could it cure this girls insecurities? Would it be the blade that struck down her fears, could it be the shield that carried her past to the grave, or the horse that lead her hopes to salvation? His voice was quite soft as always, its tone warm, comforting like a crackling fire in the frigid night. And as the flame burned on, all that was left was hope, "Few Persian hands have ever graced Spartan skin, Demetra. You are no simple commoner, either. Elevated you are, even Xeres himself would be weary to cause harm to such a soul. But it is possible he did, as the people will talk in their taverns, in their meetings, in their nightly guard post chats.. In the hands of Xeres, in the hands of a Persian, a Spartan woman is no whore, a Spartan soul is no helpless fool.." The Captain paused, taking a few more steps forward, off to her right, his gaze deep upon the sun as it began to set, a grand picture of vertigo before him. "..Shame upon any Spartan who believes that one of their own could fall as prey to the enchants of a man like Xeres, or any other man or woman in this world.. But also shame will ring high upon any Spartan's head, who could have, but didn't. There is ecstasy upon this hill, in this nation, the feeling of belonging, the feeling of eternity. And you will give up on it so, because you fear that people may or may not dislike you.. Demetra, my lady..... we all exist to tempt the setting sun, to tempt the oncoming tides, to tempt the fates of war.. but we do not live to fade," finished Artemis, who now looked toward the girl, meeting her eyes if she dared show her face. With a nod, and a small grin, he was gone, his cape rustling with the wind, the sounds of his horse already flowing off into the wind..
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Post by Demetra on Apr 16, 2007 7:31:49 GMT -5
Demetra turned her head slightly to watch him leave, and exhaled softly, calming herself before standing and dusting off her knees. The lines where tears had once been were still on her face, but she wiped them away with her sleeve and walked back to her stolen horse. Putting a foot into the stirrup, she pushed her heels into his sides and sent him off towards the palace.
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Post by wowposter on Nov 3, 2008 2:29:38 GMT -5
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