Warrior Princess
Disclaimer: I own nothing that belongs to 300
Alexandria sighed as she sat on the edge of the river that ran through vast fields that surrounded her home land. Moving her fingers gently across the surface, she watched the tiny ripples appear and disperse, allowing the water to still before she once again disturbed the surface. Being at the age of 20, it was odd that she had not a family to take care of, no sons, no daughters, no husband. Being the daughter of the great King Leonidas tended to help with that area as well, she guessed that most suitors feel extremely intimidated, being that the only men that were willing to even talk to her were her father's favourite soilders.
Men could be such big babies.
Then there were other reasons that she felt she was the reason that no man had ever approached her. Alexandria sighed as she looked down at her reflection in the clear, crystalline waters. Long dark brown hair that curled slightly on the ends once it reached her elbows was the only blessing that she could see her Mother had disposed on her. Her bright green eyes she knew was a gift from her father, as well as the intensity that her green eyes could hold when angered or displeased. Other then that, she looked nothing like either of her parents. Her Mother had a thin, well proportioned body, while hers was cubby and looked slightly awkward. Her Mother's and Father's faces was unblemished while Alexandria's face was freckle filled as well as her arms. She would never be the beauty that her mother was. The only thing her and her parent's shared in common was character. She was strong, much like her Mother and Father both were, and even more so strong headed and prideful. Alexandria was an extremely stubborn woman when she felt things should go a certain way, how things should be a certain way. She was just as persistent as her Father, and both her Father and her shared many the same opinions.
So what was stopping her with socializing with the males of the great city of Sparta, stopping her from being like any of woman of Sparta?
Alexandria stood up, brushing off her clothing as she grabbed a rock from the ground, and forcefully threw it into the river at her reflection, causing it to disperse so she could no longer see it.
It was her features, her hideous features.
She frowned as the water once again stilled, her reflection appearing as distorted as before. Sighing she ran her fingers through her hair.
"Excuse me?" A voice suddenly came from behind her, causing her to nearly jump out of her skin as she looked behind her, frowning. He wasn't from around here, that much she could tell as she immediately took in the colour of his darkened skin, which was adorned with many gold dangles and hoops.
"Yes?" Alexandria asked curtly as she continued to frown at the new comer. Something about him put her on edge, something about him made her think that bad news was on the way.
"Where is your city located?" He asked, his accent now breaking through to her thoughts.
"Persian." Alexandria thought with disgust as she backed away from him, instantly cursing herself for not bringing a weapon of any kind with her.
"Why do you need to know?" She asked testily as the man seemed to huff with anger.
"You dare speak to a man that way?" He growled as he took a step towards her, and more men began to appear around her, blocking her path out. Alexandria nearly growled in disgust as she saw this, knowing now that he was too cowardly to come on his own, that he needed servants to protect him.
"Persian coward!" Alexandria exclaimed as she continued to step back, only to feel the point of an arrow at her back, and the Persian messenger at her front. She felt a red hot burning sensation running across her face as her head was whipped to the side, the Persian having hit her. Gasping Alexandria was able to steady herself as she glared up at him, a glare that she knew would have made her Father proud and poise that would have made her Mother proud just the same. She spit into his face and was about to launch herself at him when she felt hands around her waist and a dagger slightly cutting into her neck. Feeling the blood run down her neck she ceased to struggle, and smirked as she watched him wipe the spit off of his face in disgust. Stepping forward he slapped the other side of her cheek, causing her to let out a groan of pain as her knees buckled.
"Bind her, and take her with us. We'll follow the river, that should lead us there." The man stated as Alexandria squirmed, trying to get out of her captors grasp, but only felt the dagger at her throat dig in deeper. The servant behind her held onto her tightly as another grabbed her arms, forcefully wrenching them around behind her to tie up and then using a piece of cloth of gag her as they left her feet untied so she could walk. Shoving her along roughly they led her to their horses where she was unceremoniously thrown onto one, in front of another servant. She rolled her eyes as she heard the servant behind her laugh in a lecherous way, and cringed when she felt his one hand on her thigh. Using what leverage she could she threw her head back into his nose.
The pain in the back of her head paled in comparison to hearing the satisfying crunch of her captors now broken nose.
The servant yelled out in pain as he became unbalanced, and fell off his horse. Using this to her advantage, she kicked the sides of the horse, causing it to take off, and leaving the men to try and catch her.
"I have to find a way to loose them and not lead them to the city!" Alexandria thought urgently as she fought to remain balanced on the stallion, only daring to glance back once and frowned when she saw that they were not in sight. "I couldn't have lost them that easily." She thought worriedly as she glanced forward, back towards her city. "If they aren't following me, then I guess it might be safe to head home." She reasoned as she was able to slow the horse down to a steady gallop, still trying her hardest not to fall off of the horse.
A whole hour later Alexandria had managed to make it back to the front gates of Sparta, tired and trembling as people along the streets gaped at her. Alexandria, in her haze of drowsiness found it difficult to get the horse to stop, as she continued to gallop through near to the centre of the city, until she finally saw three familiar figures in the distance.
"Dilios! Stelios! Astinos!" Alexandria called out weakly through her gag, and she nearly cried in relief when she saw them turn around.
"Princess!" Dilios exclaimed in surprise as he and his fellow comrades ran towards her horse. Astinos and Stelios both grabbed at it's mane to stop it from going any further as Dilios ran over to her side, looking up at her in worry.
"What happened?" Stelios asked in concern, more to himself then to her, as Alexandria wavered dangerously on her horse. Her neck was still bleeding, but some of it had dried up along the path that went down her chest and covered the top fringe of her clothing. Her sides of her face had gone red, with a sure sign of bruising on the way, and she was bound and gagged. Dilios quickly grabbed her around the waist pulling her towards him as he braced himself to let her land against his chest and in his arms. He grunted slightly due to the extra weight, but was able to hold her up nonetheless. Alexandria groaned, her muscles burning with the effort of having to remain still and balanced on the horse, while her hands were still bound behind her. Dilios seemed to notice this as he quickly knelt down to ease her to sit against his one propped up leg on the ground. He took his sword from the sheath at his side, making quick work of the ropes around her wrists and the gag tied around her head.
"Who did this to you?" Dilios asked as he wiped some of the hair that was sticking to her forehead with sweat away.
"Persians, a whole group of them. They wanted to find the city." Alexandria stated, her voice raspy from the dust that had been kicked up during her riding. "I-I think I lost them"
"Someone get us some water!" Stelios yelled as he kneeled beside Dilios, using his one hand to tilt her chin up so he could see the cut along her throat. "My wife should have a look at that." He stated with a frown. Alexandria knew Stelios's wife very well, she was one of the many healers in the city, a fellow healer of Alexandria's, and around the same age as she with a little boy the age of four and a little new born girl. They were best of friends.
"It's not that bad, honest." Alexandria stated as she winced when he pulled her chin up higher.
"You're far too stubborn Alexandria." Dilios stated with a small smirk. "Far too much like your Father." He added as he gently rubbed the back of his hand against the hot skin of her cheek, frowning as she winced again. "There will be bruising."
"Bruises fade." Alexandria once again tried to pull a stiff upper lip as she smiled softly, sitting up straighter. It wasn't that she wasn't great full for his care, it's that his care often times made her feel slightly uncomfortable. She was comfortable with the other men because they were married and had sons. Dilios had a son, but he was no longer married, his wife had died five years prior, while giving birth to his son. Knowing this, that both Dilios and Astinos had no lover in their lives made her uncomfortable because she feared to fall in love, to be rejected. That was probably another reason why she had no love in her life also, the fear of actually being loved. So she wished to feel love, but feared it at the same time.
She felt confused most of the time, especially around Dilios.
"Here, I have water." Stated an elderly lady as she pushed through the crowd that had slowly began to congregate around the area, holding forth a wooden cup. Alexandria smiled and bowed her head thankfully.
"Thank you." She replied as she took a quick drink, offering the rest to a child near by that looked as thirsty, if not more, then her.
"Thank you." The little boy replied meekly as Alexandria smiled.
"You're very welcome, sweetheart." She replied as she smiled softly, watching him run out of the circle with his friends, probably to go and play another round of tag. "So, maybe I should try standing." She stated more so to herself as she began to lift herself up with her arms. Dilios beat her to it though, and stood up before gently taking her hands in his and pulling her up. Alexandria had to suppress a shiver at the feeling of his rough and calloused hands around hers, and she was sure that she was blushing, though she doubted that they could tell with how her cheeks were already red with bruising.
"We should probably find your Father, knowing that he has most likely heard the news." Stelios stated as he looked to Astinos. "Take care of the horse, would you pup?" He asked with a smirk as Astinos rolled his eyes and scowled, complying. "Ah, the kid knows I'm fooling." Stelios stated as he, Dilios and Alexandria began to walk towards the palace. Alexandria laughed slightly as she shook her head.
"Stelios, when are you serious?" She asked as Dilios and Stelios chuckled slightly.
"Never." Dilios answered as he grabbed her elbow when they came to the steps that lead into the courtyard, to make sure she didn't stumble. Alexandria sighed when she saw her Father and Brother fighting in the sand, and her Mother leaning easily against one of the pillars.
"Father isn't going to be happy about this." Alexandria stated as she ran her fingers through her already wild hair, a nervous habit of her's. To this Stelios chuckled slightly.
"I'd be more worried about what your Mother may do then your Father." He replied as Dilios smirked from beside him.
"That's it." Leonidas encouraged Pleistarchos as he squared off against him in the ring. Pleistarchos launched himself at his Father, but Leonidas placed his hand on the boy's forehead, holding him back as Pleistarchos swung madly. "Now, the more you sweat here, the less you bleed in battle." Leonidas continued as Alexandria smiled, remembering the days that her father would teach her of the sword and shield. Of combat and honour.
Of loyalty.
Alexandria silently cheered for Pleistarchos as he grabbed their Father around the leg, trying to take him off balance. Her Mother had yet to notice her presence behind her.
"My father taught me..." Leonidas began as he held onto the boy, fighting for his balance. "...that fear is always constant." Alexandria smiled as she began to repeat what she had heard ever since she was little under her breath with her Father. Beside her Stelios and Dilios smiled slightly as they watched, and listened to Alexandria's low whispers. It was no secret to them, that she always wished to fight along side the men in battle, whether or not her place be there. Her Father had promised her for years until she was older, that she'd be able to go on an adventure with him some time.
Little did she know that, that adventure was to come so soon.
She suddenly felt another's presence come up from beside her, and felt a hand on her shoulder. It was the Captain, and his blue eyes were filled with trouble, even more so when he saw her state. Alexandria shook her head, not wanting to disrupt Pleistarchos' important lesson, and the Captain nodded in understanding, moving up to stand next to her mother, Queen Gorgo.
"But accepting it..." Leonidas continued as Alexandria continued to whisper it under her breath. She smiled slightly when Pleistarchos was flipped onto the ground easily by their Father. "...makes you stronger." He finished as Alexandria heard the Captain greet her Mother.
"My Queen." He greeted as he bowed his head slightly, and Alexandria glanced back towards her Father and Brother as they sat down in the sand, both breathing heavily. "A Persian emissary awaits Leonidas." Alexandria heard the Captain tell her Mother as she felt a rock plummet into her stomach. She shook slightly in realization.
She had lead them here.
She felt a hand on her shoulder, and looked up, seeing Dilios looking at her with concern still as she shook her head.
"In the end..." Leonidas continued as he gazed proudly as his son, still breathing heavily. "a Spartan's true strength is the warrior next to him. So give respect and honour to him, and it will be returned to you." He stated as he glanced up, seeing Gorgo walking towards them. "First you fight with you head." He stated as he dusted his hands off, before grabbing Pleistarchos' head gently, bending over and kissing his forehead.
"Then you fight with your heart." Gorgo added in as she smiled, grabbing Pleistarchos' hand gently in her own and pulling him up off the ground. Leonidas looked over to his friend and Captain, before frowning deeply when he saw the wounded figure behind him. Gorgo looked at her husband in worry, before glancing back to see what he was looking at and her eyes widened in concern.
"Alexandria." Leonidas stated in worry as he got up quickly, heading straight for his daughter. He pulled her into his arms, hugging her tightly before letting her go to examine her. "What happened?" He asked, his eyes flashing a bright green with anger.
"Persians, they found me on my walk through the fields." Alexandria answered shakily as she allowed him to tilt her head up to see the wound on her neck, that had luckily stopped bleeding a few moments ago.
"We found her bound and gaged, riding a horse through the city not of our own." Dilios answered as Stelios went to stand by the Captain.
"What?! What happened?" Gorgo asked sharply as she pushed though, gently caressing her daughters still red cheeks. "Did they lay hand on you?!" She exclaimed angrily as she bit the inside of her mouth, to try and control her temper.
"It's not that bad, Mom, I swear. They bound me, gagged me and set me on a horse with one of the messenger's servants. I broke his nose with the back of my head, he fell of the horse and I ran off with the animal. I tried to make sure they didn't follow me." Alexandria tried to explain as she continued to pale, knowing that they were here.
"You did good, Alexandria." Leonidas stated softly as he kissed her forehead gently. "You got away, that's all that matters."
"I swear when I see those putrid-" Gorgo began, before the confused look on Leonidas's face made her stop.
"So they are here then?" Leonidas asked, his angered flame burning hotter knowing the answer already. "Let's go greet them, shall we?" He asked, his voice on edge of anger as he stormed out of the courtyard, closely followed by Gorgo, Dilios, Stelios, Alexandria and the Captain. "Pleistarchos, go to your room for now." Leonidas stated as Pleistarchos nodded, knowing enough not to argue with his Father the way he was right now.
Leonidas was going to show them that no one messes with his family and gets away with it.
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