'thoughts or flashback'
"normal speech"
Disclaimer: I own nothing of PJO or HoO, no matter how much I wish I did.
Prologue
"Is this really your will my king? You wish for me to do this. Truly?" The raven haired, youth asked of Theseus, King of Athens.
Theseus attempted to look into the eyes of his guest, yet he couldn't bring himself to. It was shame, he felt extremely shamed at not being able to meet the fierce gaze leveled at him. All because he knew what he would see in those eyes.
He would see his own reflection. He would see the image of one who is conducting a betrayal. All for the love of a goddess that may never return his love as much as he wanted her to.
"Yes. Now go, you must make it there before the messenger does. We have already given our answer, but that doesn't mean Sparta will believe it until we give proof. To them we are nothing more than poets and scholars." Theseus scoffed.
Without a word, the young man turned on his heel and left the king's throne room.
Theseus leaned back heavily on his throne and rubbed his temple. "Are you sure about this Athena? He is strong, stronger than any we have here. We will need strength to get through these coming times and he would be invaluable. No matter his age, he is a great asset to Athens."
From the shadows of the throne room stepped a regal looking woman. She had stormy grey eyes fixed on a rather cold looking face. Her long dark hair was plaited and hung down her back. Athena goddess of wisdom, war, arts and many other things nodded firmly in Theseus' direction.
"Greece faces a coming storm. War is on the horizon, and we must fight it with strategy as well as strength. Sparta will no doubt think of nothing but attack. We must plan ahead and think of all other angles. I know you don't like it my love, but he must be forced to grow up. Leonidas while quick to anger will help him along the way." Athena spoke firmly but with a touch of tenderness as she walked to Theseus.
"I can only hope you're right Athena." 'And I can only hope he forgives me for lying once more. He has never forgiven me for what happened to Hippolytus' Theseus added silently.
A week. It took a week for him to get to Sparta. It would have been far longer but from Athens he sailed to the coast closest to Sparta and with a prayer to Poseidon he arrived faster than normal. After that he grabbed the fastest horse he could find and took off.
Just as he was walking through the city, following a guide that would take him to the king of Sparta, he noticed a gathering of people off to the side of the main road.
"Ah I believe we have found the king. Another messenger arrived moments before you did. Let us make our way over to the king now. I'm sure he wouldn't mind seeing you both." The guide explained rather rudely at having to lead the messenger from Athens around.
As the duo walked towards the open courtyard where everyone had gathered a few things became obvious. Whatever message this man from Persia brought, it wasn't a good one.
A few choice words caught their ears as they neared Leonidas. He slightly insulted Athens, by claiming that if the 'philosophers and boy-lovers' had turned down the Persians than Sparta could afford no less.
"Choose your next words carefully Leonidas. They may be your last… as king." The messenger warned.
The raven haired youth from Athens almost snorted in amusement. As if threatening the king of a foreign land would win you favors, no matter your own position.
A light wind blew throughout the courtyard and into the open plains behind the city. It was calming yet forewarned a coming storm.
Leonidas turned his back to the messenger, to look out over his kingdom.
In an instant he whirled, blade in hand and at the Persian's throat.
All the Spartan guards also disarmed the Persians and moved them at sword point to the pit in the courtyard, the very pit that Heracles himself swore lead to the underworld.
As Leonidas explained the folly that the messenger committed, the youth from Athens frowned but agreed. 'Asking for a gift of water and earth. This Xerxes sure is confident. He thinks that Poseidon will allow him any sort of dominion over water? Idiot.' He thought.
"This is blasphemy!" The Persian tried to reason, "This is madness!"
All the gathered Spartans scowled at the nerve of the Persian. Going to a well-known war-like city state like Sparta and demanding subservience and servitude to a false god-king was madness. What Leonidas did, threatening the messenger was not.
Leonidas looked incredulously at the dark skinned man from Persia. "Madness?" he questioned. He shook his head and tensed. "This. Is. Sparta!" He cried out.
Before any one of the Persians could back away from the pit, Leonidas stepped forward and gave a mighty kick. The sole of his foot connected squarely with the chest of the Persian.
Slowly, ever so slowly it seemed, every single Persian was pushed and fell to their doom.
Some were stabbed by the Spartans.
Some pushed.
None survived.
Only once the screaming could no longer be heard did Leonidas turn to address his subjects. To call forth a meeting with the council and see what they had to say now.
The lone Spartan that had accompanied the messenger from Athens took this opportunity to step forward. "King Leonidas. There is another messenger here to see you." He indicated the young man behind him, looking on coolly at all that had happened. "He is from Athens."
No doubt the Spartan hoped that this upstart from Athens would get the same treatment as the Persian. In his book, anyone not from Sparta, anyone who did not value strength as highly or more so than artistry or intellect was not worth their time.
Instead Leonidas took in the young man's appearance. Black hair as dark as the night, eyes as green as emerald jewels, a light coppery skin tone, and his age, he was no older than 15 or 16 at most. The age where most Spartan children were sent out to the wild to make them men.
"Who might you be and what message does King Theseus send us?" Leonidas asked.
Theseus, while a noted scholar himself and one who often spoke of using more than brawn or skill in battle to win, was well respected by Leonidas. Despite what Theseus loved of his city, he was still an incredibly skilled warrior. One who only fools would take lightly.
"I actually came to inform you of our position when it comes to the Persians." He carelessly waved at the pit, "It seems we share the same opinion to their proposal however. And as for who I am. Well… I am Perseus, son of Poseidon, half-brother to Theseus, and commander of the Athenean military forces."
A/N so after reading such an awesome 'percy in the past' story written by Anaklusmos14 I have been swamped with ideas for one of my own. In order to get those ideas out of my already crowded head I had to write them down. I hopefully did a good job of piquing peoples interest. Keep in mind this is only a prologue and chapters will be longer. Please leave all questions, concerns and comments on your way out.
