Hey Everyone. Here is Chapter 2. Thank-you to those who have reviewed so far :)
Disclaimer: I own nothing, regrettably...
He heard something stir close to him. Achilles opened his eyes with an unnatural quickness and analyzed his surroundings carefully. The perfumed flower fields were not the safest place for one to be sleeping at night. But he was Achilles and she was Zarina; there weren't many dangers they couldn't take on.
As Achilles recognized the footfalls as they came closer towards the clearing, his alertness ebbed away.
H he turned over in the dewy grass and stretched his arm to bring his beautiful Zarina closer to him. His. He liked the sound of that, but would never voice it to the fierce tigress, she would not take lightly to that term. On the other hand it would be amusing to see her storm about if he claimed her to her face.
His arm fell to the wet grass, and he frowned. Where was she?
"Zarina?" Achilles called. He continued to call her, but to no avail. Where could she have gone?
Achilles eventually got up to receive Patrocleus who was jogging towards him. As he came closer, Achilles noticed the confused look on Patrocleus face.
"Cousin, where have you been? We have been searching for you since sunrise?" Patrocleus asked. He was panting slightly; he seemed to have been running for a while.
Achilles chose to ignore his cousin's question and to ask his own. "Have you seen Zarina?" he cut in.
Patrocleus frowned, while clutching his side. "No cousin, and she wasn't amongst the rest of the Myrmidons. Why do you ask?"
Achilles brushed him off, and instructed Patrocleus to go ahead and start training with the troops and he would join them as soon as he found Zarina.
"But cousin, why are you so concerned with Zarina's whereabouts? You know she comes and goes as she pleases as of late?" Patrocleus inquired.
Not wanting to relay last night's activities to his younger cousin, "It is none of your concern! Go and do as I told you" Achilles said quickly. But his cousin knew him well. Patrocleus raised his eyebrows in a knowing matter, then turned around to jog back towards the village centre.
Now that he had gotten rid of his cousin he could think of where to find Zarina. But why? He thought as he started a light jog around the lake. He scanned around the area, then squinting into the watery depths of the water to see if her curvaceous form could be seen in the water.
Nothing.
He groaned, and ran his hands through his hair in frustration.
He analyzed last night's events, he knew he startled her with his actions last night, but she seemed receptive after the initial kiss.
Although they didn't consummate, which was slightly disappointing he was willing to wait until betrothal arrangements were made.
Achilles always tried to make situations as straightforward as possible, just like the battlefield. He was a warrior and therefore he killed opposing warriors. He took this simple approach to his budding romance: He loved Zarina, and Zarina loved him. There was no other explanation for her erratic and emotional behaviour from the previous night. Although she was quite famous for her volatile nature which went hand in hand with her amazing combat skills. Every great warrior had a great temper. Achilles would know, he had one too, albeit it wasn't as fanatical as Zarina's - he liked to assume.
After much time of bearing an intensely strong connection as comrades and friends, Achilles started to grow feelings for Zarina. They weren't immediate or very strong at first. At first he would feel a tingling sensation from a mere angry look she would throw his way after taunting her, or a brief contact with her brown skin. It was soft like silk, he thought. It was as if he was just realizing that she was a young woman. And a striking one at that.
Then it started to develop, he started noticing the little things she did. For example, the she blew up her mouth when she was thinking profusely hard about something, or the way she fought for breath when she laughed too hard, or the way she pretended not to notice the amount of stares she received because of the way she looked. Not that she wasn't attractive; being the daughter of Aphrodite had blessed with her with an undeniable beauty, but it was not something you could compare with Helen of troy. She was a unique beauty, of mixed heritage, not full Greek. Her father was a legendary weapons master hailing from another continent from the Asante Kingdom.
Zarina's late father had been discovered by some nobilities travelling by boat, and then started his fame. He had travelled the vast earth, to the eastern empires of the barbarians. And all major kingdoms knew of Mutamba the weaponry Master.
It was rumoured that Hephaestus himself trained Mutamba at a young age, and that is where he learnt his inimitable craft.
As the story went – Achilles remembered the stories his mother had told him after Mutamba had been discovered by the Eastern Kingdoms travelling by sea vessel, he travelled towards the Aegean and made his way through Greece. He was present at the time of Thetis and Peleus' betrothal. Aphrodite was also present; making sure their marriage would always be full of sensuality.
There was an instant attraction between the two. Mutamba being a proud man, he was tall in stature, and had a grand build. He was quite handsome, with his rich mahogany coloured skin, and bright hazel eyes. His mother's words, not Achilles. Women were quite taken with him but he never seemed interested, he only had eyes for his adored weapons. But when Aphrodite set her eyes upon Mutamba with her siren-like call, even he was not able to ignore her whims.
Of all the memories Achilles had remembered when he was young, he recalled this the easiest. It was on his fourth or fifth day of birth and his mother and father threw a great feast in Achilles honour. Patrocleus was just a babe, he remembered with a smirk.
Mutamba had given him a glorious gift; it was an Asante Afenatene, which meant 'long sword' in Greek terms. The blade was constructed of a sterling silver and crushed diamond powder, and a hilt made with a mix of yellow gold in addition to bronze.. At first he thought it was for mere decoration because gold and silver could never be used for battling purposes, it would have been too malleable. But there was a reason Mutamba was the weapons master and none other. He had fashioned the Asante sword in such a way that it was hard as stone, and sliced through any material with only a slight effort. He remembered Mutamba's words.
"Little Achilles, this is the sword fashioned only for men that have proven their superiority as true warriors ordained by the gods, as is the custom in my home Kingdom. I have seen many men, but none have been like you. I know deep within me," he pounded his chest in emphasis," that you will be one of the greatest warriors."
Achilles remembered Mutamba's words with keen memory. Even at this tender age of five, those words were burned into his skull. But alas, that was not the triumph of the night; another event had happened. Aphrodite had come, with a child in her hands.
From all that he could remember of the story, Mutamba and Aphrodite had bedded each other numerous times since his parents wedding, and now adorned with her was little Zarina. She was barely at the age of two. Her famous wild curls reaching only shoulder length. She was almost an exact copy of f her mother, Aphrodite, her beauty emanating, but it was slightly different from her mothers. The difference was her catlike hazel eyes that she hailed from her father. But, she didn't hold either her mother's fair milky white complexion, or her father's rich mahogany skin tone... It was one that was completely her own, she was golden brown pallor that gleamed in the sun.
To say Mutamba was surprised was an understatement. Aphrodite had meant to keep Zarina and bring her up, leaving her to the sea nymphs while she was with her husband. But hiding her from Hephaestus proved impossible in the long run Zarina was an obvious proof to Aphrodite's indiscretion, which wasn't her first, and was forced to get rid of the babe or suffer the consequences of Hephaestus finding the child. It was rumoured that Aphrodite had to make a perilous journey in a giant clamshell to harbour Zarina to safety. Then again, Hesiod the village gossip and drunk was not the most reliable source, and his mother refused to tell him the story, and forbade him to question Zarina about it.
All the Pythia knew that Mutamba had wanted a son more than anything, a warrior son he could craft weapons for. But Aphrodite had bore him a daughter, and what use did he have for a daughter? Nonetheless he loved her, and he was a practical man; a daughter could be a warrior as well.
Mutamba felt like he had stayed in Pythia too long wanted to star travelling once again. But with a child to take care of, this became difficult. To overcome this he setup a permanent residence in Pythia and left Zarina with a mistress.
Zarina, intuitive like any woman, could tell that her father was somewhat not as pleased as with her than if she had been a boy, and noticed how he enjoyed spending time with the little boys of the village, helping them learn to combat and fashioning weapons for his favourites. Every time he travelled she threw her fanatical tantrums which could be heard in all the estates close to hers. Thetis – Achilles' mother - mothering by nature, felt sorry for the girl and would often help the mistress in calming her down. She repeatedly brought Zarina to the manor to stay for days at a time, which turned into weeks; falling in love with the girl's enchanting smile. Besides, when Zarina chose to calm down she was quite a delightful child to have around. Never having a daughter Thetis loved being with her, and treated her as her own.
Achilles' estate had grown to be her first home, and her father's home had grown to be her second; usually only returning to stay with him while he was home.
Achilles remembered his first memorable encounter with Zarina, as he scoured the Pythian forest for her.
It had been about four years since his birthday encounter. He was nine, Zarina six, and Patrocleus four. He and Patrocleus had discovered ancient ruins in a clearing past the wildflower canyon. They used to bring their weapons with them, and Achilles would teach Patrocleus all the fighting styles he learned at his training. Patrocleus still had two years before he would learn.
Zarina was encouraged by Thetis to learn how to do womanly duties. Starting her off with weaving and other basic tasks such as these. Not that she would ever have to use them, Mutamba had earned nobility status for his crafting skills. But Thetis insisted it was imperative to building character.
Instead of throwing her signature tantrums she bit her lip and continued her tasks. Achilles would never understand why Zarina never pulled an attitude with Thetis. Not that he did, in fear Thetis would clip his ear. But Achilles could tell Zarina hated the womanly tasks with a furious passion. He could tell that she felt out of place doing these types of tasks. But at that age the only thing he could do to convey his feelings was to poke fun at the miserable Zarina.
One time in particular he pushed her too far; "If you learn how to wash the soot off those garments I will hire you as my scullery maid when I am a great warrior," he'd laughed, and ran off with Patrocleus to the ruins to train.
The ruins were supposed to be a top secret location, not knowing that Zarina had followed them. When they were taking a short break and lay down on the soft green grass that surrounded the ruins. Achilles keen ears picked up sudden footfalls, but it was too late. Zarina had found them. At first she stood there staring at them, and then she stalked over to him. Achilles and Patrocleus were too shocked to believe that this little girl had found their location.
She headed towards them, and before Achilles could demand her to leave, she pummelled him on the head. She seemed to gauge his reaction, if it had been a boy he would have lashed out. He had only started his training earlier this year, but being who he was, he was easily the best in his class
He fumed silently, and glanced at Patrocleus his blue eyes wide with surprise, his mouth hanging open comically.
His little boy pride was punctured and he wanted nothing more than to hit Zarina back, but he wouldn't - she was a girl.
Instead he spat these words at her: "If you weren't a girl, you would be nursing a black and blue eye."
Wrong thing to say, he would later find out. She launched a full attack with her arms, she wasn't very strong, but her untrained slaps stung his arms and face where she aimed. His patience was ebbing, and before he knew it he growled, and grabbed hold of her tiny fists and pushed with all his might. Unlike Zarina, he carried strength.
Instantly regretting his actions as soon he saw her tiny body fling about two yards away. She lay still and Patrocleus yelled, "Achilles you killed her, you killed her, and I'm telling Auntie Thetis." He instantly bolted towards the village centre.
He was definitely in trouble. His mother would slaughter him. He slowly approached Zarina, and the closer he got the closer he realized that the body was not as still as he thought. Zarina's body was face down in the grass, and muffled cries came from her. Her body shaking slightly. He felt guilty, and even more so when she lifted her face. Her hazel eyes held an unwavering sadness, and her face was smeared with dirt and tears. Thetis was going to wring Achilles' ears, for on her forearm there was a long cut marring her beautiful brown skin.
"Zarina, please forgive me," he rushed to her side, upon seeing her sad face his fury was forgotten. He tried to help her up but she refused. He knelt by her side, placing his wooden sword beside him patting her matted curls awkwardly, while repeating how sorry was and not to tell Thetis, Peleus, Mutamba and Aphrodite what he had done.
No doubt Patrocleus being the tattle tale that he was at this age went to fetch Thetis.
In a lightening quick motion his body did not understand right away, Zarina stopped sniffling and grabbed his wooden weapon from the grass.
He jumped from his kneeling position only to tumble on a rock and land on his backside. He quickly got up and backed away.
Zarina stared at him while he backed away, her hazel eyes turning into slits; she let out a strangled high pitch battle cry and charged towards him waving the sword in her hand like a mad woman.
He had been deceived, he was offering her condolences and she tricked him. Achilles was attacked viciously by Zarina; her technique was off, but her basic need to harm him succeeded. He wore many blue bruises on his tanned skin, and he wasn't relieved until Mutamba led by an excited Patrocleus came to tear Zarina off of Achilles.
Ever since then, Achilles never called Zarina a scullery maid again. He remembered Mutamba's eyes shone with an appreciation. His daughter was fighting.
Achilles could not understand. All he knew at that time was that his pride was wounded fiercely.
Ever since then, Mutamba whisked Zarina along with him during his travels, especially to the east in Pontus where the Amazons inhibited. The training camps only allowed boys, and despite Mutamba's constant bribe and use of his title he could never achieve to get Zarina enrolment in the camp. So he took her to the Amazon women and left her under their care for the greater part of the year and brought her back just in time for Dioynsia, the wine god's yearly festival.
At that same time Peleus allowed Chiron to take Achilles under his wing for training. Achilles was far too advanced for the other boys at his age, so the centaur trained him away from home and forced him to live off the land in the Grecian forests. He went through such a vigorous training regime that combat became his very nature, living his second. The rumours that he had wrestled a lion to death at the mere age of twelve were very true indeed.
Achilles mind wondered back to Zarina. Every year, in time for the yearly festival, Achilles and Zarina would come back from abroad and join Phtia in the biggest yearly celebration.
When Achilles was at the age of fourteen, and Zarina eleven, she was going through an awkward stage of puberty. No doubt, still beautiful, but not attractive. Just because something was nice to look at doesn't mean that there was any desirability towards it.
He'd been making his way towards the ruins when he'd stumbled across her training. He watched her graceful movements, which were extremely quick and hardto keep up with. She used no weapons, except her body, in deadly swiping movements that were intricate like a dance. It was both alluring and lethal. Eventually, she stopped and noticed him.
Zarina had called out to him, "Son of Peleus, come and fight me."
He had been taken aback. "I do not fight women, daughter of Mutamba."
This statement angered her. "Fine, no weapons Achilles." He was going to decline yet again, even though he was itching to do the opposite - er movements were catlike and swift and very different from how they were taught to fight here.
Suddenly she lunged at him before he could answet. He was too slow and she had him in a lock-hold. He froze up for a moment and then realized that despite her being a woman, he was going to put her in her place. He was Achilles, son of Peleus; he had a reputation to protect.
He had to admit, she was faster than him, but he was stronger, and he used that to his advantage. Achilles flipped her over and pinned her to the grassy floor. She smirked at him, and then wrapped her legs around his neck, using it as leverage and pushed him back with her feet, he landed on the grass.
He lunged at her again, but she evaded him easily. She seemed to analyze his movements and predict what he was going to do before he actually did it. And no matter what her movements were always graceful and cunning.
Achilles started panting, "Stop with your erotic dance moves and fight properly." he spat
"Just because you can't beat me doesn't mean I'm not fighting properly," she twirled around and laughed at him.
Eventually he tired and fell to his knees. Sweat drenched his training robes as if he had gone swimming in the Aegean.
"How do you do it? How do you keep avoiding my attack?" Achilles thought she would laugh in his face again. But she didn't, she considered him, a serious look on her face.
"Son of Peleus, you forget who trained me." Zarina's colossal curls had become loose from their mock fighting and she gathered them atop her head. "The very women that were scorned by men in their quest to become warriors."
He fumed. She was stating the obvious; everyone knew she went to train with the Amazon women.
"That doesn't explain the way you anticipate my every move. Daughter of Mutamba reveal your secrets!"
He watched as she regarded him. They both didn't know it, but their almost indestructible bond was being forged at this moment.
She knelt down in front of him on the grassy plane and tore of a piece of her sky blue robes. He frowned at her actions, while she started patting the sweat off his brow.
"Achilles, these women have been fighting for years. These same women have fought many men for countless years, yet many men have not fought them. What makes you think they have not learned the movements of men?"
She gave him a knowing smile, and continued her ministrations around his face. "They have spent their lives training and learning how to defeat men specifically. The Amazon women have studied them, and have learned how to match their movements, and have figured out ways to elude their strengths. You see they have mastered the way to elude men in combat, but men have not learned the way to reciprocate this same actions towards women."
He stared in awe, no man had ever been ever to best him, but out of nowhere this lanky girl comes along with her spinning movements and tired him out like some over-grown beast.
She smiled kindly at this awed silence. "It is a dangerous thing to under-estimate your foe, even if you are the mighty son of Peleus."
Achilles rage started to subside, but his pride was still aching. But if he wanted to become the esteemed warrior that he yearned to be he must be indestructible.
Without even realizing what he was doing he said, "You must teach me." His hands were trained on the ground between their knees.
"Why?" she stopped patting his forehead and looked at him.
"If I am to be the greatest warrior, I must learn everything I can. And if I can learn how to evade men like you, it would only enhance my skills."
"The great Achilles asking me for help, I am honoured," she mocked.
"Daughter of Mutamba, I am not shamed to know when I have been beaten," he allowed.
Zarina lifted her head towards the sky, as she considered. Achilles hoped and prayed to the gods that she would comply, he needed and wanted to learn these skills; there were enticing and deadly.
"Fine. I will teach you Achilles, but only if you do the same for me." It was her turn to look at the ground in embarrassment. His blue eyes flicked to her face.
"Do the same for you? You have tired me uselessly like mere cattle. What could I possible teach you?"
"Use your eyes! If we had been engaged in sword play, or worked with spears, I surely would have failed. My body is my greatest weapon, but men hardly engage in hand to hand combat."
It was the truth, he concluded after he thought about it. Swordplay was his forte not hers.
"But you are swift."
"But not strong," she answered almost immediately.
Achilles was eager to learn so set aside his embarrassment and stood up, he reached his hand out towards in order to help her up. He didn't think she would take it, and she surprised him when she did.
"Alright, we will each in turn strengthen each other's weaknesses." She complied and they shook on it.
"One more thing Achilles," she started, "If there ever comes a time where I need you to vouch or help-"
"Whatever it is I will do it." Achilles had cut her before she could finish. He would have complied with giving away his Afenatene if only she would teach him her unique defence tactics.
A cautious grin spread upon her face, and she stuck out her hand, adamant about sealing the promise.
"Swear upon it son of Peleus,"
Achilles stuck out his hand for a hand shake. Zarina started at him pointedly.
"No, I want an oath swore upon the God Apollo, the god who cannot tell a lie." Zarina had enunciated each word as if she was talking to a small child.
Achilles mouth gaped open, but then he closed it and started to untie his robes. As his lower nakedness was in full view of Zarina, he flushed a deep crimson colour, praying to Zeus that he was not making a fool of himself.
Achilles glanced at Zarina, expecting her to giggle, but on the contrary, she was bewildered, staring at his member as if she was inspecting her sword for scratches.
"Where is the rest of it?"
All the blood that had flowed to Achilles face was instantly drained away, leaving him pale and stunned.
Zarina caught his expression and laughed, "Apologies brother, but the Amazonian women always gossiped about their lover's spears in such a way that led me to believe the mightier the warrior the larger-"
"SILENCE!"
Achilles watched as she swallowed her words and proceeded to lead him through her desired oath which fell upon the open ears of Apollo. All the while, he was holding his member in one hand with the other hand raised as was custom when men were taking oaths in court.
As soon as it was over, both Zarina and Achilles had grown a bit embarrassed, and there was a hushed awkwardness between the two.
Achilles had averted his gaze from her face upon the grass, and quickly mumbled that he could hear his mother calling him inside to take a cold bath and that he would meet her tomorrow.
To this day, Achilles had yet to recall a time that his legs had moved more quickly, especially with an obstruction in between.
They eventually became friends, and Zarina, he, and Patrocleus formed an inseparable trio. Every year they would come home and excitedly teach each other new skills.
But one year Mutamba came home for the yearly festival without Zarina in tow. When questioned, Mutamba answered that she was being difficult because she had started her monthly bleeding. She had wanted to stay amongst the women.
Achilles and Patrocleus were both very disappointed, and they moped around the village for their short time home. They were confused as to why their friend had let her womanly problems get in the way of their friendship. They often forgot she was a female, just looking at her as Zarina and not Zarina the maiden.
But that was to change. When Zarina turned the age of eighteen, he Achilles, twenty-one, and Patrocleus sixteen, he without doubt noticed she was a woman.
Her usual thin demeanour was now engulfed with enticing curves; although she was still fit and agile. Her face was more mature and her eyes had grown a more defined shade of hazel, bordering on gold. She had become more womanly, and sported white robes that were definitely considered taboo for her age. It had been short and one shouldered, much like she wore now, with variant colours and styles. She claimed that they were easier to fight in, but Achilles had a feeling that she liked to show off her legs.
The one thing that hadn't changed was her hair. They were still unruly ringlets, but they seemed more defined now and adding to her glorious face. She looked like a goddess in every sense of the word. No one needed say it.
Patrocleus had nudged him ferociously as Zarina had made way to the feast, donned in short sky blue robes that off set her raven and blond curls, as she was accompanied by her slave Korinna.
Achilles needed no prodding from Patrocleus, he saw very clearly, and he would never look at her the same again. No longer was she Zarina, daughter of Mutamba.
She was Zarina, daughter of Aphrodite.
This same thought resonated as he stumbled across Zarina in a clearing deep within the Pythian forest.
Hope you enjoyed.
A/N: According to Wikipedia..haha : In ancient Rome when in court and swearing to an oath, men had to hold their testicles :O. ha-ha yes I know. I thought it was amusing LOL.
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