Disclaimer: I do not own 300. Sad eh?
It was I who caught sight of the smoke first. The great black blur rose from the earth, rising up into the sky, darkening the day. Light sprinkles of soft ash fell, causing my mother to cough in irritation from the foul air. "Alcina, draw your sword."
I did as my father ordered, and surveyed the land that stretched out before us. As we neared, the air grew harsher and harsher.
"What in the hell..." My father stiffened when the city came into view.
What little was left actually.
The stone walls had crumbled down, pillars knocked over or horribly cracked. Flames still burnt over the buildings and hay stacks, fueling the dark cloud overheard. We passed the corpses of several horses and sheep, all butchered and distorted.
"Their blood is still fresh!" I hissed in realization and raised my shield. It was a poor metal thing, created by the amateur blacksmith of the small village near our home in the mountains, yet it was better than no shield at all. "Mother! Get down!"
"W-What?" She ducked and I pulled my horse alongside her.
Father was doing calculations, "There can't be more than half a dozen, a scouting group most likely." He too had raised his mighty shield and unsheathed his Spartan sword. He rode so that he was on the other side of my mother, and hopefully our shields would protect her from left and right.
"Of what heritage?!"
His eyes narrowed, "Persians..."
My eyes widened, the war had arrived after all. For years now my parents predicted the invasion, but I had never really grasped that it would happen in my lifetime. "What shall we do?"
"On my order, gallop the horses out of here." He whispered. "Ready and-"
His order never arrived. Instead, all I heard was the eerie sound that escaped his lips. It all happened within a second, and yet I will remember the memory to last a lifetime. From behind, like a coward, an enemy shot an arrow... Hitting its mark. The arrow pierced the back of his neck, and exited the front of it... My mother's dress was sprayed by red ink, a few drops flying towards my face. The wet, warm liquid splattered onto my face...
As his brain registered death, Father's eyes lifted to my own. His lips opened, as if he tried to speak, but with a fatal wound in his neck, he couldn't. For the second time in my life, his expression said everything.
Pride. He was proud of me.
His neck went limp, eyes closed, and Father's body slipped from the saddle. My mother was screaming, but there was no time for that. I threw my shield over her back and head, blocking a second arrow from killing her.
A third arrow flew and pierced her exposed lower back. Everything seemed to just dim down in my eyesight, but my ears continued to hear the worst moments in my life. Her screams fell and she spluttered, spit flying from her gaping mouth.
"RUN!!!!" I cried, slapping her horse. It neighed loudly, I feared it would throw her off, but she held on as it galloped away. An arrow flew at me, I dropped to the ground as it whizzed over my skull. Crawling over to my father's body, I knew what he would have wanted. I removed his helmet and placed it over my own head, crying as my fingers grazed some blood that sprayed onto the sides. Next I seized his sword, placed it at my waist, and cape, wrapping it around my back. Lifting his shield, I began to weep, just as an arrow bounced off its surface.
My hand trembled as I stroked his cheek, this was my father.
And I was my father's daughter.
Anger replaced my horror, and I kissed my father's brow. "I shall protect mother. I shall restore your name in the glory of SPARTA!" Standing up, I raced back to my horse and leaped on, making sure to keep the shield behind my back and ducked my head low. Whistling a single, long tune... I watched as Father's horse ran behind my own, as it was trained to do. The arrows stopped hitting the shield as I left their range.
Their range, whoever they were. It had been impossible to see their face, for they covered their skin with black and silver masks. The cowards did not show their faces.
I peered over the shield, and felt relief to see that the Persians did not give chase. Perhaps they traveled by foot and not horse... If mother had not been injured and fleeing ahead, I would have stayed and killed those bastards. But she needs me, she can not die.
I won't let her.
It took a half an hour to find my mother, she had fallen off her horse and onto the side of the dirt road. As I approached, I felt tears burn my eyes, she appeared to be dead.
"M-Mother!!" I jumped off the horse and towards her body.
She groaned, "Al...Alcina...?"
"Yes, we must continue until we found Spartans to help heal your wound." I didn't warn her, it hurt less when taken by surprise, and pulled the arrow from her back. I felt my hands shake as she yelped in pain, and coughed up blood. Tearing the bottom of my dress, I bandaged her as best as I could.
I was no healer. I was a warrior, not a surgeon.
Unfortunately, Mother lost consciousness then. With the help of adrenaline and fear of attacking Persians, I managed to get her into the saddle. Tying the reigns of her and father's horses, I whistled once more and they answered by coming up to my own steed's side. Sitting in the saddle behind her, I could feel her blood against my stomach and prayed to the Gods that the bandage stopped more bleeding. Holding her with arm, I set off to find help.
By altering horses, I covered quite a distance. We rode for the rest of the day, not coming across any other sign of humans. My mother held onto life, she was as strong as I was... I knew that she wouldn't leave me if she could help it.
And then the storm hit.
More powerful than any I had ever seen from my home in the mountains, it threatened to remove me and my mother from our seats in the saddle. So much that I was forced to strap us in with more bindings made from my dress. Soon, it was so short and wet that I knew that I would not wear it once the weather cleared. Wrapping my father's large cape I managed to keep my mother from suffering.
"Father... Father..." I could only say that word over and over. It was impossible for even me to pick out my tears from rain on my face.
As the storm persisted, an unfamiliar scent met my nose.
The sea.
I only knew it to be the sea because I caught sight of the water, but before it came into my line of vision I frowned at the odd salty air. Tall, rock formations blocked most of the sea from my view, but a small narrow gap allowed me to catch a glimpse of the beautiful water. A path in the middle of a rock mountain besides the sea.
Before I could identify the structure, my mother did it for me. Her weak voice wheezed, "The Hot Gates."
Her body fell limp once more as she succumbed to sleep. I tightened my hold on her, and made for the small gap. The entire night I pushed the horses on, and they rode loyally through the storm from hell, we need to rest. I couldn't risk making camp out here in the open, especially if another storm hit the land. The Hot Gates could provide shelter from the cold, salty wind and keep us hidden from any Persians.
From my fatigue from the storm, holding my mother securely, riding nonstop, and just weeping... I struggled to just stay on the horse.
"Soldier of Sparta! Identify yourself!" A voice called out.
I froze and looked forward, there standing in the entrance to the Hot Gates stood a Spartan soldier. At least, from the moonlight I could see the uniform. His long, red cape caught the wind slightly. The mans' shield was held at mid thigh, ready to be lifted in defense. But it was his spear that caught the true light of the moon.
My throat burned, but I managed to shout, "We are ally! Please..."
Unable to continue, I kept the horses coming closer. The solder kept his spear raised, ready to send it flying to kill, but as we advances I could make out his face. It changed from a stern, cautious expression to a stunned one. Lowering his spear, he rushed towards us.
This was my first time seeing a Spartan soldier, besides my father of course, and I was surprised to see that he was perhaps a few years older than myself. His hair hung long, reaching just past his shoulders, a dark blonde mixed with brown. As my father's body, muscles toned his entire body. Except age hadn't had its toll on him yet, his skin remained smooth and rippled with muscle. Impressive, but I expected nothing less from the army my father served.
"Who are you!?" The man stopped in front of the horse and held his spear out. "Why have you brought a woman?!"
I unsheathed my sword, causing the man to stiffen slightly, and cut the cloth that held me to the saddle. "I am Spartan and friend as is my mother. We have traveled quite a ways before Persian scouts attacked us. Please, let us speak within the Hot Gates where enemies can not spy us."
"In you go my brother!" The man lowered his weapon, seeing no possibility of threat from two tired women. Upon hearing my words, he scanned the land behind us. "Hurry, inside."
Grateful that he did not turn us away, I whistled and directed the horses into the gap.
Directed them into a camp of hundreds of Spartan warriors actually.
They all looked up, their buzzing conversation and laughter dying instantly as the sound of horse hooves and snorts echoed off the stone fortress. Very aware that my attire was now scraps of material, I clasped my father's cloak around me and slid off the horse. Turning to the guard who had greeted us, I asked, "W-Who is in charge?"
He nodded to my right. Following his nod, I saw a man stand up and walk towards me with a stern but puzzled face. His hair was black, the dark beard covering his chin, but the way he walked made me recognize the man's importance. It was as if he walked like he were the King of Sparta! Ridiculous of course-
"I am and what are two women doing here in the midst of battle?!" He peered at my mother curiously but then turned his attention back to me. "Who are you? Remove your helmet boy!"
Frowning I took offense, "I am no man! My name is Alcina, daughter to Karsten. This is my mother Evanthe, please we need-" The men all shifted and looked at one another in amazement, I could see a few in the distance start to whisper to one another. Ignoring them, I lifted the helmet off my head. "My father was killed when we were caught off guard by Persian scouts, they burnt down a town. My mother has been wounded, please, she needs help."
"Karsten? Captain Karsten?" The man appeared genuinely surprised. "You are his child? A woman?!"
Paying no heed to his question, I rushed to the horse and slid my mother off the saddle. Carrying her in my arms I laid her down. "An arrow pierced her lower back, I believe I stopped the bleeding with a bandage made from my dress... Though I have no knowledge in healing."
I was met with silence, and I glared at the leader. "SHE'S DYING! You stand there and do nothing! You useless man!"
A tension filled in the area, and I saw the leader peer down at me with a strange gaze. I realized he was no longer looking at me, but at my mother. Bending down, he moved her hair out of her face, and his body tensed up. "Evanthe... By Gods, it is you. Soterios! Heal this woman!"
"Y-You know my mother?" I recognized concern wash over the man's face.
He stood once more and faced me. "Do you not know how I am?"
"Nay, I have never been to the capitol and thus have not met any soldiers besides my father."
"I am Leonidas... I knew your mother and father well."
My eyes widened, "Leonidas!" I had insulted the King of Sparta. Trying to make amends, I spoke, "F-Father spoke highly of you, thank you for supporting my mother and father in their marriage."
A grim smile came to his face, "They disappeared one night, rumors had it that your mother was pregnant. I thought that Karsten would have a son-"
"As did he and my mother," I cut in. "And they got me instead."
"Your father was a remarkable warrior." The king placed a hand on my shoulder, and I felt uplifted. The King of Sparta, famous and brave, complimented my father as if he were the King!
"He was indeed." A lump formed in my throat. "He taught me well."
Leonidas raised an eyebrow, I regretted my words instantly. What my parents said was true, it seemed women did not fight in Sparta as their husbands, sons, and brothers did. Nervously, I brushed past the King and sat down besides the healer.
He had removed the bandages and muttered to himself. The healer was a man with brown hair, as old as most of them warriors in here. It seemed that the guard at the entrance was the youngest of the bunch here... Was that wise to leave the youngest and most inexperienced to watch the entrance?
"Will she live?" I kept my voice even.
"The arrow pierced lower than any of the vital-"
"Will she live?" I hissed, irritated this time.
A wave of surprise passed over his face, and he nodded. "She will need to rest and you must take her to the capitol for proper medicines."
I noticed that he was peering at the old bandages with a frown. "What is it?"
"These bandages are wet and unclean." He stroked his beard.
Getting to my feet, I strolled over to the horses. Reaching into one of the many side bags, I withdrew two fresh dresses. Tossing them to the healer, and he caught them as I knew he would, I shrugged. "Those are satisfactory?"
Not bothering to answer me, the healer set to work. Sighing, I felt like crying in relief, my mother would be alright. Inspecting the rags that I now wore, I withdrew my pants and loose shirt. Whistling, I paid no heed to the curious stares I received. The horses crowded around me, and I turned my back towards the men, so I faced the wall. The cape covered my body, but I still wished for some sense of privacy, and the horses did just that.
Changed, I adjusted the cape and looked up to see the men all snickering.
Leonidas wasn't smiling at all, he did not look amused. "You must leave as soon as her bandages are replaced."
"No, we will only stay the night."
"I am King... And yet you defy me? You wear men's clothing and hold your father's weapons with comfort." Leonidas pointed to the other end of the cave. "No matter, peer into the distance, down the coast, and you shall see why you must leave."
Nodding in respect, I had meant to harm, I walked through the crowd of men. They all were strong, that was easy to see, and I felt so right to be standing there among them. Though, they believe I merely wore my father's things in memory of him. As I reached the other exit, I stumbled when I saw the coast.
The Persian army.