Just Read The Book
Thanks for all the reviews/faves/alerts! Sorry this is a bit late, but August has been hella busy for me.
But, I hope you like this chapter... It gets more into the movie.
CHAPTER THREE.
Saviours
When the god had disappeared, that was when I was aware of the absence of my brother I looked up and saw him running to the water.
"Lake!" I screamed at the top of my lungs, "What are you doing!"
"They're drowning! He can't die!"
Of course he can't die, why would he think Perseus was going to? That would have been an early ending. I ran to the edge of the beach, but I was too late, he had passed the shallows and began to swim where the there was a single piece of drift wood from the hull of the boat. I watched as my brother dove down, and all I could do was wait, clutching his sword in anticipation.
I was more worried than I needed to be. I knew for a fact that Lake was one of the best and fastest swimmers I've ever met. He could hold his breath for almost five minutes.
Five minutes passed and I my patience had worn thin. I was about to dive in the water after them, but I heard a splash and a gasp of water as two heads popped out of the water and climbed onto the drift wood. "Oh, thank the gods," I said without realizing my choice of words. From the distance, I could hear Perseus scream out in agony at the death of his parents and little sister, and I wanted to weep with him, but I was hardly heartbroken when I watched the movie, and I wasn't going to be now, no matter how real this was.
But I knew what I had to do. The Army wouldn't notice me or my brother and Perseus if something didn't catch their attention. From my pouch I pulled out the box of matches, and then got a branch full of leaves, and lit it on fire. I walked farther up the beach, hoping that the bright flames were noticed against the grey and blue atmosphere. The branch was fully lit, so I waved it in the air, and started shouting.
"HEY! HELLO! OVER HERE! HI!" I succesffully caught the attention of one solider, who called upon another. They started to climb down the cliff but before they could get a close enough distance to me, I began pointing to the water.
"My brother went to save a man in the water! They're floating on a piece of wood just there!" They followed my direction just in time to see my brother waving his arms in the air. Perseus looked to be passed out beside him.
"Come with us, maiden. We will bring you, your brother, and the stranger to safety," called the solider.
"Thank you, sir," I called out, trying to keep tabs on my words. I didn't feel like explaining a slang word that they weren't used to. I picked up the bag, and Lake's quiver and belt with his sword, and walked over to the awaiting soldier. It must be dark enough to hide the brightness of my hair, because he didn't take notice in it.
"Here, let me take those from you," He offered a hand, and I gave him Lake's Quiver and belt, but kept the bag with me at all costs. "May I ask of your name, Maiden?"
"Kore," I answered, "Daughter of... Orpheus." I made up, we hadn't discussed our family's name. "And that's my brother, Arion."
He walked towards the rest of the soldiers, and led me to where they had docked their ships, which was behind the cliff that once held the Statue of Zeus. "Kore, Daughter of Orpheus, your brother must be very brave to swim in open waters to save a stranger."
"More like mad," I commented, watching my brother from afar as he waited for the ships to rescue him and Perseus. I gave him a thumbs up to tell him that he would be okay.
The soldier laughed at my comment, "Yes, that too."
There was a beat of silence as I examined his face secretly. He was a random, it seemed, young, probably in his 20s, but he wasn't at all noticed in the movie, "Sir, might I ask the name of our rescuer?"
He turned to me, his tired expression turn into that of a charming grin, "Akakios ," he answered, "Proud Soldier of Argos' Army. And what is your story, Kore? What were you and your brother doing at the banks of the southern beach?"
I sighed, pretending it was a long story, "My family was sailing not too long ago when a storm hit, and killed my mother and father, and two younger brothers. Arion and I drifted onto shore, and have been here ever since, we only had comfort under Zeus' Statue, but it seems that you've taken away that comfort, Akakios of Argos."
Akakios stopped walking to look at me, his charming smile gone, replaced with seriousness, "My apologizes, Kore, about your family, but we are at war. War with the Gods... It is time to show them how strong men can really be."
"You do not fear their wrath?" I asked with general curiosity.
He was silent for a moment before continuing walking, "You cannot let fear hold you back."
He had a point. It was amazing how brave men could be, even in the face of gods. So I decided not to say anything further as we neared the boat with the few soldiers that survived. All I could think about was how above my head, on Mount Olympus, the Olympians were having an argument about what to do with us mortals. I wondered briefly if they knew two people that never existed were now on their Earth, and if they did, were we worthy enough to be concerned about? I then remembered the way Hades looked at me... It had only been for a second, but it felt like forever... the look he gave me was strange. I don't know how to call it...
We gathered on the boat and drifted to where my brother and Perseus lay, and pulled them both onto the safety of the boat. Akakios had asked what the name of the stranger was, but the two of us had to remain oblivious to his name. By now the clouds had dispersed, and the sun peaked through. I had forgotten why that would be a problem, but the look on Lake's face told me it was.
"What is it?" I asked from my spot on the floor, sitting next to the unconscious Perseus.
He opened his mouth, but another soldier, an older one, saw me first, "By gods!" He exclaimed. Everyone turned to see what he was referring, and suddenly the whole boat was looking at me.
"I'm sorry?" Lake came too me and whispered what it was in my ear. "Oh...Oh. Ohhh."
"Your hair...It's as red as wine," A younger soldier pointed out.
"Not wine, boy- blood," said the older one from before said. He marched over to me and pulled me up by my braid. Instinctively my hands flew up to his in attempts to pry off his fingers, while Lake shouted to let me down. "Who are you?" He demanded.
In attempt to pretend to be a damsel in distress, my eyes flew to the only soldier I knew by name, "Akakios ..."
"Ikaros, put her down, she's done nothing wrong," my savior pleaded from behind Ikaros's shoulder. The older man in question looked skeptical, and still had my hair in a vice grip. "Her hair looks like it's been dyed by blood... She could be a follower of Hades. She could be a bastard child of Ares."
"No look," the younger soldier from earlier pointed at the buckle that held my toga in place, "It's a lion. She's a follower of Demeter."
Ikaros moved his eyes from mine, and looked down at the bronze clasp, and then returned his eyes on me, "Are you?"
I winced when he tightened his fingers around my hair, "Yes..."
There was a moment before he decided to let me go, and my brother was there to gather me in his arms. I rubbed my head from where the hair was pulled, and glared at the man, trying to contain my anger. Akakios went to Ikaros and began to explain the story I've told them. The younger soldier, the one who saved my ass, came to me and my brother and got onto one knee.
"Are you fine, Maiden?" He asked.
"As a forest fire," I replied, and quickly realized that my sarcasm went passed his head.
Lake changed the subject by thanking him, "Thank you, soldier. This is my sister, Kore, and I'm Arion..."
"Son of Orpheus," I finished for him.
"Yeah, that."
The soldier looked between the two of us curiously, and then gave a friendly chuckle, before answering, "My name is Doros. May I ask where you've come from?"
I straightened myself up, and sat cross legged on the floor, "a small unnamed island off the coast between Sparta and Crete. Our harvest began to die, making our family leave."
"A storm took them," Lake finished for me. "We've drifted onto this beach."
"My condolences. Where were you headed?" He asked, his face etched with sympathy.
"Argos," I answered this time, knowing my brother probably only knew two or three states, only because he played God of War. I gave a small smile before adding, "I suppose fate needed us in Argos, as we are now on a boat with her soldiers."
Doros laughed, "I suppose so. I will make sure that Argos will welcome you with warmth."
"Thank you, sir," I smiled, and he left us.
Once we were alone, I looked at Lake, "You're crazy, you know? Jumping in the water after them."
He ran a hand through his hair, "I got caught up, I suppose. His family died. I couldn't save them." He looked down, his usual lively self died down.
I rubbed his shoulders, "I'm sorry, but that's how it happened."
"I guess I thought I could change it," he shrugged.
I rubbed his arm, and rested my head on his shoulder.
Two hours went by quite quickly, we were fed stale bread while we listened to the sounds of waves and people talking. Apparently there were more boats, but as we drifted to Argos, there were no signs of them. After the fourth hour rolled on by, Perseus began to stir.
"Arion, quick, get me water," I said, pulling Perseus onto my lap so his head was levitated. I tapped his cheek, hoping to snap him out of his daze.
Lake got out the pouch of water we had, and brought it to the wakening demi-god's mouth, where he was eager to accept it. His throat must have been so dry, as were his lips, seeing as he had been laying on his back in the heat of the sun. He coughed, but was glad to accept more water.
Once Perseus regained some of his strength, he pushed himself off my lap and managed to sit down against the side of the ship. I lifted my hand and felt his forehead, his eyes fluttered, being only half closed to sheild himself from the sun.
"You're hot, you should sit in the shade," with the help of Lake, we moved him under the shade of the mast, and gave him more water, and then splashing some on his forehead.
"Where am I?" He asked, his mind drowsy.
"On a ship headed to Argos," I replied. His eyes opened a bit more, and the first thing he saw was Lake.
"You're the one that tried to help my family," he pointed it out. "Thank you."
Lake gave a small sad smile, "I wish I could've helped more."
"It wasn't your fault," his head lollled to his side, "It was the god's."
Me and Lake turned to each other, and decided to get his mind off his family, if only for a little while. "I'm Arion, and this is my sister Kore."
"Perseus," he answered, now moving his eyes to me as if he didn't realize I was here. He stopped as he too had caught sight of my hair.
I sighed, already tired of this, "I assure it is nothing I inherited, or caught, from anything divine."
"Forgive me for staring, I just never seen someone with such a colour," he replied, eyes still roaming it.
"You are not the only one," I sighed, then asked, "Are you hungry?"
It took all morning and afternoon to get to our destination, the sun was hidden behind the cliffs of Argos as we approached the gates. The ship docked, and Perseus, Lake, and I were escorted through the city. We were told to stay together, but the loss of his family was so fresh in his memory that Perseus separated himself from the two of us to sit down while the soldiers gathered and discussed what just happened.
Me and my brother were left on the side lines, away form ears, but were being stared at by the civilians. "What's going to happen now?" He asked in a tone that I would only hear.
"We will see the king to tell them about their victory, and the loss of lives today. Then-"
I was interrupted by Akakios who approached us, "You two should stay close. There are many here that will mistake you, Kore, to be part divine. King Kepheus will be eager to meet you and your... uniqueness."
My face fell from the implications that Akakios was hinting to, "Well you can tell your king that I intend on staying a maiden until marriage."
He laughed, "Becareful, Kore. For he may even take you on that offer, and consider a second wife."
I groaned, "Zeus help me."
We were about to leave to the castle after it was confirmed that our ship was the only one that returned. I looked over my shoulder to make sure that Perseus was coming, but he had to be nudged roughly to follow them.
"Tell them to be kind to him," I asked Akakios . "He just lost his family."
Akakios looked at me, and then back at the stranger, "Enough, Agathon." He called to the soldier, who gave him a look before grunting and walking away.
We marched towards the gates to the castle, walking passed hungry children, and thin mothers who cannot even produce milk. There was a preacher there, begging everyone to pray to the gods and beg for their forgiveness, but he was ignored and pushed into some hay. That didn't stop him from talking. When we walked passed him, Akakios made a purpose to block me from him, least he attract more attention towards me.
The castle was large, crawling up the mountains of Argos, with thick white pillars holding onto roofs and stone. People parted to make way for their heroes, the defiers of the gods, who all held a straight face, no one to dare shed a tear for their lost men. We were led into the castle, inside the Throne Room where dancers and handmaidens were all over the place. Music was in the background, and mirth was all around. At the sight of his soldiers the King stood up, a moment of disappointment flashed in his eyes when he was told that was all that was left of his men, but his eyes gleamed more when he was told that they walked away victorious.
A man stood in the crowd, holding up his golden goblet, and began a toast, "To King Kepheus! To Queen Cassiopeia!" Everyone turned to their rulers and raised their goblets to them, but Kepheus raised his own hand in a modest gesture of silence.
"No," he said, standing up from his throne and motioned to what was left of Argos' soldiers, "To you. Our mighty legion, our heroes who have dared to strike a blow at the heart of Zeus!" With his goblet risen high, a bigger cheer followed him.
Lake and I stood between a soldier and Akakios , while Perseus stood in front of us, his face defeated, looking down with modesty and shame for not rescuing his parents. Out of instinct, like a sister to a brother, I placed a hand on his shoulder, and he looked up to me his face not changing.
The king continued, "The temples are burning, the statues have fallen!" By now the queen and the princess stood from their own thrones, and descended down the stairs behind Kepheus. "We have starved them of our prayers! Tonight, after a generation of struggle, the sun does not set over the ocean, the sun sets on Olympus itself! A new era has begun. The Era of Man!" Everyone cheered, but it seemed the only people truly upset about this was the princess, Perseus, and the two of us.
"That's the princess?" Lake asked me next to my ear, I could only nod as I watched Cassiopeia ask her daughter to take a drink to make her more lively.
Andromeda took the goblet from her mother, but not with a tilt of her head in disapproval, and walked her way across the hall and towards Perseus like expected.
"She's hot," Lake said again before she was near to us. I had to withstand from rolling my eyes.
The princess made a beeline towards Perseus, not bothering to see there are two other non-soldiers in the crowd. After asking his name, she offered him her mother's drink, to which he took reluctantly. However, before he could even lift it to his lips, a man with a braided pony tail and grey hair highlighting his black maine, came and slapped Perseus.
"Enough!" Called the princess
"Our daughter," the King but in, drink still in hand, "The missionary."
"What is wrong with helping people?" Came a voice that was defiantly not in the movie. I turned my head slowly to Lake, giving him a wide eyed what-the-fuck-are-you-doing look. The soldiers parted to show who had spoke, and all eyes were on my very small in muscled brother.
The King walked down a few steps of stairs to get a closer look at the man who dared talk back to the King, "And who are you, child?"
Lake stepped out of the crowd, and people started to chuckle at my brother, how small he was, how insignificant he was. "My name is Arion, son of Orpheus," he answered, not bothering to acknowledge the amusement everyone had.
"I do not believe that I've seen you, boy. And I am sure I would not have allowed you to be in my army, you would slow them down!" He laughed, which was followed by many others.
"I am not part of your army, My Lord," Arion went on ignoring everyone else. "Me and my sister were stranded on a beach after a storm killed our family, where your men rescued us."
"Sister?" He asked, his curiosity peaked.
"Yes," Lake's eyebrows rose and that boyish smile appeared comfortably on his face. I was just about to hide myself behind Akakios when I felt my brother grab my arm and pulled me into view. "My sister, Kore."
As soon as he pulled me into view, the King was speechless. The entire room was speechless.
Well, hope it was worth the wait. I'll eventually post the pictures of what Demi and Lake look like. If I ever do finish this story, there will be a sequel, but the idea I'm going with is that you don't need to read the first story to understand the sequel. I just don't want to give anything away, so I'm being vague, haha.
Happy readings xoxox
qtj
