Disclaimer: Not mine
Anyone know of a good timeline of events covered by the Dark Hunter books? I'm having to dig through for ages and events and it's a bit time consuming.
Also, I had to repost the paring poll so if you haven't voted again please do. So far people seem to want Harry/Tabitha the most.
Question for another fic: how do you describe Loki's costume, the version with the coat and no helmet? Please let me know. I can't work out how to describe it.
Can anyone do the same for the B5 uniforms when they went independent, the black ones, and the ranger uniforms?
Chapter 4
Julian hesitated as he saw Chares kneeling before a small alter, backing off to allow him privacy in his prayers. After a few minutes Chares stood and Julian realised it was an alter to Hecate, the other man's Mother.
"Julian?" Chares asked as he spotted the other demigod.
"I am sorry for interrupting your prayers."
"There's no problem, I was done." He shrugged.
"Have you met her, your Mother?" Julian couldn't help asking. He'd prayed and prayed when he was younger, yet Aphrodite had never appeared before him, only his half-brother, Eros.
"Once, a few years ago. I was possibly dying at the time," he admitted as they moved to sit at one of the camp fires. "I thought she was the most beautiful person I'd ever seen." He smiled and Julian hung on his every word. "I don't know if she saved me, or if I managed to heal on my own but either way I pulled through."
"I've never met her," Julian admitted softly. "She has never once come to me, just sent gifts with Eros."
"I'm sorry." Chares threw a companionable arm around Julian's shoulders and Julian lent into the hold, they were family in that they were both demigods and it felt nice to have family that wanted him around. He knew Hecate and Aphrodite weren't related but that was alright.
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The fighting over Thebes had been dragging on for weeks. Three days ago, the Commander, Ariston, had fallen and the army had panicked, scrambling to retreat but Julian had grabbed the fallen man's sword and rallied them, Chares and Iason rushing to his side. Now the army followed Julian as they fought to keep the Romans from retaking Thebes. Chares ducked under the blow and drove his sword into his attackers' side before turning to face another. He looked around briefly, spotting Julian easily but he frowned when he realised the cavalry was in shambles and he couldn't see their Commander, Heiron, anywhere. If the cavalry routed then they would be in serious trouble. He brought his fingers to his lips and let out a specific whistle. In their camp Sirius' ears pricked up at the familiar call and he broke into a gallop. Chares mounted quickly and rode for the cavalry lines. "Hold together!" he yelled and soon they had rallied around him. He led a charge into the Roman ranks, taking some of the pressure off Julian.
Chares dismounted once back in camp, relieved to see the end of the battle. He gave Sirius a quick rub down before allowing one of the young men to take him to be fed and watered. He made his way to the command tent and found Julian just outside. As soon as the Commander saw him he grinned. "You saved the day out there my friend."
"I did what anyone else would have. If the cavalry had fallen apart we would have been in real trouble." He shrugged it off and they entered the tent, Iason nodding in greeting to his oldest friend and commander.
Julian took control as they went over battle reports, lists of the dead and injured, and reports from the scouts. "Chares, I am placing you in command of the cavalry. You managed to pull them together in the middle of a battle, something few could have done. We've pushed them back far enough, it appears Scipio Aemilianus has called for reinforcements against Carthage. Which means that we are going home for now." That got a reaction, they'd been fighting for eight months straight now and the rest would be very welcome. The meeting broke up and they headed off to find food and sleep. "If I have any say you will be the permanent commander. Then again I may not be made a permanent commander either."
"Julian, her Majesty would be crazy not to confirm you." Chares slapped his shoulder. "Come on, time to eat."
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Chares knelt beside Julian as their Queen stepped down from her throne, braiding first Julian's and then Chares' hair at the temple into the three thin commander braids. Julian's, she tied off with her own personal beads, a great honour indeed. Chares received generic beads at the end of his but he didn't mind at all. The promotion was a great honour on its own, one he had not expected. She retook her thrown and they stood to salute her before joining the feast.
"He can't deny you now my friend, wearing the Queen's beads and Commander of the Macedonian army." Iason grinned and Julian smiled.
"Iason's right, I expect we shall be invited to a wedding soon." Chares grinned as well as they ate.
"Will you be returning to Athens?" Julian asked and Chares shrugged.
"Nothing to return for. Besides, why go to Athens when there should be a wedding in Sparta soon?"
"I will be glad to have both of you with me." Julian admitted. He had a villa of his own now in Macedon where he would bring Penelope to live but first they would have to return to Sparta in order to wed.
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Chares stood with Iason as Julian and Penelope said their vows to each other. With his position as Commander of the Macedonian Army he had to have a more public wedding than was traditional for Spartans. He hadn't snuck off to meet Penelope in the dark of night to consummate their relationship. Instead her father had publicly handed her over to Julian before a mixed crowd of Spartans and Macedonians who had come to see their Commander wed. It was obvious Julian and Penelope were in love, although there was something about her reactions that had Chares confused but he ignored the feeling to be happy for his friend.
Soon they were reclining at the wedding banquet, feasting and drinking until Julian and Penelope left for their first night together as husband and wife. In the morning, they would leave for Macedonia and Julian's estate there, Chares leading a section of the cavalry to ensure their safety during the journey.
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Chares looked over as Julian was approached by two other men, one not much younger than Julian himself. They had been back on the frontline for three weeks now, Rome had crushed Carthage and turned its attention back to the Macedon.
"Here he is, Prince Kyrian of Thrace. If anything happens to him payment shall be taken from you. Nephew, do not dishonour our family."
"Yes, Uncle Zetes." Kyrian answered in annoyance before the older man left him in the camp. "You're Julian of Macedon?" He looked over the other man, they were both tall and blonde but there was something more to Julian.
"I warn you now Prince Kyrian, your title will not give you safety in war. Chares!" he called and Chares moved to approach his Commander.
"Sir?"
"Get Kyrian situated and make sure he knows where everything is." Julian ordered and Chares led him away.
"Is he always so abrupt?" Kyrian asked once they had moved far enough away.
"The Roman Army arrived at a village before us yesterday. We only finished tending the dead this morning." He explained and saw Kyrian's eyes widen. "In here." He held the tent flap up and Kyrian ducked inside. "You will be sharing a tent with me. Stow your gear and then I will introduce you around." He ordered and then left the tent so the other man could get settled in. the last thing they needed was some spoiled princeling but Kyrian seemed to be the one behind Thrace's support so perhaps he would be a good addition to the army. Only time would tell.
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Julian didn't look up as he felt a familiar presence at his back. "Is his Highness settled?"
"He does have a name." Chares answered as he took a goblet of wine.
"Mmm."
"I put him in my tent." He answered as Iason joined them. The Spartan was Julian's oldest friend but Chares sensed there was something…off. Like Julian was keeping something dark from the man he called brother but Chares had never asked. He was Julian's Calvary Commander and friend, practically family as both were demigods, but this was something Julian would never speak of.
"Why do we have to take in some arrogant Thracian Prince?" Iason asked.
"He needs to learn war and Thrace is an ally." Julian straightened from the map and the three men began discussing their strategy.
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Kyrian hesitated as he saw the two men sparing. The strength and precision behind their blows….it was like nothing he had ever seen before. He'd heard the rumours but hadn't believed them…now he was thinking they really were true. The Macedonian Army could boast two demigods among its ranks, both Commanders. He knew he'd had the best training available and yet he didn't think he could match either man.
TBC…
