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The Siege of Athens

I don't own Christmas

Despite his failure with Xena, Callisto, and Iolaus, Hercules was confident in his victory at Athens. The city had been burning for two days and the catapults had wreaked havoc on the city. The self-proclaimed warrior princess of Thebes had provided many of those catapults when she arrived with her army. The combined forces of Hercules and the Corinthian Army along with Selenta and the Theban Army had affectively brought Athens to its knees. With the city teetering on collapse, Hercules and Selenta launched battering rams to destroy the gates and drive the nail into the coffin that held the great city of Athens.

8

The rams slowly approached the Athens city gates as general Celabon stoop atop with his sword raised high above his head. The Athenians launched a storm of arrows at the rams below them, killing a few of the soldiers that were pushing them forward. The enemy soldiers replied with a volley of their own at the Athenians. The general and the rest of the men duck as the arrows flew over their head.

The general shouted "Fire!" The men stood up and fired as the General himself grabbed a bow from a fallen soldier; he then took aim and released his arrow. The arrow soared through the air and made it to the throat of an enemy soldier as another arrow from another Athenian soldier crashed into the chest. The Corinthian soldier fell dead.

Another volley from the Corinthians and the Athenians ducked again. This time the volley was more affective as several Athenians were pierced by their enemy arrows, causing a couple to fall of the wall and to their deaths. The Athenians stood up again and fired another round as a late bowshot from a Theban archer nailed the General in the shoulder. The Theban was unable to duck as several arrows surged through his body.

Then a catapult shot from the army of Hercules impacted on the house behind them, sending rubble flying through the air with a few pieces careening into Athenian soldiers, killing them. Tired of taking causalities from the Athenians, the armies that were attacking Athens split their archers into two groups. One group would fire and then the other group would fire. The affect was to keep the Athenian archers down as it now became too dangerous to fire.

As the General dug the arrow out of his shoulder he felt a vibration on the wall. This meant that the ram had finally reached the gate. Other rams began to bang on the walls as well. The general peeked his head out and scanned below as a javelin unit began to approach the wall. The general gave orders "Forget the arrows and kill those men!" He pointed to the javelin unit below. The men rose despite the heavy arrow fire shot all their arrows at the Javelin unit.

The rain of arrows sent several men to the ground meeting their death immediately. The remaining survivors dropped their javelins and began to run as their allies showered their attackers with arrows. Despite the heavy fire the Athenian men shouted in glory as one of the enemy units was now in retreat. However the jubilation did not last as a catapult shot landed among them, directly in front of General Celabon. His body was thrown from the wall and into the city. He flew head first into a stone building, he died on impact.

8

Meanwhile in a secret tunnel below the city Cleomones and Conon move quietly to escape the raging battle above. Their goal was not saving their own asses, but rather to go out and get help. Athens had fallen, that much was clear, but they knew that the war wasn't over. Someone had to represent and avenge Athens in the coming war.

With each catapult shot dust rained to the ground as they moved with torch in hand. A couple hundred feet and they would be on the other side of the enemy army. From there they would enlist the aid of foreign armies to join their cause. However they were not aware that even as the siege continued, Sparta was already in the process of declaring war and a coalition was being built to combat Hercules and Thebes.

8

War council in Sparta

Kaleipus and Phantes entered Sparta as a delegation that represented the Centaur nations. Kaleipus represented the Corinthian Centaur nation while Phantes represented Tildas the great and the Arcadian Centaurs. They were angry at Hercules incursion on the lands of the centaur and the kidnapping of the adopted son of their leader, Kaleipus. While Tildas was not attacked by Hercules, they were close allies with the Corinthian Centaurs and had promised to defend them, just as they did ten years ago when the Destroyer of Nations attacked Kaleipus while seeking the Exxon Stone.

The Centaurs joined a coalition that was being built by Sparta which included the cities of Methone, Messene, Argos Mantinea, Petroe, and an assortment of volunteer forces from smaller cities in Greece. Argos was in the most direct danger from the army of Hercules. They were the first major city between Corinth and Sparta, Hercules would march through them, and their close ties to Centaurs also encouraged their support of the new coalition.

Athena herself, had at one time shied away to Olympus, but since her experience with Chaos, had chosen to act among the people. Now she was also present as an observer and as adviser to the Coalition. She also was the only representative of Athens until a mortal representative could be found. As a direct result the soldiers who serve at the temple Athena which were largely squads of archers pledged their support to the coalition. However she herself was not seated at the war council, one of her commanders sat in her place.

Athena was enraged at her brother Ares as he was behind this attack on Athens. However she remained unaware of the fact that Aphrodite was the real culprit in this war, nor did she know of the role that the god Chaos played in this little drama.

Athena was seeking justice for this act. Ares and Athena had feuded in the past, even coming to an occasion of open warfare but never like this. Never before had Ares so openly attacked her, and her people. Through Athens was still officially standing she knew it was already gone. Most of the buildings were in ruins and the city was burning. She was determined that she would get her retribution of Ares for this act.

The council discussed their first course of action which was the forming of the army to fight Hercules. King Kleomidas of Sparta declared he would not go to war unless the other states in the newly formed coalition provided soldiers for the war effort. He wasn't worried about Argos providing soldiers, they were already preparing for an invasion by Hercules, and the King knew that next major battle would be near there as well.

However, from the other cities he demanded soldiers. He had troops from the Centaurs and Athena herself, and volunteer forces from the smaller cities. But Methone, Messene, Mantinea and Petroe were non-committal.

The King spoke aloud after minutes of bickering, "Does Sparta have to fight all of your battles! Do you doubt our resolve? What about Thermopylae when we the Spartans saved you Persia? That was the last time we were going to save your asses and get no aid in the process.

I'll tell you this, and I'm speaking to you Mantinea, I'll gladly let Hercules destroy your city if you don't provide troops. And if that is not enough get your attention then Messene and Petroe can deal with Hercules without us also.

I declare here and now that Sparta will only fight alongside cities that will fight for themselves. Who now refuses aid to our cause? Declare yourself! Raise your hand if you will sit back while we fight!" Not one hand rose. King Kleomidas then said "Then we all shall march on Hercules. My army will march tomorrow for Argos to join them and the Centaurs who are already preparing for battle as we speak."

8

Xena, Callisto, Iolaus and Gabrielle made way for the Amazon village which was northwest of Argos. Callisto rode Argo as a result of her foot injury.

Xena stopped the group and told them to remain were they were as Xena felt something disgustingly familiar. She headed to the other side of the trees where he appeared, "Ares I could feel you like slime and fungus on my body."

Ares replied with a sneer, "Gee Xena, you certainly know how to bring a god down."

Xena demanded, "What do you want?"

Ares smiled as he casually approached Xena, "What do you think of the war I've stirred up?"

Xena turned away from him in annoyance, "It is disgusting Ares. Many good people are going to die because of you."

Ares replied coldly, "Yes they will, and with the bloodletting Greece will be weaker than ever, and an even easier target for Rome. No more weak little city-states bickering over little things like a bunch of whiney morons. Just one government and one force of will. That was your dream once."

Xena mused, "Still going for the world domination thing. So how is Hercules working out you foul disgusting creature?"

"With that kind of talk, I don't think I'm gonna like you anymore," said a now cordial Ares.

Xena's voice raised, "You are a soulless bastard, Ares."

Ares replied, "Well. Anyway Hercules is not you but he is good. Ruthless, strong, decisive. Never thought he had it in him. Gotta thank Chaos"

Xena asked in surprise, "What do you mean?"

Ares smirked, "Chaos did something to his head, I don't know exactly what but it brought out a better side of him so to say."

Xena thought about it for second. It would explain a lot. She then said, "Ares, stop this. Hercules is a good man. You're destroying him."

Ares turned away, "What... Turning your superhero into someone like who you used to be? Is that it? He was so perfect and he saved you. Now he has become worse than you. He had it coming."

Xena scornfully replied, "Is all this about vengeance for turning me to good? Is that it? Getting back at him because he is turned me good? I hope you die Ares."

Ares breathed in deeply with anger, "What kind of petty God do you think I am?" Xena raised an eyebrow. Ares then backed away as he coldly stated, "Very well Xena, I will make sure Hercules kills you personally!" He disappeared.

Xena returned to the rest of her group as they continued towards the Amazon village.

8

Two hours later Cleomones and Conon emerged on the other side of the secret tunnel. Once outside they turned and looked upon Athens. Cleomones wept at the sight of it burning. Even from here safely out of the battle he could see the destruction. He swore upon Athena that Hercules and Selenta would die by his hand.