A chill ran up my spine. I looked around, my hazel eyes scanning the surroundings.
The ground was covered in a thick fog. I could hardly see my feet and I dragged them so I wouldn't step into any holes and break an ankle.
It was chilly this morning, but it wasn't the morning at the same time. The sky was still dark and no moon appeared in the sky. I appeared to be standing on the battle field. Except, it was cleared of any bodies. I thought I was alone until I saw a figure on the ground. It appeared to be crawling towards me and I wasn't sure if I should fear it or go to it. My curiosity got the best of me and I slowly approached the figure.
"Lady Alexandria!" The figure sighed in pain. I quickly rushed over to it and turned the body over in my arms. Astinos's child-like face was filled with pain. I looked down and saw a huge gash was opened on his stomach. I pressed a hand to his wound, trying to stop the blood flow. His blood now covered my hands.
"Astinos!" I yelled, getting his attention. "The others? Where are the others?" I asked shaking him slightly. He weakly opened his eyes.
"The corner... They're around the corner..." He replied weakly.
"I'll be right back, don't leave me, Astinos!" I promised as I set him down gently. I quickly ran around the corner to find the most horrific sight possible. The Persians had ambushed us in the night and most of our men lay dead on the battle field. Only five were left: my father, Captain Artemis, Stelios, Dilios, and Daxos.
The five men continued to fight but they soon became surrounded.
Xerxes stepped out of the shadows, covered in a shimmering gold robe. I stood there alone among the dead bodies of my allies. Xerxes smiled an eerie smile in my direction.
There was no hope left. The Persian soldiers had knocked away my companions' weapons and were threatening them with their sharp blades. Xerxes walked into the center of the ring. His eyes locked with my own pair the entire time.
"Join me, lovely Alexandria, become mine and you can rule all of Greece or I will kill your remaining Spartans. You must choose..." I looked into the group. My eyes fell upon my father and he shook his head at me, telling me to deny any offer the Persian made. Xerxes apparently decided I was taking to much time and became impatient.
"Fine, you will be mine whether you wish to or not! Kill them." He said walking out of the circle. I screamed as I watched them spear and gut my friends and father. My eyes rested upon Stelios.
Our eyes met and I felt all the happiness leave the world. I slumped to my knees as I watched him get his throat sliced. Tears began streaming down my face. Why did I feel like this? It felt like my heart was being ripped from my chest and I was being forced to watch it cut to bits. What were these feelings?
Did I... Did I love him?
Suddenly, someone started shaking me violently. My eyes burst open and I screamed loudly. Xerxes was right there smiling that eerie smile of his, his face inches from mine. I screamed again and shut my eyes tightly, hoping, praying to the Gods that he would go away.
I opened them again and instead saw the concerned faces of Dilios and Astinos peering down at me.
"Lady Alexandria! What's wrong!?" Dilios asked as he placed a cold hand on my burning cheek. It felt good against my hot skin.
"It... It was just a dream..." I breathed as I tried to convince myself that it actually had been a dream. I immediately put my arms around Dilios's neck and buried my face in the crook of it, wanting comfort in my loyal friend. His body went tense but I soon felt a rough hand place itself gently upon my back.
"It was only a dream..." My old friend assured me as he moved his hand in a circular motion. Stelios quickly rushed over and stood between them.
"What happened? Is she alright?" He asked with deep concern flooding into his eyes.
"It was just a dream..." I said as gently pushed away from Dilios. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and slowly stood up. The sun was about to rise and the sky had turned a wonderful shade of orange.
Telling my friends that I was alright, I walked out to a nearby cliff that overlooked the ocean. It was around a corner and it was private, a nice place to think. I stood there for a moment, looking down into the dark waters before I squatted down and let my head fall helplessly into my hands.
What did that dream mean? Was it just a nightmare or was it a sign from the Gods? Running a hand through my hair, I took a deep breath, trying to calm the wild things that were entering my mind. War was trying to tear me apart from the inside out.
Interrupting my thoughts, I heard stones clatter and the sound was accompanied by footsteps. Just to be safe, I laid my hand on the hilt of my sword. The footsteps drew nearer and I quickly drew my sword and faced the other person who had dared to join me.
There stood Stelios, holding his hands up with a slight smirk on his face.
On edge, I placed my sword back into its sheath and turned back to the rising sun. It had just started to rise and I could already feel the heat of the sun that promised it to be a warm day.
A single tear fell from my eye as I thought about the strange dream and how I felt about it. Death. So much death.
Stelios came to stand at my side, watching the sun rise as well.
"A new day..." He said quietly. We stood in silence for a moment, a warm breeze passing over the both of us. "Are you sure you're okay? You don't look okay..." He said, peering over my features to check for any signs that I was in fact, not okay. "I'm worried about you. I've never heard you scream like that before..." He said, turning his eyes back to the sea.
I didn't even know anymore. I had met Stelios eleven years ago when we sparred in the heat of the day. We were both so young and naive. So youthful.
Finally all the emotion started to build up and I couldn't take it anymore. I started to sob and I placed my face back into my hands. I remembered his young, handsome face and how the sun fell upon it. I remembered his smirk when he was successful in making me laugh. Another sob wracked through me. I didn't want the dream to become a reality.
To my surprise, I felt two large arms wrap around me and I was pulled into his strong chest. He rested his chin on the top of my head, just letting me cry.
The first time I cried, I was five and I fell down a flight of stairs. I had cracked three ribs. And even then, I did not feel this much pain. This was inner pain, emotional pain. Love had never come to visit me so why was it crashing down my gates now? The next time I cried, it was because of betrayal. My father had left me alone in Sparta. And now, this pain was tugging on my heart strings and I didn't know how to handle it. I buried my face in his toned chest and it brought my comfort.
"Alexandria..." He whispered as he tried his best to calm me down. I slowly raised my face and he looked at me and smiled. He took his rough thumb and pushed away the tears from my face.
"I'm ashamed of myself..." I said looking up at him. He did not say anything but he had a questioning look in his eyes. "There is no room for softness in Sparta…" I said, another tear rolling down my cheek. He quickly wiped it away.
"Well, this isn't Sparta is it?" He murmured with a small smile. I nodded slightly before looking away from his steely blue gaze. "I don't like seeing you unhappy, Alexandria..." He said softly.
He cupped my chin and pulled my face closer to his. Gently brushing his lips against mine, the battle inside of me stalled momentarily. My inner turmoil had ceased at his lips' caress.
The tears stopped flowing down my face. I blinked a few times, coming back to reality.
We stared into each other's eyes and then I melted in his arms. He easily caught me and supported my weight, wrapping his arms around my waist. He gently pulled me closer to him and he bent his head down to kiss me again. I kissed back this time and he smirked into the kiss.
I pulled away slightly. "Stelios, these feelings inside me... I don't know what to do about them..." I said pulling myself from his arms. "It's-It's just so sudden!" He looked back at me lovingly.
"Ever since that first day... When we sparred for the first time..." He said smiling down at me as he pulled me back into his arms. "And I had you pinned on the ground... When I looked into your eyes, my mind completely left my body. I was drowning in those dark pools of your's and you took the upper hand pinning me down... And at that moment, I knew that I was a goner. I was a love struck fool and I regretted swooning over you but I just couldn't resist!" He laughed before continuing. "It is a good thing that you are a Spartan or else we would have had a difficult battle between us if we met on the battle field!" He laughed again and looked to the sunrise. The sun had completely risen above the horizon and it illuminated his handsome face. His perfect face.
He took my hand in his. I liked the feel of his rough skin against mine. It felt oddly but wonderfully right. "Alexandria… I love-" He was cut off.
Astinos came running around the corner.
"Stelios! We're..." He stopped short and saw us holding hands. He stood there for a moment, confused, and then he burst out in laughter. "Stelios, you dog!" He said with a huge grin on his face. "I knew it would happen sooner or later!" He said running over to us. He took both of our other hands and joined them together. He let out another laugh before running off. "We are heading out soon! He called over his shoulder.
I just laughed at him and turned back to Stelios. He had a look of love in his eyes.
"Alexandria, I love you..." He said quietly, catching me off guard. He pulled my hands to his face and gently kissed my knuckles. "I love you to the heavens and back, my lady..." He said holding my hands and getting down onto his knees. I wondered what he was doing.
"Stelios-"
"Alexandria, I know that this is sudden and I know that you may not feel the same thing for me but will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?" He said as he looked up to me. I stood there, completely stunned.
In my heart, I knew the answer but my brain was thinking otherwise. Did I have time for love? Did I really need a man in my life to satisfy my thirst for human company? What would Father think?
I sighed and looked down at the stony ground. My mind swirled with the many emotions I was feeling right now. I leaned down and kissed his forehead.
"Alexandria, please give me an answer... I'm dying here..." He said, a look of pure agony on his face.
Should I really say yes? I hardly knew the man! But that was a lie. I had known him my whole life and we were friends but not lovers. Something inside me told me he was different though. I took a deep breath in and looked down at him.
"Yes."