CLASH

CHAPTER 14

Artemis stomped towards Megara's apartments. She did not even bother knocking. She shoved opened the door and shouted,"Megara!"

Megara was sitting at a table looking at papers. She looked up to see her irate sister."One normally knocks,Artemis. Or have you forgotten your manners?But then again you never had much by way of breeding,have you?One never should expect better from an outsider."

Artemis ignored her jibe. Megara never made her forget she was not an original member of the tribe that the Goddess' had blessed. Artemis had come in as an orphaned child and it was only due to Circe's intervention that she had achieved immortality. She got straight to the point."My armor has been pilfered!"

Megara looked at her nonchalantly."Indeed?"

"Yes."

"That is unfortunate. You should have been more careful,Sister."

"I was careful!It was under lock and key and the only one to access,it apart from me,is the new leader."

Megara turned in her chair. She said dryly,"I am not sure I like your tone nor implication."

"Well,you will not like it when I tell you your favorite,Lacea,is missing !"

Megara's brow raised."My favorite?Whatever gave you that idea?" She picked up a pen and played with it. "So, you think Lacea stole your amour?"

"With help,yes. And what is more worrying is that she has left the province! I dread to think what she has in mind. Where she would she go?"

Megara said dismissively,"We don't know it is Lacea that stole your armor. You are worrying unnecessarily."

"Unnecessarily!That amour is worn only if one plans on taking on the will or strength of a god and...!Oh goddess!She wouldn't!"

Megara looked up slyly."What?"

"You do not think she will go after Superman?"

"Relax,Sister. I doubt she is that stupid."

Artemis frowned."Then where would she go?"

Megara had no chance to reply as there was a knock on the door. Megara called."Come."

A messenger entered. She bowed."Megara,I have news coming out of Themyscira "

Artemis stiffened. Something in her gut and,by the messenger's grave expression,she could sense the news was not good.

"It appears Lacea has made an assassination attempt on the Queen of Themyscira."

Artemis paled."What?"

The messenger continued grimly,"It seems it ultimately failed and she was captured and imprisoned. The Themysciran army is on high alert. It does not bode well."

Megara said coolly,"Have our Assembly gather. It looks as if this is war."

The messenger seemed to hesitate."War?But..."

Megara gave her a glare."You heard me!"

The messenger bowed,gave Artemis a concerned look, and withdrew. Artemis cried,"Are you insane?War?We cannot go to war!We must go and try to negotiate with them!Make recompense. Let Diana know that we honor the code!"

Megara interrupted icily,"No one is going to negotiate with them. Where is the Bana's sense of pride and self respect?No one is going to go crawling to that man-loving,slip of a girl."

Artemis face darkened."If I didn't know better I would say you helped Lacea to steal the armor and encouraged her to go after Diana."

Megara's eyes gleamed."What a wild imagination you have,Artemis. Why would I do that?"

"Oh,maybe because you want the Amazons to wipe each other out?"

Megara shook her head and laughed. Artemis fumed."You find this amusing?I am going to go to Themyscira and see what happened!Show Diana that this was not a decision of all the Bana!That Lacea acted in isolation and out of misguided hate!"

She turned to leave when a table shifted across her part. Artemis halted abruptly and she turned to see Megara standing and regarding her with a smile and folded arms. She made for the door. It slammed shut and would not open.

Artemis took out the dagger from her girdle."In the name of Neith,who are you?"

Megara just smiled and stepped back. The handle of the dagger grew hot. A raspy voice seemed to come from the shadowy recesses of the room."You are not going anywhere, Amazon."

Artemis gasped and had to drop the weapon. She turned to pick up a heavy brass urn and throw it at Megara. But before she could do so,some unseen force lifted the Amazon in the air and slammed her into a wall. Artemis groaned as the force held her upright against the wall. She choked and her eyes widened as emerging from the darkened recess was the ghostly figure of a hideously,deformed woman,with matted hair and ragged robes.

Artemis gasped."Magala!

The eerie wraith-like form of the old witch smiled."Not Magala. Ariadne."

"B-but you are dead! I was there when your heart was torn out. How ...?"

Magala had been an old,harmless,reclusive witch that had inhabited the mystical areas many years ago and none of the Amazons had realized that she had died mysteriously whilst casting a spell. Circe had used the opportunity to planted the soul of the vengeful Aridane,former jealous lover of Theseus,who had murdered Anitope,Hippolyta's sister over a millennium in Magala's body. Ariadne,equipped with Magala's knowledge and power, set strife between the two tribes and sparked off the second civil war between Themyscira and the Bana. The war had come to an end once the two tribes realized they had been manipulated by Circe and Ariadne had been killed by the Fury aka Helena Komastos. Artemis could still remember Hippolyta's face when Helena had tried to give the Queen the still beating heart of Magala. It had been one of dismay and disgust. The heart had been taken and carefully,out of respect to Magala,stored in a canopic jar and kept in one of the temples of Isis;and the Amazons had eventually, after several failed attempts over the years, restored Helena's fragmented mind. No one had thought of Magala nor Aridane as it was assumed both had long been deceased.

The ghostly figure sneered."Yes,I was sent to Tartarus to suffer in that hell. But as Fate would have it I found someone as bitter and vengeful as myself in your sister,Megara. When Ares attacked Themyscira,Hades had been disabled and it left the gates to Tartarus unmanned for some time. During this window of opportunity I escaped and returned to the land of the living. But I was a non-corporeal spirit. A wraith. Roaming this desert province,I found Magala's heart but there was no vessel for me to inhabit. I was drawn to Megara and she to me. We found we had a common enemy,in the new Queen of Themyscira. She is daughter and niece to my hated enemies,Hippolyta and Antiope. She is breaching all Amazon credo by bringing men onto paradise and to add insult to injury, she is bearing a child. A child for a male who was able to stand up to the God of War himself. Imagine the power that child could inherit. It could as powerful as a God of Olympus. That cannot be allowed to come to pass."

Artemis gritted."So you send Lacea to do what?Kill her?Kill the child?"

"In a manner of speaking. We thought to kill two birds with one stone. I get Diana's body to inhabit and her child would serve as the pure blood sacrifice we need to complete the ritual. But Lacea,the foolish creature,misused the power of the Shim'tar armor and got caught. Now we are forced to take take the tedious route and pretend we want to go to war."

Artemis' eyes clouded."Pretend?What do you mean?"

"Oh no,you know too much already."She waved her hand and slammed her to the ground hard. Artemis hit her head and laid unconscious.

Ariadne looked at Megara."It is up to you now,Megara,to divert the Bana and Themyscira whilst we go to our contingency plan."

Diana sat in her seat in the Senate and listened to her sisters argue back and forth what they should do with Lacea and what action should be taken with the Bana. She was still sore from yesterday. Her wounds had begun to close up but not completely. She listened grimly as some called for execution,and others a trial for Lacea. Then some felt they should send a delegation to speak to the Bana. Others believed that they had lost that option the day one of them raised a hand to murder their Queen.

Diana shifted slightly and looked across the room. Standing at the back ,arms folded,listening to the debate,was Superman. He normally would not have been allowed in. But for the first time in years Diana was deemed vulnerable. She was pregnant with his child,and still not mended fully after the assassination attempt, and his presence was welcomed by the majority. In any case,he would have flouted any rules of the Senate to be near her during this current level of threat .His expression was grave but when he saw her watch him,he seemed to nod at her almost imperceptibly,as if to remind her that he was there and he understood her dilemma.

She sighed inwardly. It was a comfort to have him. The night before he had held her whilst she slept. Keeping watch over her. She knew he had not slept one wink. In fact he was worse than Krypto. He would not even let her out his sight. She found herself recalling him fussing over her earlier that morning,as she got up to ready for the Senate session. He had been worse than her old nurse maid. He had virtually helped her to bath and dress,and force fed her,much to her amusement and exasperation. Her lips were turning up slightly as she recalled how he had made her laugh despite the gravity of the situation.

"Clark ,I'm not an invalid,you know,"she had exclaimed when he had poured some of the healing draught on a spoon and put it to her lips. Epione had brought it for her but she hadn't been too keen on it as it tasted foul.

"Fine then. Now stop acting like a kid and drink your medicine."

"And if I don't want it?"

"Oh,I have ways and means. Martha Kent was not my mother for nothing."He pinched her nose and she gasped and opened up her mouth and down it went.

Diana coughed and gasped,"Fiend!"

He laughed unrepentant."See it wasn't that bad,was it?" He offered her a napkin to wipe her lips.

She snatched it off him."Oh,one day your turn will come and when it does..."

He had leaned over her with a mischievous grin."When it does I do hope you help me bathe and dress too."

Both of them had gotten somewhat distracted after that and if it had not been for Epione's timely arrival,she would have definitely been made late for the meeting.

She now looked down at her abdomen and her hand touched it. She closed her eyes. The Fates had been kind. It could have been a different story today. She did not know what she would have done if she had lost this child within her.

"Your Majesty?What say you?"

Diana opened her eyes. Time for her to speak. She stood up and faced them.

"I know you are all upset and angry. That you want to see Lacea punished for her actions. I know she is showing no remorse and I cannot truly understand why she would be so hostile,even if the Bana have chosen to break ties with us. However, over four months ago this same woman and her Bana sisters stood alongside us and fought Ares. They bled to keep this land safe and for us to enjoy peace and freedom. We owe part of our victory to them and we must never forget that. I know Artemis well and she would never allow anyone to take her armor. It is my instinct that Lacea did this independently. We owe it to the goodwill and cooperation they have shown us in the past to go to them and find out what went wrong before we think of just moving the army out. I propose we seek an audience first and then we can put Lacea on trial once the facts are known. It maybe that the Bana will want us to send her to them for punishment if she truly did this without their sanction."

Many nodded their heads. This seemed sensible and moderate and in keeping with Diana's pragmatic but wise approach.

Cressida asked,"Whom do you propose to go to seek this audience out?"

"I would like to go..."

There were protests all around. Diana raised her hand for silence."I know,I know. Much as it irks me , I can't just go into their province after yesterday. So,what we need are volunteers to spearhead the negotiations."

Cressida nodded."I would like to volunteer ,my Queen."

Mnemosyne added,"As will I."

Two other sisters,Phythia and Thea, added their voices.

Diana looked at them gratefully."Very well, you four will go. We must also have the army ready and waiting on the border just in case they do want to fight. That is my proposal. I suggest we take a vote."

Penelope looked around."Sisters?Those in favor of her Majesty's plan,please vote now."

Diana's motion was approved with a two thirds majority. The Senate was about to disassemble when Diana called for them to stop a few moments longer. She looked at them with some hesitancy and cleared her throat.

"Sisters,I need to tell you one more thing. Two weeks ago Superman asked me to marry him and I told him no."

There was an instant buzzing around the room. Clark straightened. His brows drawn. Was Diana crazy to bring this up here? He winced,waiting for the inevitable backlash.

She looked around the room ,meeting their curious eyes with earnest ones."Some may wonder why I said no. Well,I was thinking of the Senate and the Bana. Of the fact that marrying was not a good idea in that it was too soon after the war. I told him I did not want to be married,because it was a ritual of the outside world. Then yesterday happened. I nearly lost my life and this child that is within me. I have come to a decision and I am not asking the Senate for permission nor do I expect you to vote on this matter. It will not affect my overall commitment as Queen,that I promise you,but it will entail some changes."

Diana's eyes shifted to meet Clark's and she said softly,that only the women at the front could distinguish what she had said,"Kal,I don't know what will happen later today but if and when things stabilize, if you still want to marry me,I will be honored to accept your proposal."

There were broad smiles and some gasps. The women at the back looked somewhat confused as they had not heard what she had said.

"What?What did she say?"

"She said she will marry him!"

"Merciful Minerva!"

"Glory be to Gaea!"

Clark stood motionless and stared at her in astonishment. It was clear this was the last thing he expected. To have Diana turn his proposal back on him before the entire Themysciran Senate was not exactly the way he had anticipated her accepting his hand in marriage. He had estimated he would have to wait for a long time,maybe after the baby,and perhaps then she might have come around ….

He found he couldn't even speak. Again.

Say something Kent,stop gaping. Don't look around...Are they are all staring? Damn it,Diana,you sure know how to put a man on a spot. I bet this will go down in their archives. Superman was struck dumb when the Queen of Themyscira asked him if he still wanted to marry her...!

Penelope looked at his face and felt a wave of empathy for him. She rapped her gavel loudly."Sisters,I think it is time to withdraw. Allow the Queen and Superman to talk."

The Senate began to file out,some rather slowly,as they, like anyone who cared for their Queen, were also very interested in her love-life. Penelope and Phillipus hustled out the stragglers.

When the doors shut,Clark walked slowly towards her. She moved from her chair. They met in the middle of floor. He still seemed stunned. Diana said almost jokingly,"Say something,Clark,or else I will think you have changed your mind and what a fool that would make me."

He suddenly chuckled and drew her towards him in a warm embrace. "Woman,you must be the only one who has the ability to make me lose my powers of speech!That's twice now!First the baby. Now this. For a minute I was sure I was in some kind of strange dream...!Are you sure,Diana?"

She wrapped her arms around his waist."Yes,very sure. Last night just lying there with you made me realize that you have compromised so much for me and you ask little or nothing in return. I almost lost our child to prejudice and vendetta and I realized no matter what I do there will always be someone who will not like what course of action I have taken. Clark,you want to give our child your name and bind my life to your own in the eyes of the world,well then,so be it. If I have to marry you ten times over to show these bigots that I love you and nothing that they can do will change that,I will."

Clark mused drolly,"So essentially you are marrying me cause Lacea pissed you off?"

Diana smacked him on the chest."Clark!You know that is not true. I'm marrying you because you want to marry me."

He grinned."Oh,I'm not quibbling. I'll take you however I can get you."He bent and kissed her on the mouth as a seal to their covenant.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and laid her head on his broad shoulder,enjoying in that moment the sense of knowing, come what may, she had this man's love. They stood like that just holding each other silently yet contentedly.

Clark mused,"So when do we do the deed?"

She sighed."If we live to weather this storm then we can talk about a wedding ceremony."

He was about to say something when the shrieks seemed to blare overhead. Diana stiffened."Gaea!The Sentinels!"

They both flew up to a high window and looked out. The large eagles were circling and raising the alarm. The Man of Steel his super-vision and his super-hearing.

He said grimly,"I see the standard of the Bana,Diana. They are marching towards Themyscira. They are ten miles away."

She clenched her fists."Hera,I had hoped this could be avoided. I never believed they would take such an action."

Clark asked,"What will you do,Diana?"

She sighed heavily."We will have to meet them on the battle-field.".

Cressida looked at Diana as she donned her re-forged golden,winged,battle armor and joined the chorus of concerned sisters."Your Majesty,you cannot go into battle!"

Diana said calmly,"Cressida,a good warrior never lets her sisters go alone into battle."

Phillipus added grimly,"Most warriors,yes,but you were recently attacked and you are pregnant."

Diana looked at her unmoved."I am going to see if we can avoid a fight,Sisters. Maybe we can broker some settlement. I cannot believe they would be so reckless to come. Besides the battle armor itself is very strong. It will protect the baby from any blunt force trauma if I am attacked."

"That maybe but it does not mean you can't be hurt."

"I know,and I promise I will not engage anyone if I can help it. I will fall back if we go into full-scale battle. I am hopeful we can still try to avoid bloodshed."

Cressida looked at Superman."Are you letting her do this?It's your child too. I vouch you cannot happy "

Superman said dryly,"Don't think I haven't tried,but bar me tying her up with her own lasso there is no stopping her."

Diana gave him a wry smile. Before Epione, Cressida or Phillipus had come into her chambers,she and Clark had a bit of a heated argument. Clark wanted her to stay behind and she had roundly refused. There was no way she was going to sit in the Palace whilst her sisters faced the Bana. He had even wanted to call in for back-up via the League but Diana had been adamant. There was a warrior's code she must adhere to and that was to keep the fight fair and free from outside interference. Clark knew that once she put her mind to something she was very stubborn and he had to admit that she had a point in that the armor was durable and if anyone could try to defuse a situation it would be her. Plus he had every intention of watching her like a hawk.

Phillipus sighed."It is useless,Cressida. She is determined. Very well,but your Majesty would do well to fall back the minute hostilities begin."

Diana nodded and she took up her mother's sword and slipped it its scabbard and hook her arm in the shield."Let's go."

The two sides assembled on a plain five miles away from the palace. They were facing each other across the large battlefield. Diana and Phillipus,under the watch of Superman,rode their mounts towards the middle of the battle field where they met Megara and a fellow sister. Megara was surprised to see Diana. That she would risk coming in her condition and even further seek to prevent hostilities made her regard her with suspicion. She saw Superman's red cape in the distance. And was that a flying dog at his side?No doubt he was listening to every word and seeing every action. Trying to attack Diana in the open would never work. They had to bide their time.

"Megara,can both sides not sit and discuss this?I am willing to come to some sort of compromise," Diana pleaded,swallowing her warrior's pride for sake of peace.

"Even after what Lacea tried to do?"

"Yes,I think she was misguided and angry. I swear we will give her a fair trial."

"Indeed?How magnanimous,but it matters little to me what you do with her. What I want is something else."

"What?"

"If you are willing to renounce that man and rid yourself of his child we may consider peace-talks."

Diana's eyes hardened."That is out of the question."

"Then there is nothing to discuss,"she shrugged and turned her mount away.

Diana tried to detain her to get more information,"Wait!Where is Artemis?Did she give Lacea her armor?Did the Bana sanction assassination?"

Megara said coldly,"I will see you on the battle-field."She turned and galloped back to her troops.

Phillipus looked at Diana."I am sorry,your Majesty.I t looks as if a battle there will be."

Diana said mournfully,"Look at the troops on both sides. We are down by numbers and have many novices in the ranks. This will not end well."

Phillipus said,"Fall back,my Queen,and let the troops do their duty."

Lacea sat sullenly in her cell. She had been stripped of the armor and given a plain shapeless shift to wear. She had refused to have her wounds attended to and had kicked away the plate pushed under the bars of her prison. The guard on duty had been sarcastic and told her she was lucky she was even being fed. If it had been left to many of them Lacea would have been six foot under by now for trying to kill the Queen or at least flogged.

Lacea did not utter a word. She just turned her back to face the stone wall and watched the high barred vent and waited. Night came and went. She saw dawn break and the light change. It was some hours when she heard the alarms and she smiled. The Bana were going to attack as planned. She could hear the guards hurrying along the corridor as the horns blew for a call to arms.

Lacea rushed to the bars and shook it. It was solid and strong. There was no getting out. She swore under her breath and looked around to see if there was anything she could use. She tried pushing the wooden pallet against the bars but to no avail. She was a prisoner whilst her sisters were going to war.

"Damn!"she cried and sank upon the pallet.

A cold voice mused,"Wishing you were out there?"

Lacea looked up to see the guard looking at her with derision. Lacea said nothing. The guard continued,"No matter what happens today out there,you will rot in this cell,Lacea of the Bana-Midghall. I wish I was out there too,but I have to remain here and guard traitors like you."

Lacea's eyes burned with anger. She snapped,"I am not the traitor!Your precious Queen is!She went against all our teachings. You have all been brain washed. Allowing her to bring her lover and bear his child!You pollute the entire system."

The guard said icily,"The system was wrong. Themyscira was stuck in the past and refusing to change. We support our Queen,and our troops are going out there to fight for her and our chosen way off life. If you had not let a mere dog defeat you,you may have been with your sisters. Imagine losing to a mere animal while wearing the armor of the Shim'tar as well. What a disgrace that must be."

"You will regret your insolence."

"I hardly think you are in a position to threaten me...I am...Argggg..."The guard held her throat as if she was trying to stop being choked. Lacea stood up in confusion and some alarm. A voice seemed to come out of nowhere.

"Open the cell."

Lacea looked and saw the ghostly outline of a hag .She backed away in fear. Spluttering the guard obeyed and the door to the cell swung open. Lacea then saw the woman's head slam into the bars. She fell unconscious to the floor. Ariadne looked at Lacea."Come here,Amazon, and stop gaping. We have work to do."

Lacea gulped."Who...?What?Are you not the old witch?"

"No time for that. Megara is diverting the whole Amazonian army. We can now take down the Queen."

"What?"Lacea slowly stepped forward.

"Hurry and put on her clothes. We want no one stopping you where you will be going,"Ariadne gestured impatiently.

Lacea hesitated."Megara knows of you...?"

"If I had a body I would not have to be wasting precious time talking to foolish girls. Yes, Megara knows of me. I am Ariadne. I inhabited the witch Magala's body when I was killed in the last civil war. I am here to help the Bana and seek my revenge by killing Diana of Themyscira and taking over her body. You failed to assassinate her so we followed through with the another plan."

Lacea bent and began to undress the guard and put on the gear."I could have killed her but for that alien hound. Even now, it is still on Themyscira and I believe it's master,Superman,is here as well. You cannot hope to touch the Queen with them around. The Shim'tar armor is strong but can defeat Superman."

Ariadne said dismissively,"We do not want the Shim'tar armor.I have a better plan. Armed with Magala's knowledge of witchcraft, I can summon something that will distract this Superman long enough so you can slay Diana of Themyscira."

Diana met Superman and Krypto at the back of the main body of troops. He looked at her dismayed expression."I take it she refused?"

Diana nodded."It seems there will be a war,whether we want to fight or not."

Superman said gravely,"Diana,I can settle this conflict before it begins. One word from you..."

She shook her head."No,Kal,I will not have it be said you interfered in this. Perhaps you could subdue some element of the Bana with your powers but it will not change their reasons for going to war. In fact,it will only reinforce and justify their reasons to hate me and you. This must be settled on the battlefield. My sisters are warriors and,the Bana most of all,see combat as the only means of settling matters. The language of war means the survival of the fittest. Who ever loses must surrender and then and only then will there be concession."

Clark remarked,"It's absolute madness to shed blood to prove one is worthy. This is one side of the Amazons I have never gotten comfortable with,Diana."

"I know that. But you see I was born on Themyscira and had the fortune to see the world and meet many other cultures and peoples. To open my mind and expand my experiences. They have not had that,even after allying themselves with us. Their history has been darker than Themyscira's and they have always been uneasy about men and the outside. If only I could join the battle..."

He shook his head."Oh no,you will not. Phillipus said I was to keep you out of it and that I will do."

She sighed and clenched the reins tightly."I feel so helpless though!"

"You will just have to make do with watching and hearing me tell you what is going on for now."

She was about to answer the sound of something heavy seemed to shake the ground. Diana gasped."What was that?"

Krypto growled and barked. Superman turned and his jaw tensed.

Emerging from the bowels of the earth, in one part of the battle-field,heedless of the fighting Amazons,was a gigantic reptilian creature with many heads. The smell of toxic fumes filled the air,causing Amazons nearest to the huge chasm to gag and fall to the ground,blinded and poisoned by the venom that seems to be oozing form the creature's eyes. The ground around it seemed to change into swamp and Amazons began sinking to their deaths.

Diana gasped."Hera,the Hydra!But how?My sisters!"

She was about to withdraw her sword and take to the air when Superman said,"No!Stay put,Diana. Please. The air near it is poisonous."

"But Kal...!"

"I will go and help them. Remember,our baby."

She seemed to struggle but conceded."Be careful,Clark."

He squeezed her hand and looked at Krypto."Watch Diana." Krypto barked in the affirmative.

He flew off and Diana watched in as he went to face the mythical creature. The Hydra lived in Lake Lerna many eons ago. It had been killed by none other than Heracles himself. How could it have been resurrected?Unless by some powerful magic and...

Diana did not get to even finish her thought when Krypto suddenly bared his teeth and she sensed danger approaching from behind. She spun around in time to see a figure flying towards her. Diana's eyes widened. The figure had a javelin and it was hurled at her at an alarmingly high speed. Diana pulled out her sword swiftly and reined Ajax in. She sliced the javelin into two. The figure pulled out a large spiked mace on a chain and was coming at her. Diana could see the attacker was wearing Hippolyta's Sandals of Hermes and the Gauntlet of Atlas.

Diana's face twisted in dismay and rage. The Gauntlet of Atlas and the Sandals of Hermes had been placed under a guarding spell in the Hippolyta's tomb. It meant two things. Something or someone with powerful magic had counteracted the high priestess,Niobe's abilities and seized it and her mother's tomb had been desecrated!

Diana took to the air and lifted her sword in anticipation. She gritted as the mace narrowly missed her head and wrapped itself around her sword and she pushed against the attacker. She gasped as she saw the the face of Lacea leer at her.

"This time I will make sure and finish you off,man-lover!"

Author's note...In the second WW series (Post-Crisis) a civil war had indeed been sparked off by Circe using the body of the witch Magala and having it inhabited by Ariadne,former lover of Theseus. Ariadne hated Antiope, Hippolyta's sister and was responsible for her death and in mythology Theseus had been a bit of a bastard to her. He deserted her even after she helped him in Minos and broke his promise and went on to marry another. So she has reasons to hate Diana and men in general. Megara and Lacea were easy to manipulate because of their embittered and bigoted minds.