.So after playing around on Google maps I found that it would actually take one day to get from the mouth of the Acheron to Arta...go figure. And it would take aproximatly one week to get from where Thrace was (which would be somewhere between Turkey, Greece, and Bulgaria) to Argos. This is straight walking without rest. So we will say that it will take close to a week and a half to get from Thrace to Argos due to the horses. As far as Arta to Argos, going through Athens would be about four days, Ill say a week because its a group of men and horses traveling.
To Starla: I have no idea how she is going to be when she reunites with Draco and Solon to be honest. I pretty much throw problems at her and try to stick with her character and she changes on me. I would hope she is on good terms, they obviously care a lot about each other. The only one I would be concerned with is Ares and Im sure he is going to be an ass about it. As for Nisse, I really like her. Solon, Draco, and Nisse make a good team.
Unknown Chapter 21 - Like Starlight
Arta was a small village nestled in the large bend of the Arachthos river. It wasn't much in the way of temples or mansions that you would typically find in a place like Athens or Argos, but it had small alters to worship the Gods in each little house. Most of the villagers were preparing their evening meals when the regiment came. The sun had not yet gone below the horizon as Eurydite ordered them to make camp on the other side of the river away from the village. She did not think it wise to bother them much especially since there were children around.
Dismounting her horse she looked around the wooded area near the banks and saw that it would be a good spot to stay until the other regiment came to meet. It had only been two days since they had set out from the Acheron and now there was another five days to Athens another two or three to Argos. It would've been faster to go by sea, but there were not enough ships to carry two inland regiments with horses.
"Make sure everyone gets fed tonight. Try not to disturb the village if you can help it." She said to Zacheus as she walked through the pines to relieve herself as the regiment began to set up camp. The problem with being here is that she also had mortal needs. In the Underworld, she did not need to eat or sleep much because she drew off of the realms power to survive, however when she came back she needed food and water.
Walking about the pines gave her peace that she needed away from the men and it gave her solitude, which her father often said was a way to keep sanity in the realm of the dead. Before she had left he had been just as cold as ever, but with a hint of pride in his eyes for her. He had taught her to hide everything inside so no one could see her and she was thankful for it. There was only one time that she was down there that he truly opened to her and that was the day she trudged her way down there herself. After that, he had not shown her any love again, at least not any gestures like that.
In the distance a head of her she saw a flash of white running through the trees like a flutter. She knew what it was before she could even take a breath as she hid behind the trunk of a pine tree to watch as the flutter of white moved about in the distance. It was a creature so rare that only Gods could see it and if a mortal saw it, it was because that mortal was pure. It was usually young girls who saw it and it would only come to them when they were in sorrow. Perhaps it was fitting that she see it in her sorrow.
The creature lifted its head in her direction, the pearly horn on its forehead gleaming in the light of the dusk. Eurydite stepped out from her hiding spot and bowed deeply to the creature in respect and even if she was the daughter of Hades, the creature bowed to her as well before cantering off into the forest with its white coat gleaming as the sun disappeared.
She walked deeper into the wood as the sky became littered with stars. In her heart, she hoped to see her husband, but her mind wanted to keep him away from her. Ares, as much as she loved him, was an Olympian and her enemy. He did not know she had risen from Tartarus yet and she would like to keep it that way. However, she had no doubt he would be looking for her if he were not busy with Thrace and the Athenians. There were other things at stake now and those things were the freedom of men from the wrath of the Gods.
She gazed at the sky for a while from beneath the trees before heading back in the direction of where the regiment was setting up camp. She took her time going back and enjoying the solitude in the darkness. It was silent for sure, save for the sounds of locus.
When she returned to the camp she found the men had already pitched the tents and began cooking their meals. She herself wasnt very hungry so she settled on drinking wine instead. Perhaps she would sleep well that night, but as she sat on a log and watched the camp come alive with the men walking from one place to another and back, she felt anxious again. A rattle in her bones made her want to move again, but she would wait until most of the company were asleep to do so. For now she just sat in silence while the men around her ate and relaxed.
"You do not eat My Lady?" Zacheus asked her as he came to sit with her on the log a good three feet away from her. She just looked at him and showed him her goblet of wine as a sign she was good.
"The wine suits me just fine tonight." She took a sip and stood up before going to the large tent Zacheus gave to her. She began to undo the breast plate of her armour, leaving her in the long chiton as she undid the greives around her calves and braces on her forearms.
She took a deep breath and let it out feeling free of the heaviness of the armour, but not the heaviness of her heart. It still bled for her son and it was still broken by her choice to let go of Ares. She truly loved him, still did, but they were on opposite sides now and she was unsure if he felt as she did about it. He was a god, he most likely moved on from her just like he moved on from Aphrodite to her. He wasn't here to give her any indication of it.
Eurydite moved to the cot that had been made for her and sat on it before laying down on her side. It wasnt as comfortable as a bed, but it would do. She had slept in worse places and conditions. She wasnt tired though. She was restless and she just wanted to be completely alone with her sorrows and thoughts. She laid there for what seemed like hours before sitting up again and standing to grab a linen sheet.
She walked out of the tent quietly and passed through the now silent camp to the banks of the river. This would not be a good place to be seen so she walked the banks until she was far enough away from the camp and began to strip down. Starting with the gold belt she wore and then the gold pins that held her chiton together. The warm air made the waters of the cool river feel fresh as she walked into its clear stream. The the light from the waning moon lit up the white marble banks as shs waded into the river until the water came to her waist. The current was lazy and slow as she sunk down beneath the surface to soak her hair.
When she rose up from the water Ares was standing twenty feet in front of her naked. She wanted to roll her eyes at him but she stayed stoic as he waded through the water to her. Neither of them said anything has he came closer and grabbed her by the hips, lifting her to grab on to him with her legs.
"Never leave me again." He said as she grabbed his face and began to hungrilly kiss him. No, they would never be enemies, but they were not on the same side and should she ask him to stay with her he would.
"I had to. I still have to." She whispered when their lips parted and she looked into his eyes as she ran her fingers through his hair. "This is something I have to do alone. Something that I was always supposed to do." He sunk with her into the water as he began to kiss her neck. "Oh don't do that." She hated it when he would tease that spot on her neck it always made her heat up with lust.
"Do what?" He asked her as he kept up the teasing until she moaned in pleasure. "This?"
"Yes that!" She almost slapped him away until she felt him reach below the water. The sensations that hit her after were enough to make her curl her toes.
"Or this?" Ares was playing a dangerous game now and she was allowing it as she had to bite her bottom lip to keep from crying out as he began to pleasure her. "We can't stay apart forever, you and I." He grunted out as his lips came down on hers again.
"Maybe, but we cant be together now either." She stopped him and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Someone will lose. It may be me or it may be men, but its guaranteed. You know why." She locked her lips with his again and allowed him to continue.
When Eurydite had enough of pleasure, her heart turned to sorrow as she was held in Ares' arms tightly. She was glad it was dark because she didn't think she could look into his eyes without seeing their son. She had laid her head on his shoulder as he held her and stroked the back of her head.
"I saw him you know." She said softly as the water flowed around them. by now the cool water wouldve chilled mortal men to the bone, but they were not mortal. Ares only hummed at her confession. "My father showed me before I came back."
"I sometimes look for him, but Melinoe has him hidden well." He kissed the top of her head. "I wonder if he looks like you."
"He is black of hair, pale, and he has your eyes." She sighed at the last part feeling overwhelming want and need to see her son again. Her Lycus. "He is a strong and smart little boy. I know he will come back to me one day, but it doesn't help my heart now." She was about to say more when she saw the light of candles on the bank further down the river coming from the village. She rose off of him and watched as five women dressed in white veils proceeded several men.
"They go to bless the hunt." Ares told her quietly as she watched them cross at the shallow part of the river. "Five virgins who praise my sister Artemis lead the hunters to the alter in the forest."
"What are they hunting?" Eurydite asked as he stood to lead her to the bank.
"The Monoceros. There must be a sick child or a curse on the village. The horn can be used to cure either of them." He said helping her out of the water and onto the bank where her clothes were laid out. Picking up the black chiton and gold belt she began to dress as she realized she could not let the creature be hunted. It was here for a reason.
"I saw it in the woods around dusk, there is a reason it is here and I will find out why." She allowed Ares to dry her hair with the linen as she tied the belt on.
"It is best not to interfere, but you don't listen to anyone anyway." She kissed him before deciding to follow the virgins but hebcaught her wrist bringing her back to him. "Use your voice to lure the creature." He kissed her this time before letting her go and going back to Olympus.
Solon and Nisse sat around a fire thst Draco had made before he had gone off with a bow looking for a hare. They were almost to the small fishing village of Kavala, but it was best to arrive there in daylight. The young woman had not come forth with what happened to Eurydite yet, but he would wait until Draco returned to confront her about it.
"What have you got there?" Solon asked as she was picking through herbs that were in her pouch.
"A few herbs to flavor the hare. Sage and fennel mostly, but it takes the dryness from the meat." She smiled at him as she crushed some dry leaves in the palm of her hand and set them aside on a peice of leather.
"Your sisters could cook very well, I see you learned from them." He told her with a smirk as she handed him a small pouch filled with salts and he took a wiff, coughing as he held it away. "What is that?"
"Spice and salt. I traded a pearl for them. They come from the far east, further than any man from Greece has ever been." She giggled as he handed the pouch back to her with watering eyes. "In Thrace, men come from all corners of the world to trade. The man who traded with me was from a land called Qin in the far east."
"That is hard to believe. I have never heard of a land called Qin." Solon said with a bit of skepticism in his voice as she placed the pouch beside her next to the dry herbs.
"I had not either until I had spoken to the man. He was certainly not from Greece and could barely speak it. He was a kind man though, he gave me a root called ginsing and dried seahorse as well as the spice and salt." She said with wonder in her eyes and excitement in her voice. Ever the healer and still the sweet girl that had gone with them to the Island of Hephaestus.
"You certainly have come a long way, Nisse." Solon said as he began to set up a spit to roast a hare. "How long have you been on your own?" He snuck the question in on her, but he was curious.
"Two years." She was about to say more when Draco appeared with not one, but two hares in the light of the fire.
"I still dont know how you can see those bloodly things at night and still kill 'em." Solon said as the young man crouched down to begin skinning them.
"I learned from the best." Draco told the other man as he pulled his knife from behind his back to pelt the hares.
"We know. This is also why my wife refuses to skin them, because you do it better." The older man mocked Draco causing Nisse to laugh at their brotherly banter. It was refreshing and delightful compared to being alone for the last two years.
"And that's because I am better. Even Chara thinks so." Draco looked at Nisse and winked as he mention Solon's young wife. In retaliation the older man picked up a clump of dirt and threw it at the younger man, missing his shoulder by a few inches. "See? You have terrible aim."
"I swear to Hades if you weren't like a little brother to me I would stuff those hares in your mouth and let you choke on them!" Solon said in mock anger as Draco chuckled while pulling the skin off one of the hares. Nisse threw her head back in laughter as she clapped her hands together.
"Of course. I expect it of you." Draco didn't say much more as he worked to pelt the other hare as Solon got up from where he sat to take the empty hare and shove the spit through the creatures mouth to roast it. It was never a pleasant process to watch, but it had to be done.
"Nisse, I do hope you are as good of a cook as your sisters." Solon brought the skinned hare to her and watched as she took the dried herbs to sprinkle on the outside of the hare.
"May I have your other knife Draco?" She asked sweetly as the man stood to hand her the free knife. Taking it she opened the belly of the hare and pulled the guts out, tossing them on the ground behind her and then taking a pinch of salt she rubbed it on the inside of the dead animal. Then she took some spice and did the same before adding some fennel and dill on the inside. "This will help keep the meat flavored." She found a small stick and used it to close the belly of the hare.
As soon as both hares were on the spit and roasting, Nisse had decided to go to the nearby stream of water and clean her hands. She grabbed her waterskin and began to walk away into the dark as Draco stopped her.
"I'll go with you." He had grabbed his waterskin as well, but just as he was about to follow her Solon had thrown his at the younger man, hitting him on the back of the head.
"Don't forget about me." The older man said gruffly as he had to stay and roast the hares. Draco turned and picked up the empty waterskin and walked off with Nisse.
The brush around them was silent as they walked together in the night following the sound of water trickling over rocks. He admired her more than when he was younger. Admire may not be the word for it, but she had certainly grown into a beautiful woman. So beautiful she rivaled Eurydite, although they were uncomparable to him. Eurydite was a dark beauty that was feirce and wild while Nisse was like starlight. Pure and bright. The moment he had seen her, his heart gave a lurch as if she were pulling it out of his chest. He wouldn't show it now, but he was sure he was in love with her and maybe he had always been.
"Do you mind if I sing?" Her voice rang out to him as clear as a bell as he walked behind her.
"No. It would be a welcome thing in this quiet place." She looked back at him with a smile in the moonlight as she began to sing. Her voice had only grown more beautiful since she was a child on the fishing boat. If she were a siren like her sisters, she would've doomed many of men to their deaths, but thankfully she was only half witch.
Nisse sang as she led him down to the stream and stopped when she made it to the water. He watched her as she went in ankle deep and bent to wash her hands that had been bloodied from the hare in the clear water. He soon followed going in near her and doing the same before he began to fill the waterskins. It wasnt until she stood up holding something small inbetween her thumb and pointer finger up towards the moon.
"A moonstone." She held a smile as she walkes over to him and held out her hand as he looked up at her. "Let me see your hand." Draco stood straight and held out his free hand to her and she placed the irridescent stone into his palm and closed his fingers around it. "For protection." Her fingers were soft against his callous ones and there was a jolt that went through him like lightning. She gave him a smile that made the moon seem dull before she walked up the side of the stream and back to the campfire.
Draco stared after her before looking down at the stone in his hand, its ranbow light shining when moonlight passed through it. He carefully tucked it in the small pocket on the inside of his armour, keeping it close to him as it was blessed by a starlit maiden.
Eurydite quietly followed the hunting party as they followed their virgins to the alter in the wood. She would find out why they were hunting the monoceros and put an end to it. Such a creature was to be cherished and it was a sacred creature most likely as old as Greece itself. The maidens were the only ones in the hunting party that could see the creature and thats why they were there. One of them had probably seen it and told the others, but why?
She followed in the shadows as they came to a stone alter covered in leaves from the willow tree that grew around it. The virgins gathered around the alter as one of the men brought up an offering of a wild hare, still trying to get away from its captors as it was held by the ears. One of the virgins took the hare while another brandished a dagger and held both to up to the tree.
"Artemis we praise you! We ask with this sacrifice you bless our hunt for the creature that has brought sickness to our children! We behold your blessing with open hearts to save our children!" The virgin in the middle took the hare from the other as she brought it to the alter and plunged the dagger into the hare. The animal screeched as the steel entered its heart but became still as it was set upon the alter to bleed out. "Bless us Goddess!"
The Virgins all left with the men from the direction they had come as Eurydite stepped from the shadows to observe the alter. It was not originally an alter to Artemis. The worn figures on it said it had once belonged to an ancient God, one that was sacrificed to repeatedly. A dark god. Before her father ruled the Underworld and before Tartarus had ever existed, there were primordial gods that ruled. The world was darker and more violent in those days. It was before Zeus created man and before light had cast itself onto the Earth.
The God was called Erebus. A primordial being of Darkness who cast the Earth into shadow long before the Titans. The alter was as old as the first man to ever live and it had been a place of sacrifice to the Darkness. Erebus was deep in the Underworld away from all living things and all the dead with the power of Hades keeping him contained. However, as long as Aether was free, the world would be safe.
The alter being what it was meant that there was something foul in the village and that was why the Monoceros was here. It was a pureness that casted out the dark and she would find out what was going on with the children in the village while she was here.
She left the alter to find her way back to her camp and as she left, she saw the white hide of the creature as it looked to her, its pearly horn glistening in the moonlight. It shook its head causing its silver mane to sparkle like starlight as its lion like tail whiped back and forth.
"I will not let them hurt you. I promise." She said stopping to look at the horse like creature as it nickered and walked up to her, its long horn could skewer her if she were not careful. "I will do what I can for the children and I will keep you safe." She held out her hand for the creature to sniff, but instead it allowed her to touch its muzzel. "You are truly precious."
The monoceros turned away and went back into the wood beyond the alter at a slow walk and disappeared from sight as Eurydite watched. It was beyond her as to what was going on with the village and so she would need Zacheus to help her in the morning.
OMG that was long, but I certainly enjoyed it. Sorry about the delay, birthday celebrations and whatnot.
Fact: Monoceros is the greek name for Unicorn. Like most legends and myths about the Unicorn, the greek version mostly resembles to Ibix which is kin to the Antelope. However, my version is more horse like.