16.1

When evening is only beginning to settle and Diana, astride Photine, reaches the northern edge of the fortified city, Menalippe; Egeria; General Aella and a troop of twenty warriors stand assembled and mounted. To the side Hippolyta, upon Zephyra, her silver-white mare; along with the Royal Guard uneasily await, reigning and calming their restless horses.

"Daughter, I will have a word with you" the Queen beckons, compelling Diana to approach at her side.

"Once again you depart under the cloak of night."

"It cannot be helped; Menalippe needs the stars to chart our direction."

"You are aware I am against this foolish journey."

"Mother, I can do it..."

"Yet I have agreed for the accord of all. It is not too late to end this folly."

"No, mother, I must go. I cannot allow my..."

"Yes, you 'cannot allow your failures to result in the suffering of others'. But do you not realize that any action you take may result in anothers' pain? I thought I could not bear any greater sorrow. Today, you prove I was mistaken."

"I know I cannot right all wrongs. But is it not good and true to correct what harm I can? By removing Steve from Hades, is that not one error I can correct?"

"Only at the risk of your life. And that of Menalippe; and Egeria; and possibly others."

"I will not allow any harm to come to them."

"That is not always in your control, daughter. To place a man above those of your family is not what you have been taught. Diana, you must remember men and women are different."

"Of course, mother, I am aware of the differences."

"No, I speak not of mankind; but of men, themselves; the male that exists in all forms, in all creatures. There are stories you do not know; those I have withheld; of the times Amazons have encountered men, and for us, each of these leads to misery. There is death and sorrow and enslavement, not just of the body but of the mind, and of the heart. Just as the arrival of your Steve Trevor brought the death of Antiope, and dozens of our warriors."

"That was not his fault, mother."

"Nonetheless, those were the results. You may believe it is your duty to try and right whatever wrong you think you have committed; to challenge Thanantos himself and emerge the victor. You may believe your feelings for this man justify any action. I cannot stop you, no matter how much I may wish it. But know this: All men, from god to human, will falter. In each there is an emptiness they will fill by any means they warrant. From the deepest reach of my heart, my daughter, please recognize they do not deserve you."

"I do not know where my feelings spring from, Mother; why I feel for those as I do, or where this path leads. But it is only because of me that Steve sacrificed his life. If I had recognized Ares when he stood beside me, in the guise of a harmless mediator; and not been blinded by my belief that the God of War could only appear in the form of a warrior; I could have ended the War and stopped the killing and the poison Steve died for would never had existed. It is my fault, Mother. To try and restore what is lost is my duty. I know men can be filled with the deepest darkness or the brightest light. If I don't inspire men to their highest good, I will have failed again."

"Just be CAREFUL, my daughter. Darkness is a formidable enemy."

And into the fading light the Amazons depart.

By her knowledge of the skies and the island, Menalippe led the group through an uneventful journey, arriving at the base of Hells Gate while the night was at its darkest. Camp established; horses cared for; and following a simple but fulfilling meal, all but the guards on patrol set themselves to sleep – or prepare – for the morning.

In times past, when history had only just awakened and Zeus directed the Amazons to forever secure this portal to the Underworld, Captains Egeria and Cyanea, accompanied by second-in-command Philippus and fifty warriors, were entrusted with that responsibility. Following a difficult two-day journey (for at that time the Amazons did not have the knowledge or familiarity of their land they now possess), they located the Gate roughly chiseled into the side of a rocky cliff, among the remains of stunted, withered trees above a dry riverbed within a landscape of parched earth. Alien among the abundance blessing the extent of Themyscira, this land had been poisoned by its nearness to the doorway to the Underworld; or perhaps by the beings that had, while the island was under the possession of Hercules, been allowed to escape. While Zeus and Hades had sealed the opening with a stone slab; one god fastening the interior, the other the outside; it was the task of the Amazons to ensure no cavity or outlet remained and no cursed soul or demon - the Furies of Hades – could be freed. Testing the stone the Captains believed it secure and set about directing their warriors into scaling the cliff face to collect lumber from the escarpment above, their plans to encase the gate within an impenetrable fortress. However they had overestimated the strength of the stone – or the determination of the Furies to breach the barrier- which cracked, allowing one demon to push through. The spirit immediately possessed the nearest being, Philippus' horse, changing it to a horned, fanged monster whose only purpose was to kill it's rider and all present. Interceding with sword in one hand and spear in the other, Egeria engaged in brutal and inhuman combat with the creature, ultimately slaying the demon and saving her lieutenant's life; but not before other Furies had found the fissure and, climbing and piling over each other, clawing at the rock in an attempt to enter the World, began to rupture the slab. Cyanea realized the stone was quickly crumbling and threw herself into the collapsing barrier, defending the opening with all her ability even as Furies reached out, grasping her by the legs and attempting to pull her into the Underworld. Without a thought to herself and as her final words, she ordered the warriors to release from their carts and horses all the lumber they had collected, burying her and the Gate under tons of tree trunks, branches, and loose rock that had been dislodged in the fall. The death of Cyanea; the only Amazon lost, throughout their mission of shielding and securing the Gate; had never left Egeria. And now the memory is foremost on her mind as she stands once again amid the rocks and rubble and ruin, staring at the Fortress she thought would never again be opened; wondering if – or who – would not return.

"Captain", Menalippe asks as she walks toward the commander, "have you determined the best way to pass through the walls so we can enter the Gate quickly and with the least disturbance? Aella must be able to seal the opening behind us, and we want any beings within to be unaware of our arrival...for as long as possible."

"Yes, when we constructed the fortifications we allowed for an entry. Hoping an entry would never be necessary. The Furies are not aware of our arrival so there should be none awaiting our entrance and, with the help of the gods, few until we descend deeply into the Underworld."

"We will hope. There is only..."

"Menalippe! Egeria! I am prepared. Let us proceed to fulfill our duty." Diana; perhaps more enthusiastic than would be expected of someone entering Hell; approaches her companions.

"Egeria if you will show me the opening I will enter the portal and clear the way. You may follow and..."

"No, Diana. Hippolyta entrusted to me your safe return, along with that of Egeria. I will enter first and she will follow, guarding you from any harm."

"I do not ask for her protection."

"It is my duty, and my honor, Diana, to watch over you."

"As the representative of the Queen you will obey my decisions and..."

"This my journey and therefore I will be first. I will not allow another..."

Alerted by the rising voices, General Aella moves toward the three. "Is there some question about our mission? Can I assist?"

"General, I believe it is my purpose – as granted by our Queen – to safely guide our journey into the Underworld, just as I have lead us through the night. My niece, however, questions that authority. And our Captain of the Guard seems to prefer harm come to herself, rather than either of us. We cannot proceed until this is settled."

"I understand" Aealla replies. "So each of you is willing to sacrifice herself for the others; but unwilling to set aside her will."

"This has nothing to do with will; it is about assurance" Menalippe replies;

"It is to fulfill my resolve", responds Diana;

"I have no higher duty", Egeria adds.

"My duty in this, fortunately, is clear. I am only to secure the Gate and prevent any from the Underworld to enter this world. But if I understand correctly the desire of Hippolyta, it is that Diana be guided on her journey to find and rescue this man that she believes so important; and that every Amazon that embarked on this mission returns safely. If I were presented this as a military problem, it would be clear that Diana must enter first..."

"General, I must point out my sister..."

"...due to her abilities and passion, just as I would order my best troops to the front of an attack. Immediately followed by – and again, this is only if I were planning a military operation – my most versatile troops; those with the ability to adapt their skills to any situation; in your case, Egeria; and place at the rear not warriors who are least able, but those with the knowledge and resources that without which the battle cannot progress. But that is only if this were my challenge, and not the simple secure-and-hold mission I have been commanded."

Menalippe stood resigned to what had been proven obvious. "Thank you, Aella. You have...shown me what I should have recognized. Egeria, you are correct in your duty to protect Diana; but also, your mastery of arms and selflessness of person is the strength that connects us all. You will follow Diana, who will enter first; and precede me. I will ensure no beings escape and if so they will be dealt with by the General and her warriors. Diana, you are to employ the greatest caution and take no risks. Is this clear?"

"Of course, Menalippe" answers Egeria.

"I shall be on my feet, my Aunt."