Chapter 5

Battle of Thermopylae day 1

The 300 with there Allies had finally made it to the hot gates of Thermopylae weeks of marching were finally at an end Astinos drew their attention with his yell. "Look Persians" Dienekes nudged him with his shield both laughing, Daxos looked at them with shock how could they be laughing at a time like this.

The Greek defenders saw the Persian fleet hundreds of warships attempting to dock and unload there troops however it seems the gods had other ideas as the seas became wild. "Let's watch these motherless dogs as they are embraced by the love vine arms of Greece herself" Came the voice of Dilios as he walked forward to get a better view of the Persian fleet.

Leonidas smiled to himself as he looked up to the dark storm clouds as they began to gather, " hmm true it does look like rain" he turned his head towards the cliff to see the figure that had followed them since Sparta quickly hide.

That night was a beautiful sight as the Greeks cheered the storms wrecked the Persian fleet. Zeus stabbed the sky with thunderbolts and battered the fleet with hurricane winds. Only one Spartan did not cheer he kept his Spartan reserve there king however if you could see his face his eye had a sense of joy as the Persian fleet sank to the bottom.

However early that morning the scouts reported that somehow the Persian army had landed with even more ships at least 1 million Persian soldiers were now on Greek soil against the small Greek defence force.

Around 9 in the morning a Persian contingent escorting a man on a golden throne that was dragged by slaves made their way to the hot gates the emissary looked at a few of the scouts that they had sent earlier their bodies impaled on speers. with a sneer of disgust if they could fall to these pathetic Greek dogs, they were no use to the God King.

They saw a group of Greeks reinforcing an old sea wall which amused him greatly as if a small wall could hold back the might of the god kings' armies. "who commands here" he demanded when he received no response he spoke again.

"I am the emissary to the ruler of all the world god of gods, king of Kings, and buy that authority I demand that someone show me your commander!"

To his astonishment the Greeks ignored him and kept moving stones to the wall making his anger grow.

Gripping his whip tighter he spoke again. "Listen to me you Greek dogs do you think the poultry few scouts you killed frightens us?, these Hills swarm with our forces and do you think your pathetic wall will do anything except fall to the might of the Persian army".

He was cut off as he saw the wall was being reinforced with the bodies of the remaining scouts their lifeblood still dripping from their wounds.

Dienekes smiled as he walked forward holding his blade, "Our ancestors built this wall using secret stones from the bosom of Greece herself and with a little Spartan help your Persian scouts made perfect Mortar".

Any sense of civility was now long gone from the emissary as he growled at the spartan.

"You will pay for your barbarism Spartan dog!" attempting to strike him with his whip he didn't notice Dienekes make a run for him jumping from a rock over his guards.

Only when he felt searing pain in his arm did he notice.

"my arm !" he yelled in pain none of his solders came to his aid as the Greeks had them at spear point.

Dienekes held his blade at him, "It's not yours anymore Persian go now run back to your master and tell him he fights free men here not slaves"

The Emissary laughed "No not slaves, Your women will be slaves your sons your daughters your elders will be slaves but you, you will be dead man the 1000 nations of the Persian Empire descend upon you our arrows will blot out the sun"

Dienekes gave his manic grin he was known for "Good then we will fight in the shade "

Meanwhile King Leonidas was sitting on the cliff when his captain arrived.

"the wall is sturdy my King and our scouts has discovered no hidden paths"

What both Spartans did not expect was a horribly deformed man wearing a spartan cape carrying a shield and spear, causing the captain to ready his spear to protect his king.

"there is another path my King a small goat path just behind that ridge the Persians could use it to flank us".

"I will kill you were you stand monster" the captain snarled his spear ready to strike only for Leonidas to stop him.

The captain left leaving Leonidas and the monster to speak albeit reluctantly, "apologies about the captains' manners while he is a perfect soldier he lacks in the tactics of civility" Leonidas spoke softly to the now kneeling creature.

"its of no concern great king … I know what I look like I am Ephialtes born of Sparta, my mothers love forced my parents to flee Sparta lest I be discarded"

Leonidas Nodded in understanding many Spartans exiled themselves to save their children, he pointed at the spear and shield, of which Ephialtes said belonged to his father before he died.

However, the spartan King refused to allow him to fight he could help with the wounded bring them water and clear the battlefield of the dead, it wasn't the king being picky it was simply he could not use him in the Spartan phalanx.

If only the spartan King had known he had sealed his fate with this decision, walking down the cliff he met with his captain and some of his fellow Spartans,

"Dispatch the phocians into the goat path and pray to the gods that no one tells the Persians about it"

It was then the ground started to rumble small stones falling to the floor from the cliffs.

"Earthquake?" came the response of the captain turning to his king for confirmation only to see the fire burning in his kings' eyes, "no Captain, battle formations"

The dust cloud from the Persian camp was getting closer as thousands of Persian soldiers charged towards the hot-gates and the 300 spartan Defenders and unlike the Persians who's king stood far behind his armies. Leonidas was in the front ranks with his men ready to die for anyone of them,

"this is where we hold them! this is where we fight! This is where they die!" yelled Leonidas

"earn theses shields boys!" the captain encouraged.

The spartan war cry could be heard echoing in the hot gates.

The Persian horde which had now stopped its charged around 80 yards away from the Spartans opened ranks to allow there general to move to the front, he sneered at the so-called elite Spartans,

"Spartans! Lay down your weapons!" he yelled only to be met with silence as no response or movement from the spartan lines until he saw a small glint just above him that glint was the tip of a spartan spear finding its mark in the Persian general's chest.

"Persians!" Leonidas yelled as the front ranks of the phalanx moved into battle position spears ready to spill Persian blood, "come and get them!"

The Persian horns sounded and the horde charged thousands of men running straight at the spartan lines when they collided it was a near brutal sound the Spartans were slowly being pushed back by the sheer amount of Persians pushing them back it looked as if the Persians would break the line.

Until Leonidas yelled now the whole phalanx became a solid as a rock, then in one solid motion the entire front rank used their shields to bat the Persians back staggering them giving the Spartans time to end them with there spears. However, before the Persians could retaliate the 2nd rank had stepped forward to protect the now exposed Spartans, again and again the Persians fell to spartan spears until all that was left was a small group of Persians huddled near the cliffs edge.

The captain panting from the fight spoke loudly "they look thirsty my king"

"then let's give them something to drink boys" Leonidas yelled with a bloodthirsty grin as he and his Spartans reformed a shield wall blocking off the Persians only chance to escape.

Moving forward the 300 killed any Persian that wasn't smart enough to jump the screams of the Persians as they fell to there deaths was such sweet music even if it was rudely interrupted by the Persians hitting the sea or the rocks below too quickly.

"a hell of a good start my king" came the voice of the captain as he turned to the men who cheered until the sound of Persian horns could be heard again the Spartans turned to see a marvel as tens of thousands of arrows were launched right at them volley after volley.

The Spartans to the shock of the Persian archers waited until the last minute to raise their shield to block the incoming arrow storm.

Leonidas was not impressed in the slightest "Persian cowards" he spat in disgust while it was true Sparta had started to use archers starting with his daughters' forces but at least they were close range not like the Persians.

Astinos out of the blue started laughing like a madman confusing Dienekes

"what the hell are you laughing at"

"well you had to say it" now other Spartans were laughing still confusing Dienekes.

"what?"

"fight in the shade, hahaha"

Now all but the captain and king were lighting as the arrows landed all around them or bounced of there shields killing any wounded Persian troops they managed to hit until finally the arrows stopped.

The Spartans had little time to rest as the horns sounded another Persian charge was coming, following there king the Spartans formed a new fence line their spears ready to repel the next wave looking back to his men he nodded at them. " today no spartan dies".

The Persian cavalry that was sent for them stood no chance against the Spartans war was what a spartan was taught and born to do. For the next few hours they butchered all who stood against them till around midday when Astinos came running back from his scouting Leonidas was busy enjoying an apple as he watched his men kill any wounded Persians from there last raid.

"my king Persians approaching no guards just slaves to move his throne I think it's there king"

Hmm now that was interesting why know were the Persians had they grown tired of sending their men to die or was it to try and kill him if only they were that stupid.