Chapter 1: Stranger in the night

Notes:

*An AU where Kassandra's uncle Pleistarchos was killed when Alexios was five years old. Too old for the cultist king to get him so easily out of the way. So, there was no prophecy to sacrifice him on the mountain. Both Kassandra and Alexios grow up in Sparta.

One of the myths of the flower aster says:

The goddess Persephone was about to return to Hades. It was late August when she saw a young couple, fully in love, kissing secretely under the veil of the night. Moved by their love, and sorrowful for her own return to the desperation in Hades she wept. Her tears fell on the earth where a beautiful purple flower grew. It looked like stars and was named aster.

The music of the flute and the harp is muffled by the singing and the voices. When all of Lakonia attends the same gathering a commotion created by people talking is expected. Especially since it's the summer feast when all men return from their assignments. Joy flies in the air like a firefly lightening the hearts. Laughter echoes loudly, revealing those who drunk already too much. Kids run around happily in what they perceive as a chance to play hide and seek and tag. It's the night of the Hyakinthia. The fires burn and cast light to the shadows. The only other source of light are the stars and the silver moon above them.

Kassandra walks to the river, away from the voices and the singing. She is in no mood for celebrations today. Her enthusiasm was ruined this very morning when she overheard her parents. They were talking about her, about accepting a marriage proposal for her own avail they had said. However, they lacked intention to ask her opinion. How could they do this to her? She has just turned fifteen, only mere days ago and they are so easily selling her away. Without even asking her if she at least likes her husband to be. It's a betrayal from both. How could her mother do this? The one who turned the world upside down to marry the man she loved. How can her father claim that he will die to protect her and make her happy?

Does he believe that giving her away to an old possessive man, who will treat her like property is going to make her happy? Someone, so much older that she can't even like. Traitor!

Lost in her thoughts, she has somehow reached Eurotas and already sat down at the riverside. It's too dark to see, she knows it's dangerous, but she is so angry that she doesn't care. A rustling sound comes from behind her and before she can turn around to look, someone grabs her forcefully, putting a hand over her mouth. A sinister whisper close to her ear.

"Wrong move to come alone here, princess."

Her body is pulled against the assailants and it makes her skin itch. She bites his hand and manages to let a brief scream before she is captured and muzzled again. Damn it! She doesn't carry her spear with her or any other dagger with her. Her mother has been very strict for the past two years and doesn't allow Kassandra to train like she used to and have weapons on her. She has to be more feminine, Myrrine usually says. 'Feminine, my ass!' Kassandra thinks. 'Look where this got me.'

"You're beautiful Kassie."

It annoys her. How dares he to call her only how her friends and brother do. She tries hard to break free from him, but he is stronger than her.

A thud is heard and suddenly the grip around her weakens. She manages to break free and run forward, forgetting entirely about the river in front of her. It's too late when she realizes her mistake. Her dress already soaked and she has to stop herself before getting farther. Wide eyed she turns to look behind her and hardly makes out two shapes fighting.

A voice different than the whisper in her ear rings loudly. "Let the girl be. If I ever see you around her, it will be your last day."

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to..."

She can make out the bigger silhouette slapping the other across the face, causing the later to fall. The sound, confirms it.

"Go!" The voice of the newly appeared man calls.

The bark startles her and she freezes on the spot shaking uncontrollably. The figure rises from the ground and leaves like a cat with his tail between his legs while the other man approaches her cautiously.

"Are you alright?" He asks with a calm voice, soft like flower pedals. He has stopped at a safe distance and offers his hand to her.

She doesn't hesitate, she has the opportunity to scream and alert the whole city. She is so shaken though that she has frozen on the spot. Cold sweat runs down her nape fearing what the people may speculate about her. What he may be thinking. She had no reason to come here alone in the first place. Luckily the man across from her, no matter his true intentions, provides her with time to recover from the shock.

"I want to help. I'll leave you as soon as you are safe." His voice sounds familiar, she has heard it before.

"Who are you?" She dares to ask.

"It doesn't matter, miss. A stranger who came across a lady's rescue."

"You don't know me?"

"There isn't enough light to tell. The secret is safe. Now, if you'd rather give me your hand to help you out. I bet you don't want to return home wet."

"No, I don't. My parents..." She pauses and reminds herself to be careful of what she's going to say. "They'll be mad at me." She finishes and takes his hand.

With his assistance, she comes to stand right in front of him. She regains her balance, but holds his hand for a while longer. A failed attempt to distinguish his facial characteristics and recognize him. The lack of a beard- or at least the lack of a long one, as far as she can tell- indicates that he's not as old as she initially thought. His authoritative loud voice fooled her to mistake him for a typical commander.

"You have some meeting with friends or simply seek some loneliness?"

His question seems out of place. What does he care? Is he going to take advantage of the moment and makes sure? Is he here because he was following her? She retrieves her hand from his and steps aside.

Her eyebrows knit together and she takes a few steps past him. "The second. Thank you for helping me, you can leave now."

He doesn't move. She can't tell if he made any noise at all, mocking, groaning in irritation or anything at all. She can only see him lower down his body and settle at the grass casually. He tilts his head away from her, pretending he's no longer paying attention to her presence. He doesn't even bother to respond for quite some time and she just watches his black silhouette confused.

"I'll stay here for safety." He informs her in a low voice.

It doesn't sound well to her. Indeed, he makes no suspicious moves and he had already the opportunity to harm her, but his presence makes her uneasy. What would her mother say if she saw them? What would her father think? Both would do more than disapprove her poor judgment.

"Are you insane? If anyone comes here and finds us?"

"We have a distance, don't we? I can wait farther if it makes you more comfortable."

He sounds genuine. Maybe, he honestly just cares she is going to be secure and comes across no harm in the darkness. It's kind of sweet. The stranger watches over her more than her own parents. His actions show he is kind, she decides to believe it.

"I guess it's fine as it is. No one is coming anyway."

Maybe she shouldn't have said that. Still, he doesn't move. He is rooted down at the grass facing the flowing water. Her eyes stray at the agitated water surface where the stars and the moon illuminate and glisten in small silver rays. The troubadours of the night sense the serenity and resume their own performance. The crickets create a chorus, their singing reaches her ears and brings a smile on her lips.

She turns her face towards the man. "I have a question for you." She voices surprising herself and fearing how stupidly girly it sounds.

"Go ahead."

"Is your name Pausanias?" She asks almost in a whisper trying to conceal the fear and maybe having a kind of secret hope.

"No. Sorry to disappoint."

"Not at all. I just kind of feared it might. Well... anyway. Forget it."

She is unsure whether she should be happy or sad. It would be promising, maybe even a relief if the prince tried to approach her in a friendly way, to get to know her. It would be a sign of goodwill and interest. Albeit, in this case, she would be assured he looks forward to this union and it's arranged for her.

"Does he bother you?"

The man's immediate question forces her out of her trail of thought. She shakes her head and recalls he cannot witness her reaction.

"No. He... my parents. I mean, I heard he asked to marry me." She replies color creeping up her cheeks.

"What?" He almost jumps startling her, but quickly settles again. "I thought you were younger. You don't seem old enough for marriage."

She isn't sure if she should be annoyed by his words or not. What does it even mean. He can't see her. Oh, no. Does she talk so much like a child that he noticed? Her panic takes over her and she finds her mouth dried. She struggles to swallow the knot in her throat and tries hard to focus on the words that will come out of her mouth.

She wipes her sweaty palms on her chiton and begins. "I don't know. I'm fifteen. I just heard my mother and father discussing the offer this morning."

"You certainly heard right?" He says, pronouncing the word with sense. "Maybe, it wasn't as official as you may think. Adults make many discussions, but proposals are made after a girl turns seventeen."

She shrugs. "I hope not. I don't like him."

"He is to be king."

He states it delicately, like a small, yet, unwillingly said reminder. Almost cautiously, when it's nothing but an uninteresting fact. Judging be the sound in his voice, he doesn't seem to have a malicious opinion of her. Still, somehow, she fumes up. She isn't that kind of person who seeks attention or power and money. She hates the thought that some may accuse her of something she would never fancy. Sure, she values the comfort she is provided, whereas, she wouldn't wish for more luxuries.

She hardly restrains a huff, thinning her lips. "I don't care. I would like to marry for love, like my parents." She crosses her arms over her chest. Irritation taking the best of her.

Of course, a man wouldn't understand. Her own parents didn't, why would a complete stranger.

"Believe and you will."

His tone is soft. There isn't the slightest hint of mockery. With every word of his, he is getting more and more becoming. He appears to be a decent guy. She ponders on how to react. She isn't used to communicating with boys and men, either than her father and brother. There is no harm in making a new friend, is there?

"Thank you, um... I'm Kassandra."

"I'm a humble soldier." He answers and she would swear his voice sounds sweeter, like it's suddenly smeared with honey.

"You won't tell me your name? I told mine!"

"You don't need it. You are underage. It's improper to sit here together."

"We simply talk." She justifies before her eyes flash wide. "How old are you?"

"Early twenties."

"Oh. Alright."

He doesn't say anything after that. She hopes she didn't sound disappointed by the fact. It would be humiliating. She fidgets with her fingers, considering the situation. He turned out good company. She isn't afraid anymore neither sad. Instead, her heart beats with a new kind of hope. A little while later she turns at him again.

"You don't talk much." She remarks.

"You came here for the quietness."

"No. I came because I'm upset with what I heard this very morning. I have no mood to dance and sing. You know. I didn't expect my parents would sell me out like that."

"I guess they're not. Why do you believe they are?"

"Because they chose each other and now they don't even ask me how I feel about it. I fear they will just call me for breakfast one day and announce it to me as if saying there's no more milk."

He chuckles. "Doubt it. More like there's no more meat."

She laughs. It's the first time all day that her lips more than curved.

"My situation isn't funny at all." She retorts feigning annoyance.

His rich chuckle rings briefly once again in much lower volume. "And yet, you laughed. Come on, you are only fifteen. Live your life and worry for marriage after two and a half years."

She considers his words for a moment and takes a few steps closer to him. She is alerted for his reaction. Sitting down beside him, she watches him with the corner of her eye. They are close now. It was her choice to do what she feared before. She hates to admit that his voice runs through her body and she has started to believe herself lucky for tonight's random meeting.

"It doesn't sound far for some reason, but you're right. Thanks." She looks at him, he nods in reply and she decides not to let silence take over them again. "So, are you married?"

"No. Just because I'm older than you, it doesn't mean I'm an old man." He teases with a chuckle.

"I know. I was simply wondering. Why?"

"I finished the agoge pretty recently and I hadn't, I mean, haven't found the right woman for me."

Her heart skips a beat. For a man as collective with words as he has been until now in their brief conversation, it seems impossible to make a mistake.

She finally steers her body facing him. "Are you currently searching?" She asks.

"No."

He sounds so determined. Despite being certain and bold, his voice bears a softness. She would swear he smiles at her. She may be a naive girl, daydreaming. The darkness incites her boldness.

"You have someone on your mind?"

"Indeed." He exhales.

These games aren't for her, they aren't her strong point, although, she wants to try. She can't let the opportunity slip. She has to know if he is interested in her or not. It's a huge difference to simply be kind. What started as an unfortunate circumstance, may as well turn out to be something promising. This accidental encounter may be the beginning of something beautiful, a renewed hope that will take her sorrow away. She finds the courage to give a bold hint.

"Don't you fear? What if you are late and lose her?"

"I won't."

"She may be picked." She reminds him carefully.

She examines him as he moves his head slowly, confidently towards her. She can't perceive what he is thinking. She moves closer to him, chitons almost touching. She bets he's also watching her every move.

He shakes his head, slower than the usual action is done. "No, she'll wait for me, as I wait for her."

"Does she even know?"

He places his hand on the ground to lean his weight back on it and his skin touches her forearm in the process. "I believe she is beginning to suspect." He whispers.

"Is she beautiful?" Her heart is pounding loudly in her ears.

"The most beautiful in the whole world." He admits with a hoarse voice.

He leans a bit closer to her. Just a little, a very small difference, although, the gap between them is less than it should. His breath is lingering over her shoulder. Hers catches in her throat. She wishes he is going to lean forward and kiss her. A firefly lands on his hand and he slowly lifts it up. Bringing his palm closer to them, she reaches with her finger but the insect flies away. Still, she allows her hand to rest on his extended palm. His thumb grazes her knuckles in a single gentle round move.

"What are you waiting for?" She questions struggling to hide her anticipation.

"For her to be off age." He states and stands up. "You should return to the feast."

She nods in half disappointment, half hope. He can't see her expressions so she is safe anyways.

"Will I see you again?"

He squeezes her hand before he completely breaks free taking a step backwards. "You can count on it." With that he clasps his hands behind his back.

"Hey, soldier. Thanks again." She calls as she turns on her heel to leave.

"Goodnight, Kassandra."

Notes:

Kassandra: completely childish, romantic girl.

Mysterious guy: what have I gotten myself into? Her maturity level is zero. Couldn't I fall in love with another?!

* This idea came into my mind one night out of nowhere, inspired by my habit of sitting alone in my misery when I'm feeling sad. How many times in my teenage years I had wished for a savior.

(More myths to come along)

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