Title: Spoils Of War
Disclaimer: The use of characters is used purely for the enjoyment of this fan fiction and I am in no way making any profit in this.
Chapter 1: Through Mortal Eyes
Serena walked hesitantly towards the burning city. As she got closer she stared in awe and speculation at huge stone buildings falling like dominoes, falling one after another. There was blood everywhere. Cries of pain made her shiver, that the goddess in her closed her eyes in disgust.
"Bloodthirsty mortals." She thought coldly, walking delicately on spoiled ground. Her bare feet made no sound but wherever she went… men, women and children, half-alive and half-dead turned their eyes toward her. Eyes screaming for help and only made a whimper of a sound since their injured bodies took most of the strength they have left.
How she wished she had the powers of healing! Yet even so, she knew that she could do nothing directly about mortal affairs. It was a rule decreed, and gods & goddesses knew how to follow rules and maintain order, if they do not, how better are they than the humans they are bound to look after?
"The battle is over." Serena noted.
Shouts of victory erupted from the conquerors. Serena made another sound of disgust as they began to pillage the city for gold, silver, their sacred art, jewels…anything that they could get their greedy hands on.
She looked at the entire city and saw it as it once before, in its entire splendor. A wan smile then crossed her face. "This was Apollo's city!" She thought in irony. "What fools are they to attack a city protected by the great god Apollo? Hell surely would pay." Serena thought grimly. She hoped that these barbarians have a god looking after them too and appease Apollo or not one of these soldiers would be left standing.
"You! Go with the rest!"
A big burly man in full armor clasped her arm tightly with his bloodied hand and flung her a few steps away near the gathered women captives. She landed on the ground mortified. Standing quickly with high fast speed, she turned towards the man who dared laid a hand on her.
"Foolish mortal! Come back here and grovel on my feet like the lowest of all animals and even then you will still pay the price!" She stood tall, regal like a queen and very sure of the power that she commanded.
The soldier barely even heard her and was already making another captive's life hell. She was about to shout some more and gain more attention to herself when another woman quietly approached her.
Serena felt another hand on her arm, but this time it was lighter and with care. "Please! Come with me! Or else they might do something truly horrible to you!" The woman spoke fiercely with truth. She was beautiful, with light brown hair and an interesting pair of green eyes. She was also dressed splendidly in rich garments, only now they were tattered, dirtied with ash, soil and blood.
"Very well." Serena agreed, her mouth clenched so hard that it began to her hurt and her fist was wounded tightly together to suppress her anger.
They began to walk towards the other women who were cuddled together in fear. There were ropes tied to their wrist and left foot, tying them to the next woman beside them and then towards the next. The soldiers leered at them disgustedly and when Serena realized that the woman was leading her to the group to be tied like lambs for sale, she began to resist. But the woman urged her on with insistency that Serena complied.
"You are new here, are you not?" The woman asked her hushedly.
Serena gave a barely audible nod. Goddess that she was, she was starting to feel nervous. The soldiers were eyeing them both with suspicion and Serena was afraid to talk.
"Pay them no heed. They will not do us any harm." The woman spoke low. "I am Lita, a nobleman's daughter."
"My name is Serena, and I am a merchant. I was planning to sell some of the clothing that I had to this city but I didn't expect the city to be under attack." Serena explained in the same low tone, not even blinking twice in her lie.
Lita nodded. "Yes, we didn't expect it either. We weren't prepared." She said her voice hollow. Lita closed her eyes in anguish, remembering the dead body of her 2-year-old son who died in her arms.
Serena placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "There will be time to cry later."
"No, there won't be." Lita spoke cynically. They had approached the group already. They kept quiet as they allowed foreign men to tie them up and ogle them up and down like a piece of very fine meat.
"What happens now?" Serena asked silently as they were being led somewhere.
"They decide our fate." Lita answered her voice sad and submissive.
They came to a halt. "Whatever you do, don't look at them in their eyes unless forced. Maybe then we'd be lucky. Pretend to be reserved and passive. Don't cry or shout just be silent" Lita advised as she lowered down their head, as did Serena in doubt.
***
"Ah, the taste of victory." Jadeite first in command of the royal army and bodyguard of the younger Prince, grinned.
"Control yourself Jadeite, your drooling might turn-off the ladies." Darien teased his friend. Jadeite smirked. "I'm sure it would take more than my drooling to disgust them." He said smugly confident of his good looks. "Now let's see… which one should I have?"
"That girl is pretty don't you think?" He asked eyeing a weeping girl with red hair.
Darien snorted. "Her tears might drown you. Pick an easy one that will relieve you." He said jokingly.
Jadeite gave a laugh. "Hmm…how about her? Or her? Or her?" Jadeite joked pointing to each of the girls and stopping without a thought to Lita.
"That one's mine." Darien spoke humor out of his voice as he pointed at the golden haired girl whose head was bowed down to the ground.
Jadeite looked at Darien's choice her mouth agape. He made a sound of approval. "What a beauty! But she seems boring… I want a challenge!" Darien shrugged as if to say "then go on looking."
"I might settle for her friend though." He said thoughtfully eyeing Lita. "But…your brother gets first pick." Jadeite said in mock sorrow.
True enough Prince Deamando, heir to the throne of Elessar stood up and walked over towards the ladies. He pointed to each girl silently. Some fluttered their lashes, some made their breathing quicker to make their breasts rise and fall on purpose, others couldn't stop weeping still, and the two girls whom they both picked still had their heads bowed down.
Deamando's finger then stopped at Darien's chosen.
"You." Deamando commanded. Serena refused to look up. Refusing to acknowledge that this man or any other has some sort of power over her. "I said YOU!" Deamando bellowed. He strode towards Serena and cupped her face harshly with his right hand. "Are you deaf?!" He demanded.
Darien clutched the hilt of his sword and swore beneath his breath.
"Foolish girl! Don't you know who I am? I am king! I decide your life and death! I control your fate! Show some respect you miserable—" He was cut short when an interruption was created by some newcomers.
"Unhand me you filth!" Her long black hair was braided at the sides, and her eyes were fiery purple. She struggled against the man holding her but it seemed no use.
"Ah, who is this?" Deamando walked over to them forgetting the golden haired girl who ignored him and turned his attention towards this interesting young woman.
"My Lord, please don't hurt her! Have mercy on us!" The old man beside the girl begged in fear.
"Silence!" Deamando roared.
"I am Raye. Promised priestess to Apollo." She said this rather smugly that Deamando smirked.
"Not anymore. I shall have you." Deamando declared with a sadistic smile. The girl's face turned ashen. "Take her to my tent!" Deamando bellowed and watched in half-amusement at the defiant girl saying goodbye to her grandfather piteously.
Now it was time for Endymion, second heir to choose.
"Her." Darien said softly coming towards Serena. He took his dagger from his boot and cut her ropes. "I want her." Darien decided more loudly this time staking his claim. He nudged her chin up gently making her look up at him. At her back, Lita nudged her to comply.
Serena looked up erasing any emotion from her face and stared up at the man in wonder. She sensed sadness, honor, pride and maybe even love. But she didn't forget the fact that this man was one them. Them, who were responsible for destruction. And so, though all her other features seemed in different, her eyes screamed dislike and contempt.
Darien sensed this as well and he smiled. He watched her as she rubbed her wrist delicately. She bended and repeated the same circulation massage on her ankle. Heat flooded his senses as he watched her. He can hardly wait. If he was less than a man than he was and wasn't hindered with his title as a Prince, he would've dragged this fallen angel somewhere private and take great pleasure on what she has to offer.
"Great choice Endymion." Deamando commented with a nod.
Meanwhile, Jadeite watched with longing after the feisty black haired maiden that caught his attention earlier on. "Too bad Deamando just have to pick her." Jadeite swore.
Something was happening inside him. He was angry with the men who were holding, no dragging the black haired woman away towards Deamando's tent. Jadeite glared at Deamando's back as Deamando began to point out more women whom he would add to his harem.
Just as Deamando was about to include the brown haired woman that Jadeite earlier wanted. He spoke up. "I, still have yet to choose."
Deamando looked annoyed but said nothing.
"I want her." He said pointing at Lita. Deamando looked disappointed but shrugged. Jadeite then cut the girl's ropes, the same as what Darien did to show that their women weren't prisoners.
And so it was done. The women's fates were decided. Those who weren't chosen by the Prince and their generals would be left as 'fair game'. Those who were chosen have the convenience of spending their days with food and water and with a roof on their heads. While the rest could have the opportunity of fleeing, but to where? And they could die trying or even perhaps force to sell their bodies to less-ranking soldiers.
"This was the truth. No one was better off. It was a war."
A/n: How would our goddess deal as a prisoner? A scene of the movie Iliad inspired this chapter. Thank you for reviewing. In case you're curious, I use Endymion's name for formality but he's called Darien by peers.