10. Loss
Opening the hatch Batman stepped out into the open and was immediately surrounded by several Amazonian warriors.
Raising his hands over his head in surrender he stated boldly. "I am Batman. I am a member of the Justice League and a Champion of Themiscyra. I surrender myself and request for a meeting with Queen Hippolyta."
"What is your reason for your landing on Themiscyra, inviting death and requesting a meeting with the queen?" demanded the captain.
"It is regarding a life and death situation….of her daughter, Princess Diana"
With that the soldiers started laughing at him.
"This proves that you lie, for Princess Diana is immortal." The captain sneered.
"Not anymore. She lies inside my plane, battling death while we waste time on petty bickering" snorted Batman.
The captain came forward and pushed Batman into the batwing. She gasped at the sight of the pale and gaunt Diana and stepped out of the plane. Batman followed her, but he stopped just at the batwing's entrance.
"You will leave Princess Diana here and leave Themiscyra immediately. We will take care of the Princess." She ordered Batman.
"I am not leaving or letting her out of my sight till she recovers" countered Batman.
"You challenge my command mortal man. I could kill you right where you stand" she snorted drawing her sword. Batman drew out two large batarangs and got into a defensive position.
"STOP" came a loud yell from behind the crowd. As the crowd cleared the way, General Phillpus could be seen. She was marching along with a contingent of the queen's private guard, clearing the way for the queen and her handmaids.
Coming closer she scolded the young captain. "Don't you know who this is? He is a member of the Justice League. The same league which saved our island and this world from Hades and of which our princess is a member."
The captain meekly bowed, mumbled a reluctant apology and stepped away, dissolving into the crowd.
Soon Queen Hippolyta was standing in front of Batman.
"Queen Hippolyta, my regards to your Highness" said Batman.
"You are welcome as a champion of Themiscyra. But I thought I had made it clear that no male members of the league are to set foot on Themiscyra." responded the Queen.
"Your majesty it's a matter of life and death...for Diana."
"Diana. What happened to her?" At her daughter's name the queen's cold exterior faded away.
Batman proceeded to explain the situation to her from the start. But he left out any mention of the recent events in Gotham, her letter and his and Diana's romantic involvement.
Once Batman had finished he took Hippolyta inside the Batwing to see Diana. He also explained that didn't have much time left, just a few hours at best.
Queen Hippolyta began, "We will take it from here. You must leave the island immediately."
Batman replied firmly "As I told your captain, I am not letting her out of my sight, atleast until I am sure she is fine."
Hippolyta stared at Batman "You know you can be slain right here for challenging my direct command."
"Yes" he answered flatly.
"And still you want to stay with her?" questioned Hippolyta.
"Yes"
"Very well. I will allow you that much for we are in your debt. But from now consider the debt paid. The next time you lay foot on Themiscyra, you die."
Batman merely nodded his head.
Two guards stepped towards the Batwing to retrieve Diana. Batman blocked their Batman.
"Get. Away. From. Her." He spoke with a slow cold voice. "No one here touches her except for the queen and me."
The guards looked at the queen, who gave Batman an odd look and then merely nodded her head. The guards immediately withdrew.
As she looked on Batman emerged from the 'wing cradling and holding Diana. He gave one last look at her pale face, steeled himself and walked towards the queen who had begun walking towards Athena temple. Batman had informed her that at Diana's altar the three shrines were arranged so that Athena was in the middle. That meant that the sacrifice had been to her.
Hippolyta noticed Batman's behavior towards Diana. It had greatly changed from the first time he was on the island. Where earlier he seemed distant from the rest of his teammates and had stayed in the shadows, now he stuck to Diana like it was his life on the line and not hers. It was almost as if he….'No that isn't possible. It cannot be. Not Diana. And not him.' Hippolyta was shaking her head when she heard Batman's gravelly voice.
"Where are we going?"
Hippolyta looked up at him. His face was only partially visible through the mask and he showed no emotion.
"Athena's temple" Batman had noticed the guards who were following them.
"Why do you wear a mask?" inquired Hippolyta.
"I have no powers or gifts your highness. My secret identity is my power. Giving up my identity means giving up my power" answered Batman.
"So no one knows who the man behind the mask is?" she questioned again.
"Only a handful of people know my true identity."
"And how many have you killed to keep your secret safe?" she continued scornfully.
Batman suddenly tensed up, a fact not unnoticed by Hippolyta, "I may have to do many things to guard my identity but….I. DON'T. KILL. EVER." He ended coldly.
"Not even your enemies? Not even in battle?" she asked intrigued.
"No"
Hippolyta was silent for a few moments as they walked towards Athena's temple. She spoke again, a bit softly this time.
"Is Diana privy to your secret identity?"
"Yes. And she figured it out herself." answered Batman, with a little pride.
"You seem almost proud and happy that she found it out. Why is that?" queried Hippolyta.
Batman remained silent and didn't answer her. Hippolyta sensed the answer and wasn't sure if she wanted to hear it spoken out aloud.
Soon they reached Athena's temple. Hippolyta turned to face Batman.
"Are you sure that Athena's shrine was in the center in her room."
"Yes"
"Very well. We will carry Diana from here on" she said, hoping Batman would give up and turn back.
"Like I said earlier, I am staying with her till the end."
"But Athena doesn't like men entering her temple" tried Hippolyta.
"No, but she would welcome a warrior." Batman countered.
Hippolyta sighed and both of them stepped into the temple.
An hour into the ceremony Athena appeared on the altar.
"What is the reason for this ceremony Hippolyta?" she demanded. "Why did you invoke me?"
"O great goddess Athena, I come to you to beg for the life of my daughter and your champion, Diana of Themiscyra."
"Oh yes Diana. A brave warrior, she will be missed."
"O great Athena, she is my only daughter and the most precious thing in my life. Surely there is something you can do." Pleaded Hippolyta
"She made a sacrifice to me, and the only way to save her is that if there is another sacrifice."
"What kind of sacrifice? I will readily sacrifice my life if it will save my daughter's."
"No Hippolyta, you cannot be the one to make the sacrifice" answered Athena.
"Then who"
"I'll make the sacrifice." Batman had been standing in the shadows following the interaction taking place in front of him. He finally stepped forward making his presence known.
"What is this? A man in my temple" Athena called out angrily. Hippolyta stared at Batman angry with his sudden outburst.
"My name is Batman and I come not as a man but as a warrior. I offer myself to make the sacrifice to save Diana's life." He stated calmly facing Athena.
"Ah, so you are Batman. I have heard a great deal about you. I can see your past achievements and I am impressed by what I see. Also I see the place you hold in Diana's heart and she in yours'. Therefore I agree with your offer to provide the sacrifice."
"Thank you" responded Batman.
"But beware, I may ask for anything as a sacrifice. You will have to give me what I ask for" reminded Athena.
Batman didn't answer but merely nodded his head.
"Very well. Let us begin." Turning to Hippolyta she ordered, "Leave us alone"
Hippolyta looked at Batman who stood erect and unemotional as ever, bowed down to Athena and walked away.
Sometime later,
Batman walked out of the temple carrying an unconscious Diana. Hippolyta was waiting for him along with a small crowd.
Batman laid Diana on the stretcher Hippolyta had provided. He caressed Diana's hair and stood up to face Hippolyta.
"She has been healed and will gain consciousness with first light tomorrow" he informed the queen.
"Thank you Batman, it seems we are once again in your debt" replied Hippolyta.
Batman merely nodded, turned around and started walking away.
He reached the batwing and was about to step into it when Hippolyta spoke again.
"Batman….what was the sacrifice the goddess asked you to make?"
He just said one word before closing the hatch and flying away.
"Diana"