The Knight and the Amazon
4
The amphitheater seemed cramped and crowded with Amazons. Everyone was chatting loudly, wondering what was about to come. The density of the crowd and the animation almost gave the illusion of normality, if Artemis hadn't known this was all that remained of her sisters. The injured were lined in the front rows, some of them shouldn't even have been sitting. But pride and stubbornness ran deep in their blood and for nothing they would have missed the announcement Donna was about to make.
Two days after their youngest sister's outburst, the rumors of Diana still being alive had spread like wildfire. Many came to approach Donna, demanding details. Some were hopeful, some were angry for that hope, some mocked her for dreaming up their princess' fate. But no-one could deny their deepest wish that it could be true.
Hence why Artemis had convinced her to call upon this assembly before things spiraled out of control. Already underdog leaders were starting to gather supporters. Mala, one of her most power-craving sisters, thought herself a decent replacement as their third best warrior on the island –after Artemis of course. Philippus too tended to draw loyalists of the deceased queen as her former general. The most surprising though was Alexa, who was starting to show real prowess in the political field.
Was it all those hours of reading that gave her such a silver tongue? The recent battle that had cost so many injuries, including her own eye? The betrayal of Persephone, who had been seduced by the words of a god? Whatever it was, she still somewhat managed to charm the sisters who weren't keen on following either an old leader or Mala's impulsive temper. Most tempting of all, she claimed she had no intention of leading anyone in the long haul, merely reorganize the island and hold fort until Diana returned. Artemis could see some were suspicious of such a speech, but she believed in her twin. While Alexa showed unexpected skills for leadership, she loved studying and reading far much more.
The amphitheater suddenly quieted, and Artemis returned her attention to the stage. Donna stepped uncertainly on the half-destructed platform. Her face was pale, her nervousness evident, but the determination in her eyes held her shoulders straight and stiff. She stood in the middle of the stage, stared at her sisters defiantly, and Artemis felt a pang in her chest; with her dark hair, blue eyes and the firm set of her, she reminded her too much of their lost princess.
"Thank you for coming, sisters," she started her voice loud and clear. "I called for this gathering to discuss rumors that had been spreading amongst us." She took another breath. "And I am here to confirm that our Princess, Diana, is alive."
A wave of murmurs ran through the crowd. Donna didn't let them time to think too hard.
"When Diana saved me," she went on. "She transferred a part of her soul into me." Another wave of murmurs; the story of Donna's arrival on Themyscira had been purposely edited to prevent unwanted and unnecessary jealousy. Artemis knew because Diana had needed to confide to someone at the time, and she had been it. "She and I can communicate through our dreams. Two nights ago, I saw through her subconscious and last night, I almost spoke to her. She is in Man's World…" Donna swallowed hard. "And her memory was erased."
A roar of outrage ran down the crowd. Artemis felt the same astonishment and anger bubbling within her. She hadn't known about that part. Donna raised her hand to demand silence. The Amazons quieted again, eager to hear more.
"I know the face of the man who took her in –she is treated well," she added quickly before questions could fuse. "But she is lost and confused. She dreams of Ares and our sisters lost in battle, but she had no idea what it means. I wish –I want to go out in Man's World and get her back."
The murmurs returned. One voice finally made way, one that didn't surprise the redhead warrior.
"Why should we believe you?" Mala shouted. "You have nothing but your own word to back your claims! The princess died in battle against Ares honorably; why hail upon ghosts to raise mayhem and division amongst us!"
"Diana was taken by Circe," someone shouted. "She could still be alive."
"Do you truly think that witch would keep the one who killed her lover alive? The gods won't interfere for Ares was one of their own."
"And that's exactly why I'll go!" Donna shouted. "As you said, Diana saved us from Ares and was taken by Circe –but what better revenge to leave our princess in Man's World on her own, and with no memory for her to hold onto?" Mala looked ready to protest. "She saved all of us, we owe her to try! I am not asking for anyone to follow, I just want you to keep hope…and hope is something we sorely need at the present time."
Artemis shut her eyes briefly. It wouldn't be enough to convince them all. She knew that, while some Amazons genuinely believed in Diana, most of them only wanted to believe their legitimate leader would return. Artemis herself would pray restlessly if it ensured Diana came back. But as she had learned very early on, gods were fickle and they only helped those who helped themselves first.
She heard Amazons argue together, as the shift between believers and non-believers had already began. And suddenly:
"QUIET!"
The whole crowd fell silent and stared at Donna once again. Their youngest sister was red-faced, either out of anger or embarrassment, perhaps both, and so fierce-looking even Artemis felt a shiver run down her spine.
"I am not asking for your permission either," Donna reprised passionately. "I am leaving for Man's World tonight, and I will find Diana with or without your consent. Will anyone come with me?"
Once again, sisters exchanged glances, but none came forward. Most craved for Diana's return, but the fear of man's world was still firmly anchored in their souls. While Mala was bold, not even she would dare step outside Paradise Island if she could help it. Philippus needed to remain if she wanted to gain supporters for her rise to power and Alexa…while the redhead knew her twin had longed for the opportunity to explore the outside world, she could not leave for fear of others –namely Mala or Philippus –managed to convince the rest that Diana was doomed.
Artemis sighed, knowing her own decision had been made before Donna even stepped on the stage. She stood from the benches and shouted to the crowd:
"I will!"
TKATA
They had set her on a chair with wheels and were pushing her outside. At first, she didn't know what to think of this new means of transport, but it was easier on her legs and didn't tire her much. Healer Leslie had insisted she didn't exhaust herself, but she really needed to go outside. The chair, brought by Bruce, had been a decent compromise.
She let Dick push her through the alleys, watched the nature around her with a puzzled stare. The gardens were lovely, but something bothered her. She thought it could do with more trees or higher grass.
"You like it?"
She glanced to Dick and took her notepad.
'It's too tame.'
"Perhaps," the young man said. "But it wouldn't do to have Wayne Manor unruly from the outside." When she raised a questioning eyebrow, he explained: "Bruce is…well, maybe you don't know. He's a very rich man. Not just wealthy or well-off, but rich. It's expected of him to have beautiful tidy gardens. He's also very busy, so he pays professional gardeners to care for them and gives them free reign most of the time." Dick shrugged. "They are all very old-school that way."
Bruce had left shortly after they'd come out, quoting business to attend to and phone calls to make, whatever that last part meant. She didn't mind; however generous he might be, he still annoyed her.
The mount of dirt where Bruce had claimed finding her came into view. She gave the young man a light tap on his hand to catch his attention and pointed at it.
"You wanna go there?" she nodded. "Okay. Bruce wanted you to check it out closer in case you remembered something."
They stopped at the bottom of the mini-crater. She decided to give her legs another try and stood on her feet.
"Wow, slowly miss!"
Dick was instantly by her side, holding her arm to stabilize her. With his help, she climbed over the dirt and stopped at the border. The hold was a few meters deep, a sign of how important the impact must have been. She lifted her eyes to watch the sky. This afternoon was clear of clouds and a little warm. She had fallen from up there? Or had she been projected?
She hated memory loss.
Her legs felt weak again, so she nudged Dick to help her down to the chair again.
"Nothing, eh?" she shook her head. Thankfully, he didn't look pitying or patronizing, merely understanding. "It'll come back, just give it some time."
She shrugged again. Her mind was still clouded and blank, it hurt to think too hard. Her gaze wandered back over the large expanse too well-cut grass and the perfectly lined-up bushes. The unnatural sight was starting to unnerve her.
Dick leaned forward to whisper:
"Wanna see the secret fountains? It's a lot bushier there."
She nodded enthusiastically and was immediately wheeled away.
TKATA
Bruce turned away as the video feed showed Dick wheeling the unknown woman to a less 'neat' part of the garden. He had carefully watched her reaction as she stared down the hole and seen nothing but genuine blankness and frustration. He sighed and leant back in his chair; now he knew for sure that she wasn't faking.
He returned his attention to the report Clark had sent him on the weird phenomena a while back, which he hadn't been able to take a look at yet. A column of light reaching for the sky. It had erupted somewhere from the Mediterranean sea, but no exact location had been given. The closest witnesses –fishermen caught in a tempest -were more preoccupied by saving their skin than observing an odd light. Further studying of the environment led him to believe this was not the consequence of the local weather. So, manmade? Magic? Bruce sincerely hoped for the former, not the latter. He hated magic with passion because he could virtually do nothing against it.
He calculated the approximate position of the light and sent the League's extra satellite over the spot. Using various filters to scan the sea, he came out with interesting results: one area was surrounded by a strange fog acting like a force-field, preventing his best sophisticated scanners to see through.
It wasn't a large zone, but big enough to hide, say, an island, from prying eyes. The next question was, how could that be possible and more importantly, what could be on said island?
"Did you find anything of interest, sir?"
Bruce leaned back on his seat, his hand covering his mouth as he contemplated the information he had just read.
"The woman landing on my lawn and the column of light are related," he said as a matter-of-fact. "It happened near Greek coast and she was wearing the kind of helmet gladiators used to wear during combat."
"Couldn't it be a coincidence?" the butler inquired, playing the devil's advocate. Bruce shook his head.
"I have a feeling it's not. She has been fighting before crashing down. Her wounds were definitively made by a blade, though I cannot explain the burns yet." He sighed and admitted: "If the light is a spell or a consequence of said fight…it means she might have been going against powerful foes."
He glanced at his most loyal ally as a new thought came to his mind.
"She needs to remember, if only for us to know if there is something out there we should be looking out for."
TKATA
The night had fallen for a while, but she was wide awake. After a full afternoon spent in the gardens, a light diner –as to not upset her stomach –and an early return to bed, she had fallen asleep fast, only to wake up mere hours later. The clock on her bedside indicated two in the morning.
She set her foot on the floor, felt the strength in her leg and stood up. She was satisfied to note that she did not wobble this time. If anything, she stood relatively stable. Perhaps the meal and her apparent fast healing would indeed help her get back on her feet quick.
She tried walking a little. Her legs kept steady as she walked in circles. She smiled in satisfaction, glanced back at her bed. She was no longer tired at the moment and was yearning for some exercise. Figuring Bruce wouldn't mind if she took a small stroll around the house, she headed to the door. It opened without a sound. She next stepped on the fluffy carpet and followed as it led her downstairs. The manor was already silent in clear day, it seemed incredibly…dead…at night. Or perhaps not that dead, she thought as she heard the walls crack and the soft 'thump' 'thump' of her foot on the floor. The wind was whistling against the window, which meant that it was blowing harder outside. She headed in the living room, where the French windows would give her a better view of the outside. And then…
She had no idea why she ducked behind the couch when she heard an odd mechanical sound, but she did. And then, she stood very still as she heard footsteps getting closer.
"Fucking wind," someone said, and she recognized Dick's annoyed tone. "You bet I'm going to get some rest."
She watched him from the corner of the couch as he limped past her and headed to the stairs. She briefly wondered if she had closed her door –then figured she was doing nothing wrong. Still, she waited until he had vanished upstairs to step out. On the wall opposite the couch, she saw paintings and an old grandfather's clock. No door nearby. Puzzled, she stepped closer. She was pretty sure the sound had come from there, but she couldn't see an outline or an entrance. Perhaps a secret passage, she thought with a hint of excitement. Was Bruce hiding something in this manor? She decided to give the wall a closer look.
None of the paintings were crooked, meaning they hadn't been moved. The clock –she frowned: the clock was four hours early. What did that mean?
She opened the window glass and turned the needles backward. It was about…what, two fifteen now? She only needed to turn about-
A clicking mechanism echoed again and the grandfather's clock moved. She jumped back as it detached itself from the wall to give way to a hidden door. She grinned widely, happy to have found a true distraction.
I wonder what Bruce is hiding down there, she thought and stepped in without hesitation. She'd just take a peek and head out, she promised herself. No need to intrude on the man's territory more than necessary.
