For a night of love

The first time Thaletas saw the mercenary he thought that one of the gods themselves must have come down from Mount Olympus. He, who had always worshipped the beauty of women, felt his knees become weak at the pure sight of this man.

The armour he wore hid most of his body but underneath he must have had a much defined, muscular body. He had a light beard and hair so long, that Thaletas wanted to bury his hands in it. When the mercenaries gaze fell on him, a small smile appeared on his beautiful lips.

He held out a hand. "My name is Alexios and I'm here to help Kyra and her rebels in their fight against the cruel leader."

Kyra... This name brought Thaletas back to his senses. He was here for her, because he wanted to help her. Thaletas took a deep breath and reminded himself of the reasons why he was here. But before the commander could take the offered hand a troop of Athenian soldiers came screaming and running down to the beach. Thaletas barked orders and drew out his own sword. Out of the corner of his eyes he could see that Alexios did the same. Then he had no more time to think as the first enemy appeared and engaged him in combat.

After Thaletas had killed three more soldiers he had a little time to take a breath. He looked all around the battlefield. To his satisfaction and relief they had very little causality, only three or four lightly wounded soldiers as far as he could tell.

The he saw him.

Alexios fought a very big, brutal Athenian who had a naked upper body and wielded a big war hammer. Thaletas wanted to help Alexios but he was too stunned by what he saw. The huge enemy wielded his hammer again and again trying to bury his massive weapon in his enemy's chest.

But the mercenary was too swift and evaded time after time. In one hand he held a small sword, in the other the head of a spear. With both these weapons he managed to cut the Athenian soldier each time he escaped his blow. The big enemy bled from several wounds already.

Sweat was running down his body. One last time he held his hammer high and attacked but Alexios again was too quick. The mercenary dove under the soldiers blow and buried his sword deep in his enemy's chest.

The Athenian soldier fell like a cut-down tree.

With a small, satisfied smile on his face, Alexios freed his blade and turned back to Thaletas. His armour was smeared with blood as was his face. Never had Thaletas seen anything more beautiful than this man drenched in blood, the perfect picture of war.

Alexios white teeth shone brightly as he grinned. "This was quite a day to meet, wasn't it?"

Thaletas smiled then he finally shook the mercenary's hand. When their fingers touched Thaletas felt something like a tiny spark. But when he looked in Alexios face he found nothing. The mercenary really had a face made of stone.

"My name is Thaletas. I am also here on behalf of Kyra, to help her win her battle." Alexios laughed. "So we do have the same mission here, haven't we?"

"Yes indeed, it seems so. I really want to help her but she can be so stubborn. She cannot see that a direct attack is the only way to kill the leader and free this island once and for all." Thaletas sighed. His gaze wandered to the city where Kyra and her rebels hid deep in a cave.

Alexios nodded. "That is why I'm here. I too am a man of war, so I think that confronting someone in open battle is the best thing. And as I can see, you are much better in keeping your men in order than her." Said Alexios admiringly when he saw how fast the battlefield was cleaned up, the bodies burned and the wounded cared for. Thaletas smiled at his words. "They are good men, good soldiers. They do whatever I command them to do."

"And what would you command me to do?" Alexios voice was deep and seductive when he said this. The gaze of his eyes felt hot on Thaletas back. The commander gulped and felt his cheeks burning very hot.

Slowly he turned around until his eyes met Alexios. "I don't know... I doubt that you are very good at following orders, aren't you?"

"I don't know. You would have to try..." Alexios stepped one more step closer to Thaletas. Unsure what to do, Thaletas turned his back again, all commander now. "If you really want to help me, then say so. I have a lot of tasks where I could use a soldier like you."
"You know that this wasn't what I meant." Alexios sounded a bit frustrated. Obviously he was used to everyone he chose for a night of pleasure to immediately agree.

"I know..." whispered Thaletas. He crossed his hands behind his back so that he wouldn't bury them in Alexios hair while he kissed him.

"So what is it that you want me to do, Thaletas?" asked Alexios, all seduction gone from his voice. Nonetheless a small shiver crawled down Thaletas back when the mercenary said his name.

As he explained to Alexios the need of weakening the rule of Athens by killing the Polemarches, he stole a quick glance at Alexios muscular arms and the sharp lines of his face.

As a goodbye they shook handy once more, but only briefly this time before Alexios disappeared back into the woods.

With the mercenary gone, Thaletas let out a breath he hadn't known he had held and began reorganising his troops.

Three days later he was back in the city, praying to the gods, when he suddenly felt a very familiar hot gaze on his back. Thaletas turned around and saw, as expected, Alexios who eyed him thoughtfully. "What are you doing here? Isn't it dangerous for you in this city full of Athenians? Alexios asked.

Thaletas heart jumped at the obvious concern in the voice of the mercenary. Then he shook his head. "Not even the Athenians are stupid enough to kill someone on sacred ground. So" he then asked. "Are they..." "No longer a problem."

"Then the time has come to attack." Thaletas sounded happy about this. Finally something good was happening here.

Alexios looked again at Thaletas. "You know, I did not do this for Sparta. Sparta, Athena, they are all the same to me. Fat, old men, trying to gain more and more power. Nothing new there." Thaletas swallowed hard. "Why did you do it then?" He both feared and craved the answer to his question.

The mercenary took another step forward. Their faces were mere inches apart now. Thaletas felt the heat rise once more in his cheeks. He wanted to reach out and touch this oh so perfect man but he did not. He couldn't. Kyra...

"What do you want, Alexios?" he asked his voice hoarse and quiet. A half-smile appeared on Alexios face. He bent his faces forward until his lips were close to the commanders ears. "You, Thaletas. Always you." A little firework exploded in Thaletas chest. He could think now more. All he wanted was to kiss this man in front of him, touch him and be touched. He didn't care that they were out in the open where everyone could see them. His heart already belonged to this mercenary although he didn't want to admit it yet.

It took all his strength but finally Thaletas could utter a few words. "Not here, Alexios. Come to the beach this evening. Look for the smoke."

Alexios grinned knowingly but he nodded and stepped back. But by doing so his fingers brushed against Thaletas hands who hung limply at his sides.

A shiver ran through him. Alexios eyes sparked one more time, them he was gone, swallowed by the crowd. Thaletas knees became weak and he had to lean against one of the statues to avoid falling down. He felt like a love struck little girl instead of the commander he really was. His gaze fell on the sky where the sun had already begun to sink. "Oh Alexios, what are you doing to me?" he murmured.

It had become evening and Thaletas was nervous as he had never been before. He sat on a blanket in the woods, a few metres away from the beach. Around him, a few torches were lit. Their light illuminated the place.

Would he come? Were the flowers too much? Maybe he would laugh because Thaletas had made such an effort for just one night of pleasure? Because that was what Alexios surely wanted, one more night of pleasure and nothing more. Oh, he had made such a fool out of himself.

Thaletas was so lost in his thoughts that he only noticed the mercenary when he stood right in front of him. He held a flower in his hands and smiled. Thaletas stood up and hoped his nervousness didn't show.

"I started to think you would not come." He managed to say. Alexios came closer and stuck the flower behind Thaletas ear. "To you? I will always come." answered the mercenary.

Thaletas shivered at the touch of Alexios fingertips at his ear. "So the flowers were not... too much?" he whispered, his eyes closed. He could not look at Alexios or he would not be able to hold it together.

"They are beautiful... as are you." came the deep answer. Thaletas felt the light touch of lips against his own but before the kiss could go any deeper, he stepped back. "Come." He said. "I want to show you something."

Amused but curious Alexios followed the other man. Thaletas led him up the hill to the ruins of an abandoned temple. "I come here to train. Exhausting my body helps me clear my mind."

"When all the bloodshed and war becomes too much to bear." Alexios answer surprised Thaletas. The mercenary had crossed his arms in front of his chest and looked grim. Thaletas briefly wondered what secrets the other man was hiding.

Then he reached behind a fallen stone and drew out two swords with blunt edges. One he kept the other he threw to Alexios who caught it. He looked at the weapon confused. "What is this all about?" He wanted to know.

Thaletas grinned, his smile taunting. "I want to see you fight." Alexios frowned. "You already have."

"Against Athenians, yes. But not against a Spartan. You already have my love, Alexios but to earn it, keep it, you have to fight."

A grin swept over Alexios face. "So be it then."

The fight lasted about one half hour. No one held back. Whereas the fight was relatively even at the beginning, it became rapidly clear that Alexios would win. Suddenly Thaletas tripped and fell on the stony ground. Immediately he felt the cold tip of Alexios sword at his throat. Thaletas looked up until their eyes met. Both men breathed really hard. Alexios grinned. His eyes sparkled. He threw away his weapon, and then held out a hand to help Thaletas up. The commander lowered his voice till it was barely more than a whisper. "Aren't you going to finish me off?"

"I thought you'd never ask." Alexios growled before he drew Thaletas in a deep, passionate kiss.

As before nobody held back. At the handy of the experienced Alexios Thaletas felt things he had never felt before. Never had he thought that being touched by a man could feel so... perfect. Thaletas hoped this night would never end. When both of them were completely exhausted, they lay side by side and watched the beautiful night sky.

It was over.

The leader was dead, the battle won, the people free.

Thaletas stood on the beach and watched the sinking sun. He knew, he would have to make a decision. He knew what the decision would be. For himself and for Alexios.

He felt the other man approaching. Thaletas braced himself then he turned around.

"Alexios..."

"Thaletas..."

For a while nobody spoke. Both of them looked at each other and both of them saw the future in the other ones eyes.

"I heard you are an officer now, Thaletas." Alexios began. Thaletas nodded. "Soon I will have to return to Sparta. My duty here is done." Then, in a sudden burst of emotion he stepped forward and took Alexios hand. "Alexios, come with me. Together we can fight for Sparta's glory. We can fight side by side and be together." He pleaded even though he knew that it was futile. Alexios looked at him a long time before he spoke. "Thaletas, your future lies in Sparta. You are destined to be a great leader in the army. But me? My destiny lies elsewhere."

Tears stung in Thaletas eyes but he didn't look down. He had known it would come to this. From the first time that he had seen Alexios he had known that the gods had not foreseen a future for them together.

"So this is goodbye then?" Thaletas asked.

"For now." Alexios answered and a sad smile appeared on his face. "But who knows, when all this is over maybe we will meet together in Sparta again?"

Thaletas nodded and tried hard to blink away his tears. "In Sparta again."

"In Sparta" Alexios agreed.

At the party that evening they avoided each other as much as possible. There was simply nothing more to say.

The next morning Thaletas stood on his ship and watched as the Adrestesia set sail and disappeared on the horizon. A lonely tear rolled down Thaletas cheek.

"Until we meet again, my love." He whispered and let the wind carry away his words as to where his heart laid.

- The End -