Leonidas felt restless, almost tense as he watched several servants escort Gorgo into the covered carriage that would bear her to the Ephor temple, miles and miles from Sparta. They raised sheets around her as she walked, shielding her from sight. She had been closeted within her chambers for days, locked away from all prying eyes of men. Her attendants had been hard at work, presenting her with all forms of silk and linen garments, elaborate jewelry and everything else a woman might need for the journey to the Ephor temple.
He'd never given much thought to all that a woman required to keep up her appearance. He had seen Gorgo sweaty, sunburned and dirty before, all the while wearing a shapeless leather training tunic- none of it had lessened his desire for her as his intended queen. Leonidas and Gorgo had not seen each other for days, not since he had told her of his intention to take her as his wife.
Androcles watched as his son's eyes followed the carriage. They were to follow the carriage on horseback, with a group of palace guards and one slave girl who was to act as the substitute for Gorgo, if the Ephors would only allow the trade.
They set out from the palace, carving a path through the marketplace. Several citizens stopped in their duties to watch the proud company pass, but none dared to approach the covered carriage. Soon, they had made it out of the walls of Sparta, and moved forward, through the country. The day was hot, but a cool breeze blew against them, very pleasing against the high heat.
Both kings rode strong black stallions, while the warriors accompanying them marched, and the slave girl rode a similar, yet noticably smaller, carriage. She had been dressed and made up to look to her best advantage the same as Gorgo, but again, Leonidas had been denied to see her by custom. He only hoped that the little helot would hold a greater appeal to the Ephors, so they might let Gorgo be free to marry him.
Dilios walked beside Pegasus, the horse of Leonidas. "Do you believe this will work, sire?"
Leonidas glanced down. "It is uncertain whether the Ephors will stand for my interruption of their traditions. All the same, I will present my case. Gorgo will be my queen, whether by negotiation or by their blood."
Dilios smiled slightly, teasing his friend. "Outside of the gods, I cannot recall a man doing so much for a woman. We should keep this quiet, otherwise all women throughout Greece will expect their men to go through Hades simply to please them."
His eyes ahead on Gorgo's carriage, Leonidas smiled.
It was two days' journey to the Ephor temple, leaving them only one night before their fate would fall. Leonidas could not sleep. His father slept; the older man was snoring lightly on the other side of the tent. He knew that several of the guards outside were alert, keeping a perimeter watch around their small camp.
He wondered about Gorgo.
She must be afraid, though Leonidas knew she would die before admitting fear. She was Spartan, after all.
It was against custom for the future Oracle to be seen by any man while being brought to the Ephors, but Leonidas detested this custom that forced a Spartan woman into playing the whore for gnarled old men. The slave girl intended for trade was simply that: a slave. One of many, but the girl was a virgin with no family, and slaves were peculiar in that they could forgive an unpure woman and take her into marriage. He knew the helot would be welcomed back to Sparta once her servitude to the Ephors had finished- possibly she might be desired by another slave, or even a farmer of the outlands would offer her marriage.
If the Ephors chose Gorgo, no man would even look upon her.
The contract had been for five years- Leonidas would be well into his kingship by then, and would need to be married with an heir inside of a year. If the Ephors chose her, it would be far too late for them, and his only choice would be to keep her as a mistress once she returned to Sparta.
No. Gorgo deserves more than that...
Restless, and bold enough to ignore custom, Leonidas rose from his pallet and stalked from the tent, moving straight for the carriage that still held Gorgo within. He stopped and reached for the linen curtain that shielded her from his eyes. A hand whipped through the air to catch his wrist.
Leonidas glared at the captain of his first legion, several years older than himself, and demanded, "Release me, captain."
The other man shook his head, "My king, you might not give much regard to the customs of Sparta, but some of us do. I beg you, do not look upon the future Oracle's face- it may bring a curse down upon all of us."
Leonidas pulled from the captain's grip. "And if the Ephors decide to take the helot and Gorgo becomes my queen, what then?"
"Then I will serve you as ever. But for the good of the men, I beg you again, do not look upon her."
Leonidas took a deep breath. Perhaps his captain was right- he had already gone against ancient traditions, his arrogance could prove dangerous if he kept on, and no king could put himself before the good of his men. He sighed, wondering why it was that where Gorgo was concerned, he felt he cared about nothing else. He had to regain himself and keep his wits about him.
The captain was right. "Captain. It is not custom for an officer to object to his king...but it takes great courage to speak up. Thank you, friend. I will not look upon her, but there is no law that states we are not to speak." He said, a smirking glint in his eye.
The captain nodded, understanding. "Yes, sire. I'll leave you to it."
The older man moved off, leaving Leonidas standing beside the covered carriage to wonder what had been done to Gorgo to present her to the Ephors tomorrow. He had no choice but to simply wonder- he had told the captain he would not look at her, and what was a king that could not keep his word?
He turned to the curtain, and spoke softly, "Gorgo, Gorgo, are you awake?"
Faintly, he could hear soft ruffling, the shift of one material against another. "Leonidas?"
His heart pounded. "Yes, it's me."
"Please, you must not look upon me. I...I don't want you to see me like this..." She said quietly, her voice soft behind the curtain.
He shook his head, hating how small she sounded. Where was the Gorgo he knew? This voice behind the curtain was meek with defeat, resigned and sad. "Gorgo, are you hurt?"
"No. Not yet."
"I won't let the Ephors have you. Sparta needs a queen, but it will never have one if I can never have you." He declared. Leonidas was unused to exposing his own emotions- a warrior king was to be strong, fearless and respected. Leonidas was all those things, and perhaps his youth leant him a certain degree of arrogance that would fade with time. He had proven his courage and cunning in battle, he had shown fairness to his people and reverence to the gods.
There were few who could find fault with the young king, though where Gorgo was concerned, he seemed to have suddenly gone mad.
"Leonidas, please. You must not say such things. I didn't know of such things before, but I do now. I overheard servants talking. The Ephors will not give me up, and you may be punished for disrupting the traditions. Once they see me, they will want to keep me as both a mystic creature and use me as a-"
"Don't say it!" Leonidas hissed. He had hoped that Gorgo would remain in a state of blissful ignorance about what the Ephors would demand of her as Oracle. Now that she knew, he understood the sadness in her voice. His hands tensed, both with the desire to reach through the curtain and hold her, and to kill each Ephor- slowly. "You will return with me to Sparta, I swear it. You will be my wife, and bear my heirs, Gorgo."
She was silent for a time. "I want this life you dream of, my friend, but nothing ill must come of this. Sparta must never suffer for the desires of two citizens."
Leonidas reached through the curtain, careful to keep his eyes averted. His hand found silk, and he groped blindly until he could feel her hand in his. Calming slightly, he stroked her arm to comfort her. "Sparta will not suffer with you as its queen, Gorgo. I have seen Demeter in you- the harvests will be bountiful, the women will be strong as well as beautiful. We will be the ruling hand, as it has always been meant to be."
The hand he stroked pulled away. "I want to believe you Leonidas. Whatever happens tomorrow, know that...that you have my heart, always."
Leonidas bowed his head slightly, and withdrew his hand from the carriage. "And you have mine." He said softly.
He glanced up to see the captain motioning for the changing of the guard. Leonidas would have to leave to avoid dissention among his men. He could not be seen so close to the future Oracle- it would arouse suspicion, and he knew that he was already risking enough by offering the Ephors a trade rather than honor the agreement made by her father.
The young king stalked back to his tent, sure he would never sleep.