"They have been testing us, taunting Sparta for years. It's been small so far- stealing livestock and crop shares, but we have allowed this to go on for long enough," Leonidas declared grimly. "I was given a report this morning that fields have been burned, entire families robbed and slaughtered. I cannot allow this to continue. I will not."
The Senate began to murmur as Leonidas stood before them, awaiting their decision. He knew all the men in attendance, as had his father, but personal friendship would not overcome their duties to Sparta. He had the power to overturn their decisions, but it was always easier to have the Senate's agreement when it came to the city's military. Sparta's warriors were the greatest fighting force ever known to man, but every warrior in the army was a husband, a father and friend. War was a necessary evil in the world, and it was not prudent to rush into battle and risk losing soldiers.
However, Leonidas felt that his hands were tied. The farmers living on the outskirts were just as much of a Spartan as any man living within the city- as king, he could not stand by and allow his own people to be killed by rebels in the name of false diplomacy. The rebels and raiders, whoever they were, had taunted the sleeping beast of Sparta far too many times and would now face the deadliest force on earth.
Adrastos, a senior member of the Senate, stood up to act as the speaker. "King Leonidas, we too have heard the reports of murder on the outside borders of Sparta. We must know, have you any true strategy for dealing with these raiders?"
Leonidas had spent years studying the laws and philosophies that Sparta had been built upon, but in truth he was a man of simple tastes. As the murderers were not Spartan citizens, he would be well within his rights to kill them in order to best protect his city. He preferred this- why waste time talking when his people were being killed?
He straightened his back to address the Senate as a whole. "I will take ten soldiers from my first fleet; skilled trackers and scouts will find the enemy camp and establish a surrounding perimeter. We will keep watch until nightfall and strike them as they sleep, or we will strike when they move to attack another household. Given what we know, these rebels will not wait much longer before attacking our people again."
Many of the old men nodded their agreement. Leonidas knew that he had won their blessings.
"So you are going then. I knew you would."
Leonidas turned to Gorgo. She had been standing on the balcony, and must have heard him enter their room and begin to approach her. She had not turned to address him. He put his hands over her shoulders. "Gorgo-"
"I know it is your duty. As king, you are the first warrior into battle."
He brought his hands around her waist. "No, my queen...these are raiders we are facing, not a true army. I go only to ensure that every last one of them is made to pay for the Spartan blood they have spilled."
At last, she turned to him. He glanced down to the small, rounded mound that was her womb. It had not been long since she had told him of the child that shared her body, but Leonidas was already so eager for his heir. He settled one of his large hands upon her flesh, hoping again to feel his child move.
Gorgo held his hand more firmly to her body. "No, Leonidas. It is too soon for the babe to kick."
He nodded, slightly disappointed. "I will not be gone long, Gorgo. Weeks, at most. I will return to you the same man I have always been."
She rounded on him, "But I will not be the same woman! I will be bigger, as round as a sphere and as swollen as a melon! You won't want what I have become, you'll take a slave as your whore, you'll take my babe away from me and-"
Leonidas gripped her shoulders and forced her to look at him. "Gorgo! What is this madness you speak of?! Have you lost your mind? You must have forgotten that I chose you as my wife," he bit out.
Gorgo had been behaving strangely for the past few weeks, ever since her body began to grow fuller from the child. She avoided him during the day and slept further to her side of their bed at night. When she allowed him to touch her belly so that he might feel for his child, she often insisted that he was not doing it right and would leave in frustration. The midwife brought into the palace had assured them that it was safe for the babe if Leonidas were to take his wife again, so long as he was very gentle. Gorgo had seemed repulsed at the idea one moment and then eager for it the next; as of yet, Leonidas had stopped approaching her all together.
His wife began to cry, and Leonidas hated himself for becoming upset with her. He brought her closer into his arms and allowed her tears to fall upon the linen of his robe. Careful not to upset her further, he reached up and stroked her hair. He could not understand why she thought he would be so eager to take another woman; in fact, he could not understand why Gorgo had been so withdrawn and angry with him at all. It seemed every step he took would irritate her to no end, every breath he took lead her into further annoyance.
"Gorgo, Gorgo, you are my queen, my only love..." He crooned to her. Carefully, Leonidas backed her up to their bed and he had her lay back on the blankets there. Her face glistened with tears, her breasts and belly heaved slightly as she cried. Leonidas moved to lay on his side beside her, propping himself up on one elbow and looked down at her. "I want no other woman, and I would never dishonor you by taking another. There will only be one queen of Sparta. You and no other."
He rested his hand over the gentle bump of her belly, then slowly stroking up her body towards her face. Gorgo shivered and gasped when his hand passed over her breast. To Leonidas, the sound was akin to a call from one mate to another. He cupped her face and leaned down to kiss her. To his relief and satisfaction, Gorgo responded to him.
They simply kissed for a time, reacquainting themselves to each other. It had been a long time since Gorgo had allowed Leonidas to touch her as a husband, and he had been beginning to feel almosr desperate for the return of his wife. He would take what she would give, and not press her for more. He cared too much for Gorgo and for their child to risk upsetting her. The heir she carried was the future of all Sparta.
They parted, and Gorgo moved to present her back to him. Leonidas moved his body to mold her shape against his, and he reached around her waist to lay his hand over her belly. "I'm sorry, Leonidas. The midwife warned me months ago that I would become upset at the rustling of a feather, but I hadn't believed her- I laughed and told her that I was not the same as the other women she had seen to in the past. This is punishment for my arrogance! I've driven you to chasing raiders across Greece just so that you may find a bit of peace..."
Leonidas laughed softly against her hair. "No, no, Gorgo. I go because of my duty as king. I go to discourage any others from even thinking of attacking Spartan villages or farms again, to protect the people. I will think of you every day, Gorgo, and beg the gods to deliver me back home swiftly so that I may see you with our babe."
His woman was silent for a short time. "Leonidas, do you truly still want me?"
"Yes. You are...too close to see yourself clearly. You cannot see what I can. I see you, healthy and strong, growing ripe with my seed. You have the mother's glow about your face, your hair shines and your breasts have become even fuller. I would have to be a eunuch not to desire you." He laughed.
Despite herself, Gorgo laughed too. "Thank you, Leonidas. I think I only wished to hear you say that."
He drew her closer. "Then I will tell you every day."
They slept, yet somewhere in the night, Leonidas woke at the faint, tiny fluttering of the child beneath his palm.