The road back to Sparta seemed to Leonidas a swift journey, but perhaps it was his relief that made the road appear less long a distance. He did not waste time on the walk back to the palace; Gorgo had a right to know that her son lived. Leonidas reentered the walls of Sparta and made his way through the darkened streets. No citizen was yet awake, but he did catch sight of his fellow warriors prowling about, restless as always.
He nodded his acknowledgement to Dilios when their paths crossed, but the other man did not try to speak with him once he realized what it was that Leonidas was carrying. The future heir to Sparta!
Dilios bowed his head and watched as Leonidas hurried past him, on up toward the palace.
Leonidas came into the palace and almost immediately his father was upon him. "So, the child yet lives. Glory to Sparta! Son, let me see my grandchild," Androcles begged him.
Leonidas's eyes swept the hall, hoping to see Gorgo, but she was not there. He remembered her pained cries of delivering their son, and hoped she was all right. Androcles took the bundle from him and cradled the babe as if it were his own. "A grandson. Glory to Zeus, Leonidas."
Tears shined in the former king's eyes as he beheld the future of Sparta, but he did not let them fall. Both men turned to see Cadmus stride into the hall. He appeared tired, as tired as any of them. "Ah, King Leonidas, our grandchild lives! May I?" He asked, meaning to hold the babe.
Leonidas allowed it, and Androcles handed the fussing babe to Cadmus, who was also rejoycing for a grandson.
The king felt impatient. "Enough! Gorgo has not yet seen her son, where is she?" He demanded.
Cadmus was quick in handing the babe back to him. "She is in the royal bedchambers, sire. I just left her. She is trying not to fall asleep, but she is exhausted and I believe she will have already fallen asleep by now."
Leonidas nodded. "Very well. Then our son shall be the first thing she will see upon waking."
Their bedchamber was dark when Leonidas stepped over the threshold. The air was lightly scented with incense, and moonlight filtered in through the large windows. He approached the bed carefully, his eyes easily adjusting to the darkness. The bedclothes fell over Gorgo, draping her body. Leonidas watched her for several moments, his chest tightening with love for his wife.
She was sleeping on her side, her face pale in the soft light. Her mane was spread out beneath her, contrasting with the light sheets of their bed. Her breasts rose and fell with each breath. Leonidas wished to lift the covers and gaze upon her naked body; he was curious about her womb, he wanted to see if it was flat once again. In a strange way, he felt that he would miss touching her there, hoping to feel his child stir within.
Leonidas recalled her screams during the birth, and how exhausted she had been in the brief time he had seen her afterwards. He felt hesitant to wake her. She needed the rest, but she also needed to see that their son had lived.
I am king, a warrior, a soldier...I have no fear of any man or beast...the only thing on this earth that moves me is this woman...
Leonidas felt torn, but he thought of a way to present their son to her upon waking, and so he carried the babe to their bed. Carefully, Leonidas lifted the covers and placed the babe on his side next to her. He watched as the babe moved on instinct to take Gorgo's breast, suckling for his first earned meal. The king smiled as he watched his son and his wife together for the first time. He felt his chest swell with happiness, with triumph.
He was content to sit in the center of the bed and watch them together.
Gorgo stirred slightly and then gasped as she felt the tiny mouth at her breast. She came awake and seemed frozen with surprise for a moment. Then, she touched the babe's face as he suckled her. "Child?"
"Son." Leonidas said.
Gorgo looked up at him, as she hadn't noticed him until he spoke. "Our son...Leonidas, we have a son..." Tears spilled over her cheeks as she cradled the babe against her chest, moving to recline back against the pillows. She stroked a careful, warm hand over the babe's back as she would a favored pet. The blanket fell slightly, to reveal her breasts but she moved it to keep her waist covered.
Leonidas smiled and moved to sit closer to her. He took one of her hands in his. "Thank you, Gorgo. You have given me a strong, healthy son to take the throne once my reign ends. You are a good woman, a good wife."
Gorgo returned his smile, albeit tiredly. He understood. Her hand lifted to stroke his hair and playfully tugged on his beard. "I may have given you a son, my king, but it is you that has given me a husband."
Leonidas took her hand and kissed her palm, then her wrist. He reached for the covers, trying to lift them so that he might see her body. Gorgo slapped at his hand, "No, Leonidas, do not look at me!"
He tilted his head in confusion. "Why? I only wish to see you." He did not understand her sudden need to hide from him.
She shook her head, fearful and defensive. "No. Leonidas, birth damages a woman. The midwife says that I will not return to my old self for weeks, you cannot see me and you must not take me until I have had time to heal-"
Leonidas reared back from her, understanding now, and very upset. "Our son had not yet lived a day and you think I would take you now? How dare you think of me in that way, I am not an animal!"
Angered, Leonidas moved off their bed, intent to leave the room. Gorgo separated herself from their son. "Leonidas,"
He came around the bed to brace his hands over her shoulders, preventing her from standing. "No, Gorgo. Do not try to follow me, you need to rest." He lifted a hand to touch her cheek and then to stroke her hair, gentle as he had always been. He looked down at her ripe, full breasts. Her words returned to him, fueling his anger. "Cover yourself, queen, else I might lose all control and rut over you like a bull in heat."
Leonidas regretted the words later, as he paced the floor of a guestroom, and he hated himself for the memory of Gorgo's pained expression. Still, that she would think him so base as to take her mere hours after bearing him a son! He could not help his temper, and he recalled his earlier thoughts that Gorgo was the only person in all of Greece that could rouse any emotion within him, be it anger, happiness, desire or even childlike playfulness.
He felt frustrated that they would have cross words now, so soon after the birth of their prince. It was unlike them, and he admitted that he might have overreacted to her fear, but he had always become upset when she indicated any fear of him. Did she truly think him an animal? Had she merely been enduring his attentions all this time?
Leonidas had love for his wife, despite the necessary distance custom demanded be set between them in public. He knew that she felt the same. It was a difficult time for them, that was all.
No, no. We are stressed, frustrated, overwhelmed- I will speak with her in time...this life is too short to be so petty...