REMEMBER ME WHEN TIME FALLS AROUND YOU AND ALL THE LIGHTS GO OUT
Twenty one seasons ago in the town of Potidaea during the first winters fall.
Hecuba watched as the two women carried on fighting, she had seen Herodotus when he'd been sparing in the early mornings light with his double swords. She loved to watch him she'd found it fascinating it was like a dance, but a lethal dance which was meant to kill people. Through when ever she watched it she found herself forgetting that because of the fluid beauty of the actions. That had always been Herodotus's trade mark to fight with two swords as oppose to one and he was very good at it. What had surprised her more was what she'd heard about his father Aktaion who was a retired general from Olynthus. She had never met him but from what Herodotus had said he was a very unkind men and it was better that they never meet.
She'd found that sad, she had never had cruel people in her family but then she came from a generation of bread makers and war had never really found its way to Potidaea. Though she'd heard that Amphipolis which was a day's walk away had been a miner attack but it had been squashed as there were a lot of women whose husbands were warriors and there was a temple dedicated Ares on the village's outskirts. Unlike here where there was a temple dedicated to Aphrodite. Most of Amphipolis warriors were also from Olynthus and would pass through her village every now and again. She looked up watching the women again both were getting more agitated and there blows were getting harder. Nether of there style's matched Herodotus's what ever styles they were they had to be from different land.
Akemi screamed swinging the blade once more only to feel the pain as the other woman's foot came up slamming in to her upper leg. She winced painfully as she stepped back trying to take the pain. She didn't think as she swung the blade hearing Gabrielle's cry of pain as it sliced past her fur covered shoulder. Gabrielle pulled back ignoring the pain as the blood started to soak the brown coat red as it leaked from the thin cut. She breathed out digging her boots in to the snow a part of her wanted the battle end while another part of her wanted it to continue. She eyed her mother for a long moment why hadn't she run away?
She'd really hoped that she would, she took in a deep breath watching as Akemi began to circle her again. Akemi smirked as she eased her hand away from the blade as she pulled the broken dagger free from her belt. She had the other one still secured tightly. She didn't think as she threw it full force at the other woman's face. She found herself screaming in anger as the sai blade came up smashing it in mid flight sending it flying in to the snow opposite. Gabrielle didn't think as she ran forward finally seeing what she'd been waiting for all this time. Akemi felt the pain in an instant as the sai blades hilt smashed in to her face before she could bring her hand up to hold the katana properly.
The pain came again as the sai blade slicing across her exposed side she didn't get a chance to react as Gabrielle's boot came up smashing in to her chest. She felt the ice cold snow as she slammed in to it hard. She groaned in agony feeling the blood flow down from her side as she clutched the snow she looked up only to scream in pain as the brown boot impacted with her face. Herodotus turned the corner only to feel his self freeze in horror as he caught of the fighting women who were near his wife to be. He felt his heart sink in to his stomach as the panic over took him nothing like this ever happened in Potidaea! He felt the panic turn to purpose he didn't care who these two warriors were who were fighting!
He snarled in anger as he pulled his two swords free from their scabbards easing them out wards as he ran towards them. He could see the one in strange green clothing watching as the other woman got to her knees. He knew the posture to well. It was the tense posture right before you kill someone and it was obvious that once she was done with the dark haired girl she'd be coming after his wife! Gabrielle leaned over watching as Akemi got to her knees her bloody face showing in the fire light. She could see the pendent gleaming in the low light she eased her sai blade forward. All she needed was to use it to grab the cord and pull it loose from Akemi's neck before she came out of her daze.
She stopped in mid motion as she heard the heavy footsteps running through the snow, some one was behind her. She turned but not in enough time to avoid the blade of the sword as it slashed across her exposed lower leg causing her cry out in pain. She looked up only to feel more pain as a sword hilt came up smashing in to her chest. She winced as she slammed in to the ice cold floor feeling the air leave her lungs, gods that had hurt so much! She looked sharply as the blade of the sword come down to touch her face before she could rise. A deep voice broke through her thoughts causing her blink. "You will get off my wife or so help me I will kill you Amazon!"
She blinked holding both her sai blades tighter trying to ignore the ice cold as her eyes moved up the shining blade which all at once she recognised along with its owner. It was her father! She looked up quickly seeing his cold blue gaze which was burning in to her. She knew he had served but never that he'd had been of such a high rank which she could see by his armour. She looked down quickly she recognised the armour it looked as good as new he was a warrior of Olynthus. She recognised the symbol crest which was missing from the armour she knew. Herodotus eyed the small blonde woman it was hard to see her face in the darkness. "Why are you here Amazon? Tell me now before I kill you!"
"No Herodotus, she was trying to save me!"
Hecuba watched as he looked up she ignored the babies increased kicking as she met his confused blue gaze. She raised her hand pointing to other woman. "She attacked me! That woman stopped her succeeding she's our friend not our enemy!" Herodotus easing the sword away from the Amazon's throat turning on the other woman instantly realizing his mistake. Akemi spat out the blood in her mouth oh wasn't this just perfect. She felt an evil smile form as she eased her remaining dagger free standing up quickly seeing the warrior raise his swords. She eyed Gabrielle's mother. "It's nothing personal but you and your unborn child have so got to die!" She didn't think as threw it with all her might seeing the horror in the man's eyes he was obviously Gabrielle's father.
Hecuba moved but it was too far to late, she couldn't avoid the blade and even she knew it. She felt the sheering pain as the dagger slammed in to her lower collar bone missing its intended target which had been her heart. She hit the snow hard on her back hearing her own scream of agony hit the air. She felt the fear hit home as she looked at the dagger which was had gone right through her coat and embedded self half way in to shoulder. Blood was starting to pour out staining her fur coat red. She couldn't stop the tears she'd never felt pain like this before in her entire life and it was excruciating.
She looked up seeing Herodotus run towards her in what felt like slow motion he dropped his swords as he skidded on her knees leaning over her the desperation and horror in his face as he looked at her wound. She breathed trying to take the pain as she watched him pull his armour plating off and throw it in to the snow as he tour at his shirt underneath ripped off a strip. Herodotus pulled her coat off then eased her dresses shoulder down, he breathed in deeply as he pressed the torn shirt under the wound as he pulled out the dagger which caused her scream in agony. He felt his eyes dart looking at her. "It's going to be okay, you just have to stay with me Hecuba, you have to stay awake you here me?"
Gabrielle got to her feet only to feel the energy sap from her body causing her to hit the snow on her knees as her vision blurred. She clutched her sai blade's tightly trying not to drop them as the pain hit her. It was excruciation like having a thousand knifes poked in to her flesh all at once which caused the sound to die in her ears. She tried to get up only to fall back on her knees she couldn't stop her body as she started to cough as her lungs began to burn. She felt the cold blood as poured out of her mouth. Gods what was going on? She winced as the sound came back in to her ears as she leaned forward feeling light headed which caused her fall forward.
Akemi smiled as she stepped forward enjoying the scene in front of her of Gabrielle on her knees. "If you can hear me, which I'm sure you can. Your feeling that way because you're dying in this time!" She didn't think as she brought up her foot slamming it directly in to the blonde haired woman's fur covered shoulder causing her to hit the floor on her back. "It looks painful." She stepped forward slamming her foot in to Gabrielle's chest pushing her in to the ground. "Must feel like your guts are tearing themselves apart but believe me when I say there going to start ripping apart for real." She laughed enjoying the other woman's pain. "Here's what going to happen as you fade away here, your body is going to break down in a really horrible way." She smirked seeing the pain in Gabrielle's eyes. "As I said before, I always win in the end, you should just accept that."
Hecuba shivered gods she was starting to feel so cold she could felt Herodotus tightened the make shift bandage that he'd ripped from his shirt. She breathed in painfully watching as everything went out of focus for a moment she winced trying to stay focused as everything came back in to focus. She wasn't going to die like this it wasn't going to end this way not now and not with her unborn child inside her. She breathed in deeply as she calmed herself trying to ignore the pain. She watched Herodotus rip his leather pack free from his fallen front armour and up turn it up side down which caused his healing supplies to litter the floor opposite.
He searched through them grabbing the needed ones while throwing the ones he didn't need aside as he turned to her. Herodotus forced the bottle open which had a thick paste recipe shoving it in to the snow. He grabbed his small water skin pouring it over the wound he wiped the blood away as he loosened the ripped shirt slightly. He could do this he'd healed wounds much worse than this during battle, he just had to stay focused and keep Hecuba awake and calm. He grabbed the paste pushing it in to her wound hearing her cry out. "I need you to stay with me okay." He watched as nodded. "You're going to be okay I can fix your wound, I just need you stay focused on me."
Akemi sneered as she pulled her foot off Gabrielle's chest she could see that the other woman's eyes where rolling back showing the whites. "I'll be going now, enjoy the last minutes you have left." She turning away this had been amusing but once she had better places to be, Gabrielle was going die so this was truly over. Gabrielle ignored the pain as she forced herself to blink watching as everything came back in to focus. She wasn't going to die here! She wouldn't allow it to happen, her unborn self was too small and helpless to stop this but she wasn't! The rage started to build up slowly in her stomach before she could stop it, once more it was such a focused rage and it swept through her whole being.
She forced herself on to her knees as she pushed one of sai blade back in to its boot holder. She didn't think as she grabbed the other woman's leg stopping her from moving any further. Akemi turned sharply feeling the shock take over as she tried to free herself from Gabrielle's grip which was like a vice. She blinked feeling the confusion hit home what the hell was going on here!? Her thoughts were cut off as the sai blade came around slamming in to her fur covered foot causing her to scream in pain. It was pulled free causing her to stumble back as her blood soaked the snow. She could see the other woman slowly rising to her feet the green eyes narrowed as they met her own.
She tried to take the pain in her foot as she raised the katana once more to the other woman. "That's impossible how can you be standing?!" Her words were suddenly cut off as she watched the other woman's eyes blast up with green light. It lit up both eyes making them stand out in the darkness. Gabrielle turned spitting the blood in her mouth in to the snow, her body was still hurting but not nearly as badly and she was really starting to really feel the cold now. In her view though she had suffered much worse the last time she'd died, so she could just switch off to this. She'd go to Tartarus before she let Akemi win against her again in battle.
She eyed her end of her sai blade which was dripping with blood as she pulled the other free meeting Akemi's uncertain gaze. Her even words hit the air. "You and I are not finished yet." Akemi blinked watching as the glowing eyes narrowed. "I don't know how it is that your standing, but I swear you won't be for much longer!" She roared in anger she swung the katana with all her might only to see the other woman side step causally. She turned only to feel the pain as the sai blades hilt smashed in to her face. She stumbled back only to be hit harder, causing her to fall back on her knees. She breathed in feeling the blood flow down her nose.
Gabrielle watched her stumble back she didn't think as she slammed her foot in to Akemi chest watching as the other woman smashed in to empty stall opposite sending objects flying as she fell back first on to it. Akemi groaned ignoring the pain as she got to her feet shoving the items off the table ignoring the pain as she raised the katana again. She sneered in disgust, feeling the frustration hit home this shouldn't be happening! She had stabbed the bitch's mother her counter part should be dying from shock in her womb! She stood up feeling the stinging pain in her face as she raised her sword looking at the glowing green eyes in the darkness. "I swear by the might of the dragon gods that I'm going to cut you up!"
Gabrielle stepped closer watching as the katana flew toward her she didn't think as she brought up the sai blade stopping the sword mid swing. She snarled as she pushed up against it hearing metal screech against metal. "You take so much pride in using my old sword but I was never proud when I used it." Akemi pushed harder she eased up her head only to howl in pain as the sai blade's hilt slammed in to her shoulder. She didn't think as she punched the other woman hard in the face with her free hand. "You talk too much!" Gabrielle ignored the stinging pain in her cheek as she turned back feeling her teeth grind together.
Hecuba breathed in deeply feeling the pressure increase on her wound as Herodotus pushed down stopping the last of the blood flow. Her eyes shifted just in time to watch as the dark haired woman was thrown sideways with immense force by the blonde haired woman. She hit the floor full force. Her sword was still in hand as she tumbled across the snow coming to a stop close by. She blinked seeing the glowing green eyes in the night as the blonde woman came closer. By the gods she must be hallucinating because that couldn't possibly be so. She breathed in feeling a wave of nausea as the baby kicked inside her despite the feeling of it she felt a great relief that her baby was moving.
Herodotus looked around the fighting behind him between the two women was turning truly violent now and the blonde girl who ever she was, she was finally gaining the upper hand. He squinted in the darkness seeing her glowing green eyes piercing the darkness as she came towards her fallen opponent he shook his head he was seeing things. He turning back as he pulled Hecuba's clothes back on he had to get her out of here he stopped the blood flow but it wouldn't be enough in the long run. He had to get her out of this cold snow and to her home where it was warm where he could stitch up her wound. He heard the dark haired woman cry out as the blonde slammed her foot in to her leg toppling her over before she could stand.
He put his swords back in to place while shoving what he needed back in to the healer's bag he could pick up his armour in the dawns light. He watched as the blonde woman smashed her weapons hilt in to the other woman's stomach. This fight was now turning in to a vicious battle for dominance. He eased Hecuba in to a sitting position hearing her cry out. "You have to stand up for me, we need to get you back home where its warm." Hecuba nodded pushing herself up on to her feet trying to ignore the stinging pain. She had to breathe in deeply just to stop herself from being sick again she felt his arms tighten around her.
Akemi got up only to hit once more she felt the agonizing pain as the other woman's fist impacted with her chin the blow was enough to blur her vision. She hit the floor hard feeling the string in the back of her mouth only to cough which caused blood to hit the snow. She groaned in agony trying to take the pain. She clutched the katana as got up swinging it only for Gabrielle to move sideways. Gabrielle narrowed her gaze eyeing blood in the snow that really must have hurt a lot. She could see that Akemi was flagging now, but so was she and she wanted to get out of cold she couldn't take anymore of it.
She didn't think as she moved through the other woman's swing as she twirled the sai blades smashing there hilts in to Akemi's shoulders sending her crashing once more in to the ground. She didn't think as she brought her other down hooking it on to the chain yanking it up trying to free it from the other woman's neck. Akemi felt the pain as the chain was pulled free she tried to grab it with her other hand only to feel the agonizing pain as Gabrielle's foot slammed in to her chest forcing her back down. Gabrielle yanked harder hearing the crack as the chain came free from the other woman's throat. She couldn't stay here any longer.
She turned seeing her parents who were now standing and making moving away from them, she knew why. Her father wouldn't allow her mother to stay here any longer, she'd been injured and she needed to get her some place warm and fast. She eased up the pendent which was now dangling from her sai blade. She looked it over for a spilt second. "Take us back to our time!" Akemi tried to force the other woman's foot off her as the red light blasted outwards directly behind her, as Gabrielle's foot pushed her down harder. "No! You can't do this!" Gabrielle eyed her in disgust as the portal of red light opened behind her. "Watch me!"
It sent out a shock wave which blew the snow up in to a blizzard and toppled the burning store over along with two others which caused a mighty crash. The shock wave carried on moving blasting out the wooden windows on every sill in the square before it fully dissipated. She pushed her sai blade back in his holder as she eased her foot of Akemi's chest. She grabbed the other woman by her bodice yanking her savagely to her feet. She eyeing the red streaming light a part of her was enjoying the look of uncertainty as it spread across the other woman's face. She pulled up her sai blade stopping the katana in mid swing. She felt an evil smile form as she met Akemi's gaze. "I guess you don't win this time." She didn't think as she kicked her with all her might hearing her scream of anger hit the air as she was thrown in to the red light.
Hecuba turned around just I time to see the dark haired woman disappear in to the huge glowing red portal. She could see Herodotus staring at it lights were going on in houses and shouting could be heard Potidaea was suddenly springing to life. She looked back watching as the bleeding blonde haired woman turned looking back to look at them both as she pulled off her fur coat throwing it in to the snow. It was no dream her eyes were truly glowing in the night, she could just about make out her face. Which reminded her of looking in a mirror as the woman bore similar features to her own which in her eyes was strange. The blonde warrior turned walking in to the light then leapt in to disappearing in to it she blinked feeling her own voice hit the air. "By the gods..." The glowing light dissipated fading away in to nothing as everything turned to darkness once more. She had no idea what had just happened or even who those two women had been or why one of them had fought to save her. She winced feeling the pain as Herodotus carried on moving forward. She breathed in again as the baby kicked somehow she had a feeling that she was never going to know.
End of part 110
Silvermoonlight
Merry Christmas everyone I hope you all have a great time.
