With dawn came a slave to wake and dress Alexia. The young woman quickly took to the frigid air and threw on her clothing with little help from the slave. Her father had taken away the men's clothes and forced her back into the long skirts of women. A sword was given to her as well, and she quickly put it in her belt. Leaving her tent, Alexia came to realize that she had been woken before the troops, and made her way towards her father's tent. She found the man to still be deep in slumber and walked back out to find the slave who had awoken her standing right outside.
The face of this man was not a warm one like the earthen spirit she had encountered before. "Perhaps you are a god, you're face is not warm and welcoming like the spirits of the trees. I doubt your embrace is as warm as Thetis' current, but maybe it is stronger. So tell me, who are you?"
"I had received word that the child I had stolen from Olympus lived a mortal life on earth, and here I am, seeing Echo's voice in the caverns of the Underworld did not lie. Here, before me, is the beauty I knew that little girl I had taken would become."
Alexia remained unphased. "I take you to be the god of the Underworld then, Hades, correct?" The god only smiled in response, an obvious yes, any other would have been visibly offended by the assumption. "Isn't Persephone enough for you?" Alexia inquired. "Her beauty and radiance?"
"Persephone is only mine for six phases of the moon and never smiles for me. It is true, her beauty does brighten the darkness of my humble abode, but why have a queen that never wishes to see you?" Questioned Hades as he neared the young woman.
The woman warrior stood her ground. "I may pity you for that reason, but you are a god. Why not do as your brothers do and find a mortal woman for yourself. I will not be taken away as you took Persephone," Alexia declared soundly.
Hades touched the young woman's cheek with the back of his forefinger. "Perhaps not now, while you are mortal and dying slowly with every sun's setting, but soon, when you are granted the privilege my brothers have denied me. Before you go to Olympus I will ride my chariot and take you back to the Underworld with me. But you will not be permitted to leave as Persephone is permitted."
"You have my pity, Hades, not my love," said the young woman as the sun came to reflect into her eyes and give her new energy. With her back facing the tent she sighed to herself. "The troops will be waking soon, it is in your best interest that you leave." Then she called behind her, "Father, why aren't you awake and ready yet, Apollo and his chariot have already brought the sun to the sky!" Facing the god before her, Alexia scowled coldly, glaring invisible, sharp daggers into the immortal's soul. "Leave me be and never come back, Hades," she growled lowly with her arms folded across her chest.
"Such a demanding child, maybe I will come for you sooner than I thought!" The god chuckled before disappearing into the wind.
A voice sounded from within the tent, "Alexia, you may enter to eat with the General." It was one of the slaves, and soon the tent opened just enough to let the young woman into her father's living quarters.
Inside, she saw the familiar face of Hades, who winked at her subtly, making her scowl. "Father, who is this?" She asked as she went to sit comfortable amidst blankets on a low seated couch. Why did this god, out of all of them, insist on butting into her life. "I don't recall seeing him before."
"This is Eustathios, son of the governor, he has a proposal I know you will decline," the man replied grimly as he entered the dining area of his tent. "He arrived late last night."
"It's wonderful to finally meet you, Milady," the new man spoke, his face changing from Hades' to a much kinder one with blond hair and dark brown eyes. Curtly, he bowed. Sourly, the young woman lay back in her seat and folded her legs, causing her robes to slide from her knees down her thighs and to her hips. "I have many great stories about you," he continued, somewhat disheartened by her lack of caring for his company. "Most of which seem to be true, though the one of you recovering faster than the man you supposedly saved seems to be completely wrong to me," he laughed nervously at her lack of reaction.
Eating grapes, Alexia wasn't very pleased to even hear his voice. Though she was very relieved that his face no longer took the form of Hades. Still, the young woman did not trust what her eyes saw. Perhaps the god was still there with them. When Eustathios spoke of the one truth being a possible lie, she spat the seeds of her grapes at his face. "That is possibly the only one that is true, Eustathios. Gods be damned, you are one idiot! Go home, and don't question the truth you say to be lies!" She grumbled then took a goblet nearby and drank from it. "Ask me your question, let me deny you, and leave."
The young man was not thrilled in the least by Alexia's behavior. "You have no right to deny me, and you will be my second wife! I will have you trained to be a proper woman and to do as I tell you!" Eustathios declared as he stood from his seat, his eyes flaring with rage from her defiance.
"Tell me, child, what is it you are best at in arms? Spears, hand to hand? What?" Alexia asked, not even batting an eye. It was too early for any of this pathetic arguing. "I am best at the bow, but I will challenge you at whatever arms you know best. I win, I don't marry you. You win, and I do. But, if I win, I maim you."
"Fine! We will see who the better swordsman is!" The young man shouted, furious with rushing adrenaline in his veins.
"Tomorrow when the sun is at it's peak," Alexia stated, "we will battle without armor."
Their exchange of words caused Alexia's father to spit out his half chewed food and wine. "You can't even hold a sword properly! What makes you so sure you can win against him by tomorrow!" He demanded of his arrogant, adopted child.
"You aren't a swordsman?" Eustathios shouted, eyes wide with surprise.
The young woman shook her head calmly. "By the end of today, I will learn what I must. If I cannot defeat you, then I will find other means and kill you," she stated honestly and continued enjoying her meal. "It's too early for this nonsense. Will you go, your face makes me want to vomit."