BLACKOUT
I DO NOT OWN ANY HISTORICAL CHARACTERS, IF YOU RECOGNISE ANY THEY ARE PROBABLY FROM BOOK ABOUT THE TROJAN WAR OR FROM THE MOVIE, TROY BUT I DO NOT OWN ANY!
I only own my OC's!
For those who don't know Drachma was the currency in Athens at about 500 B.C or so, it was also the most commonly known used currency in Greece and therefore I am using it for my story.
Just so you know the currency goes like this:
6 Obols = 1 Drachma
100 Drachma = 1 Mina
600 Minae = 1 Talent (or the equivalent of 57 pounds of silver)
A worker in Athens earns 2 Drachma a day.
Loaf of Bread = 1 obol
Shoes = 8 or so Drachma
Slaves = 200 Drachma +
A House = 500 Drachma +
Hope that gives you an idea!
Also, ship mechanics:
Bow is the front of a ship
Stern is the backpack
Port is the left side and starboard is the right.
Tillers control the direction a ship would go.
No, this isn't important to the story xD (maybe)
I am glad people like my OC (Its rare for me) because I sometimes make them a bit too OP. But I have a good feeling about this fanfic because I have been writing about Troy since I was in Grade 2 (Australia). I even made up my own country with its own culture and history (creepy), and its right smack bang near Italy. I won't name it, because I know it's original (I love you guys but sometimes I have to hold back), but the plot is basically the same as Asha's. Cept the main character was born to the future character (confused yet?), and the whole story is spanned over three or four triology's, (eg 3000 years or so). And it's a mixture of Troy, Halo (By Alexandra Adornetto sorry if I misspelt it) and Angel Sanctuary oh and Guild Hunter Series.
But enough about that!
Feel free to help shape the plot of this story! I will put your thoughts into action (as long as its not uber crazy), and but your imagination to computer! XD
Oh and did you notice that I haven't put a despription of Asha up? That's cos you can make her look like whatever you want her to. But one note: She is 5ft 10" and has long hair. Ok :D
CHAPTER THREE:
I Burn
The wind carried a strong scent of salt as it whispered through Asha's hair pulling her attention towards the sea. She smiled softly her spirits lifting higher, she was a rich woman. Well in parchment she was. Glycon had convinced her not to carry all of the money around and had instead given her a piece of paper that entitled her to 13 Minae worth of items, be it food, clothes or even a horse.
The idea of having a horse excited Asha as she strode through the market district, she smiled at people, revelling in the way they stopped and stared at her teeth. It was called flossing.
But then she suddenly stopped, clutching her teeth. Asha had totally forgotten that she hadn't packed toothpaste in her backpack.
She went over to a seat and sat down, grabbing out her backpack she looked at every item she had and mentally listed them.
- Hairbrush
- Make up bag
- Towel
- iPhone
- Wallet
- Diary
- The Iliad by Homer
- Earring's
- Ring
The last two items were the most precious to her and she hid them in her wallet. Her earring's had been from her Grandmother, and the ring was her mother's grandmothers wedding ring.
She sighed but was happy that she still had such a vast amount of items and took out her book. The Iliad's cover stared up at her, mocking her. She found a bloody hand-print on it, Hector must've picked it up, and traced the shape of it.
"Why me?" Asha asked the book. But like all books it didn't answer. She almost screamed out in frustration, of all the hero's, accomplished people and every other amazing person on the world, she was the one who had been shot back in time.
She had no idea why, and how. All she knew was that she needed to find a way back, and in the meantime she needed to survive.
Pawning off the necklace had almost killed Asha. But she had never really liked the necklace and hadn't worn it once. It was too pricey to her. Instead she wore a plain silver necklace with a bright blue opal. Fire gold swam in it. She had gotten it on a vacation to Australia.
Asha sighed, placing it back down her dress and got up, it was clothes shopping time.
She strode confidently through the crowd, searching for a nice shop. She spotted it as she almost collided head on with a man.
"Hey it's you!" He exclaimed.
Asha squinted at him, trying to recognize him. He was tall and broad shouldered with a slight amount of stubble, it was Prince Hector, "Oh." Asha said, the single syllable forming as an 'o' on her face, "Thanks for before."
The prince grinned, his eyes the same colour as the sea behind them, his hair was short, rugged and dark brown he wore armour and a sword was slung on his hip, "I will alway's help beautiful maiden's." Hector winked at her.
Asha stared at him, barely believing what he had said, "Er, what?"
He laughed loudly, causing several people on the streets to look over. It was then that Asha noticed that his teeth were white, almost like hers, she stood up from her bench after placing her items back in her backpack and took a step closer to the Prince.
He stared at her confused, "What's wrong?"
"Your teeth are white. How do you do it? I must know." Asha asked, then when he looked at her curiously she smiled widely, "Mine are white too."
Hector nodded, "Mint and saltwater."
"Mint and …... saltwater?" Asha asked, barely believing the words, "Saltwater?!"
"Yes. Works every time." He smiled.
Asha nodded, then she started to look around, "Where's a mint shop?"
"Over there-" He stopped as she started to walk away, "Your leaving already."
"Hmm, yeah. I have stuff to do. Things to buy." Asha shrugged, "Normal stuff."
"Your husband is very lucky to have you." Hector stated, following her.
Asha stopped suddenly and the Prince almost slammed into her, "What? Why does everyone think I am married? Seriously!" She sighed irritably.
"Your, not married?" Hector asked, his eyes were wide.
"Yup. Not married. At all. Probably never. Spread the word." Asha said, she walked off again and stopped at a vendor, gazing at the mint and asking for the price. It was in obol's, whatever they were, "How about 2 Drachma worth of mint? Sound good?"
The merchant nodded, glancing at her piece of paper and writing on it, then writing a note. Asha grabbed the 2 drachma worth of mint, it was in two huge bag's.
"You do know it goes off." Hector stated.
Asha yelped, "Hey, don't scare me like that. I have an idea for it. Don't worry."
"I am worrying." Hector stated, "because such a beautiful girl is walking around with 13 Minae worth on a piece of paper. And you have no guards."
"Hey! Don't say it so loud!" Asha growled, but she was worried now, "Thanks. I would have prefered to be oblivious to my own situation. I am planning on spending most of it anyway, then getting the rest changed into money."
"So a pickpocket can steal it?" Hector asked, he shook his head.
Asha raised her eyebrows and grabbed her wallet out, handing it over to him, "Open it."
He stared at the object in his hands, not knowing what to do with it he carefully started to fiddle with it, but didn't manage to open it, "What is that thing?"
"A wallet. And I would keep my money in it. So I don't have to worry about pickpockets." Asha said, she then smiled and unclipped the place where all her cards were, she slipped the piece of parchment in there and clipped it up again, "And I bet you won't be able to find that."
"That thing seems somewhat godly. Are you a goddess?" Hector asked, staring into her eyes.
Asha felt heat redden her cheeks at the intensity of his gaze but shook her head, "Me, a goddess? I could barely defend myself against fishermen and your asking that?"
"The gods work in mysterious ways." Hector stated, he then shrugged, leaning forwards he brushed a piece of hair from her eyes and smiled, "I must be going, I have princely duties to attend to."
"Oh how envious I am of you. Have a nice day." Asha mumbled, embarrassed by her red face.
"And to you." Hector stated then the prince turned around and walked off. People parted for him and children smiled and called out.
"Huh." Asha muttered, then she shook her head and continued on her trip. She walked past armoury's and food stalls, following the trail of people leading horses. When the city parted to a more open space Asha yipped in joy. In front of her were lines and lines of horses for sale. There were all of the colours that she knew there and even more.
She walked through them and each and every one made her want to grab her money and yell, "This one!"
There were many Arabian horses and she focussed on them, since they had always been her favourite since 'Black Beauty'.
She stopped at one and stared. In front of her was the most beautiful horse she had ever seen. She was tall at about 16 hands high. Her long delicate neck bending gracefully as she stared at Asha wide wide intelligent eyes. Her coat was a beautiful silvery grey and her mane seemed to sparkle with blue.
"How old is she?" Asha found herself asking.
The owner looked up at her and smiled, "She is just broken in, a filly. I would say 2 years old miss. But this one is no pleasure horse. She is wild. No man can ride her for more than a few seconds."
"No man." Asha stated, she walked forwards, stretching out her hand, "Hello there." She whispered to the filly.
The horse shook her head and snorted, ignoring her hand.
"How much?" Asha asked on an impulse.
The owner glanced up quickly, "She is unrideable. 1 Mina and 35 Drachma."
"She is unrideable. You said it yourself. 80 Drachma." Asha bartered. She had been to Bali on a holiday once and knew to ask low before going back up.
The owner shook his head, "She has good breeding. 1 Mina."
"She doesn't, otherwise she would be easy to ride. But what is a person to do with a horse with foul breeding and it being unrideable as well! 80 Drachma." Asha pressured.
He paused, examining her and the horse then shrugging, "85 Drachma and we have a deal. I will throw in a bridle."
"Keep it. 83 Drachma." Asha stared into his eyes.
"Deal." He grabbed a lead rope and slung it around her new horses neck.
Asha grabbed her paper out and handed it to him.
The man laughed, looking at the amount on the piece of paper and shrugging his shoulders, "You, my dear, are a master at bartering."
Asha gave a mock bow, "Thank you." Then she retrieved the paper and started off with her horse, gently stroking her neck as they went, "You know. I have to think of a name for you now. That's difficult." She smiled as the filly tossed her head.
Continuing on her shopping adventure Asha stopped at a saddler, she looked at several bridles and finally found one that suited her horse. It was made out of fine white coloured leather from an albino cow. She bought it for a low price of 4 drachma after she bartered it down.
Carefully she turned to her horse, letting her sniff the bridle then carefully placing it on her.
The filly didn't seem to mind, but her ears pricked backwards as Asha walked up beside her, readying to mount up.
"Hush, I won't hurt you." Asha murmured softly and she watched the ears move forwards again, she sighed grabbing a fistful of hair she bounced up on her toes and jumped aboard softly.
The filly moved a bit beneath her, unused to the weight, then she nodded her head.
Asha shifted her weight forwards, clucking softly and they began to move forwards.
Being on top of a horse allowed Asha to push through the crowd faster, traversing the huge streets with easy. All of the people on the ground moved away from the horse and she didn't have to worry about crashing into them.
Asha gently guided the filly towards a weapon's shop, using whatever skills she had gotten from her holiday as a Jillaroo to ride the horse.
She dismounted and walked up to the shopkeeper who watched her with curious eyes, "I am looking for a dagger and a sheath for it."
The man looked her over, "What is a girl like you needing a dagger for?"
"Defence. What else?" Asha stated, she was getting this everywhere she went.
She looked over the stall as the owner grumbled about, bows littered a wall and beside that were rows and rows of various swords and shields.
"Next a girl will walk in and ask for a sword!" The man grumbled.
Asha watched curiously as another customer came in, he was tall but she couldn't see his feature's because of the cloak he wore. She felt his eyes bore into her but ignored it, walking over to the bows and looking over them.
Asha had tried archery before, and failed, her sister was the one with the bow talent. She felt her filly nudge her and unconsciously stroked her neck. Looking up she found the stall-owner coming towards her with several daggers. Her eyes were quickly stolen by a forked one and she asked to hold it.
Trying to remember what she had read in books Asha tested it's balance, the straightness of its blade. She nodded and asked, "How much? And is there a thigh sheath for it?"
The owner nodded, "Yes. How about 15 Drachma. With the sheath."
Asha narrowed her eyes and gestured to her horse, "I bought her for 15 Drachma. Which one's worth more I wonder? 8 Drachma."
The owner considered the offer, noticing her steeled shoulders and he nodded, "Deal."
Asha grinned, then held up a hand, "And that black bow with its quiver?"
The shopkeeper glanced over to the weapon, he obviously remembered how much it was worth, "1 Mina."
Asha's mouth almost flew open, "Pardon?"
"It is shadow made. The finest bow that money can buy. But it is worthless to you." The owner stated.
Asha didn't understand, "And whys that?"
"The pulling power on the string to set it, it's too much for a girl." He said, he didnt mean to offend her, it was just obvious.
Asha felt the other strangers eyes following her as she strode over to the bow, she gestured to it, "May I?"
The bow was huge, almost half her size and was curved in an elegant 3.
The owner nodded, "You may."
She gently got it off the rack and stepped on the inside, pulling the string. She felt her old muscles twitch with the effort but managed to get it on its hook. She tested the poundage on the string and knew that she would have to train up her muscles. Asha turned around and grinned at the owner.
He was staring at her, mouth open, "How did you-"
"Practice makes perfect." Asha lied, she had never practiced with a bow this powerful, "Now then. I can feel how good this bow is, so 1 mina if I can have a quiverful of arrows with it."
The owner chuckled, "Done deal girl!" He then went off to search for arrows, leaving Asha with the stranger.
Asha tried to ignore the burn of his gaze by turning to her horse and rubbing her muzzle, "What cha think? Archery girl huh?" She grinned.
"Here they are! I got you a present as well!" He gestured to her arm and showed her a thick leather armband, "This will protect that delicate arm."
Asha smiled, "Thank you." She then took out her paper and handed it over.
The stall-owner smiled and signed it, doing the same as everyone else had, "You have a nice day now."
Asha dipped her head, "Thank you." She gathered up her dagger and bow and remounted her horse, it was time to find some clothes. She didn't notice the stranger follow her.
Asha twirled around softly in her new trousers and shirt, liking how they clung softly to her body. She had found a beautiful little stall that selled clothes from a different country, one where women dressed like men. Her shirt was similar to what female pirate's wore, and so were the trousers, except for the colours.
Her shirt was a pale blue, and her trousers were a dark blue.
Asha grinned. Lugging a full backpack on her shoulders, she had also bought more than one set of clothing.
She glanced at her money paper and decided to go get the 9 remaining minae changed to coins. She remounted her filly and trotted down the street, towards where she had been told was a money changer. She turned down an alleyway and yelped.
A man knocked her off of her horse, slamming her against the wall and holding a knife to her throat. Asha squeked, recognising the stranger from the weapons shop by his cloak.
"Who do you serve?" He asked, his voice strong and very masculine.
She didn't answer, instead she struggled against his hold. The hand that wasn't holding the knife to her throat was on her arms, lifting them above her head.
He growled and pressed the dagger harder against her throat, "Try that again, girl, and I will give you a scar to remember. Now, who do you serve?"
"What do you mean who do I serve?" Asha asked, confused.
"Don't play naïve with me, girl." He grumbled.
"No really. What do you mean?" She almost shouted, "I was just having a good day after a rather horrible one and now you ruin it for me! Who are you!"
The man paused, his breathing slowed but then he sighed, "I was wondering why you didn't recognise me immediately at that weapons shop." He shrugged, releasing her he pulled the hood off of his head revealing godlike features. He was extraordinarily handsome, his hair a beautiful midnight black and eyes a fathomless grey like a storm. His cheekbones were high and he was cleaned shaved.
Asha blushed, stepping side-way to get away from the man, "Who are you?" She asked softly.
"My name is Sammael. That's all you need to know. I am sorry for harassing you." He stated, then he turned around, heading towards a pitch black horse that she hadn't seen, he paused as he started to dismount, "By the way, you shouldn't be travelling alone."
"I had you stalking me! I wasn't travelling alone!" Asha called out, rubbing her neck, "Good job by the way." She glared at him, "and what did you mean by what side was I on?"
"Moon or Sun? Maybe one day you will figure it out. Until then." He bobbed his head and turned his horse, galloping away.
Her filly nudged her and Asha looked up grinning, "Don't worry, I am fine, just a normal everyday near death experience."
The filly snorted, shaking her head and causing Asha to laugh, "Yeah, a near death experience with a drop dead gorgeous guy. Who would have guessed it?"
Asha smiled, remounting her horse she went off to the money changer, pushing the experience to the back of her mind.
CHAPTER THREE END!
Thanks for reading! XD
This was a push for a double update! Hope you enjoy! I did, (not the late night though -.- ). But as I said before, I have ALOT of ideas for this story, so watch out!
SB7 Reporting Out!