Two years had passed. Two long years since Astinos' supposed proposal. And, as was expected, my father was taken by the idea of my marriage to the son of his best friend. As was Artemis. Both found themselves swearing that they had predicted the events from when we were children, but I personally doubted truth in those promises.
I supposed that I married younger than some of the Spartan women. I had only just turned eighteen and I was already a wife. I can remember the pride in the eyes of my father that day. The way that constantly spoke of my mother, and the way that he drank himself into oblivion beside Artemis.
It wasn't long after that when I was to fall pregnant. The joy on Astinos' face the moment that I told him. I can remember how Astinos held me in that moment, his hand on my barely showing stomach. I can remember falling to my knees at the foot of the nymph tree as I spoke to the sky for my mother. And I can remember sitting beside my husband as he reeled through the names that he wanted for our child. But it was not a child. It was two.
Nine months later, we were blessed by the gods with two healthy and strong sons. Nikias and Dareious.
But that was all months before it happened. Before the heads of dead kings were brought into our city. Before the future of Sparta was decided.
Their horses tumbled from the breast of the hill as they sped toward the city of Sparta. All the men covered from head to toe in bright cloth except for a small strip across their eyes. All men but one. His skin was as dark as the sky that held the full moon in her place. But his cloth was shining like gold beneath Apollo's sun. Their horses carried them along the dirt path till they came into the courtyard that was littered soldiers. The man's horse backed onto its hind legs as his hand dipped into a large bag and revealed his hoard. The heads of dead kings.
In the royal courtyard, I found myself stood beside a woman who I would have described as a close friend. Queen Gorgo. Her arms crossed her chest as she watched her son fight with her husband, King Leonidas. The small smile on his face as he tried his best to dislodge the footing of his father.
"How is your son, he starts the agoge next year?" I asked. The queen's orbs leaving her son as she looked toward me with a solemn nod. From a mother to a mother, I could see the pain and fear in her eyes. Some never returned from the agoge. I was lucky enough that my elder brother, Stelios, had returned but many lost brothers and sons to it.
"He is learning." She replied in a shallow sigh, a hand rubbing along her arms.
"And your sons? They must be a year old by now." Gorgo said as she forced a small smile onto her lips.
"They're loud for so young." I allowed myself to laugh. The custom of Sparta was that the men slept within their barracks until the age of thirty, but being the son of the captain, Astinos could pull a few strings to my delight. Some nights he would sneak into my chamber and share my bed, others he would stay with the men. But I had never seen so much than in his eyes the moment that he saw his sons. Spartans were strong and proud, but no father can be emotionless to their children. Especially sons.
"M'lady." A familiar voice called from behind. Our svelte bodies turned to see the older soldier, Captain Artemis, rushing toward us in a fluster. "A Persian emissary awaits the king." He whispered into the ear of the queen before turning to give a nod in my direction. The king glanced in our direction as the two bodies collapsed to the floor with a smile on the younger.
"A man's strength is the man next to him. Remember that, son." Leonidas said as he raised to his feet, planting a peck onto the crown of his son. "What is it?"
"A Persian messenger." Gorgo announced. The king moving to her side with a hand resting upon her waist. They moved together, with my frame falling beside Artemis as we moved to meet the messenger from another land. Artemis was armed adequately with the proper Spartan blade at his waist. And unlike most women, I was armed too. Not because I was a warrior, but because Gorgo had requested it. I was her friend, and her guard on most occasions. I would attend her in her chamber if she needed it, but I would also escort her through the city streets is required. It was not an occupation that took up my time, more that I was there when she needed and ready for her call if I were elsewhere. I was lucky enough to have a step-mother who was happy to look after my sons.
The large doors opened out to allow Apollo's light to fill the surroundings of the king. Our eyes falling upon Theron, the councillor, with the emissary. Pompous, devious wretch.
All in the streets turned to catch a glimpse of the stranger. Women and children standing with beaded eyes whilst the soldiers showed an air of discomfort at his presence.
"My king and queen, I was just entertaining your guests." Councillor Theron muttered as his head bowed slightly. I hated this man. I hated everything which he stood for.
"Before you speak Persian know that in Sparta everyone, even a king's messenger, is held accountable for the words of his voice." Leonidas uttered. I found myself staring. Staring toward the guards of this man. All armed with a bow at their back and a blade at their hip. Not a blade like ours, but a curved blade
"Earth and water." The emissary replied in a monotonous voice. His frame bowed low to the king with arms stretched out. But his words old brought a laugh from the king.
"Do not be coy or stupid Persian, you can afford neither in Sparta." My queen snapped, eliciting a small smirk on my features whilst the emissary glared to her with fiery eyes.
"What makes this woman think that she can speak among men?" He growled. His eyes looking as if he would sooner strike her than bow to her. But she was my queen, and my friend. I would sooner have mounted him on a spear than allowed him to talk down to Gorgo.
"Because only Spartan women give birth to real men." Gorgo hissed with a look of victory on her face. I could hear the quiet laugh as it left the lips of her husband.
"Let us walk to cool our tongues." Leonidas quietly said. You could see the ponderful look upon his face as two columns began to walk through the crowded Spartan street.
"If you value your lives over your complete annihilation, listen carefully Leonidas. Xerxes conqures and controls everything he rests his eyes upon. He leads an army so massive, it shakes the ground with its march, so vast, it drinks the rivers dry." The emissary spoke highly of his king. But all around were pulling holes within his words. No army could be that large, could it? No man could successfully control an army of calibar. It would create havoc.
"All that God-king Xerxes requires is this: a simple offering of earth and water, a token of Sparta's submission to the will of Xerxes."
I think everyone heard the gasp from within the Spartans. Submission? That was not the Spartan way, and never could it be. Submission is bending your knee to a ruler from half the world away. Submission is allowing your wives and children to become slaves within society. Submission is another king owning your lands and your armies. That was not the Spartan way.
"Submission." Our king repeated in a thoughtful tone. His wife, Gorgo, glancing to me with eyes ablaze with bury. "Now, that's a bit of a problem. See, rumor has it the Athenians have already turned you down." He taunted with pacing steps. "And if those philosophers and boy-lovers have found that kind of nerve then…"
"We must be diplomatic." Councillor Theron interrupted with a hand rested upon Leonidas' arm.
"And, of course, Spartans have their reputation to consider." Leonidas snapped, smacking away the hand of the councillor. I felt Gorgo's glance once more at the sound of the Persian's voice, with a hint of anger and disbelief bubbling in his features.
"Choose your next words carefully, Leonidas. They may be your last as king." The Persian snarled. All eyes moved to the king as all fingers took this as a threat and moved to the hilt of the blade. A threat to our king was a threat to Sparta. Our king took his time, his careful glance moving around as he stayed silent.
"Earth and water…" You could barely hear his whisper. And, within a second, his blade was drawn to the throat of the Persian. The soldiers behind us assigned themselves each to a Persian guard till one was left. Gorgo gently nudging me toward him with my blade raised to his throat. He was guided to the edge of the deep hole at the centre of Sparta. "You'll find plenty of both down there." Leonidas finished with his soldiers at his aid.
"No man, Persian or Greek, no man threatens the messenger."
"You bring the crowns and heads of conquered kings to my city steps. You insult my queen. You threaten my people with slavery and death." The king shouted with rage in his voice. "I choose my words carefully, Persian. Perhaps you should have done the same."
"This is blasphemy. This is madness!" The emissary cried.
Leonidas stopped. His dark orbs glancing around to see his queen… Her head nodding.
"Madness?" Leonidas repeated with a small shake of his head. "This is Sparta!" He corrected in a growl. That was our order. My blade sliced down, cutting through the cloth and skin of the Persian before me then the flat of my foot smashed into his chest, sending him into the dark pit of the hole.