WONDER WOMAN : THE ENEMY OF MY ANCESTOR
PART 5
It was a dark, cloudy morning when Hippolyta, Diana, Alexa, Gloria and the queen's guard assembled in the darkest corner of Themyscira. The ancient ruins of the first palace where Hippolyta, in her first year as queen, repelled an invasion from Herakles. Perpetually cast in the shadow of the island's largest mountain and partially flooded, it was a foul stain on the edge of paradise. The legends say this is where Persephone 'the traitor' received the visions that drove her mad.
Alexa carried with her, locked in a magically sealed chest, the scrolls of Tartarus. The group made their way to what was once the courtyard, Diana laid down her still blue lasso on the ground and Alexa got to work on releasing Leandros,
"The scrolls are ready. Once I begin, there will be no turning back".
"Then let us proceed, i will not condemn this man before hearing what he has to say".
Gloria's gaze swept across the ruins, her expression unreadable.
"You will find naught but lies and excuses from creatures like him, my queen".
Diana could hear the distrust in Gloria's voice, and though she wanted to argue, she knew that there was little room for debate now. As Alexa prepared the ritual, she couldn't shake the feeling that the island itself was holding its breath. Would this act of defiance bring them salvation—or ruin?
Alexa's hands trembled as she unrolled the first scroll. The ancient language upon it glowed faintly in the dim light, the symbols shifting almost as though they had a life of their own. The moment Alexa spoke the incantation, an unnatural fog overtook the scene and the air turned ice cold. The unintelligible words were inscrutable, obsolete, demonological text written in the foulest depths of Tartarus, not even Hippolyta could make any sense of it. Alexa's voice rose in intensity as she progressed, the lasso of truth had completely unwound itself and violently contorted and slithered across the floor. With a final chant the lasso levitated itself in the air and returned to its golden color, spectacularly bathing the environment in a blinding flash. When everybody's gaze returned, the lasso lay on the ground and next to it Leandros, the last Myrmidon.
Not one Amazon present had ever laid eyes on a Myrmidon, one of their oldest and most dangerous enemies. Leandros looked exactly as their books and vases depicted them: nimble warriors clad in dark weathered armor, the only difference were his weapons, which he had replaced long ago with iron ones. Every spear was immediately drawn toward him as he lay motionless on the ground. For a long, quiet moment, there was nothing but the eerie silence of the ruins, the tension palpable in the air. The Amazonian warriors stood frozen, their weapons aimed at the Myrmidon, each of them ready to strike at the slightest threat. His arms suddenly moved underneath him, his knuckles supporting his upper body as he slowly rose. Even queen Hippolyta, standing behind 3 rows of spears and shields, puts a hand on the pommel of her sword.
Leandros slowly and methodically rose to his feet, careful to not provoke the 50 hardened warriors surrounding him. Gloria awaited for the slightest sign of harmful intent, any excuse to win this war before it begins. After a minute of studying his surroundings, Leandros puts his hands on his helmet and slowly takes it off, his long brown hair falling down, neatly tied in a cloth headband. The gesture eased the tension just slightly.
"You went through a lot of trouble to bring me back. Was it just to kill me?".
Some of the Amazons exchanged glances, their grip on their weapons tightening. Gloria stepped forward, her voice dripping with disdain,
"Do not consider anything other than how you wish to die, Mycenaean".
Diana took a step forward,
"I did not bring you here for vengeance, Leandros. Your life is in the hands of my mother, queen Hippolyta. Choose your words wisely".
Hippolyta's hand remained steady on her sword, her sharp gaze fixed on him,
"Speak plainly. Why has Apollo taken such a vested interest in you?".
Diana, having been shown his past by the oracle already knew the answer, if Leandros lied, she would not help him. He closed his eyes and recalled the memories that have replayed in his mind for millennia,
"Hmh, what could i have possibly done to earn the ire of a god, other than striking at his mountainous pride? Specifically, i attacked a Trojan temple dedicated to him, turned the place into a graveyard and looted it bare".
Hippolyta's look sharpened, "I see, it is clear now why Apollo harbors such hatred for you. Gloria, disarm him".
Gloria, with a predatory gleam in her eyes, advanced toward Leandros with calculated precision, drawing her shortsword and holding at the ready,
"Your weapons, relinquish them, or i'll take them myself".
The Myrmidon unclipped the shield on his back, letting fall to the ground with an iron thud. Then came his sword, sling and finally the dagger. Gloria grabbed Leandros and skillfully forced him to the ground, then ordered two Amazons who approached with thick iron chains to restrain him. The chains clinked as they wrapped around Leandros's wrists, binding him securely. Hippolyta, somewhat surprised at his lack of resistance, raised her hand,
"Take him to the dungeons, where he will await my judgement".
The Amazons escorted Leandros out of the ruins and toward the palace, Alexa carefully wrapped his weapons in cloth and followed. Diana lingered, her thoughts racing,
"Mother. I will not defend the actions of this man, but i believe he has suffered enough. If we hand him to Apollo, he will suffer as Prometheus did".
"Perhaps, we will speak with him in private later. Cleanse the lasso of truth and bring it with you".