Captive Bride; Warrior of Her Heart

by Andromeda

  SNAP!

  The force of the shield snaps her shield as if it was kindling in a flame. Now almost completely defenseless, she draws her knife and runs at Zenobia. Zenobia ducks at her slash, elbowing her in the gut and then jumping back. The girl grunts, rubbing her stomach before lunging at her again. Physically wise, they are evenly matched, but Zenobia has something over her: her training since her royal birth. However, there is another thing separating them: Zenobia isn't aiming to kill, the other woman is.

  Grabbing the woman's hair, she yanks Zenobia's head back, raises her knife to deliver the killing blow. Zenobia gasps and grabs her arm, her muscles straining as she struggles to keep her knife away. Stomping on the girl's foot, she feels her grip loosen and jerks free. Her hand brushes over her belly a moment before turning back to the woman.

  She's trying to kill me, she thinks to herself. I have to protect myself...and my baby.

  Gritting her teeth, she lunges at the woman, slapping her hard across the face, punching and kicking, not stopping her attack. They spar, neither one giving an edge, but in the end, it soon becomes apparent who is the true ruler of the arena.

  Spinning her leg around, Zenobia kicks the woman hard in the stomach, sending her flying into a pillar. With a grunt, the woman falls to the ground; she knows she's bested and doesn't get up. Panting heavily, Zenobia runs a hand through her hair as she shakily stands tall.

  Thunderous applause booms across the arena. "CHAMPION!" they chant. "CHAMPION! CHAMPION!"

  A chariot is brought and she climbs into it, the driver circling around, telling her to wave to the people: her new brothers and sisters. After they circle twice, she is led up the stairs, toward the Main box.

  Standing before Alexander, she looks into his eyes and sees unblocked, uncensored desire shining behind them. She has conquered all the other contestants; she is the Champion of the arena. Within moments, her male counterpart walks up, standing at her side. A tall Thracian, his muscles ripple under his sweat and blond stained skin. His green eyes burn with fire that Zenobia knows is familiar within herself.

  Alexander clears his throat. "You two have won where others have failed. Today you become citizens of the greatest kingdom in the world! You become a brother and sister to Sparta!"

  They bow their heads as Alexander places the wreaths on their heads and hands them their scrolls.

  "These signify your freedom and citizenship of Sparta. As our new brother and sister, you are required to bear strong children to further our kingdom and be worthy of the title of Spartans. Now you don't have to do it together," he spits out the following words. "But seeing as you both are the champions, it should be considered."

  Alexander looks at the Thracian; if looks could kill, he'd be dead right now, but he must continue his role. Servants place the four chests full of gold and silver at Zenobia and the Thracian's feet before handing them their scrolls with their assigned villas. They bow to him one last time before walking back down the steps and climb into their waiting chariots.

  Zenobia's hand goes to her belly, praising the ancestors over and over that nothing happened to her child. Smiling to herself, she sees them nearing her villa. Finally... she is free.

  *************

  Chapter Eleven

  "My Lady! My Lady, please wait!" a worried female voice suddenly calls out, interrupting Zenobia from her afternoon walk.

  Zenobia stops from where she was strolling in the gardens and turns around to look at the female servant who runs and drops to her knees before her. One of twelve servants given to her after she won her Trials less than two weeks ago. Zenobia was made to pick six males and six females to serve her and she followed Anthea's lead. All of her servants are warriors, or at least have warrior potential.

  The girl before Zenobia, named Hera, looks up. "My Lady, you have some visitors."

  "Oh? Hera, I told you if it's house peddlers to turn them away," Zenobia says with slight irritation.

  Ever since she’s won, she’s had business men try to milk off her fame. One offered her a thousand drachmae plus two-hundred a month if she spent one night a week at his hotel. Another offered her the best chariot he could build, plus a pair of the finest horses in Sparta if he could use her name as a promotion to other sellers. Another wanted give to two-thousand drachmae if she wears his fashions for a year; and that's just to name a few.

  Zenobia wasn’t used to her fame at first; Anthea helped her, working out deals with the peddlers and making sure she gets her promised money and items. She is actually in her second villa; her first one was in the middle of the city and too many peddlers knew where she lived. So she moved into the country. The city is a good half-day's ride from here, but she has a lot of free space. Rolling lush hills for her flocks and herds―she was also gifted with almost fifty sheep, goats and cattle―wide open spaces for her planters to make into fields for them to grow crops and so forth.

  "No, it's not peddlers," Hera says. "You have three guests: The Ladies Anthea and Kila, and your friend, Lord Srax."

  Zenobia nods and smiles. Athena and Kila normally come here, but as for Srax, she’s surprised to hear from him, the Thracian who won the male-version of the Trials; he and she have become good friends. Seeing as they are both foreign slaves in this land, they’ve turned to each other in terms of friendship. Like her, Srax is nervous about his new fame and his sponsor tries to help, but being a man, everyone wants him to do everything himself, but he doesn't really know how. So he normally comes over to Zenobia’s villa to talk to her when he knows Anthea is coming over.

  "Show them to the dining room," she tells Hera. "I'll be there in a moment."

  She nods and rushes off to do as instructed bidding. Sighing to herself, Zenovia looks over her gardens, her most favorite place in the whole villa; the one place that she always can be calmed and be herself. A place where she’s free from her past, free from Alexander.

  "Zen!" Kila says happily when she walks into the dining room. "How are you!"

  A mouthwatering lunch of fresh cheese, toasted bread, grapes vinegar-wine, honeyed goat and honey wine sits before them. Kila sits next to Srax while Zenobia takes a seat next to Anthea.

  Zenobia smiles at them. "I'm doing well, thank you."

  "You're glowing," she says smiling, placing a hand on her belly. "How is it?"

  Zenobia rubs her belly affectingly. “Growing every day." She is almost eight weeks now, and a small bump is beginning to show.

  "I still can't believe you competed in the Trials while with child," Srax says, popping grapes into his mouth.

  Zenobia rolls her eyes and laughs; she told him her secret not too long ago and it was a gamble. He would have run and told Alexander, but he didn't. Srax swore to her in a blood oath that he'd protect her and the child with his dying breath. Even if it's from its own father.

  "Well, I did," she says proudly. "Even though some didn't trust my judgment." She looks at Anthea, who rolls her eyes.

  "I didn't not trust your judgment," she says. "I just wasn't sure if the mother of Alexander’s child would do something so dangerous. Alex wouldn't like that you risked his child's life."

  "I don't care what Alexander thinks!" Zenobia snaps. "He is nothing to me and my child!"

  "He is its father!" Anthea points out.

  "By force only," Zenobia grumbles. "I only gave him my body because I thought that it'd help my people."

  "What do you plan to do, Zen?" Kila asks. "With the baby? Will you leave now?"

  Zenobia takes a deep breath; she has thought long and hard about this. Praying to the Ancestors for guidance and an answer finally came last night. "If you would have asked me that not long ago, I could have said yes in a heartbeat. But I was alone then; now I have another life to take care of besides my own," she exhales deeply. "I plan to stay here until my child is born and then a year after, I will build my wealth and allies while I raise my child and then I will leave to rebuild my kingdom."

  "Be careful, Zen," Anthea says.
"You might have had some protection under Dais, but now that you are free, you have to watch your step. And if people find out that you carry his child, they will use it and you to get to him. Especially since you have a rival."

  Zenobia looks to her in surprise. "A rival? In what?"

  "You remember Iraia, right?" she asks.

  Zenobia nods, remembering that spoiled slut who claimed that she was ‘stealing’ Alexander from her.

  "Well, she too is carrying his child, or so she says," Anthea explains. "And a mother will do anything for her child. Even kill its half sibling in utero to make sure it has a shot at the better life."

  Zenobia’s hand instantly goes to her belly in protection, her temper flashing. "Well then, Iraia better be prepared. As you say Anthea, a mother will do anything for her child."

  *************

  Meanwhile in the palace, Alexander looks over the piles of dresses in Iraia's chambers. He’s moved her into Zenobia's old chambers since they are the best, second only to his own. Her round stomach shows under her gown as she giggles like a little child, examining all the gifts he has for her: dresses, jewels, and so much more.

  "My king, I love them!" she says giggling.

  Alexander smiles to her. "My dear, I told you call me Alex."

  Getting up, he walks over and gently rubs her stomach. It's gotten a lot bigger, as he believes her to be near her fifth month. He still can't imagine it; she carries his child within her. Could it be a daughter? Or a son? Should he declare it his heir?

  Tipping her chin up, he kisses her deeply on the lips, backing her toward a corner. His hands slip under her dress, opening her thighs to slide a finger inside her. She moans deeply, breaking the kiss to press his lips to her neck. Groaning softly, Alexander begins to slide her dress up, wanting her, but a cough behind them makes them stop.

  "I'm sorry to interrupt your time with your slut, but I need to talk to you," a sharp voice says behind them.

  Cursing under his breath, Alexander turns and sees Anthea standing there. Iraia hisses like a cat at the interruption, but he carefully places her on the ground. "How can I help you, Anthea?" he asks irritably.

  "I need to talk to you," she says sharply. "Now!"

  Gritting his teeth, Alexander nods to her, but gives Iraia a quick kiss on the forehead before turning to Anthea. "What?"

  Anthea pulls him down the halls until they get to a private room and her next words makes his heart stop. "Zenobia's pregnant, and it's yours."

  Alexander is frozen, both in body and in mind. Zenobia...pregnant with my child? "I don't believe you," he finally manages to say.

  "Oh? Why don't you?" she asks, crossing her arms.

  "B... Because you're lying. If she was pregnant, then she'd tell me," Alexander stammers.

  Anthea laughs bitterly. "This is Zenobia we are talking about. Not Iraia. She is pregnant and it's yours. You know that."

  "H....How far along is she?" he chokes.

  "About eight weeks.”

  Alexander’s heart stops and he looks at her. "Less than two weeks ago she competed in the Trials..." his voice rises in fury. "ARE YOU TELLING ME SHE COMPETED PREGNANT?!"

  "Keep your voice down!" Anthea hisses. "And yes...I am. She had to fight for her freedom, and for her child."

  "She could have told me! I would have freed her!" Alexander roars.

  "No, you wouldn't have! You and I both know that you would have kept her chained here and defiantly never let her go!"

  Alexander’s head is spinning, his heart is pounding, his blood is boiling. That girl is carrying my child and she didn't think to tell me! I will handle this. Shoving past Anthea, he moves towards the door, but she grabs him.

  "Where are you going?" she asks.

  "To go to Zenobia and bring her back here!" he yells.

  "You can't! You take her now, she'll hate you again! She'll hate you more than she already has!" she yells back.

  "THAT'S MY CHILD!" Alexander yells. "I REFUSE TO NOT BE IN IT'S LIFE!"

  "Then woo its mother," Anthea says. "Listen, Alex, Zenobia has bonded with the child and she's not like Iraia. You have forced her to be your whore and she won't be willing this time. I say that you be kind to her and slowly let her open up to you. Else you'll lose both her and that child."

  “OK, fine!” Alexander snaps. “But you cannot tell anyone about this.”

  *************

  Outside the chambers, Iraia’s ear is pressed to the door and she is beyond furious when she hears Alexander’s words.

  "She's carrying my child! I can't not be in its life!" he yells at that woman named Anthea.

  Wanting to scream with rage, she leaves the doors where she has been listening and stalks back to her chambers. Shoving slaves and servants out of her way, she slams the doors shut of her chambers and began to scream. Tearing at her new clothes, she throws everything at the walls; anything that she can get her hands on, she destroys it.

  Panting with rage, she slumps to the ground and then bursts into tears. Damn it to the Underworld with these hormones! She hates being pregnant! This was all His idea and yet...she wipes away her tears. Yes, this was all His idea so He has to help me fix it.

  Leaving her chambers, she walks until she reaches His chambers: Eridian. Bursting open the doors, she finds him eating his night time meal. "What is it this time, Iraia?" he asks, his voice dripping with boredom.

  "That bitch is pregnant too!" she shrieks.

  "What bitch?" he asks.

  "That brown-skinned girl: Zenobia!" Iraia hisses. "She is carrying his child too!"

  Eridian raises an eyebrow. "His child too?" he repeats and then laughs. "My dear, Iraia, we both know who the real father of that child is."

  Iraia grits her teeth and balls her fists. She remembers that night with him, Eridian. They were both drunk and she had turned to him, after Alexander had spent another night with Zenobia; leaving her alone. It was that night that they came up with this plan. The child within her is Eridian’s, they both know that; but Alexander doesn't.

  "Well then, what are we going to do?" Iraia asks him.

  "Simple," Eridian says with a smirk. "Eliminate the weak."

  "And how do we do that?"

  He points to her stomach. "We get rid of that."

  Instantly, Iraia’s arms wrap around her stomach for some unknown reason. "What? W…Why?"

  "Think about it," he says. "We get rid of it, say you had a miscarriage, and Alexander will be in a rage. You tell him that it was that woman, and he'll kill her."

  "B... But do we have to kill it?" she whispers. She doesn’t know why but, but she feels protective of this thing inside her.

  Eridian raises his eyebrow. "I don't see why you're so concerned. Everyone knows that it isn't really alive until the seventh month. Oh wait...I know what's wrong, you don't have the stomach..."

  "Yes, I do, but..."

  "You want to be the Queen of Sparta, right?"

  Iraia bites her lip. Being the Queen of Sparta has been her dream ever since she was a little girl. She will stop at nothing to reach her goal. Slowly, she nods.

  "Good girl," he says, handing her a vial.

  "What is this?" Iraia asks.

  "A light poison," he explains. "It will make you terribly sick, but will expel the unborn and work to our advantage."

  "If I just drink this, Alexander will be suspicious," she points out. "We have to think of the right day and time to do it."

  Eridian rubs his chin and then smirks. "The Festival of Zeus is coming soon. Knowing Leonidas, he will confront her before then and make her attend. The man always did think with his cock then his brain. That would be the perfect time."

  Iraia looks down at the vial and for a moment, she feels a small voice telling her to don't do it. But then a louder voice screams that she is destined to be Queen of Sparta, and that means sacrificing this thing inside her to do it, then it shall be. She looks at Eridian and smirks. "Sounds perfect."

  *************
/>   Chapter Twelve

  "YOU DID WHAT?!" Zenobia shrieks

  Athena shrugs and continues eating her grapes. "It slipped out accidently on purpose..."

  Zenobia bangs her fist on the table, cracking the marble. "Damn it, Athena, don't you know what you've done!"

  She is beyond livid! Anthea did the one thing, the one thing that she promised Zenobia she wouldn't do! She told Alexander about the baby! He is going to come for her, she knows it! He'll do whatever it takes to hold Zenobia and he'll never let her go now!

  "Athena, you promised!" Zenobia cries.

  "I did it for you," Anthea says. "Listen, Zenobia, he was going to find out sooner or later and shouldn't you have him find out now, rather than later when the child was born and he takes it from you?"

  "He can still take it from me!" Zenobia yells. "He can still take my child!"

  "Zen, calm down," Srax says, putting a hand on her shoulder. "It's not good for the baby," he puts a hand on her stomach gently, and slowly, Zenobia begins to calm down. She always feels at peace when he's around.

  At that moment, a servant runs in and drops to her knees. "My Lady, there is someone to see you."

  "Who would—" Zenobia begins to say, but she’s cut off when the door bursts open and a furious Alexander storms in.

  Instantly, Srax puts Zenobia behind him protectively. Alexander’s sees this and his eyes narrow. "Move, boy!" he barks, looking at her. "Is it true?"

  Zenobia says nothing.

  "TELL ME, IS IT TRUE!" he roars at her. "IS THAT MY CHILD!?"

  "Alex, you're scaring her," Anthea says, getting in front of Srax. "Calm down."

  "SHE NEEDS TO TELL ME THE TRUTH!" he roars.

  "YES!" Zenobia screams over Srax's shoulder. "YES, IT'S YOURS!"

  "You're moving back into the palace," Alexander commands.

  "I am not!" she snaps.

  "Like Hades you aren't," he growls. "You and that child are moving back into the palace where I can keep you close again."

  "I'm not moving back in to be your whore!" Zenobia yells.