Captive Bride; Warrior of Her Heart

by Andromeda

  "You will do what I tell you!" he growls. "The moment you began to carry my seed, your body turned my possession. Now pack your things, you are moving back!"

  "Zenobia is a free woman," Anthea points out. "You can't force her to do anything she doesn't want to do."

  Alexander and Zenobia lock eyes and she sees for the first time...worry. Worry about what though? She wonders.

  "Please," Alexander whispers, humbling himself. "Will you...please move back into the palace?"

  Zenobia shakes her head. "I... I'm sorry Alexander, but I can't. I finally have my freedom and I will not let you trick me back into captivity."

  Athena looks between the two adults and then sighs. "The Festival of Zeus, we will see you then. Right, Zen?"

  Alexander’s face lights up; Zenobia turns her head away, unable to look in his direction.

  "Right, Zen," Athena says, nudging her.

  "Right," Zenobia sighs. "I'll be there...right, Srax?"

  Srax smiles at her softly, and Alexander stiffens, glaring at the young man. "See you then," he finally spits out before turning on his heel and marching away.

  A couple of days later, Zenobia and Kila return to the training school in order to train.

  CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!

  The sounds of their wooden poles crashing thunders across the arena. Zenobia ducks down under Kila's swing, and smacks her behind the knees with her pole, making Kila crash to the ground and Zenobia points her pole at her throat.

  "I win again," she says, panting softly with a smirk.

  "No fair," Kila says with a fake pout. "You're better skilled than me."

  "You know it," Zenobia chuckles before holding out her hand, helping her up.

  Zenobia’s hand then briefly goes to her belly; three months with six more to go. Her belly is small, the roundness barely visible still. Being pregnant hasn't stopped her from training, and she plans to keep it up until she’s at least in her eighth month.

  "Look who's watching you, Zen," Kila giggles.

  Turning around, Zenobia sees the one person who's been watching her like a hyena watches a carcass: Alexander. She tries to not frown, but for some reason, she feels...what is this comfort under his gaze? Shaking her head, she forces herself to remember what he's done to her: made her his whore, refused to help her people and getting her pregnant without her permission. What's to stop him from doing it again?

  Alexander strides over and Zenobia can't help but admire him: his long brown hair, green eyes and sweat-glistened tanned skin. The way his muscles ripple under his skin, how his thighs flex with every stride. His bottom would do that as he moved within... Zenobia shakes her head again in order to clear it.

  He stands before them, his eyes bore into Zenobia’s. "How are you doing?" he asks, his voice low and husky.

  An unsummoned shiver shoots up her spine at his voice and Zenobia mentally slaps herself for being affected. "I'm fine," she says simply, crossing her arms.

  "And my child?" he asks.

  "My child," she corrects him. "You were nothing more than a seed shooter."

  Alexander flinches at her crass tongue. "That is my child too," he says firmly.

  "Actually, it's Zenobia's child," Kila says. "You know the law, Alexander."

  "Quiet, you," he hisses.

  Kila blows him a kiss and for some reason, it irritates Zenobia.

  Alexander turns back to her and points to her stomach. "You carry my seed within you. That child is royalty and I plan to claim it when it's born."

  "What about your child with your whore?" Zenobia asks, crossing her arms. "Oh wait, forgive me, that was me for a time. I mean your other whore."

  He flinches. "She means nothing to me."

  "And I do?" she asks.

  "No! I mean yes! I mean! Ugh!" Alexander stomps his foot in anger, unable to get the right words out.

  Zenobia suddenly notices how quiet the training arena has gotten and when she turns around, she sees that everyone has stopped fighting. She looks back to Alexander. "Stop acting like you care for me," she says softly. "Stop acting like you care for this child. You just want to show you've bedded a princess!"

  "No!" he protests. "L... Listen, Zenobia, it's not like that! It's just... I want... C... Can we talk privately, please?"

  For some reason, the sound of her name rolling off his tongue is the sweetest sound in Zenobia’s ears. Looking at Kila, she nods to her and then glances back to Alexander. "Fine."

  *************

  He leads her to a private room and closes the door. Zenobia keeps her hand on her dagger, least he try something, but he doesn't move towards her. He just looks at her and then hangs his head.

  "I'm sorry," he whispers.

  Zenobia blinks, not believing what she just heard. "What?"

  "I said I am sorry!" Alexander repeats, lifting his head up.

  She is still shocked. "What?"

  "Have you lost your hearing?" he asks. "If so, then listen up because I'm going to say this again. I. Am. Sorry."

  Zenobia can’t believe it. He just...he just apologized to her. She watches as he walks to a shelf and takes out a wrapped package and holds it out to her.

  "I was given this not long ago,” he says. “But…I think you should have it."

  Slowly, she takes it and opens the package, her heart stilling in her chest. Her mother's necklace; he has given her her mother's necklace. "Where did you get this?" she whispers.

  "From those traders who brought you here," he says. "May I?"

  Realizing what he wants, Zenobia nods and holds the necklace out to him. When he takes it, she lifts her hair out of the way and he walks behind her, clasping it around her neck. "This necklace symbolizes something," he whispers behind her, his breath warm on her neck.

  "What?" she asks.

  "It symbolizes you're rule of me," he says. "I learned that the lioness is the true ruler of the plains and you, Zenobia, are my lioness." He turns her around and looks into her grey eyes. "I promise you this: from now on, I will work hard to earn your forgiveness. I know I don't deserve it, seeing all I've done to you, but I want to earn it. Will you let me try?"

  Zenobia bites her lip. Looking into his eyes, she can see that he is telling the truth. He wants to work for her forgiveness, to try to make things right.

  "I want to be in our child's life," he whispers. "But most importantly, I want to be in yours."

  "I don't think I can trust you ever again," Zenobia whispers. "After all that you've done..."

  Alexander nods. "I know. I know I've been a bástardos, but please, let me try to prove to you that I've changed. I... I care greatly for you, Zenobia. Can you...at least think about it?"

  Gently touching her necklace, she can feel as if her mother is whispering in her ear, giving her wisdom. Hakuwezi kuwa na amani bila ufahamu, was her favorite proverb. There can be no peace without understanding.

  If she is to have peace with Alexander, she must give him a chance. Taking a deep breath, she looks into his eyes. "Alright. I will give you one chance. However, I must tell you something. I am staying in Sparta only until my child is weaned; afterwards, I am leaving to go back and help my people."

  She can see his face fall a moment, but he quickly hides it. "I understand," he says. "And when you leave, I will send you with recourses and anything else you need."

  She nods. "Thank you."

  There is an awkward pause and then she does something brave: she hugs him. Zenobia doesn’t know why, but she feels led to do so and at first, Alexander shocked, but then slowly he wraps his arms around her, holding her close.

  I hope I'm making the right decision, Zenobia thinks to herself. Because if he ruins this chance, this one chance I'm giving him, then I swear to the Ancestors I will kill him and not care about the consequences.

  *************

  Anthea yawns as she wakes up. Stretching, she hears the satisfying crackling of her bones snapping back to place. Soft snoring at her side gets her attention, and when
she turns around, she sees Titus is still fast asleep.

  The man is a very deep sleeper, but then again, Anthea would too. The couple was up all night and Anthea was pretty sure her voice is hoarse from all the screaming she did. She wonders if the house heard them, but after about four months of no sex, she really needed an all-nighter, and Titus was just the one to give it.

  Together since they were in their mid-teens, they were each other's firsts, and dare she thinks it, really care for each other. He gets jealous if she’s with anyone else, and Anthea is the same way if he tries to get with someone else. Titus doesn't always approve of what she does, as he wants her to settle down and marry him. Though everyone knows she’s really not the settling down and marrying type, like at all. But for the sake of his sanity, she tells him maybe one day.

  Getting up from the bed, she walks to the window, the warm mid-afternoon sun beating down. Her eyes widen at what she sees: Zenobia and... Alexander, sitting in the gardens?

  What are they doing? she wonders to herself.

  Anthea watches as they sit kind of close together, and sees that they seem to be in a deep conversation. Alexander’s eyes look to Zenobia’s a moment, as if asking permission for something, and then she nods. Slowly, his hand reaches out and after a moment of hesitation, gently presses it to her stomach.

  Zenobia is about three months now and doesn't look big at all. In reality, she looks normal as ever, save for her slightly-rounding stomach. Alexander’s face lights up in joy, and Zenobia's lips twist into a small smile as he presses his ear to her stomach as if to see if he could hear the baby. Anthea smiles to herself.

  She knew there was a reason that he kept her here. In the beginning, though, she thought he was just going to use her like he does with all his women, but he grew attached to her in ways she’s never seen him do before. He is protective of her, possessive, but in a good way and... though he might not admit it, in love with her. Anthea knows he is.

  He doesn't act this way with Iraia and while he sleeps with her, Anthea knows it's because Zenobia won't let him do with her. But Anthea knows she likes him back though Zenobia would throw a dagger through her heart if Anthea ever said it aloud. That powder that Anthea had the servants put in their drinks back at the Great Feast, only would have worked if they had feelings for each other. It went beyond lust, beyond fledgling attraction, beyond even the base of desire. They care for each other; no, they don't care for each other, they love each other, but are so boar-headed to admit it out loud.

  Anthea smiles as Zenobia laughs as Alexander leaps to his feet and begins to tell her of all the plans he has for their child. Their moment is so tender, so sweet and very intimate. Anthea’s own name might mean Flower, but if you put the 'n' next to the last 'A', it turns into the name of their goddess of wisdom, Athena. Her father, like most Spartan men, raised her as a warrior, but also valued her wisdom. Alexander and Zenobia are made for each other, the gods work in mysterious ways and Anthea’s going to bring them together. Nothing is going to stop her.

  *************

  Chapter Thirteen

  Zenobia crosses her arms over her stomach, laughing so hard as she listens to Alexander tell her of his plans for their child.

  "He'll be the greatest king in the world!" he continues. "He'll have everything at his feet! He'll be of need of nothing. Enemies will tremble at his name! I can't wait until we can go hunting!"

  "Alexander," she says, wiping tears from her eyes. "He won't be able to do those things for a long time. For the first couple years, he'll do nothing but cry, eat, learn to walk and so forth. And another thing, what makes you think it's a boy?"

  Alexander spreads his palms. "The gods wouldn't curse me with a first born daughter."

  That flairs Zenobia’s temper and she stands to her feet quickly, her eyes glaring. "Oh, so if it's a girl first, then you'll consider yourself cursed? Well, then, you better hope and pray to your gods that your whore has a boy!"

  She turns to march away, but Alexander grabs her arm gently and pulls her to him. "Wait!" he says. "Zenobia, wait. I... I didn't mean it like that."

  She yanks her arm free. "Yes, you did."

  "No," Alexander says, shaking his head with a sigh. "I... I'm sorry I didn't mean to say it like that. I... I would welcome it if it was a girl, but... I'm a king. I need sons."

  Zenobia crosses her arms. "Well, then, you shouldn't have a problem with that seeing as you got two women pregnant at the same time! That reminds me, how is the whore?"

  Alexander’s eyes flash. "Don't call her that."

  "Oh? Then what should I call her then?" Zenobia hisses.

  "Treat her with respect, she's the mother of my child."

  "I'm the mother of your child," she spits. "Not only that, but I am a princess by birth, raised to be a queen. The only way I'd show that...that...girl any kind of respect is if she magically became Queen of Sparta."

  "Well, she just might!" Alexander suddenly blurts out.

  Zenobia’s jaw drops. "What are you talking about?"

  "S... She got pregnant first," he says slowly. "And my Council wants me to pick a queen. She is the leading candidate…"

  For a moment, the whole world freezes, and then Zenobia does the only thing she can think of: she slaps him hard across the face. "I knew it!" she hisses. "I KNEW that you wouldn't change. Just leading me on!” Quickly, she begins to take off her mother's necklace and then she throws it at him. "As much as I want something from my people... I refuse to accept something from you!" she punches him hard in the stomach. "Stay away from me and stay away from my child! SRAX!"

  At the sound of his name, Srax comes running out of the house. He sighs when he sees Zenobia and Alexander arguing. He hates getting in the middle of their business, but he is very protective of Zenobia and will always come when she calls. "Zen, are you alright?"

  "I'm fine," Zenobia says glaring at Alexander. "Take me to my rooms...and I want you to stay with me, I don’t feel so well..."

  "LIKE HELL HE IS!!!" Alexander suddenly roars. "NO WAY IS HE BEING ANYWHERE NEAR YOU!!"

  "You don't control me anymore," Zenobia growls at him. "So stay away from me! Show yourself out or I'll get my guards!" Taking Srax's hand, he leads her out of the courtyard and towards her room.

  Zenobia’s head is spinning; her blood is boiling. How dare he...how dare he! That ass! That bastard ass! To think that I was willing to give him a chance and then he goes and says that!! I will respect Iraia the day she whether becomes Queen of Sparta or she becomes a warrior. Neither I'm sure will happen.

  Laying on her bed, she is looking up at the ceiling...when an idea comes to her. Alexander has a woman he can flaunt, he's the king. Her eyes look to Srax who is massaging her feet and a wicked smile spreads to her face. And she will have a man.

  Srax and she have become close friends; honestly, they would be lovers if she wasn't carrying Alexander’s baby. But that doesn't mean they don't do…things. She knows that Srax has feelings for her, and in a way, she has feelings for him too. It's not the weird pull she has toward Alexander, but it's an attraction nonetheless. She is sick and tired of Alexander acting as if she either will have to have him or no man; well, she’s going to show him just how much she doesn’t need him at all.

  "Srax?" she says slowly. "I want to ask you something..."

  *************

  Alexander groans, pouring himself into Iraia before rolling off her, panting heavily. Iraia pants heavily, looking over at him, barely able to move because of her large stomach. It's been almost a week since he’s last seen Zenobia and Alexander refuses to go crawling back to her. She's made it clear that she wants nothing to do with him and he will grant her wish. So he has turned to Iraia for comfort. She's jumped at the chance; welcoming Alexander with open arms and even shares his chambers, a thing he didn't even do with Zenobia.

  Alexander frowns, why can't I forget her?! Shaking his head, he looks to Iraia and smiles. "Are you hungry?"

  She nods. "Yes
, my king."

  He cups her cheek in his palm. "I told you, call me Alexander."

  Iraia nods and they get up, ordering food and devouring it when it comes to them. Alexander watches as she eats, marveling at her beauty and yet, he can't help but compare her to Zenobia. Iraia's skin is the color of milk, flawless without any marks. Her eyes are the color of the sky; her long straight hair is the color of gold. She's small, two-heads shorter than he and is willowy, with long limbs and very graceful in her moments.

  Zenobia is completely different. Her skin is the color of the midnight sky. Her almond-shaped eyes remind him of beads made from molten silver. Her hair falls only to her mid-back, but is a mass of curls as black as onyx and she is a built warrior. Tall and lightly muscled, she has an air of grace, but also power that swirls around her; demanded you both gape and grovel before her.

  But then again, Iraia and she were raised differently. Iraia was raised as a royal slave and when Alexander turned sixteen, she graced his bed until now. Zenobia is born and bred a princess, she knows how to invoke both terror and also awe within you while also able to blend in with the lesser people. Alexander has always admired that about her. Iraia would never go outside and try to mingle with the lower classes; Zenobia does it as if its second nature to her.

  He shakes his head to clear it. Stop thinking about her, he tells himself.

  Iraia looks at him carefully. "My Ki....I mean Alexander. Are you alright?"

  "Hmm?" he looks up. "Oh. Oh, yeah, I'm fine.”

  "You...you were thinking of her, weren't you?" she whispers.

  Alexander looks at her, frowning slightly. "So what if I was?"

  She bows her head. "I... I just don't see why you continue to think of her... seeing as how she's thrown your affection back in your face."

  Alexander glares and before she can blink, he lunges at her, pinning her to the bed. "Listen closely," he whispers, his voice dangerously low. "The only reason why I haven't tired of you or thrown you out is because of that child within you. To not forget your place. You might have gotten with child first, but she is a princess; her child has double the amount of royal blood yours will ever have."