by Andromeda
"But I thought the midwives said you couldn't have any more children."
"I guess they were wrong. Leave it to Alexander to prove it."
Kila laughs and stands up; walking over, she clasps Zenobia’s hand with a smile. "I'm happy for you...the both of you. Have you heard from him?"
Zenobia frowns slightly. It's been almost three months since Alexander left for war. She has been getting weekly updates, but last week, his message didn't come and she is beginning to worry. Being regent isn't so difficult; the right to rule is something that you are born with and not everyone has it. Some royals don't even have it, but her father was vigorous in her training as a small child and it has paid off.
"No," she says with a sigh, shaking her head. "But I am worried about..."
The pounding of feet stops their talk as the door bursts open. Kila's hands go instantly to her sword at her side, while Zenobia picks up the dagger she has strapped to the side of the cradle.
It's a man, a palace servant and he's sweating and nervous. "Forgive me, your highness," he blusters. "But you are needed in the council room right now. A messenger has come from the battle; he has news of the king!"
Instantly, she takes off running, holding her dress out of her way as she runs down the halls and into the council rooms. It's full of loud shouting and talking, people demanding that the messenger speak, but he is frozen in both fright and shyness. The moment she bursts through the doors, everyone stops and bows. Walking up the dais, Zenobia takes her seat on the throne and then nods for all of them to take their seats.
"What is the news you bring?" she asks the messenger. "Speak now."
The messenger bows low before her and then lifts his head. "The king and his allies have been surrounded by the Persians. King Xerxes told our king to surrender and when he refused, he attacked. However, the gods must have been with them because they slew 20,000 of Xerxes' own troops in a single day."
Everyone begins to clap and cheer, but Zenobia holds up her hand for silence. "That is very good news," she says nodding. "But I sense that is not the only reason why you are here."
He bites his lip. "No, your highness, it's not. Even though he slew 20,000 of Xerxes' troops, our king's numbers are slowly edging away. He started out with 14,000 men, at the end of the day, it was 13,000, the day after that it was 12."
"How many troops does Xerxes have?" she asks.
"O... Over 300,000, My Lady."
Her heart sinks into her toes at his words. 300,000... and Alexander has only 12,000 and is waning slowly. There is no way he is going to win with those numbers.
She looks to the messenger. "Thank you for your service. You will be fed and paid."
He bows and backs out of the room as she turns to the council.
"We must send aid to the battle front," she says flatly.
"My Lady, is that wise?" a Councilor asks her.
"The king left me in charge and my word is law. I say we gather more of our forces and go out to meet my husband. We are Spartans, will we let these Persian dogs beat us? Or will we show them who their betters in combat are? Who are the greatest warriors in the world?"
"SPARTANS!" they all cheer. "SPARTA! SPARTA! SPARTA!"
Chapter Twenty-Six
Zenobia’s horse kicks up dust as they trot down the long roads, heading to the lands of battle. Dressed like one of Anthea's Amazons, her armor is engraved with gold and silver, with her twin short-swords strapped to her sides. Behind her, an army of 12,000 Spartan men, 5,000 Thracian's and 1,000 of the warrior women march. At her side, Anthea rides her roan mate, the horse holding its head high as they near their destination.
A couple of weeks ago, they left Sparta. Zenobia left Srax as her place holder, as she marches to help her husband. Every now and then, she glances over at the carriage carrying her children with Kila inside. While her youngest son she made stay, the twins begged their mother to let them go; and went on a hunger strike until she said yes.
"Are you sure about this?" Anthea asks at her side.
Zenobia looks at her. "Why would I not be? Alex is in trouble and we must help him."
"I mean the child..." Anthea says. "Zen, you are the only woman I know who will charge out into battle with a baby in your belly."
"I am doing what I need for Sparta," Zenobia counters.
Anthea nods and then freezes; the scent makes Zenobia do the same. Blood, the air is thick with it. Bodies lay strewn on the ground, both Spartan men and Persians, but Zenobia sees more Persians dead than theirs. She raises her hand for all to stop as the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. She can hear it...soft sounds of battle over the hill and she looks to the people behind her.
"Warriors!" she shouts. "Today we will fight for Sparta, today we will fight for our lives! You who wish to go and find the Spartan camp to add to their supplies, go, the rest of you, come with me and we will give the Persians a little surprise they will never forget. Are you with me?!"
"FOR SPARTA!" they all yell at the top of their lungs.
They split in half. Half of the warriors go with Anthea and Kila to help the camp and get ready to tend the wounded, while the other half go with Zenobia as they get ready to charge into battle. Riding to the top of a hill, she can see everything before her. Alexander and his small band of fighters in a tight circle, trying to fend off the waves upon waves of Persians, but she can see their numbers failing.
Reaching to her side, she draws her sword. "FOR SPARTA!"
"FOR SPARTA!!!" the warriors scream before they all charge in.
*************
Alexander thinks he is dreaming when he hears her voice...but when he looks up, he can see he isn’t. Zenobia charges down from the top of a hill on a white mare, her double swords drawn and ready for battle. Behind her, a sea of seemingly endless soldiers pour in behind her, their swords and shields raised.
He thought that his band of warriors were done for as the Persians were moving in on them, going closer and closer until they were forced into a tight circle. But then like a fury up from Hades, Zenobia came. The Persians only had a moment to look up before they were attacked. The sound of bones being crushed, men being cut in half, the screams of horses trampling heads under foot, filled Alexander’s ears. He sees her, she is like a blur in the wind, cutting and slashing, blood coating her armor, but she didn't flinch at the sight of it.
"LEONDIAS?!" she shouts, looking around. "Where are you?!"
"Over here!" he calls to her, stabbing a man in the throat. "I am here!"
Zenobia’s head snaps in his direction and their eyes connect. Leaping over the crumbled body of a man she stands before him, a huge smile on her blood stained face.
"What in Hades are you doing here?!" he snaps at her. "I thought I told you to stay in Sparta!"
"Is this how you repay me?" she shouts over the sound of men dying. "By yelling at me."
"If you didn't have that helmet covering your face, I'd kiss you," he confesses. "I truly am happy to see you."
"Kiss me after we win this fight," she says. "I have something to tell you."
"What is it?"
Before she can respond, she shoves him out of the way and brings her swords up, crossed. A huge, beefy man with hands the size of hams stands over her, his white teeth flashing behind his black armor. In his hand is a massive battle axe; no doubt he was planning on killing Alexander with it.
"We will talk after this fight," Zenobia says, grunting to keep from falling under the weight of the blade.
Gathering herself, she pulls her leg back, bringing it up and kneeing the man hard in the groin. The man doubles over and she spins around, slashing him in the neck before Alexander rushes forward, pulling back his long sword and then slicing his head clean off. The headless body slumps over, the head rolling and when the helmet falls off, they see the shocked face of a man not much older than Alexander himself.
"That was Abrocomes," he says in shock.
"Who?" Zenobia asks.
A
loud howl behind them makes them turn, and they see Xerxes glaring right in their direction. His nostrils flaring as he looks at us with murderous rage.
"Xerxes' brother," Alexander whispers.
"He's going to want our heads," Zenobia says.
Bending down, Alexander picks up the head by its hair and waves it at Xerxes in taunt. "Well, I just might give him this one as a gift."
The battle is hard after that. More and more Persians die than their forces; and even Xerxes' famous warriors known as the Immortals fall before their blades. For the first time in a long time, Alexander begins to think they will win this battle, and it’s all the better with Zenobia at his side. She is a blur; he’s never really seen her in battle before, but he can see the years and years of her training has paid off in full.
As night time approaches, both sides begin to pull away, as Xerxes' and Alexander both agreed that night time would be times of peace. As the Persians begin their retreat, the Spartan forces all let out a loud cheer of joy.
*************
Later that night, he holds Zenobia in his arms as they lay in his tent, loving the feel of her right place once again. The soft afterglow of the fire warms their skin as they lay, their limbs tangled from their recent lovemaking. His hands gently rub over her stomach where she recently told him that their fourth child lives.
"You are the only woman I know that will charge into battle with child," he says with a light chuckle.
"Anthea said the same thing," she says, kissing his cheek. "I've missed you, my love..."
"As have I," he says with a grin. "But I must confess I am bit worried. Not only did you come here, but you brought the children."
"They refused to leave my side," she says with a sigh. "Though where they get being so headstrong from is beyond me."
"Could be from their mother," he says, bending down to kiss her stomach and then begins to travel lower.
She softly moans and then giggles. "Alexander...stop that...what do you plan for the battle tomorrow?"
He stops what he is doing and frowns. "I really...am not sure."
"I would suggest we form the formation the Bull and His Horns," she says. "Remember that?"
Alexander nods. "Yes, I do. It is complex, but I doubt the Persians know it.” He then gives her a wicked grin. “Now…be silent and let me eat…"
Bending his head back down, he goes back to his task and she doesn't pull away this time. The next morning at the crack of dawn, they raise together and pull on their armor to go and meet their forces. They all stand silent, listening intently as Zenobia gives them their instructions for this formation.
The Bull and His Horns is a formation that Zenobia taught Alexander not long ago. She explains that her father used it to conquer most of their kingdom; and if done right, it can overwhelm any enemy. It starts out simple: the army is divided into three groups and each group has a specific task. The main group is the biggest and they form the bulls' 'head'. The other two groups spread out, becoming tight arks that hide as best as they can and don't reveal themselves until the moment is right, thus making them the 'horns'. Alexander takes command of the 'head' while Zenobia and Anthea with most of their Amazons take the left horn and Titus takes the right.
"We want to come with you!" the twins protest, but he holds up his hand.
"No," he says firmly. "You both must stay here and be with Kila. She will watch after you."
Kila nods. Two dozen Amazons also stay back to watch over the children and all are ready to do so to the death.
"We will be back later," he tells them. "You will have to be on your best behavior."
Nodding, they bow their heads and he then turns back to his armies. Today we will win.
The main group and he march out to meet Xerxes and his troops. The king smirks at him.
"What happened to your forces of great king?" he taunts him. "Did they abandon you? No matter, you all will be dead in a matter of hours. My army will slaughter yours."
Just you wait, he thinks to himself, before speaking aloud. "We fear nothing! Spartans! Let's show these Persian dogs who truly is the best!"
With loud war cries, they charge them, slashing, stabbing, doing their parts as the 'head' to keep them distracted as they are forced again into a tight circle and then he hears it. The blow of a horn; first one and then two, followed by the yells of Zenobia and Titus' forces. They are on both sides of the Persians and they are charging.
Caught completely by surprise, the Persians are unable to fight a three-sided war with Zenobia on one side, Titus on the other and Alexander’s forces in the middle. He watches with pride as the armies clash, hearing the sound of metal upon metal as well as the screams of men dying.
Seeing Zenobia close, he rushes over to fight at her side. The two of them pressing back to back, they cover the other's blind spots, but are forced apart when a horse comes charging through, carrying Xerxes on its back. Zenobia shoves him out of the way, bringing up her shield to block a killing blow from Xerxes' war hammer that would have crushed her skull instantly. With a grunt, Alexander lunges at him, shoving him away as they roll around in the dirt, trying to not get trampled or stabbed by the men fighting around them.
"You killed my brother!" he yells at Alexander. "I'm going to repay the favor!"
"Leave him alone!" Zenobia yells, lunging again.
He rolls out of the way of her blades, allowing Alexander to scramble to his feet and reach for his fallen sword. He disappears in the crowd, it's not hard with all the fighting going around, and Zenobia rushes over to him.
"Where did he go?" she asks.
"I don't know," Alexander says, shaking his head. "But I— "
His words are cut off by a whistle in the air. There is a soft thump and a strange pain in his chest. Zenobia unleashes a loud scream as he slowly looks down and sees an arrow.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Zenobia can only watch in horror and shock as Alexander falls to the ground, holding his chest. "ALEXANDER!" she screams, the blood roaring in her ears.
Xerxes smirks and raises his war hammer to deliver the killing blow, but he's thrown to the ground by Titus, who slams into him. With him distracted, she runs to Alexander and slaps his face gently.
"Love," she whispers. "Love, please stay with me. Please."
Bloody foam begins to bubble on his lips as his body begins to shake and seize; his eyelids fluttering, the whites of his eyes popping out. Titus appears to her side, blood covering his face, but he seems OK.
"I bought you some time," he says. "But Xerxes will be coming soon."
"The arrow was poisoned," she says. "Take him Titus, get him back to camp and I'll join you as soon as I can."
He nods and calls a solider over to help him pick Alexander up. She watches them leave, when suddenly, the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. Ducking down, she barely dodges a sword, missing her by a hairsbreadth.
Xerxes holds the handle and he glares at her, panting heavily like a madman and he pulls the sword back. "Bow down now, woman, and I'll let you live."
Picking up a sword and shield, she grits her teeth. "Funny. I was going to say the same thing to you!"
They lunge at each other, metal scraping metal, sparks fly as they parry and slash, trying to get the one up on each other, but they are evenly matched.
"I see why Alexander kept you around," he sneers as their blades clash. "You are a good fighter. Must be good in the bedchamber."
"Too bad you'll never find out," she sneers back, bringing her knee up to his groin.
He doubles over and she takes the opportunity to slam the hilt of her sword into the side of his head to stun him; and it has the desired effect. He staggers back and she lunges again, her fury knowing no end as she uses it to fuel her fighting and attacks with blinding speed.
He barely has time to dodge. The blade falls from his hands and as she brings the sword sharply around, she can hear the sickening slice as it cuts through both flesh and bone. His ey
es widen and then his headless body falls to the ground. Everyone stops fighting instantly as they look with wide eyes as she reaches down and pick up the head of Xerxes; she holds it high.
"Stop fighting!" she shouts. "This battle is over with the death of your king!"
The Persians look at her, each other, then back to her and then drop their weapons.
Zenobia nods with approval. "Good. With your surrender, you are swearing allegiance to Sparta and to me as your queen. Do you accept?"
Everyone drops to their knees, pressing their foreheads to the ground. Everything is deathly quiet and suddenly, it's broken by the thundering of hooves as everyone splits as Anthea pushes her way through.
"Zen!" she cries. "It’s Alex!"
*************
The screams of fighting surround the camp, making Philomena’s ears ache as she looks around. Kila and her warriors all stand at attention, their hands gripping their weapons tightly, but she can tell they are all tense.
Why, oh why did I beg mother to come here? Men come in with missing limbs, their entrails spilling out as they struggle to keep alive.
At her side, Matthias too looks nervous, but she can tell he is putting on a grave face for her sake. "It's OK to be scared," she whispers to him.
He looks to her. "I....I'm not scared..." he stammers.
"Yes, you are," she retorts. "I can tell. It's alright to be so. I'm scared."
"A prince shouldn't be scared," he says, trying to raise his chin in defiance, but Philomena can tell it's eating at him.
Suddenly, the flaps to the tent burst open, people rushing in. Kila and her women take out their swords, but see that it's Titus...carrying in Alexander. Philomena’s eyes widen as he is laid onto a bed with an arrow in his chest.
"We need to get it out," Titus says. "It's poisoned!" he looks at the children. "Get them out of here!"
Kila takes Matthias and Philomena from the room. But the young girl can see her father begin to shake, bloody foam pouring from his lips.
"Where is Mother?" she demands. "Where is my mother?!"