Artemis scowled down over the nearby plains of Sestus, not far from the Hellespont, where the Macedonian army had made its encampment. There were no Persian forces in the area, and the army was enjoying their ease of invasion.
"Thank you, Father, for this lovely assignment." Artemis muttered darkly, flicking her reins. Her wild pegasi grunted and pulled her silver chariot across the sky, flapping their wings quickly. She was high above Alexander and his army, but could see all below her, if she concentrated her powers on it.
Thunder rumbled around her, reminding her it was not the best idea to insult the God of Thunder while in the clouds. "Apollo would have been enough, you don't need me to watch this rabble as well," Artemis said exasperatedly. Macedonians had given her a constant migraine for years, and now they took away her Hunt, until whenever this expedition ceased. She looked down from her chariot, half tempted to shoot any man who irked her with a silver arrow to the throat.
The thought pleased her, but she knew Zeus would retaliate if she did so. He had given her orders to observe and report to the council every full moon. She knew it was one of his better moments, to observe the Macedonian army which had drawn so many divisions on Olympus. Artemis reasoned that there very well might be godly interference during this expedition. Artemis had hoped that would happen, as it would allow her to vent her frustrations. It was a rare occasion when she could thrash a God or Goddess that tried their luck against the will of Olympus.
Of course, she still wished someone else could watch the Macedonians. Selene for instance. She had nothing better to do.
She signed, and looked down to the encampment another time. She only had a couple more hours until her duty was done for the night, it was no use whining about her appointment anymore. But something caught her eye.
From a bird's eye view, she saw Alexander exiting his tent, surrounded by his Companions. He swiftly walked through the camp, flanked by his bodyguards. Soldiers everywhere stopped what they were doing and paid respect to their young King. Artemis scoffed, pleased that calling this Macedonian a boy would be accurate.
The procession walked for a while, until Artemis saw their destination. The Follower's Camp. Any amusement she felt vanished instantaneously. She saw shamelessly greedy women, selling their body for riches, who she itched to shoot herself. But there were also slaves and women chained to posts, to be punished for their 'crimes.' That sickened her most of all.
Artemis could not watch as Alexander and his entourage descended on these women. There was laughter, moans, and cries of pleasure that seemed to echo right up to her chariot. Artemis shook her head in disgust, and was about to snap her fingers, removing herself from the situation she was watching, when she heard the scream.
A woman screeched at the top of her lungs, drawing Artemis to peer sharply over the chariot. The source of the scream came from a woman, who was chained to a post, naked and blindfolded, was being groped by a Macedonian Companion. The woman twisted and squirmed, attempting to escape the man's grasp around her waist and chest, but it was to not avail. Artemis watched in horror as he kicked her legs apart, and chuckled darkly.
An overwhelming fury arose from her, and she felt the very air around her spark and roar with energy. She let energy pour into herself and burst into her divine form. The air around her crackled as she was ready to flash down in an instant to save this woman and teach these Macedonian animals a lesson about the power of a Goddess of Maidens. But several shouts stopped her, and her curiosity got the better of her. She let her divine form flicker away, seeing a commotion going on below next to the woman.
A man, fully dressed in worn armor shouted, while running up to the Companion. Before the would-be rapist could react, the man delivered a swift punch to the Companion's jaw, which sent the Companion reeling backwards, away from the terrified woman. The Companion, who was drunk and heavily bearded as Artemis now saw, snarled and advanced on the man who had intervened. He was youthful, but Artemis blinked in fascination as he ducked under the Companions wild punch with impressive speed. Without pause, the man pivoted to the left and slammed his elbow into the drunken fool's jaw, knocking him out.
The commotion lasted all but seconds. But already, there were groups of soldiers and women crowding around, having watched the short fight. Alexander himself came out of a tent, two women following him, both half-dressed. The crowds parted for the young King, but Alexander paid no mind, Artemis guessed the only thing on his mind was to end this affair at hand. Artemis was at a loss for words, as she watched the King of Macedon approach the woman's savior. They had a conversation, until the King's bodyguards stood by their King, as well as other men, who all were armored with Macedonian craftsmanship. Artemis cocked her head, and concentrated, wanting to hear the conversation. After a moment, voices floated up to the chariot as if the men were standing on the chariot itself, speaking normally.
"My King, it was as I told you just now, Kleitos was about to force himself on that woman. I will not stand to watch that happen, if there was anything I could do about it." The savior said.
"Nor would I Perseus, but we both know this hasn't been your first spat with Kleitos. Witnesses say that you blindly attacked him." Alexander spoke, and Artemis had to admit his demeanor was that of a man who was just. But she still soured as Alexander seemed to be doubting that the woman had been in peril. Alexander had gestured to a group of soldiers who all stood, holding Kleitos up. All were angry and had furious expressions darkening their faces. But the man who had intervened seemed to disregard them entirely.
"They are Kleitos's own men! Of course they would say that. My King, I have grown up with you, you know me, I am not blind nor unreasonable. Ask the woman herself, I stopped Kleitos from forcing himself upon her." The gathering turned to the woman, who was silent. The reason was evident, and Artemis sighed as she saw that the woman had fell into unconsciousness.
"My King! Our captain is unconscious with a head injury, we need to lock up Perseus for this crime! Hold him to trial!" A gruff man stepped forwards towards this 'Perseus,' and jabbed him in the collarbone with a finger.
Perseus stumbled back, and narrowed his eyes. Artemis saw that he was older than Alexander, but not by much. Unlike the golden-haired King, Perseus had jet black hair that fell to the middle of his forehead, and a short, neat beard. He was tall, and resembled Alexander. They both were built with toned muscles and an average frame. The older commanders in the gathering her all built like oxen, burly and having thick bushy beards.
"I am sorry Perseus, but until we get the woman's testimony, I must detain you." Artemis saw that Alexander looked apologetic, and he raised his hand. Two bodyguards, both wearing purple capes and helmets although with their armor, stepped forward.
Artemis paused, thinking quickly. She watched Perseus scowl at his King's words, but did not move to resist. It was not right, Artemis decided, to not let this man be detained for saving a woman. She raised her hand, and snapped her fingers, looking down to the ground below.
The guards who had both grabbed Perseus's arm both muttered in shock, yielding their grips and backing away. Along with Kleitos's men and the rest of Alexander's guard, they stared in wonder. Alexander, however, laughed loudly and Artemis watched in amusement as Perseus turned around in confusion. Artemis fought back a snort of laughter at his expression, impossibly amused. Additionally, she was content that the woman was safe from unwanted attentions. She figured that this man-Perseus- had earned a one-time reprieve.
"What is happening?" Perseus yelled, "What did you do this time Alexander!" Alexander seemed to find this funny as well, and finally, Artemis watched him gesture to above Perseus's head. "It seems you have a witness after all Perseus."
Artemis watched the young man look up at his King's word, and there, he finally saw what she had put there. The silver stag above him glowed brightly, clear to all who exactly approved of the man.
"The Gods are watching over us Perseus, soon they shall soon see what we will achieve in the name of Greece." Alexander stepped forward, and clapped Perseus on the shoulder. The two bodyguards released him. "It seems Artemis approves of what you did." Alexander turned back to his bodyguards, and Artemis watched him raise his voice to the bustle of the entire Follower's Camp.
"Here me now, fellow Greeks and Macedonians! This is a sign from the Goddess Artemis! Unwilling woman are to be treated with respect. Any man caught breaking this rule will be castrated. This is the will of the Gods and I will see it done!" Alexander stalked down towards the tent from where he had come from, following the two women back inside. His bodyguards took positions outside while Kleitos's men dispersed as well, taking the unconscious body of Kleitos with them. Each cast threatening glances back at Perseus, but he only had eyes for the disappearing form of Alexander.
"My King?" Perseus called, "A word?"
Alexander only put up a hand and proceeded into the tent. Perseus scowled again, and muttered under his breath, "Thank you, you man whore." Artemis noticed however, these words were not malicious.
Thus, only Perseus remained next to the fainted woman, and now he looked back up at the silver Stag. Artemis snapped her fingers, leaning against the chariot, as she watched the silver stag dissipate into thin air.
Perseus seemed to look straight up at her, as he gazed at the moon. He dropped onto one knee, "My thanks Lady Artemis." Artemis nodded in satisfaction, and grabbed the reins of her chariot.
One more string of conversation spiraled up to her, before she shot off across the night sky.
"My Lord… thank you for saving me." The woman's voice weakly croaked, who had probably regained consciousness.
Perseus responded harshly, "Do not thank me, I do not wish to see women raped. But I hold no good feelings towards you. You betrayed your husband and are an adulteress. This you deserve, nothing more." Artemis leaned over once more to see Perseus toss his purple cloak at her, before turning away.
Artemis paused, and looked back to Perseus. She didn't know what to think of the man. He looked up to her once more, before walking back towards the Macedonian camp, away from the reveling of the men and women around him.
Curiosity ate at her, as she snapped the reins and dashed across the night sky, towards the coming dawn. 'Perseus' she tested in her mind. She resolved to keep a watch out for him. He had seemed to be close to Alexander, in what capacity was unclear.
She reveled in the curiosity, and quickly realized why she was so keen to learn. This would be her challenge in this forced observation, her own personal hunt. Perseus had shown honorable intentions of far, but Artemis wanted to learn more about this man. Something about him seemed almost fateful.
Those thoughts occupied her until she felt that her time was done in the sky. She wheeled her chariot around and set out for Mount Olympus, blazing across the sky, seeing the sun peeking over the horizon. It was Apollo's turn to watch the Macedonians. And her time to rest.
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Don't forget to throw some power Stones, to keep the story going.
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