Artemis and Phoebe fell in with the other huntresses, and Artemis found herself securely back in her huntresses' good graces for the time being. Which, she admitted to herself, was unstable, but she relaxed for the moment, enjoying the preparation of the soup.
...
In no time at all, the soup way prepared, cooked over the fire in a vat, and doled out to the huntresses and herself. They all ate at midmorning, and Artemis sighed in satisfaction as she devoured her bowl of soup, food from her domain tasting delicious.
"Well that was delicious," Christina declared, her slim huntress who was a immigrant to New York from Venezuela. "My Lady, we need to do this morn often instead of oatmeal."
"I would agree, but we don't have the luxury of staying this long in most campsites. Enjoy this while it lasts." Artemis replied, although secretly agreeing with Christina.
The girl moaned, and got up to get another portion of soup.
"My Lady, do you think you answer a question for me?" Elizabeth asked.
"Does it involve him?"
"Err… yes."
Artemis sighed, putting aside her bowl of rabbit stew, "Very well. What is it?"
"Well we all know you hate men, with a passion. We share that sentiment. So why did you love Perseus?" Elizabeth asked, unsure of herself.
Artemis nodded slowly, mentally preparing to hear his name many more times in the future. If she didn't say it, she would be fine. "You are right, men are mostly chauvinistic beasts towards women, degrading them, and usurping their rightful places as equals in society. But he defied all those attributes that men almost always have. He was… different. The first time I met him shows that. Of course, I did not intend to love him or anyone in that manner." Artemis trailed off, thinking back to the battle… The Granicus.
"My Lady?" Zoe asked. She was sitting to her left, sitting comfortably in the grass, legs crossed.
Artemis took a deep breath, "It was at the Battle of the Granicus River, I had finished my watch for the night. The Macedonians had moved East, where Persian satraps were gathering their forces to make a stand on the Granicus, a good nature barrier…" Artemis mused, thinking back to it all, "Alexander of course, was not deterred. The two armies met in pitched battle in the morning, but I had stayed behind to watch the battle, on a small knoll only a couple hundred yards away…" Artemis drifted into her memory, describing what she saw and did.
Artemis frowned, pacing the top of her small knoll. It could not even be classified as a hill, but it served its purpose well enough. She had hidden herself, and watched the two wheeling armies, both probing their respective opposite banks. Both sides had taken light loses, but nothing conclusive had occurred so far.
It was like the Macedonian campaign thus far, both sides refusing open battle. It had been a week since Artemis had first encountered Perseus, but she hadn't actively looked for him since, but now she found herself closely watching Alexander, hoping to find Perseus close by. All along the river, the Macedonians had taken up positions. Their infantry, the impressive phalanx was arrayed to cross the shallow fords of the Granicus. Amassed Persian infantry faced them. However, riding along the right flank, Artemis saw Alexander himself, commanding the entirety of the Macedonian cavalry. They rode towards her, only a couple of bowshots away. Alexander himself was easy to make out, with his monstrous black steed, leopard pelt blanket and golden plumed helmet. He rode at the front, flanked by many Companions. Artemis cast her gaze on them. Everyone had purple cloaks on, but perhaps Perseus hadn't…'There!' A rider rode a couple of horses to Alexander's left, who wore no cloak, but carried a spear like the rest of the riders.
Suddenly a horn blast rose from Alexander's cavalry, and Artemis perked up seeing the bulgier, and Alexander hold his spear out, the tip pointing straight across the river. As one, the cavalry immediately swung left, barreling down the small river bank. There were shouts of alarm from the Persian left, and Artemis watched as their horsemen wheeled around, coming to where Alexander would cross.
And he did. Alexander was the first rider to plunge into the waters of the Granicus, the depth easily reaching up to the horses' shoulder blades. Several more horn blasts sounded, and all along the Macedonian line, troops began to assault the river. The fear forest of the Macedonian phalanxes marched forth, while allied Greek cavalry on the left swiveled and formed up for a charge across the river.
The river, while deep at Alexander's point of entry was not wide, and in the manner of fifteen seconds, Alexander's steed launched itself out of the water, and onto the muddy sloped Persian bank. His bodyguards, including Perseus, were right behind him, just in time to counter change the Persian cavalry. Artemis watched in fascination as the two forces collided, and the screams of horses and men reached her, as men and animals died on both sides.
It was a raging sea of battle, on the bank, and Artemis made out some, but not much. She lost sight of Alexander, and of Perseus, in the terrific melee. After a minute of the hard-pressed fight, increasingly more of the Companion cavalry crossed and were throwing the Persian defenders back. It was there where she saw him.
Alexander was at the front, and had just plunged his spear into a Persian's throat when a rider came from behind, about to chop down on the young King. For a split moment, Artemis believed the King would be killed, and her duty over, but riding from the dust came Perseus, who swung a sword at the Persian, slicing the man's wrist off. The Persian, who grasped his hand, lived a second more as Perseus's next blow cut the man's throat.
Artemis scowled, cursing her luck. 'Damn that man,' she thought bitterly, while leaning against her bow. The Macedonian cavalry was a force to be reckoned with, as they gained the riverbank, and exploded off the ill advantaged slopes of the river basin. Macedonian infantry had made contact now, and Artemis was surprised at the power it held, slaughtering the Persian infantry which faced it. The Greek cavalry was crossing the river, on the left, and Alexander was chasing the Persian cavalry that fled, effectively breaking out onto the open plain.
The Macedonian cavalry was evidently far superior to the Persian cavalry it faced, and wherever Alexander fought, his men doubled their ferocity. Artemis watched both Alexander and the always nearby Perseus fight at the forefront of the battle. It was when Alexander finally broke the Persian cavalry when victory was assured.
It wasn't much of a fight after that. Artemis watched the entire engagement, which only lasted from morning to midday. The Macedonian army was tending to the field now, the battle over. There was a camp made on the Persian side of the field, and several hundred Macedonian soldiers walked amongst the wounded and killed.
Artemis saw remarkably few Macedonians, although Alexander's cavalry charge was littered with the bodies of both sides, each suffering heavy losses. While the battle was over, Artemis remained. She knew that leaving would be the best choice, or consulting Apollo for his opinion on the battle, as he was sure to be watching.
But she stayed on her knoll, which offered a great vantage point of the Macedonian camp under construction. Already, offerings were being made to the Gods, and fires roared with exclamations of victory and joy. She even felt some of the offerings give power to her. 'At least they know to sacrifice to me.' Artemis told herself. Her little stunt by supporting Perseus at Sestus hadn't been for naught after all.
She watched the camp for a while longer, when a lone figure slipped away, and headed to the riverbank, where the soldiers had moved on from moving bodies. The Macedonian was blood-soaked, and wore no cape. Focusing closely Artemis recognized this man as Perseus.
He limped slightly, and had only a sweat streaked tunic on, most likely hanging up his armor. Artemis knew that Perseus had likely single handedly won the battle for Alexander, if only by his saving cut. This was now twice Perseus had intervened to save someone, and Artemis felt herself want to know more about the man. He seemed… respectable enough, although nonetheless, was still a Macedonian soldier.
Artemis weighed her options, watching him reach the water's edge, which has run a reddish-brown color now. Perseus bent down to wash his hands, and she quickly burst into her divine form, using the awesome power to rush through the air as an ionized rush of energy to flash down right behind Perseus.
She studied his back, now only meters away from him, and found him rather tall, without being imposing. He jerked up when she had flashed down, and looked to the knoll where she had been seconds before.
"Relax, boy, now turn around." Artemis snapped, for some reason feeling quite frustrated at the man.
Perseus whirled around, a hand going to the sheathed sword at his waist. Their eyes met, Artemis having to look slightly up, to her annoyance. He had deep green brown eyes, and longish black hair, with a thin neat beard. As he saw her, Artemis watched his eyes widen considerably, before he raced into a bow, sinking onto one knee.
Nodding at his respect, she let him kneel there for a couple of seconds, before gesturing with her hand, "Rise, you need not fear me. I only wish to converse with you."
Perseus raised his head and nodded, rising from one knee, "Forgive me, Lady Artemis… but I do not fear you, I bow out of great respect." His clear voice spoke without tremor, or pause. "It is an honor to witness an Olympian Goddess, how may I help you?"
Artemis paused, crossing her arms. He didn't show any signs of being ingenuine, but his comment irked her to some degree nonetheless. "Many who do not fear me often have to be reminded why I should be feared, young one." She said with authority, "but that I not why I have come. I wish to know who you are Perseus. The Olympic Council has deemed this expedition worthy of being followed, and I am one of those tasked with surveying this campaign."
Perseus nodded slowly, "You would better be talking to King Alexander III, he is a just and honorable man, I can inform him…"
Artemis cut across him, "I have no desire to speak with your King. You may relay to him this conversation. Now, I will not ask again, who are you boy?"
She had apparently poked an ember in the fire. "Lady Artemis, I am Perseus, son of Pausanias. King Alexander and I grew up together, and I will prove my loyalty, where my father betrayed his oaths."
It all made perfect sense now. "The son of a traitor, you must be so well received." Artemis said. Oh, she knew why he acted so pious now. He couldn't afford to tarnish his already strenuous position.
A dark look crossed his face, and Artemis saw his hand clench on the hilt of his sword. She was ready to blast him into nonbeing, but he regained his temper. "Lady Artemis," he said icily, "I am not my father. I grew up with my mother, and hold no love for that traitorous man. The only thing I am interested in on this… campaign," Perseus waved his army back towards the up-and-coming camp, "is defending my name, and keeping my friend and King, Alexander in one piece."
Artemis felt her eyes widen, before she retained her cool composure. Perhaps she had misjudged the young man, "Very well, Perseus, son of Pausanias,I have seen your merit so far, and shall continue to observe your King's campaign's. Do not make me regret my impressions of you. Men are bad enough as it is." She turned to leave but Perseus's voice checked her, "Lady Artemis, may I ask you a question?"
A twitch of annoyance ran through her, but she turned around and responded "What? And be quick about it!"
Perseus paused, looking to her, "Lady Artemis, did you watch the entire battle? Not to seem rude… but why?"
"Don't presume to be able to ask a goddess on her intentions. That is your final warning Perseus. Don't test me." She snapped, before willing herself into the form of a hawk, flapping her wings madly, racing into the sky without looking back.
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Don't forget to throw some power Stones, to keep the story going.
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