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Athanasia held a white cloth to her nose with one hand and kept pushing back the hair out of her face with the other. The wind was strong and it was difficult to walk through the battlefield with her chiton blowing about her legs. The desert sand burnt her bare feet and the sun beat down upon her head and shoulders. All around her, men lay on the ground covered with blood, most of them with their lifeless eyes wide open. A few were still alive and cried out for help but she knew it was too late for them. Some were Greek and some were Egyptian but none were those she was looking for.
Which was a good thing. If they weren’t here, her father and brothers were still alive. And yet she searched every face as she moved toward the camp she could see in the distance, populated with tents that flew the Colchis standards. She would find them there, healthy and safe. Athanasia began to run, unable to wait any longer to see them. Once she was sure they were well, she could return to Colchis and tell her mother. Neither of them would have to worry anymore.
As soon as she entered the camp, the soldiers all bent down on one knee. She thought that a bit odd but she was too eager to see her family to consider what it meant. Reaching the royal tent, she stepped inside, a smile on her face, which immediately faded when she saw the five bodies lying side by side on the floor.
No!
Screaming, Athanasia fell to her knees. Her father, Vangelis, Zanon, Yiannis, and Silas looked as if they were sleeping peacefully but their chests did not rise and fall. They were gone, all of them. The soldiers inside were also down on one knee. One of them suddenly shouted 'Long live Queen Athanasia!' and the rest took up the chant.
No!
No!
No!
“No!” Athanasia screamed as she sat up. Where was she? This wasn’t a battlefield. After a few moments of disorientation, she realized that she’d had another nightmare. As the time neared for her father and brothers to head off for war, they had been plaguing her more often, and though they differed slightly, they all ended with all the male members of her family dead and she was proclaimed the Queen of Colchis.
Her pounding heart began to slow down and she lay back upon her pillow. Her fears, kept strictly to herself, were manifesting themselves in malicious dreams. During the day, it was easy to believe that Greece would crush the Egyptians and her father and brothers would return victorious. They had gone to battle before and had always come home. Why, then, was she so afraid for them this time?
And why did she see Zan dead in the tent? Her second-oldest brother was remaining behind to run the kingdom while their father was gone. Was there really wind in the desert? Only men could rule, so even if all her male relatives perished, she would never be Queen. Nothing about the nightmare, nor any of the others she’d had lately, made any sense.
The young princess closed her eyes but all she could see were her father and brothers lying dead side by side. There was no use going back to sleep. She rose and padded over to the chest that held her robe and other nightclothes. Slipping it over her sleeping shift, Athanasia decided to go to the kitchens. A glass of wine would calm her nerves and a bit of food would settle her stomach.
She knew where everything was kept. As a child, she had often stolen treats between meals when the cooks weren’t looking. Sometimes she had been caught and at others, she had succeeded. Concentrating on those memories to keep the nightmare from her mind, she was soon seated at a wooden table with a bottle of wine and a tray containing cheese, leftover bread, and some assorted fruit. Popping a piece of soft tangy cheese into her mouth, she closed her eyes and savored the taste, willing the horrible vision away.
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Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
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The stench was disgusting.
Athanasia held a white cloth to her nose with one hand and kept pushing back the hair out of her face with the other. The wind was strong and it was difficult to walk through the battlefield with her chiton blowing about her legs. The desert sand burnt her bare feet and the sun beat down upon her head and shoulders. All around her, men lay on the ground covered with blood, most of them with their lifeless eyes wide open. A few were still alive and cried out for help but she knew it was too late for them. Some were Greek and some were Egyptian but none were those she was looking for.
Which was a good thing. If they weren’t here, her father and brothers were still alive. And yet she searched every face as she moved toward the camp she could see in the distance, populated with tents that flew the Colchis standards. She would find them there, healthy and safe. Athanasia began to run, unable to wait any longer to see them. Once she was sure they were well, she could return to Colchis and tell her mother. Neither of them would have to worry anymore.
As soon as she entered the camp, the soldiers all bent down on one knee. She thought that a bit odd but she was too eager to see her family to consider what it meant. Reaching the royal tent, she stepped inside, a smile on her face, which immediately faded when she saw the five bodies lying side by side on the floor.
No!
Screaming, Athanasia fell to her knees. Her father, Vangelis, Zanon, Yiannis, and Silas looked as if they were sleeping peacefully but their chests did not rise and fall. They were gone, all of them. The soldiers inside were also down on one knee. One of them suddenly shouted 'Long live Queen Athanasia!' and the rest took up the chant.
No!
No!
No!
“No!” Athanasia screamed as she sat up. Where was she? This wasn’t a battlefield. After a few moments of disorientation, she realized that she’d had another nightmare. As the time neared for her father and brothers to head off for war, they had been plaguing her more often, and though they differed slightly, they all ended with all the male members of her family dead and she was proclaimed the Queen of Colchis.
Her pounding heart began to slow down and she lay back upon her pillow. Her fears, kept strictly to herself, were manifesting themselves in malicious dreams. During the day, it was easy to believe that Greece would crush the Egyptians and her father and brothers would return victorious. They had gone to battle before and had always come home. Why, then, was she so afraid for them this time?
And why did she see Zan dead in the tent? Her second-oldest brother was remaining behind to run the kingdom while their father was gone. Was there really wind in the desert? Only men could rule, so even if all her male relatives perished, she would never be Queen. Nothing about the nightmare, nor any of the others she’d had lately, made any sense.
The young princess closed her eyes but all she could see were her father and brothers lying dead side by side. There was no use going back to sleep. She rose and padded over to the chest that held her robe and other nightclothes. Slipping it over her sleeping shift, Athanasia decided to go to the kitchens. A glass of wine would calm her nerves and a bit of food would settle her stomach.
She knew where everything was kept. As a child, she had often stolen treats between meals when the cooks weren’t looking. Sometimes she had been caught and at others, she had succeeded. Concentrating on those memories to keep the nightmare from her mind, she was soon seated at a wooden table with a bottle of wine and a tray containing cheese, leftover bread, and some assorted fruit. Popping a piece of soft tangy cheese into her mouth, she closed her eyes and savored the taste, willing the horrible vision away.
The stench was disgusting.
Athanasia held a white cloth to her nose with one hand and kept pushing back the hair out of her face with the other. The wind was strong and it was difficult to walk through the battlefield with her chiton blowing about her legs. The desert sand burnt her bare feet and the sun beat down upon her head and shoulders. All around her, men lay on the ground covered with blood, most of them with their lifeless eyes wide open. A few were still alive and cried out for help but she knew it was too late for them. Some were Greek and some were Egyptian but none were those she was looking for.
Which was a good thing. If they weren’t here, her father and brothers were still alive. And yet she searched every face as she moved toward the camp she could see in the distance, populated with tents that flew the Colchis standards. She would find them there, healthy and safe. Athanasia began to run, unable to wait any longer to see them. Once she was sure they were well, she could return to Colchis and tell her mother. Neither of them would have to worry anymore.
As soon as she entered the camp, the soldiers all bent down on one knee. She thought that a bit odd but she was too eager to see her family to consider what it meant. Reaching the royal tent, she stepped inside, a smile on her face, which immediately faded when she saw the five bodies lying side by side on the floor.
No!
Screaming, Athanasia fell to her knees. Her father, Vangelis, Zanon, Yiannis, and Silas looked as if they were sleeping peacefully but their chests did not rise and fall. They were gone, all of them. The soldiers inside were also down on one knee. One of them suddenly shouted 'Long live Queen Athanasia!' and the rest took up the chant.
No!
No!
No!
“No!” Athanasia screamed as she sat up. Where was she? This wasn’t a battlefield. After a few moments of disorientation, she realized that she’d had another nightmare. As the time neared for her father and brothers to head off for war, they had been plaguing her more often, and though they differed slightly, they all ended with all the male members of her family dead and she was proclaimed the Queen of Colchis.
Her pounding heart began to slow down and she lay back upon her pillow. Her fears, kept strictly to herself, were manifesting themselves in malicious dreams. During the day, it was easy to believe that Greece would crush the Egyptians and her father and brothers would return victorious. They had gone to battle before and had always come home. Why, then, was she so afraid for them this time?
And why did she see Zan dead in the tent? Her second-oldest brother was remaining behind to run the kingdom while their father was gone. Was there really wind in the desert? Only men could rule, so even if all her male relatives perished, she would never be Queen. Nothing about the nightmare, nor any of the others she’d had lately, made any sense.
The young princess closed her eyes but all she could see were her father and brothers lying dead side by side. There was no use going back to sleep. She rose and padded over to the chest that held her robe and other nightclothes. Slipping it over her sleeping shift, Athanasia decided to go to the kitchens. A glass of wine would calm her nerves and a bit of food would settle her stomach.
She knew where everything was kept. As a child, she had often stolen treats between meals when the cooks weren’t looking. Sometimes she had been caught and at others, she had succeeded. Concentrating on those memories to keep the nightmare from her mind, she was soon seated at a wooden table with a bottle of wine and a tray containing cheese, leftover bread, and some assorted fruit. Popping a piece of soft tangy cheese into her mouth, she closed her eyes and savored the taste, willing the horrible vision away.
War marched towards them. Yiannis could hear it approach in his mind, could see the Egyptian soldiers with their vicious scowls and manic grins. All imagined, but nonetheless inspiring. Inspiring to violence, to sparring, to endless discussions about tactics. None of their plans would survive once the first fight broke out, but that only spurred him on faster. With enough backup plans prepared, one of them pulled out of his pocket at the right moment could save Greek lives. Yiannis knew that victory over the opposing army was not assured, by any means, but he did not believe in failure. Any kind of victory, no matter how small, no matter the cost as measured in Colchian blood, would be enough to bring home with them.
Nightmares did not keep Yiannis up into the night; battle plans did. They circled in his mind as he recalled chess games and sparring sessions. Ideas percolating from past experiences, until they consolidated into something synergistic that the Colchian commanders could use. Yiannis thought through the potential offensives, the different organizations of their troops, the tasks his team could complete. He had not slept yet. Perhaps he ought to, since he would need his body in fighting shape when they landed on those faraway shores, but Yiannis had always valued his mind’s utility more. He kept his thoughts running as he wandered. Eventually, as he passed the kitchens, Yiannis heard some sounds emanating from them. Immediately on-guard, even though he doubted intellectually that any serious threat could have snuck inside. Most likely, it would just be some animals that had gotten into the house and he would need to chase them off.
Taking no care to quiet his footsteps, Yiannis approached. He hoped the sound of steady footfalls (while not so loud as to wake any humans) would scare off rodents or other pests that might have gotten into their food. As he arrived at the kitchens, Yiannis was surprised and somewhat amused to see that, instead of vermin, the late-night kitchen thief was none other than his sister. He took in the full tableau: cheese, bread, and fruit. A veritable feast! He crossed his arms, mimicking Yanni at her most judgmental as he raised an eyebrow.
“Asia,” Yiannis said with a tone of light disapproval, though despite his stern expression, his eyes danced with the light of obvious fond amusement. “Did they not feed you enough during dinner? There’s no need to indulge at all hours. I’m sure mother and father would happily treat you to a sumptuous feast in the morning.”
He stepped closer, expression softening. Like himself, Yiannis imagined, Athanasia had other thoughts on her mind besides the somnolent type. He took a seat next to her, snatching a piece of cheese for himself with the mischievous grin that he really ought to have outgrown by now.
“Or perhaps neither of us could sleep, tonight.”
Yiannis awaited her reply as he chewed meditatively. Perhaps this behavior was perfectly ordinary. He certainly remembered outings and adventures like this when all of them were children, and Athanasia remained young yet. He should not impose standards on her that she did not merit. Not so young as all that, though, he reminded himself. She had become a woman, now, and that meant that the eyes of the world- or at least Colchis- were upon her. Just as they fell upon her brothers.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
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War marched towards them. Yiannis could hear it approach in his mind, could see the Egyptian soldiers with their vicious scowls and manic grins. All imagined, but nonetheless inspiring. Inspiring to violence, to sparring, to endless discussions about tactics. None of their plans would survive once the first fight broke out, but that only spurred him on faster. With enough backup plans prepared, one of them pulled out of his pocket at the right moment could save Greek lives. Yiannis knew that victory over the opposing army was not assured, by any means, but he did not believe in failure. Any kind of victory, no matter how small, no matter the cost as measured in Colchian blood, would be enough to bring home with them.
Nightmares did not keep Yiannis up into the night; battle plans did. They circled in his mind as he recalled chess games and sparring sessions. Ideas percolating from past experiences, until they consolidated into something synergistic that the Colchian commanders could use. Yiannis thought through the potential offensives, the different organizations of their troops, the tasks his team could complete. He had not slept yet. Perhaps he ought to, since he would need his body in fighting shape when they landed on those faraway shores, but Yiannis had always valued his mind’s utility more. He kept his thoughts running as he wandered. Eventually, as he passed the kitchens, Yiannis heard some sounds emanating from them. Immediately on-guard, even though he doubted intellectually that any serious threat could have snuck inside. Most likely, it would just be some animals that had gotten into the house and he would need to chase them off.
Taking no care to quiet his footsteps, Yiannis approached. He hoped the sound of steady footfalls (while not so loud as to wake any humans) would scare off rodents or other pests that might have gotten into their food. As he arrived at the kitchens, Yiannis was surprised and somewhat amused to see that, instead of vermin, the late-night kitchen thief was none other than his sister. He took in the full tableau: cheese, bread, and fruit. A veritable feast! He crossed his arms, mimicking Yanni at her most judgmental as he raised an eyebrow.
“Asia,” Yiannis said with a tone of light disapproval, though despite his stern expression, his eyes danced with the light of obvious fond amusement. “Did they not feed you enough during dinner? There’s no need to indulge at all hours. I’m sure mother and father would happily treat you to a sumptuous feast in the morning.”
He stepped closer, expression softening. Like himself, Yiannis imagined, Athanasia had other thoughts on her mind besides the somnolent type. He took a seat next to her, snatching a piece of cheese for himself with the mischievous grin that he really ought to have outgrown by now.
“Or perhaps neither of us could sleep, tonight.”
Yiannis awaited her reply as he chewed meditatively. Perhaps this behavior was perfectly ordinary. He certainly remembered outings and adventures like this when all of them were children, and Athanasia remained young yet. He should not impose standards on her that she did not merit. Not so young as all that, though, he reminded himself. She had become a woman, now, and that meant that the eyes of the world- or at least Colchis- were upon her. Just as they fell upon her brothers.
War marched towards them. Yiannis could hear it approach in his mind, could see the Egyptian soldiers with their vicious scowls and manic grins. All imagined, but nonetheless inspiring. Inspiring to violence, to sparring, to endless discussions about tactics. None of their plans would survive once the first fight broke out, but that only spurred him on faster. With enough backup plans prepared, one of them pulled out of his pocket at the right moment could save Greek lives. Yiannis knew that victory over the opposing army was not assured, by any means, but he did not believe in failure. Any kind of victory, no matter how small, no matter the cost as measured in Colchian blood, would be enough to bring home with them.
Nightmares did not keep Yiannis up into the night; battle plans did. They circled in his mind as he recalled chess games and sparring sessions. Ideas percolating from past experiences, until they consolidated into something synergistic that the Colchian commanders could use. Yiannis thought through the potential offensives, the different organizations of their troops, the tasks his team could complete. He had not slept yet. Perhaps he ought to, since he would need his body in fighting shape when they landed on those faraway shores, but Yiannis had always valued his mind’s utility more. He kept his thoughts running as he wandered. Eventually, as he passed the kitchens, Yiannis heard some sounds emanating from them. Immediately on-guard, even though he doubted intellectually that any serious threat could have snuck inside. Most likely, it would just be some animals that had gotten into the house and he would need to chase them off.
Taking no care to quiet his footsteps, Yiannis approached. He hoped the sound of steady footfalls (while not so loud as to wake any humans) would scare off rodents or other pests that might have gotten into their food. As he arrived at the kitchens, Yiannis was surprised and somewhat amused to see that, instead of vermin, the late-night kitchen thief was none other than his sister. He took in the full tableau: cheese, bread, and fruit. A veritable feast! He crossed his arms, mimicking Yanni at her most judgmental as he raised an eyebrow.
“Asia,” Yiannis said with a tone of light disapproval, though despite his stern expression, his eyes danced with the light of obvious fond amusement. “Did they not feed you enough during dinner? There’s no need to indulge at all hours. I’m sure mother and father would happily treat you to a sumptuous feast in the morning.”
He stepped closer, expression softening. Like himself, Yiannis imagined, Athanasia had other thoughts on her mind besides the somnolent type. He took a seat next to her, snatching a piece of cheese for himself with the mischievous grin that he really ought to have outgrown by now.
“Or perhaps neither of us could sleep, tonight.”
Yiannis awaited her reply as he chewed meditatively. Perhaps this behavior was perfectly ordinary. He certainly remembered outings and adventures like this when all of them were children, and Athanasia remained young yet. He should not impose standards on her that she did not merit. Not so young as all that, though, he reminded himself. She had become a woman, now, and that meant that the eyes of the world- or at least Colchis- were upon her. Just as they fell upon her brothers.
