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The God Games
folder
1 through F › 300
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
4
Views:
1,601
Reviews:
6
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
1 through F › 300
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
4
Views:
1,601
Reviews:
6
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own 300 or Predator, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
War Drums
Chapter Two "War Drums"
"The-the God Games!" the Captain stuttered. Leonidus couldn't tell if the stutter came from surprise-or excitement. Most likely the latter.
"Yes, the God Games. Is that a problem, Captain?"
Artemis looked at his king as though he had lost his mind. "A problem? How can such an honor be a problem?!"
"That's just the response I was looking for," Leonidus said, clapping a hand on the other's back. "So, I want you to go and find me all the able-bodied fighters in the city and bring them here. Then we'll go to the field outside of the city's walls. There will be our practice field. If those inbred priests are right, we haven't much time."
"And what shall I tell them if they ask what for?"
Leonidus paused, then grinned. "Tell them that if they're willing to give up their lives for honor and glory, they will come, and I will explain myself. Go now."
Artemis nodded once and strode off. If he were an impatient youth, he might have even bounded off at a dead run, but he could contain himself enough to walk-though he was almost power-walking down the steps into the city.
"If the Ephors are as corrupt as has been said, why would they even send us word, Leonidus?" his wife asked as she stood leaning against a pillar.
"Survival. They're supposed to uphold the old ways-if the gods suddenly arrived and found that they weren't doing their job, there'd be a problem. The gods wouldn't care for priests who slacked on the job," Leonidus said, a small smile at that thought. He wished they would get killed; it would make his job so much easier sometimes. However, they were, regretfully, as much of tradition as the Agoge. "At least they've already given their blessings for battle," he said.
"How long do you think we have?" Gorgo asked.
Leonidus shrugged. "A week, a day, an hour? Not even the lepers can tell. The sooner we get ready, the better."
"When do you plan on telling the city?"
Leonidus glanced at his wife. "I've already sent messengers throughout Sparta, telling them to come to the city steps at dusk. There I will reveal this most excellant news!"
"What about the rest of Greece? The Athenians--"
"The Athenians..." Leonidus said with a snarl, "...would not know the difference between a god and a drunkard. We will tell them nothing! This glory is Sparta's and Sparta's alone!"
Gorgo bowed her head, and left her husband. Though she was Queen, she was still a woman, and thus had to accept the rule of her King. Secretly, she agreed with her husband, but one must always bring forth unpleasant thinkings in such important decisions.
His wife gone, Leonidus looked towards the sky, and breathed in a deep breathe of fresh autumn air. His heart was pounding in his chest. Sweat was falling down his back; how had he not realized it was too hot for that time of year? He smiled, and realized he was going to be full of nervous energy until they came. The gods of old. He prayed they would arrive soon.
*******
Dusk was upon the city when over two hundred of the strongest, swiftest, and most cunning Spartan fighters came before the King's steps, all dressed in the red cloak of battle, swords, shields, and spears at the ready. As his eyes swept over the faces of the men that would serve in Sparta's greatest legacy, it did not surprise him to see young Delios and Stelios in the crowd. Both were superb up-and-coming fighters, Stelios more tenacious in battle, but Delios was as determined as any man would be to win. They would give the gods a hell of a fight!
Leonidus stood before them, and saw many more of Spartan's citizens behind the waves of red, awaiting Leonidus's proclamation. "War" was on the lips and minds of all the Spartans, no doubt. Leonidus smiled.
"Spartans!" he roared, his deep voice thundering overhead with little effort. Any conversation below stopped immediately. "My people," He said, "We have been blessed with strength no other state can boast of." He paused for a moment. "All who utter the name 'Sparta' tremble with fear, and shame of their weakness!" There was a roar of agreement among the warriors, and the civilians.
"The time has come, Spartans! The Gods will return shortly; the time of the God Games is upon us once more! You have been chosen to represent Sparta in this most glorious of battles!"
There was a stunned silence among both the men and the citizens. Leonidus allowed the silence to continue for a moment. Suddenly, he picked up his spear, which was lying beside him, and his helmet. He donned the helmet, and looking around at his warriors, hefted the spear into the air with a roar.
"We have been chosen, Spartans! We, and we alone have been challenged to a battle of skill, of perseverance, of determination, and we will not retreat!
"Our lives for Sparta!" the men cried without hesitation, Stelios' cry loud enough to be carried over the sea of voices.
"We will not surrender!" Leonidus roared, hefting up the spear after every exclamation.
"Our lives for Sparta!"
"We will fight with honor, with glory, and we will not fail!"
"Our lives for Sparta!" the men began to bang their spear-heads against the heavy bronze shields, the sound of the Spartan War Drums resounding over the land. Those in other city-states in Greece could hear the thunder on the horizon, and wondered when the storm would strike.
"The-the God Games!" the Captain stuttered. Leonidus couldn't tell if the stutter came from surprise-or excitement. Most likely the latter.
"Yes, the God Games. Is that a problem, Captain?"
Artemis looked at his king as though he had lost his mind. "A problem? How can such an honor be a problem?!"
"That's just the response I was looking for," Leonidus said, clapping a hand on the other's back. "So, I want you to go and find me all the able-bodied fighters in the city and bring them here. Then we'll go to the field outside of the city's walls. There will be our practice field. If those inbred priests are right, we haven't much time."
"And what shall I tell them if they ask what for?"
Leonidus paused, then grinned. "Tell them that if they're willing to give up their lives for honor and glory, they will come, and I will explain myself. Go now."
Artemis nodded once and strode off. If he were an impatient youth, he might have even bounded off at a dead run, but he could contain himself enough to walk-though he was almost power-walking down the steps into the city.
"If the Ephors are as corrupt as has been said, why would they even send us word, Leonidus?" his wife asked as she stood leaning against a pillar.
"Survival. They're supposed to uphold the old ways-if the gods suddenly arrived and found that they weren't doing their job, there'd be a problem. The gods wouldn't care for priests who slacked on the job," Leonidus said, a small smile at that thought. He wished they would get killed; it would make his job so much easier sometimes. However, they were, regretfully, as much of tradition as the Agoge. "At least they've already given their blessings for battle," he said.
"How long do you think we have?" Gorgo asked.
Leonidus shrugged. "A week, a day, an hour? Not even the lepers can tell. The sooner we get ready, the better."
"When do you plan on telling the city?"
Leonidus glanced at his wife. "I've already sent messengers throughout Sparta, telling them to come to the city steps at dusk. There I will reveal this most excellant news!"
"What about the rest of Greece? The Athenians--"
"The Athenians..." Leonidus said with a snarl, "...would not know the difference between a god and a drunkard. We will tell them nothing! This glory is Sparta's and Sparta's alone!"
Gorgo bowed her head, and left her husband. Though she was Queen, she was still a woman, and thus had to accept the rule of her King. Secretly, she agreed with her husband, but one must always bring forth unpleasant thinkings in such important decisions.
His wife gone, Leonidus looked towards the sky, and breathed in a deep breathe of fresh autumn air. His heart was pounding in his chest. Sweat was falling down his back; how had he not realized it was too hot for that time of year? He smiled, and realized he was going to be full of nervous energy until they came. The gods of old. He prayed they would arrive soon.
*******
Dusk was upon the city when over two hundred of the strongest, swiftest, and most cunning Spartan fighters came before the King's steps, all dressed in the red cloak of battle, swords, shields, and spears at the ready. As his eyes swept over the faces of the men that would serve in Sparta's greatest legacy, it did not surprise him to see young Delios and Stelios in the crowd. Both were superb up-and-coming fighters, Stelios more tenacious in battle, but Delios was as determined as any man would be to win. They would give the gods a hell of a fight!
Leonidus stood before them, and saw many more of Spartan's citizens behind the waves of red, awaiting Leonidus's proclamation. "War" was on the lips and minds of all the Spartans, no doubt. Leonidus smiled.
"Spartans!" he roared, his deep voice thundering overhead with little effort. Any conversation below stopped immediately. "My people," He said, "We have been blessed with strength no other state can boast of." He paused for a moment. "All who utter the name 'Sparta' tremble with fear, and shame of their weakness!" There was a roar of agreement among the warriors, and the civilians.
"The time has come, Spartans! The Gods will return shortly; the time of the God Games is upon us once more! You have been chosen to represent Sparta in this most glorious of battles!"
There was a stunned silence among both the men and the citizens. Leonidus allowed the silence to continue for a moment. Suddenly, he picked up his spear, which was lying beside him, and his helmet. He donned the helmet, and looking around at his warriors, hefted the spear into the air with a roar.
"We have been chosen, Spartans! We, and we alone have been challenged to a battle of skill, of perseverance, of determination, and we will not retreat!
"Our lives for Sparta!" the men cried without hesitation, Stelios' cry loud enough to be carried over the sea of voices.
"We will not surrender!" Leonidus roared, hefting up the spear after every exclamation.
"Our lives for Sparta!"
"We will fight with honor, with glory, and we will not fail!"
"Our lives for Sparta!" the men began to bang their spear-heads against the heavy bronze shields, the sound of the Spartan War Drums resounding over the land. Those in other city-states in Greece could hear the thunder on the horizon, and wondered when the storm would strike.