The Lion of Lacadaemon

PROLOGUE

--525 B.C.--
Sparta, Greece

The night’s air was crisp and chilly. The stars shined brightly in the sky, outlining the moon’s beauty. King Anaxandridas II stood in his bed chamber, looking out of the window, his eyes staring at the sparkling sky ahead of him. He was quiet, his body void of any particular movement. He waited, listening to the screams of his Queen, Iemenalae. Her voice, her screams of pain and agony could be heard miles away, he was sure of it.

He closed his dark brown eyes as a cool breeze flowed into the window, washing over his body, sending a calm chill down his spine. The even that was about to take place was an important one indeed. An important one that he shared with women other than his wife but that was besides the point. Yes.

The event that was about to take place was the birth of his child. A healthy son. At least, he had hoped it was a son. Sons meant succession of his throne. Cleomenes, his son with his first wife, Clonia, was in line for his throne and would make a proper King, yes. But it was in this child that he felt something strong. Something great and powerful.

“Gods on earth and in the Sea, let it be a boy.” he said to himself, his eyes rising to the night’s black sky. He watched the stars that shined brightly above him. It may very well be one of the last times he was able to see them. If the Oracle was true, which she always was, he was to die at the hands of a sword in battle. And that was fine. He would have his death no other way. Dying in battle a true warrior was a great death indeed in Sparta. It was an honor. His people believed in the power of the sword and would die by it. Before he was to leave, he wanted to give Sparta, his country, his people, what they deserved: Superiority.

The doors to his bed chamber opened forcefully. Muriele, his Queen’s Lady in Waiting, rushed in. She was clearly out of breath and clearly has something important to tell him. “My Lord. It is time!”

~~~~~~~~~~

His steps were fast and hard as he ran to Iemenalae’s side. With his brute strength, he pushed open the heavy doors that stood between he and his newborn child. His motions were still for moments before walking to Iemenalae’s side.

There, in her arms, was his child.

“Anaxandridas,” she smiled up at him, her brows thick with perspiration. “say hello to your son.”

He sat beside her, the bed shifting under his weight. Iemenalae passed the boy to his father gently. She smiled softly at how tiny he was compared to his father. She laid back onto the thick pillows, her dark, curly bangs matted to her forehead. “He has your eyes.” she said proudly.

“And your beauty.” Anaxandridas said as he smiled down at his son, letting the little one squeeze his much larger finger.

His son.

The one that will do great things.

Cradling the baby in his arms, he leaned down and kissed his tiny head. Rising from the bed, he began to walk forward to the open balcony, wrapping the little one in his robe. He was beautiful. More beautiful than any baby he had ever seen. “And strong too.” He chuckled, his finger still clenched within the baby’s fingers.
Iemenalae sighed softly, happy that the birthing was over. Even though the child wasn’t Anaxandridas’ first, it was hers and it might be her last. Women in her country were strong and their bodies were built for anything. But, no woman was well prepared for the process of bringing a child into the world. Pulling back the soft covers, she slowly pushed her legs over the edge of the large bed, standing. Her body was tired and somewhat weakened, but she made it an effort to walk to where her husband and child were. As soon as she stepped foot onto the cool concrete, the air engulfed her. “Mmm. It smells beautiful out here.”

Anaxandridas turned. “You are not supposed to be standing, let alone walking.” It was useless telling her that. He knew no matter how much pain she was in, she was not going to be kept down. “You are to be in bed Wife.”

“I am to be where I am now My Lord.” she breathed in the night’s air deeply. “With my King and my Prince.”

The cool wind picked up around them. Small orbs of white light sparkled, spinning in tiny circles. The orbs grew faster and faster as they began to form into three bodies; feminine bodies. Fully developed into somewhat old women, they stepped forward, their movements as well as voices in sync with each other. “Anaxandridas. Iemenalae. We have come at your request.”

“It’s about time. I thought I’d die before you old wenches got here.” He joked, a sly smirk planted upon his seasoned face. He’d trusted The Fates and called upon them many of times, but the wenches were slow as molasses from a Sap tree.

“One must not rush us when it comes to these things Anaxandridas, you know this. Besides, Zeus is a picky god he is. Picky and slow. Give us the boy.”

Anaxandridas didn’t move an inch, but held his arms out. He watched his son float from him and into the air before him. A bright white light illuminated from the boy.

“This one is strong Anaxandridas. Yes. Quite strong.”

“Will he do great things?” Iemenalae asked, taking her husband’s arms into her hands for balance.

“The prophecy is true as the Oracle has foretold. As we have foreseen.”

“Then what I have felt is real.” said Anaxandridas. He was proud of the boy already and he was only born a couple of minutes before.

“The boy is of something special, this we can see.” Said the three women as they gathered around the infant. The light grew brighter as it washed over the boy, filling him completely. Baptismal rituals were a must upon them. Especially with a child with a future such as this one. “He will lead Sparta down the path of greatness in the future. He is strong and courageous and loyal. Just like a Lion upon his jungle.”

They lifted their hands as the boy rose higher into the sky. “He shall be called…Leonidas,”