So it was, Winter crept slowly from the Earth as Springs first breath blew in softly from the moist green hills and the Spartan plain was covered in a blanket of fresh fragrant flowers, the apple and cherry orchards in full bloom and the riverbanks had violets opening up from deep sleep like eyes. Whereupon the prophecy of Queen Sparta came to be fulfilled, for Thebes did fall in a timely and terrifying fashion, whereto fore the city lay in ruins.Word was sent out to every nation in the region, telling of the brutal destruction of the ancient city and all her inhabitants, former home to the elite Sacred Band of Thebes, whose warrior class was no more. Thebes was wholly and utterly consumed by the invincible Army of Sparta whose legions faithfully served their new King and Queen with Unity, Loyalty, Respect and Honor.
Meanwhile, the Tyrant Phillip II of Macedon began cutting a wide swath through north western Thrace, where he pushed his army of 30,000 men all the way east, to the shores of the Black Sea. His goal was to control the trading and shipping routes, crush the Army of King Sunder, and assume total command of the vast gold and silver mines therein. Thus instilling much anxiety and trepidation in the aged monarch, who did not once, at anytime, even entertain the notion of suiting up for battle in defence of his country against this northern band of barbarians. Rather, King Sunder sent out his sons, whom, themselves, were weak and ill-effective as military leaders, leaving their soldiers disappointed and demoralized. So with this Phillip spent the whole of the Summer and Spring, that year, inciting riots amongst the slave and helot population, whereupon tens of thousands rose up against their overlords, turning over entire cities to Phillip peacefully, who obtained vast lands and structures, temples and villas at no expense to his soldiers. Thus with his ever growing horde of warriors, who lived only to serve him , Phillip was able to quickly seize control of a huge tract of territory in north eastern and western Thrace, from the Black Sea to the southern shores of the Danube; where he began harassing many of the cities and villages of Scythia, located on the northern border of Thrace. Now, Scythia was a long time ally of Sparta, should Scythia, the next target of Phillip, had at anytime reached out to Queen Sparta and King Therakles they both would have sent forth troops to aide and assist in the fighting, yet no word for assistance was asked for, so no assistance was given.
So it was Peace and Tranquility had settled over the Peloponnese, for a little while at least, as Queen Sparta and King Therakles grew better accustomed to their new lives as ruling monarchs; of whom much was expected and required of them. From the moment they arose early in the morning nearly every moment of the day was strictly scheduled, regimented and followed to the letter, spending hours, upon hours, in meetings with heads of state, military leaders, emissaries, ambassadors and dignitaries from surrounding nations, as well as politicians, seeking favor, lawyers seeking leniency, the always dramatic Ephorate, the disabused Academia etc..., surrounded, from sun up to sun down, by an army of scribes and notari who recorded the lengthy discussions on all matters of official, legal or military nature. Add to this the constant presence of the contingent of body guards attached to the detail of the king and queen it was so overwhelming. Now the constant presence of these people was quite bothersome to Sparta, however, she did find it most fascinating that, serving in her new position as the queen, she was privileged to all the newest and latest information coming in from all over the region, she had even met with emissaries from as far away as Egypt, Jerusalem, Syria to the east and Gaul to the west. Even so, she yearned to return to life as a soldier, riding and fighting in the cavalry next to her officers in arms, many of whom did not return from the last battle, wherein, as her father, they gave up their sacred lives in service to the throne.
Many did not return, for so it was 1000's of brave Spartans lost their lives, and those of high ranking officers were returned home for a military burial with honors, whereas those lower ranking soldiers were cremated, en mass, on huge bonfires, their ashes scattered by the four winds, as was the custom. Queen Sparta, herself, set out to honor the dead so she ordered acres of wildflower seeds to spread over the field of the dead, in a loving tribute to the fallen warriors who nourished the soil with their very blood, as was the ancient custom of her people. Queen Sparta had vowed to do her best to preserve her ancient heritage and the culture of Themiscyra. Now, after the warmth and rains had returned, she had come out, on a bright blue day, miles away from home to sit under the shade of a birch tree staring out across the field of new blossoms of pink, purple and red flowers that gently swayed in the warm spring breeze lifting the calming scent of lavender and gardenias above the quiet earth. Here on that placid morning five riders approached her position and Queen Sparta grew faint of heart as she saw it was her brother come to find her.
"My King! Pray, do not tell me I have forgotten another meeting at the palace?" she said standing to her feet clutching a bouquet of Lilacs in her hand, her pulse racing, wondering what could bring him out so far away from home, this was distressing for the two of them had not been getting along very well in there personal life and she had strictly left the city this morning to get away from her brother, who looked troubled.
"Sparta!" he said nearly out of breath from the long ride in the saddle as he eyed her body guards, led by Captain Sinos, whom were gathered down by a creek watering their horses. "I must speak to you at once!" stating only this, King Therakles grabbed her by the hand leading her off to a long line of juniper trees so that they might have a bit of privacy.
Meanwhile, the Tyrant Phillip II of Macedon began cutting a wide swath through north western Thrace, where he pushed his army of 30,000 men all the way east, to the shores of the Black Sea. His goal was to control the trading and shipping routes, crush the Army of King Sunder, and assume total command of the vast gold and silver mines therein. Thus instilling much anxiety and trepidation in the aged monarch, who did not once, at anytime, even entertain the notion of suiting up for battle in defence of his country against this northern band of barbarians. Rather, King Sunder sent out his sons, whom, themselves, were weak and ill-effective as military leaders, leaving their soldiers disappointed and demoralized. So with this Phillip spent the whole of the Summer and Spring, that year, inciting riots amongst the slave and helot population, whereupon tens of thousands rose up against their overlords, turning over entire cities to Phillip peacefully, who obtained vast lands and structures, temples and villas at no expense to his soldiers. Thus with his ever growing horde of warriors, who lived only to serve him , Phillip was able to quickly seize control of a huge tract of territory in north eastern and western Thrace, from the Black Sea to the southern shores of the Danube; where he began harassing many of the cities and villages of Scythia, located on the northern border of Thrace. Now, Scythia was a long time ally of Sparta, should Scythia, the next target of Phillip, had at anytime reached out to Queen Sparta and King Therakles they both would have sent forth troops to aide and assist in the fighting, yet no word for assistance was asked for, so no assistance was given.
So it was Peace and Tranquility had settled over the Peloponnese, for a little while at least, as Queen Sparta and King Therakles grew better accustomed to their new lives as ruling monarchs; of whom much was expected and required of them. From the moment they arose early in the morning nearly every moment of the day was strictly scheduled, regimented and followed to the letter, spending hours, upon hours, in meetings with heads of state, military leaders, emissaries, ambassadors and dignitaries from surrounding nations, as well as politicians, seeking favor, lawyers seeking leniency, the always dramatic Ephorate, the disabused Academia etc..., surrounded, from sun up to sun down, by an army of scribes and notari who recorded the lengthy discussions on all matters of official, legal or military nature. Add to this the constant presence of the contingent of body guards attached to the detail of the king and queen it was so overwhelming. Now the constant presence of these people was quite bothersome to Sparta, however, she did find it most fascinating that, serving in her new position as the queen, she was privileged to all the newest and latest information coming in from all over the region, she had even met with emissaries from as far away as Egypt, Jerusalem, Syria to the east and Gaul to the west. Even so, she yearned to return to life as a soldier, riding and fighting in the cavalry next to her officers in arms, many of whom did not return from the last battle, wherein, as her father, they gave up their sacred lives in service to the throne.
Many did not return, for so it was 1000's of brave Spartans lost their lives, and those of high ranking officers were returned home for a military burial with honors, whereas those lower ranking soldiers were cremated, en mass, on huge bonfires, their ashes scattered by the four winds, as was the custom. Queen Sparta, herself, set out to honor the dead so she ordered acres of wildflower seeds to spread over the field of the dead, in a loving tribute to the fallen warriors who nourished the soil with their very blood, as was the ancient custom of her people. Queen Sparta had vowed to do her best to preserve her ancient heritage and the culture of Themiscyra. Now, after the warmth and rains had returned, she had come out, on a bright blue day, miles away from home to sit under the shade of a birch tree staring out across the field of new blossoms of pink, purple and red flowers that gently swayed in the warm spring breeze lifting the calming scent of lavender and gardenias above the quiet earth. Here on that placid morning five riders approached her position and Queen Sparta grew faint of heart as she saw it was her brother come to find her.
"My King! Pray, do not tell me I have forgotten another meeting at the palace?" she said standing to her feet clutching a bouquet of Lilacs in her hand, her pulse racing, wondering what could bring him out so far away from home, this was distressing for the two of them had not been getting along very well in there personal life and she had strictly left the city this morning to get away from her brother, who looked troubled.
"Sparta!" he said nearly out of breath from the long ride in the saddle as he eyed her body guards, led by Captain Sinos, whom were gathered down by a creek watering their horses. "I must speak to you at once!" stating only this, King Therakles grabbed her by the hand leading her off to a long line of juniper trees so that they might have a bit of privacy.
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