Hektōr took heed to the words of his Queen, rushing back towards the walls of Ilion while Ariadnê faced a monster in human skin.
Lord Akhilles growled in frustration. The foolish woman kept him away from his glory. No doubt, Hektōr thought he could safely strip Pátroklosis, without giving him a thought, since he was far away. Pátroklosis left him behind, a much greater man, to take out his revenge. He will drain strength from the prince's limbs— dogs and birds will tear him into miserable pieces, while Achaeans are burying Pátroklosis.
The son of Pēleus rushed her once more, spear aimed to take her out quickly and yet—
She caught the spear in her hands, brought her leg up in the air before bringing it down harshly on his spear arm. "Come now, Ahkilles, you say this is a battle between men and yet you come at me like a young boy not yet weaned from his Mother's breast."
She laughed, bright and cruel as she pulled his other arm so strongly it moved out of its socket. "Show me a man, son of Pēleus and I might... no promises whatsoever... stand aside."
The man went sailing through the air once more, thrown so craftily that when he landed his shoulder popped back in place. He looked upon her with eyes of Chalcedony sparkled with cruelty and as dark as the sea at night.
"I am sea born just as you Ahkilles, but my heart is war crafted," she called out. "My Father stands on your side of war for what Aléxandros did to me, taking me away from my Family and people as if I were a common prize. And look now, Ilion trembles before my might. I am Queen. Stand down, son of Pēleus. I hold great respect for your Mother, and it's because of her that I have allowed you to come this close to my kingdom's wall. Leave and I shall spare your life and your mother will not have to set you on a funeral bed and there lament the son she bore. Continue forward and I will salt the earth with your blood."
Ahkilles growled, holding his arm to his body and retreated away.
Ariadnê cackled loudly, not giving the chase he longed for. "I've seen pups tougher than you, son of Pēleus! Are you a coward, swift-footed Ahkilles? I stand before you, under the guidance of Arês Andreiphontês and Aphroditê Androfónos. If you face me, I promise to be fair."
She banished her sword back to its dormant form, closed her eyes and put one arm behind her back. There was still a teasing grin on her face as Ahkilles fell back into the ranks of Αἴας, Odyseús, and Menelaos.
"She will be a hard barrier to breach," Menelaos noted, dark eyes watching as she twisted about the battlefield. The troops on the ground from both sides stayed carefully out of her way as she danced to a song only that she could hear.
"It matters not," Ahkilles growled. "I will have to pass her to get to Hektōr. For what he have done to me I wish from the bottom of my heart that I could cut him to pieces and eat him raw myself. I need to pass her. Tell me, cunning Odyseús, how is it that I may do so?"
The older man mused, eyeing the daughter of the earthshaker in contemplation. "Troy could not be taken without you, Ahkilles, but you cannot move past her lest she kills you. We would need to drive her away from the walls and her Family alongside her. If god-like Diomēdēs still lived we could have used him. She is no Athênê, no goddess Eris, who destroys whole cities."
He hummed. "She wants peace and to not see anymore families broken apart. I fear Ahkilles to placate her; you will not have the revenge that you desire."
The son of Pēleus shook his head. "Όχι, that I cannot agree. She said it before that this war shall not end until I am brought to the doors of Death by the hands of Troy's chosen and Troy is but rubble amongst the earth. And your honor, Menelaos , shall be restored for it was to the lovely Helénē of the House of Atreus that Aléxandros fell to. As for my own death, I accept it whenever Zeus and the immortal gods see fit to bring it to me though I pray it is after I send Hektōr to the dwellings of Aïdao."
