Loving Artemisia (lesbian story)

Chapter 17- Athens

Artemisia

Only the gods know how many royal council meetings I attended in hopes to hear the one word I desire the most. At this gloomy dark Greece land of Thermopylae, Persian army stayed far too long for my favor. We were just hundreds of miles away from the Athens, the place I trembles to burn down. However, much to dismay, Anahita was relentless not to decide the warfare lightly. The once sweet princess of Darius became the powerful sovereign who does not yield easily. It is amusing to witness who she became now, couple of years before I found her crying in the middle of dark because she murdered an innocent child but now she even dared to overthrow his brother to acquire the power comes with the throne. Not just any throne, a golden sit of the monarch who rules the most powerful empire of the Middle east.
But I know for sure that one thing about her failed to evolve with her. The feeling she has for me.
Anahita tries to mend her heart by making that Greek girl, Daphne to accompany her. I can't tell if its working or not but I'm sure it does not pleases me.

At the pit near Thermopylae, Leonidas and his 300 warriors' corpses lay , open for any scavangers to dine, insects to dance on. Every morning when the sun rises, I visit them to feed the revenge burning inside of me. Headless corpse of Leonidas, proud king of Spartans, lays at the top, clear to the eyes who seeks them. He is the greatest achievement Xerxes has made during his reign. If only he was alive, I would have been gazing at the sea of dead Athenians instead of Spartans.
"Empress ordered the royal assembly. You should return, commander." Artafernes said, cutting my deep thoughts as I stare at the corpses below.
Reluctantly, I mounted the pitch black horse of mine and rode to the center of Persian army where she expects me.
Most generals were supporting the idea of fighting against Athens, they were filled with anticipation to seek the glory. As they spoke out the desire they had, Anahita was calmly observing and hearing every opinion. Just as we all agreed to continue the war, general Hassan encouraged the idea of retreating back to Persia. Right at that moment, I wanted to cut his head out of his shoulders. Adding to my fury, he had to add sickingly flirtatious look to her royal highness. It wasn't a secret that dashing young generals hopes to catch Anahita's attention for their future's sake. Afterall, she possesses the power to turn a mere soldier to a general by her one word.

"What shall we do, commander?" Artafernes asked me when we came back from the royal council.
"I cannot stop now that we are just a hundreds of miles away from Athens." I shouted, not
caring enough who might hear me.
It is no secret that I have the most desire to fight against Athens. The generals and commanders who share a companionship with me now are only alive because we have same interest. If they weren't, I would have killed them all under the rule of Xerxes when I murdered everyone who had a potential to block my path.
"How can we persuade her imperial majesty?" Artafernes said, which made me think as well.
"Commander." He called me after few moments of silence as I was thinking the reason I could give to her.
"Couple days before, an emissary came back with a family from Athens and her highness is taking care of them." He reported.
I disregarded the information as I thought it must be something to do with Daphne.

•••

"You are mine" she said when we were making love at the very seat of Persian monarchs, the golden throne of Anahita. The three words she whispered that day still lingeres in my mind and strangely enough it makes me pleased, creating an unusual feeling of warmth inside of me.
After she descended down the power comes with her lineage which is leading the entire army of Persian to me, she led her navy to fight with Themistocles whom I admit never failed to amaze me. Just as I have thought, the reason I could have given to Anahita to start the war was me. I never hated the company of the fair princess who is now the empress and strangely enough I learned to enjoy it. Thoughts like this swarmed into my mind on my way to the Athens.
The city of scholars, artists and the heart of Greece which I trembles to break down.
"Commander. The empress defeated the Themistocles' and queen Gorgo's Spartan army at the battle of Salamis." One of my generals reported as we were discussing the tactics of battle.
"Also she ordered you to send this to the Athens before starting the attack." As he said one of the soldier brought Themistocles' head on the body of a dog. It was unbelievable that she is capable of doing this. For a moment everyone in the council lost a word to say.
"Send it to the Athens. It will work as a war tactic to scare the Athens before battle. Our empress is wise and strong. Let the Greeks witness it." General Hassan saved the face of the empress. It seemed successful as the generals all agreed with him with a hint of pride and a bit of scare in their expressions.
All I wondered was what did he do to make her this mad.